Getting Lost

"[Paul] was...praying one day in the Temple, lost in the presence of God..." Acts 22:17, The Message Remix

Oh, to be lost in the presence of God as we pray... How precious are those times when we're so caught up in Him and in our communion with Him that everything else seems to melt away.

Don't you wish that every time of prayer could find you lost in the presence of God? If you're like me, though, other things compete for and distract from the kind of undivided attention, love, and devotion needed to be truly lost in His presence.

Instead, you may find yourself lost in the presence of the worries of the day or simply the details of certain pressing tasks. Or perhaps, like me, as you quiet your mind and approach a time of prayer, you have a tendency to become too introspective and get tied up in yourself rather than caught up in God.

Such are the challenges of spending time in prayer. If you struggle with similar problems in prayer, don't give up. Join me in training our eyes to look away from the worries and the details, to look away from self. Let's turn our eyes to Jesus and keep them there. Let's go get lost in the presence of God.

"But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge..." Psalm 141:8

*Flickr photo by kelsey_lovefusionphoto

*The Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway is still underway. Details are in my Oct. 10 post and sign-up is to the right. Don't miss out on the chance to win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble!

Cool Weather Comfort

The cool-weather months of fall and winter call for comfort food, don't they? When I was growing up, nothing spelled comfort quite like walking into the house on a nippy day and being greeted by the aromas of cookies baking or a pot of chili simmering in the crock pot. And not only did it spell comfort, it spelled home.

Certain foods -- and the feelings associated with them -- are so dear to us that they naturally get handed down through the generations as we try to provide the same homey comfort that we experienced as kids.

I don't do recipes too often here on the blog, but I thought it would be fun (and potentially yummy!) to share recipes of some of our favorite cool weather comfort foods. If you don't have time to leave a recipe in the comments, just jump in and tell us about one of your favorite comfort foods.

I'll start it off with one of our family's favorites during the fall and winter months -- homemade chili. It's super simple and very tasty. And yes, it's a recipe of my mom's. On behalf of another generation, thanks Mom :)

Crock Pot Chili

Brown 1 ½ lbs. (or more) ground beef. Drain grease and put beef in crock pot.

Add:
1 lg can tomato juice (46 oz)
½ t. garlic salt
1 t. onion salt
2 t. chili powder
1 can chili w/ beans

Cook on low all day or on high for 4 hrs. Serve with crackers or fritos and cheese – or whatever suits your fancy!

Before I let you go today, how about a little food for the soul? Remember, the Word of God spells comfort no matter the season. I recommend partaking daily, but for now, here's a taste:

"I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18 1-2

Flickr photo by House of Sims'

*The Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway is still underway. Details are in my Oct. 10 post and sign-up is to the right. Don't miss out on the chance to win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble!

Need Inspiration?

Anyone in need of some fresh inspiration? Some new strength to continue on your life's journey? It's as close as turning your face -- and your heart -- to the heavens, to the Creator of our beautiful world, to the One who longs to be a Father to us all.

Over three years ago now, about a month into my blogging life, I shared "Autumn Inspiration" with you. I thought it might be a good time to share it again. May it bless you, refresh you, and remind you where to turn for all the inspiration you'll ever need...

Autumn Inspiration

A walk through the woods
On a clear autumn day
Renews my spirit
As I walk and pray.

The countryside is brightened
By the sun’s gentle rays,
And the leaves are at their autumn best
For a few more glorious days.

I drink in the beauty surrounding me
And thank our Father in heaven above
For the endless miracles in nature
He’s created with power and love.

The God of this magnificent world
Is surely able to meet my needs,
As even now I head back home
Refreshed and walking where He leads.

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" Psalm 8:1 NIV

*Flickr photo by Nicholas_T

*The Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway is still underway. Details are in my Oct. 10 post and sign-up is to the right. Don't miss out on the chance to win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble!

Go Big

Are you a risk-taker? I tend to choose a safe bet over a gamble, but every now and then it's good to take a risk. There are times we need to go big. Times we need to try to jump the sun.

In a recent blog post, Hope Clark, founder and editor of FundsforWriters.com spoke about writers remaining in their comfort zones, writing what's easily published, and dodging the big magazines. She also spoke about being proud of writers who dare, and it reminded me that I need to try to go big sometimes.

Since I had noticed just such an opportunity in another of Hope's blog posts a few weeks ago, I decided to give it a try. So this afternoon I submitted an essay to The Smithsonian magazine for their back page humor column.

Now, I know it's a long shot. I know there is only one back page per month and that my seasonal piece will have an even smaller chance of acceptance than most others. I also understand that many times you have to have the right connections, and I certainly don't have those. But I also know it will never happen if I don't try. Things don't get published that don't get submitted. And who knows? Nothing is impossible.

Is it time for you to take a risk? Is there an area in your life right now where you need to try to go big? Maybe the time has come for you to take a long shot, too. Don't find yourself regretting some day what you were afraid to try today.

And remember, we have a heavenly Father for whom nothing is impossible. So join me, won't you? Let's go big with God. I bet we'll make Him proud.

"Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27

*Flickr photo by aramolara

*The Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway is still underway. Details are in my Oct. 10 post and sign-up is to the right. Don't miss out on the chance to win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble!

Self-Editing

The life of a writer includes many things. Things like hours and hours of solitary work, the inevitable rejection letters, the thrill of finding just the right word or phrase, and the common pitfall of giving in to distractions in order to avoid the daunting challenge of getting started on a new project. But one other thing that's a huge part of the life of any writer is revising or self-editing.

At FCW this past week, Vicki McCollum, one of our members who is a freelance editor, presented a workshop on self-editing. She pointed out a number of things we need to look for when going back through the first drafts of our manuscripts. Believe it or not, none of us get it right the first time around.

Thank goodness with the written word we have the opportunity to cut and revise until we produce our very best work. We can go back and catch things like grammar and punctuation errors, repetition, clarity problems, and the dreaded cliche'. And as we grow more experienced as writers, we can catch some of those things before they ever make it to our computer screens or notebooks.

But what about with the words we speak? Too often, we don't get it right the first time around, do we? We have a long list of times we've spoken too soon or responded carelessly and ended up hurting someone's feelings or just looking foolish. There might have even been times we did think about what we wanted to say and chose to say a hurtful or wrong thing anyway. And we all know another word for doing wrong things, don't we? Yes, it's sin.

I guess writers aren't the only ones who need to practice revision and self-editing. Unfortunately, we can't go back and catch the mistakes we've made with our tongues, but we can apologize when needed. A little verbal revision can at least attempt to cover over the original foot-in-mouth moment.

And thankfully, as we grow wiser and more in tune with God's Word and ways, He'll help us catch some of those mistakes before they ever leave our lips. He'll help us gain victory over a careless or cruel tongue. He'll help us learn to self-edit. Will we be willing pupils?

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 12:18

*Flickr photo by Esparta

*The Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway is still underway. Details are in my Oct. 10 post and sign-up is to the right. Don't miss out on the chance to win!

Prayer from the Past with Truth for Today

Since I'm swamped this week with preparing and sending out our church's initial Angel Tree letters in addition to all my regular tasks, I thought I'd share something that I wrote many years ago. In fact, it's my first published piece. It appeared as the Prayer Diary page in the women's devotional magazine Journey.

I wrote this prayer in a different season of life, but the struggles, thoughts, and truths expressed can be applied to almost anyone's life at almost any time. I pray that it encourages someone in a special way today.

Prayer Diary

Dear Lord,

Now that our oldest child is in high school, the expensive years ahead seem all too close. Even now the financial demands are great. Between paying for the orthodontist, the dermatologist, the optometrist, the dentist, private study for our aspiring concert pianist, car insurance for a teenage driver, and the general cost of living, who can save for college? Even though you have always graciously met our needs, I must admit I tend to panic when I think of the expenses we will face over the next few years.

Lord, forgive me for not trusting You completely with this. I know that You are our faithful Provider and all that we have comes from You, even the ability and the good health needed to make a living.

Help us, dear Father, not to worry about or try to deal with these expensive years in our own power or with our own wisdom. Help us to manage our finances wisely and continually commit them to You.

Lord, thank You for meeting our needs day by day from the fullness of Your grace and mercy. And most of all, thank You for loving me even when I am weak and forget to trust You.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:24-26

Flickr photo by JimileeK

*The Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway is still underway. Details are in my Oct. 10 post and sign-up is to the right. Don't miss out on the chance to win!

Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway Becomes Tradition!

I've made an executive decision. I'm going to offer the Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway as an annual event. A new little fall tradition, if you will. Don't you just love traditions that involve the chance of winning something fun?!

The first week in November will mark the beginning of my third year of publishing Life Notes, my free quarterly inspirational newsletter. So to say "thank you" to all of my current subscribers and to encourage new folks to subscribe as well, one lucky Life Notes subscriber will win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble.

This is how it will work: All those who are currently subscribed to Life Notes will automatically be entered in the giveaway, and any new subscriber who signs up by noon (CST) Nov. 7th will be entered as well. Sign up is to the right on the blog sidebar. You don't even have to leave a comment on this post -- just make sure you're signed up for the newsletter. Easy as that. The winner will be announced on my Sunday evening Nov. 7th blog post.

I truly do appreciate each and every subscriber -- and each and every reader of my blog, too. Many things compete for our attention, and I'm thankful that you allow me into your world. I pray that you are refreshed and encouraged from time to time as a result. I know you encourage and refresh me. Thank you so much!

Do you happen to have an appreciation-showing tradition in your family or among your friends or coworkers? If not, why not join me and come up with one as a new fall tradition?

"I have not stopped giving thanks for you..." Ephesians 1:16a

*Flickr photo by kissyface

Christmas Music in October??

Christmas music in October?? You bet -- at least for our church choir and many more like us getting ready for the upcoming holiday season. In fact, it's none too soon to start rehearsing for cantatas or musicals. Such musical marathons require hours and hours of practice -- plus the crowning touch of God's help as most of us never feel quite ready when performance day arrives.

Our choir will begin practicing our Christmas musical, Unspeakable Joy, tonight. Fun stuff for an old choir junkie like me. I had to hang up my choir robe for the past few months (actually we don't wear robes anymore...I just like the play on words :)) while dealing with Don's mom's repeated hospitalizations and the final days of Kelli's wedding prep, but as of last week, I'm back -- and hoping to keep it that way for awhile.

And what better time to jump back into choir than when we get to start singing Christmas music. It's beautiful, it's fun, and it's filled with joy. Best of all, it's brimming with the best glad tidings the world has ever heard -- "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)

Even if you're not in a choir making preparations for a joy-filled Christmas program, why not get in on a little of that joy yourselves? Why not sing a Christmas carol or two? I know it's a little early, but that's okay. I give you permission :) After all, it's never too early to worship and praise the Lord. I guarantee you, both you and the Lord will enjoy it!

"Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD..." Psalm 95:1a

*What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

**Flickr photo by John-Morgan

Looking to God

"...God...we do not know what to do, but we look to you." 2 Chron. 20:12 (HCSB)

Do any of you need this verse today? Sometimes the very best thing to share is simply a message from the Word of God.

When my friend Amy and her son Kyler died so tragically last year, this verse was my heart's cry -- and I'm not sure I was even aware of the verse at the time. It was just all I knew to do.

In fact, I wrote something like this on my Facebook status an hour or so after learning of her death: "Am heartbroken over Amy... no words... my heart aches for each loved one hurting right now... Lord, please carry them, please hold them... and please be with our church... we've suffered so much loss lately... We look to you, oh Lord…"

When dark or confusing times roll in and overwhelm us and threaten to bury us under a load of grief or worry, I pray we'll each remember to cry out, even if only in whispered pain, "Oh, Lord, we look to you..."

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

*Flickr photo by evoo73