Thank You, Heavenly Father, for bringing Joanne safely back. I pray with Brothers and sisters in Christ for things to go well for her while stateside. Give her peace, joy, friendship, encouragement, and please make any appointments she needs while here be available without conflicts. In Jesus’ name, Amen
I apologize for coming to you again with prayers about me and my book, but we suspect I’m dealing with some profound spiritual warfare, and I need help.
I took five days away at the advice of my editor and my agent to set it aside. My deadline to have the first chapters in great shape, but most importantly the theme square up, is Friday. It’s a personal deadline and I’m pretty sure I’m going to miss it and that’s okay–I have another year before we’re at total crunch. Literally a year.
So yesterday afternoon which is a writing day, I went to my chair to pray before I started. As soon as I got to the book and theme, however, my heart began to race, my stomach knotted and the “flee” need was almost overwhelming.
That’s not what usually happens to me when I pray.
So, I sat with it, trying to analyze what I was feeling and why. All the words were anxiety-driven and I don’t recall seeing “anxious” in the list of fruits of the spirit.
I understand the spiritual implications of this book–I always have–and a blog post over this weekend only demonstrated it. But I’m a weak vessel with this story and while I can see all around the block, and I’ve been chipping away at it, I don’t believe I’ve gotten to the root quite yet.
My poor husband, a nuclear engineer who spent his childhood with a father researching a Shakespeare story, is trying very hard to help. He’s a great guy, but he’s living with a volatile woman who has been a basket case the last couple weeks and of course I’m not sleeping well.
So, my prayer request is for the fruits of the spirit to be evident here, whether the book project is where it should be or not. I suspect there’s a significant issue from my past that needs to be picked apart and put into this book–which is daunting, especially since I thought I had dealt with this . . . so I need to follow the Holy Spirit into it and out of it and then put it into the book.
That probably will take the year.
Anyway, that’s my situation. However the Lord leads you, I thank you. The glory belongs to the Lord, not to me and I’m thankful I have so much experience with my weakness being an opportunity for the Lord to be strong and victorious–by his definitions. 🙂
Welcome back home, Joanne! Glad to hear of your safe travels.
Michelle, praying for you.
Thank you for the prayers on my request last night. So far, things are going well today with the youngest two. I’ve been able to stay ahead of potential problem situations; I got pretty tired, though, being ultra-watchful, trying to anticipate things.
I didn’t anticipate getting so tired that I would fall asleep for a half-hour, however. 😉 Thankful to God that everything went smoothly while no specific person was in charge during that unexpected snooze…
Thank you all for praying; the day went so much better and after a long conversation with my agent, I may have an idea of where I’m headed. I have tonight and tomorrow . . . 🙂
Update from Madison’s mom: “Abigail [the older sister, 3 years old] and I just got home. Maddy is still pale and in much pain but things went well. We will see how the night goes and praying she gets released in AM. Abigail is having a hard time with it all.”
Wandering Views 
so happy that Joanne is home. Praying for the overwhelming culture shock
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Thank You, Heavenly Father, for bringing Joanne safely back. I pray with Brothers and sisters in Christ for things to go well for her while stateside. Give her peace, joy, friendship, encouragement, and please make any appointments she needs while here be available without conflicts. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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I apologize for coming to you again with prayers about me and my book, but we suspect I’m dealing with some profound spiritual warfare, and I need help.
I took five days away at the advice of my editor and my agent to set it aside. My deadline to have the first chapters in great shape, but most importantly the theme square up, is Friday. It’s a personal deadline and I’m pretty sure I’m going to miss it and that’s okay–I have another year before we’re at total crunch. Literally a year.
So yesterday afternoon which is a writing day, I went to my chair to pray before I started. As soon as I got to the book and theme, however, my heart began to race, my stomach knotted and the “flee” need was almost overwhelming.
That’s not what usually happens to me when I pray.
So, I sat with it, trying to analyze what I was feeling and why. All the words were anxiety-driven and I don’t recall seeing “anxious” in the list of fruits of the spirit.
I understand the spiritual implications of this book–I always have–and a blog post over this weekend only demonstrated it. But I’m a weak vessel with this story and while I can see all around the block, and I’ve been chipping away at it, I don’t believe I’ve gotten to the root quite yet.
My poor husband, a nuclear engineer who spent his childhood with a father researching a Shakespeare story, is trying very hard to help. He’s a great guy, but he’s living with a volatile woman who has been a basket case the last couple weeks and of course I’m not sleeping well.
So, my prayer request is for the fruits of the spirit to be evident here, whether the book project is where it should be or not. I suspect there’s a significant issue from my past that needs to be picked apart and put into this book–which is daunting, especially since I thought I had dealt with this . . . so I need to follow the Holy Spirit into it and out of it and then put it into the book.
That probably will take the year.
Anyway, that’s my situation. However the Lord leads you, I thank you. The glory belongs to the Lord, not to me and I’m thankful I have so much experience with my weakness being an opportunity for the Lord to be strong and victorious–by his definitions. 🙂
Welcome home, Joanne!
Thanks.
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Lifting you up, Michelle.
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Me, too.
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Praying
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Also praying for you, six arrows, I sure understand what you are talking about.
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yes and amen…
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Welcome back home, Joanne! Glad to hear of your safe travels.
Michelle, praying for you.
Thank you for the prayers on my request last night. So far, things are going well today with the youngest two. I’ve been able to stay ahead of potential problem situations; I got pretty tired, though, being ultra-watchful, trying to anticipate things.
I didn’t anticipate getting so tired that I would fall asleep for a half-hour, however. 😉 Thankful to God that everything went smoothly while no specific person was in charge during that unexpected snooze…
God is good.
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Thank you all for praying; the day went so much better and after a long conversation with my agent, I may have an idea of where I’m headed. I have tonight and tomorrow . . . 🙂
God is good. Always.
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Prayers for you, Michelle, for Madison , and for my son. Also for Cheryl to have insight about her bird book.
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Update from Madison’s mom: “Abigail [the older sister, 3 years old] and I just got home. Maddy is still pale and in much pain but things went well. We will see how the night goes and praying she gets released in AM. Abigail is having a hard time with it all.”
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