Although I’ve not posted a blog each week, I’ve been thinking of you.
I’ve been praying for you.
I wonder if you ever have days when you just want to give up?
Do you ever feel like you are at the end of your rope?
I’ve been there lately. I’m hanging on for dear life.
But God continues to remind me that He was sent to bind up the broken hearted and set the captive free.
I love this quote.
“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.” – Thomas Jefferson.
It reminds me to hold on.
And I’m so glad I have friends to support me when I can’t hold on any longer.
One such friend sent me this link to a beautiful song by Shane and Shane titled “Though You Slay Me”
I hope you’ll listen to this YouTube rendition of the song. It spoke to my troubled heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUPz6_TciY
Smack dab in the middle of the song (At 3 minutes and 24 seconds) are the words I needed to hear spoken by John Piper
I heard clearly from the Lord today.
All that is going on in my life is not in vain.
My affliction is light in comparison to the Glory of God.
Every millisecond of my misery is producing a peculiar glory.
Do not lose heart, dear friend. There IS hope.
Get alone with God every morning until you preach the Word into your mind and soul.
And then you will sing with confidence as you trust Him to bring you HOPE.
He is with me….
Job 13:15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
Oh how I needed this today.
Do you?
How can I pray for you?
Tell me your story and we will hold on together.
Gigi
Have you written yours?
For me, the fun has truly begun.
I’ve already heard from one recipient – reminding me that an encouraging word in due season brings joy to the receiver.
The walk to the post office might be the best part of sending out encouraging notes–because I am out of shape!
I have to admit, the winter was not good for my body. I need to shed more than a few pounds.
Actually, I need an extreme makeover in more areas than my physical body.
As part of this makeover, I’m also working on being a better communicator.
I grew up in a family of ten kids. I never learned to speak up for myself. Really, who hears you with that many voices competing to be heard?
For me it was easier to do what I was told and be quiet. That can be a recipe for disaster in relationships.
I’m learning to use my voice. And thanks to Godly wisdom and council, I’m making progress.
Some days it goes over well and other days it feels like an epic fail.
So I search for answers.
This week I dove head first into the extreme makeover manual – The Bible.
I joined Margaret Feinberg in a challenge to read the entire Bible in 40 days.I decided I could accomplish this goal if I listen on my iPhone with my You Version Bible. I like the man’s voice in the ESV Version. He brings the words to life.
He talks to me while I get ready in the morning, during breakfast, and on my commute to and from work. With 45 minutes of listening per day, I will have the entire Bible “read” by Easter Sunday.
That’s right! The whole enchilada.
If you want to join me, Margaret has created an easy to follow plan. Click HERE for the PDF.
How about you? What areas of your life need a little makeover? Share with me and we’ll pray together, linking arms as we work on areas that need some help.
And maybe I’ll send you some encouraging Scripture or a little note to help you along the way.
God Bless your heart!
Gigi
Hey – I’d love for you to join me at our Northwest Christian Writer’s Association Writer’s Renewal Conference – May 17-18th. It is packed full of workshops and will be well worth your investment. Check it out at www.NWChristianWriters.org There is also a link to the left of my blog.
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I can’t believe it’s been more than a month since I added a note here.
It’s good to be back. I’ve missed you.
I can’t believe next Wednesday, February 13th, is Ash Wednesday.
This day, on the traditional liturgical calendar begins the forty-day count down to Easter.
The purpose of this season is to reflect on the forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness before He began His public ministry.
I’ve always viewed it as a time of reflection and preparation as I give my time to others.
A season of examining one’s heart and spending time with the Lord in confession and repentance.
I love this season.Not only for the focus on Jesus preparation for the cross, but also because it is spring time.
The gray of the winter gives way to bluer skies and greener grass.
The birds come home to build their nests.
The leaves sprout and the early flowers bloom.
This year, I’m especially looking forward to spring, Easter and new beginnings.
It’s been a long hard winter of my soul. How about you? Are you ready for spring too?
I write encouragement to others as a way to lift my spirits when I feel down in the dumps. I hope you’ll try it!
This week I’m asking God to help me create my Lenten Love Letter List.
This is a list of people God puts on my heart during the days leading up to Easter. I simply pray and ask God, “Who needs a kind word of encouragement today?”
It has been amazing to see how it all works out.
Will you join me this year in a focused period of writing encouragement to people who cross your path?
Let’s do this together as we prepare our hearts for Easter.
I can see the ripple of encouragement that will send waves across the world.
Are you in?
Leave me a note in the comments and together we will celebrate the power of a kind word.
God bless your heart with encouragement.
Gigi
PS – I’m praying that God will let me know if its YOU who needs the encouragement.
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I hope you are happy today. Even though I am fighting a cold, I’m happy.
I mentioned in my last post that I enjoy taking time to bless and encourage people during the forty days leading up to my favorite day of the year – Easter Sunday.
I wrote this post on Ash Wednesday, the first day of my Lenten Love Letter journey. I realized today that I had not released the post. I guess my head cold got the best of me that night. But here it is!
Photo from the Lancaster Historical Organization - Love Letters
My list of people to bless is growing.
Do you know someone who needs an encouragement? Let me know and I’ll add them to my list.
Today, I bless YOU, my blog friends. Thank you for taking time to read my random thoughts posted here in cyber space. It means a lot to me that you click on that link and take the time to read. I’d love it if you posted a comment to share your own story.
Every Wednesday I spend the evening at Starbucks watching hundreds of people coming and going as they pop in for some java or hang out to write papers, study for tests or chat with friends. This University Village Starbucks is full of college students so I feel like the old gray mare here.
I see a young couple staring into each other’s eyes in between study sessions. I wonder what they are talking about? It makes me remember study nights when I was a young college student.
I see an older, gray haired gentlemen nestled in amongst the twenty-something students, reading and taking notes. Is he a professor? A student? A grandpa?
I love this time every week because I get to pray for all these people. I bless them and ask God to touch their lives in a unique way tonight.
Can I challenge you to start your own Lenten Love Letter List?
Is there someone in your life who needs a phone call, an email or a hand written card – just because?
Remind them they are precious in God’s sight and chosen for such a time as this.
Tell them how much you care about their day.
Show them you care enough to take just a few minutes to write that note.
Come back to my blog and tell me the stories.
I have so many stories of people who have contacted me weeks, months or years after receiving one of my notes. They let me know that the encouragement I sent came at the perfect time.
It’s just so much fun. I want to share the process with you too.
Who will be your first recipient of a love letter? Tell me please!
God bless your heart.
Gigi ]]>