Midweek Morsel: Remember to Ask for Workers

April 9, 2015 by 5 Comments

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“Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” Matthew 9:37-38

I admit it—I tend to forget Jesus’ call to prayer for workers for the harvest field. I don’t know why. I’ve long been familiar with the above words of our Savior. Yes, when I’m reminded of this call to prayer, right away I ask God to send out workers into the harvest. But for some reason, asking on a regular basis escapes my memory.

Maybe I need to memorize this particular instruction from the Lord or list it specifically in my prayer plan. But the time has come to quit being hit and miss with this vital call to prayer. If this was important enough for Jesus to give specific instruction, then I need to pay attention and be obedient.

Friends, as Jesus said, the harvest—the masses of people who need to come to know him—is plentiful, but the workers are few. Will you join me in asking God to send out workers into his harvest field? And then let’s be willing to go out into the field ourselves when he calls us to a task. Let’s be faithful to do what God asks of us.

**Do you know of some harvest fields (local, regional, national, or international) in need of workers right now? Feel free to share so that we can all ask God to send workers there.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early May. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by Christian R. Hamacher (Je suis Charlie), Creative Commons License

Filed Under: action, missions, prayer, work

Press On: God Rewards Perseverance

December 2, 2013 by 12 Comments

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The business of pursuing dreams and achieving goals is not for the faint of heart, is it? No, seeing our dreams and goals come to pass requires lots of hard work and tireless perseverance. But God has a way of rewarding those things, doesn’t he?

Many of you know I’ve been climbing towards the goal of book publication for a long time now, and today I’m happy to report that I’m one step closer—a big step for which I’m praising God. Credo Communications has offered to represent me, and Karen Neumair is now my literary agent. That’s right—I have an agent!

God is so faithful to reward our hard work and perseverance. After years of working to become a better writer and to develop a platform and online presence, God has helped me secure an agent who will be able to get my book proposal in the right hands—the hands of editors and publishers who will hopefully like what they see and decide to take a chance on this ordinary girl from Kansas. Most publishing houses will only review proposals that are submitted through an agent so you can see why I’m so excited about being offered representation by Karen and Credo.

So today my word of encouragement to those of you pursuing a dream or striving to attain a goal is to press on. Don’t give up. Keep taking one step after another—even tiny steps. Those little steps have a way of adding up and bringing us to the point of a being able to take a very big step. And remember, sometimes it’s little steps alone that bring us to the very brink of seeing our dreams or goals realized. I haven’t yet reached my goal so I will be pressing on right along with all of you.

Let’s thank God for being a God who rewards hard work and perseverance. A God who gives the strength and determination to press on. A God who rejoices with us as He blesses our efforts with wonderful results.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

*All glory and praise goes to God for giving me the strength to press on. What dream are you pursuing? What goal are you striving to attain?

*Photo by my husband Don

Filed Under: books, challenge, determination, dream, fighter, goal, perseverance, victory, work, writing

Midweek Morsel: God’s Favor to You

April 10, 2013 by 2 Comments

I’m hoping my last post—“Got Guts?”—has inspired some of us to take the next step in our work, our hobbies, or some other new endeavors. I hope it’s nudged us to put ourselves out there. Maybe soon, we’ll be waiting to see or hear how our work is received or if our efforts result in success. (By the way, kudos to all who are trying!)

As we wait, let’s ask God for his favor. Here is a blessing and a prayer from the Word of God for everyone courageous enough to move forward and give it his or her best shot:

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17

*How has God helped establish your work in the past?

*Flickr photo by aussiegall

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early May. Sign up is free and to the right!

Filed Under: blessing, wait, Word of God, work

Staying Focused

August 26, 2012 by 13 Comments

Focus. A word that has extra meaning for me this year.

You may remember that I chose focus as my theme word for 2012 and wanted to apply it in particular to my writing. I’ve reminded myself of it—and the Lord has brought it to mind as well—numerous times so far this year in order to stay on task with my main projects.

I witnessed the perfect example of staying focused not long ago. I got to watch a bird build a nest one morning. The photo above is of that very bird at work. You might recognize the shot from my Summer Photo Fun: For the Birds post.

I had taken my camera outside, hoping to spot a photo-worthy sight. I wasn’t disappointed. I spied a robin building her nest in a neighbor’s tree. Lucky for me, it was on a lower branch that overhangs our yard. Photo-worthy indeed, huh? Amazing to watch and fun to photograph, too.

As the bird worked steadily, I approached more and more closely, unable to believe how close she actually let me get. It was almost as if she had blinders on. Nothing distracted her from the all-important task at hand.

She even seemed to work in rhythm. She flew to the ground, seeking out the next twig or blade of dried grass to include in her newest home, and then with her latest find grasped safely in her beak, she’d fly back up to her nest-in-progress and place it just so, tamping it down and forming it to her specifications. If she gave my interloping presence any thought, she didn’t let it show. She just worked on.

The qualities that enabled my feathered example to finish her project will help me complete my work as well. Steady work, ignoring distractions, finding a rhythm that works, using the best materials, skilled craftsmanship, and perseverance will all work together to help me create written works that can touch the lives of others.

Focus. A quality I need day in and day out. Next time I get distracted or feel tempted to give up on my dreams, I hope I remember my mentor with wings. I hope I remember to work on.

“Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.” 2 Corinthians 8:11 NIV

*Where do you need focus right now?

*Don’t miss out on the “Back At It” Giveaway. Deadline to enter is noon Sept. 2.

*The latest issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, came out earlier this month. It’s still not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right!

Filed Under: determination, focus, nature, perseverance, work, writing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Behind the Scenes

February 29, 2012 by 2 Comments

“. . . your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3b

Work. Labor. Endurance. What images do these words bring to mind? We’re not talking marshmallows and kitties here. We’re talking rolled-up sleeves, sweat, and long-distance runs. We’re talking effort and strength.

Tasks and qualities like these that take strength and determination won’t happen by accident, will they? Behind the scenes forces such as planning, preparation, and prayer all play a role in carrying out our tasks, achieving our goals, or running the race life has placed before us.

In considering the scripture above, let’s look at the Thessalonian believers to whom the apostle Paul was writing. In spite of the severe suffering they faced (1 Thes. 1:6), they were at work serving God.

Notice the behind-the-scenes activity that Paul mentioned was present in their lives. How was their work produced? By faith. What prompted their labor? Love. What inspired their endurance? Hope. Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s consider for a moment the behind-the-scenes forces present in our own lives. Among the many influences at work in us personally, is faith playing a key role in the work we do—whether our day-to-day work or our service to God? Is love the motive, the impetus behind our labor? Is hope spurring us on, helping us to endure so we can finish strong?

Let’s learn from the Thessalonian believers and make certain that faith, love, and hope are playing vital behind-the-scenes roles in our work and in our lives. Remember, it won’t happen by accident.

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” Ephesians 3:16

*What can we do today to strengthen one or more of these qualities in our lives?

*Flickr photo by Matt Trostle, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: faith, hope, love, prayer, preparation, strength, work
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