Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud

Read Full Post »

Okay, so I don’t have cheesecake, and my title is probably way too close to the original, verging on cliche’. But I do truly have a winner!

J. Morgan, congrats! You were randomly chosen to receive a novel of your choice from Jude Urbanski! I will be contacting you via email shortly.

And to all my readers, I’d love to hear from you. I am near to concluding my Proverbs study, which has been GREAT! So great, in fact, I’m praying about continuing, perhaps with a different topic or study. If you could spare a few moments to answer the below survey, I’d appreciate it.

Click here to take survey

Read Full Post »

As our Proverbs Study members read through each day’s suggested text, God pricks their hearts and minds with fresh insights into how to live out His Word in the day-to-day. For those of you following our reading plan, I thought you might enjoy the following:

Back when the 99% movement hit the news and social media waves, one of my friends posted a picture that cut to my core. It was of starving children in Africa, with the caption, “We are the 1%.” If you’ve gone on a mission trip to a third-world country, spent time with the homeless or inner city children, you know just how true that is. Today, fellow Proverbs study member and sweet friend Yvonne Blake challenges us to quit grumbling about inconsequential things so we can live lives of praise.

Bountiful Eye by Yvonne Blake

My dear Friend and frequent guest blogger (who will return Thursday) encourages us to see our bodies, whether beautiful or broken, strong or weak, as splendid, crafted, molded, and held in God’s mighty hand.

Being Splenorious by Beth Farley.

Read Full Post »

Where ever you are, whatever you’re doing, God has placed you here, at this moment, to be used of Him–to be a glorious, beautiful declaration of grace and truth. You can be a catalyst for change–a revolutionary that motivates others to make change and share God’s love with a hurting world. You can also be a supporter, one who “catches the vision” and runs alongside the visionary. Both roles are equally important, both have the opportunity to create positive change, but whatever you do, don’t remain on the sidelines!

Revolutionize “Our” World by Jennifer Hallmark

 ”‘I’m sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I’m sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.” Acts 26:17-18 The Message

Are you a revolutionary? Encarta Dictionary has two definitions I like: “causing, supporting, or advocating revolution” and “so new and different as to cause a major change in something.” We can start a “revolution” in our circle of influence through outreach.

Our local band of published and unpublished authors, North Alabama Writer’s Group, decided to make a difference. This group meets once a month to discuss writing technique, personal accomplishments, current events in the writing world, and now service projects. The first outreach ministered to one Christian sister still recovering from the tornadoes of April 27^th, 2011.

Joyce, dedicated wife and mother of four, has been active in her church and community for years. In a few moments, she lost her home, vehicles, and husband of over thirty years. Our group discovered that churches and other organizations were helping with the rebuilding of her home and replacement of vehicles. What could we do?

As writers, we all had one thing in abundance to share with our sister in Christ. Books. We gathered new and slightly used books to fill a basket and restock her library. All the books were hope-filled, inspiring fiction and non-fiction, and we threw in flavored tea bags to complete her gift.

It’s time to ask God, what can I do? What can the groups or clubs I belong to do to reach others and bring glory to Him? No act is too simple if it brings joy to another. God has gifted every person on earth for outreach if they will take the time to look to Him. Whether it is through encouragement, prayer, greeting cards, phone calls, giving, or simply being there, we can be a revolutionary to the people in our community, state, and world.

Father God, revolutionize my life. Open my eyes to the task before me, the people I am to love and help, always pointing the way to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

***

Jennifer Hallmark is a writer of southern fiction and women’s ministry consultant. She has a website, http://www.jenniferhallmark.com and shares a writer’s reference blog, http://writingpromptsthoughtsideas.blogspot.com. Her first novel in the trilogy, Journey of Grace: A New Beginning is currently searching for a good home. Jennifer resides with husband Danny in Alabama and loves her family, dog Max and coffee shops, in no particular order.

Again, we ask–are you a revolutionary or are you collecting cobwebs? If the latter, dust off, my friend, and join God’s children as we pour out the ever-reaching, initiating love of Christ. What can you do *today* to participate in God’s glorious plan? And will you invite others to join you?

Thanks again to my August Reach Out donors:

Read Full Post »

Today begins the ten day Mary Kay Make-over charity contest. Join me for some fun, perhaps a few giggles, and maybe even an inspiring devo or two. Remember, it’s for a great cause! Plus, ALL

Read Full Post »

Before you read this post, I encourage you to visit Elaine Stock’s blog to see how God used my sin to show me of the true meaning of Easter.

As you contemplate on Christ’s death and prepare to celebrate His resurrection, I invite you to meditate on 2 Philippians. I’ve been camped out in this chapter this week. I’d love to memorize it. More than that, I long to live it. But as you may notice if you read the above referenced post, most days I fall painfully short. But like Paul, I refuse to give up. Instead, I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. (Phil. 3:12)

Philippians 2:1-11 (NLT)

1Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from His love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? ² Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

³ Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

⁵ You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

This is a hard passage to live, one I doubt anyone this side of heaven will ever truly master. But when we think of what Christ did on the cross, our love compels us to try. Stop and meditate on verse one. Stop and think of all Christ did for you. Envision Him on the cross, giving His life for you. For me.

So that we could have peace with God and one another. The biblical term “peace” has a much deeper meaning than what we tend to give it. When we think of peace, we think in terms of the absence of outward conflict, but shalom, the Hebrew word scholars translate as peace means so much more!

Shalom is about wholeness, completeness, a sense of setting all things right. God desires His children to be united (Phil 2:2). When something happens to disrupt that unity, His desire is that we would do what we can to restore it.

This Easter, as you celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection, evaluate your relationships in terms of God’s shalom. Is there anything God might be calling you to do? Will you obey?

Matthew 5:23-24

²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Let’s talk about this!

Join us at Living by Grace as we talk about ways to seek and practice shalom. Then come back Monday as I continue my Reach Out to Live Out Campaign with a story shared by a man who showed compassion to a stranger. (Click here and scroll down to find out more about the campaign and how you can get involved.)

Want to learn more about shalom and biblical conflict resolution? Here are some additional resources:

Peace Maker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict

The Meaning of Shalom

Shalom and the Poverty of Relationships (This article talks about shalom, how it applies to relationships, our view of man, and the poor.)

Read Full Post »

Sadly, I often take the cross for granted. Maybe I’ve heard the account too many times, or maybe I’ve forgotten how dark my heart was when I first came to Christ. But every once in awhile, I catch a glimpse of the magnitute of God’s love, revealed in sacrifice–not the kind of sacrifice we normally think of, normally struggle with, like giving up our place in line or foregoing a new pair of shoes to help someone in need, but the sacrifice that gave His all, His very life, for me. And in those moments, when I pause to comprehend the depths of God’s love, I fall to my knees in worship. A worship that extends past sunday. Past what is convenient and comfortable to a radical surrender that says, “Lord, have all of me. I hold nothing back, I give my all, to the one who gave His all for me.”

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”

This is our memory verse on Living by Grace this week. Join us as we meditate on the mercies of God, and commit to give Him the worship He’s due. A worship that moves past lip-service and casual Christianity to full, passionate surrender.

Read Full Post »

Today I’m at Naomi Musch’s talking about divine detours:

Have you ever felt like you are on a perpetual detour? You know where you want to go, maybe you even feel like God is leading you there, yet somehow you’ve ventured on the “scenic route” loaded with one detour after the next. Are you lost? Has God forgotten about you altogether? Maybe you’ve begun to question whether or not you will arrive at your destination at all. 

That was exactly how I felt a few months ago when God taught me a very expensive and frustrating lesson. And even though I know I often learn best through failures, I couldn’t help but question my circumstances. Couldn’t God have taught me the same lesson in an easier and less expensive way? Sure, He took me from point A to point B, but did He really have to take me to Q, S,W and Z first? (Read the rest here.)

Read Full Post »

Today I’m at my dear friend, Fay Lamb’s, sharing the not-so-glamorous side of writing. It’s almost comical that she posted my piece today, considering my dentist appointment yesterday. Going in for what I thought was a routine capping (to finish a root canal) I left with a long list of “necessaries.” My dentist’s conclusion? I’m “gummy, no offense,” and in need of a gumscoptomy (ouch!), oh, and my teeth are small–tiny actually, and in need of lengthening. Which then means my bite needs extending to make room for my bigger teeth, which she’ll give me after three year’s worth of visits. A previous dentist told me I had a protruding jaw line, which would “diminish” if I were to quit chewing gum. My daughter’s solution? Sit with my cheeks puffed out to soften the lines on my face.

When my husband got home, I asked him if there was any chance he and I could slip away to some remote island where I could hide behind my computer. To which he responded by wrapping me in a mammoth, face-smooshing hug. (Gotta love those strong, silent men. wink)

So, so glad that regardless of what happens on the outside, my forever-love husband calls me beautiful. (Yes, I do realize eye-sight wanes after 40, and for that I am very grateful!) But I know that he looks beyond the wrinkles, extra padding, and facial imperfections to a heart madly in love with him.

Gladder still that God looks at my heart and calls me a child of the King, redeemed and even now being transformed to ever-increasing glory, regardless of my Neanderthal brow, graying hair, gummy teeth, and protruding jaw.

In a world that zeroes in on the outside, it takes a bit of determined thinking to take our thoughts captive, fighting against the appearance-tide, focusing instead on matters of the heart, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

(When you’re done reading about my horrific experience with my headshot, stop by the Bible Advocate to see the end result and read my article.)

Read Full Post »

Today’s post comes from Jan Cox from Under the Cover of Prayer. We know we need to pray. The Bible tells us to pray consistently for others, ourselves, the world, and God’s saving message, but coupled with the sovereignty of God, the act of prayer can become confusing. If God is in control, do our prayers really matter? Can we pray about anything, anytime, or are some prayers more righteous than others? How do we know when we get a yes, no, or not yet? Will a giant billboard fall from the sky? Today Jan raises numerous questions for us to ponder, then discusses one in greater detail. After you read her thoughts on prayer, share yours with us.

God Can Hear Our Prayers

How can we know that God can hear our prayers?

How can we know that God wants to hear our prayers?

How can we know that God can act on our prayers?

I have been mulling around these questions.

Question one:

How can we know that God can hear our prayers?

Besides the fact that I just know He does, through my faith  – I have come up with several reasons from Scripture why we can know for sure that He does hear our prayers.

1. The belief in the all-encompassing POWER of our God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I love this passage in Colossians:

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:15-17 NIV).

Don’t you just love the phrase – By Him All things were created, and in Him all things hold together? That certainly solidifies it for me. There is POWER here.

2.  The majesty and immensity of our God of creation. After watching the video by Louie Giglio I held my breath.

“This is what God the LORD says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it”  (Isaiah 42:5).

Louie’s video shows the universe – to the ends of the universe and what we see when we get to the last picture – is outstanding, gluing all things together for me. God does HOLD ALL things together. We go to the ends of the universe and the Hubble telescope show us – a Cross.

Another video by Louie Giglio (for a quick check go 2:50 minutes in) talks about a cell adhesion molecule called Laminin.

Here is a diagram of the Laminin molecule.

Laminin is vital to making sure overall body structures hold together.

And it is in the shape of a Cross.

Christ does hold ALL things together.

These are two very important reasons why our God can:

1. Wake me up during my night’s sleep whenever He chooses to call me to prayer, or to rethink my past day.
2. Put people and incidents in my daily path – God-incidents.
3. Make miracles happen.

His power is one reason why my prayers are important.

He can call me to pray; He can hear me when I pray; He can answer my prayers.

***

Jan, a former school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement. She has published two devotionals and a number of articles for magazines and a Bible study. She is owner of Under the Cover of Prayer and moderates the site. She also writes at A Better Way. Jan has written a children’s book in which she is also the watercolour illustrator. She hopes to publish it this year.

Read Full Post »