Real with God

I've been reworking an article this week and had gotten to the point of exhaustion.(Writing can be that way!) I was tired of it. Sick of it. Frustrated.

It felt like I'd worked the story a million different ways and it still wasn't coming together. Early Wednesday morning, I trudged to the computer and started chopping, reworking, doing it all over again--the whole time pushing down that still small Voice inside my heart.

I'm here. Come to Me.

On good days, I have my quiet time in the mornings. I sit in an Adirondack chair in my bedroom and usually light a candle. But some days I put it off. I'll jump on the computer first. Or I'll decide to have my quiet time later in the day. Or I'll totally skip it.

So, late Wednesday afternoon, the words still weren't coming together. I decided to stop. Do something different. Even shut down the computer. I did what I should have done to start with. I went downstairs and sat in my chair in my bedroom. I read Proverbs 15 for the 15th day of the month. I love reading from The Message. Nothing fancy or complicated.

Just listen to this..."God can't stand pious poses but he delights in genuine prayers." And down a little further. "A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song." And another. "Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed." One last verse. "God smashes the pretensions of the arrogant; he stands with those who have no standing."

That was me...miserable, arrogant (trying to write without praying first), being hardheaded.

So,I just started talking to God like I'm writing to y'all today. "I'm sorry, Lord. Help me. I need You. I can't do this without You."

No, I didn't finish the article on Wednesday. The right words didn't land immediately in my thoughts. I finished today, but more important that getting my work done was getting my heart right.

Love,
Julie

Back to School

My son is a junior in high school. We live in Georgia. He started back to school on July 31st--that's LAST WEEK. Most of you haven't gone back yet, but it's not too soon to start praying for your new school year.

The Message says, "Listen for God's voice in EVERYTHING you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track." (Proverbs 3) EVERYTHING it says.

Just think. What would life be like if we prayed about everything?

Does anybody have any concerns we can pray about?

Whether or not to try out for a sport? Or club?
How you're going to handle a tough subject (like chemistry or physics--yuck!)?
Right person to date? or not date?
If you're to be a leader in a group?
College plans?
An after school job?
Hard stuff going on at home?
Problems with a friend?
Parents going through a divorce?

We'll pray.

Love,
Julie

Enough

For those of you who write, you've probably heard of the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. I'm going for the first time March 13. The what if's have been trying to intimidate me lately. I'm a non-fiction articles writing trying to make the leap into the fiction world. I'm going to be mailing two copies of my proposal this week for review.

I'm convinced most of us struggle with at least something. My biggie is totally trusting God. Sometimes I wonder if He must be saying, "Julie-babe, you wear me out. Chill out. I've got you." Of course He's smiling as He says it.

Not every day but most days I read the Proverbs that matches the day of the month. (easy because there are 31)

Listen to part of Proverbs 3 from The Message. I read it this morning. It felt as though I'd never read it in my entire life. It hit me with TRUTH all over again:

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart. Don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in EVERYTHING you do, everywhere you go; He's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!
(GET THIS) Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!"

That just about makes me start dancing all alone in my writing loft--the power of the Word. For today, I'm going to hang onto them and to Him.

Anybody want to share what your One Biggie is?

Love

Julie
www.juliegarmon.com

Candles

I've started something new. When I pray and read my Bible, I light this special candle. It smells incredible. Since I'm a writer, I'm home a lot during the day. I light my candle early in the morning while I'm praying, reading my Bible, and writing in my journal. Then I blow it out. It's a cinnamon one. The cool thing is that during the day, I'll get whiffs of it, and it reminds me of God's Presence always close, always with me, always ready to help.

Today is October 3. I love to read the Proverbs (since there are 31) and they coordinate with each day. Lately, I've been reading from The Message Bible.

Proverbs 3 says, "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you do; he's the one who will keep you on track."

So, like the sweet-smelling candle, God's aroma goes with me and keeps me on track.

If you've never tried lighting a candle while you read the Bible or talk to God, you might want to. Just be sure and blow it out. :-) Don't worry. His Presence will stay lit inside you.

Love,

Julie

www.juliegarmon.com

Friends

A sweet friendship refreshes the soul. Proverbs 27 (The Message)

Today, I have to stop and write about how blessed I am. Robin has been my best friend since high school. And that is so rare--to have a friend last a lifetime.

This may surprise some of our teen readers, but even when you get to your forties, you'll still want a best friend.



Robin met me at the mall before I left town last week. I just got back from Texas. I taught at the North Texas Christian Writers' Conference this past weekend. One of my LEAST favorite things to do is to shop. Robin helped me pick out new eye shadow and dark-colored jeans. She kept bringing different jeans back to the dressing room for me. She didn't complain a bit. Isn't that sweet? And I've always been fascinated with girls/women who know how to put on their eye shadow the right way. I learned how to do the new thing with gold eye shadow.



Robin always tells me when it's time to decorate my house for each season. She told me to put out some fall leaves the other day. She loves color and she's fun!



She always, always, always wants the best for me.

This is a picture of us at my daughter's wedding. We were pregnant at the same time with our daughters way back when. :-)



In high school, I had no clue what a gift God gave me by letting us meet each other.



Today, I want to be sure I tell Him thank you. I tell Robin all the time.



Is there someone who's makes your life special?



Love you all,

Julie
www.juliegarmon.com

Only a spark

I live in Montana ... it's one of the prettiest places on earth, except during fire season. Even though the fires are miles and miles from my home, the sky is filled with smoke. In fact, it's so gray and dark it's hard to see the HUGE mountains from my window.





This reminds me of something I read recently:



"It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.



"This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!"





I love that ... by our speech we can send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it. It's a great passage from The Bible.





The Bible? Did that sound like the Bible to you? Where are the thees and thous and hard language?





I was asked this question by some of my teen friends who heard me read this passage. They didn't read the Bible much, and this isn't what they expected.





The verses are actually, James 3:5-12, The Message version. I LOVE the Message because it is the Bible is today's language.





If you don't have this version on the Bible, don't worry. Check it out ... go to:





http://www.biblegateway.com/





See that box next to Quick Search? You can change the version. Just go down a few and find "The Message." Then you can enter in some of your favorite passages. Here are a few of mine:





Isaiah 40: 27-31:





"Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,


or, whine, Israel, 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.

Psalm 119: 9-16:





How can a young person live a clean life?


By carefully reading the map of your Word.


I'm single-minded in pursuit of you;


don't let me miss the road signs you've posted.


I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart


so I won't sin myself bankrupt.


Be blessed, God;

train me in your ways of wise living.





So how about you? What are some of your favorite verses? How do they read in The Message? I'd love for you to share!





Oh, yes, and remember. It only takes a spark! Don't I know it!