To Know and Be Known

As I wrote down my prayer, the ache in my heart formed into these five words, “to know and be known.” Baffled by its meaning, yet fearful of the ramifications, I realized in that moment this was my dream.

To know and be known.

Several days later as I read one of my devotional booklets, one line jumped out at me. Almost word for word, the writer stated the same thing—to know and be known...

Read the rest at Spiritually Unequal Marriage.

Marriage Monday

Lynn Donovan at Spiritually Unequal Marriage posted today about body language and how we use it to communicate with our spouses. She's got a great story there about a buffalo burger and her husband's goatee. But more importantly, this really made me think about how I use body language to communicate with my husband.

I have a habit of making this sigh/snicker that I see now is disrespectful. It's not effective communication and just creates more conflict. Guess I'll be heading to the throne of grace again. :-)

The Revelation of God

Ever have one of those meetings God clearly ordained? Either you realize it during the meeting, or after, when the facts have sunk in enough to complete the picture.

I’ve had many over the years, but never one so clearly ordained as recently. God even made sure my teen-age daughter was completely occupied, and that’s no easy feat!

We were to meet a friend at a neighborhood pool. Thinking she’d be swimming with me, my daughter’s face morphed from misery to pure joy at the sight of her close friend from youth group. (Can we say a silent “whew” for Mom, who got off the swimming hook?)

Then I had the pleasure of making a new acquaintance—the mom of my daughter’s close friend. With the help of our mutual friend from church, this other mom and I had a chance to meet and connect. I thought nothing more of it at that moment other than thinking God had done an amazing thing. My daughter swam blissfully with friends, and I enjoyed the company of two other Christian women.

Our mutual friend then had to go, leaving me and my “new friend” to chat. Feeling rather bold that day, I jumped into a new conversation thread, which lead in a direction completely unanticipated.

Read the rest at Writer...Interrupted.

Book Tag

My buds, Robin Miller and Amy Wallace, tagged me with this latest meme. This one's fun, so feel free to play along either in a comment or on your own blog. I'll draw a winner from the comments to receive a copy of Stephen Bly's book, Over the Border.

Here goes!

1. What's the one book or writing project you haven't yet written but still hope to?
My first book will most likely never see the light of day, but I'd love to write the sequel to it one day. One of the the secondary characters is still so vivid to me. I'd love to write his story of working out his new salvation and overcoming the evil from his past.

2. If you had one entire day in which to do nothing but read, what book would you start with?
I have a copy of Tosca Lee's new book, Demon: A Memoir. Next will be Creston Mape's new book, Nobody. I hear them calling to me now!

3. What was your first writing "instrument" (besides pen and paper)?
My husbands old Apple laptop which now belongs to Deb Raney! LOL!

4. What's your best guess as to how many books you read in a month?
I'm a slow, slow reader. If I get through four fiction and one craft book a month, I'm doing gooooooooooooood.

5. What's your favorite writing "machine" you've ever owned?
May Apple Powerbook. Is there such a thing as a laptop addiction?

6. Think historical fiction: what's your favorite time period in which to read?
I'm actually quite partial to romances set in the 1700's. Pirates stories and Regency I think fit there.

7. What's the one book you remember most clearly from your youth (childhood or teens)?
Johnny Tremain. I hated, HATED, to read up until the eighth grade. A wise teacher put this book in my hands and said, "Here, read this." He looked frustrated. I wonder why. LOL! After that I read voraciously. Two books a day in the summer! (No idea what happened to me.)

Have fun!

Our Freedom in Christ

Happy 4th of July!
I leave you with some verses about our freedom in Christ. Have a fun and safe holiday!

Luke 4:18-19
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

John 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Romans 6:18
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Romans 6:22
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Ephesians 3:12
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Revelation 1:6
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Revelation 22:17
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Let freedom ring!