devos – Almost An Author

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Our local Fall Festival hosted a Horse Pull. Belgians and Percherons presented muscular bodies and fancy tack. The shaved manes produced a stately sight with harness buckles gleaming in the sun. We watched the massive beasts take their cue to move in line with the weighted sled. They pranced impatiently as their handlers hefted the bar to hook to the stone boat, starting at 2,000 pounds. With one word and a flick of the reins, the handlers strained against the jump when the animals sprang into action. 600 pounds were added to the sled after each round. Six teams narrowed down to four, then three, until the last teams competed for the most powerful title.

Exercise:

In Abba’s Child, Brennan Manning says, “It takes a profound conversion to accept that God is relentlessly tender and compassionate toward us just as we are—not in spite of our sins and faults (that would not be total acceptance), but with them.” (p. 3)

If we understood God as a teammate instead of a taskmaster would that change our approach to working with Him, instead of against Him?

The Black Team of Draft horses struggled against their harnesses and each other. They were jumpy, jittery, and jumbled in their pulls. The Chestnut Team flexed smoothly in unison. They heard their master’s prompts and functioned as one unit, resulting in a beautiful picture of cohesiveness.

The Black Team exhibited wild fear. The Chestnut Team displayed peaceful confidence. Which would you rather emulate?

Look up the following verses and respond.

Matthew 11:29-30. What does it mean to be yoked with God?
John 14:16-17, 26. How does God team up with us?
Hebrews 13:20-21. What will God equip you with?
2 Corinthians 9:8. What does God supply?

Do these verses refer to a tyrant or a tandem ally? Brennan Manning says, “My own journey has taught me that only when I feel safe with God do I feel safe with myself.” (p. 14)

The times when I jump ahead of the Lord’s plan, my self-sufficiency leaves me weary and worn. Instead, I am learning to trust the loving care of my heavenly Father to work in unison with Him, realizing a much better outcome in the daily pulls of life.

How will you team up with God?

Resource:

Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging, by Brennan Manning. NavPress, 2015.

Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net

Variety is the Spice of Life

All of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:27 TLB

I sit among six tables of gourmet popcorn, salivating at their tantalizing scents. Our Missions Team did a fundraiser and today I got the bags grouped for pickup and distribution.

I’m thinking about how the flavors of popcorn relate to writing, and how variety is necessary to fill up all the appetites of readers. Some like Cinnamon Candy Apple. Some prefer Parmesan Garlic. Others might seek out Snickerdoodle or Kettle Corn, while some play it safe with Movie Theater or Cheddar.* It’s a good thing a lot of people are sharing their words in order to satiate the audience. And the flavor of the day may not be the big seller tomorrow – we all need options!

Exercise:

Respond to someone who says, “There’s nothing left to write – everything’s already been said.”
Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-7. What is the goal of the gifts we’ve been given? (1 Corinthians 12:7)
Look at 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. What are the various ways we express these gifts through the written word?
Sift through 1 Corinthians 12:12-25. What are two goals for believers? (1 Corinthians 12:25)
Look in The Writer’s Market. List ten different types of articles to submit.
Pick one of those categories and jot down four angles to approach your subject.
Take one angle and write a paragraph to expand on it.
Go back to The Writer’s Market and look at the guidelines. Does your paragraph lend itself to one predominantly? Format it to their specifications. Add illustrations and examples.
Let it rest.
Edit and submit.

Let’s have a popcorn party and celebrate your work.

Pop some popcorn and let it remind you that you are an essential part of the body of writers. The words you use reflect the One you follow and impart “wise counsel, clear understanding, simple trust, healing the sick, miraculous acts, proclamation, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, (and) interpretation of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:8-10 MSG)

Your perspective is needed and helps us navigate life.

Did I mention popcorn is my comfort food? May the words you send out to your audience be seasoned with comfort and grace.

What flavor do you add to the world of words?

Reference:

*Flavors mentioned with thanks to What’s Poppin, NY!

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net