Into the Fire

It's a great time for those who love to write and are committed to producing decent literature – and, let's face it, for those who aren't as well. The truth is there are unlimited opportunities for ambitious writers in today's arena of publishing. The various e-readers have opened up a huge new venue for independent writers who no longer want to wait years to become an author and recognize their dreams of being published. They can simply do it themselves.

Determined and talented writers have independently published their work for the electronic readers and handle everything from start to finished productions of their books for the gamut of e-reading devices and can even orchestrate their print books. Those who choose not to go the independent route but pursue traditional publishing can wait and see if they're accepted into that club knowing if they get enough rejections, they can still go indie.

I prefer to hire someone else to format and design my covers with my suggestions, input, and final approvals. That's what works for me, but I know many authors who do it all themselves. I admire them, but I'm grateful for those who perform the service for those of us who don't want to handle all the details of publishing.

It's a very good time to be an author because of the unlimited possibilities to get one's work published. And it's about time.

Father, thank you for the opportunity to write and publish the stories you've given me. I'm so grateful for all of it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Yesterday I went for my final check-up with my heart surgeon over a year after having my mitral valve repaired. It was all systems go. The Lord has gifted this young man with mad skills, and the Lord enabled those skills to be used in my healing and recovery in a very short time. The Lord answered every prayer for this surgery, and there is simply no way to thank him enough. My surgeon was pleased and told me I didn't need to see him anymore – which is kind of sad because he's such a neat guy.

I want to thank every one of you who offered prayers on my behalf. The Lord answered them all. You all mean so much to me.

God, as always, thank you is never enough, but I give you thanks with my whole heart because it belongs to you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

A lot of shelf items exposed. Many drawers. Like the floor and light from windows. Interesting.

Lord, you make creativity. In all forms. May we always honor your gifts. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

     One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

     When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."

     Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.

     When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

     When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.

     Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Luke 5:1-11 (NIV) 

One of these days I hope to have pictures up for you to see our place, but in the meantime my reasons for loving the country go way back to where I can't identify them. Some errant gene since I was raised in the city. I longed for horses and the spaces to accommodate them ever since I was a young child.

The beauty of pastures, acreage, unobstructed skies, less night lights which give way to the natural array of starlight and moon glow. The quiet of a dark night unfiltered and not yielding to the sound of traffic and airplane travel. The clear views of sunrises and sunsets. The different terrains in patchwork patterns across large areas with smaller roads weaving in between them leading to a less bustling inner city. A short trip to a bigger city – all access without the pace and population.

Just a few reasons why I love the country . . .

God, it's hard for my family to believe we're here. You did this. Amazing grace. Let us always honor you with this place. As always, we're desperate for you and thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Remember when there were really good movies to watch? Whether at the theater or a drive-in, it was fun to go to the movies. It could be argued that there are many good films out there to see today, but for me it seems like they appear in bunches and that the majority of them are a tremendous waste of millions of dollars. The irony in making terrible films is they still cost a bundle to make and so many of the Hollywood crowd are leftists who desire socialist/communist candidates that stand for taking the wealth away from people like them.

Anyway, I miss the fun of going to the movies more regularly. Although I greatly enjoy watching them at home with all the creature comforts and the audio/visual setup we have, it would be nice to have a better selection at theaters.

Just my random thoughts on a Wednesday evening . . .

Father, there is so much talent being wasted on ugly pursuits. Forgive us, Lord. We're all desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

A great cabin-like laundry room? Those cupboards would require a step stool for me, but what we see of this is cute.

Lord, we can see your beauty everywhere. Thank you for your creativity spread around in us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

I know. All you see is a grey square. And it doesn't do the grey/silver that occupies two living room walls justice. I know nothing about paint. I don't paint. Our youngest son does. He works for Miller Paint/Kelly Moore, and he used to paint interior and exterior as he learned to do the considerable and admirable task of professional painting before he opted for the retail end of the painting world. Now he uses his skills, taught to him by a well-respected family owned local painting company, to grace the walls of our new home. He completed his bedroom in two great shades and we used one of those shades to complement the Ralph Lauren silvery metallic grey now on two walls in our living room and the entrance wall to the room. Chrome switch covers. It's done! Furniture is actually situated. One can really sit in there now! And it looks fabulous. Replacing this light sky bluish color which really did not complement the rough-hewn cedar slabs adorning a wall and the high ceilings with dark beams. I know you need pictures to appreciate what I'm talking about, but I don't have them yet. Two rooms down. Several to go. When it happens, I'll let you know.

Father, you are magnificent. How could we possibly have such beauty all around us? I wish there was a way to make thank you big enough to cover my heartfelt gratitude and amazement at what you've done, but there are no available or adequate words to express that kind of emotion. None. Lord, we continue to be desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.

     When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.

     At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Luke 4: 38-44 (NIV)

Thank you, Lord, for all you make possible. Never enough words to thank or praise you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.