Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 81

I'm Only One Person. What Can I Do?

Sometimes the world’s problems seem very big, and I feel very small. 

I hear of gruesome beheadings of Christians. I see children die in gang-related crossfire. I hear of babies who perish at the hands of abortionists. I see a generation of young people turning its back on biblical truth and moral conservancy.

And I think, I'm only one person. What can I do? 

In October of 1943, Adolf Hitler ordered the arrest and deportation of some 7,800 Jewish citizens from the country of Denmark. The courageous Danish resistance movement, along with a great number of ordinary citizens, undertook an unprecedented rescue attempt.

In an era long before cell phones, text messages, and emails, the Danes warned their Jewish countrymen of the impending roundup. Some even resorted to paging through local phone books and calling everyone with a Jewish-sounding name.

And despite grave risk of personal danger and arrest, they didn’t stop with warnings. Many citizens hid Jews in their homes until a rescue plan was in place and then spirited their countrymen to the Danish coast.


Once the Jews arrived, hundreds of fishermen, using commercial and private boats, ferried them across the Oresund Strait to the neighboring country of Sweden, which had offered them asylum. “As a result of the rescue, and the following Danish intercession on behalf of the 464 Danish Jews who were captured and deported to Theresienstadt transit camp in Bohemia, over 99% of Denmark's Jewish population survived the Holocaust,” Leo Goldberger writes in his book, The Rescue of the Danish Jews, Moral Courage Under Stress.

Ordinary people, obeying their consciences and taking stands for what was right, rescued 99 percent of the Jews in their country destined for genocide.


What if anyone of them had thought, I am only one person. What can I do?

Martyred Christians, innocent children, deceived young adults, and unborn babies. Who will be their champion? It only takes one to raise the battle flag—to pray, to speak, to write. To give, to work, to go. The pages of history remind us that God raises armies one soldier at a time.

Perhaps instead of asking What can I do?, we should be saying,

Here am I. Send me.




You want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.











You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

What Does God's Voice Sound Like?

I’d sometimes hear people talk about “hearing God’s voice,” and wonder if they were a little off. Or fanciful. Sure you heard God’s voice, I’d think, and then mentally pat them on the head like a small child describing the unicorn in her bedroom.

What I’ve discovered, however, is that God does speak to his children if we take time to listen. If we position ourselves to hear from him. If we slow down long enough to recognize his voice.

As the result of attending a Bible study by Becky Tirabassi called  Let Prayer Change Your Life  and many years of maturity, I've learned to recognize God's voice. But it didn't happen overnight.

When I first heard Becky Tirabassi say she prayed for an hour a day, I thought, Are you crazy? I fall asleep after ten minutes.

At the time, my prayer life consisted of half-coherent prayers mumbled as I was falling asleep each night. Dear God, thank you for this day. Please keep my children safe and bless those I love. Help us zzzzzzzzzz. 

Or arrow prayers when I needed help. Lord, the car’s making a funny noise, and I don’t know how we’re going to pay for a repair. Please help it be something minor.

My prayer life was sporadic, haphazard, and ineffective. Occasionally something would happen that related to something I’d prayed about, but deep down inside, I’d wonder if it was just a coincidence—if it would have happened anyway.

As a result of applying the principles I learned in the study, however, my morning prayer time has gone from snoozy to spectacular.

Now the time I spend in prayer and Bible reading is the most precious part of my day. The principles I’ve learned to put into practice have unlocked a world of communication between me and the Lord I never dreamed possible.

Here’s an example of one of my recent conversations with God:

Early one morning I was praying for my daughter, who recently moved to Japan, far away from everyone and everything she loves (except that new husband of hers, who’s in the Navy). I thought about Amy, a young woman ministering to Navy wives in Japan. She has reached out to my daughter and befriended her.

I wonder if Amy needs any financial support? I thought. My husband and I often donate to ministries, individuals, and mission projects in addition to our local church.

As I considered talking with my him about donating to her ministry, I opened my Bible (I read The One-Year Daily Bible). The passage that day was the story of David making an offering to God on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. “I will not sacrifice to God that which costs me nothing,” David said (2 Sam. 24:24).

As I was closing my Bible, my phone pinged, indicating I had a Face Time message from my daughter. I’m so thankful for Amy, she wrote, . . . I wonder . . . I know she raises her own support. Are you and Dad still looking for missionaries to sponsor?

I couldn’t help but smile. I love it when God speaks so clearly. I appreciate that he confirms his messages to us by repeating them in different ways. Sometimes I’m slow to hear or slow to respond, so I need a few nudges. I’m delighted that I don’t have to depend on my thoughts only, which are sometimes spot on and sometimes way off base.

When God is speaking to me, he’ll often confirm his message through the counsel of wise friends, a Bible passage, or a spiritual song. It's important to remember that God will never speak contrary to Scripture, the final authority for every decision. Sometimes he’ll use circumstances to affirm what I think I hear.

Hearing God’s voice isn’t a big guessing game. Sometimes it’s the clearest conversation I have all day.

If you’d like to learn to hear God’s voice, I suggest you do these seven things: 

1. Find a quiet place to pray. Preferably not when you’re sleepy, distracted, or likely to be interrupted.

2. Ask God to search your heart to see if there is any unconfessed sin in your life. When something comes to mind, confess it and ask God to forgive you.

3. Tell God your concerns and needs. Be honest and transparent. Be specific. I’ve found writing my prayers in a journal helps me stay focused.

4. Read a passage of Scripture. Rather than just opening your Bible at random and reading whatever is on the page, choose a book of the Bible to read through.

5. Sit quietly before the Lord and listen with your heart. Be open to what he might say to you. Write down the thoughts that occur to you during this time.

6. Praise and thank God. When we praise God, we remind ourselves to whom we're praying to. When we thank him, we express gratitude instead of grumbling.

7. As you move through your day or week, have your radar up. Be aware of circumstances around you. Pay special attention to the words of godly friends and mentors. Take notes during church. 

The more you talk with God through prayer, the more he will talk back to you through his Word, his people, and the Holy Spirit who lives inside you.

With practice, you’ll learn to recognize his voice. And the more confident you are that you're hearing from God, the bolder you'll be to act on what he tells you.

And THAT’S when the fun really begins. 

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me,” (John 10:27).

What about you? Do you think God speaks to people? Have you ever heard God’s voice? I’d love to hear your story. Leave a comment in the section below and share your thoughts.

If you're in the Columbia, SC area, you're invited to join me as I teach a group of women how to pray with power during a 5-week Bible study beginning tonight, June 15, at 7 pm at New Testament Baptist Church, 300 Sims Avenue. For more information, contact me at LoriAHatcher (at) gmail.com or just show up this evening. We'd be glad to have you.

If you're out of the Columbia area, I'd love to share Praying with Power with your church or women's ministry group. Click HERE to find out more about my speaking ministry.

For other posts on how to hear God speak, click the links below:

How To Know It's God Speaking to You

Why Praying on the Run Isn't Enough

When You Feel Powerless to Influence Your Children






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You want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you. If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Don't Be a Grumbling Hebrew

Whenever her children would whine or complain, my friend Karen would call them grumbling Hebrews. She was referring, of course, to the Israelites who griped and bellyached all the way to the Promised Land. 

God parted the Red Sea so they could cross and delivered them from Pharaoh’s army. He kept their clothes and shoes from wearing out and provided an ample supply of food every single day. Best of all, he promised to bring them into a land “of milk and honey.” Yet they grumbled and complained the whole way. 

Many times I’m just like these ungrateful wretches. Evidences of God’s love and care surround me, yet I murmur and whine. God has guided my life for many years. He’s delivered me from sin and eternal punishment. He’s provided a home in which to live and food to eat every day, and, if that’s not enough, he promises to take me to heaven when I die. 

Yet I am, so often, a grumbling Hebrew. I look at the 98 percent God has given me, and instead of being thankful, I yearn for the two percent he's withheld. 

What about you? If you are similarly guilty, will you join me in choosing thanksgiving instead of grumbling?

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:4-5).



Have you ever wanted to try your hand at writing a Christian devotion? Well here's your chance. 

My friend Marilyn Nutter sends out an invitation once a year to submit devotions for the one-year devotional she edits, Penned from the Heart. A lovely book, PFTH is a compilation of 366 short devotions from writers all over the world. 

I always sigh when I receive Marilyn's invitation. Those of you who have been readers for any length of time know short seldom describes my devotions. And there's the catch -- each devotion is 225 words or less. Oh  my. I can barely write an introduction in 225 words, let along craft an entire coherent and spiritual thought.

But every year, for the sheer discipline, I challenge myself to see if I can do it. The devotion  you just read is this year's attempt. I pray it blesses you and the sweet PFTH readers who will purchase next year's volume.You can read last year's submission to Penned from the Heart, "When Someone You Love Has No Faith," HERE.  

Now how about you? Would you like to give it a try? Scroll to the bottom of this post to read the writers' guidelines (they're simple), and then ask the Lord what he'd have YOU share. And if you submit, let me know so I can be praying for you and those who will read your devotion.




You want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you.



If you enjoyed this post, why not subscribe? I'll send you twice-weekly 5-minute devotions to help nourish your soul. 
Because women need to connect with God in the craziness of life. 

Enter your email address and VALIDATE the Feedburner email sent to your inbox.



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Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.




Writer’s Guidelines for Penned from the Heart – for 2016
Penned from the Heart, published around Thanksgiving by Son-Rise Publications, New Wilmington, PA is a non-denominational, Christian book of 366 devotions and poems which can be started at any time during the year and used in any year. Cut-off date for receiving submissions is July 1st.
Submissions from novice and professional writers are welcomed. Devotions should be 225 words or less. Poems (verse or free-verse) should be no more than 20 lines, counting spaces between stanzas. Devotions should be more than a Bible study or personal experience. Insights, prayers, and anecdotes that proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ or build the body of Christ through encouragement, inspiration, or teaching are encouraged. Readers should find a Take-Away, something to apply to their lives.  
Formal format of opening scripture and closing prayer is not required, but scripture relating to the devotion or poem, should be included in each submission. Please include a title for your devotion or poem. When quoting scripture, please be accurate and indicate the version in this way: NIV, KJV, NASB, MSG (The Message), etc.  Do not rely on your memory—please verify accuracy.  Include a brief bio of no more than 40 words; include email and website if you want to readers to contact you.   It will be helpful to submit your devotion in Arial 10 (Arial 9 bold & italic for scripture passages).
Son-Rise Publications asks for one-time rights for the volume in which your work appears.  Previously published devotions, as well as original works, are accepted if you own the copyright. Reprint rights are given when supplied by the author. Payment for the inclusion of your work in PFTH is a free copy of the volume in which your work appears, and the opportunity to buy other copies at a discounted rate. International contributors and contributors who do not order additional books will receive a complimentary copy but pay mailing cost. PFTH gives authors an opportunity to see their work in print.  Most importantly, it is intended to bring glory to Jesus and encouragement to readers, as writers share His love. Son-Rise is a small publishing house, so distribution for this book is done primarily by its contributors in their home churches, venues in which they serve as speakers, work places, and  friends and family. The books make wonderful gifts and witnessing tools at any time of the year.
For an example of a devotion visit writers’ guidelines at www.marilynnutter.com Penned from the Heart is compiled/edited by Marilyn Nutter. Electronic submissions (only) may be sent to nutter4penned@gmail.com in the body of your emailThank you, Marilyn NutterEditor, Penned from the Heart
nutter4penned@gmail.com 




 

 

If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

The Eye of the Beholder - A Guest Post by Andrea Merrell

I’ve heard it said that heartbreak—just like beauty—is in the eye of the beholder. What breaks my heart and causes me pain may not be the same for you. We all have God-given strengths and weaknesses. We all have struggles and handle situations differently. And each one of us sees things from a unique and individual perspective.

Some view this as a negative. I see it as a positive. In God’s economy, nothing is ever wasted. He can take any situation the enemy means for evil and destruction and turn it around, working it for our good and his glory.

One way he accomplishes his plan is by having us share our stories—our tragedies and triumphs—our failures and successes—with those who need to hear. This takes a willingness to be open, honest, and transparent. When we take that risk, there is so much we can learn from each other. We all need humor, encouragement, practical advice, and a large dose of hope.

If I am in the middle of a crisis and someone shares with me how God brought them through the same devastating experience, my faith is restored and my hope renewed. It’s like being thrown a lifeline when you feel like you’re going down for the third time.

My desire is to throw that lifeline to others who are dealing with a rebellious teen or young adult who has chosen a life of sin and destruction. I want to share the lessons I learned through my journey with two prodigals and encourage parents to pray God’s Word over their children daily.



God can work miracles in the lives of those who are fully, wholeheartedly committed to him, believe his promises are true, and refuse to give up even when things seem to be falling apart all around them.

What do you need to share with others? What hidden resources do you possess that might be the very catalyst to restore someone’s faith. Whatever it is, I encourage you to dig deep, then be willing to share your journey. You might be the exact answer to someone’s urgent prayer.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NASU




Andrea Merrell is Associate Editor for Christian Devotions Ministries and Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She is also a freelance editor and has been published in numerous anthologies and online venues. Andrea is the author of Murder of a Manuscript. The Gift, and Praying for the Prodigal. For more information visit www.AndreaMerrell.com or www.TheWriteEditing.com.


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Because women need to connect with God in the craziness of life. 

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If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Sex, Crime, and Violence - How Much Is Too Much for Christians?

No doubt about it, it was a hot button topic. 

My friends and I were discussing our favorite Christian authors. As writers, we were not only talking about their books, but also their style, craft, and writing approach. Talk quickly turned to a popular suspense writer. “His goal is to paint the darkness as black as possible so the Light will shine in stark contrast,” one woman who had studied under him said. “Problem is,” she confessed, “I can’t read his books. They’re too graphic. I have nightmares. He’s a masterful writer, and the pictures get in my head, and I can’t get them out.” 

“Me too,” someone else said. “I know good is going to win in the end, but ugh, it’s tough reading about the bad in such gory detail.” 

“Is it really necessary to paint sin, death, and destruction in such graphic terms?” another asked. She spoke the question we were all wrestling with: 

“Do we really have to know all the disturbing details to be able to cheer for the hero when he catches the bad guys?” And herein lies the question: 

How much is too much? 




 Paul instructed believers, “but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil” (Rom. 16:19). In other words, you really don’t need to know every detail about what sinful people do to each other. Personally, when I hear detailed stories about abuse, debauchery, and murder, the facts stick in my mind and trouble me. 

Don’t misunderstand. I’m not advocating a Pollyanna world where we shove our fingers into our ears and pretend bad things don’t happen. We should be troubled by sinful behavior so we can hate it, fight against it, and take steps to prevent it. But do we really need to know the step-by-step process for how to pull off the murder of the century? 

Ephesians 5:11 warns, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.” This verse leaves no doubt that believers are called to take action against wicked behavior. At the same time, however, it encourages us not to broadcast all the sinful details. 

One of law enforcement’s greatest fears following a crime spree, murder, or suicide is that other unstable or evil people will copy the behavior. Police coined the term copycat effect after intense media coverage of Jack the Ripper’s murder spree spawned several copycat killings. Loren Coleman, author of the book The Copycat Effect, How The Media and Popular Culture Trigger The Mayhem in Tomorrow's Headlines, writes: “Copycats imitate the previous violent attacks, oftentimes down to specific details as that mirror the previous specifics of the shooter, the victims, and the methods.” I wonder how many senseless crimes might be prevented if the media included less detail in their stories. 

Here’s a final verse to ponder as we consider what we allow into our minds: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—If anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Phil. 5:8). 

Jennie is an older woman who watches a lot of television. She likes “to stay informed,” so Dateline, 20/20, and America’s Most Wanted are some of her favorite shows. Day after day she feeds her mind a steady diet of tragedy, crime, and bizarre behavior. It’s not surprising, then, that she has trouble sleeping at night. She keeps a gun by her bedside and regularly calls family and friends to warn them about the latest threat. She is fearful and anxious. 

I’m not saying we should stick our heads in the sand and remain uninformed about legitimate threats. I am saying we should limit our exposure to the dark and evil aspects of our troubled world. The Greek word translated think in Philippians 4:8 is logizomai, which means meditate. I believe if Jenny applied this verse to her television and reading habits and meditated on good and lovely things, she’d sleep better at night, share positive information with her friends and family, and be much less afraid. 

“I read this stuff for entertainment,” some say. “It doesn’t affect me.” Are you sure? A steady diet of chicken wings and soda will affect our bodies in a negative way. A steady diet of crime and wickedness must surely affect our souls. 

Here’s a final litmus test, one I taught my children many years ago when they were trying to decide if a book or movie was OK: Ask yourself, If Jesus was reading over your shoulder or sitting beside you on the couch watching with you, would you feel comfortable? The answer might cast the question in a different light.  

What's your opinion? Is it OK to read and watch media that delves deeply and graphically into the dark parts of our world? I’d love to hear your opinion. Leave a comment below and join the conversation.







You want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you.



If you enjoyed this post, why not subscribe? I'll send you twice-weekly 5-minute devotions to help nourish your soul. 
Because women need to connect with God in the craziness of life. 

Enter your email address and VALIDATE the Feedburner email sent to your inbox.



Delivered by FeedBurner










Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.
 

 

 

If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference -- A Place Where Faith Smiles

The mountain breezes are cool as we snake our way up the interstate to the Ridgecrest Conference center. My fellow writers and I are on our way to the legendary Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in Black Mountain, North Carolina. 

BRMCWC has a reputation as the place where careers are launched, visions are realized, and years of hard work find their reward. 

It’s also the place where dreams sometimes die. 

As we near the conference center, we see, for the first time, the charred acreage of the mountaintop, still black from April’s fire. We wonder, will our dreams, like these quiet woods be charred by week’s end? We pray for favor, mercy, and God’s good providence to guide the events of our conference. 

As we queue up in the registration hall, new conferees glance over their shoulders, aware of a presence, but unable to catch a glimpse of it. Veterans recognize the stalkers—fraternal twins assigned to each conferee—Fear and Faith. 

Inseparable, like warring siblings forced to share the back seat of a Yaris, they stay close, needling their respective charges and whispering messages into their ears. This might be the year you land a publishing contract, Faith says. Why are you here? Fear counters. Can’t you see this is a place for REAL writers? Back and forth they spar as the conferees inch their way forward until there is no turning back. 


As the week progresses, Faith finds its voice through kind editors, inspiring keynote speakers, and tenderhearted fellow writers. Literary agents provide gentle guidance. Instructors condense years of learning into 75-minute workshops. Shared stories and vision find comrades in arms around lunch and dinner tables.

















Fear still brandishes its sword and delivers a few jabs, but insightful fellow soldiers triage the injured, apply pressure to their wounds, and dry their tears. The balm of Truth heals and restores their souls. 

Conferees pitch articles, books, and blog posts. Authors compare publishing houses, agents, and cover designs. First-time attendees, like hungry children at their first buffet, salivate over classes on fiction, non-fiction, and public speaking. They load overfilled plates with back-to-back workshops, appointments, and mealtime meetings. Each night they stagger to their rooms popping Advil to soothe their over-stuffed heads. The more outgoing among us fill their evenings with late-night gab sessions to exchange tales only writers will understand. 


Genre night celebrates the broad brush with which God paints his creativity across the writing world. We hear stories of heartbreak and hope, tragedy and triumph. Writers speak of passions as varied as the hurting souls who need their words. We sit in humbled awe as one brave writer shares his ping pong path to success, giving us courage to pick up our paddles and join the game. 

Faith swells with pride while Fear sulks in the corner, rifling through his ammunition cache and coming up empty. 


And the Selah awards banquet—a rare chance to dress in clothes that usually hang unworn in our closets. For artists who do our best work in pajamas, glitter and glam is both awesome and awkward. 

Fear and Faith settle into seats, eager to see what the night will bring. Finalists wipe sweating palms on linen napkins and pray for grace to accept judges’ decisions. The especially nervous push food around on their plates, unable to swallow past the tennis balls in their throats and the rocks in their stomachs. 


The long list of awards begins, and it’s not like a politically correct end-of-the-year baseball picnic where everyone gets a trophy. Some writers leap from their seats in surprise, shocked that someone besides their mother sees value in their writing. Others watch the parade, spectators on the curb while the band marches by. 

Those who know the stories behind the winning titles nod their agreement like Purple Heart recipients inducting another member into their corp. Winners smile for blubbery pictures off to the side and “losers” surreptitiously dab their eyes. 

It’s a happy/sad time. 

“Rejoice with those who rejoice,” Faith whispers, “and weep with those who weep.” Fear swaggers among the tables looking for a vulnerable soul. 

Thursday’s events are the dénouement, the clean up after the party. We pack our suitcases and our laptops, exchange a few more business cards, and pray for safe travels. Our steps are slow, not because of the luggage we drag, but because we don’t want the week to end. The real world awaits, and it’s messy and hard. 

We pile our belongings in the car, program the GPS, and settle wearily into our seats. Heads filled with to do lists, goals, and action steps, we glance back. The mountain behind us is a living metaphor. Faith points to the broad green acreage. Fear points to the charred black spot. 

Then Faith pens the last word, for she sees what Fear cannot. In the center of the fire ring are tiny sprigs of new growth. These fledgling trees will one day form the richest and most verdant part of the forest. 

And Faith smiles.


I was honored to serve on faculty at BRMCWC this year, teaching workshops on why writers must be speakers, how to craft a compelling presentation, how to write a life-changing blog post, and how to fight the days when we want to quit. If you'd like to watch a brief Facebook clip of Lori Hatcher's impression of a busy women struggling to get it all done, click here.

The pictures, in order of appearance are:
1. The badge we wore to all events
2. Fellow author and blogger Lori Roeleveld and me.
3. Meeting with my agent, Les Stobbe.
4. All dressed up as the busy women I write for at Genre Night.
5. Fellow Columbia-area writers, David and Sarah Van Diest, and myself at the Selah Awards banquet.
6. One of the award-winning writers from my Word Weavers group, Jean Wilund.




You want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you.



If you enjoyed this post, why not subscribe? I'll send you twice-weekly 5-minute devotions to help nourish your soul. 
Because women need to connect with God in the craziness of life. 

Enter your email address and VALIDATE the Feedburner email sent to your inbox.



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Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.
 


 

 

If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

6 Ways to Fight Fairly

It was the neatest pile of yard trash I’ve ever seen. 


My neighbor had cut every limb exactly the same length. The tops of the branches faced the street, the cut ends faced the yard. Each limb lined up a foot from the road like soldiers at attention. He had tucked four palm fronds neatly among the other evergreens at evenly spaced intervals, adding a decorative flair to an otherwise monochromatic pile of greenery. It was picture worthy. 



Farther down the street, another neighbor had also dragged yard debris to the road on trash day. His pile looked nothing like Neat Nate’s. An irregular mound of soggy leaves graced one end. A hodgepodge of carelessly flung branches, yard netting, and a Chick Fil A box completed the display.




A third neighbor added his contribution to the trash man’s collection—a black bag filled with unknown contents tied tightly and flung to the road. 


Still pondering a recent Bible study on marital conflict, I thought too long about these trash piles. My early-morning brain made a spiritual connection I’m not sure even the Lord intended.

I thought about my family’s history of conflict resolution. Sometimes we’ve been like Neat Nate. We’ve organized our conflict and given it socially acceptable labels. The Silent Treatment. Adolescent exploration. Boundary Testing. Passive aggression. Micro and macro disobedience. Somehow giving it a trendy name and pigeonholing it made us feel a little more in control of our struggles. 

At other times we’ve been too weary, frustrated, or hopeless to do anything other than dump our conflict on the side of the road for all to see. Our transparency was a cry for help and prayer. 

Finally, there have been times when we were too ashamed, too disheartened, and too hopeless to do anything but throw a big, black bag over the top of it so no one but us would know how ugly it was. 

Chip Ingram, in the study, Experiencing God’s Dream for Your Marriage, makes two significant points about conflict: 

1. Conflict is normal. 

2. Conflict is an opportunity for growth. 

He says, “Conflict is inevitable. Every time you bring two people together, there will be conflict. The question is NOT ‘how do we have a conflict-free marriage?’ The question is “how do we deal with the conflict that WILL come?’” 

In the 30 years we’ve been married, my husband and I have grown a lot in how we deal with conflict. We still have a lot of growing to do. After our recent Bible study, we set a few ground rules, in advance of our next conflict, to ensure that we fight fairly. 

Here are our ground rules for fair fighting: 


1. If I’m not ready to talk about what’s bothering me, I’ll tell you. I will not give you the silent treatment and leave you wondering. 

2. If we agree to delay the discussion, we will address the issue in a timely manner. No sweeping stuff under the rug until it accumulates into an ugly mess. 

3. During our waiting period, we will still act in a loving manner toward each other. (No monosyllabic answers, cold shoulders, or drawing uncrossable lines down the middle of the bed.) 

4. When we talk, we will use “I feel” sentences instead of “you always” or “you never.” 

5. We will listen actively, repeating what the other has said if necessary. 

6. We will acknowledge that while conflict can come from selfishness, as Ingram says, it can also arise from differences in belief, perspective, and style. Conflict is not always because of sinful behavior. Sometimes it’s simply the result of two very different people living in the same household. 

Perhaps, like my husband and me, you’ve always thought of conflict as dangerous and harmful. In light of this different perspective, we’re encouraged by Ingram’s statement that if we deal with conflict in a healthy way, our marriage will not only survive, but THRIVE. 

What have you learned about healthy conflict? Do you have a rule for fair fighting you’d like to add to my list? Why not leave a comment and share your thoughts? I’d love to hear from you.



If you're in the Columbia, SC area and would like to learn more about prayer, I'd love for you to join me for a 5-week Bible study based on my workshop, Praying with Power. 
We'll meet at New Testament Baptist Church, 300 S. Sims Ave. on Monday nights beginning June 15 from 7-8:30 pm. The cost is $10 and includes a workbook and a personalized prayer journal. Email me at LoriAHatcher (at) gmail.com to register. Invite a friend -- I hope to see you there!



You want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you.



If you enjoyed this post, why not subscribe? I'll send you twice-weekly 5-minute devotions to help nourish your soul. 
Because women need to connect with God in the craziness of life. 

Enter your email address and VALIDATE the Feedburner email sent to your inbox.



Delivered by FeedBurner










Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.
 

 

 

If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

God's Love Language

“Seldom do a husband and wife have the same primary emotional love language,” says Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages. 

“We tend to speak our primary love language, and we become confused when our spouse does not understand what we are communicating. We are expressing our love, but the message does not come through because we are speaking what, to them, is a foreign language.”

I find Dr. Chapman’s observations to be true in my marriage. I cook my husband’s meals, wash his clothes, and clean his house. Because I am a doer who likes to check off boxes and accomplish things, I prefer to demonstrate my love by doing. I speak the language of hard work, self-sacrifice, and get ‘er done.

Trouble is, I’m like the cashier talking to the immigrant in the grocery store line ahead of me. She thinks volume will make up for her lack of Spanish language skills. The louder she speaks, the more confused and frustrated her brown-skinned customer becomes.

“No comprende.”

No comprende indeed. In my husband’s native tongue, love doesn’t look like clean clothes and 3-course meals. It looks like lingering kisses, lazy evenings, and back scratches. His dialect says Slow down. Linger long. Stay a while.

And so, like my grocery store friends, we wave our arms, gesture wildly, and leave frustrated. We love each other, but our love language barrier often pushes us apart rather than draws us together.

My relationship with God sometimes struggles with a similar love language barrier.

I say, “I can do it myself.”

God says, “Come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

I say, “If I just give enough, do enough, be enough . . .”

He says, “For by grace you have been saved, through faith, not of yourself, it is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

I say, “If I can just get all my questions answered.”

He says, “Unless you have the faith of a child, you cannot see the kingdom of God.”

I say, “I can do it myself.”

He says, “No man can come to the Father except by me.”

I say, “Show me.”

He says, “Trust me.”

And I wave my arms, gesture wildly, and leave frustrated. I yearn for a relationship with the Lover of my soul, but I try to bypass the bilingual Translator.

Thankfully, God’s love language speaks across millennia if I have ears to hear it:

For whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. (Acts 2:21)

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (John 11:25)

Do you believe this?



If you’ve been trying unsuccessfully to connect with God by speaking your own language, why not try his? 

Commit to read the Bible, his love letter to you, every day. Talk to him in prayer. Watch as he reveals himself to you. Then you will begin to understand what it means to have a love relationship with the God of the universe. And it will be amazing.

What have you got to lose?




You want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you.



If you enjoyed this post, why not subscribe? I'll send you twice-weekly 5-minute devotions to help nourish your soul. 
Because women need to connect with God in the craziness of life. 

Enter your email address and VALIDATE the Feedburner email sent to your inbox.



Delivered by FeedBurner










Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.
 

 

 

If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Throwing Rocks at Change

In 1979 my best friend Jodie and I sat outside and threw rocks at the yellow For Sale sign in my front yard. My parents had decided it was time to move south, and the sign in the yard was a mere formality. Our home was already under contract. 

I was 15 years old. 

Convinced my life was over, the thought of leaving my hometown was more than I could bear. Can anything good come from moving to South Carolina? I wondered. 

In 2009 I threw mental rocks when my husband accepted a new ministry position that required us to leave our home church. The church where both daughters had been baptized, learned memory verses, and went on mission trips. The church where we had learned to give by faith, serve with passion, and lead with love. The church where we loved the pastor and worshiped with most of our friends. Although I knew the Lord had opened the door, it was still a hard adjustment. 

In the past few years, our family has experienced several significant transitions. Our daughters went off to college, we’ve welcomed two new sons-in-law into our family, and both couples have moved far away. (For some reason my girls think they should live where their husbands are.) We’re learning how to keep in touch through email, text messages, and Face Time. 

Some days I mourn change. 

Unlike friends who thrive on variety and spontaneity, I like predictable routine. I want to know what to expect every day, from the cereal in my breakfast bowl to the people sitting around my dinner table. I automatically assume change is bad. 

I forget that the Lord orders our days according to his good pleasure for our good. He brings us to new places and seasons to grow our faith, strengthen our witness, and utilize our spiritual gifts. 

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jer. 29:11). 

Our move to South Carolina in 1979 didn’t ruin my life, it redeemed it. A new friend from school invited me to church. I sat under the sound of the Gospel for two years. The summer before college, I surrendered my life to Christ. 

Changing churches in 2009 when my husband finished his ministry degree meant I had to stop teaching my beloved Sunday school class. I was so sad, but as we settled into our new church family, the Lord opened new opportunities for ministry. I began to speak and write more, started a blog, and received a book contract. 


The latest changes in our family have parted us physically but joined us spiritually and emotionally. We talk often, pray for each other, and communicate in deeper ways than when we lived together. I love having handsome, fun, smart sons-in-law. I love watching both couples begin families of their own. Best of all, I love my little granddaughter Lauren more than I ever imagined possible. 

The longer I live, the more I realize the only thing constant is change. But because the Lord is the sentinel who guards the gate of my life, I don’t have to fear. I can rest in the confidence that his plans for me are good, his hand is at work on my behalf, and he will walk with me through every change in my life. 




“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you” (Isa. 46:4). 

What about you? Do you welcome change or fear it? What is one change you’ve experienced that you thought might be bad, but turned out to be good? I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment below and join the conversation.


If you're in the Columbia, SC area and would like to learn more about prayer, I'd love for you to join me for a 5-week Bible study based on my workshop, Praying with Power. 
We'll meet at New Testament Baptist Church, 300 S. Sims Ave. on Monday nights beginning June 15 from 7-8:30 pm. The cost is $10 and includes a workbook and a personalized prayer journal. Email me at LoriAHatcher (at) gmail.com to register. Invite a friend -- I hope to see you there!



You want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you.



If you enjoyed this post, why not subscribe? I'll send you twice-weekly 5-minute devotions to help nourish your soul. 
Because women need to connect with God in the craziness of life. 

Enter your email address and VALIDATE the Feedburner email sent to your inbox.



Delivered by FeedBurner










Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.
 

 

 

If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

How to Be Happy

What we read and watch on the internet can make our hearts soar. 

It can also make our hearts weep.

Mine did both recently.

Logging onto my email from a remote computer, I watched MSN’s top news stories scroll by. A headline from Examiner.com and its accompanying photo caught my eye:

Paris Jackson happy with boyfriend Chester after pregnancy talk, suicide attempt.

Happy, according to the Examiner, is a 17-year-old girl with pink and black hair accepting an open-mouthed kiss from an 18-year-old Mohawk-sporting, wife-beater-shirt-wearing soccer player from a “family of means.” In a hotel bathroom, no less.

The article expressed delight that Paris, who had attempted suicide in 2013, looked “happy, healthy, and gorgeous.”

My heart wept for Paris.

Also in my news feed was another story, this one about another teenage couple. They, too, looked happy, healthy, and gorgeous. The Atlanta Journal and Constitution’s headline read:

Quarterback fulfills 4th grade promise, asks childhood friend with Down syndrome to prom.

The photo showed a tall, clean-shaven young man in a dark suit holding the hands of his prom date. Dressed in a stunning lavender floor-length gown and sporting a wrist corsage, the young lady smiled demurely, too shy to meet his happy grin.

Ben Moser and Mary Lapkowicz were friends in fourth grade when he promised, someday, to take her to the prom. Eight years later, he made good on his promise. 

Commenting on his decision to take his Down syndrome friend to the most important event of the year, Moser said, “There shouldn’t be a barrier between someone who has Down syndrome and someone who doesn’t. You should just be who you are, and do what’s right. Simple,” he said. 

Simple indeed, Ben Moser.






A wise man once said, “Your life is the sum of the choices you’ve made.” I couldn’t help contrasting Paris Jackson’s choices with Ben Moser’s.

At the end of the day, who do you think was really happy?





Here's a video clip of prom day. If you're reading by email, click here to view the video.






This week I'm privileged to serve on faculty at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers conference. Nestled in beautiful Black Mountain, NC, the conference is an amazing opportunity to pour back into the Christian writing community some of what I've learned. 

I covet your prayers as I pitch my next devotional book, tentatively called, Feeding Your Soul in a Drive-Thru World. Stay tuned.

You want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you.



If you enjoyed this post, why not subscribe? I'll send you twice-weekly 5-minute devotions to help nourish your soul. 
Because women need to connect with God in the craziness of life. 

Enter your email address and VALIDATE the Feedburner email sent to your inbox.



Delivered by FeedBurner










Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.
 

 

 

If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher