Morning Devotionals

I not only read them -- I also write them. "Reunited" is at MustardSeed Ministries when you click on devotionals and look in the archives. It is my first publihsed devotional with them. I've had another one accepted, and it will be published with them soon. There is no pay with MustardSeed, but if my devotionals bring a bit of enjoyment or help to another, that's payment enough. If they further the Kingdom of God, that's the best payment of all.

A colleague read what I called a short article I'd written and told me it was beautiful and served as her morning devotional. She thinks it should be published as a devotional. I came across a piece of writing in my files the other day that could also serve as another devotional. My friend and colleague said maybe devotional writing is my niche. I do love to write them, and I also love to read them.

I've been reading devotionals long before I started writing them. I've bought little devotional books. I enjoy them so much. Morning devotionals are an alone time with God, a time for reading and reflecting, praise, worship, and thanks. What a way to start a day, asking God to bless it from the beginning.

I've always believed in prayer and begin my morning with prayer for all my loved ones who live so far away, for our United States, our country, our world, and I thank God, even for my pets.

I've gone over Chapters 15 and 16 of Hidden Treasures and made some revisions, but that's just a once over. I'm ready to begin chapter 17. I thank God this morning for His inspiration, words, direction, and guidance, and I ask Him to infuse me with His Holy Spirit as I write for Him.

May your day be blessed with all good things.

Barb

Work-in-Progress

Hidden Treasures is coming along slowly. I completed Chapters 15 and 16 this morning, rough drafts. I've got to go back over Chapters 13 on and revise, before going back over the entire book again. Spent the morning writing and the evening cleaning. Can't wait to see my children and grandhchildren, so my mind is not really focusing on writing. I need some time away. I'll get it soon. Looking forward to a break.

Checked on Kristy this morning. She's keeping everyone else's spirits up, and her family's keeping hers up. Time slips away so quickly. It's so important to spend quality time with your family and friends while you can. Slow down and enjoy life. This reminds me that sometimes I need to slow myself down with my writing as well. I need to spend some quality time with my writing, too. When I write fast, I make mistakes I normally wouldn't make and can't believe I made them when I look back after the writing has cooled.

Cindy and Laura are great, helping me catch them, lending me two other pairs of eyes. Thanks guys. See their links below. Cindy writes great mysteries, and they're funny, too. Laura has an intriguing novel as her work-in-progress. I'm learning so much from working with these two wonderful ladies in my ACFW group.

Barb

How do you Know You're Called to Write a Certain Book?

That's a question I've often heard asked, or how do you know if you're called to write for God? The first question is probably a little easier to answer. If you're called to write a certain book, it won't go away. It keeps kocking on the doors of your mind, and I have a few that keep knocking. I've written short articles about some of them and even started a book on one. I may need to turn those short articles or short stories into novels. Some are very important to me and are part of my story, my testimony.

I have given my writing to God and prayed that He'll use it to help others, to reach out, uplift, and encourge others. I feel he has called me to write what I write because He has placed that God-given desire and inspiration within my heart. He gives me my dreams and heart's desires. It is up to Him, His will, not mine, how He uses my writing, but I pray that He uses it to further His kingdom. If my short stories, articles, poems, books, or devotionals can reach out and make a difference for someone else, that's reason enough to write. My writing is a way to share my heart and soul and life's experiences, hoping others will come to know Jesus as their best friend and enjoy the same personal relationship I have with Him.

I watched Home Improvement last night on TV, and the show really touches my heart every time I watch it, but last night's show really impacted me. I have written about the topic in a short form titled Sometimes Being Strong Means Letting Go. I had the beginnings of this story for a long time, and I recently completed it as a Long Ridge student. It needed fleshing out and was too short before I reworked it. This story is one of many of which I've written that really hits home and is like a personal testimony for me. The woman in last night's story didn't make it out. It's a hard choice, a hard topic, and so many women feel they're caught, because they're doomed if they stay and doomed if they don't. The woman of last night's story tried to get out. She had the guts and courage to try to build a better life for herself. I admire her for doing so. I thank God that her children are being cared for and have a nice new home after all they've been through. Their memories will haunt them forever, as will the material God places on my heart and calls me to write. God, if it be your will, let these stories be published and told and let my voice be heard through my writing as a way to help others.

Barb

Praise God

My grandson, Hunter, is out of intensive care. His brain was swelling,and they had to gradually bring his sugar down to keep it from shrinking too quickly and sending him into a coma. God does answer prayers. He is going to be okay, but he needs to learn to keep a better check on his sugar. He is supposed to check it four times a day, faithfully. Hunter is my grandson from my oldest daughter, Paula.

Update on Hidden Treasures. Two are listed above, though they're not hidden, other than the fact they live so far away. They do seem hidden in that aspect. My novel is coming along. I have completed Chapter 14 and have Chapter 15 started. The great ladies in my ACFW group are helping me by lending me their eyes,providing feedback and insight to help me with the proofing and revision process, and by being wonderful friends. They are greatly appeciated, and I thank God for being part of such a wonderful critique group. Check out Cindy and Laura's blogs from my blog lists. If you like mysteries, be sure to check out Cindy's books. She writes great cozies. I should know. I get to read them in the making. Thank God for all of these little treasures and the wonderful, helping people He continually sends into my life. Thank God for my family and friends, the treasures of this earthly world.

Barb

Nourishing and Keeping a Spirit Alive

My morning devotional has become checking on Kristy and reading her blog as well as my own private devotionals. Kristy Dykes from sunny Florida is truly an amazing, awesome woman, as is her whole family. The two videos on her blog this morning display how to norish and keep a spirit alive, even in the toughest of times. Her family wraps her in a cocoon of love, as they continue to encourage and inspire her through her trials. May God truly bless each and every one of them. I feel so fortunate just to have known this piece of Florida sunshine through her blog and her writing.

She continues to struggle, but she is courageous and trusts in her Lord. Please click on the Christian Love Story link below if you'd like to share your heart with Kristy and her family.

My grandson is also struggling with health issues and is hospitalized in ICU in Las Vegas, NV. My oldest daughter is there alone with him. Please pray for her strength and his healing. He had to be hospitalized for sugar shock and was near a coma.

Barb

God's Love is Grander than the Grand Canyon

This is a poem I wrote about Summer Vacation of 2007 when we visited my daughter who lives in Las Vegas. God not only blessed us to visit her, but He also allowed us to visit the beautiful Grand Canyon. When I looked at its immense expanse, I thought of God and all His glory. I got home and penned the following poem.

God’s word is as wide and deep and great as the Grand Canyon He made.
His love flows like a Niagara Falls waterfall.
His light shines like a Key West sunrise.
His love sparkles more than all the lights in Las Vegas.
But His love is true and steady, instead of glittering and flickering false hope.
Nothing is more grand than our own Lord, not even the Grand Canyon He personally created!
Like an expansive canyon view, or an ocean-front view, His love spreads and expands throughout all eternity with no end in sight.
All you have to do is invite Him in as your personal Lord and master, trust Him, and He will be your guiding light, outshining the glitter of Hollywood and Vegas,
For, God's love is grander than the Grand Canyon he created.

Caught up in the Clouds

Below is a poem I wrote a while back, just having fun playing with words, but it means a lot to me as a stored treasure of my heart.

Caught up in the Clouds

By Barbara J. Robinson


The Lord will raise the sick and the dead.
They will be caught up with Him in the clouds.
We will meet our loved ones again,
When we meet the Lord in the air.

Won’t you come with me on a journey to another world?
We’ll meet our loved ones there!
No pain. No tears. No heartache. No fears!
Heaven’s a waiting.
Let’s get our tickets and prepare to meet our loved ones there.

We’ll cross over to the other side,
Where pain and heartache cannot abide.
Mom will be cancer free.
Sis will walk.

A golden Cocker Spaniel will be at my side.
New heavenly bodies they will host.
No pain. No tears. No heartache. No fears!
Heaven’s a waiting for you and me.
Just call upon Jesus and ask Him to set you free!

Green valleys, flowing rivers, heavenly hills, and blue sky.
Birds singing, flowers blooming, heavenly smells, and
Our loved ones by our side!
Just call upon Jesus, and you will see,
The son of God can set man free,
Free from pain, tears, fears, and heartache.

Free to prosper with the greatest inheritance of all – eternal life.
With Jesus as your host, your Lord and Savior!
He is certainly the host with the most!
Remember, all the trophies of this world will mean nothing,
When you reach Victory Lane,
And receive the one most important victory of all,
The Crown of Life.

Chapter 13

Completed Chapter 13 of Hidden Treasures this morning and sent it to my American Christian Fiction Writer's (ACFW) critique group. I completed a lesson for the Christian Writers Guild yesterday. I recently graduated from Long Ridge. I've learned a lot from my classes and reading Stein, and I continue to hone my skills and improve my craft. I have given my writing to God. If it is His will, it will bless others.

I'm counting the days until I get to visit my children and grandchildren.

Working on my WIP

I've completed the first 12 chapters of my Christian Romance/Suspense novel. I'm reading Stein on writing and plan to spend a great deal of time with the editing, proofing, and revision process. I want to complete the rough draft this week and write the synopsis. They say life is fodder for writing, and I hope to use my travels in my novels.

God is good! He has blessed me with great vacations and traveling experiences. I hope to share some of them with you through my novels.

Lisa's Birthday: Losing Lisa