Staring at the Screen

It seems lately, every time I sit down at the computer to write I just sit and stare. No words come. No thoughts roll around in my head. My fingers seem to just sit frozen upon the keyboard. Nothing is there.

Some days, I even have thoughts. Seriously, I do. As I go about my day thoughts, God’s word, life applications and lessons come to mind. But, when I get a chance to sit down and formulate those observations into words I confront that vast void in my mind AGAIN.

If you are a writer, you know this is a frustrating place to be. Wordless. Speechless. Blank screen. Urgh! I’ve heard it said that even if you don’t have anything to say you still need to sit down and write. That just seems crazy – what do you write about if you are blank?

If you’ve seen the movie, The Shining, with Jack Nicholson, his character was a writer and he sat and wrote, “All work and no play makes Jake a dull boy.” Maybe I should try that. What say you?

If you have any tips for breaking through the still, quite, nothingness in my mind please feel free to share.

Please send them soon, or I shall begin . . .

All work and no play makes Jake a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jake a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jake a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jake a dull boy.

Pause

Have you read “The Frazzled Female” by Cindi Wood? Well, I haven’t – but I’m thinking I should check that book out.

For whatever reason, it seems the last few weeks have been screaming by and I’m left seeing a blur out of my peripheral vision. That blur caused me to miss meetings and phone calls. (note to self: when things change at the last minute make sure you write them down, Alene) Mercy!

My heart and soul have been crying out for a break, a breather, a pause. I wanted to sneak away for to refocus and refuel. Well, that was impossible to fit into the schedule so . . . I tried chilling out at Starbucks to refresh myself. I even tried capturing some peace at the Sonic drive through at happy hour! (Hey, $1.08 for a Route 44 unsweet peach tea is a good deal!) Yep, I tried many tactics – all but taking a “pause for the real thing – coke”.

When I saw there wasn’t two days, or one day for that matter, to get away I came to my senses and realized Coke, Starbucks, or Sonic were not the kind of pause I was looking for. What I needed was a mental pause to refocus my mind on where true refreshment, vision and purpose come from! God’s Word.

As I sought the word for encouragement God spoke to the still of my soul (Alene inserted for Israel) . . .

Why would you ever complain, Alene, or, whine, Alene, saying, "God has lost track of me. He doesn't care what happens to me"? Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening? God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind. Isaiah 40:27 Message

Hallelujah, our Lord never tires or pauses. He is always there to give fresh strength and energy as we wait on Him. A God pause is a good thing!

If you are needing a pause – pick up the real thing – God’s word and be amazed!

The Thank You Note

Last Friday evening was a rare treasure. All the kids were able to clear their schedules for a few hours so we could BBQ and have a meal together. Even my son’s roommate was able to make it.

We ate, we laughed, we listened, and we just had a great time all being together. This mom was in mommy heaven!!!

Early the next morning my son dropped by and gave me the note above. It was a thank you note from his roommate. The note totally made my day because I couldn’t imagine a college age guy going home and writing a thank you! His kind words lifted my spirits for the day.

That thank you note got me to thinking about my own habits of thankfulness. Although I am very thankful and blessed I have to say at the moment – my habits of showing thankfulness are lacking. If I remember to thank friends it certainly isn’t the day after. The more I pondered my spirit of thankfulness, I realized I show the same lackadaisical attitude with God. I would fall in the category of the nine lepers on many days.

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and
Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Luke 17:11-19 NIV

Friend, I think it’s time I go write a thank you note to some very dear people, as well as to God.

Have you written a thank you note lately?

What's Next, Papa?

Visiting with a friend recently, I was reminded of how our relationship with our earthly father is such a vital part of our life. We grow up with dads and our perception of that relationship all too often determines how we view our Heavenly Father.

If our dad was demeaning and overbearing in nature, we tend to view our Heavenly Father is the same light. To break the bonds of those feelings and thoughts it often takes time and a strong determination to retrain our minds to think of our Heavenly Father as loving, caring, and nurturing.

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him! (Romans 8:14-16 MSG)

You might not be able to relate to the photograph above because you weren’t afforded the opportunity to have a father figure you could trust or enjoy spending time with. But God wants to be near you today.

He wants to carry you on His shoulders to see new things and experience blessings He has waiting for you. He wants you to know you can trust him and that He thinks you are precious. My friend, don’t get bogged down in the past. Let it go and find your confidence and worth in your Heavenly Father.

Be adventurously expectant, hop on God’s shoulders and ask “What’s next, Papa?”

Here's Your Sign

Everyday I drive by this sign. When I first noticed it, it cracked me up! Who puts a sign to warn you of a bump in the road right at the bump? And who calls them speed humps?

Usually when you see warning signs they are enough distance away that you can slow down, turn, or execute whatever is required. In our spiritual walks we can observe warning signs that changes are coming, as well. If we have a discerning heart, we will slow down and maneuver the course to weather the “speed hump” successfully.

I’ve determined, I would love to have a spiritual marker like the sign above. One day when I wake up, get going, and run into a snafu God could flash down a warning sign, “Alene, here’s the hump! This is it. Slow down and proceed cautiously.” I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I could so use a caution sign like that. Seriously!

In my life it’s not always the big obstacles that trip me up. Usually, those sneak up slowly and I can see I'm approaching them. However, those “humps” that sneak up quickly and out of nowhere during my day can totally rock my world and throw me off course. So, as I drive by this sign every day, I’ve decided I'd like a signal like this in my daily ordinary life.

I bet you can hear God saying, “Alene, here’s your sign!”

It's Monday

It's Monday! A new week, a new day, a new hour and minute. Make it a great week by walking side-by-side with God.

Check out my Monday Devotionals. Click the header above!

It's going to be a amazing week.

Winners that Encourage

Thank you for all your wonderful emails and comments about how you encourage others.

The random drawing has taken place and the winners of I'm a Fixer-Upper are:

Cindy at Consider it All Joy

TanyaLea at Acorns & Cherry Blossoms

Alisa Hope Wagner at Faith Imagined

Thank you all for being incredible encouragers in my life!