Lesson 7 ~ From Challenge to Change to Courage...God's Master Plan" for your Life!

 From Challenge to Change to Courage...God's Master Plan" for your Life!  

Lesson 7

by Sharon Leaf

My special time on a Mexican Riviera cruise with my brother John

right after he was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer. 

January 2020

Now that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Philippians 4:11

Today's women are facing many Challenges. 

Challenges that call for Change.  

Speaking from experience, I can tell you that Change can be scary, but 

as we trust in the Lord we realize that God allows Change for our benefit.

However, when we're going through these Challenges and Changes we sometimes 

cannot see the forest for the trees.  

But when we allow God to direct our path, 

Courage comes on the scene ...

then anything can happen!

Part 1 ~ Obtaining Peace

   The world is searching for relief from their stresses.  Today crisis-driven, money-motivated hectic lifestyles are pressing people to the limit.  And now, in 2020 ... add the Corona Virus to the mix!  

   Have you ever wondered if it was possible to live stress-free?  Could you sell peace if it was advertised?

   Well, you can be the first person on your block to have peace!  The Bible is full of comments and teachings on how to live without stress.  Peace is Priceless.  But peace cannot be bought or sold.

   When we moved from California to South Carolina, the above verse became very real to me.  No matter what state I lived in, I would be content.  But I think Paul was also talking about something deeper.

   Peace is a state of mind.  When we live a life of prayer, we can build positive mental health.  I'm not talking about sitting all day with our hands folded.  If you're like me, I talk to God while I'm making my bed.  My Lady Leaf's Lounge is now a no-phone zone, but I can dial up Jesus anytime!

   It is the Holy Spirit that transcends our own weak spirit to lift us to a point of  being content.  This peace described in the Bible is defined as a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).  Man cannot create this product; it comes from God.

   Giving up our wants is a major key.  I find that the more I want, the more demands I put on myself, thus propelling me out of my peace mode.  I have to remind myself:

What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?  Mark 8:36.

Part 2 ~ Remove Stress by Eliminating Sin

   There are may peace robbers--money, power, and physical temptations, to name a few.  These can be forms of sin when they are taken to the point of losing our peace.  God gave us the Ten Commandments to make our lives peaceful, not to make our lives harder.  When you think about it, most of our stress is self-inflicted.

   Most of us know what is right and wrong because our conscience tells us.  So let's focus on correcting any stress-caused sin.  Simply, God knows we are not perfect.  In planning for our transgressions, the Bible tells us how to remove stress by eliminating the sin.  We are called to ask for forgiveness.  God calls us to confession because secret sins cannot co-exist with peace of mind.  When we confess our sins, God forgives us before we finish the sentence.  In Psalm 51:10 David asked God to forgive his sin and to create in him a pure heart and renew a right spirit in him.  God forgives us, just as he forgave David.  God takes pleasure in watching the cleansing of our conscience.

   A few years ago I experienced a stressed-caused peace robber.  I asked a Christian editor who I met in California if she would be interested in editing my Lady and the Sea manuscript before I sent it out to the mad world of publishing.  She jumped at the chance, we set a price and some deadlines, and because she needed the money, I mailed her $300.00 up front.  Three months of communicating via e-mails, she continued to give me excuses why she hadn't shown me any work.  Is my writing that bad?  Is she bored to tears with my story? went through my insecure mind.

   My flesh worked overtime trying to figure out how I should handle this unexpected incident. She finally confessed that she was in an alcohol rehab program.  Oh, my.  It was obvious that she wouldn't be editing for awhile, so I quickly offered her an easy payment plan to reimburse my $300.00.  Instead, she asked me if I would forgive her $300.00 debt.  Oh-me-oh-my.  

   I asked God, "What shall I do?  I don't want to let her off the hook if You're trying to teach her some kind of lesson."  I prayed.  Know what He answered?  Forgive her.  And I did.  Wasn't easy.  And I beat myself up for days because I thought He had told me to hire her in the first place.  Finally, when I quieted my spirit down (and my flesh), the Lord explained, "The incident isn't about the money.  It's not about forgiving the debt.  It's about forgiving her."

   Well, I forgave her and her debt, but like I said, it wasn't easy.  I felt that I had been betrayed by a person I trusted.  Has that ever happened to you?  But this incident reminded me once more that we must always put our trust in the Lord.  He will never disappoint us.  And there is where I find my peace.

Part 3 ~ If God says we are forgiven ...

   ... then we are!  The hardest part about forgiving is forgiving ourselves.  Long after we have confessed our sin to God, we often carry the guilt with us, day after day, sometimes year after year.  The devil enjoys this because it paralyzes us from having perfect communion with our Father.  I did hear from God about hiring that editor, even though the outcome didn't turn our the way I had planned.  There is always more to every situation we find ourselves in than meets the eye.  God forgives us, so we must carry on to the next assignment that awaits us!

Part 4 ~ Let it all go!

   I remember the story of an old friend who said on her deathbed that she had a lot of trouble in her life, most of which never happened.  Isn't that the truth?  Am I preachin' to the choir?  Most things we worry about never come to pass.  Worry and fear creep in, and before we know it, we are paralyzed to go about our daily tasks, much less make any decisions that need to be made.

   Our Heavenly Father wants us to give it up!  Stop beating yourself up over 'what if's'.  Jesus says, Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your soul.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  Matthew 11:28-30.

   Right after my brother John was diagnosed with stage-4 stomach cancer, the Corona Virus from China hit the USA.  We had no longer returned from the Mexico cruise than Covid-19 closed everything down. These are the times when you must accept the gift of peace that God gives you.  Jesus says, I am leaving you with this gift--peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace of the world gives.  John 14:27.  This gift defies all logic, so in order to receive this peace we must learn to hear God's voice through whatever means the process takes.  

   Sometimes peace robbers are just life's misfortunes.  Stuff happens.  I know, you call it something else, but it's all the same!  We can only see our situation through our eyes, but God sees the big picture.  No matter what comes our way, we learn to weather the storm, and just walk through it.  When I lived on the World War II ship for fourteen months, stuff happened on a daily basis, whether it was a hurricane in the Pacific, a conflict between the crew, or a heart attack in Greece (I still don't know which was worse).

Peace prevents wrinkles.  Forgiveness gives you that extra glow!

Part 5 ~ Why Live a Peaceful Life?

   Life becomes a pleasure when we learn to dwell in peace.  It's hard to stop and smell the roses when we're under the burden called stress.

   I find I can work in harmony with Christ more when I demand less from myself and from the people around me.  Simplify is my motto.  When we lived on the WWII ship Restoration, our cabin was the size of a walk-in closet.  I had three small lockers for my clothes.  The rest of our belongings were stored in boxes underneath the double bed my husband Rob built for us (there was no way he was going to sleep in a single bunk bed for fourteen months!).  The rest of our stuff was stored in one of the holds below the main deck.  I learned to live light and travel light, for which my hubby is grateful.  Now, I'm not suggesting that you give away all your beautiful handbags and shoes!  But perhaps try asking yourself before you purchase the next item, Is this going to clutter my life, or will it bring me more peace?  I know, that's a loaded question for you Prada purse-collecting gals.

   If you've noticed, it's hard for us to reach out to the needs of others if we don't have peace ourselves, so lets endeavor to keep our 'want list' short, simple, and necessary. (oh, thou shoe collector, please don't turn me off!)

   Through the years, I have found as my faith grows, my stress level decreases.  Since moving to South Carolina, whenever a stressful situation hits me in the face, I take a deep breath, lasso my little malte-poo Popcorn, and head out the door for a walk.  The pond, the trees, and the fresh air does wonders for my soul.  I can pray and walk at the same time so by the time I return home I'm surrounded by a peace that passes all of my understanding, I've given myself time to process the situation, and I have a happy dog!  What works for you?  A long walk?  A hot, relaxing bubble bath?  A good, sweaty workout?  A trip to the mall to look for another pair of shoes?--kidding!  Delete that last suggestion--I don't want to be responsible for a stressful purchase!

   Living in peace is impossible to teach because it is a personal journey of knowing and loving the Lord and getting close enough to let Him teach us how it works.  He has given me peace over the past 9 months through John's Ketruda treatments ... and I just received the latest report that all areas including lymph nodes are shrinking!  Thank you, Lord!  

   Good decisions and wisdom lead to peace in the challenging journey of life.  We recently had the 2020 election so no matter what the outcome, let's choose to snuggle closer to our heavenly Father and live in peace.  Looking forward to hearing from you!

Until next time ...

whether near or far,

keep reading and keep that body movin'!

   www.amazon.com/author/www.sharonleaf.com

www.sharonleaf.com

   

    

 

Lady Traveler's Journey with brother John Part 2

(UPDATE on brother John at the end of this blog)

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of striving safely 

in one pretty and well preserved piece,

but to skid across the line broadside,

thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting

GERONIMO!!"

Up and Away ... Brother John and me on our Mexico cruise
(Cabo San Lucas)

The above quote describes me on most days,

(especially the 'thoroughly used up' part)

because then I know that I've accomplished something,

no matter how small.😓

I felt like this on my "Making Memories" cruise last week

with my brother John, Ger, Christie, Todd, and my Robinski.

Since returning from our California/Mexico trip last week

I haven't done much in the way of communicating to anyone.

Just me and my thoughts,

and Robinski and Popcorn, which is adequate for the moment.

Today is the first day that I've felt like sitting myself down in front of my iMac
in Lady Leaf's Lounge.

I don't know how long I'll sit here so I'll type

the first thoughts that come to mind.

As I wrote in my previous blog,
the purpose of our Mexico Riviera cruise was to 

spend time with my baby brother John.

He was and is my priority,

so whatever he felt like doing, I did.

I followed him around like a puppy.

Watching every move.

Listening to every word.

Holding back tears.

Wondering if these might be the last words I would hear him speak.
(I'm just being honest)

THEN, I told myself, "SNAP out of it, you little baby!

Where's your faith, hope, and love?"

Or maybe it was Jesus speaking to me, not sure.

The first day on board after breakfast, we were walking on the top deck exploring,
when suddenly he stopped and unashamedly said,

"I'm going to my cabin to take a pill and rest."

Me and brother John having dinner on our first night at sea.

I did a lot of talking to myself on the cruise (silently of course),

and even more, talking to Jesus,

especially at night when I returned to our stateroom at the back (aft) of the huge ship.

I'd wrap myself in the long white robe that the large Havana staterooms furnished,
(remember, this was the LAST cabin available when we called!)

and go out on our spacious veranda to 'sit and sip'

while watching and listening to the sounds of the Pacific Ocean kicking up waves below,

and sometimes counting the stars in the sky.

These were some of my favorite moments on our cruise ...

Each night sitting, listening, watching.

These moments took me back to my fourteen months when we sailed
the seven seas and three oceans on the WWII ship Restoration back in 1994,

only this time on a ship that had stabilizers and air conditioning.

The view from our balcony on the Carnival Panorama Mexico Riviera cruise.
the deck below is private for "Havana staterooms" ... two jacuzzis and a serenity pool. 

Morning coffee and evening wine on our spacious Havana balcony 

Each day I silently listened as John shared his heart with me.

Pure straightforward honesty.

I wasn't going to bring up half the stuff he talked about,

but he is so brave, and honest, and funny.

He made talking about stage 4 cancer seem easy,

until he began to speak about leaving his beloved family behind.

Yes, we shed tears together,

but knowing where his strength and his hope comes from,

gives us both courage to face each day that God gives.

Taxi boat to shore in Cabo San Lucas (our ship in the background. Big, huh?)
Christy, John, Ger, and lil ol me!

We shared a week of fun and laughter,
combined with somber, yet peaceful moments.

A glass of wine with John, a margarita with Christy in Cabo and Mazatlan,

and gallons of coffee on board with everyone.

My humble, kind, loving, and funny brother.
Last day in my cabin preparing for departure.
How I hate to leave my baby brother.
A prayer and a kiss,
Until we meet again ....

There was more but I'll ponder those memories in my heart for now.

Upon John's return home to Zion, Utah, his doctor 'installed' a port.
He will not go the chemo route.

Instead, John is now waiting to be approved for
"Keytruda immunotherapy."

I will keep you posted.

John and our family appreciate your concern and prayers,
more than you'll ever know.

(Update below)

I am blessed to have a humble, kind, loving and funny man of my own!
I love you Robinski, especially in Cabo!

I wish you oceans of daily blessings!

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run,

but only one gets the prize?

Run* in such a way as to get the prize.

I Corinthians 9:24

*For whatever reasons, many of us can only walk. 

That's okay, as long as we're moving toward the prize that is set before us ...

Eternal Life with our Lord Jesus Christ.

UPDATE MARCH 2022:

Two years now, and the Keytruda therapy is no longer helping.

The cancer has spread.

John's doctor gave him two options:

Chemo or hospice.

At this writing he is choosing chemo.

He is weak, yet strong in spirit, never complaining,

only speaking the reality of his journey.

Rob and I are on standby but at this writing we'll be driving to

Utah the end of April to spend precious time with him.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

A miracle is appreciated.

Sweet precious brother John went to heaven

March 25 2022

Lady TraveleR is back on the island.

Lady TraveleR is back on the island

On the Road again ... foR the last time?

I no sooneR Returned fRom my wRiteRs confeRence

than Rob planned a Road tRip foR us.

Yes, I was getting Restless,

but a road trip so soon after I returned home?

"We're only driving up the road," he said.

"We're going to Dreher Island?" I asked.

"Why not? It's one of our favorite hangouts.

Besides, this might be the last trip before we sell her."

That did it.  I almost forgot that we're planning to sell
Moon River, our beautiful home-on-wheels.

"Yes, we shall go to Dreher Island," I replied with a note of sadness. 

I'm glad Rob had the bright idea to spend some days at Dreher Island State Park.

Pure serenity and peace to be surrounded by the
tall pine trees, the chirping birds, not to mention all the friendly campers.

So here we are, camping on Lake Murray in our motor home, 

just an hour north of our cozy condo on ...

Lake Murray.

I'm glad that God put the bright idea in Rob's heart to come here.

where there are less distrRactions.

Today I'm typing aways at our little table in Moon River,

sipping on FolgeRs, glancing out the window

at the same lake I admire every day from our patio.

We've enjoyed many sunny days at Dreher Island on Lake Murray
Prosperity, SC

But at this moment I'm looking at the lake from a different angle.

This might be the last time I'll be glancing out the window of our

home-on-wheels.

Wheels that has safely taken us thousands of miles to over 

25 states in the past three years.

Sadness and thankfulness fill my soul.

Campsite at Dreher Island State Park, one of our favorite getaways.

I continue typing, trying to fill my mind with thoughts of what to write

in my next blog for the Retired and Good Living website.

Then I stop and say a little pRayeR.

Sometimes that's what we have to do with our present situations.

Instead of looking with our narrow minds,

we need to pray and ask God to show us our
circumstances from His angle.

For you it might be your relationship with your mate, a friend, a neighbor, or a recent loss,

a change in lifestyle ....

Now, I can turn my thoughts to an unwritten blog,

chapters that needs to be revised ....

Yes, I'm really enjoying my days here at Dreher Island,

just an hour north of our home on the same lake,

in my home-on-wheels,
perhaps for the last time (tear).

I shall Rejoice in the LoRd foR all that He has done for me,

and foR what He has foR me in the days to come.

www.sharonleaf.com

www.retirementandgoodliving.com

Lady Traveler's memories of Turkey and Sweden

Lady Traveler's memories of Sweden and Turkey

Dinner with my Swedish girlfriends 2008

There is much talk about the world's refugees,
which takes me back to our journey
to Sweden and Turkey in the fall of 2008.

It's hard to believe that it has been 9 years since this journey.
We were blessed to have a house-sitter and dog-sitter
that enabled us to be gone for three weeks.
When God asks you to do something,
He always provides.
First, we flew to Sweden.
I was honored to be asked by my Swedish friend, Helene,
to speak to a group of Kurdish refugee women from Turkey.
Although they were completely covered, the lovely dark-skinned women lit up the small room.
They were timid.  They were kind.  They were hungry.
We gathered around a long table where they served, in my honor, 
the most delicious Kurdish dishes.
I usually can't eat before speaking (its called nerves),
but I made an exception.

Then it was time for me to share what God had placed on my heart.
At first it felt strange to once again be speaking with an interpreter,
but soon we were flowing together like old friends.

Afterwards, I offered to pray with those who wanted prayer.
Every woman waited patiently as I spent time
holding their hands and praying for them.
We hugged, then ate delicious desserts.

Believe me, I was the one who was blessed that day.
I thank Helene for the opportunity to spend time
with these refugees that needed a safe place to live.
To this day, the women and their families are not able to return to Turkey
due to the political atmosphere.
(no photos available)


A week later Rob and I took another leap of faith.
A small team of three Swedes--and us-- flew to Istanbul.
Planes, trains, buses, and hours of walking in a city filled with thousands of people.
Bus lines were blocks long.  How did they get to work on time? I wondered.
So many people.  Strangers to me, but not to God.
He sent us to minister to a handful of Armenian refugee leaders who had begun a 
Christian work in this city of millions.
Leaders that needed encouragement, love, and prayer.
That's the least we could do for these brave, courageous men and women.

In the flat of leaders of a local Christian church in Istanbul
(that's me and Rob on the right)

Praying for people in a beautiful church after an evening service.

Eating lunch with Pastor and his family, and other church members after Sunday church service
(Rob preached that morning. Afterwards we prayed for the congregation)

Istanbul, Turkey 2008

We saw many famous sites in this magnificent city,

but it was the beautiful people that left the most profound memories.

We met in small flats throughout the city, and in local churches.
Their courage to obey the call of God on their lives,

no matter what the cost,

will stay close to my heart forever.


Wherever I travel, near or far,
I am always knitted closely together with my Christian brothers and sisters.
I'm sure you find this to be true in your travels.

Let us not forget those who have fled their land in search of a

safe haven until they are once again able to return to their safe home.

A few travel tips:
Get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, and carry snacks.
Travel light.
Always have an interpreter with you whenever possible.
Much can get lost in translation.


I wish you oceans of travel blessings!


Now, I beseech you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you speak the same thing,
and that there be no divisions among you;
but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind,
and in the same judgement.
I Corinthians 1:10

www.sharonleaf.com

Put a LITTLE GRAVEL in Your TRAVEL...Lady Travels on Highway 378 to Myrtle Beach

Home of Josh Turner, one of my favorite country singers
Highway 378

Makes me wanna take a back road

Makes me wanna take the long way home...

(a Tim McGraw song)

Last week, my cousin, Vernon Roy, and I took a road trip to Myrtle Beach.  Highway 378 is a road that has been around years before the interstates were built.  I drive 378 from Lexington to Sumter because I prefer roads and highways to the faster interstates.  Why?  Because you get the feel of the countryside and the little towns along the way.  And at my young age of 67, I'm in no hurry to get to the next town.  I enjoy the moment.  Try it.  You'll like it.

FYI:  Highway 378 will take you all the way to Myrtle Beach.

My last trip to MB was three months ago with my cousin, Ronnie; we were meeting our cousins, Judy and Bettie, for lunch.  This time the trip with Vernon was more somber.  We were meeting Bettie at the hospital to visit Judy who recently had a major stroke and was paralyzed.  We were greeted by Judy's smile and her funny stories about her stay in the hospital.  Then we laughed about the time ...

...  I was in sixth grade and my family drove from California to South Carolina for a three-week Christmas vacation.  I stayed a few days in Sumter with Judy, and when her mother announced we were having fried chicken for dinner, I followed her outside, thinking we were going to walk down the road to the local Piggly Wiggly to buy a chicken.   Suddenly she grabbed an ax and I watched in horror as she proceeded to chop off a chicken's head (needless to say, that evening I had a difficult time eating one of their pets)... 

... The laughter we shared gave us strength to get through the heartache of seeing our cousin lying helpless in a hospital bed.  Before we said our good-byes, I asked Judy, "May we pray for you?"  As I prayed, peace filled the room, and our tears felt like tears of hope.  We are believing for Judy's miracle from God.

Travel TiP:  Laughter AND Prayer is good for the soul.  Remember that the next time you visit someone in the hospital.

The two hour drive back to Sumter gave Vernon and I some 'cousin time' to walk down memory lane.    As we drove along, something felt familiar.   Then suddenly out of nowhere,  a big sign on the right side of the highway caught my attention. "Josh Turner!"** I exclaimed.  Vernon quickly asked, "Do you want me to pull over so you can take a picture?"  Vernon has gotten to know me quite well since I moved to South Carolina seven years ago.  Although we only get together a few times a year, he has learned to read my body language, especially when I pull out my iPhone to take a picture...a dead give-away.

Travel TiP:  Take time to smell the roses and read the signs--and take pictures!  It's the little things that mean a lot, and I thank Vernon for having the patience to pull over for me to click about ten shots of this sign.  Yes, rich and famous people are born in small southern towns.  And I feel that this sign was a smile from God, letting us know that the whole world is in His hands, especially our sweet cousin, Judy.

By faith

we understand that the entire universe

was formed by God's command,

that what we now see

 did not come from anything that can be seen.

Hebrews 11:8-10 NLT

You may apply all above Travel TiPs to any state or country you visit.

I wish you oceans of blessings and smooth sailing for your Autumn days

www.sharonleaf.com

** BTW: Quick story:  The first time Jacquie came to visit me seven years ago (before she moved to Lexington),  I accidentally took Highway 378 to Myrtle Beach, which takes twice as long as driving on I-20east...but hey, it was my first time driving to MB!  Jacquie and I did see the Josh Turner sign, but that was before I had a smart phone, and I never thought I'd be traveling down that road again.  But here's the proof!  *smile*

Put a little gravel in YOUR travel

"Wild wRide as a Writer" A few words from Lady Traveler

A Jennifer Richardson design

For Writer's only ... everyone else will be bored by the subject matter.

Writers don't have a whole lot of time to read for pleasure.  

They should.  

I'm a writer.  I write in my travel journal.  My personal journal.  

My writing journal.  My blog.  Guest blogs.  

I published my first novel last year 

(Lady and the Sea, incase you didn't know).  

I'm now rewriting my old manuscript, Lady on the Run.  

On and on.  

I spend lots of time researching about writing, 

editing, publishing, marketing.  

In books.  On the web.  On Facebook.  In between rewrites.  

Don't all writers?  You feel guilty if you don't.  

Now, I'm going to be real...  

Last week I grew bit weary of all the 

Reading, wRiting, and Research thing, so I prayed.  

Don't all writers pray?  

I told God,  I'm doing the best I can with what I have but 

I feel like I've hit a brick wall.  

I know Lady and the Sea is in Your Hands, 

so I'm looking forward to what You have up your sleeve.  

Well, something like that.

That same day I read this quote from author Mark Batterson's book, The Circle Maker:  

"I make the distinction between 

qualified and called with aspiring writers all the time.  

Too many authors worry about whether or not 

their book will get published.  

That isn't the question.  

The question is this: 

Are you called to write?  

That's the only question you need to answer.  

And if the answer is yes, then you need to 

write the book as an act of obedience.  

It doesn't matter whether anyone reads it or not."

What is your answer to Mark's question?  

Mine is yes, I am called to write.

I'm an older author.  

I call myself the almost-famous author.  

I published my first book last year.  

I'm pleased the way Lady and the Sea has been accepted and reviewed by those who have read it.  

I'm not looking for awards or making lots of money or fame.  

I wrote Lady and the Sea because 

I was compelled by God to write the true story of 

a WWII ship and the lady who loved her.  

Same with Lady on the Run-- another compell-ment from God.  Not going to push books today.  

I just wanted you to know that all writers go through stuff.

  

It's a big world of books out there.  

Don't get swallowed up in all the hoopla.  

Focus on your own personal journey.  

That way you'll have time to stop and smell the roses.  

Don't you love that old saying?

Now, after writing all my random thoughts, 

I must get back to my writing ... after I smell a few roses.

I Wish you smooth Writing and oceans of creative blessings on your Wild ride as a Writer!

p.s.  The day I prayed that prayer and read Mark's quote, I sold two books from my Facebook page!  Hey, it was my confirmation that I'm on the right path.  Prayer and obedience works.  As if  you didn't know.

Talking with my publisher way back when!

www.sharonleaf.blogspot.com

www.sharonleaf.com

I'm Drawing Circles ... not to be confused with running around in circles!

Dream ... and BeLeaf!

I'm beginning the new year by reading The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson.  I read Chapter One this morning, but I stopped dead in my tracks after reading the first sentence of Chapter Two:

Every book has a backstory.  There is a moment when an idea is conceived in the imagination of an author and this idea is destined to become a book. 

All you writers and authors can relate to this statement, but the concept is for all of us who are alive and well on planet earth.  The backstory of our lives--what has happened up until now--is an important part of who we are today.  Good or bad, happy or sad, those choices we made yesterday make up our character--and believe me, some of us are real characters--and who we are today.


Mark's words were yet another confirmation to me that I made the right decision to keep my backstory in the novel, Lady and the Sea.  After all, the book is based on my true story.  This past year, readers have told me how they related to the ups and downs, the pain and the happiness of my life.  That is what Lady is all about ... touching lives for the better ...  finding faith for forgotten dreams.

What is your backstory?  I know some of you have experienced a failed marriage, the loss of a loved one, a serious illness.  My heart goes out to you.  Like you, I don't have all the answers.  But I do know that each time I sought the Lord ... He heard me.  He was there for me, and led me through to the light at the end of each tunnel.  He still does today.

I can't wait to delve into The Circle Maker.  But I'm more excited about delving into this coming year, knowing that our backstories are behind, and a promising future is ahead.

Dreams can come true.  Pray circles around them, and see what happens!

The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.

The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. 

 Psalm 19:7-8 The Message

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