Just For Today For Writers

Kenneth L. Holmes penned the famous “Just For Today” that is used by al-anon. His wisdom addresses a one-day-at-a-time approach to life that could certainly be adopted by anyone – not just those struggling with substance abuse. You can read this timeless encouragement at http://www.nhal-anon.org/Just4Today.html .

What are some things that writers could do “just for today”?

Just for today

I will recommit to this crazy world of

solitude where my thoughts cannot be ignored.

Just for Today

I will prayerfully delve deeper

into the written Word of the God of the universe.

The Bible

Just for Today

I will seek His wisdom and then sit

silently and wait to hear His still, small voice.

Just for Today

I will ignore the Discourager.

Just for Today

I will encourage others

who seek to be heard by reading

their work and applauding their success.

Just for Today

I will be aware of others whose needs are greater

than mine and return to their world.

Just for Today

I will graciously accept help from those

who give their time to read and critique my work.

Just for Today

I will patiently move toward the

very best I can offer to bring glory, not to myself, but

to the Author and Finisher of my faith,

Jesus Christ.

Just for Today

May you be inspired and

your time for writing, protected.

God Bless.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."



(Psalm 119:105, NASB)

Heavenly

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth … “
(Genesis 1:1 NASB).

As amazing as the night sky is --- full of glittering stars and lights dancing among them --- the solar systems that exist beyond our vision are virtual playgrounds of light displays highlighted by the many gases and reflections of other suns, moons, and countless galaxies.

On the fourth day:

“Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth’; and it was so.
God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also.
God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.
There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.”
(Genesis 1:14-19, NASB)

And at the end of the sixth day:

“Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.”

(Genesis 2:1, NASB)

Imagine what the trip to Heaven will look like should we be allowed to enjoy the view as we rise upward to our eternal home. Until then, copy the following link into your browser and take a peek at these indescribable pictures from Amazing Space compiled and posted to Face Book by Stephen Black of Oklahoma City. (Link used with his permission.)

https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.471964434973.252362.763654973

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;

What is man that you are mindful of him,

And the son of man that You care for Him?”

(Pslam 8:3,4, NASB)

Great Grandsons

This week's A to Z letter is "G" and I'm going to shamelessly take advantage of the opportunity to introduce my God-given blessings of three young men who add the joy of grand-motherhood to motherhood. No, I'm not a great-grandmother - yet - but my grandsons are absolutely the greatest.

Jared, 16, is the oldest. After raising two little girls, I have to admit that I wasn't very confident in my expertise when it came to boys. Jared introduced me to a world full of Thomas Train and covering the living room floor with train tracks and "forts", Blues Clues and a fascination with lady bugs and roly polys. He would sit, captivated, through the entire video of Riverdance, then instruct me to "rewind it" and we would enjoy most of it again. His dry sense of humor was evident by the time his single words grew to complete sentences. Jared is a natural musician. He began picking out simple melodies on our piano at an early age and is now enjoying honored positions in his award-winning high school marching and concert bands. He has his parents' eye for detail and his artwork was impressive at a very early age. Some say he has that Harry Potter look. Maybe. I just see a very cool and handsome young man who lights up my world.

Next up is Barrick, a two-and-a-half year old with blond hair and big blue eyes.  He is perpetual motion - and speech. His parents would tell you that Barrick narrates the entire day's activities as they unfold. He's used to regularly interacting with people of all ages as his mom teaches her 30+ piano students in their home. Consequently, he knows no strangers. He greets adults with, "Hi! How you doin'? I doin' fine." His squeals of recognition - "Hi, Nana!" and "Hi Papa!" - are all we need to keep us in grandparent heaven. Barrick is also musical. Both parents are actively involved in music and their DNA and lifestyle are having a huge impact on those natural tendencies. He loves Kinder Musik classes and waits every day for mom to finish teaching piano so he can have his "lesson." Barrick welcomed his new brother with open arms and seldom passes him by without a "love pat" or a kiss. This link will take you to his 13-second rendition of "Elmo's World." Enjoy . https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150282231761257
                                                

Last, but certainly not least, is Brendon. Seven-month-old Brendon is laid back and happy. The only things that interrupt his big toothless grin, wrinkled up nose and giggles are expressions of "I'm hungry" or "time for a nap." He's soft and an armload of cuddles and cheeky kisses. We've had many naps in his dad's recliner while mommy teaches. Brendon's face lights up and his smiles grow larger when Barrick enters the room or stops to acknowledge him. These two little guys are already best buds. His first word, (documented via video), is "Bubba", Barrick’s nickname. Mom and Dad will have to wait to hear their titles roll off this tiny tongue. His infant Mohawk is finally relaxing into a head full of soft brown hair, a striking combination with his deep blue eyes. I'm guessing Brendon will follow the musical lead of his brother and his cousin. Follow this link to "Bubba." https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150318841506257

As a mother and a grandmother, I've had the best of both worlds: Two beautiful little girls to sew for and button into ruffles and three grandsons who help this girlie "Nana" see the world though video games and sneakers. As these manly treasures age, the visits will become less frequent and the hugs more rare, but the memories I have of each phase of their wonderful lives will keep me smiling.

"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord"

(Psalm 127:3, NASB).

F A C E

“When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,

“Your face, O Lord, I shall seek” 
(Psalm 27:8, NASB).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“The Lord bless you, and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine on you,

And be gracious to you.

The Lord lift up His countenance on you,

And give you peace” 
(Numbers 6:27, NASB).

Focus on the Father

Accept His love

Count your blessings

Embrace the day.

Eleven ... Eleven ... Eleven

I received this email this morning. Great timing since I was still thinking through an idea for “E” week for our A 2 Z meme. (Check out the button on the right if you’d like to join in.)

The calendar speaks for itself. So does the promise at the end, but I disavow any connection to the promise of wealth.

"THIS IS THE ONLY TIME WE WILL SEE AND LIVE THIS EVENT

       Calendar for July 2011
                     July
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
                                            1     2
  3      4       5        6      7     8     9
10     11    12      13     14   15  16
17     18    19      20     21   22  23
24     25    26      27     28   29  30
31

Money Bags.

This year, July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. This happens
once every 823 years. This is called money bags. So, forward this to
your friends and money will arrive within 4 days. Based on Chinese
Feng Shui. The one who does not forward.....will be without money.

Kinda interesting - read on!!!

This year we're going to experience four unusual dates.

1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11 and that's not all...
Take the last two digits of the year in which you were born - now add
the age you will be this year,

The results will be 111 for everyone in whole world. This is the year of
The Money!!!

The proverb goes that if you send this to eight good friends, money will
appear in next four days as it is explained in Chinese FENG SHUI.

Those who don't continue the chain won't receive … It’s a mystery, but it’s worth a try. Good luck. “

 

Since I’ve been involved in some form of accounting most of my life, the nerd in me had to follow the trail of elevens. In the Eleventh book, Eleventh chapter, and Eleventh verse in the Bible, God seems to have His own answer to this Feng Shui theory:

“So the Lord said to Solomon, ‘Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.’” (I Kings 11:11, NASB).

Proverbs 11:11 (I just had to look) says, “By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.”

The world promises to fulfill every desire - like wealth, health or power - with no strings attached, unless you’re superstitious. God has a different plan as, once again, He speaks to Solomon:

“If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV).

July, 2011 is an unusual month, and numbers are fun to play with. But the oddity of this small place in time is not a guarantee that our bank accounts will be overflowing by sharing an email. God always has a bigger and better plan.

Clouds

… can stir the imagination like no other natural phenomenon; their configurations are as endless and as diverse as snowflakes. Their evolving shapes and colors paint pictures and tell stories that are short lived as puffs of wind end one tale and begin another.

A child enjoys fluffy bunnies and teddy bears. Visionaries dream of ships and islands. Trained eyes look for clues of the day’s forecast while others simply marvel at their beauty. We wonder at the majestic mountain tops of thunderheads as they build into hovering giants, then collapse, changing lives forever.


There's one thing about clouds that never changes. They draw our eyes upward and, for brief moments, our attention turns to the Source of the created diversion. Clouds are His stage awaiting the return of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.




J. R. Church (Nov. 17, 1938 – Mar. 22, 2011) of Prophecy in the News (www.prophecyinthenews.com) spent a lifetime studying and teaching eschatology - we were privileged to have him as one of the teachers in our church. His work continues through his co-host and colleague, Gary Stearman. If you’re looking for the exact date of Jesus’ return, don’t bother visiting this web page. J. R. was not a date setter. He simply closed every broadcast and every lecture with the admonition to “Keep looking up!”

"Then they will see The Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven." (Mark 13:26,27 NASB, lower case mine)

Breathe ...

... a simple task using God’s perfectly designed respiratory system, unless some traumatic event interrupts the process – like being submerged in a murky lake for nearly four minutes.

My husband was busying himself on our boat dock when he noticed a commotion on the row of boat slips facing ours and about 50’ away. He heard the grandmother call, “Found him!” The grandparents then began administering CPR while begging the lifeless body of their little grandson to breathe.

Bud’s twenty years of experience on the Fire Department prepared him for “such a time as this.” He ran to the child, a 15-month-old boy (I’ll call him Matt), and calmly said, “Let me do this.” Matt had already turned blue. Bud adjusted the tilt in the baby’s neck and head and began, what seemed to him, a couple of minutes of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while his grandmother performed chest compressions. The child responded with a couple of vocal sounds, then with crying. They rolled him on his side and began to pat and massage him. Matt coughed up some lake water. The grandfather wept. The other family members consoled the baby’s mother. Then they prayed over Matt, thanking God for returning him to his family.

The call to 911 had already been placed and arrangements made to meet the ambulance at the entrance of our addition. The two men gathered Matt into our golf cart and began a painfully slow climb up a dirt trail to meet the EMTs. The little one was awake, but lethargic and trying to sleep. The grandfather put Matt across his knees and firmly patted his back. Matt’s resistant cries gave his lungs the force they needed to rid him of even more lake water.

The volunteer fire department arrived a few minutes ahead of the ambulance with the necessary oxygen and emergency treatment. “Matt” was transported to a nearby hospital and, later that afternoon, we received word that he would make a full recovery. The next day, a grateful grandfather came to say, “Thank you” to a humble servant who said he was only part of a team and just happened to be where God needed him. That’s the kind of reaction one would expect from my hero of a husband.

Matt’s story reminds us that God is still in the business of miracles. The first one was his being located well below the surface in a lake with near-zero visibility. The second was life itself winning a struggle against all odds. The third, Matt’s being given a clean bill of health.

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”

A Tribute to Ryan and Cole Hamil

Just two days after the massive tornado in Joplin, MO., Oklahoma was one of several states hit with a rash of deadly storms. This tribute is to two beautiful young lives that, from an earthly perspective, ended much too soon. Their 5-year-old sister, Kathy, remains in critical condition. Mrs. Hamil's condition has been upgraded to "fair", and they heard the heartbeat of their unborn daughter. Please keep this precious family in your prayers, along with so many other families who have suffered incredible loss across our nation this spring.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcxezGyf5yg&feature=player_embedded

Stepping Stones to Glory

In 2008 my husband and I joined our pastor and about 40 other travelers on a journey to the Holy Lands. Stepping Stones to Glory was written as a journal entry on three of the many highlights on this incredible experience. The pictures are photos of these three traditional sights: Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, His underground prison at the house of Caiaphas, and the sight of His brief burial at the Garden Tomb.

Three caves of destiny
A purpose for each one
Prepared in God’s own time
For the journey of His Son

The cave at Bethlehem
A manger carved from stone
Provided the Messiah
A bed to call His own.

The cave that had no door
Where His broken body lay
Beaten and all alone
Until the light of day

The cave inside a garden
Where prophecy was fulfilled
The stone was rolled away
An empty tomb revealed.

Carved and set in place
The caves would someday be
Landmarks of Jesus’ life
His Stepping Stones to Glory.

Nancy K. Sullivan 2/16/08

Psalm 51:10-12

"Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit."

(Photo by Ken Kniskern at http://www.k2prostudio.com/ Copyright 2011)

His Voice

A Softer Voice has been absolutely “silent” for the past few weeks. Sometimes life requires that we reprioritize, and that’s exactly what I have had to do. 

I’ve had the privilege of spending valuable time with my family as my three siblings and I have visited with and cared for my mother. She will soon be moving from her home into an assisted living facility. The past couple of weeks we have poured over old photographs and a library of wonderful books that originated with my grandfather’s collection, along with other small treasures from the two previous centuries. 

It’s a bittersweet time for our family. I have to confess that there have been opportunities to seek refuge with the Lord, and that time could have led to meditations to share through this blog. But my spare moments have been spent idly – not wanting to read, think, or even pray. It’s no surprise that, when I did attempt to write something, the well was dry. 

Was God silent? Had he also “reprioritized?” I worked my way through this speechless time with the following: 

    His Voice

    When You are silent, I cannot move 

    I long to hear your voice. 

    Whether to bless or to reprove 

    I surrender to your choice. 

    There are no words unless You speak

    Your silence lingers on

    As restless whispers fill the air

    After day is done. 

    Your Word is life and never sleeps 

    Your Spirit -- abiding near 

    Waits for me to turn my face 

    To Yours so I can hear 

    Your Word, the Light, continues to shine 

    Its glow illumines the way 

    God of wisdom, hope and love 

    Lord, speak to me each day. 

                             Nancy K. Sullivan 

                             March 31, 2011

From The Tip Of My Tongue

I Corinthians 13:1
“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love,
I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (NISB)

The written word that comes from within
Speaks ever so softly to souls of the men
Who read and consider, then receive what is said
Into their own lives and, like sheep, they are led.

The warning is sounded as pen becomes tongue
That words not become noise like cymbals when rung
Clanging empty speeches and selfish desires
To those who seek truth that calms and inspires.

A spirit that is cold will reap much the same
From seeds that are planted with hopes of acclaim
Rootless, idle promises sent soaring like dreams
That will surely and quickly fall apart at the seams.

The continuing thread of each word that I write
Must be woven with His love for faith to become sight
And seek only to share what His Word reveals
As, through His Spirit, He speaks and He heals.

May I never forget that this mission of mine
Is a gift of the Father and I must align
My will with His as I write and as I live
May His love be the only hope that I give.

Nancy K. Sullivan
12-20-2010

(Photo by Ken Kniskern at K2ProStudio.com Copyright 2010)

Psalm 90:1

“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.”

This morning was one of those times when my Bible seemed to fall to a certain verse, Psalm 90:1. I was reminded yesterday that I am officially in “The Sandwich Generation.”

Within a few hours of the birth of our third (and wonderful) grandson, my mother was being transported from a local rehabilitation center to a skilled care facility to continue recovery from some recent strokes. The emotions from both events run very deep.

Our family is blessed to have been raised with a legacy of faith that has spanned some of those generations. We benefit from that faith, especially now. We are charged to continue this heritage by letting God’s strength manifest itself in our weakness, His peace through our fears, and His assurance through so much uncertainty. And absolute praise for His gift of life.

God’s timing is perfect. Our grandson is mother’s seventeenth great-grandson. This little one, nestled in securely with his mother, has no idea of the healing distraction he offers this week. The newest member of the youngest generation is ministering to the last member of his great-grandmother’s generation. And I am very blessed to be one of the middle ingredients in this precious sandwich.

Words of Praise

“Let my cry come before you, O Lord;
Give me understanding according to Your word.
Let my supplication come before You;
Deliver me according to Your word.
Let my lips utter praise,
For You teach me Your statutes.
Let my tongue sing of Your word,
For all Your commandments are righteousness.”

Psalm 119:169-172

"In everything give thanks..."

One week ago Friday, a day I felt was imminent had arrived. I drove to my 87-year-old mother's home to take her to what should have been a routine doctor's visit. Instead, I found her unable to walk unassisted and offering to take an overnight bag along "just in case."

A call to her doctor resulted in being rerouted to the ER. The initial exam and preliminary lab work failed to offer a diagnosis; however, the MRI would finally tell the story: Mom had suffered two mild strokes, one at some earlier time.

Thankful? For a stroke? Not at all. Thankful for the "lab work of a twenty-year-old." Thankful that Mom's mind is equally young. The strokes affected her balance and her ability to stand.

The following Sunday evening, her doctor noticed her condition had weakened. A second MRI confirmed another "tiny stroke." Another opportunity to be thankful. Mom was already in the hospital so her care was immediate and the addition of a couple of medications appear to have stopped that progression. Her mind and remaining motor skills are still strong.

Today she was transported to Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation center where, we've been told, Mom should regain her balance and strength enough to manage a walker. She has beaten the best guesses for recovery from serious illness before and, barring any more complications, will probably do so again.

Just a few more words of gratitude for a wonderful husband, two sisters, a brother and their spouses. Each one willing to do whatever we can to care for and support a sweetheart of a mom. She taught us well. Did I mention how thankful we are for her?

ELECTION DAY PRAYER

Well, Lord,

The big day is finally here. After today, your atmosphere will be free of inflated claims and false promises, at least, for now. Hopefully, the prayers of the faithful candidates who profess You as Lord will rise above the noise of the power hungry and the ego-driven.

Fortunes have been given, spent, and risked on the outcome. Some for self-promotion, some for agendas known only to the contributors and candidates, and even some for people who are seeking Your Face for the healing and restoration of the nation You called us to be.

We humbly ask for Your protection at each polling place. That any and all attempts to electronically or otherwise alter the outcome of our precious right to vote will fail.

Help us to remember the one and only, true Source for our nation. We are at Your mercy, and we pray for that mercy today. Regardless of the winners, You will do Your bidding for this country.

We often sing "God Bless America". Maybe it's time to sing "God, Have Mercy on America." We are not a nation worthy of Your blessings today.

Whatever the outcome of the election, our hope and faith are in You. We ask that You protect our nation and our leaders. We pray for our President, Vice-President and each one in power - all the way down the ladder to local school boards.

It's not easy to pray for those we do not respect, but that's our guideline, not Yours. Forgive us for not being more diligent in obeying Your call to "pray for one another" because "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5:16. And, we acknowledge that our "righteousness" is through You, alone.

We pray these things in Your holy and matchless Name. Amen.

II Chronicles 7:14 "...(if) my people who are called by My name, humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

A Journey of Faith

Listen to the choir of angels
Singing and surrounding
The resting place of animals
Transformed into a Cradle of Royalty
For the King of Kings

See the Face of Heaven
Plunge beneath the river and
Thrust upward through the clear water
Hear His Heavenly Father’s voice
Reveal His pleasure

Feel the hunger of the Saviour
As He refuses the bread of deception
Feel the swish of angels’ wings
Sweeping Satan out of their way
As they rush to minister to their Jesus

Observe the celebration
As two lives become one
And Jesus respects His mother’s wishes
Waterpots filled with water
Astonish guests with His first miracle.

Watch a miracle unfold
Inside a boy’s woven basket
Count the hungry souls
Fed to satisfaction
Then count the leftovers

Face the wind and the tempest
As the vessel heaves to and fro
Fear sweeps over the sailors
And they rush to their Protector
Who speaks “Peace” and the waves obey

Look into the eyes of the betrayer
As he drinks the wine, eats the bread
Picture the broken body
And spilled blood
Of Jesus.

Listen as Jesus prays in a garden,
“Not My will but Thine”
And drops of blood fall at His feet
While His best friends
Sleep on

Follow Simon of Cyrene
As he carries the tree of death
Up the mountain of Golgotha
And the sound of hammer upon nail
Echoes throughout the land

See His blood streaming down the cross
As hearts of stone shout and spit
At the one and only Son of God
The Father turns His face
The sin of mankind melts away

Stretch to see the faces of those
Whose steps thunder towards
The empty tomb - He is risen!
Look over their shoulders as they stare
In unbelief.

Look up!
The blare of Gabriel’s trumpet calling
The ransomed home.
And, finally, the New Jerusalem
Gleaming and descending from the sky
Nancy K. Sullivan
October, 2010

The Journey of Faith is an amazing life-changing trip.

Check the link "I Want To Know Jesus" for travel arrangements.

Words of Praise

"The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains,
The world, and those who dwell in it,
For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the rivers."
Psalm 24:1,2

An Awareness of God

This poem was born in a quiet encounter with

God and an amazing sense of His Presence and

the way He reaches out to His Children.

An Awareness of God

An awareness of God
I'm beginning to see
The depth of His love
That reaches to me.

Though I am unworthy
Of His mercy and grace,
He looks upon me
As I seek His face.

He speaks softly to me
Then, to Him, I respond
And I know He is seeking
An everlasting bond.

The Creator of heaven
Of earth and of sea
Wants to be my Father
And spend time with me.

Nancy K. Sullivan
1989

Words of Praise