First and Last

This is a year of first for me. My first novel releases in a couple of months – also my first solo flight into traditional publication. That’s huge. I’ve started working with a new ministry and have taken on a new role in one of the other ministries with which I work. I’ve also taken on the teaching tasks for 2 brand new high school classes at our large co-op. One is Bible study that I can really sink my teeth into. The other is

New Tools

As an educator, I always believed that the most important thing that a teacher could have is a tool belt of all sorts of ideas to help kids learn. Like a handyman’s tool belt has the right tool for the job, so the teacher had to find the right motivation to stimulate the process for each resistant learner.

And so is true for me this month. Not a resistant learner, but a stressed out and

Day #25 – 30 Day Challenge

Throughout this devotional challenge, I can honestly say that I’ve been late a few times with my devotion, but I’ve had one, and usually a good Bible study with it, every day except one. No excuses. I coulda, shoulda, woulda stopped long enough to spend some time, beyond prayer, with the Lord.

But that is

Finishing Well

The Apostle Paul had some specific instructions on how to assign The End to a project. He spoke about running and finishing the race throughout his letters. Luke attributed a quote to Paul as well in Acts, and the writer of Hebrews also encouraged us to remember the cloud of witnesses who look on as we stay on our course.

“Run (the race) in such a way as to get the  prize…not…running aimlessly”—1 Cor. 9:24-26

As a writer, I’m always wanting to get those ultimate words on the paper, but that isn’t the end of my manuscript – not if I’m serious about my career. My manuscript demands 10 times as much effort to rewrite, revise, and edit the story into a publishable piece.

My family and I experienced the same type of situation when we felt the Lord’s urging for us to leave the church that had been home for 23 years. Unwilling to let any of our friends build up anger in our stead, we stayed for a couple of months after the decision was made so we could ease out quietly.

The same is true of large projects like the prom I helped to direct this past weekend. In spite of the weariness we all shared, when the prom came to an end at 1AM, it wasn’t over for us. We continuted until dawn tearing down all of the sets and packing it onto trailers and trucks. The next day we unloaded those same trucks and packed our storage units carefully until next year’s prom. But we’re still not done. We have several loose ends to tie up and a concluding meeting where we’ll analyze what worked and what didn’t and how we can improve things for next year.

All I want to do is put it behind me and move on to other parts of my life, but ending well takes energy and attention.

The same is true of my Christian walk. Growing in knowledge of the Lord doesn’t end until He brings me into His presence. Desire to build my relationship with Jesus should never ebb and my need to spend time with Him is more intense when I’m busiest. What else can be said on this?

A golfer’s or a hitter’s swing has success based on the follow-through. Planning is nothing without putting the plan into action. The race doesn’t end until the toilet paper is broken or the checkered flag waves. So don’t give up. Don’t let down.

Press on. Press on. Press on!