Don't Worry About Tomorrow

Several years ago I had a stress attack that left me with a brain that I'd thought would never think again. Stress can have a negative impact on our lives and yet, stress is what gets us up every morning to go to work, to look after our family and to care for ourselves.

Stress is caused by the imbalance of overwork and little relaxation. I was too busy wanting to be super mum that I forgot about my own needs. I was running my own business, my home, and I was homeschooling. My husband got ill and needed surgery. His business also needed someone to run it. You guessed it, more responsibility for me. I had little in reserve to cope with this added stress. Something had to give, unfortunately it was me. I ended up in hospital for three days and it took two years to get back on my feet.

My stress was the bad kind of stress. I allowed it to pile up on top of me, ignoring the headaches and sleepless nights, saying I could do anything. I was pushing myself to an early grave and I didn't know it. I had no choice but to slow down.

I came across a Bible verse: Matthew 6:34 - "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

I meditated on this verse for several months and the truth set in. I wanted complete control of my life so much I worried incessantly about situations that weren't under my control. As soon as I stopped worrying about these situations my stress levels dropped dramatically. My life turned for the better and I started planning for God's purpose for my life instead of mine. I planned my goals and schedules, but I lived my days in the present, hour by hour, working toward my goals. My mind became clearer because it wasn't cluttered by worry that robbed me of energy and life.

If you're a worrier, I encourage you to start meditating on Matthew 6:34. Worrying about tomorrow is time wasted because God has a purpose for your life. Put God in your plans, cease worrying, and your tomorrows will start to have a new sense of purpose and wonder you'd never thought possible because God is for you, not against you.

Football, A Gold Mine

It's winter in Australia, and the AFL football season is well under way. My husband is an AFL fan from way back and he wants me to share his enthusiasm for the game. The Gold Coast now has its own team coming into the big league next year. I'm not the sporty type, but somehow the Gold Coast having a football team in the national competition has appealed to my sense of patriotism. So I treaded carefully into what I've always considered to be a male domain. This reluctant member attended a game last Saturday and I discovered AFL is more than football.

While I sat in our folding chairs on the hill, (the club's football ground is under construction in Carrara), a cold southerly breeze nipped at my ear lobes that made me shiver. What I gained from coming to the football and getting cold had better be worth it. To my surprise, I discovered I could watch the football and the crowd. AFL is a fast moving game and I can't always see the action at the far end of the field, so when the play was too fast and the distance too long, I honed in to what was going on around me.

Families with young children tossed mini-footballs; older kids watched the footy and wrestled each other when they got bored; and fanatic footy fans discussed the game plan, which was double dutch to me. What impacted me the most was the way the people at the footy related to other people in all kinds of ways. Husbands and wives, couples, grandmas and grandads were there discussing the game, or more importantly, in the pauses in the action they talked about issues that were important to them. Snippets of conversation pricked up my ears. I learned many juicy tidbits about members of their family or friends. I didn't have my notebook with me last week to make note of these conversations, but I will next time.

What I learned last Saturday was that even though some people were at the footy, they talked much about everything and little about football. They discussed the problems Joey was having trying to fit in at school; Sally's disappointment she wasn't chosen for the ballet competition; John and Casey's marriage problems and how they were hoping to overcome their financial problems; and how they were they going to get mum and dad into a retirement home with care, etc.

So football serves more than one purpose. I learnt what it means to be a football player and to be part of the team. I also learnt there are real life issues behind the people who attend the football. By listening carefully I heard how people interacted with each other. I realised I could use their experiences to build the characters of my stories and in doing so make the characters real people living in real relationships.

What about you, do you go to the football to watch the action on the field? Do you go with a friend to clear what's bothering you off your chest? Or do you go just for the fresh air and sunshine? I'd like to hear what football means to you.

Praying Simply

Praying is a meaningful practice to get closer to God, but what happens when the words don't come? Sometimes, when I'm praying, God seems far away, and at other times he's here beside me, holding me and encouraging me. So why do I think he's far away sometimes?

As with everything in this life I'm living, I've come to realise I'm keeping some part of myself back from him. This is an unconscious action, but what that tells me is I'm not tuned in to the Holy Spirit. I'm allowing my ego to take over instead of trusting the Holy Spirit as the guiding force in me. When this happens my prayer is forced, disconnected and frustrating.

When I'm in tune with my spirit, I hear God speaking. He comes as a gentle voice, a prompt that says something like "not that way, try this way". By listening to this small voice I free up the kinks in the link between God and me. He only wants what's good for me. When I'm tuned to his will for my life, I can achieve more than I would normally do under my own steam. Through obedience, I've found I'm drawing closer to God and through that relationship, I'm learning the purpose he has for my life. The spin-off from this is a deeper connection in the relationships with people I meet every day.

So prayer for me is fundamental in making the connection with God at that extraordinary deep level he wants to be with us. Prayer starts a relationship with God. As I continue it becomes a trickle that grows to an ocean where it washes my spirit, calming and nurturing it, until I become compliant for God so he can use me for his purposes.

By taking the time to pray in a private place where I won't be disturbed, I ask my heavenly Father for his guidance. My Father already knows what I need before I ask him. Sometimes the words tumble out unceasingly and become a jumble of meaningless words, but he doesn't want to hear that. He wants to hear the words of my heart, to know what the deep concerns are, but he also wants me to keep it simple. We're instructed in Matthew 6:5-15 NIV to pray as follows:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

Next time you're praying and you can't find the right words, pray the above prayer, because this is how Jesus teaches us to pray in the Bible. God hears this prayer, and he will answer according to His will and purpose for your life. No fancy words--a simple prayer is enough to connect with him in a powerful and meaningful way. Try it today and see his power in your life.

Leave a reply below and tell me about how He's worked in your life today.

Free: God's Lifeline ... Any Time, Any Place

Ring ring ... ring ring. I answer the telephone.

"Hello, Laura, this is God. I haven't heard from you for some time. I know there's been trouble ..."

How would you react if God used the telephone to connect with you when he felt neglected?

My insides squeeze so hard I can hardly breathe. Every excuse I can think of races through my mind. I take a deep breath and admit the truth. He's right, I haven't spent time with him for ages. I've been focussed on putting out the bushfires in my life.

Sound familiar? Could I have done life better?

Most certainly. I forgot God has been watching me during this stressful time. The things I believe were important have made me forget about everything I hold precious--my family, my friends and my God.

God saw my position and wanted to lovingly remind me he's there waiting for me and so are my family and friends. I could have done the past couple of months much better. He reminds me I have access to an enormous amount of power that will get me through tough times, if only I will stop and think for a few minutes.

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God..."

If I'd been still, I'd have heard his comforting words. I'd have felt the peace he places upon my heart in troubled times. Instead I became self-focussed trying to solve my problems myself. God knows my deadlines, my fears, and my inadequacies. In the turmoil I forgot his gracious power that is available to me.

By living in spirit, I am connected to the one who created me and it is by the gift of his mighty power he will encourage and empower me to be creative and achieve great things for him. I forget so easily that no phone is required to speak to my heavenly father. All I have to do is be still, pray and listen for his loving voice.

I'm a slow learner. Stress is a part of life, but not the bad stress that cripples my thought processes and makes relating to my family almost impossible. I've learnt during recent months I have no control over what happens in my life, but I can take time out with Jesus to pray and ask for forgiveness when life gets out of control. If I read his word, my priorities will fall into place because he is in control through the Holy Spirit, not Laura in control through the flesh.

Next time you're feeling wrung out, beaten and faded like an old rag, be still and listen for the one who really cares for where you're at. His peace and grace is enough to get you through no matter what challenges life throws at you. You don't need to pick up a telephone to speak to him, and he doesn't need a telephone to speak with you. Be still and know that the lifeline to God is free--any time, any place.

Judging Writing Contests ... Encouraging A Writer

During recent years I've been given the opportunity to judge writing contests. This has been an honour and a privilege. Writers trust work they've laboured over for weeks and months to me to read and evaluate.

In the judging process it's important to keep in mind the solitary hours a person has put into the work. She's given up valuable time to be with her family and friends to sit in front of the computer for long and sometimes unproductive hours. Writing is a sacrifice. Because of this human element I believe the process of judging contests is about  encouraging the writer to do better. I don't ever want a writer to lose sight of her goals and hopes because of my insensitive remarks on her scoresheet.

Writers who enter contests are at varying stages in their careers. Some are beginners looking to see if they have talent, or if they are in fact writing in the right genre for them; some are seasoned writers close to publication standard hoping they will win the contest so that their work will by-pass the slush pile and reach the editor's desk of a publishing house  much more quickly; some are intermediate writers who are honing their craft and seek feedback so they can take their writing to the next level; and some writers are trying out new ideas to see whether the project is worth pursuing.

Through all the entries I've reviewed, I've always made sure I give honest and encouraging feedback. I'm always aware of the writer. No matter what stage she is at in her career, she is hoping her work is good enough to win. I judge each entry on its merit. Some aspects of the writing are better than others, eg. great characterisation, but poor plotting and conflict. Usually the score sheets are designed so that a score is apportioned to all aspects of the writing. The scores give great feedback for the writer because her weaker areas are highlighted by the amount she's been given. I believe it is the writer's responsibility to be mindful of each judge's view of her work. Every judge sees the work differently. It's important the writer weighs the comments of all judges and takes what resonates with her and make the changes accordingly.

Nothing gives me more pleasure when I hear a writer say they applied some of my suggestions to their work, and now they are published. This is also encouraging for me because the next time I judge I'll apply the same or similar method of appraisal to help another writer.

If you ever get the opportunity to be a writing contest judge, say yes. You're encouraging a wannabe writer on her journey to publication--a rewarding experience, and learning something about yourself in the process.