A to Z Devotion: W is for With

Photo courtesy morgueFile.com

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you." Isaiah 43:2

On morning a couple of months ago, as I was waking up, I felt God say, "I am with you". Immediately, I became fearful, dreading the day. What was going to happen that I would really need to rely on God to get me through it? Was it something big and scary?

Nothing happened.

I know I shouldn't have been fearful to hear those words. I should have felt comfort and excitement to hear God so clearly. I am thankful, though, for the message. I do know God is with me and He will get me through anything that comes my way. I am thankful I can trust Him to be by my side and to carry me, if needed.

When have you had a moment you knew God was "with" you?

Book Review: Miracle on Voodoo Mountain

"Miracle on Voodoo Mountain" by Megan Boudreaux is a testimony of how God moves mountains!

Overview: "It took months of God waking me up in the middle of the night before I realized I was the one He was calling to leave my comfortable American life and move to Haiti."

Miracle on Voodoo Mountain is the inspirational memoir of an accomplished and driven 24-year old who quit her job, sold everything, and moved to Haiti, by herself—all without a clear plan of action. Megan Boudreaux had visited Haiti on a few humanitarian trips but each trip multiplied the sense that someone needed to address the devastation—especially with the children, many of whom were kept as household slaves on the poverty-stricken and earthquake-devastated Caribbean island.

God guided her every step as she moved blindly to a foreign land without knowing the language, the people, or the future. From becoming the adoptive mother of former child slaves, to receiving the divine gift of the Haitian Creole language, to starting, building, and running a school for more than 500 children, "the amazingness of what God did after I made the choice to be obedient is incredible," said Megan.

Three years later, six acres on Bellevue Mountain in Gressier is the home of the nonprofit Respire Haiti at the former site of voodoo worship, and in the area that many still come to make animal sacrifices, Megan and her staff of nearly 200 are transforming this community as they educate, feed, and address the needs.

Dawn's Recommendation: 5 of 5 Stars (more if I could give them!!!!!)

What I Liked Loved: EVERYTHING! This book is a testimony of what God has done through Megan Boudreaux. I love her heart for God, her willingness to take constant leaps of faith, and her roll-up-her-sleeves-for-the-kingdom attitude. This book is passionate, exciting, amazing, and loving! I didn't want to stop reading it. I hope Megan writes a new book every 3 years to share what God is doing in Gressier, Haiti! 

This book will inspire people to step out in faith to follow the path God has for them! And, if they do, nothing will be impossible for them. God just needs a willing heart.  

Also, I loved the beautiful cover. It perfectly conveys, in one image, the miracles and joy that is found within the book's pages. I loved the cover even more when I found out that it is an actual picture of Megan, Micha, and the tamarind tree in Gressier.

What I Didn't Like: NOTHING!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the Publisher through BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

What miracle (small or large) have you experienced?
 

Writing Group Joy

source: catholicmom.com

I just have to give some shout outs to God!

Our writing group, 1st Writes, is just bursting with the holy spirit! Pam started the group three years ago and while its always been inspiring, this year is just amazing. The seats are full, the discussion is lively, and the writing is plentiful.  It is a joy to watch God move in our group.  I am so thankful to be a part of it!


In addition to our normal meetings, our group decided it will publish an Advent Devotion Booklet for our congregation. It will have 24 devotions focused on Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. 

We were a little nervous at first, wondering if some of us would have to write multiple devotions just to get enough. We worried for nothing. When word got out, writers from all over the church signed up, filling every slot! 


I can't wait to see how God will work during Advent as the whole church reads the daily devotions. Our church has never done anything like this, so it is very exciting. 

Prayer: God, thank you for being a part of our writing group and a part of the Advent Devotions. Please fill us with the holy spirit and help us write the words you want. Use this booklet for your glory and purpose. Amen. 

Power of Positive Thinking?

Source: dreamstime.com

I read a daily devotion, Until Today by Iyanla Vanzant. I enjoy reading it, but sometimes disagree with the “spiritual” advice because it doesn't always seem Christian-based. So, I take the nuggets of truth and pitch the rest.

Today’s reading was about the power of positive thinking and how you should focus on the positives, not negatives, because your life will go whichever way you think. In one way, the author had a point. I do know people who constantly look on the dark side and it seems that one problem after another comes to them and then they wallow in misery. On the other hand, I know people who are positive people that are dealt blows. But, just to say “think positive thoughts” – well, that is self-centered, shallow advice.

BLUF: Trouble comes to all. It is how we respond that matters. Simply turning to positive-thinking is not the answer. The answer is putting your trust in the positive power of Jesus. Because of God’s love for us, we can give up the problems of this world to him. Then we are freed from worry and negative thoughts, thus living a positive life.

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Self-Reflection:

I’m pretty much a positive person. I do give up most of my worry to God through prayer, but I have to admit that I have been negative lately about my writing. In particular, about my book (my first novel). The lack of progress on the revision weighs on me. I don’t want to work on it, even though I’m close to finishing it.

Negative thoughts creep in:

Who will want to read it?

It’s not important.

It’s not good enough.

All this is rubbish. Don’t I know that God himself anointed the book? Don’t I know that God himself anointed me to write? Don’t I remember the moment that God called me to write? Can’t God use my book to plant his seeds of truth even though it is fiction?

The answer to these questions is YES, YES, YES, YES!

Prayer: Lord God, take my negative thoughts and banish them. You are in control of my life and my book. You can and will use whatever I write to glorify you. Give me a positive outlook. Give me the will to finish the book with a happy heart. In your strength, I can do it! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

What is a Writing Ministry? - Interview with Dawn

 

Take a wild ride over at Christine Tyler's The Writer Coaster:

What is a Writing Ministry? How can God help you write? 

Interview with Dawn Hamsher

The Spark Blogfest - Post #3

Today I'm answering this question from Christine Tyler's Sparkfest:

What author set off that spark of inspiration for your current WIP?

My WIP, which is my first book, is Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure. 

The author that inspired it is the greatest author of all time...

God. Yep, God! He gave me the idea for the book and has hand in it every step of the way. Whenever I get stuck, I open the Bible and there are words that inspire me and words that directly relate to my book (and yes, it is fiction). It has been an awesome experience to write with God's help.

I've heard people say that first books never get published.
Q: Do I think mine will? 
A: If God wants it published, it will be published.

Is God/Jesus ever a part of your writing?  If so, how has that made a difference?