Happy New Year!

Things are super busy here in my world.

Lots of writing, homeschooling, baseball, preparing for college visits (WHAT IS HAPPENING?!), and bracing for my youngest to get his driver’s permit in February. He asked me for the keys when he was eighteen months. I’ve been worried ever since!

And let’s not forget that I have a book due on February 1st AND Last to Fall releases March 3rd!

Y’all.

It’s a LOT.

Several weeks ago, I looked at the calendar and knew that this past weekend was my only opportunity prior to my deadline to get away and focus on the new story. So I booked the hotel, made the plans, asked for prayer, and on Friday afternoon, got on my knees in a hotel room and cried.

Because y’all…this may come as a surprise, but I have no idea how to write a book. I really don’t. And yes, I know I’ve written a bunch of books. But every single one is a complete shock to me. And, at some point, usually multiple points, with every single one, I’ve wound up on my knees, crying out to the Creator and telling Him (as if He didn’t already know) that there was no human way for me to get a book written in the time available to me.

Truly, my entire writing life is a bit of a mystery to me. I’m as flabbergasted as anyone is that I do this. I’m a wife, I homeschool, I parent a lovely adult daughter with disabilities and two teenage boys who have the audacity to do things like go out with friends, date, play baseball, and keep me in a perpetual state of chaotic confusion. Not to mention that I have parents, a sister, in-laws, friends, and I even have a few hobbies that I sporadically enjoy.

And without knowing all of your details, I know that you have a similar story. You have responsibilities, obligations, relationships, and at times, maybe most of the time, you have no idea how you get through the day. The new year rolls around, and you’re stunned and amazed that, once again, you’ve made it through another trip around the sun.

So if that’s you, please let me offer a small slice of encouragement. When you hit the point where you know – you know in the core of your soul – that you have nothing left to give, that in your own strength you will fail, I beg of you, take it to your good, good Father who knows what you need before you ask.

On Friday, before I left home, my devotions were so spot on that it was like GOD KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED. (Wild concept, I know! LOL!) And because this isn’t our first dance, I left for the hotel excited to see what He would do.

Unfortunately, when it was time to do the work, my excitement was gone, and just like the disciples, even though He has never failed me, and I’ve seen Him do more than I can ask or imagine, I still forgot, and my fear was riding me hard.

But as I prayed, He reminded me of the feeding of the 5000. So I asked him to take my small offering of words and multiply them in ways that were beyond my human capacity.

Full disclosure: I’m a bit too much of a realist at times, so I hedged my bets and said if that’s not your will, then please help me get whatever it is you want me to have out of this weekend. And help me be okay with it.

There were no audible voices, no angels singing, not even an overwhelming sense of peace that followed. Just a lot of hard work.

For the next twenty-four hours, I did more cutting and re-writing than new writing.

At some point on Saturday, things started flowing. I finished reworking the new idea in, and I knew where I wanted the story to go.

And I honestly don’t have an explanation for Sunday other than to say, “Wow. God is awesome.” I have written 10,000 words in a single day before, but I think only once.

When all was said and done, I wrote the equivalent of 1/4 of my book in 76 hours.

I could write another 1000 words about the timing of the Scripture I read, the devotions, the prayers, and the verses that were so perfect that a few times I found myself staring at them in awe. I won’t because this is already so long, most people won’t get to this point. And that’s okay. I’m not writing it for people. I’m writing it because God wouldn’t leave me alone about it today until I did.

I want Him to have all the glory! All the praise! And my biggest worry is that anyone reading this would think that I’m sharing so people will stroke my ego, or worse, think that they don’t have access to God’s power in the same way.

Y’all. I’m a sinner. I fail way more often than I “succeed” at anything. I’m so thankful for Jesus because I know He’s the only reason God can look at me and see anything good. It’s not my good. It’s all Jesus and His sacrifice. All glory and honor are His and His alone.

Because when the time is right, the LORD will make it happen.
The One who called me is Faithful.
When I’m weak, He is strong.
He’s the one who holds my hand and says, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Believe me when I say this: I still have no idea how to write a book.
But I know who does.

You may not know how to do whatever He’s called you to in this season. But you can rest in the One who has called you to it. And if you don’t know Him? Oh, friend, please reach out and let me tell you about my Jesus.

Soli Deo Gloria!

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March Social Media Roundup

Welcome to this month’s collection of highlights from my social media! For those of you who prefer to stay connected through the blog, this roundup ensures you don’t miss anything!

Highlights

Granny Quinn’s prayer journal has been a popular feature this year! Just wait until she shares her prayers for Mo and Bronwyn…:)

I love my #WackyWednesday posts so much. They’re silly and goofy and yet, sometimes, eerily accurate! I mean, really, potatoes are a superfood!

I created a reel that has had more views than just about anything I’ve ever posted! As a mom to teenagers, I get a real kick out of using their slang – they hate it and tell me to “stop” and “never say that again” on a regular basis. LOL! So I asked an AI to generate book reviews of Break My Fall using Gen Z slang, and y’all…it did not disappoint!

I also shared multiple quotes from Break My Fall! If you haven’t snagged your copy, now’s a great time!! 

Did you enjoy this social media roundup? Let me know in the comments what you’d like to see more of! 

Grace and peace,

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I’m starting a new book today.

Oh, I’ve been working on it for weeks, but today is the first time I’m taking the ideas and brainstorming and plots and characters and putting them on the page.

Today, I’m turning these characters loose and letting them come alive – and hanging on for the ride they will take me on.

Everyone approaches their writing a little bit differently. No writer has exactly the same method as another. For me, staring at the very first blank page is humbling. And terrifying.

So before I put a word on the screen, I offered all of it up to the One I write for. I recommitted myself, my words, my stories, and my characters to Him. I asked Him to use all of it – every word – for His Glory and to fulfill His purposes.

I prayed for my readers, my publisher, my editors, my brainstorming buddies, and my sources. I prayed for endurance and focus and I asked for an outpouring of creativity from the Creator.

And now, I ask you, to join me. Every stage of a book has it’s own issues, but for a recovering perfectionist like me, the beginning is fraught with challenges. Would you pray specifically over the next couple of weeks that a solid foundation will be laid for this story?

In addition, there is a very difficult topic at the heart of this book. The research I’ve done and continue to do is hard. I covet your prayers as I dig deep into a very real and present evil in our communities. There are things you can’t “un-know” and whether this story changes anyone else, writing it absolutely will change me. I pray it does.

This book is due in early December which means I want to finish it by the end of September so I have a couple of months to do the revisions before it goes to my editor. So when I’m not running kids to camps and swimming pools and football fields, I’ll be working on this story. What are your plans for this summer? How can I pray for you? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Grace & peace,
Lynn

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I love hearing my kids find their voice as they learn to talk to God.

Emma goes for loud and proud. “Dear Jesus,” she’ll begin, then we usually get a nice pause. This is followed by her thanking Him for something about her day, or the food, or something really random like swings or a television show.
I know God looks forward to her prayers. I believe they make Him smile.

Then there’s James. At four, his prayers are already starting to sound like the prayers he’s heard. He’s likely to ask God to help us “have a great day” or “keep us safe” and he’s been known to throw in a request for frozen yogurt or a trip to the park. He also is starting to question things. 

He recently wanted to know why we say “Amen” at the end of our prayer. I told him what I’ve always been told, that “amen” means “so be it.” That went flying over his head, so I backed up and went with, “it’s a word we use to end our prayers.” He hasn’t started saying “goodbye” or “later” so I think he’s good with amen.

Of course, I imagine God cracking up as this little guy starts to have more of a conversation with Him. I think He loves the questions and looks forward to James coming to Him with more complex queries in the years ahead.

And then there’s Drew. At two, his prayers go like this…Dear Jesus…(long pause)…Amen.
It’s cute, right? Adorable really.
He’ll grow more verbose in the months ahead.

But I wonder if God kinda wishes he wouldn’t.

I wonder if He wishes more of us prayed the way Drew does.

Dear Jesus…(long pause…sitting quietly, waiting for Him) … so be it.

So often, I try to tell God everything I need, because I know what I need. I try to explain the mess, because I know all the ins and outs of the situation. I try to propose a solution, because I’ve been thinking about this for a while.

Wait…why am I praying again?

Maybe we could all take a lesson from Drew. Maybe we need to approach the throne, not with a laundry list of desires, but with one desire.

Dear Jesus…whatever You want…so be it.

Amen.

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Last week’s post – Are we taking the “RunPee” approach to the Bible? – generated some interesting feedback both in the comments and in person.
The basic gist of it was this….it’s all well and good to say we need to read and embrace all of Scripture, but we don’t want to just go through the motions.
How do you actually DO this?
To answer that question, I’m going to give you a brief rundown of what I do to help me through the more challenging parts of Scripture. It’s not the only way, but it works for me.
1. Pray about it. I know that sounds like the Sunday School answer, but it’s the most important and very first step. If you’re a believer, the Holy Spirit lives in you. He is more than willing to open your mind and eyes to the nuggets tucked away in random Old Testament passages. Ask Him!
2. Don’t panic. When you read three chapters in Leviticus and have absolutely NO IDEA what you just read…That is OK! Some days you’ll close your Bible and say, “Well, God, um, that was, um, well, I have no idea what that was!” Don’t let days like that make you feel like you’re missing something. Again, the Holy Spirit will show you what He wants you to see. Keep showing up and giving Him the chance!
3. Bible in Five videos. These videos, produced by Blackhawk Church (the people who developed the Eat This Book program we are doing this year) are fabulous. They help you get the big picture of the entire book, which makes it easier to see how it all fits, especially when you have a day where nothing makes sense!
4. Study Bible. I prefer to read out of a Bible with minimal notes, but I’ve recently pulled out our massive ESV Study Bible as backup! I usually read out of my Bible, but keep the study Bible nearby so I can check the notes when something is confusing. You can get a “personal size” ESV Study Bible from Amazon for $15. It contains all the notes in the regular ESV Study Bible and then moves some of the longer articles on-line where you get free access.  I haven’t purchased the personal size yet, but it’s just a matter of time.
5. Patience. Depending on your background, some of this stuff may not only be dry, it may be brand new. Think of it like building a house. You are laying the foundation right now. It’s not flashy. It can be downright boring. But you’ve got to have the foundation before you get to see the masterpiece the architect has designed.
I hope that helps! I’d love for you to share your favorite Bible study tips in the comments!

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It can’t just be me.

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In the past few weeks, aside from all the usual amazing things He does (like keeping the earth traveling around the sun at precisely the correct angle to support life…you know…the usual), God has taken particular notice of me.

I know He always notices.

Abba,

The post Does God Notice? appeared first on Lynn H. Blackburn.

If you’ve followed this blog for very long, you may have read previous posts where I’ve talked about some of my favorite books on prayer (A Praying Life and Praying God’s Word for Your Husband). You also may have picked up on my love of the Psalms.

So you can imagine how delighted I was when a recent challenge from 40 Ways to Grow Closer to God involved praying a Psalm.

I love the idea of praying God’s Word back to Him. There’s something powerful about repeating inspired words back to our Holy God. I can’t help but believe that it makes Him smile.

If praying God’s Word is a new concept for you, I think Psalms is a perfect place to start. In most cases, the psalms are prayers that were sung. And some of them are so very personal, you almost don’t need to change the words.

I’ll give you an example from a familiar Psalm….Psalm 23. If you wanted to pray Psalm 23, you might say something like this.

Get the idea?

Now, the above example assumes that you are in a pretty good place when you start your prayer. But we all know…well…here’s another version.

Father, I know you are my shepherd, but there are so many things we need right now. Please provide. I am so tired, Lord. If I have another day like yesterday, I won’t make it past breakfast. Please lead me to places of rest. A few green pastures and quiet streams would be such a blessing after the roller coaster ride I’ve been on lately. My soul is wrung out. I cannot fix it on my own. Abba, you’re the only one who can restore my soul. Right now, I don’t know what to do, or where to turn. Please lead me. Show me the right path, not so I can boast, but so you will be glorified.

See the difference?

Regardless of whether you’re relaxing by a cool stream in a soft, grassy field, or fighting for each step through a dark valley, try praying a few Psalms today. You might even consider getting really bold and journaling your version.

We’re not going for literary genius here! There’s not a right or wrong way to do this. When you first start praying God’s Word, it’s okay to “cut & paste” – just pray the words exactly as you read them. Over time, you’ll naturally get more creative with the method.

The idea is to communicate with God. Prayer isn’t talking (or shouting) at Him. It’s opening ourselves up to what He wants to do. It’s being still long enough to hear His soft voice. It’s paying attention long enough to notice when He responds.

When you do, would you mind coming back here and sharing your experience with all of us? You could share the Psalm, or you could share why you chose it, the actual words you prayed, or how God has answered.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit! (That’s from Philippians 4:23)

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I have a few pet peeves. Well, probably more than a few. And if I tried to list them, there is one that would make the top five. Maybe the top three.

Man bashing.

I’m not talking about good natured teasing. I’m talking about the tendency for women to gather for lunch or an evening out and spend a significant portion of their time airing their husband’s faults and weaknesses, usually to a receptive and appreciative audience who can’t wait for their turn to do the same.

It’s like fingernails on the chalkboard.
Or talking during a movie.
Or book reviews that give away the entire plot making it pointless for me to read the book.

I’m not implying that women should never say anything negative about their spouse. Relationships are hard work. And sometimes, a little advice from a carefully chosen person can help you see things in a new light.

But it shouldn’t be in a group of twenty in the middle of a crowded restaurant at full volume.

We live in a society that heaps pressure on men and then mocks them in movies and television commercials. Regardless of whether they succeed or fail, they can’t win.

So what’s a wife, friend, sister, mom, to do?

Sure, we can affirm them. We can try to love them the way they want to be loved. We can make their favorite meal and be sensitive to pressures at work. We can encourage them to develop and maintain friendships, get enough exercise, and eat right.

But there is something else.

Something so much better that it could revolutionize our relationships and revitalize the men we love. Something so simple, we often overlook or minimize its importance.

We could pray for them.

I’m sure many of you do. But what if there was a resource that could help you pray for your husbands using the Word of God, tailored to specific seasons in their lives?

Praying God’s Word for Your Husband by Kathi Lipp is just such a book. She spends the first few chapters talking about why this type of prayer is so effective, gives tips for establishing a routine, and shares suggestions for ways to partner with other women who also have a desire to pray faithfully for their husbands.

In the remainder of the book, each chapter focuses on a particular topic (Employment, Finances, His Relationship with Others, His Relationship with You, Parenting, Health, etc.) and while there is a little bit of narrative, the bulk of the chapters is made up of specific Scriptures, followed by sample prayers based on those verses.

It is a fabulous resource. You can pray through the different topics on a rotation, or use it to specifically address areas where your husband is struggling at the moment.

While this book is written for wives praying for their husbands, I think it’s also a great resource for moms who want to pray for their adults sons, sisters who want to pray for their brothers, and daughters who want to pray for their fathers.

This book has earned a permanent spot in my “quiet time” stack (along with my Bible, my gratitude journal, and my copy of Jesus Calling).

I
I highly recommend Praying God’s Word for Your Husband.

Available June 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The fine print: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to provide a positive review. Opinions are my own.

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So many things are messed up. So many people I love are hurting. So many friends are broken.

And while I’m a lifetime member of the “I can fix this” club, there are some things I cannot fix. Some hurts I cannot heal. Some wrongs I cannot right. Some hearts wearing scars I cannot fade.

But I know Someone who can. So I pray.

And I pray.

And I pray.

When God answers, I rejoice.

When he doesn’t? I beat my head against the back of my chair and I look at my husband with tears streaming and I say, “I’ve prayed so hard. So hard. And it hasn’t done any good.”

I am broken.

And I cannot fix myself.

I have so much in common with Eve.

I think I know best. In fact, I think—although I never say this out loud because good Christian girls know better—that maybe God hasn’t thought this out as well as I have. Because if He had, He would agree with me. 100%.

I want my way.

And when God’s way makes no sense to me?

My faith cracks. Sometimes it’s a tiny fissure. Sometimes a gaping cavern.

Always it’s a wound. A wound that will not—cannot—heal without Him.

It’s at this point that I have a choice. We all have a choice.

We can stay broken, wounded, bleeding. Live out our lives miserable and bitter.

We can try to fix ourselves. Patch up the wound with whatever feels good. Cover up the scars with laughter and a heavy layer of denial.

Or we can let Him fix us.

We lay it all out there. Our hurt, our confusion, our anger, our desperation. We hold back nothing from Him.

We believe with the shards of faith we have left and we beg Him to help our unbelief.

And He does.

When He takes our broken pieces and puts them back together, the craziest things happens.

Our faith grows back . . . stronger than before.

But how do you do it? When faith stumbles? When belief wavers? When you don’t know where to start?

For me, it’s music. Songs that give voice to my pain and confusion. Songs that remind me of what I believe. Songs that help me worship when I don’t feel like it.

Here is my playlist for the broken. If you’re hurting today, I invite you to listen. Just listen. Let Him put you back together again. Stronger than before.

Abba – It hurts. So much. Nothing will ever be the same. It feels like nothing will ever be right again. We don’t understand. But we choose You. Over getting our way. Over what we think is best. Over having what we want. We choose You. We choose to believe that You are God and that there is no one like you. You are worthy of our praise. Father, we believe. Help our unbelief.

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