Emily Conrad's Blog, page 20

This job isn’t for everyone (but it is for you)

 
In my second week of training at a call center, a customer berated me. What he was upset about, I don’t even remember, but the company sold athletic shoes and apparel. Nothing worth belittling another human being over.

I looked to passing trainers for help, but the caller insisted I not put him on hold to get help, so I felt like I couldn’t ask for it. (I was eighteen, sensitive, and a rule-follower. What can I say?) The trainers didn’t understand what I was dealing with or how much it was getting to me until I was in tears.

At that point, they rescued me from him, told me to put him on hold even though he insisted I not do so, and I was excused to go outside the call center to collect myself.

As I sat, getting my emotional feet back under me, one of the head trainers came out. His pep talk went like this: “This job isn’t for everyone.”

The implication, of course, was that the job wasn't for me.

If you're a dreamer of any kind or striving for anything challenging, you've heard this, too. Maybe not in these words, but definitely with this underlying meaning.

Looking back now, I suspect the trainers took over the terrible caller and resolved it easily enough. They probably knew better than to let the man boss them around. They probably thought I should’ve known better, too. In retrospect, I imagine the man was among the worst of my customers simply because I didn’t know how to handle him, and he took full advantage of that.

Somehow, though, in the midst of my teary weakness, I mustered the self-confidence to tell the trainer I could do this job. I insisted. I went back to work.

Four years later, I applied for and landed a supervisor job in that same call center. In that position, I was exposed to a whole new level of upset callers—the ones who asked to speak to a supervisor. The skills I’d gained had to develop to new heights fast. And yes, one caller does stick out from that time period, too, as one I should’ve handled differently. But, again, I learned. I grew. And thankfully, that time, no one told me to quit.

A few years after that, I became the person the call center manager left in charge when he left, meaning I’d end up with calls the other supervisors couldn’t handle. After that, I changed companies to manage a call center myself, and I handled the callers who were asking to speak to the president of the company.

I'm telling you this not because this is the greatest achievement, but to assure you that those who say "this job isn't for everyone" can be wrong about you just like that trainer was wrong about me.

But I’m glad he underestimated me and wanted to give me an easy out because it trained me to be more sure of what I want and my ability to achieve it by God’s empowerment. So that, through years of writing rejections and setbacks, which basically told me that writing isn’t for everyone (implying writing isn’t for me), I could remain steadier.

In part because of that call center experience, I believe, sometimes through tears, that I can do this job. I can survive in this tough writing business.

You can, too. You do not have to take the easy out discouragers want you to take.

Those discouragers stand there, holding the door open to let you and me to walk out on our dreams and goals for good. They would cheer us through. They’d think of dissuading us as a favor. The longer they go on, the more we begin to wonder: are they underestimating us, or are we overestimating ourselves?

Let's shut the door they want to push us through. This job of walking by faith toward God's call on our lives isn't for everyone--the path is narrow--but it is for us.

In addition to being narrow, the path we're on is long. It does not lead in the straight line we wish for because God has purpose in the curves and the rocky cliffs. We do not ever have all the skills we need to make it. All of life, all of dreaming, is a learning and growing process. But in our weakness, our Savior is strong.

But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9, NET

He is patient, and he teaches us everything we need to know. He clothes us in his armor and He empowers us to be more than conquerors.

Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed. Hebrews 12:11-13, NET

It is by clinging to God that we quiet those doubts, mute the voices of the discouragers, and shut the doors on giving up when we're called to persevere. Through endurance and faith, we achieve peace and righteousness. We are healed.

Listen to what Jesus is telling you about yourself, about your ability, about his call on your life. Tighten your fingers on the dreams He’s given you, and fight for them.

Fight through the tears, believe through the discouragements, follow your Savior through the valleys until He shows you the path to the mountain tops.










Dreaming is a learning and growing process. But in our weakness, our Savior is strong via @novelwritergirl

I don't need all that, God

I’ve been reading through the story of David, and as I’m winding down, I read this morning the psalm recorded in 2 Samuel. David speaks of crying to God for help and God responding by shaking the earth and doing all kinds of extravagant, powerful, awesome things on David’s behalf.

In my distress I called to the Lord;
I called to my God.
From his heavenly temple he heard my voice;
he listened to my cry for help.
The earth heaved and shook;
the foundations of the sky trembled.
They heaved because he was angry.
Smoke ascended from his nose;
fire devoured as it came from his mouth;
he hurled down fiery coals.
2 Samuel 22:7-9, NET

I sat in my Adirondack chair in my weedy back yard in my small Midwestern city and thought to myself, “I don’t need all of that.” I’d settle for clear direction on what to do in one situation. Maybe two. I’d settle for this or that kind of security.

Certainly heaven and earth needn’t shake. Fiery coals? No thanks, God. My battles aren’t this important.

I don’t need you to love me like this, God.


I haven’t seen the sky tremble or earth heave lately, so maybe he agrees.

Or maybe I’ve just closed my eyes to my own needs and the mighty ways God works.

If our Bible is true, if our God is the same yesterday, today, and always, then heaven and earth still shake at his command and he still hurls down fiery coals in answer to his servant’s cries for help.

Just because we don’t see it with our eyes does not for a moment mean that these things aren’t happening in the spiritual realm. Or even in the physical one.


God does love us like that. And here’s another thing: we do need him to.

It’s that move-heaven-and-earth kind of love that sent Jesus to the cross for our sins. It’s that love that blankets our souls in peace. It’s his hand that gives us all good things. The blessings we pray for and later receive, God plucked and gave to us. He spoke them into being with his fiery breath.

There is so much my eyes cannot see. I’ve never seen God, nor have I seen fire issue from his mouth. But I have seen answered prayer. I have pleaded with God for years and had the honor of watching him answer. Whether or not I think I deserve it, God has declared his love for me as one of his children, and because he’s claimed me as his own, he fights my battles with the power only he possesses.








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How to Harness Creativity

As a blogger and novelist, my full time job is creativity. Unfortunately, experience in writing doesn’t make the ideas come easier; the initial inspiration is often the hardest part of the process for me. This has made the month of August a bit daunting. I’m planning to travel some this month, so I’ll have less time to post to my blog. That means I need to write a bunch of posts in advance. But where are all these ideas going to come from?

Whether your planning the layout of a room, picking what plants to add to the landscaping, or coming up with a unique date to go on with the man you married twelve years ago, you might be facing the same idea void.

So, here are some of my tools for harnessing creativity when I need it most. And they work! This post is brought to you by the first tip!

Make lists. As soon as an idea pops into your mind, get it down. If you have time, elaborate on it immediately so you don’t forget what was so inspiring about the idea by the time you have the chance to sit and work on it.

Create a perfect (brain) storm. My understanding of perfect storms is that they’re a combination of a weather events descending on one place at one time. A quick online search of what makes a storm “perfect” revealed one reference to a nor’easter absorbing a hurricane. As bad as perfect storms are in weather, they’re great in creativity. Join forces with someone else. Explain the dilemma—yup, stumble through your half-formed ideas—and let their fresh perspective offer ideas you hadn’t thought of on your own. Make sure to pick someone you don’t mind saying outlandish things to (that’s usually how my half-formed ideas sound, anyway) and someone who won’t get frustrated in the conversation about why an idea won’t work, because there’s usually a lot of both before arriving at a new plan.

Get out of your routine. When ideas simmer but just won’t come to a boil, go listen to a speaker, read something out of your normal genre, visit a museum, check out a big city three hours away or a new trail a few blocks away. When I was working on the manuscript currently under consideration with publishers, I went with a group of ladies to hear a speaker. I count that day as a major inspiration for the turn the novel took after that.

Find a good prompt source. For writers, Five Minute Friday, gives a weekly one-word prompt for a blog post. In poetry, I’ve found college level textbooks helpful with different ideas about trying out forms or styles. Whatever your endeavor, look around your community of creatives and see if anyone offers prompts. Or check out what non-fiction there is on your subject, and use the topics covered there as your source of inspiration.

What are your tips for getting out of a rut when you need to be creative?








4 tips from a novelist for harnessing creativity via @novelwritergirl

You don't always get what you pay for & Other Busted Myths

For two or three days after the stylist washed and cut my hair, my locks remained silkier than they’d ever been. My thick hair with its naturally inconsistent wave tends toward frizz when left to its own devices, so this new level of smoothness prompted me to invest in the salon-caliber shampoo and conditioner.

I would probably continue to do so once in a great while as a special treat, but the result was never as remarkable as that first time. Maybe because each wash doesn’t come with a fresh cut or professional styling.

Whatever the case, I discovered a drugstore/department store brand I trust makes shampoo and conditioner priced less than five dollars each. I gave it a shot.

Now, I get the results from my five dollar shampoo that I’d hoped for from the twenty-five dollar one.

You don't always get what you pay for. Expense doesn’t equal quality. Sometimes, the return on the five dollar investment beats out the twenty-five dollar one.

As I straightened my hair this morning, thinking about that, other common myths sprang the mind, equally busted.

Bigger isn’t necessarily better. Owning a small house certainly served me and my husband well. And ordering the bigger drink at the coffee shop? Sometimes I end up regretting that because 20 ounces of coffee leads to caffeine jitters that I wouldn’t have experienced had I gone with the smaller cup.

Money doesn’t mean success. I’ve made a lot more than I make right now, but I was terribly unhappy.

If a little is good, more isn’t necessarily better. I have an aunt who hurt herself exercising with the belief that more would be better.

Yet we're surrounded by these beliefs in expense, size, money, and quantity so it's sometimes hard to remember to question them. Let’s stop for a moment to consider what myths we’re buying—figuratively or literally.

What do we pay more for without realizing the quality isn’t there?
What have we up-sized to our own discomfort?
What joys have we passed up for the sake of money, and is the money worth the sacrifice?
What are we stock-piling or doing to excess that might be hurting more than helping?

Your turn! What common sayings simply aren’t true?









You don't always get what you pay for and Other Busted Myths via @novelwritergirl

Beauty Restored: Life after acquaintance / date rape

My critique partner Janet Ferguson, author of the Southern Hearts series, is visiting today to introduce one of the topics of her latest novel, Tackling the Fields. That topic, date rape, is a heavy one that hits close to an issue I’ve also written about in a novel: stranger rape.

One out of every six women has experienced a rape or attempted rape in her lifetime, according to the information available at RAINN.org.

My blog is small. A post like this one, with both Janet and I sharing it, might get 200 views, mostly women. That means about 33 views from women who have experienced a rape or an attempted rape, whether by a stranger or someone they knew. And by the way, one out of every 33 men have also experienced a rape or an attempted rape (again, according to RAINN.org).

We cannot stick a bandage over an issue that cuts this deep and wide with a short blog post. Even when we write books about this, we are only joining the discussion and offering some of the healing of the Lord Jesus Christ in hopes that the message will meet readers where they’re at, and that God will use our words in conjunction with a symphony of restorative experiences and relationships.

Since we can’t cover everything here or even in our books, if you or someone you know has experienced an assault, I urge you to explore the resources available from RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network). Their website is www.rainn.org, and the number for the National Sexual Assault Hotline is 800-656-HOPE.

____________________
Here's Janet:

It’s in the media all too often. A young woman who has been violated by someone she knew or met. Perhaps she thought she might spend time with the guy, maybe even kiss the guy, but when a line was drawn, an attack ensued. Other scenarios involve a young woman having too much to drink, and a man taking that as license for indecency and cruelty.

Sadly, most of these incidents go unreported due to shame, self-blame, and guilt.

And the emotional scars usually last much longer than the physical.

If you or someone you care about has endured the trauma of rape, lingering issues with anger, fear, regret, and sadness are normal—a grieving process almost. Grieving for a loss of trust, grieving for a loss of innocence. Shame can leave a survivor feeling unclean, but God can re-clothe you with goodness and beauty.

Friends of rape survivors can offer a listening ear, support, and belief.

These issues are not ones I had hoped to delve into for a novel, but I felt a calling to write about young woman still struggling with the emotional aftermath of date rape, three years after the incident. She has been held captive by fear, plagued by nightmares, and has still been uncomfortable with physical contact.

Although written as a romance, it is a faith story. Of course, counseling has its place, but ultimately God is the healer of the heart, the restorer of beauty, the One who provides freedom for the captive of fear and pain.

My scripture theme for this series comes from Isaiah 61.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1-3, KJV

____________________________

From both Janet and me, may the Lord, the Restorer of beauty and joy, touch and heal the wounds of your past as you run to Him.







About the book

Tackling the FieldsSouthern Hearts Series ~ Book 3

Cole Sanders is a changed man. The university quarterback questions his direction in life after serving on a mission trip in Honduras. Things that used to fill Cole’s ego seem empty after witnessing the developing country’s extreme poverty and the death of a precious child. The one glimmer of hope through his confusion is the fresh perspective he now has about his tutor, Audrey. She possesses something beautiful inside and out—something that might help him become the person he wants to be.

University senior Audrey Vaughn tutored Cole Sanders for an entire year and never imagined the popular quarterback would see her as anything more than a friend. After partnering with him on the mission trip, they are drawn together. And he appears to have changed for the better. To let Cole into her life, Audrey will have to overcome not only her brother’s distrust, but also the paralyzing fear still lingering from a past she’s tried to leave behind.

Cole can’t walk away from Audrey now that they’re back in Oxford. He’ll have to figure out how to keep her giant of a brother, a lineman on his football team, from killing him when the coach has his back turned. But can Audrey trust her heart to a player so similar to the one who stole so much from her in the past?
 



Preorder the EBook Amazon   IBooks     Nook     KOBO

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May the Lord, the Restorer of beauty and joy, heal the wounds of your past as you run to Him via @novelwritergirl @janetwferguson

What Nature is Trying to Tell Us

My poetry buddy sent me the poem “Weathering” by Fleur Adcock, which speaks of the power of a naturally beautiful place to make one look and feel happy. (You can read the poem here.)

As my buddy and I traded emails about the poem, she asked me where I feel most beautiful.

I wrote back: I think I'd have to say pretty much anytime I get to hike in the mountains, which is funny because of course, I'm sweaty, my hair's in a ponytail, and I'm definitely not all dressed up. But I'm breathing. I'm using my lungs and legs and eyes and even just thinking about it, a smile has sunk onto my face. And I know I actually do feel beautiful then, because I tend to hand my husband the camera more on hikes than at other times.

I suppose this is why I tend to chart my road trips to wide-open, mountainous spaces rather than to big cities with their noise and flashing lights. My social media feeds tell me I’m in good company: most of the pictures posted that aren’t of people seem to be of nature.

This interest in creation is nothing new. Take this example of how King Solomon used his surpassing, God-given wisdom:

He composed 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. He produced manuals on botany, describing every kind of plant, from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows on walls. He also produced manuals on biology, describing animals, birds, insects, and fish. People from all nations came to hear Solomon’s display of wisdom; they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his wisdom. (1 Kings 4:32-34, NET)

My writer’s heart loves that he was a creative—writing and composing—but the larger emphasis here is on nature. I’d expect a man in charge of a prosperous kingdom to focus more on construction techniques, defense strategies, and infrastructure.

But there’s a reason that the wisest man of all time was so captivated by nature. There’s a reason we’re still drawn to it, awed by it, and at peace in it thousands of years later.

Nature works by a different kind of wisdom than our technology-driven world. Unlike all the human inventions we encase ourselves in, nature was crafted directly by the word of God without human involvement. And as a creation, it reveals its Creator to those of us with hearts open to listen.

Maybe the reason I feel most beautiful in nature is the overwhelming proof of our thoughtful and loving Creator. The same God who crafted this stunning universe crafted me. Crafted you. The One who spoke into existence each little detail and each grand vista breathed life into each of us.

But nature doesn’t just tell us about who we are. Budding leaves, fast and slow growth, seasons, sunrises and sunsets, water and sand are all tangible whispers of truth about the intangible God.

“The rain and snow fall from the sky
and do not return,
but instead water the earth
and make it produce and yield crops,
and provide seed for the planter and food for those who must eat.
In the same way, the promise that I make
does not return to me, having accomplished nothing.
No, it is realized as I desire
and is fulfilled as I intend.”
Indeed you will go out with joy;
you will be led along in peace;
the mountains and hills will give a joyful shout before you,
and all the trees in the field will clap their hands.
Evergreens will grow in place of thorn bushes,
firs will grow in place of nettles;
they will be a monument to the Lord,
a permanent reminder that will remain.
Isaiah 55:10-13, NET

This is why time outside completes us. Nature gives us context in which to better understand ourselves and God, our Creator. It serves as a monument to him, a reminder of who He is and his promises.

With our every breath of fresh air, each time our gazes rest on mountain tops and we smile for the cameras we willingly passed off, let’s remember. Let’s listen to the clapping trees and raise our voices with the mountains and hills in praise of our Lord.

Where do you feel most beautiful?






Seasons, sunrises, water & sand are all tangible whispers of truth about the intangible God. via @novelwritergirl

How to enjoy the wait for dreams to come true

I love having flowers in my yard to cut and bring in. Whenever possible, I scatter vases throughout the house, especially on the dining room table and on my nightstand. But, my new yard doesn’t have the flower variety my old one did. Instead, it boasts quite a variety of weeds.

Noticing how many were in bloom, I decided to enjoy what I could. After all, I would never be able to weed everything all at once, and even if I could, growing new flowers would take time, too. I picked a fistful of green-heavy stalks with tiny flowers, brought them inside, and plunked them in a vase.

In the big picture, their stems are stuffed with way more leaves than their tiny buds justify. However, even weeds have some beauty to them. The little yellow ones open and close their blond heads, depending on the time of day. The purple ones, the biggest blooms of the bunch, look kind of like hosta flowers. The pinkish white ones curve like a graceful head of wheat.


Flowers to cut is a goal that I’m working toward but have not yet achieved. Yet in the meantime, I can appreciate what I have today as I anticipate tomorrow.

But I have other dreams that are more important to me than flowers: writing dreams. Though I've been tending my writing for quite some time, setbacks and discouragements still spring up like weeds.


Sometimes, all I see is the mass of unwanted developments, but if I pause to look closer, some yield tiny flowers, benefits. In fact, once in a while, a bona fide flower sprouts up unexpectedly—one I might’ve yanked as a weed if I’d been in a hurry.

To fight a bout of discouragement a couple of weeks ago, I decided that if I must wait for my dreams to come to fruition, I would record the process. When the wait ends, I can use these notes from along the way to testify to others that God really does bring to into bloom the dreams he’s planted in our hearts, no matter how weedy and impossible those dreams sometimes seem.

Buying the journal felt like picking weeds. It felt like a willful act of hope despite my circumstances. The challenges remain, but I can still appreciate what I have instead of only looking forward to what I want. And I did find some unexpected flowers in the bunch, some positives of where I am even now.

Because I'm waiting to realize my dreams, I have a story I can share to encourage others. I have more time to develop the skills that will make my dream successful. I’m developing empathy for others whose dreams are also not yet realized, which makes me a better friend.


If you're standing in the midst of thigh-deep weeds, wondering what's become of your dreams, consider picking a weed. Look for the positive. Find an act of hope you can complete specifically because of where you stand right now.








Find an act of hope you can complete specifically because of where you stand right now via @novelwritergirl

Beauty Rewrites: How to be Gloriously Beautiful

This post is different from all the other Beauty Rewrites posts. It's the last, and with that come questions. How can we write The End on this series when there's still so much more ground to cover?

Or, better yet, How can there be so much left unsaid when we've spent twelve weeks on the topic of beauty?

Beauty--symmetry, color, shape--is a gift from God. He calibrated us to respond to those traits. Since the ultimate source of beauty, our Creator, is infinite, beauty is something bigger than us. Something more than we can cover in twelve weeks or twelve years.

So, though we can't cover every aspect of beauty, it seems fitting to end this series on a note about that Creator, His beauty, and how that affects us.

The Bible tells us that God is Himself beautiful. We're given a glimpse of this in Ezekiel 1:26-28.

Above the platform over their heads was something like a sapphire shaped like a throne. High above on the throne was a form that appeared to be a man.
Likewise, despite having the outward kind of beauty in heaven, when Jesus came to earth, Isaiah 53:2 tells us,

he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, no special appearance that we should want to follow him. (NET)

Since many, many, many people have followed him throughout the generations, it's clear God drew us to Himself through another, more powerful kind of beauty.

This hits at the heart of Beauty Rewrites. Over the weeks, in our own ways, Christina, Ludavia, and I have hoped to share with you these truths:

Beauty isn't what our culture thinks it is; beauty's most important form is not outward.

Beauty doesn't mean what our culture thinks it means; skin-deep looks don't equate to happiness, success, or peace.

Beauty doesn't do what our culture thinks it does; appearances cannot lead us to real, lasting love and acceptance.


If the stunningly beautiful and glorious God of the universe woos us to Himself not with the beauty of His appearance but instead with the beauty of who He is, His steadfast love, mercy, and grace, isn’t it silly of us to try to attract the world with long eyelashes and skinny waists?

Wonderfully, we don't have to try those tactics because God offers His beauty to us.

When my ESV Bible talks about God glorifying Himself in what He does in us, the text often marks a footnote, which explains by glorifying Himself, God is displaying His beauty.

Isaiah 49:3, for example, reads, And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” Footnote or “I will display my beauty.”

As we follow Him, He displays His eternal, divine beauty in us, and that’s more attractive than anything we can slick on from a tube or apply with a wand. 

True beauty is God's beauty, displayed in us regardless of outward appearances. Even on those days when we can't straighten (or add graceful waves to) our hair, those days our jeans are too tight, those days we can't muster a smile or get past our tears, our God can display His beauty in our lives. Our faith in Him, regardless of ugly circumstances, allows true beauty to shine.

We've come a long way in the last twelve weeks, but God's not done with us yet. He continues to work in our lives to show us what true beauty is. The kind of beauty that lifts hearts and emotions toward their Creator, the kind of inside-out spectacular gorgeousness that shows hurting souls a glimpse of the Almighty who offers hope, who offers peace with God through Jesus.

There's nothing more beautiful than that.







PS. Well, that's it for Beauty Rewrites. I hope you've enjoyed journeying with Christina Hubbard, Ludavia Harvey, and me through this twelve-week series. As sad as I am to say goodbye, the posts are all still available here to anyone looking to reshape their definition of true beauty.


Beauty isn't what our culture thinks it is; beauty's most important form is not outward via @novelwritergirl

Remembering to not forget the promises of God

The color reached the sky opposite the setting sun, turning the hazy clouds pink.  Between me and the pinkest spot rose a deeply colored rainbow. Far off to my right, purple clouds hovered over the airfields of the local airport. Descending from the midst of them was the other side of this rainbow.

I have never seen a rainbow so stunning. I was driving, and by the time I got home to my camera, the color had faded to the point where a picture might not have shown it at all, so I have no proof to show you of that glory, only a strong memory that will probably fade over time. My mother saw it, too. When I said it was the most amazing rainbow of my lifetime, she said it was also the most amazing of hers. The Haley's Comet of rainbows.

This summer, I've actually seen more amazing rainbows than ever before. My friends seem to have seen a number of them, too, because they've been noticeably present in my Facebook feed this year. Here's just one:

Through Facebook and church, the women in my life have joined forces in a way only God could coordinate to remind me that rainbows are packed with meaning. They are a sign of the promise from God to never again flood the world.

And when we're reminded of one of God's promises, how can we not think of His others? His promise to come again. His promise to work all things for the good of His people. And so, so much more.

None of us need a reminder that the world is in trouble. We see it on the news, on social media, on the street. But there is something God knew we would need to be reminded of: God is still good, still in control, and still coming again. His prophets did not speak in vain when they foretold long ago of his return to earth and of his plan to redeem his people from the evil in the world. The things they prophesied are still true, still on their way.

Because the wait is long, He knew we'd need reminders. He gave us rainbows, and he gave us 2 Peter 3, which is rich in fodder for discussion on remembering. 

When we begin to wonder where God is in all of the events we see in the world, Peter reminds us:

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9, NET

During this long wait, many will "deliberately suppress" or, as the NIV says, "deliberately forget" what we know to be true.

For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water. Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water. But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 2 Peter 3:5-7, NET

 Instead, Peter goes to great, deliberate lengths to help us remember truth.

I am trying to stir up your pure mind by way of reminder: I want you to recall both the predictions foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. 2 Peter 3:1-2, NET

So, we have two choices before us in the midst of this long, long wait for God to fulfill his promises. We can deliberately forget or we can deliberately remember God's provision in the past and his promises for the future.

Though I want to remember, I had forgotten that rainbows are promises. I had forgotten that there may be a reason we needed so many stunning ones this summer. I had forgotten to willfully look for signs and remember what they mean.

This is where the Body of Christ comes in. As Peter reminded others of truth, as my community reminded me of the power of rainbows, we remind each other of God's loving, faithful history and his good, good promises.



The days are dark. The setbacks are piling up. Many memories are turning fuzzy. But God is as strong, present, and in control as ever. He isn't waiting in order to torture us. He is waiting to give more sinners the opportunity to repent, to be justified by the blood of Jesus.

Let us never tire of reminding each other of these truths!

Rainbows are a specific symbol of a Biblical promise from God, but other things, unique to each of us, can remind us of aspects of our Heavenly Father. For me, seeing the pelicans that summer in my area reminds me of God's love and care for his creation, of his mercy and his presence in a broken world. Do you have something that serves as a reminder to you?







We can deliberately forget or we can deliberately remember God's provision and his promises via @novelwritergirl

Beauty Rewrites: Why I'm Not Afraid of Aging Anymore

In high school, I sort of thought having gray hair would be cool. It might've been because of this verse:

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. Proverbs 16:31, ESV

Who doesn't want a crown of glory?

On a less noble level, my interest in gray hair may have been because of watching cartoons as a kid where one superhero had gray/white hair (despite being a young, beautiful woman) and other had a streak of white (again, despite youth and beauty).

More recently, my hair stylist laughed when I told her I wasn't coloring my hair because I was waiting until I needed to. My mom went gray early, and I feel obligated to enjoy my light brown as long as it holds out. Even though I wouldn't mind becoming a dark brunette or a redhead for a while. Coloring my hair is just one more thing to look forward to when gray hair arrives (added to the list of becoming a superhero with a crown of glory). 


Christina Hubbard's experience with gray hair is different from mine. In today's Beauty Rewrites post, she shares: I got my first gray hair at 27. Yes, I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. I was playing on my parents' deck with my daughter who was not even 2. That day I was horrified with the wiry reality sticking out from my crown like it was a bug antennae: I was aging.


The fact that I somehow have been blessed with a playful view of gray hair has not inoculated me against having that same realization. For me, the biggest telltale sign is the way my skin crinkles, especially around my joints. I look at that skin and I know. I'm getting older. My time on earth is passing.

Each of us must come to terms with this, or we'll be locked in a hopeless battle against the clock.

Where some women battle age with beauty treatments, I took a slightly different approach.

When I turned thirty, I bolstered my spirit by choosing to believe I had reached enough significant milestones to say I had made good use of the time. I had landed the job I wanted. I had a certain amount of financial stability, a good marriage, decent progress in my writing career.

Fast forward a few years, and I'm no longer so confident in the things I've accomplished. Some things haven't turned out the way I thought they should. Some things have involved a much, much longer wait than I thought they would. Try as I might, the clock is running down faster than I can grab successes.

Accomplishments really only fight aging the same way a beauty treatment does. Both are all about outward appearances. They're shallow. They look good on the surface but don't penetrate the soul.

But we don't have to be afraid of or fight the aging process. Not with a bottle of hair dye, not with a gigantic mental trophy case.

That verse from Proverbs doesn't say we get the gray-haired crown of glory from worldly success of any kind.
We get it by living a righteous life.

That sounds so much quieter, so much more peaceful, so much more fulfilling than grabbing for everything we can in the few years we have.

Living righteously means I am free to sit at the feet of the God who loves me. I need not worry about failing at the world's games. I do not have to earn my own way or fight my own battles--I am righteous only because of Jesus Christ. I must cling to him because he, and not my accomplishments, is what makes my life worthwhile.

And in the end, when this life is over, Jesus himself will be my ultimate reward.

Over on her blog, Christiana builds on this with her perspective on why she's no longer afraid of aging, and it's good, good stuff. I hope you'll hop over to find out what she has to say.

Are you afraid of aging? If not, why?










PS- Can you believe summer is aging, too?? I'm sad to say this Beauty Rewrites series is almost over. I've learned so much from Christina Hubbard of Creative and Free and Ludavia Harvey of NiftyBetty, and I hope you have, too. If you've missed any of the posts, check them out here. And stop by next week for the *sniff* final installment.
Why I'm not afraid of aging anymore via @ChristinaHubs @novelwritergirl