Thursday, October 23, 2014

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

But I shall prevail...

I know God has called me to write, I guess that's what he wants me to do as my job.  I have been unemployed for about a year now.  Thankfully, God has blessed my husband with a good paying job, so we have been able to supported through that.  However, with Christmas coming, we are getting a little anxious.  Will there be enough to provide a good Christmas for our loved ones? 

I have not been lax when it comes to getting a job.   I have revised, edited and sent my resume out more times than I can count.  I have not had one interview! I even went ahead and contacted an employment agency.  I was really nervous for some reason.  I prayed, before making the phone call, "Lord, if you don't want me to work with them, close the door."  I'm not good at reading between the lines.  I need things shoved in my face for me to understand.  Well, apparently my prayer was answered.  I scored too low on a test they provided.  What? I scored too low? How is that even possible? Since my score is low, I am unemployable for 4 months with them.  

So I was rejected, again.  My human side tried not to take it personally (although the test was personally directed).  I forced myself NOT to cry and feel sorry for myself.  I reminded myself of the prayer that I prayed, then said, "Well, Lord.  You closed that door.  I guess you really want me to write."

As a writer, I better toughen up my skin, because I am going to be rejected A LOT.  That's part of the game.  But, if it's what God wants me to do, he will equip me with what I need to handle the situation.  He never calls the equipped, He equips the called.

As for Christmas...maybe we need to take a second look at how we celebrate it.  Maybe we need to refocus our attention on the gift that was given us, and not so much on the gifts we give to others.

That seems to be a whole other blog topic for another time.  

Today's phone call with the employment agency brought to mind this verse: 

25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

He will provide.  We will have faith.
How about you?  What circumstances have you faced where you had to totally depend on God? I'd love to hear your stories.

Blessings ~Annie

Monday, October 20, 2014

Books

Books have always been a part of my life.  Back in the days of being able to roam your neighborhood without threat of being harmed, my friend and I would ride our bikes for miles to the city library, load up on books, and drag them back home.  I would get lost in the stacks.  I believe I may have even memorized where each book was placed on the shelves.  
I fell in love with Madeline L'Engle, read every stitch of the Trixie Belden series, and devoured whatever else looked good.
Now that I'm older, (slightly-wink wink), my tastes have changed, but not my love for books.  I'm finding new authors to fall in love with, and am torn between handling actual paper books, or using an e-reader.
Either way, Karen Kingsbury, Betsy St. Amant, Colleen Coble, etc. will be helping me to mold my characters as I attempt to include myself in the world of being on the shelves in a library, and having a young girl fall in love with my books.