Need to Focus on ONE THING!

This month, my company released a new book (Study Guide on Prayer! Find out more about it here!)

And I hosted my first radio show. (YES! I’m gonna be on the radio at 7PM Central the first Tuesday of every month. Listen here!)

And I’m setting up the final touches on a 10-week teenage Bible study – armor of God with some great hero movies!

And I’m making returns on more gifts than I’d like to admit! (My poor sizing guesses!)

And I’m tying up loose ends from the holidays – sending off prizes to award winners and gifts to folks I didn’t get to see, cleaning up the final touches inside the house.

And … and … and …

I gotta tell you, who has time to make New Year’s resolutions? I have trouble just getting dinner on the table! There are serious times when I’d like to do nothing but put up my feet and watch a football game. Even if the Cowboys aren’t playing! LOL!

Do you every feel like that? Overwhelmed with so many things to do and no prayer of making them all work out the way they are supposed to? That helpless feeling is why I choose a special word every year and keep it at the top of my consciousness every day. I start talking to God about the word and focus that He wants me to have starting in December – about the time I’m ready to pull my hair out! LOL!

By the first of January, or a short time following, He’s shown me where He wants me to put my energy.

Last year, my word was “INTENTIONAL.” I had a good feeling that I would be published traditionally in 2016 and wanted every action I took, especially on social media, to be helpful to my coming book and my writing career. And I was published, just not exactly as I’d expected. And it was all of the other blessings – becoming the head of a publishing company jumps to mind – that steered me toward my word for this year.

FOLLOW.

Road

Things look great right now – magical – unbelievable. But my position is still a job, still full of responsibilities. And though the Lord has blessed my company with a host of talented and encouraging authors, I have my part to complete. That’s why He’s placed me here.

I’ve said to friends, “I don’t know why God chose me; I don’t know what I’m doing.” I hate to actually admit that, but especially at the beginning, this was so true and still is in some respects. And yet, I know Who does know everything I need to bring this company and its authors to the place that the Lord has purposed. God put me here. And He continues to lead.

My job is to listen. My job is to be willing. My job is to step into His footprints without hesitation. My job is to follow the plan He has.

That’s my focus, unique for 2017 and the challenges that I face leading this new company. What is your focus this year? To what challenge has the Lord called you? To prayer? To teaching? To being quiet? To consistency? To stepping from your comfort zone? Where do you hear His call?

Join in the Challenge

Tomorrow is the beginning of my month-long devotional commitment. As I shared last week, I typically do a personal Bible study, but on any given day, busyness and other commitments can squeeze it out. Like today! Blah!

But during the month of September, I hope to reestablish a dedication to seeking the Lord daily. I’m using my new book, Thirty Days of Devotion. It’s only 99¢ at Amazon or you can sign up for my monthly newsletter and get a copy for free.

Each day, we’ll read one entry and share thoughts right here at Faith Driven Fiction. I know. I could have just kept this to myself, but walking daily with the Lord is His instruction. (Luke 9:23) Also His invitation. (Revelation 3:20)

Even if you don’t join us (though I hope you do!), don’t miss the opportunity to spend time with Him. Each day. Every day.

Thirty days.

Let’s share this blessing together!

Pushing Through

It’s that time of year again. I don’t want to wish this busy time away because I know once it’s over for good I’ll miss it so much! And yet, I find myself constantly shutting my eyes and rubbing my forehead to ease tension.

And yet, with the added hours of requirements for my kids, my job, and my ministries which are all

Love = Obedience

My focus for the year is WALK.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve already heard that word come up in messages. Just last Sunday, my pastor spoke about walking closely with God and giving effort to the relationship I have with Him.

Priority Refocus

Last month, I shared with you my heart in what the Lord was teaching me about my focus. How the Lord in Matthew 16:24 urges each of us to deny what we want and follow the Lord’s desires for our lives.

The message is

Daily Workout

My girls are in volleyball. They do conditioning year around in order to stay in shape enough to play to their best. And I’ve seen what happens to them when they focus on the conditioning and when they don’t.

When one of my daughters was challenged to run for 30 minutes, three times every week, she committed to not missing a single day. Her coach was amazed (and so was I) at the

Roots of Anger

Reading in Titus 2 got me thinking about the movie God’s Not Dead yet again. In this case, I thought about anger.

I’ve been taught that anger stems from one of two things:

Talking for Dogs

… and other lessons learned from the movie God’s Not Dead.

I have always talked for my dogs. I think I got it from my grandmother. Her poodle used to race into the backyard and snap at the blue jays. She’d stand at the kitchen window and talk for him, threatening

Surviving Stupidity – a Lesson from Iron Man 3

Google defines stupidity as “behavior that shows a lack of good sense or judgment.” While I hesitate to call anyone stupid, even characters in a book or movie, that definition applied well to Tony Stark in his latest episode, Iron Man 3.

In fact, the very of essence of stupidity was played out across the screen when Tony Stark threatened an insane killer on national television and then proceeded to

Iron Man 3 and Biblical Worldview

Last week, I started digging into Iron Man 3 and what truth the movie could hold for someone with a Christian perspective. We went through how the way we treat people, even without thinking about it – usually without thinking about it – can make enemies. At the very least, can set up first impressions that aren’t easily overcome.