Robin Gilbert Luftig's Blog, page 24

Dealing with a Mind Full of Jumbles

If you’ve been following me for any time at all, you’ll know I’ve had a bit of a comeback from a pretty devastating surgery–brain surgery. Hard to believe, but my surgery was in April 2011. That means I’ve been dealing with a mind full of jumbles for almost ten years.

It’s thrilling to speak to groups of women when I have the jumbles. While it does bring its obvious challenges when I forget a name or lose my train of thought, I am always encouraged by the grace that others give me.

Trying to write after brain surgery brings challenges as well. Like most writers, I deal with the distractions of social media and rabbit holes. But add to it the task of trying to stay razor-focused on the task at hand when your mind is doing summersaults.

Jumbles Give Me Reson to Smile

When I write, I enjoy the seclusion of my own office. There, I can best control my jumbles. There, find the structure I need to do what I need to do.

And isn’t that what it’s like for each of us … finding a way to do what we need to do?

Each of us has a struggle … a type of mind jumble. Maybe yours in a past that keeps you from reaching for the future. Your mind is filled with all the reasons you can’t succeed. Or maybe your mind is filled with comparisons. Why you think others are more qualified than yourself.

Stop the Jumbles

Stop what you’re doing and take your Jumbles captive. Focus on what’s at hand. Figure out what is your driving force. Seek the face of Jesus in your task. What does he say about achieving your goals? He has lots to say:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

Take a deep breath and relax. God is bigger than the Jumbles. If there’s a burden in your heart, dealing with a mind full of Jumbles will not stop what God’s burned into your heart.

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 Dealing with a Mind Full of Jumbles appeared first on Robin Luftig.

Does God Cry for Us?

Have you ever wondered … does God cry for us?

To help me understand what’s involved with having a personal relationship with God, I try to see Him as I see others with whom I have relationships. I mean no disrespect by this. I bring Him down to my level—figuratively, of course—so I can look into His eyes and try to understand who He is to me.

That’s how I started the morning of April 1, 2011. It was Friday and I thanked God for bringing me through another work week. Little did I know while I was thanking God, He was sitting on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees with his head in his hands. He knew when he got out of bed that day everything would start falling into motion. God chooses to stay on the edge of his bed—just a few moments more. He knew this day had to come. And He knew before I went to sleep that night I would hear the news that had the potential to rock me to the core of my foundation. He knew today would be the beginning of my need to revisit my personal hell and the demons He had banished from my life years earlier.

The Start of God’s Day

As He finally got out of bed and strolled to His kitchen, He knew this wasn’t how He planned to do things. This had never been how He planned it. Sin had gotten in the way all those years ago. His children were all paying the costs and He was cleaning up after it—still cleaning up.

As he poured Himself a cup of coffee and fixed His cereal, He felt the pain I would experience later on that day. With each spoonful of cereal, He pondered on what was to come. He stopped, put his spoon down, and rested His arm and forehead on the table.

I wonder if God cried for me that day.

These are some of the thoughts that careened through my mind in the early part of April 2011. I’ve written about that and many other thoughts I had during that time in God’s Best During Your Worst.

What about you? Do you think God cries when He knows you’re about to face a tragedy you have no way of facing on your own? When your marriage appears to be doomed to failure? How about when the police bring your teenager home in handcuffs? Or when a family member tells you of unthinkable abuse? The Bible gives us a verse–the shortest verse in all of the scriptures–that tells us so. There have been sermons written over this verse through the years, it’s that moving and provocative.

Jesus wept. John 11:35

Does God cry for us? I think He does, but it’s not enough for me to think so. It’s also up to you. What do you think?

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 Does God Cry for Us? appeared first on Robin Luftig.

Under Construction

My site will be under construction … again.

I plan on still blogging, Tuesdays through Thursdays, but if I get interrupted, please know I’ll be back.

Chatting with y’all about God’s faithfulness and reading your responses is always a treat. And I enjoy throwing in a stray thought once in a while, too.

But that’s how my mind works. Thoughts come in and go out. Often not related. And I see you like that as well.

So ignore the dust and loud banging. I’ll try to do business as usual. But I’m asking for grace during this time. It’s my hope that when I ge back, our connection will be even better.

Want to leave a note while the site is under construction? You can still reach me at robin@robinluftig.com.

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 Under Construction appeared first on Robin Luftig.

Wisdom from Steve Laube

I’ve met several people over the years who I know will forget more about publishing than I will ever know. One of these people is Steve Laube, president and founder of The Steve Laube Agency. Steve’s a veteran of the bookselling industry with nearly 40 years of experience. In the 80s he was a bookstore manager and was awarded the National Store of the Year by the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA). He then spent over a decade with Bethany House Publishers and was named the Editor of the Year by AWSA. Over sixteen years ago he became an agent where he and his agency have represented nearly 2,000 new books and Steve was named Agent of the Year by ACFW. He was also inducted into the Grand Canyon University Hall-of-Fame by their College of Theology. When I can glean wisdom from Steve Laube, I jump at the chance.

This guy knows his stuff. And what’s more, he shares what he knows about the Christian Bookselling industry.

Why Are You Telling Me This?

Recently he wrote a blog post that should set every writer quivering in their boots. Hit the link to see what he’s been telling us for years. After you do, please consider going to the  “Let’s chat” tab and provide me your email. That will give me a way to continue our chats if Facebook decides to pull the plug on my page and personal site. It’s already happened to other writers I know, so I have no doubt that it could happen to me as well.

I don’t think the sky is falling dear friend, but I do believe in being pro-active.

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 Wisdom from Steve Laube appeared first on Robin Luftig.

Knock, Knock

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?
It’s me … a new day. Please welcome me in.

I don’t know … what do you have for me?

Isn’t that’s what we all want to know, what’s in store for us each day? Will we see wonders beyond our comprehension? Will we see more beauty than we ever imagined existed?

Or will dark storm clouds block out all sunshine? Will tragedy rise up and take our breath away?

God Knows My Days

I do know this to be sure—my God will be with me. When my heart is full of more happiness than I ever imagined, He will be there to celebrate with me.

Or when every turn I take brings pain and heartbreak, He will be there to comfort and carry me through.

Where there’s breath, there’s hope. Please join me in celebrating the beginning of a new day–today! Who knows, we may be on the cusp of something fantastic. Celebrate! Remember, tomorrow is promised to no one. Let’s embrace today and the rest of the todays ahead with anticipation and wonder.

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:13-14 

 

Join me in offering thanks to God, because he will be there, no matter what we find.

 

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 Knock, Knock appeared first on Robin Luftig.

The Amazing Story of Job

One of my goals each year is to read the Bible through again. If you have tried it, you know it can be a bit daunting. Especially climbing through the hills of the Old Testament. In the past, so as not to get lost in the chapters of Leviticus, I’d read a bit of the Old Testament, then some of the New Testament. But this year I decided to mix it up a bit. I’m reading the Bible chronologically. I started in Genesis but soon was directed to the Book of Job. Job, what an amazing story! Here’s a man who had everything—great family, properties, and wealth—and Satan took it all away. But there’s so much more.

It isn’t so much the perils that my focus landed on, but on Job’s determination to stay focused and always praise God. He even praised God when he lost his good health.

 

That’s where I pulled up and parked.

Do I have the same kind of faith?

 

Everything I am and own was given to me by God—including my health. This lesson came to me in April  2011 when God walked with me through some of the darkest days I hope to ever experience. I didn’t know if I would live, die, or maintain an existence somewhere in-between. In my own way, I had a taste of Job’s experience.

Yet when Job learned he lost everything, he did the most amazing thing. He chose to worship God.

 

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Job 1:20-22

My hope is that I will always be willing to reflect on the amazing story of Job and push to see past my pain and disappointment, no matter how tragic it may seem.

Truly, the Lord is worthy of worship.

 

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 The Amazing Story of Job appeared first on Robin Luftig.

Keep Pushing Through or Cut Your Losses

Struggles. Everyone has them. Some struggles are smallish while others are ginormous! Whether it’s studying for a final … losing those last five pounds to reach your desired weight … or deciding to end a toxic friendship … it’s often hard to know which way to turn. How do you know to keep pushing through or cut your losses and walk away from your struggle? What do you do to understand if the struggle is worth it … if the battle is worth the aggravation you may need to exert for the desired outcome?

Sometimes just the process of trying to find the answers to the questions of how to continue forward seems as difficult as that struggle itself. But it’s best to remember, always do the first thing first.

 

 

First Things First

Do your best to see your struggle for exactly what it is. Comparing our struggle to someone else only adds to the problem. All struggles are personal. And our struggles need to be respected because they are so real and personal. We mustn’t try to talk them away. We need to face them head-on. But we need to know what we’re facing.

The Bible is filled with stories of struggle. One of my favorites can be found in the Old Testament book of Joshua, starting at chapter five, verse thirteen. An angel came to Joshua with a word from God, (Joshua 5:14-6:5), instructing him to take the city of Jericho. These instructions seemed a bit unorthodox. And God knew exactly what Joshua was facing. Jericho’s city was surrounded by a protective wall that nothing had proved to penetrate. But God was clear. Take the city of Jericho.

Do you remember the children’s nursery rhyme?
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
and the walls came a-tumbling down

The Lord told Joshua to march around the walls of Jericho for six days (Joshua 6). God didn’t say the walls would fall immediately. He didn’t say it would be easy. He said, “I have delivered Jericho into your hands.” To claim the victory that was already theirs, Joshua and his army had to trust God and his promises.

How many times do you think they considered stopping because what they were doing didn’t seem to make a difference? Do you think Joshua’s army felt a bit foolish marching around the gated city while soldiers looked on? Yet Joshua stayed focused on the task at hand. He didn’t stop. Even after six days of doing what he needed to do, he kept going.

Are you Dealing with a Day Six?

How close have you come to stopping when something seemed too difficult or impossible to achieve? How many times have you come to your Day Six, but decided to quit because it was too hard or you didn’t see any reason to continue? Ask God for His direction regarding your struggle. If you seek wisdom from God, he will tell you to whether keep pushing through or cut your losses.

Hang in there with whatever you’re dealing with! You may be at Day Six and not even know it.

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 Keep Pushing Through or Cut Your Losses appeared first on Robin Luftig.

Moments of Victory

Life is full of challenges, difficulties, and trials. If it isn’t now … just wait. Difficulties will soon find you. But there are also moments of victory. It’s our responsibility to seek and focus on those moments. They’re all around us. This past weekend we watched the 1938 movie You Can’t Take it With You with James Stewart and Jean Arthur. It’s a great Rom-Com, but also full of life lessons. Here’s a trailer:

This year I’m celebrating ten years post brain surgery. April 1, 2011, I had a seizure that led doctors to find a fist-sized tumor on my brain. They gave me ten days to put my affairs in order. That ten-day period was an endeavor in faith that led me to listen to the wise words from my wonderful husband and friends. They all told me they didn’t have answers, other than trusting God for his direction.

After surgery when I could only walk with assistance … when I couldn’t lift anything heavier than two pounds … when I couldn’t make my mind put simple thoughts together in a rational order … I struggled to find victories.

But I waited. And they came.

Watching Others Find Their Moments of Victory

I get excited when I see others find their own moments of victories after a tragedy. I remember reading the words of excitement from a gal on a recovery website I frequent, “I can wiggle my right toes again! I’m on my way back!” Another said, “Ahh, to feel the sun on my face again after being inside for so long. This must be what heaven is like.”

I don’t have many answers, but I do know that our lives are gifts to us. I’ve learned to appreciate my experiences. I still have moments when I’m not as I was before surgery, but my sense of wonder and gratitude has grown by leaps and bounds. I know from my April 2011 experience that bad times may come my way again. Yet I’ve also learned that it’s up to me to decide how I handle what comes my way.

Looking For Comfort in Moments of Victory

I find great comfort in Scripture. There are several that offer a soothing balm, but my first go-to Psalm is Psalm 13. It starts with a cry of despair, yet closes with a moment of victory:

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. Psalm 13:5-6

Your own moments of victories are there, What victories will you find?

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 Moments of Victory appeared first on Robin Luftig.

Coming to Grips with Reality

When I was told I had a brain tumor and given ten days to put my affairs in order, I had to come to grips with reality—life as I knew it could radically change in less than two weeks.  I was greeted with the cold fact that couldn’t control the world around me. As much as I willed it, I could not erase my tumor and the fact that I needed brain surgery—and needed it right away.

Where I found the most comfort in those ten days was focusing my efforts on Who held my ten days in His hand. I was forced to let go of my illusion of control. Honestly, I can tell you I fought it for a while. It wasn’t easy because I had little choice in the matter. But it was simple. I learned the process as a child:

Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to him belong
They are weak but he is strong
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so
Warner (1860)

My New Reality 

Here I was with more on my plate than I’d had for years. I loved riding bikes with my husband, worked a full-time job, blogged, was in the middle of building my social platform, serving with my church, writing a new book and seeking a publisher for one already written.

All that and I was scheduled for brain surgery.

I knew the verses that say Jesus loves me—I knew the songs. Yet I fretted. Was it control I was seeking? Having a brain tumor again could mess things up.

Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so …

Some of what I want is God-centered. I want to continue sharing how he had pulled me out of the muck and mire I crawled into all those years earlier.

Little ones to him belong
They are weak but he is strong …

But some of what I want is purely selfish. I was also thinking about my husband and children. I wanted to be able to enjoy them for more years yet. That was what I wanted.

Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me …

While I waffled between focusing on my wants and God’s, I found comfort knowing I was not alone in this type of struggle. Apostle Paul—the Rock Star of the New Testament—talked about that very thing in Romans 7. I like the way The Message reads:

“… For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.” (vs 17-20)

Yes Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so

I remember coming to grips with reality and changing my focus from my brain tumor and putting it on an unchangeable God. I focused on the fact that Jesus loves me. The brain tumor would either be there, or it wouldn’t. I would either get better with surgery or wouldn’t. Fretting over it wouldn’t help. But focusing on Jesus did. And knowing that God hadn’t been surprised by the tumor was a comfort as well. It was a simple shift but, oh friend, don’t think it was an easy one. How could I be so confident?

Why—because the Bible told me so.

 

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 Coming to Grips with Reality appeared first on Robin Luftig.

Confidence

Confidence—a powerful word. It brings strength to mind. Determination. Assurance.

There are two types of confidence: confidence in who we are and what abilities we have. This is a feel-good type of confidence. You aced the test you studied for. You lost those extra pounds that hounded you for months. Yes, having this confidence will make you strut your stuff!

And there’s the confidence in what’s around you. These are areas you have no control over but know they will always be the same. While on this planet, the sun will always come up in the east. And if you drop something it will land on the floor.

There’s a comfort that comes with both of these types of confidences. You know–without a doubt–if you study hard you will get better grades. And you also know if you don’t pick up that second donut, your waistline will thank you for it.

These confidences have been supported by past experiences. You know what you will get when you apply yourself. It’s the same with confidences outside of your influence. Can you imagine what this world would be like if we never knew what direction the sun would appear in the sky? Or, if we’d drop something, thinking it would fall to the ground instead it hit us in the face? There is comfort in the consistencies around us.

 

Confidence in Consistency

While comfort is found in consistencies, inconsistencies can destroy a person’s confidence. Many times our behaviors or the behaviors of others can impact how we see the world. Abusive or destructive actions destroy a person’s confidence in themselves or the world around them.

God’s word warns us:

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9.

We can be confident that our Heavenly Father is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If we keep our confidence focused on Him … on who has set a plan for each of our lives … we can wrap ourselves in the comfort that only God can give us. You can have confidence in scripture.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Hebrews 10:35

 

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 Confidence appeared first on Robin Luftig.