Robin Gilbert Luftig's Blog, page 20

Time to Apply

This Present Darkness’s Frank Peretti at BRMCWC

I’m still floating in the clouds over the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers conference I attended a few weeks ago. There were so many gifted writers there … and their primary goal was to help writers like me. But it’s time to apply what I learned.

I’ve been replaying some of the conversations I had with other conferees as well as faculty members in my mind. They all offered feedback and advice.

Polluted by Pride

Then my thinking became polluted with pride.

Why did he think I needed that type of critiquing, anyway?

Why didn’t she like my writing?

My goal all along was to go to the conference to get help from those in the literary field, yet for a moment I tried to defend myself and my work.

I’m so pathetic … completely pathetic.

After fighting my way through my mental arrogance, I hunkered down with my laptop and started applying the suggestions to what I had already written. I knew this process would include deleting and rewriting large sections of text. Many hours would be needed to apply what I had learned.

After my first marathon writing session and I finally closed the top of my laptop. I was blown away.

It looks better … my writing is stronger!

If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. Proverbs 15:31-32

I heard words of truth. It’s time to apply what I learned to gain the benefit. I pray I will continue to be open to those around me who offer wisdom.

How about you? Do you take input from the wise?

What say you?

What do you wonder about?  Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.

Struggling to find good in your life? Check out my award-winning book, God’s Best During Your Worst, or check out any of my other books on my Book page.

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Follow in Obedience

Follow in Obedience

I think it’s safe to say we’ve all asked ourselves if following God is worth it. We may not say the words out loud, because we don’t want other people to hear our doubt. But the question is there, nonetheless. Especially when life takes a turn for the worse. Will we still want to bask in His “presence” when He’s not giving us the “presents” we feel we deserve? During dark times, do we follow in obedience?

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Romans 6:16)

 

You either are or you are not

Being obedient is a lot like being pregnant—you either are or you are not. We can’t only be obedient when it suits us—where’s the obedience in that? God loves us, and because of that love, He doesn’t allow His children to opt-out of obedience whenever it suits them.

He desires obedience all the time.

It’s a new battle, every day for me. Maybe you, too.

God, in His sovereignty, is consistent. Even when we think He doesn’t see us or care—maybe even especially then. The consistency He offers through His Word, brings obedience into focus.

Remember, He was obedient to His Father.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for first being obedient. You know my heart and sometimes I don’t like what You ask of me. But because you placed the stars in the sky, know the hairs on my head, and planned my days before time began, I will follow you and accept your desires for my life. Amen.

What say you?

What do you wonder about?  Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.

Struggling to find good in your life? Check out my award-winning book, God’s Best During Your Worst, or check out any of my other books on my Book page.

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Blessed or Entitled

If you slept inside last night, you are considered among the world’s most privileged. It’s heartbreaking that 1 out of 3 people worldwide lives in substandard shelters. But the rub is, how do we see ourselves–blessed or entitled?

 

Deadly Sniffles?

Maybe you get a case of the sniffles. Infectious diseases continue to blight the lives of the poor across the world. In 2004, an estimated 40 million people were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and 3 million died. Every year there are 350–500 million cases of malaria, with 1 million fatalities. Africa counts for 90 percent of malarial deaths and their children account for over 80 percent of malaria victims worldwide.

And don’t get me started on COVID-19!

Yet we get annoyed when a case of sniffles puts us to bed. For some, the sniffles

are the beginning of a death sentence.

We’re rich.

If you are reading this, you are very blessed. I don’t write this post to be a Debbie Downer. I want to snap us all back to reality. As we watch this world somehow return to normal, maybe we should consider not giving from our abundance. Instead, let’s give to those who have less than we do. How we take care of the least of us is an indication of how safe we all are.

How we take care of the least of us is an indication of how safe we all are.

If you want to give but don’t know where to start, check out Global Partners in Peace and Development. You will be blessed.

What say you?

What do you wonder about?  Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.

Struggling to find good in your life? Check out my award-winning book, God’s Best During Your Worst, or check out any of my other books on my Book page.

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Satan’s Conversation with God

When you’re feeling low, have you ever matched your life to Job’s How do you think Satan’s conversation with God would go if he brought up your name?

The Book of Job tells us about such a conversation. How God held Job up to Satan as being “blameless and upright, and a man who shuns evil“. From there, we read how Satan took everything from Job but his wife (there’s a storyline for you) or his life. We learn of his struggles and loss, only to be shown favor in the end.

Is there more?

It’s not just a story of one very good man, it’s also a story of God’s power over Evil.

If you’ve been a follower of my blog for any period of time, you know when I write about a relationship with God, I make it personal. I mean no disrespect when I write, but sometimes the best way for me to do that is to see Him in picture words. That’s why I like the story of Job.

Look it up for yourself.

For now, however, look at the story through my eyes. I see it opening with God sitting behind a huge mahogany desk when Satan enters His office to visit. God lifts Job up to Satan as an example of a man of good character … “blameless and upright”. But Satan, the snake that he is, taunts God with, “Oh, yeah, well, if you hadn’t blessed him so much, he’d sing a different song.”

Satan learned his lesson

That’s when it happened—that’s when God told Satan what he can and cannot do to destroy Job’s faith.

Did you get that? God told Satan, “You are not the boss over Job”.

Did you get that? God told Satan, “You are not the boss over Job”.

What’s that mean for me?

This is where it still gets personal.

Nothing—nothing—breaks through God’s wall of protection. He is more powerful than anything Satan can throw our way. He has our days numbered and our paths set. He knows the beginning and the end.

Don’t think Satan’s bumpy ride will ever have power over you. It may distract you for a moment, but when God is your savior, He holds your life in the palm of his hand.

Make this personal.

Think about your past. Looking back over my life, I remember too many experiences that could have gone terribly wrong. But only because of God’s protection I live to see a new day. It’s like God’s conversation with Satan about me went something like, “You can take her so far, but you can’t go past what I allow.

Do you think God and Satan have conversations about you? We all have stories of God’s protection. I’d love to hear some of yours.

What say you?

What do you wonder about?  Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.

Struggling to find good in your life? Check out my award-winning book, God’s Best During Your Worst, or check out any of my other books on my Book page.

The post Satan’s Conversation with God appeared first on Robin Luftig.

Where’s Your Checklist

Take a sip of coffee before you grasp this thought … Where’s your checklist, because the year 2021 is half over? We all sat back during December and January, making lists and goals. Being as grown-up and responsible as we knew to be.

Would you lose weight this year? That’s always good to put on the list.

What about reading? Did you set a list of books you wanted to finish reading for the year? That would make you look scholarly.

Where’s your checklist?

What have you done? It isn’t too late to salvage your list.

Grab your red pencil. Get ready to start crossing items off.

You can do it. You have six months to go!

 

What say you?

What do you wonder about?  Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.

Struggling to find good in your life? Check out my award-winning book, God’s Best During Your Worst, or check out any of my other books on my Book page.

The post Where’s Your Checklist appeared first on Robin Luftig.

Don’t Mind Me, I’m Just Editing

Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been focused on making sure to chat with you at least three times a week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. But deadlines have taken over my world! So don’t mind me, I’m just editing.

I’m editing Ladies Uncover a Secret and once again I’m deep in the lives Lily-Rose Pembrick, Fiona Kasey, and Sugar Bowersox.

There are surprises around every turn. I’m completely in love with these 1970s gals and I can’t wait for you to see what’s happening in their lives.

So, please offer me grace. I’m buried in edits and trying to have this ready for my upcoming deadline.

I hope you love where this story goes. The idea came to me over two years ago. And to be completely honest, I’m pretty nervous that I do this story justice. The story’s about Fiona this time. The African American lady of the three-person friendship.

Will I get it right? Will I cause harm? It may be a bit controversial, so I’m going in prayerfully. Don’t mind me, I’m just editing. And edits are important. So don’t forget me! I haven’t forgotten you. But I need to get this right.

I can’t wait for you to see it.

Stay tuned!

What say you?

What do you wonder about?  Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.

Struggling to find good in your life? Check out my award-winning book, God’s Best During Your Worst, or check out any of my other books on my Book page.

 

The post Don’t Mind Me, I’m Just Editing appeared first on Robin Luftig.

Sharable Thursdays

Sharable Thursdays bring another great find by Robby Faye, Stealing the First Mate, by Tabitha Bouldin.

Darcy Riggins dove headfirst into the online dating pool and sank. Every time.

Her lifelong dream of becoming a wife and mother becomes more elusive every year. So, taking the lack of a Mr. Right in her life as a decided “No!” from God, Darcy gives up altogether.

Single and happy is not an oxymoron. Right?

Nigel Jones has loved Darcy for ages, but her father (his boss, of course) ordered him to keep his feelings to himself, thanks to a stupid mistake that Darcy (thankfully) doesn’t know about.  Too bad her dad does.

Being single and content turns out to be tougher than Darcy imagined, and when she begins doubting everything she’s ever known, Nigel decides it’s time to admit his mistakes, tell the truth, and trust God for the outcome.

In this “forbidden-love-meets-friends-to-more” novel, Stealing the First Mate continues the Elnora Island romances of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Follow Robby Faye for information on more great reads.

What say you?

What do you wonder about?  Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.

Struggling to find good in your life? Check out my award-winning book, God’s Best During Your Worst, or check out any of my other books on my Book page.

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Benefit from My Mistakes

I have some mighty-fine readers. Often, they ask me about God’s Best During Your Worst and tell me about their own tragedy. I even receive notes from people I don’t know, telling me how the book helped them work through their pain to find peace. They also watch my back and tell me when they find errors. And in Ladies of the Fire, mistakes were found. The editors and I missed them. Because of this oversight, there’s a silver lining around that gray cloud. Here’s an opportunity to benefit from my mistakes.

If you already have a copy of Ladies and find the nine errors that are being corrected in the newest books, sign up for my newsletter. If you haven’t yet bought the book, at a discounted price, I will send you a signed copy from my desk. Then you can begin your search. If your corrections match my list (available to you after you submit your own list of errors), I’ll reserve a free copy of the second installment of the Ladies series, Ladies Uncover a Secret. being released Fall, 2022.

It’s just that simple.

You cannot purchase copies of Ladies of the Fire at the box stores or online because they are corrected. The newer editions will not be any help here. Here’s all you need to do:

Sign up for my newsletter and request the book at the price of $11.00 (retail $14.99).After reading Ladies of the Fire, send me what you think are the nine typos/mistakes (page, paragraph, line of the mistake, what the mistake is, and what it should be).I’ll send the list of mistakes back to you, so you can see the error of my ways.

If you come up with the correct nine mistakes, I’ll send you an early copy of Ladies Uncover a Secret.

Want to Play Along?

Are you interested? This will be fun. I’ll get a copy of Ladies of the Fire out to you as soon as I can, and you can begin reading about Lily-Rose, Fiona, Sugar, and all their antics in Applegate, Ohio. Don’t forget to read with a highlighter. It may get you a free book.

What say you?

What do you wonder about?  Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.

Struggling to find good in your life? Check out my award-winning book, God’s Best During Your Worst, or check out any of my other books on my Book page.

The post Benefit from My Mistakes appeared first on Robin Luftig.

Time Spent in Northwest Ohio

I was in several areas in Northwest Ohio last week. Watch for information on my trip.

The post Time Spent in Northwest Ohio appeared first on Robin Luftig.

My Favorite Father’s Day Memory

There is never a June that comes around when I don’t think of my favorite Father’s Day memory. Nothing captivated my attention more as a child than a toy stuffed bird my dad kept in a curio cabinet in his man cave. This feathery splendor was about the size of my palm with wild ostrich feather plumage glued onto it. I imagined stories about why this fragile object was set apart and displayed only for Dad’s eyes to see. Was it a gift from a princess he had rescued from the grips of a ferocious dragon? Was it a piece of treasure he had found while hunting with Indians?

One spring, with my vast four-year-old wisdom, I decided that, since Dad liked it so much, I should give it to him again.

The perfect solution.

The Saturday before Father’s Dad I carefully snatched the stuffed bird from the case. Holding it in my tiny hands as if it were precious jewels, I fled with my stolen booty to my bedroom. Hiding my plunder, I left my room to bring back the newspaper and masking tape, certain that Dad would be thrilled with his Father’s Day present.

After dinner on Father’s Day, while Mom and Dad were having their coffee, I stood before him and ceremonially offered my carefully wrapped package. He looked at the crumpled ball of newspaper encircled with bands of masking tape and pulled me up into his lap so I could have the perfect view of the unveiling. As he carefully unwrapped the mound of tape and paper, he revealed the soft, fragile stuffed bird I had taken from his glass cabinet. He smiled his I-love-you-over-the-moon smile.

“I love it,” he said. “Thank you for the perfect present, Peaches. This is such a cute bird. I’ll keep it forever!”

He smothered me with hugs and kisses and I erupted in giggles. After taking in his perfect love, I strutted away as if I had just been awarded a national medal for being the most loving and awesome child of the year.

Later that summer, we began preparations to celebrate Dad’s birthday in September. He never wanted much of a fuss, but we enjoyed honoring him the best we could. I had no idea how to out-gift Father’s Day.

Then the answer came to me.

When Dad wasn’t watching, I returned to his room, opened the display case, and birdnapped the feathered masterpiece. And as before, I took it to my room and wrapped it with newspaper and masking tape.

When the time came for presents after Dad’s birthday dinner, I made sure I was at the front of the gift-giving pack. Dad, once again, scooped me up along with my ball of newspaper and masking tape and pulled me onto his lap.

When Dad opened his present and saw the plumage and beautiful colors, he never missed a beat. He raved on about how beautiful this present was and how he was so pleased that I knew just what he liked. He never let on that he recognized the bird from the glass case in his room or that he even knew I had taken it. Instead, he made a fuss over me and my re-re-gifted item that had belonged to him since before I could remember. He made me feel like I had offered him the moon and it was the most special gift he ever received.

His love

Dad has been gone for over forty years now, and sometimes I forget what was so special about him. Then I revisit my favorite Father’s Day memory … and I smile. I can close my eyes and still see that look of complete love for me on his face. And, that’s a memory of why he was so special to me.

 

What say you?

What do you wonder about?  Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.

Struggling to find good in your life? Check out my award-winning book, God’s Best During Your Worst, or check out any of my other books on my Book page.

The post My Favorite Father’s Day Memory appeared first on Robin Luftig.