Position Yourself

About a year ago, I had the opportunity to go on a Caribbean cruise with a group of Christian writers, speakers and singers. I was drawn to this trip because I knew some of the people that would be teaching the writing classes and I had never been on a cruise before. As it turned out, I was intrigued with one of the speakers and asked to meet with her one day for breakfast. I shared with her that I felt like I was spinning my wheels with my writing, speaking and a few other areas of my life. She had some excellent insight and passed forward to me what someone had shared with her. She told me to “get myself in position.” I remember taking a deep breath and thinking what a profound statement that was. After the trip, I began taking a more serious look at my priorities and why I had not achieved all the goals that I had set. It was clear to me that I had not spent enough time focusing on areas that I wanted to improve or goals that I wanted to achieve.

      Photography by Ann Wayne

It’s amazing how God speaks through people, circumstances and most clearly through His word. In a recent sermon, the senior pastor at my church stated that “we must position ourselves” to get results and experience growth. He shared the scripture, 2nd Chronicles 20:17 (NIV). “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.” This was another confirmation that I needed to “position myself” in certain areas of my life to get results. So exactly what does that look like?

Well, there were three areas that I desired improvement in. First, spending more time studying the Word. I’m not the robotic Christian that has the same schedule every day, so I have had to find some creative ways to study and spend time with God. There are a few favorite places at my house where God and I have some great conversations. My sun room hosts a lot of prayer and sets the mood for reading while my black lab lounges beside me. The only problem with this scene is that sometimes she lays her head on my Bible or laptop. Late at night, I enjoy sitting on my bed by the fireplace propped up with lots of pillows, reading until I fall asleep. And when the weather is warm, my deck at the back of the house is a haven early in the morning. The birds even provide a free serenade while I read and study.

Another area to improve on is my writing and speaking. I can’t seem to set aside the same time each day to write. So many obstacles bump the writing to the back burner. No wonder the book that I have started is still in the computer instead of on a bookshelf. I have found though, through my writing; that I am able to study the Word almost as much as if I just sit down and read. It may be first thing in the morning, late at night, or sitting in a coffee shop in the middle of the day. The Word comes to life for me in the most unusual circumstances. Some of my best writing is cultivated by simply observing people in public places. So again, I’m not the cookie cutter writer, sitting at a desk all day. You may even find me out at the pond sitting on the end of the pier with my laptop. The “chorus of the bullfrogs” may set the tone for the next masterpiece. As for speaking; the doors just haven’t opened up yet. But I know they will. I have to get out of the way of me! I’m trying to psyche myself up to step out of my box and onto the stage.

And finally, an area that I have prayed about setting goals is finding a husband. Now you may not agree with me on this, and that is OK. First of all, let me state that I don’t chase men. But I know that the Word tells us in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds’ and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” And also in Psalm 37:4, David tells us to “delight ourselves in the Lord and He will give us the desires of our heart.” How much simpler can it get? I believe a God-centered marriage can be great. I desire that! So now you’re wondering…how is she going to find a husband? I have “put myself into position.” I have asked friends to pray with me. I am open to meeting new male friends through Bible study groups, Christian online groups and through close friends who are my accountability partners. I don’t think I am supposed to sit still and wait for one to fall out of the sky!

As you look at the goals you are trying to achieve, are you “in position” to answer God’s call on your life. Are there hindrances that are keeping you from running the marathon that He has set before you? Try "positioning" yourself; first for spiritual growth and then for prioritizing the others goals that you believe God is calling you to accomplish.

Blessings,
Ann

Our Words: Are They Seasoned with Salt?

During the holidays, my faith was tested. Through some incidences, I was put on the spot. I think God allowed me the honor; to see what I was really made of. In the most unique situations, I had to give an “off the cuff” response. And amazingly, God gave me huge doses of grace.

I was given the opportunity to write a couple of Christmas letters for a man in New York who is a landlord. Someone I had never met and most likely will never see. He requested these letters on Craigslist. So being the great letter writer that I think I am, I responded. The first one was written to a family from England who were his tenants in New York. They were to return home soon and he wanted to show them his gratitude for their friendship and hopefully future communication after leaving the states. He commended them for their parenting skills and praised the children’s respect for adults.

The second letter was even more unique. This landlord began to explain how he was made fun of each year at his family Christmas gathering. So much, that it had been years since he had attended. It was evident that his heart was broken. He then told me that he had a lifestyle that his family did not approve of. My first thought was to react just as his family had. I knew that I did not condone this, but was it my place to condemn? The Spirit stopped me before I spoke. Instead of throwing darts at him, I was able to share with him the love of Christ. I told him that even though I did not agree with this choice, I felt that it was important to show Christ’s love to everyone. I crafted a letter for him to his family with those same thoughts and how he longed for a healthy relationship with them. I only hope that the message made a difference this Christmas for him and for his family. I pray that this “dose of grace” helped him to see that God loves him, no matter what choices he has made.

In Matthew 7:1-3 (NIV), the scripture tells us..."Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

Another opportunity sent me to the floor for a little gutt wrenching, old-fashioned ,“on my knees” prayer. You could say that I have learned what unconditional love really is. Some friends going through adversity shared their story with me. It’s was as if God said, “Ok, Ann, what cha’ gonna’ do with this one? You can cast the first stone or you can view the situation through My eyes."

It is only because of Christ’s love that lives within me that I was able to love unconditionally in this situation. This is simply what the Spirit prompted me to do. My human side would have reacted like most others. I’m not perfect and I desire unconditional love from those around me.

In Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV), we are instructed to “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

As you approach the new year, I pray that you will spend time in God’s word and be ready to give an account of your words. Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 12:36 (NIV). “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.” Yes, I know there were times that Jesus responded with a righteous anger when people were being mistreated or when the moneychangers were taking advantage of the poor people in the temple, but when someone was lost in sin, he responded with unconditional love and grace and he told them to sin no more.

My New Year’s resolution this year has several goals, but at the top of the list is to strive to be more Christ-like in my responses.

May your New Year, Twenty – Ten be filled with unconditional love and huge doses of grace!

Blessings,

Ann