Pretty, huh? Looks like a nice beachy area to steal away to. This was the view behind my dorm when we went to Haiti. There was actually a place near the water where I read my Bible each day.

However, this picture portrays more of what we saw. Not quite as pretty.

When I arrived back in the States, many asked me if the destruction from the earthquake had been cleaned up. I'm sorry to say that the piles of rubble like you see above are all over. The people walk around and over them. I'm sure it is better than it was right after the earthquake.

As we drove through, I noticed abandoned homes. I was unsure if they were left due to being structurally unsafe. I wondered if maybe squatters had come in and taken up residence in some of them because even with the rubble, theses homes were a step up for some. I asked one of the missionaries with us. She at first looked confused. Then she said: "The Haitian people have too much integrity to just go in and claim something that isn't theirs. It's the same with their animals that roam about free. Just because your neighbor's cow wanders over into your yard doesn't mean you have any right to it."

I thought about that. Do we Americans have that kind of integrity? If our neighbor's tree falls into our yard, we threaten to sue if they don't get it out. If an animal strays onto our property, we call the pound to come pick it up even if we know that it belongs to our neighbor.

I guess I noticed that the Haitian people are true neighbors or should I say neighborly.

Neighborly means befitting congenial neighbors, friendly, companionable, comradely, warmhearted.

I believe I remember Jesus saying we should love our neighbor.

Though the Haitian people have little, I think they are ahead of us in being neighborly.

Try loving that neighbor today. Show them God's love by being neighborly.

Today I am guest posting on Patty Froese's blog. The devotion I share there is about an adoption I witnessed. I also shared in the comments that THE BLESSING SEER has more about the true and miraculous story of this little boy's adoption.

Check it out - http://pattyfroese.com/

Thanks you, Patty.

Are you grateful?

Last week I gave a devotion based on a chapter from a Max Lucado book, EVERY DAY DESERVES A CHANCE.

The chapter discussed being grateful. Max presented the story of the ten lepers. Do you remember this story from the Bible? There were ten lepers that called out to Jesus. He told them to go show themselves to the priest. As they were going, they were healed, completely cleansed. One of the former lepers returns to thank Jesus for healing him. Jesus actually draws attention to the fact that this one came to thank him. He asks where the others were.

Jesus was so good at utilizing teachable moments. I believe this was one of those times. Instead of just turning to the man and saying you're welcome, He points out the fact that this man was grateful enough to return. Could it be that Jesus was trying to teach us that God recognizes when we thank Him?

This former leper had a choice to show his thanks or just go along with the rest of the crowd. He made a choice to show gratefulness.

How about you? Do you show your gratefulness for what God does for you each and every day? This is a choice. You can grumble and complain that things aren't the way you want. Or, you can choose to focus on what is good and noble (hmm, I think that's from the Bible) and be grateful.

Practicing gratefulness can change your whole disposition. Don't follow the grumbling crowd who takes things for granted. Do what your Mama taught you - remember what she'd say? "Say thank you." And then we repeat: "Thank you, God!" (Say it like you mean it!)

"One of the things that happens when you give yourself permission to start writing is that you start thinking like a writer. You start seeing everything as material." Anne Lamott

This quote stuck out to me, and I whole-heartedly agree. Now that I write, I think like a writer all of the time. Everything is fair game for material.

My novella, THE BLESSING SEER, came to be after contemplating a sermon illustration.

The sequel to THE BLESSING SEER, BE THE BLESSING, came about while listening to a sermon.

I'm seeing a trend here! LOL

My novel, INHERITANCE IN THE WORD, came from contemplating the influence of grandmothers on our lives.

My novel, FOR OUR GOOD, came from the downfall of a church member.

My novella, FORGIVEN, came from a newspaper article written about a shoot-out in 1903 involving my father's grandfather, father, and uncles.

As an author, things I hear and see become possible story starters and ideas. I might see something on the news that sparks my imagination. A picture can conjure stories or even bits of conversation or historical facts. From these tidbits I start to brainstorm and ask the what if questions. I think this makes my writing more real and relevant.

How about my author friends out there? Do you agree with the quote above? Why or why not? Has everything become material for your writing?

How about my reader friends out there - do you like to know where authors' ideas come from? Does this enhance the reading of a story for you?

"You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food - catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you - keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive, do a thorough job as God's servant." 2Timothy 4:3+ from The Message

Don't you love this pep talk from Paul to Timothy? I'm glad it's included in the Bible because as a Christian in this day, I need this pep talk too.

Are you, like me, noticing that people are satisfied with sermons and teachings that are less than the truth? They want to hear a sermon that will make them feel good not bring any conviction. How dare the preacher to stomp on toes! I've heard preachers who never referred to their Bible the whole time they spoke. Everything is positive - make sure they leave happy and feel good about themselves.

The scripture above warns against this. Let's face it, sometimes I need to leave church feeling conviction. How will I ever continue to become like Jesus, if I'm never challenged to examine myself?

My pastor/husband jokes that when God leads him to preach a tough lesson, we can get out of church to lunch much earlier. Why? People couldn't stomach it. They don't want to talk to him. Paul would tell him to keep his focus on the message and the truth no matter if the church parking lot empties quickly or not. His job is to keep the Message alive.

We are definitely in the times when many people can't stomach the truth. But, as Christians we must follow what Paul told Timothy. We have to keep our focus on the truth - Jesus. We have to continue to keep the message of Jesus alive. If we are God's servants, then this is our responsibility.

Check out Lisa Lickel's blog today for a short interview about THE BLESSING SEER.

http://reflectionsinhindsight.wordpress.com

Thank you, Lisa for having me on your blog.

WOULD I GO THAT FAR?

In June I had the opportunity to go to Haiti on a mission trip. Our group did physical labor during the day to prepare a camp for Haitian children to attend later on in the summer. We also went two afternoons and conducted a Bible school for 100 Haitian kids at a time. We were “fed” as well each evening through a worship service in an open sided pavilion.

Each night before the pastor got up to speak, a group of Haitian people sang for us.

Many of the groups who sang for us walked two or more hours just to come and sing about Jesus. They weren’t paid to do so. And, you must know that the temperature in Haiti is scorching to say the least. But, still they came and sang their hearts out. I don’t know the language, but I understood from their expressions that they loved the Lord.

The groups’ dedication got me to thinking. Would I go that far to share about Christ? Would I walk two hours to sing about God’s love and hope? Sure, I had packed up and gotten on a plane to go to Haiti, but how far would I go to truly share Jesus?  

The Bible tells us to always be prepared to give an answer if someone asks about the hope in us.

How about that depressed waitress serving you today? How about that lost neighbor? How about that coworker who gets on your last nerve?

We as Christians have to be willing to go as far as it takes to reach people for Christ even if it’s unpleasant and takes time.