E, F, and G Have their Day!

G... g... 

The seventh letter in the alphabet. Words used for description begin with "G" like great, good, glad, gorgeous, ginormous, gigantic, gargantuan, etc. The letter G also names a people group: Girls, guys too if you want.  Goliath was a giant in the Old Testament. He wasn't someone we want to follow as an example for healthy living. His disdain for God and God's people cost him greatly.

"G" can be the word labeling a person who complains: grumbling or grumpy.

Gifts begin with "G". Those are always received with an element of anticipation and surprise. Some of us get giddy over the generosity of the giver of that gift.

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What you have just witnessed is the unraveling of my brain. Sometimes it feels filled with gravel and must be ground out before I can generate a grain of an idea.

Now, allow me to rewind a week or two.

E and F felt I should include them in this week's meme along with the G. Of course, who can blame them when E is the beginning of my story and G isn't the end, but fits in after those other two have their say.

Several years ago, I joined Faith Writer's online Christian writing website. On this site (for those unfamiliar with Faith Writers), we participate in a weekly challenge which we write on a topic given to us for the week. Those entries are judged and the winners are entered into an anthology published through Pleasant Word Publishing. During my first year, I placed several "fleeces" before God.

#1 "When I place in the challenge and am moved from beginners to intermediate, I will know it's time to financially support this site." The week of August 14 - 21 "Author's Remorse" placed second in level 1 and I moved from beginners to intermediate. One of the comments still catches that spot in my heart that pushes out tears of wonder at God's gift.

#2 "When someone says, 'I am going to publish _______'; I will know this writing thing is Your path for my life and not simply a hobby and grasping at the wind."

Number 2 became a frustration as I moved up the ranks in Faith Writers into Advanced and stalled. My attitude slipped off its narrow log and splashed into the depths of self-doubt and discouragement. I clung to any and all affirmation I could get. Placing in the challenge grew more and more difficult. Regardless of my attempts to grow, I stagnated.

I entered the Page Turner contest in 2009, thinking, hoping God would smile on my work and give me the pass I longed for--to dive into my writing career. About a month before the results came, a lady at my new church (different story) came and sat next to me. She had never met me, nor I her. After asking if she could pray, she said, "This thing that is in your heart is from God. He will bring it to pass, but not yet. He has some things to show you first."

I knew that moment I would not place in the Page Turner. From that moment on, my life as I knew it evaporated. Frustration, fear, and faint-hearted pleas for God's mercy escaped my lips.

Allow me to stress: This is NOT the attitude I began with. This is NOT the attitude I wanted. This WAS an attitude God was excavating in my heart.

Since then, I returned to school studying English Literature.I met Linda Glaz (now a Literary Agent with Hartline Lit. Agency), who happens to live near me and leads a writer's (critique) group. An answer to prayer. In October last year (2010), a job fell into my lap. Seriously!

By November, due to my academic-laden writing, I was having extreme difficulty penning (or typing) anything creative. I was also studying Abraham and Isaac where God instructs Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. During this time, I grew to understand the intense agony Abraham must have endured when preparing his sacrifice. He must have struggled with God over this. But in the end, he would give to God what was asked for. I knew in my heart God was asking the same of me. "Lay your writing on the altar."

I had to come to the point, "I would rather lose my writing than You." So I decided to lay the pen down--FOREVER.


Then came the test. I was to be at my writer's group one Tuesday night with a Christmas story in hand to read. I had NOTHING. Within a short period of time, words began to swirl in my head, an image appeared and I began to write what I saw. That piece went with me that night--unedited.

This November, "The Quilt", that Christmas story will be published in Christian Fiction Online Magazine. Not only that, in August, a challenge piece "Fireworks" will be published and "Fireflies" (another challenge piece) will be published in September.

I don't have to tell you I was ecstatic over this fabulous gift from God. Fleece #2 has been answered--not once, but three times: YES. Now to listen for the next step and to move forward.

It's been a pleasure to visit with you.