Pray for the People Behind My Book

This week, seeing the cover of my latest book Running with Roselle prompts me to pray, not for increased sales or new promotional ideas (although those would be good things), but for the two people who became dear to me as I wrote the story—my co-author and his wife. Michael Hingson’s wife Karen has been in the hospital for over a week, battling severe pneumonia that turned into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The last I heard, her conditions was still pretty critical. I know Mike would appreciate your prayers.

I don’t think I ever said this to Mike, but God used him and Karen at a critical time in my life. In a year when I had a lot of negative going on, meeting Mike and writing his incredible story of growing up blind and surviving 9/11 provided an uplifting distraction. His determined spirit and refusal to let limitations hold him back inspired me as I was forced to step out in independence in new ways. Mike would say I could do it, I often thought, so would Karen. Because Mike is blind and Karen is a paraplegic, they have a special bond as a couple, depending on and helping each other while also sharing an understanding that only those who live with a disability on a daily basis really get. At a time when I’d grown a bit cynical about love, watching their relationship filled me with joy and hope. 

I thank God for Mike and Karen, not only because I had the privilege of writing about Mike’s unique life, his relationship with his guide dog, Roselle, and a miraculous escape from the World Trade Center, but because they are incredible people who came into my life at the perfect time.

So please join me in praying for Karen, and for Mike.

Can you think of someone that God brought into your life at the perfect time? Have you ever told that person what they mean to you and why?

At the Perfect Time

Last night I received an e-mail inviting me to do something that I've wanted for a long time. I was so excited that I lost all sense of maturity and professionalism. Thankfully the person inviting me to this wonderful opportunity was a friend who knew me wellb so I could freely reply with exclamation points and gushy expressions of joy.

What made this all the more thrilling is that I had given up on seeing this desire fulfilled right now. I had prayed myself to the point of feeling like a whiny child and finally had to give it over to God, knowing he would allow it when He considered me ready. The last time I journaled about it, I wrote, "God, help me to trust Your timing and be content with whatever happens,"  and made up my mind to have a good attitude.

The e-mail came--as always--when I least expected it and needed it most.  

Are you still praying for God to answer a prayer of fulfill a desire? Let this story encourage you that His answers do come, and always at the perfect time.

Waiting for Dreams to Come True

The October issue of Guideposts magazine (pictured here) includes an article that I helped a dear friend write. I’m so excited! Because the story is ghostwritten, my name is not on it, but I could care less. Not only did I love helping Lindy and her husband, Jim get their miraculous story out there, but writing for Guideposts has been a goal of mine for as long as I have been attending writers conferences. I have come close to acceptance in the past and watched many friends accomplish my desire, and it finally happened.

The other day, as I thought about how long I have been writing, how many times it felt like certain  dreams would never come true, and how many goals are yet to be accomplished, I found myself thanking God for His timing. The first story that I submitted to Guideposts and came so close to receiving a yes on was good, but it wasn’t nearly as powerful as the one I recently received sample copies of. In those years in between, my writing has grown and so have I. The acceptance came when I desperately needed a reminder that God had good things in store for me. It took weeks for me to recognize how sweet it was of Him to send this reminder through something I have wanted for so long.

Now I am waiting for other dreams to come true. It looks like one is a step closer to becoming a reality, but while I wait I will use the Guideposts story as motivation to trust my Father’s timing, knowing He knows exactly when we are ready for a moment of success.

What dreams are you still waiting to see come true? How is God building your patience?  

A Divine Appointment

Yesterday was a difficult day. Nothing major happened; just little things that brought old emotions to the surface.

“I have a feeling that you’ll feel better tomorrow,” my friend Lula said when we talked over the phone. “It’ll be a new day.”

And she was right. I woke up feeling a little less sad. But I still felt . . . needy. Like things weren’t quite right yet and I wanted to unload the leftovers from yesterday on someone.

Then I ran into Julie while dropping my son off at school. She offered me a ride home and I immediately took her up on it. We talked long after she pulled into my driveway. I opened up a little about my not-so-great mood and yesterday’s “what’s going on with me?” near-spiral, but suddenly I didn’t feel quite as needy or desperate to rant or cry or both. Next thing I knew, we were talking about other things—God, church, the state of the world that we didn’t know whether to be frightened or excited over, I kind of lost track after awhile.

“I should probably let you go,” I said, realizing all that I needed to do. Suddenly, I had the energy for it.

“I’m so glad I ran into you.” Julie gave me a hug. As it turned out, she had been having a rough morning too. Nothing major, just a not-so-great mood.

And now we were both over it, ready to move on into our day with a lighter heart.

“It was a divine appointment,” Julie said.

“It definitely was.”

Do you feel needy today for . . . something? Maybe you don’t know what you need or why you feel the way you do? Ask God to send you a divine appointment. You never know if you will be that person’s answer to prayer too.

Perfect Timing

Yesterday, and dear friend and her husband treated me and my son to lunch after church. They had no idea that I was exhausted and—while I had just bought groceries and had plenty of food in the house—dreaded going home to make lunch. The invitation felt like a wonderful gift from God.

Last week, I found a card in the mail with a handwritten “I’m praying for you” note inside. While the friend who sent it thought she’d put it off for too long, the card actually arrived at the perfect time, when I needed to receive something other than bills in my mailbox.

Today, I got an e-mail from another friend, thanking me for a fun message that I’d sent her several days ago. Just seeing her name in my inbox and getting confirmation that she’d appreciated my attempt to brighten her day, started mine off on a bright note.

God’s ability to prompt friends to send exactly what I need at the very moment I need a lift, continues to amaze me. He knows when I need an invitation to lunch, a card, or even a reply. He knows when I need to hear a certain friend’s voice, read specific words, or see a familiar name. The most incredible part is that I usually don’t realize my need until I receive it.

We belong to a God who loves us so intimately that He knows what we need. In fact, He knows in advance when we will need kind words, an invitation, or even news that we thought was overdue.

Thank God today for the many perfectly-timed gifts that you have received from Him. If you are having a difficult day, pray that you will recognize when He sends something to turn it around.

You might also want to look at this another way—maybe God is prompting you to send a “I was just thinking about you” text, invite a friend to coffee, or be extra nice to someone who hasn’t been so nice to you. Ask God to keep you sensitive and obedient. After all, you might be the one He wants to use to send a perfectly-timed gift to someone else.