Lexical Light

Lindsey Nobles' Thin Place Story

"Beautifully blurry" is a new favorite phrase to describe a Thin Place, courtesy of Lindsey Nobles in today's post at MaryDeMuth.com.

Kelli Zaniel's Thin Place Story: God Met Her in Midst of Evil

I just posted the latest installment of Share Your Thin Place Story on MaryDeMuth.com.  It is  Kelli Zaniel's gripping account of how she survived a summer evening.

Working on this project is a humbling reminder of God's power.

Share Your Thin Place Story

I happy and honored to support Mary DeMuth's Thin Places book by facilitating the Share Your Thin Place Story section of her website. Why? Three reasons:

1) Readers will see how God can meet them 

2) Writers can share their work.

3) I get to help bloggers write and writers blog.

I first learned of Mary via her Relevantblog in 2005, when I started my blogging adventure. I immediately related to her, a fellow Texas girl seeking Jesus in the midst everything else. (She even had a brief stint in my high school town of Palestine, Texas.)

I've subscribed to her newsletter since then, receiving food for growth in writing and my walk with God. I've also noticed how she uses social media to bulid her author platform.

Early in 2010 I received a complimentary copy of Thin Places. So many things in the book resonated with my heart. It is one of the few books I would recommend to all of my friends. One of the biggest impacts the book had on me was being able to give a name to those times in my life where I was acutely aware of God's presence...a thin place. (Why is it that being able to give something a name helps so much?)

All this time I've figure how to develop my writing. So when she ran a "Share Your Thin Place" writing contest on her blog, I entered. I didn't win the Kindle, but it was a good writing exercise. After reading all the entries, it occurred to me that having a venue for others to share their Thin Places story could bring glory to God and encourage other writers. I suggested the idea to Mary. It simmered and launched as part of her site redesign this year. It's a win-win-win-win.

Take a minute to check out the Thin Place Story part of her site. You'll be blessed.

Don't Miss the Chance to Let God Mess with You Today

Where and how does God get a hold of you? For me, it's the YMCA. Usually during my writing time after a quick trip on the elliptical. He uses music and writing. Today He used On Fire by Swtichfoot to remind me of His presence.

I had never heard the song before. (Stuff ends up on my iPod by association.)  These are the lyrics that grabbed me initially: 

you're on fire when He's near you

you're on fire when He speaks

you're on fire at His mysteries

The "on fire" they are speaking of isn't the usual "on fire for Jesus" phrase. Not that there's anything wrong with that.Neither is it the fire you'd find in a Justin Bieber/Miley Cyrus duet. It's the fire of the God's Holy Spirit messing with you're innermost being. (So glad it's Communion at church tonight so I can go Dance with My Father.)

More lyrics from the song:

When everything inside me looks like everything I hate

You are the hope I have for change, (completely ties in with yesterday's time.) 

So, I'll ask you again. Where and how does God get a hold of you? It may not be anything like what I just describe. It doesn't have to be. God know what we need and what will get our attention.

 

"Mom, do we have a big family?"

Every now and then one of my five kids will ask me if we have a big family. We do, after-all, drive a 12 passenger van. My answer, "It's relative. (Pun gleefully intended and executed.)  Compared to a one child family, yes. Compared to the Duggars, no."  

I recently learned we lean towards the "not a big family" side when I checked out Mega-Family Blogs via fellow passenger van driver Mopsy's site. According to blog's tagline a Mega Family has "7 to 37 children." We're 2 kids shy of mega size. That's quite all right. My competitive streak is mostly sports and Scrabble related, so I'm content with our family size...and theirs. 

Saturday Thanks

Thanks to my husband for holding the fort down while I went to a writers' workshop by Janice Hanna Thompson.

Thanks to my dear friend for going with me.

Thanks to my son for having awesome friends.

Thanks to my girls for doing what they do.

Thanks to my God for all of the above.

My Newest Site: DontExpandTheTournament.com

Oops, I did it again.  Just had to make a blog about NCAA tournament expansion. Don't Expand the Tournament.com is what happens when March Madness meets Digital Dementia. Because I don't have anything else to do.

Typepad post

Sent from my iPhone

Weary and Burdened? There's a nap for that.

Ok, maybe not a nap, but a rest. Jesus calls the weary and burdened to Him, not to nap, but to receive rest. Funny thing is the rest He talks about requires a yoke and learning. Rest for souls awaits. His (not mine, not yours but His) yoke is easy and His burden is light.

This is from Matthew 11:28-30, another set of verses God has been dropping on me for the past few years. (Take another lap.) So good. 

Other verses noted in my recent curriculum, with links to my posts:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - But He said to me - His power in my weakness. 

Matthew 25:14-28 - Well done talents!

Are you a mess?

"God would rather have you messy than not at all." Sy Rogers

 Don't let your messiness keep you from God. Jesus doesn't require us to be cleaned up before we come to Him.