Monday Manna - Leave

Welcome to Monday Manna. The purpose of this meme is to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word. On the first and third Monday of each month, anyone who wishes can post their thoughts on a verse I introduced at my blog the Thursday before. It doesn't have to be a long post -- just a few thoughts, a picture you feel helps express it, a poem, a short story, a devotional.

Anyone is welcome to participate. Just put a link to your Monday Manna blog entry in the MckLinky gadget below, and check out others' thoughts.

And the verse is...

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." Genesis 12:1

Looking forward to hearing what you have to share--don't forget to link up! My thoughts are below.

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I'm a planner. I love to have my life organized (unlike my physical environment - but that's beside the point). I'm a creature of habit--a schedule-keeper. On Mondays and Thursdays I do laundry. I grocery shop on the same day each week--with a list, drawn from our needs and the weekly grocery store ad. I turn off my computer, for the most part, at about 9 or 9:30 each night, watch Jeopardy! with my husband, and say the very same thing to him before I close my eyes each night. Needless to say, I like to know what is gonna happen next.

But life doesn't always work that way.

Sometimes, I plan to spend a week potty training my son, but instead spend several days in and out of the hospital as a neurosurgeon attempts to remove a tumor from my husband's brain. Sometimes, I figure I'll get my whole to-do list done, but instead help my son in his sudden obsession with origami for hours.

And sometimes, I feel perfectly comfortable in my home of twelve years, but then hubby and I feel called to sell and look for something smaller. With no income except disability. In the state with the highest unemployment rate in the country.

The reasons, really, are immaterial. I could certainly justify this freakish decision with many different facts, from a lawn we can't mow, to no kids nearby for the children. But the only thing that should matter is God's call.

Look at Abraham. He was told to leave it all behind, and follow his God to only-God-knew-where. And he did.

There's no discussion of Abraham justifying the trip, or looking for "real-life" reasons why this move would be best for him. He heard God's Word, grabbed his stuff, and went.

When God speaks to you, how easy is it for you to step out in faith? Do you need the "logical" rationale? Do you wait until it's comfortable?

Or do You follow the only One who will always lead you in the right direction, no matter how much out of your comfort zone it may be?

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Thanks for reading. Be sure to check out the other participants below, and link up yourself!

R & R at the R (Nurturing the Whole Writer, Part 6)

Less than THREE WEEKS. I can hardly believe it. The Faithwriters' Christian Writing Conference will be absolutely wonderful. Can't wait for food, fun, fellowship, relaxation, and tons and tons of learning about my craft.

Again - here are the basics. Click on the conference button on the top of my sidebar or at the bottom of this post to get even more information and to register.

FAITHWRITERS' 2009 CONFERENCE
Nurturing the Whole Writer
Friday and Saturday, August 7 and 8, 2009
Radisson Hotel, Livonia, MI
Cost: $72 for FW 500 members
$82 for others

Today, I'm talking especially to you folks who need some rest and relaxation (and restoration!)--who feel like they need to get away from the rat race and get some "chill time." Today, I'm gonna talk a bit about the hotel accommodations.

The conference, just like two years ago, will be held at the Radisson in Livonia, Michigan. Those of us who attended the conference a couple years ago may remember the "dust" of this place--which was under renovation. The pool and most of the other amenities were closed.

Thankfully, the restoration has been completed, and all the amenities are accessible. Each room has high-speed wireless internet access (and as computer folks, who DOESN'T look for that?), a spacious work desk for those bits of writing inspiration that might hit at any time, and a Sleep Number(r) bed (which from what my friends tell me, is worth the cost in and of itself!).

And then, of course, there's the hotel itself. The swimming pool is available, as well as a hot tub (I'll be there - trust me!!). There's even a fitness center for those of you who want to get a bit of exercise in. Oh - and I haven't even mentioned the pool tables (used to LOVE that game when I was in college! Looking forward to seeing how rusty I am).

And the BEST part? It's reasonably priced! Just call the Radisson and you can get a room in the Faithwriters' block for only $93 a night. Personally, I'm staying with three incredible writing friends, so will be paying less than $25 a night!

But there is a disclaimer: to get your room in this block, for this price, you need to call the Radisson by July 24 (which just happens to be this coming Friday!). So don't be late. Either number below will work!

1-888-201-1718 or
734-464-1300

And don't forget to register for the conference yourself. Are you coming?? Have you registered?

Friday Fiction: "Five Hundred and Fifty Animals Richer"

Welcome to my contribution to Fiction Friday, hosted by Sara/Sawa at Fiction Fusion. Make sure that you head over to her blog and link up with your own fiction. Or, if you just want to read some great fiction (ALWAYS great in my opinion!), head over to fictionfusion.blogspot.com and check out the links there.

I wrote this during the homespun wisdom quarter (which, if you recall, means it's Biblical fiction - my own challenge to myself!) for the Faithwriters Writing Challenge. The topic was "A Stitch in Time Saves Nine." I definitely enjoyed telling this familiar story from a different point of view.

Five Hundred and Fifty Animals Richer

I'm sure, at the time, he thought he was taking the easy path. It was at my expense of course, but that's certainly no surprise. He's been grasping at my heel since before I can remember.

What I can tell you, however, is that it took every bit of livestock he gave me to appease my anger. Years of bitterness are not easy to remedy. I have to admit, though, that the menagerie he sent did the trick. All's good with us again - after twenty years of bad blood.

Since my brother was a child, he'd been a mama's boy. He was no lightweight, though. That deceiver tricked me into selling him my birthright for a hot meal. He was always one to try to get something for nothing.

You see, I was the hard worker in the family, and dad's favorite for sure. I'm a hands-on guy: working in the fields, hunting game, the outdoorsy type. I work hard and generally reap the rewards of my labor. Sure, I'm impulsive sometimes, but who isn't?

My brother, on the other hand, is a schemer, an "intellectual," who only works as hard as necessary, using trickery to get more than he deserves. When I lost my birthright, I was mad, but after a few weeks, I was over it. After all, I sold it to him of my own free will. I should have known to watch out for him. Anyway, it's not like he stole it from under my nose.

The blessing, though, was another story. I couldn't have stopped him if I tried. That brother of mine waited until I was doing some real work, then he cut corners, convinced Dad he was me, and stole what was rightfully mine, with the help of my mother. All I can say is Mom was wise to send him away. I probably would have strung him up if he'd as much as come near me.

Of course, if she thought I was mad when Jacob left, she was clueless how much that anger would build inside me over the years. Every time I looked at my mother, my hatred for my brother intensified. By the time Jacob's messengers arrived in Seir and told me he was on his way to see me after twenty years, murder was all I had on my mind. I gathered up 400 of my closest friends (well, my closest angry friends, anyway) and started marching his way. "Favor in my eyes,*" indeed!

Anyhow, as we marched, a servant approached us - with 220 goats! Now this was something I didn't see every day. I asked the man to whom he belonged and where he was going. He told me, and I quote, "they belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.*"

Well, who in their right mind would refuse 220 goats? So, I took them, as at least a partial payment for what that deceiver had done to me. I was still planning to tear him limb from limb, mind you - but at least I now had some livestock to show for it.

What do you know, but a few minutes later another servant showed up, this time with 220 sheep. I took those too - who can't use a nice big herd of sheep? I have to admit these gifts were softening me a bit. I might have only injured him severely if he'd shown up then.

This went on for at least an hour. Next, it was thirty camels and their young, followed by forty cows and ten bulls. That Jacob sure knew how to break down a man's anger. I was only mildly peeved (as I drank a nice cup of fresh milk). I still wanted to do that boy bodily harm, but a few slaps in the face likely would have satisfied my wrath.

It was the next delivery, however, that removed that last bit of animosity. When I saw those thirty donkeys braying and strutting toward me, I suddenly realized how ridiculous I had been acting. Here I was, a wealthy fulfilled man, fuming over a grudge twenty years old.

As Jacob and his family approached, I ran up and embraced him. All was forgiven. Like I said, those gifts did the trick.

You know what, though? If he'd just apologized sincerely and maybe made me a nice dinner all those years ago, Jacob could have been 550 animals richer today.

* Scripture references, in order: Genesis 32:5, 32:18 NIV

Thanks for reading! Be sure to stop by Sawa's blog for more great fiction!

Names - and Monday Manna for July 20, 2009

I know lots of you are more than just bloggers. You're networking on the 'net, on different sites like Facebook and Twitter (and probably others). But whose name are you really trying to get out there? Check out my post at Exemplify today, in my Ponderings on the Pentateuch series. Learn a bit about how we often fall into "Tower of Babel Syndrome" in Make WHOSE Name?


The purpose of Monday Manna is to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word.

For those of you unfamiliar, on the first and third Mondays of each month, anyone who wants to participate can post their thoughts on a specific verse. The verse is posted here at my blog on the Thursday before, to allow you to chew on it over the weekend. It doesn't have to be a long post -- just a few thoughts, a picture you feel helps express it, a poem, a short story, a devotional. Just post it on your blog on Mondayish (early OR late is fine, by the way!), then come back here and link up in the MckLinky gadget that will be at the bottom of MY post at o'dark thirty that morning.

I've been blogging (and thinking) a lot about stepping out in faith lately. This verse, in particular, has been in the forefront of my mind with many of the things I'm tackling right now. So, I figured it would be a good one for us all to ponder over the weekend.

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. Genesis 12:1

Look forward to seeing what you come up with! See you back here on Monday!

Word-Filled Wednesday: Taste

Welcome to Word-Filled Wednesday, hosted this week by eLisa at Extravagant Grace. Be sure to stop by there for more visual inspiration from Scripture.

I was hopping about Photobucket, trying to find inspiration for some writing I was wanting to do, and I found this picture. All I can say is that I love it, and it has clearly been an inspiration--for more than one project! Isn't it great?


How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103 NIV

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