Robin Gilbert Luftig's Blog, page 45

Remember Why Jesus Died For You

It’s the day before our nation’s election.

Please watch, listen, and praise the Creator of the Universe. He’s in control today, tomorrow … as well as Wednesday and beyond.

 

 

God Always Honors Our Choices

Whatever you choose, God always honors your choice. He may close a door, but if you choose to enter through a window, He will honor your choice and give you the fruits of that choice. Doubt me?

Remember enjoying that second piece of German Chocolate cake when you know your limit is only a sliver? You know you get sick when you eat too much chocolate. But it tastes so good … and you just want more. Nothing mystical. You just want more. All that gooeyness on top of  chocolate delight waits for you.  In no time your tummy later reminds you why so much richness at one time isn’t a good idea, and you’re sick for the rest of the day.

All choices are like that. We have free will. And consequences always wait for us. God is consistent.

In a week we will be asked to make a choice. Do you vote on what makes sense to you? Do you vote on what people tell you is right? Or out of pure frustration, do you choose to not vote at all? All choices. All bear consequences.

I am not going to try to influence your choice, but only your process. Seek wisdom before your choose.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 (NIV)

After you make your choice and the results are in, remember two things: God is bigger than the election and He is never surprised. If you are not happy with the results, thank God. If you are happy with the results, thank God. Remember, He honors your right to choose–he honors free will.

As Christians, we are just passing through. Be the source of light for others to influence their choice–for Christ. That’s the choice we need to be concerned about more than any other.

Keeping Focused After Life Happens

I just followed an interview with Lacey Buchanan discussing her upcoming book, Through the Eyes of Hope (available January 2017) and it left me speechless.

Lacey’s book offers the shocking reality of what can happen when life goes unplanned. Can anything be more shocking? Yet her words are touching. Her tenacity is unwavering. Her heart is focused on two things–her love for God and family.

What a lesson to learn. I think about my own life. While I dealt with a brain tumor that rocked my world, I, too, needed to focus on my love for God and my family. That’s what got me through. But was I tenacious? Were my words motivating and inspirational as hers? Was my focus on the love God and family enough?

Who can say? It probably could have been more of what I needed to be. But I can learn from Lacey to help me through my tomorrows. I think of friends who have lost jobs, marriages and even children. How can I help them to focus on God and family as Lacey showed me?

God’s placed a burden on my heart through 2 Corinthians 1:4 … who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Lacey comforted my heart today. I hope to be who God wants me to be by comforting others. Is that a goal of yours? How is God leading you?

It’s My Cancer-versary…

Many people die by not embracing the gifts God gives them. That is not the case with Kim. Read her latest blog and celebrate with her. This is how you take a swan dive into life. Happy day to you, Sweet Survivor.

Kim's Blog

There are lots of things in my life that are amazing and awesome, but this is downright unbelievable.  It’s crazy.  Insane, actually.  Today marks 3 years since I was diagnosed as having advanced stage malignant melanoma.  So much has happened (and if you’ve been with me from the beginning you’re well aware of that) but as I soaked it in today through all of the wonderfully mundane things I did, I realized that so much is the same.  How can this be?  How can my life look so normal?  It’s unfathomable (don’t worry, I’ll run out of adjectives eventually…)

It’s wild to think that three years ago today I was at work in our church office with my cell phone right beside me just waiting for it to ring.  I already knew.  I knew I was sick but there was that small glimmer of hope that they were just wrong…

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Dysphagia Caused by Brain Injury

While many of my posts have been focused on writing or emotional healing, I am also sensitive to brain damage survival. On April 1, 2011, I suffered a seizure that led the doctors to find a meningioma tumor on my brain and was given ten days to live. Thankfully, I blew past their diagnosis.

Here’s a post from Michelle Munt, car accident / brain damage survivor … and someone who understands how brain damage can flip your world topsy-turvy.

 

 

The Giants that Grow Quietly within Us – Interview with a Giant-Killer #5

I am thrilled to share an interview taken by my friend Lori Roeleveld, promoting  for her newly-released book, Jesus and the Beanstalk (Overcoming Your Giants and Living a Fruitful Life).

I blushed when I read the beginning of the interview:

“So privileged to bring you my friend, Robin Luftig’s interview. She is truly a giant-slayer of the first order and I’m honored to have her friendship in my life. The title of her website says it all: Not only Surviving, but Thriving. Her testimony is proof that we can not only defeat the giants in our lives, we can thrive in the midst of the battle. God can use us when we’re prepared for the fight and also when we’ve been knocked down.”

What are some of the giants you need to kill?

 

Contact Lori , join her at her blog or visit her  About Me page to explore her other writing. Invite her to speak to your women’s group! Subscribe to stay in touch weekly.

 

 

 

 

 

Be Alert–the Caged Canary Stopped Singing

Coal mining in the 20th century many times included taking a caged canary into the depths underground. These birds were sensitive to carbon monoxide, a potentially deadly gas devoid of color, taste or smell, that often formed in the mines. A dead bird in the cage meant the miners needed to be alert–deadly conditions were at hand.

Watching the political banter over the past months has been telling. Pointing fingers and one-upping from both sides of the aisle took front and center stage while pressing issues were left untouched.

I think the Canary has stopped singing. Please, let’s heed the issues at hand that can be deadly. We still have time.

5 of My Favorite Writing Tools

Having the right tools for writing always helps the process go smoothly. Tools can be anything. Did you start with your favorite pen when you began jotting down your thoughts? Or what about reference books–I thoroughly enjoy thumbing through them even when I’m between projects, just to get the feel of what’s out there. Do you have your favorite software? Do you support Microsoft Word person or Google docs?

Here’s my list of four top writing tools. I use different tools when I’m working on different phases of writing:

Beginning a project I start with an Excel spreadsheet. It helps me spread out my thoughts, pace the action, and  see glaring holes in the storyline.
As I begin the first chapter, I rely on the Review tab in Microsoft Word. I leave sidebar comments along the way. Did I leave a hint to a sub-story I want to include later? Can I insert an innocent phrase that will leave devastating repercussions later? All these need to be noted so I don’t forget them later on.
Delving into the story, I rely on two computer monitors so I can refer to different areas within the project. Have I given too much backstory? Am I being consistent?
I am a huge fan of shared files. I’m sure there are others, but I use Dropbox. It’s easy. It’s free for my level of use. But most importantly, I can grab it wherever there’s an internet connection. If I come up with an idea while cooking dinner, it only takes a moment to grab the laptop and go. There’s even an app for that!
Last but definitely not least, is attending writers conferences. These are vital to the writing process. I have met some incredibly gifted writers, and all they wanted to do was share their knowledge. The people you meet may become some of your best friends.

Those are my top five. I have more. I don’t know where I’d be without my ever-present Thesaurus and Dictionary. Another tool I’m beginning to use is Scrivener. And we mustn’t forget the simple tools like your favorite chair, tea, or background music. They’re all important.

We all have our favorite tools, what are yours?

Being Distracted While Writing

Distractions when writing is one of the greatest challenges for a new or struggling author. Pretty colors. Cleaning the oven. Organizing your closets. The strangest distractions can seem important when ideas aren’t flowing. Or perhaps the more visible success of fellow writers has you in a bit of a funk.

Snap out of it!

Regain your focus. Remember what your purpose is. Revisit the reason you decided to sit at the keyboard in the first place.

Take a break if you need it. Read this post if you’d like. But get back to work. You’ll be glad that you did.

And now I need to get back to work, too.

Fighting the Comparison Battle

Writers tend to play the comparison game. When that happens we lose sight of what’s right before us: we are individuals. Our walks are different from anyone else’s. Our insights are different, too. Experiences. Challenges. Blessings. The sum of these plus others attributes make up the characteristics of who we are. But make no mistake, we are even more–we are Sons and Daughters of the Creator of the Universe.

Lucinda Secrest McDowell’s blog in The Write Conversation is filled with wisdom and guidance to get you through rough patches writers sometimes face.

Be unique and let God use you as He has designed. You will be forever blessed when you do.