Archive for April, 2010

Posted on April 30, 2010 - by Linda Fulkerson

I’m My Own Worst Pothole

According to most explanations, potholes are formed when, due to the wear and tear of traffic, a road’s components — namely gravel (for drainage) and asphalt (that gooey stuff that sticks to your shoes in summer) — break down, allowing water to seep deep down to the road’s foundation. When winter arrives, the water-soaked road-innards freeze and subsequently expand to the cracking point. As they thaw, the road then contracts, slumping down into a sinkhole that would make most meteor strike sites jealous.

I don’t believe a word of that.

Why? Because I lived in Hawaii for nearly four years, and Honolulu has some of the biggest potholes I’ve ever seen (even rivaling those in Iowa), yet the roads don’t freeze there. Potholes are so big in Hawaii that one of the local radio stations used to conduct a “Biggest Pothole” reporting contest. Until, in hopes of winning the prize, several small cars went missing, presumably lost in pothole land. Because Hawaii boasts such large potholes despite the lack of a freeze-and-thaw cycle, I believe the widely accepted (at least in Hawaii) explanation of pothole creation.

The Menehunes did it.

What, you may ask, is a Menehune? Actually, a Menehune (pronounced meh-neh-HOO-neh) isn’t a what — it’s a “who.” According to legend, Menehunes live in the forests and valleys, well hidden from the human eye. Their favorite food is the banana, but they also like fish. While they are hard workers, they also love to create mischief. Including pothole punching. (On the mainland, you may have heard them referred to as “Gremlins.”)

No matter which explanation of pothole creation you embrace, the point is, potholes develop in our lives. Personally, I’m my own worst pothole. Especially when I don’t manage the daily wear and tear on my life and let myself get down physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Then bad things trickled into my cracks — depression, busy-ness, procrastination, doubt. When the weathers of life strike, I cave in and sink away down to my foundation.

There are two things I can do to prevent potholes from utterly destroying my life’s path: First (and foremost) is to ensure my road has a strong foundation — one built upon the solid Rock. And second, I must continually maintain my faith and my health, patching tiny cracks before any evil Menehunes (or water, if you prefer the traditional explanation of pothole-formage) can slip in.

Let’s share with each other some things we do to maintain our personal paths to prevent pothole-damage.

Posted on April 30, 2010 - by Lorna Seilstad

The 2010 Christy Nominees Announced

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Posted on April 28, 2010 - by Lorna Seilstad

Interview with Author Sarah Sundin

We are in for a treat today!  Author Sarah Sundin has come to visit. Her debut novel, A Distant Melody, has received wonderful reviews.

I met Sarah at the ACFW conference last fall. I don’t remember if we looked each other up or just ended sitting by one another, but as two of Revell’s unknown author’s we had an instant connection. She had her arm in brace at the time, and maybe she’ll tell us more about that.  I was immediately impressed by her ready laughter and she already had her cover with her!

That book, A Distant Melody, has been one of my favorite reads this year. It’s a beautiful love story with several spiritual lessons that combines the details of  WWII, the excitement and realities of  flying B-17′s, and a love story about two people who are not physically perfect in the eyes of the world. Sarah takes her characters to the hard places and brings them back through God’s love.

Sarah lives in northern California with her husband and three children, an antisocial cat, and an overly social yellow lab. She works on-call as a hospital pharmacist and teaches Sunday school and women’s Bible studies.

Her next book in the “Wings of Glory Series” is  A Memory Between Us and releases from Revell in September. So, without further ado, here’s Sarah.

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Where is the coziest spot in your home?

My family room. Cushy sofa and chairs, blanket and pillows, fireplace, photos and mementoes—oh yes, and my husband, three kids, and yellow lab. Plus, there’s easy access to the chocolate stash in the pantry.

If you could pick a theme song to play every time you entered a room, what would it be?

I guarantee you it would not be, “Sarah, Smile.” I hated that song. It was popular when I was in junior high, and I was very quiet. Everyone thought it was hysterical, absolutely hysterical, to sing it whenever they saw me. “Sa-rah….smi-ile!” Well, what if I didn’t feel like smiling, huh?

Who is your biggest cheerleader?

I’ve been blessed with so many cheerleaders. My entire church family has prayed for me and encouraged me through this whole adventure. Also, my writers group and my book club have cheered me on. The journey to publication is rocky and emotional, and I couldn’t possibly have done it alone. 

What is the biggest writing challenge you’ve encountered this past year – craft, career, writing life, etc? How did you solve it?

My writing life. This past year I’ve made the transition from casual writer to professional author. Although I’ve always put a lot of hours into my writing, my mindset has had to change. I also had a few challenges—I broke my wrist this summer, which led to meeting a major writing deadline typing one-handed on Vicodin. Oh yes, and a yellow lab puppy who wants to play, play, play. Currently I’m working on time management, goal-setting, and efficiency.

 What challenges did you face in researching and writing this particular book?

As a reader, historical inaccuracies throw me out of the story, so I wanted my own novels to be as accurate as possible. That meant gobs of research. For example, the heroes in this series are B-17 bomber pilots. But I’ve never flown a plane. So first I read a “How to Fly a Plane” book to get the basics, then purchased copies of the actual B-17 pilot’s manual and the training film (pure gold!), and ran the flying scenes past a pilot friend. Because I love research, one of my biggest challenges was knowing when to stop researching and get back to the story.

How did you and your husband meet?

We met in pharmacy school at UC San Francisco. He was a third year student and was the director of the orientation program when I was a first year. I say he took the position to meet girls. He says I picked him up. The first day of orientation, we had a picnic in Golden Gate Park, and he was wearing a UCLA T-shirt. Since I was also a Bruin, I introduced myself. Both of us had decided we weren’t going to date that year—for different reasons—but God had other ideas. We were married two years later.

What scripture has touched or spoken to you lately? Or do you have one you hold onto?

John 15:5 is my theme verse right now: “’I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing’” (NASB). Learning to abide in Him is a lifelong lesson for all of us, but He’s impressed it on me lately. Everywhere I look, this concept and this verse popping, a sure indication that the Lord wants to get my attention.

Posted on April 28, 2010 - by Dawn Ford

Vital Friends

 A few years ago I read a book called Vital Friends by Tom Rath.  In the back there is a key for an online test to take to see which one of the 8 vital roles your friends play in your life. The answers did not surprise me, what surprised me is how important the roles are that those people play in my life.

Have you ever heard a speech someone gave when accepting an honor? The honorees have a never ending list of the people who have affected their lives, most of which they would not be the same without. More remarkable than the people backing such recipients of honors are the obstacles they have had to overcome, all with the help of vital people in their lives.

When Iook at my writing path, it is lined with potholes of one kind or another. My way is littered with traps to fall into, potholes to navigate around, and hurdles to jump. I need a GPS to maneuver down this path.  

So, how do I find my way around these potholes? With vital friends. One of these friends who has taken my hand and not let go is Lorna. She is the reason I have made it here. Had she not first encouraged me, I never would have put pen to paper. Through her I have met all of you, joined the ACFW, and continue to write amongst the debris of the potholes in my life. 

Marlene is another dear friend I have gotten to know through Lorna and the ACFW conferences. Her beautiful flowing French and loving graceful acceptance warms my heart each time I think of her. She inspires me. Shannon I got to know at last year’s ACFW conference. Her southern charm and funny stories make me smile. Her dignity in adversity also inspires me.

Then of course, there’s Judy Miller. Judy has also taken my hand in hers and touched my heart with her kindness. She is a humble spirit and it amazes me that she takes the time to throw bits of wisdom my way. She raises my bar and is a person who inspires me to be a better writer.

Not to mention the I.N. Midwestern group of writers. Mary Connealy, with her wit and humor, is someone who lights up my soul just by being around her. Shari Barr and Cathy Richmond, you are the chocolate chips in my cookies, a friendly face in an unfriendly world. You both have a sweet gentleness that heals me.   

Lorna teases me that I am reaping the full benefits of her road to publication. She is the one who is taking out the biggest share of the potholes before I even step foot on the path before me. There is no other person I would trust to take my hand and lead me as a blind person through the pitfalls of writing.     

Each of my inkster sisters are invaluable to me. Because of you I know I am not alone. Even if we never meet in person, know you have touched my life and made me better for knowing you. You are my vital friends.

Posted on April 26, 2010 - by Shannon Vannatter

Turning Potholes Around

I’m an optimist. My glass is half-full, my glasses are rose-colored, and if I have something to worry about, I usually forget to worry. This is a good thing because I’ve hit lots of potholes on my writing journey.

On weekdays, I spend approximately five hours writing. After I read my favorite daily blogs, I give myself permission to write badly, not worrying about the first line, continuity, timeline, or setting. I just get the story on the page. In the revision stage, I hone, carve, add, and delete until hopefully I’ve got something worth reading. By just doing it, I avoid potholes such as:

1. Getting stuck on perfecting the first sentence, chapter, or three chapters.

2. Getting stuck in an endless cycle of polishing what I’ve already written.

3. Getting stuck on my characters goals, motivations, and conflicts.

I’ve put explanations for writerly terms in parentheses, in case there are normals (non-writers) reading.

I usually do a GMC (goal = what the character wants, motivation = why they want the goal, conflict = why they can’t reach the goal) chart for my hero and heroine before I start a book. But as a pantser (fly by the seat of my pants without a lot of plot or planning), I’ve learned that as I write, the characters reveal things to me. I didn’t know until I started writing the book that my beautiful, blond, buff heroine has low self-esteem. She told me on the first page.

In the end I realized how important her character flaw was. What I thought was the black moment (when all hope is lost for the hero and heroine to end up together) wasn’t the black moment at all. The black moment stems from her lack of confidence. How can a beautiful, blond, buff heroine have low self-esteem? It goes back to the childhood she revealed to me and makes perfect sense.

By just writing, my characters come alive and I learn all kinds of things I didn’t know in the planning stage. Now the normals are convinced I’m nuts since my characters tell me things.

By just writing, I avoid minor potholes. But sometimes, I don’t see them coming.

I’ve finished book 3, and am working on the details which required a trip to a local plantation my heroine restores into a bed and breakfast. Linda and her friend, Kaci went with me. The house has slave quarters and was built in the late 1890’s. We had the most fun touring the house, and the Romance Waterfalls, which appears in all three books, then finished the day with pie and coffee at the Rambler Cafe featured in book 1.

Just two days later, I learned I’d misunderstood my editor and careened into a pothole. White Roses, which I thought would release to stores in June won’t be on the shelf until November. For one day, I ate all the chocolate in the house.

But then it hit me. This gift of time wasn’t a pothole, it was a reprieve. And boy did I need it. Over the last year, in the pursuit of meeting deadlines, I’ve created very little buzz about the book’s release. Now I have six glorious months to send press releases, snag interviews, arrange reviews, and figure out how to get all a twitter and facebook, while Linda has more time to work on the book trailer.

In a week’s time, White Roses will release to the ever faithful Heartsong Presents 10,000 member book club. How awesome is that? It will be available to non-book club members through the Heartsong Presents website and a few months later through Amazon. My book will touch readers’ lives, the thing I started praying for ten years ago.

And hopefully in those six months, book club members will talk up my book to their friends. Maybe even loan it to non-believing friends, which has always been my main goal.

Once again, I’m reminded of God’s timetable, not mine. He knew I’d need more buzz time. He knew this was the perfect publisher for me with 10,000 built-in readers to get my no-name known. He knew I’d be impatient. He loves me anyway and puts up with my chocolate-wallowing.

By the way, I’ll be at Seekerville on May 7, revealing more of my school of hard knocks writing journey. I hope it encourages someone.

How do you manage potholes? Avoid them, or hit them head-on, then turn them around?

Posted on April 25, 2010 - by Lorna Seilstad

Gold Medal Pothole Dodging

             Even though some of you might disagree, I live in what is arguably the Pothole Capital of the United States. This spring, we’ve had potholes that could swallow a mini-van, and I could have sworn bats flew out of some of the caverns on the main streets.  Honestly, I’ve seen the sewer system on two different occasions through HOLES in the street. Scary.

                The powers that be claim our plethora of potholes came from the freeze/thaw cycle we experienced during the winter. The funny thing is, I only remember a freeze cycle and a lot of snow.  No thaws. The snow stayed around all winter. At any rate, the potholes appeared about the same time as the Winter Olympics, so, in the spirit of things, I decided to make a new sport –Pothole Dodging.

                On any given trip, I scored myself. I lost a tenth of a point for not dodging a “rough patch” and half a point for hitting a small pot hole. Hitting a large one would cost me a whole point. Of course, there were long and short courses to correspond with the length of the trip.

                During my very own, and very private, Olympic sport (and I can assure you that this is the extent of my athletic abilities), I discovered two things. One, I am a Gold Medalist in Pothole Dodging. And two, my husband is not.

                While he is an excellent driver, he is looks at the end goal while he’s driving and regularly misses the hole right in front of him.  That’s how it is so often is with our writing journeys. We have our minds set so firmly on the goal of being published or writing the next book, that we miss the pothole on our path ready to trip us up.

                In the next two weeks, we will be talking about how to navigate those potholes. How do you skirt distractions? Handle discouragement? Keep focused? And if you’re not a writer, you can apply these same principles to your personal goals and/or your spiritual walk.

                And what advice does the self-proclaimed Gold Medal Pothole Dodger have to navigate those real life writing potholes? Let’s start with my favorite. Develop a habit of writing every day.  Whenever you miss days, it’s harder to get back on track. When you write every day, your writing has better continuity and you learn to make your creativity work for you and not the other way around.

                So, dodge that procrastination pothole, put the pen to the paper, and give yourself a medal. I know I did!

Posted on April 24, 2010 - by Regina

CONTESTS AND WINNERS AND INTERVIEWS . . . OH MY!

Just a quick note to announce the winner from our giveaway! The winner of her very own copy of Kaye Dacus’ recent novel A CASE FOR LOVE is Jaclyn!!  Thanks, Jaclyn, for reading and commenting! Hope you visit OFTEN!

And an important announcement! This Thursday, April 29, Author Sarah Sundin will be our special guest!  Be sure to stop by and check out another great author interview! Her new release, A DISTANT MELODY, is book one of her WWII series, Wings of Glory!

Have a great weekend, and look for a new topic next week – Navigating the potholes on your writing journey. Visit with us, tell us about YOUR journey, and hear about a variety of potholes, a variety of roads, and a variety of takes on something that means a lot to the ten writers on Inkspirational Messages.

See you soon!

Posted on April 23, 2010 - by Kav

So Many Books, So Little Time

As usual it’s the eleventh hour and I’m trying to make up for lost time, though it would take a month of Sundays to wax poetic on the subject of time the way my sister inksters have.  When I find myself with time on my hands, I usually fill both with a book. It’s thrilling when I find one that will stand the test of time and when I do I hunt down every book that author has written.  And that’s often a race against time since some books have a short shelf life, like those wily Love Inspired ones! That means we’re working against the clock from the very second they are put on the shelves and if we’re not careful the ship will sail without us!   So I worked into the small hours to come up with a plan that would help me remember important book release dates even when I’m pressed for time.

 It’s called a Release Calendar! And I created it just in the nick of time since the near future holds a multitude of incredible new inspirational book releases. Believe me, you’ll have the time of your life reading them!  But this list comes with a warning…these books are guaranteed  time-stealers! 

 Kav Disclaimer:  This is by no means a comprehensive list.   So many books – so little time! Books are listed in chronological order.

 White Roses by Shannon Vannatter May 2010 (if you belong to Heartsongs Present Book Club) or in stores November 2010

 A grieving widower and single parent, Pastor Grayson struggles with letting go and moving on.  Adrea Welch doesn’t understand how she can be so attracted to a man still devoted to his dead wife. But can their developing relationship survive the secrets from Adrea’s past?

 Our very own Shannon’s debut novel!  She’ll have to tell us what it’s like to have to wait for an accepted manuscript to finally transform itself into a book!

 Love on a Dime by Cara Lynn James June 2010

 Lilly Westbrook writes dime novels and does everything she can to conceal that fact from friends and family because of the stigma attached to her career.  But then, former suitor, Jackson Grail becomes Lilly’s new publisher – only he doesn’t know it.  What he does know is that ‘Fannie Cole’s’ dime novels are good for business and they’d be even better if he can track his star writer down and convince her to go public! 

 Isn’t that an ingenuous plot?  I’m really excited about this one.  I think the premise is very clever.  I can’t wait!!!!!

 

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz  July 2010

 We’re back in  18^th century Kentucky for Laura’s second historical novel.  Morrow Little is haunted by the memory of a Shawnee raid that tore her family apart.  Now that she is  grown, she faces difficult choices about marriage.  There is no shortage of men vying for her attention, but she finds herself  inexplicably drawn to a forbidden love.

 Laura’s rich, lyrical text is inspiring and this will definitely be one for your keeper shelf – right along side The Frontiersman’s Daughter.

 

  Waiting Out the Storm by Ruth Logan Herne July 2010

 The author has dubbed this a “Hatfield/McCoy” type romance.  It’s the second in her North Country series and features Craig and Sarah who we met in Winter’s End. I don’t know much more than that – except I’ll love it!  Ruthy’s writing style flows and her voice is strong.  I’m prepared for a few laughs, some tears and a big satisfied sigh at the end.  It’s going to be good…I just know it.

 

 Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad September 2010s 

Marguerite Westing is thrilled to spend the summer at Lake Manawa with her family. What better way to put some distance between herself and a boring suitor?  And what would summer be like without romance?  One that doesn’t involve the young gentleman from back home!  But Marguerite’s  idyllic summer is ruined when her father’s gambling problems threaten to ruin her family and she is faced with an agonizing dilemma.  Does she marry to secure her family’s fortune or will she follow her heart?

 A debut novel by our very own Lorna!  I’ve read some of her work so I know that this will be a captivating read and I’m a tad shy of giddy at actually seeing it in my local Christian bookstore! 

 A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman  September 2010

 Set in the late 1920’s, little Katie O’Connor is all grown up and looking toward an exciting future which includes a career in law and a husband.  Of course Julie Lessman wouldn’t let it be that uncomplicated! So while future husband, Jack, is left waiting in the wings, Katie’s childhood nemesis, Cluny McGee resurfaces to throw her world – and plans – into chaos.

If you’ve read her Daughters of Boston series, you’ll be well acquainted with Katie O’Connor.  Readers have watched her grow up and I think we all feel motherly towards her.  It will be interesting to see what Julie has thrown at the youngest O’Connor girl — how Katie handles it!

 

The Healer’s Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson October 2010

 A new YA medieval romance is about to hit the market in the form of a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. I love this genre and am beyond excited to see this book release in the fall.  Isn’t the book cover gorgeous? And it’s Melanie’s debut novel!

 Rose, the woodcutter’s daughter, apprentices to the town healer and loses her heart to a forbidden love.

 And just to wet your appetite even more, take a look at her book trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2m9-Ap4IZE

 

Really looking ahead:

 Made To Order Family by Ruth Logan Herne  September 2010

Wrangler in Petticoats by Mary Connealy October 2010

Fatal Judgement by Irene Hannon – January 2011

What about you – are there any titles you just can’t wait to get your hands on?

Posted on April 22, 2010 - by Regina

I MISS MY TIME WITH YOU

It’s been a busy week.

Time has been in short supply

Finally, I sat at my desk, trying to get inspired to write about “time.” We’ve talked a lot about the passage of time and all the things that are behind us. We’ve talked about how time flies. When we’re young, we think it drags. Memories of times past, both good and bad, assail us when we think about time

But wait. Time goes both ways.  What about the here and now? What about the time that is looming before us?

When I hit the big 4-0 a few years back, I found a renewed sense of dread for the unknown. I wondered, in approximately half my life, had I accomplished what I had hoped to do by now? What does the future hold? Have I made good use of the time God has given and will give me? Have I been and will I be all I need to be to my husband? To my children? To my parents? To my Lord

And why was He the last on the list?

So, in the interest of skittering away from a conviction that I had somehow neglected my walk with Christ in the interest of not having TIME, I started looking for songs. After all, this week’s category is “chatterbox,” isn’t it? Not devotional! But this week, at this time in my life (there it is AGAIN!), it’s the topic about which I want to chatter, so bear with me.

Back to song lyrics. I can always be inspired, it seems, by a good song. In a lyric search for songs about “time,” I found old disco favorites, songs by the Carpenters, country and gospel songs, and then, though it wasn’t on the list, my mind wandered to a song recorded, probably in the 80’s, by Larnelle Harris.

I Miss My Time With You.

I remember a former minister of music singing that song, accompanying himself at the piano one Sunday night several years ago. It stuck with me. It convicts me every time I hear it, every time I think of it.

It’s an imaginary look at how God must feel when we rush by him, going hither and yon as we try to “do our best,” and do “good things” in the name of serving HIM.

I think of Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha was rushing around, angry at her sister and speeding through her evening with Jesus, while Mary stopped and sat at Jesus’ feet. Did He perhaps whisper the words of this song to Martha, as He whispered it to me?

Here’s a bit:

I miss my time with you.
Those moments together.
I need to be with you each day
and it hurt’s me when you say
you’re too busy.
Busy trying to serve me.
But how can you serve me
when your spirit’s empty?
There’s a longing in my heart
wanting more than just a part of you.
It’s true,
I miss my time with you.

I Miss My Time With You

The same person who inspired me with that song, so long ago, also once told me not to have any regrets. Wise words, but hard to abide by. I do regret wasted time on all fronts, but I know that the more time I spend walking with my Lord, the more He takes those burdens on Himself, leaving me with a lighter load. He’s just that kind of Savior. He’s worth a little extra time.

Posted on April 21, 2010 - by Brenda Anderson

Embracing the Wait

A n t i c i p a t i o n  .  .  .

Christmas morning

Your wedding

Holding your baby for the first time

Taking the family to Disney World

You know that feeling. That nervous excitement that bubbles in your stomach and tingles in your hands as that landmark event approaches with the swiftness of a turtle chasing a snail. Time doesn’t fly; it lies down and hibernates. 

In our McQuick society of airplanes, microwaves, and the internet, world-travel, hot food, and infinite knowledge are just minutes away. We’ve become accustomed to getting what we want right now. We want that milestone to happen yesterday, not tomorrow. But that’s not how life works, is it?

We may measure our life with milestones, but it’s in between those stones, on the detouring, rocky, pitted path, where learning and growth occur making those achievements and occasions possible.

The question is, how do we survive this waiting journey?

As a pre-published writer, that question is ever-present.  How do I await the fruition of my dreams when I want them realized now? Today? In the five years I’ve been writing seriously, God has made a few things evident:

• Be Still:  “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10. In this busy world, being still may seem impossible, but make the time. Put God first on your busy list, and He’ll guide you through the rest.
• Pray: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3. Now that you’re still, it’s time for that conversation. Talk to God. Tell Him your struggles with waiting. He wants to hear your voice … your heart.
• Listen:  “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27. For me, this is one of the most difficult parts of the waiting journey. I’m great at talking to God. I do so all day long. But, do I stop and listen? Do I hear His voice with clarity? Do I know His voice as well as sheep know their shepherd? Admittedly, I’m still working on that.
• Surrender: “He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30. Okay, I’m quiet now, I’ve said my piece and I’ve listened to Him, but to be honest, I don’t really like His answer. It doesn’t fit in my carefully drawn plans. My dreams head to the right, and His meander to the left. Begrudgingly, and frequently with missteps in the opposite direction, I finally say “fine.” You know this path better than I do.
• Obey: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13b – 14. Okay, the past is behind me and God has pointed me toward this road riddled with valleys and deserts. It would be crazy to obey, wouldn’t it? But, He lovingly nudges me, and with confidence, I step toward His prize which will be infinitely greater than my dreams.
• Persevere: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1. As I run this serpentining, rutted, and sometimes painful path of writing that seems to have no end, I question, “What is the purpose?” and often contemplate quitting. But I know God is with me on this path, so each day I sit down, curve my fingers over that keyboard, and I write.
• Worship: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4. God doesn’t say rejoice just when we reach our milestones, or praise Him in our victories, but rejoice ALWAYS. Every step of the path, every moment of waiting, we are to praise Him.

The end goal, that important milestone may be years away, or maybe only seconds, but when I take the time to Be Still, Pray, Listen, Surrender, and Obey, with God running at my side, it’s easy to Persevere. And with every step, I will Worship Him.

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31 KJV

What event are you waiting on? How do you walk the waiting path, and what are you learning on the journey? While you’re thinking, check out this YouTube video of John Waller’s song, While I’m Waiting, a song that beautifully reminds me to embrace the wait. http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=pzNyvnC2-1k