bloganuary – GREENLiGHT

Writers Musings Align With His Leading

It was a long drive. Seven hours round trip in a day. So I was hesitant. Wasn’t really up to it. Needed to check car though I had just changed tires. But…. still, peace of mind.

Reluctantly, I had prepared myself the night before. Half slept as I had to be out at daybreak. Got up wee hours of the morning. Very slowly got dressed. Makeup applied. Bags packed. Made quick breakfast. Step by step I did everything, robotically while slowly praying. I just wasn’t in the mood.

In the same way-methodically, I got in the car, text loved ones and I was off for my long drive.

Less than an hour in, my mood slowly changed. I Listened to the Bible App using the audio that read the scriptures aloud. 2 Chapters of Exodus (Bible in a year). Then a message… all as previously planned. Hours went by as in a flash as the early morning traffic whisked by.

I arrived at the event, quietly excited. I attended presentation sessions. Met new people. Interviewed some. Browsed around. Then surprisingly, mid-afternoon I felt accomplished and decided to jump in my car to take the long return trip home. Pleased. I had obeyed.

Prayers Work

Ever felt like that? Hesitant about doing something? Prayers work. Let no one tell you otherwise. Share your heart’s desires with the Lord most high. Then just follow his lead. He always come through. Sometimes he says yes, other times he says no, or wait.

Whatever your desire, talk with him. Devotionals like RedLight are great companions for your daily walk with the lord. So don’t hesitate.

Blessings overflow.

Journey Of Discovery…

When we step out in obedience, we can bask in the confidence that God’s got our back. He is in control. There are no surprises with Him. The surprises are for us.
-Dr Shelly Cameron, GreenLight

Journey of Discovery. Discovering the Lord’s will. Discovering new places – just wandering the unknown. Discovering his purpose for the rest of my life

For over two decades the Lord laid on my heart to visit Italy. Go figure. I have consistently misread thinking I’ll go at some point.

Then five years ago my eldest surprised me with a birthday trip to Paris. As I landed, I retorted … omgee it’s not Paris but Italy I am to go!

Last year, I decided to start a few things after I received news from the doctor that my cholesterol was a little high. Figured I had to do something to not be added to a growing list of medications Soooo … I started ballroom dancing. Yep. Loved it! But it didn’t let me lose too many pounds fast enough, so I ‘accepted’ a 6-week challenge from a gym I had ignored when I moved to the new area. The challenge was to lose 20lbs. At the end of the challenge, I had lost over 13lbs – a little shy of my goal but boy was I encouraged to continue.

Italian Itch

Afresh, there was a very strong urge again to go to Italy. I know the best time to go is April or October since it’s cold at year-end and not the best time. But the strongest urge was there to not let the new year go by without being obedient to his leading. So, I made plans to go end December which was pushed forward to January. I didn’t have a clue where I was going. But when he said go, I finally got moving.

I followed the lord’s leading. I was going alone. Yep, alone. Yikes! It was a solo retreat with me and him only. Asked the Lord to pave the way for flights, accommodation and everything else. Maybe I would finish up the book RedLight when God says No. Hmmm I really didn’t know.

I didn’t tell anyone except hinting to my girls who are strong supporters of their mom and understand her ‘madness’.

I began thinking deeply of the possibility in the fall. A few weeks later my hotel association colleague offered me to stay at her apartment in Milan. Only problem, its night life is ‘amazing’ so not much sleep or a place to write I was told.

Points Considered

It would be cold
Don’t know where I’m going
Need for adequate funds
Obedience to his leading

I shared with two prayer partners to keep me in prayers as I journeyed. Partial funds came through a project I had been working on which coincidentally ended immediately before I was scheduled to leave. Godwink? Like Mary Magdalene I kept all these things in my heart.

The solo retreat touched hearts with inspiration even before it began. Before it was even paid for or properly planned.

I was going on a one-way ticket initially without a rush while asking the lord to route my way. I was following his lead for flights, accommodation, location of where to stay, what food to eat (I’m not a foodie) and when to return. Crazy going so far without a plan. To a planner, it was a quiet nightmare. I said, “really Lord?” People will think I’m crazy.

Vatican Trek

6 Tips For A Spiritual Solo Retreat…

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psalm 23:2

Retreat means to withdraw. To take a step back. Jesus did this many times. He would disappear to spend time in the presence of his Father. He wanted to quiet his heart to gain the strength needed for the next steps on his earthly sojourn. If he needed strength, how much more we? Shouldn’t we follow the example that He set?

Larissa Marks, HuffPost contributor provided 6 practical steps to do a spiritual retreat. Here I share while giving a few of my own commentary.

Create the time and find a place. Any place quiet will do. It may be in your home. It may be away. It may be at a monastery or in nature. For me I skipped home to get away from the distractions. After two decades of receiving a prod to go, I finally gave in. Just me. Solo.
Set your intentions. What is the purpose? What is it you would like to achieve from this time with him? Is it a calling? Is it a life decision that you need to make? For me it was discernment and to follow his leading for the next phase of my life
Settle into God’s presence. Do something that quiets your heart and eases you into his presence. For me it’s walking in nature or sitting quietly breathing–welcoming and experiencing his presence. Ask him what he wants you to receive at this time. Listen and follow his lead.
Reflect. Do some quiet reflection. What have you experienced in the last few weeks, months or even years? What has been draining you? What has brought you satisfaction?
Connect with God. Read scripture. Notice any desire(s) that emerge. For me in his presence there’s always fullness of joy. Even in the midst of life’s storms I find that I can experience his quiet peace.
Receive and return. Think about what you received during this time away. What do you want to stop doing or start doing? Remember, it’s not about you, it’s about the Lord and accomplishing his will and purpose for your life.

Hope these tips will help provide guidance as you make important life decisions or seek discernment for the next phase of your life. If you have done solo retreats, what did you walk away with? What stood out most about this experience? Do share. We would love to hear.

A Little Prayer For You…

A little prayer for you
May the lord wrap his loving arms around you.
May he take away your pain and discomfort.
May he provide joy deep within
May he grant you more good days than bad
May he grant you quiet solace.
May he always bless and keep you.

May He always Bless you in overflow

Be Yourself But….

There’s a craze going around with thoughts such as be you; be your best self; and you name it, it’s yours. These are all centered on the “me craze.” Everything is about being me, me, me. Live your best life! And yes ….I often subscribe to these.

But…

And yes there’s always a but… there’s a balance. Use caution. Be yourself but be careful of your intake. This means be careful of what you put inside your head. It goes to your heart. Undesirables create feelings of negativity, apathy and sadness when your desire to please goes astray. Desirables create feelings of positivity, purity and optimism. Make sure you follow the right crowd.

Yes, be you but remain humble. Be Christ-centered, not self-centered. Be confident in who you were made to be but make sure you walk circumspectly as being wise. It’s a thin line and you can fall off easily if you go astray.

Blessings overflow.