Lean on the Lord

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.

Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will mean health to your flesh and strength to your bones.

Man could write a thousand pages and not even come close to the wisdom contained in this Scripture.

Read it again. Let each line soak into your soul. Does any of it apply to you?

How easy it is to lean to your own understanding. How tempting it is to feel like you're the wisest person ever to come down the pike. And in this busy world, do we take the time to acknowledge Him in ALL our ways?

And then we get too busy, too stressed, and bummed out. (Just where the Enemy wants us.) When all we had to do was lean on Him.

The battle is real . . . 

Does God Hear our Prayers?

I awoke one day recently with God's commands on my heart. I had a job to do and I wanted to do it in accordance with His word. So I asked Him . . . "I know You require integrity, but what else do You require of me to do this job in such a manner as to receive Your blessings?"

His answer wasn't immediate, but before I arose to start my day, He'd laid on my heart the word "compassion." Nothing more . . . just one word . . . compassion. It seemed too simple. I'd expected some complicated instructions. I showered and put on my makeup, rolling the words over and over on my tongue. Integrity and compassion.

Integrity in the business world is, to a certain extent, required to stay out of trouble with the law. But compassion is from the heart and isn't regulated. Not by man's law. But if I'm to believe what I feel I heard from the Lord . . . it is required by Him.

I poured a cup of coffee and sat down to read the morning paper.

I don't remember the day of the week, but it must have been a Saturday, because I turned to the "Religion" section of our local newspaper. A small article was featured in the lower right hand corner of page three. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the subject matter. "What does God require of Christian business people?"

The referenced Scripture was Micah; 6:8:  He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, (Integrity) to love kindness (compassion) and to walk humbly with  your God?

Coincidence? There are no coincidences with God. Before you ask . . . beloved . . . before you ask He knows what's on your heart.

The battle is real; and God is the Winner!

It's Been Too Long

I got "thrown" a couple of months ago by my blog peeps. Now . . . I've been away from it for so long, they've changed the entire system. Hopefully, that's a good thing, and my blogging woes are a thing of the past. Crossed fingers. (Makes it hard to type.)

My debut novel "Handful of Demons" will be on the market in a matter of weeks. That means I've got to get my act together and become consistent in my blog posting. Part of my problem is I'm not too swift in all things technological.

For instance, posting from my telephone if I'm away from my office? That's probably not going to happen in this lifetime. So, I need to utilize my time more efficiently. There's all that wasted time between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. when I could be productive. And if I moved my computer to the kitchen I could keep the words flowing while meals are cooking. As it is, I've worn a path in the floor from the stove to my office . . . and burned more than my fair share of food trying to multi-task.

If I sound like I'm feeling sorry for myself . . . forgive me. I do feel a little overwhelmed right now. But, you know, there's not a single thing I do that I'd willingly give up. If only the blog ideas would  come to me while I'm sitting in front of the computer, and not when I'm in the shower or driving down the road.

Wednesday and Sunday evening. Those will be my blog post days. If I don't live up to that promise, please email me and complain. (That way I'll know someone out there is reading it. :-D)

email address: lynne@lynnewellswalding.com

And don't forget . . . we can have fun and still keep our eyes open. Because the battle is real.

Devilish Dilemma

I'm in a real quandry. I love my little blog site. But it has been fighting me, tooth and nail of late. I've had countless people tell me they were unable to sign up as "followers." And two of my original followers have been dropped. From time to time they will appear for "role call", but as a rule, they're somewhere out there in cyber-land, floating around, looking for "The Battle is Real."

They've changed the way I can post, and it's no longer possible to cut-and-paste an article or excerpt. I have to type everything out. It used to be so easy to work on a post in a document file, then transfer it over when it was ready. But that's a thing of the past.

Since "Handful of Demons" is slated for publication in August/Sept of this year, I think it's past time I get my author's website up and running. I can say and do all the things there that I could do on this blog (except I couldn't have that neat "old-building" background). And my time is so crunched, I don't know if I can find the time to tend to both. (Obviously, I've been neglecting the blog pretty badly already.)

The actual nuts and bolts of publication are very time consuming and draining. I've proofed "Demons" so many times, I bet I could recite it by heart. (All 300 pages) And next week it's on its way to a professional proof-reader. If he finds very much wrong, it's going to be very deflating. :-)

The front cover is finished . . . you've seen it . . . and it's time to get the back cover and spine nailed down.

But I digress . . .

I don't want to be a disappointment to anyone, and I know there are some out there who actually read "The Battle is Real" (Oh yes, I keep a close watch on the view counter!) I'd love to get some comments from you, letting me know if you'd visit my author website if I moved over there. Especially if I can get one set up that has a blog page . . . okay?

A demon scene from "Handful of Demons"

    
Enjoy!

The demon of pride banged his gavel on every available surface, including a few heads, like a carpenter on a drunken binge. “Look alive, scumbags! I’ve come up with an idea. The best idea yet. You’re gonna love it.”

Every slimy creature in attendance looked with contempt at the demon of pride. He always thought his ideas were the best.

Pride’s acrid voice rose over the crowd’s rumble. “The good pastor is so piously humble he surely wouldn’t dream of praying for his own finances,” the odious creature declared to his cohorts. “I think this is the chink we’ve been looking for.”

Talons extended, he slashed at the air. “Attack his finances. Begin with his car. Bring him to his knees. That puny so-called church is already overextended. They won’t be able to come to his rescue. Not soon enough to save him. It’s doubtful he would even ask for their help.”

He smirked, satisfied with his presentation thus far. His stomping and kicking had stirred up a stifling cloud of dust from the dirt floor. Slimy entities were hacking and coughing. Wretched eyes glowered back at him. Hatred hung like a thick black cloud over the gathering. The old shack shuddered under the weight of their malevolence.

“Think, you imbeciles!” He paced back and forth, thrusting insults into the crowd.

The more they sizzled in their hatred for him, the more effective they would be.

“Are you brain-dead? There are dozens of ways to squash him with money problems. Hello? Come up with a good enough idea and I’ll let you in on the kill, you putrid morons. Look at you. What a collection of hairballs you are.”

Pride had always been on the receiving end of the insults. What fun it was to stir up their rancor and watch them stew in their own animosity. His speech was followed by a tumultuous clamor as the vultures of the spirit world cursed and sputtered. He was sure they liked his idea. Just as sure as he was that they loathed him for thinking of it.

But the demon of pride didn’t tell all. He didn’t reveal to the others his pièce de résistance. The event that would leave Edward McAlester wounded and bleeding—not financially, or even physically—but spiritually. The happening through which he, and he alone, would pierce McAlester’s tough armor with one sharp talon. Ripping and tearing, he would gain ingress into McAlester’s very soul.

The battle is real . . . .

Mean and Green

Starting today I'm changing the name and the direction of my blog. Henceforth is will be known as "Mean and Green". I'll be writing on, and answering questions about, the wild killer frogs of New Zealand.

APRIL FOOL!

(May all your April Fool jokes be kind ones!)

Is the Devil on Your Case?

Satan has a favorite pastime.


What is it, you ask? Keeping those who need the Lord in bondage? Well, he likes that. Wrecking marriages and desecrating families? That's fun for him, too. Tempting the weak with drink, money, or power? He finds all these things most enjoyable.

But what is his favorite pastime?

Well, of course, I can't speak for him, but it would seem he gets his greatest enjoyment from tormenting Christians. It aggravates him that we've gotten away. It burns him up that we're out of his reach. We're his arch enemies.

And what could be more satisfying to the one who is the epitome of evil than to torture his enemies?

So, how can he reach us if we belong to the Lord? By convincing us we're mistaken. We're not really saved. That night you fell to your knees and gave your heart to Jesus? Satan will tell you it was just an emotional experience. You weren't saved. What would the Lord of all creation want with the likes of you, anyway?

If the devil's on your case bad, it probably means you're doing something right.

But go ahead. Don't hesitate to tell God again that you love Him and want to spend eternity with Him. Assure Him once more that you believe Jesus is His son, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. And that He died and rose again to ascend to Heaven, where He sits at the right hand of God. Renew your vows to Him. Make Him Lord in your life again.

(God doesn't care how many times you rededicate yourself, although He probably looks down on us with considerable pity that we're so insecure.)

Then be sure to give the Prince of Lies a good swift kick in the rear as he departs. And steel yourself for his next try. Because he'll never give up . . . until he takes that big swim in the lake of fire.

The battle is real . . .

Old Aphorisms That Should Be Trashed, Part 1

"Let your conscience be your guide." NOT!


It's been a bad day. Look the other way. Let someone else do his share.

Yes, Satan works 24/7 to sear over our conscience. On any given day, he may have had some degree of success. Sure, we'll get back with the Lord and clear things up . . . but what about the decisions we make while we're still partially "disabled?"

Then there's the old "I'm not hurting anyone but myself" line. Excuse me, but have we considered Jesus? Are we sure our actions aren't hurting Him?

We're in a battle for our very souls, and God has given us the blueprint to follow. No, the old axiom should be "Let the Word be your guide."

Because, the battle is real.

An Excerpt from Handful of Demons

“What’d I tell you,  Aunt Casey? He’s sincere. I know he is. He’s so sweet . . . and he’s a hunk too. You just gotta give him another chance."

“I don’t know, Megan.” Casey stared out the window at the narrow stream of chattering people strolling over from the main building.

Father, I don’t know what to do. Seems like every time I turn around Edward has a different personality. I’m too tired to deal with it anymore. I wish I could come home to You. Everything’s happening too fast. I don’t have time to think.

The approaching people froze where they were. A bird in flight hung in the air as though from a wire, wings extended.

Casey gaped. She turned to look at Megan. She was staring at her through blank eyes. Her mouth open as though she were speaking. Her hands behind her head to adjust her ponytail. Still as a stone. Like a childhood game of statue.

Silence. No conversation from the next room. The ceiling fan stopped short overhead. The second hand on the clock was stuck between two little marks.

A soft breeze ruffled Casey’s hair and the smell of wild clover and honeysuckle hung in the air. She jerked her head around frantically. “What’s happening, Lord?”

I’m giving you time to think.

2012 - A Year for Goal-Setting

So far, 2012 has been a year of goal-setting-and-goal meeting. I made the deadline with "Whom He May Devour" and sent it off into cyber-land. Now it's a case of hurry up and wait. But that's okay. I can use a little time off.

Did I say time off? No such thing . . . not in 2012. September 2012 is the slated publishing date of "Handful of Demons", and I'm hitting it hard working with two wonderful ladies on interior design and cover design. It's one of those situations where whatever needs to be done, there's something else that has to be done first. But with their gentle guidance, I think I'll make it through.

Speaking of goals, I set one for myself to lose 10 pounds. It's not going as fast as I'd hoped, but I'm getting closer. At least I'm going the right direction.

Satan raises his ugly head from time to time and tells me I should be sitting on the porch in a rocking chair enjoying life. "You've earned it," he says in a cajoling voice. "Yeah, yeah," I say back to him. "Wouldn't you just be tickled pink if we all sat back and stopped spreading the bad word about you and your plans for us?"

Christians can't afford to take it easy. Not in this world. We'll get plenty of rest in the next. For now, we need to be out there talking about Jesus and exposing Satan for what he is.

The battle is real . . .