Upheld In His Plan

 

 

 

 

 

Song and Dance

Have you ever done a song and dance routine in front of the towel dispenser in the restroom? It’s frustrating when no towel appears after you have done all you can think to make it show up. I often give up and just walk out shaking my hands dry.

The craziest ideas come to me during these moments. This time as I watched my new writer friend, Donna, dance to get a towel it occurred to me that God never withholds good things from us when we put our hands out.

God Pitched

I returned from the Oregon Christian Writers Conference last weekend with new fire and anticipation. This is significant for me because the last time I came home discouraged and ready to throw in the towel.

Maybe it’s because I went without an agenda this time: resolved to heed God’s plan instead of my own. As I wrote a couple weeks ago: I determined to listen to my Pitching Coach. This time He threw a few good practice pitches and I heard the THWACK as I hit the ball. It felt so good. I’m getting ready to jump in the game.

Some professional divine appointments happened and “by chance” I met up with some dear writer friends from my local area. What a blast to share this conference with them. One of them, Patti Lee, won the Cascade Award for the unpublished poetry category. Celebrating with her was a special privilege.

Moving Forward

As planned (by God and me), I attended my daily coaching class and several workshops to help me hone my craft. I came away, having learned much and ready to work on my projects to completion. And I am making progress!

I am so grateful to belong to Jesus, who cares very much that we use the gifts He has given us and even encourages us to pursue them. It may mean gleaning knowledge and taking time to toil, but His way is always the best way!

And maybe at the next conference – I can pitch a story!

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…” James 1:17a.