Follow God's Call

Many of my friends come from two very unlikely sources. I have oodles of friends as a result of my books. The other group of new friends are a result of my volunteer work on the sidewalks of abortion centers. A strange place to find friends, but one of the most satisfying.

A wonderful friend I met through my books designed a promo for my Burton's Farm Series. I didn't ask her to. It was completely her own idea and offering. That's the picture above that accompanies this blog. Amazing, isn't she?  She has a special sale going on right now for my print books. Check out her web site for those, and other awesome horse/dog items. The e-books for the entire series can be found on Amazon, with the link to the latest in the series: Gidget the Horse that Waited for Me, here.

A special friend I met on the sidewalks of the abortion center, and one of the first moms I ever counseled, accompanied me to lunch yesterday. Her fifteen-month old girl, a big-eyed charmer, was almost aborted, but instead created joyous havoc at the restaurant. It's always a delight to see L, who I meet with regularly. She is a wise young lady, with a deep yearning for God now that she is on a path to follow Him.

She works the night shift. She told me that she knows I text her with a Bible verse each night, but she waits till she gets off her work shift to read it. It has become part of a cherished routine for her the following morning as she leaves work.  First, she settles down on the bus ride home, and prays. Then, she reads my Bible verse as the sun rises, and thinks about what God is saying.

Fill my overflowing heart! Such a little connection for me to make each day with such awesome ramifications for eternity!

As we sat at lunch, and L's toddler was ripping apart a styrofoam plate, I asked L for advice on the story line of the crazy novel I am working on. She had some great ideas, and totally engaged in the creative process. The baby chewed on the styrofoam, and L and I could barely contain our excitement as we worked out an amazing plot for my book.

How I love this lady whose path I never would have crossed had I not been standing on the sidewalks of an abortion center that day. How I love the readers I have come to know that I would never have met had I not written books. The center of both those endeavors was following the clear call of God.

And that's the crux of my message today: follow God's call and you will find treasures you never imagined.
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Jeremiah 1:5 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

2 Peter 1:10-11 

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Overcome With Joy

One of the abortion center workers tried to run me down in her car yesterday. I jumped out of the way and she steered after me. She swerved away at the last moment, as I scrambled to the sidewalk. When she parked, I gave her an earful about her murderous spirit, and that at least I had lived a good long life, but those poor babies she helped kill each day had not lived barely at all before being snuffed out. I was not scared. I was hopping mad.

One of the other counselors caught my ensuing tirade on video. The following link takes you to the moments after I leaped out of the way of the car, and she parked. The voice over the loudspeaker is a fellow counselor, but the screaming out to the driver is me.  https://youtu.be/tTvP93NryGI

Then, I went back to stopping cars and pleading with women to choose life. It was a strange day. Tons of cars stopped for all of us. The picture below is of two cars in a row that pulled over, and I am counseling the ones in front while Daniel spoke to the one behind. We all spoke to many people, and handed out a good bit of our literature. Still, no one went on our free RV ultrasound, and the day stretched on with only one person choosing life.

One couple stopped and talked with me for quite some time, and then stopped again and talked with Chrissy before turning into the abortion center parking lot. Chrissy and I shook our heads in dismay as they entered the center. How could they have listened to all we had to say and still choose death for their baby? It is often heart-breaking to see all the women who choose to abort, but the most heart-breaking are the ones we spend a good bit of time speaking with and it seems to make no difference.

We consoled ourselves (again) with the reminder that we are not called to produce the results. We are only called to be faithful in proclaiming the truth of the Gospel, love others, and point them to God. The rest is God's work, not ours.

Still, it stinks to not see the obvious fruit of our labor. And to be almost killed in the process....

BUT THEN....

The car with the couple who had talked to me and Chrissy pulled out of the parking lot. They paused, and gave us a thumbs up, smiling.
"Did you change your mind!?" Chrissy and I cried out in tandem.
They nodded.

Chrissy and I fell into each others arms, dancing and swirling at the gates of hell, utterly overcome with joy. In the end, two babies we know of were saved from death, as well one grey-haired lady avoiding a car driven by an abortion worker bent on murdering the elderly as well.

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1 John 3:12 

We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.

Choosing What Empowers

I just got word that one of the mamas I work with who prayed with me to ask Jesus into her life is getting baptized.  I am invited, and you can bet I will be there. The biggest joy in my life is seeing hurting souls turn to God and choose to faithfully walk alongside Him. Nothing beats it. Nothing.

My new iPhone 6s was not even a close second.


First she chose to listen to the Cities4Life counselors, pleading with her to choose life not abortion. Then she chose to commit her future to the only One who controls our future. And now, she has chosen to follow God's command to make public the outward sign of her inward conversion in the sacred rite of baptism.

Now those are empowering choices!
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Please pray for me and my fellow sidewalk counselors as we head off today to speak life in front of Charlotte's busiest abortion center. May many women, like my friend, choose what empowers, not what destroys.
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(Just in case someone thinks I am serious...that iPhone line WAS a joke...I do really like my new iPhone but there are a few other things that bring me more joy than my phone.)
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Acts 2:38 

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 22:16 

And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

John 3:5 

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

1 Peter 3:21 

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Mark 16:16 

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Who Needs Facebook?

It was almost like being back in New York. Snow covered the grass. Ice carpeted the street. It lasted two days and then started melting. Not enough snow sadly to cross country ski on the streets which I usually get to do once a year in Charlotte. However, it was pretty.

Since the streets were too icy to drive anywhere, we were stuck home. This gave me lots of time to get in trouble with Facebook again. My major avenue of letting folks who love horses know about my new horse books is to send updates when I publish a new book to all the Facebook horse groups I belong to. About two hundred. The group members are overwhelmingly grateful to hear about my books, and I have had mostly positive responses.

However, Facebook wants me to buy their ads to promote my books. I tried that once and sold very few. Probably didn't even make back the cost of the ad. Facebook doesn't care. Facebook decided I cannot share the news of my book with my horse groups and put me in Face Book time-out (again!). I may not post to any groups at all until Tuesday.

How will anyone find out about my new book? I am counting on you all. Please share this blog and tell them the new book is in two formats and both on Amazon now. The book is already #5 and also the #1 Top Hot New Release. Yay.
ebook: click here.
print book: click here.

The good news is since I couldn't do much on Facebook, my full attention was devoted to working on my next book. It is a CRAZY story and a lot of fun to write. I don't know how anyone will ever know about anything I write since I can't easily advertise, but I am convinced it is what God would have me do.

And so that is the long lead-in to what I was pondering. If God wants me to write, has given me a clear message, and given me the desire and (hopefully) talent....why would He remove the means by which others can learn about what I have written? 

I have so many books inside of me itching to come out, practically clawing their way out. But because marketing what I already have written is so impossibly difficult and time consuming, I run out of time to write. And now my major marketing tool has been shut down.

It doesn't make sense to me. Why does God lead...and then place obstacles in the path? Do I plow through, go around, sit down and be still, kick and scream and cry????

There are some truths I can glean.
1. My plans are not His plans
2. My time line is not His timeline
3. My priorities are not His priorities.
4. He created the world. I didn't.
5. Trust He knows what He's doing.

Exodus 15:2 says The Lord is my strength and my song... 
and Ephesians 6:10 says Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 

We are never advised to rely on our own strength or our own resources. We are told to do all we are able to do, but the results belong to God. And ultimately, it is He that empowers us to complete the tasks He sets before us.

Who needs Facebook when God is for me? 

PS- To circumvent this Facebook policy, please sign up for email updates when my new book comes out. There is a link to do so on this blog, upper right side column, or go to my facebook author page, 'like' it, and sign up for email updates on the left hand side. Then, please encourage all your friends to do so.

Also, if I know you from a Facebook group, I cannot post this blog or news of my new book...but YOU can. I would be most grateful if you would do so.

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2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Matthew 11:28 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Isaiah 40:31 

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Psalm 31:24 

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!

Matthew 6:33 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

1 Corinthians 16:13

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
 

Confronting Adversity

My new book in the  best selling Burton's Farm Series is out and live in e-book form at Amazon here.
I think it may be my best book yet. It has a very important message and some pretty deep issues are discussed. I try to lighten the serious situation with lots of humor and optimism. It also debuts Amy Fox as an editor, and I think she does a fantastic job! If you find typos, blame her. (haha.)

I spent the first snow-day in Charlotte this year working on approving the files for the book. With great excitement, they all passed the review process with only one re-upload needed, and the book went live!

So far, no reviews. Just think. A golden opportunity awaits you. You could be the first to review this book! It was just released last night, but is already #4 in horse books. Not bad since no one really knows it's out there yet.

While it is a book about horses, the people in the book face something all of us face whether we love horses or not. When we see injustice and suffering that we feel powerless to confront, how do we respond? That is the essential question the book explores.

My Bible reading was about Joseph, thrown in the well and left to die by his own brothers, and then thrown in prison by Potipher because of lies by Potipher's wife. Throughout all that injustice, Joseph responded by seeking God more fervently. He did not harbor bitterness or resentment. He trusted God was working on the hearts of those who had wronged him. And then he set out to save those he could in his corner of the world.

That is the proper response. Now go buy my book, please. Find out if that is what my protagonists do! It would be SO exciting to send it to #1 today.
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Romans 12:19 

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Acts 20:35 

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Proverbs 19:17 

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

Matthew 25:35-40 

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ...

The Coercion of Choice: A Reflection on Roe v Wade

I taught my little art class yesterday. I am amazed at how eager they all are and what complete joy it is to teach children hungry to learn. I think it may be the age group I relate to best: 8 - 12 years old. They are still innocent and joyful children, but advanced enough to have real conversations with me. When they all left, I realized: That was delightful. What blessings those sweet children are; what ALL children are.

These wonderful kids are so grateful for everything I show them. They are earnest and sincere. They look upon what I can show them in art as magical. I almost want to pay them for the privilege of teaching them! (Almost, but not quite. The cart horse deserves the grain he earns.) I watched their joyful enthusiasm, and thought how blessed they were that they had made the choice to be here in my class, and that their parents had honored that choice.

Choice.

Today is the anniversary of Roe V Wade. I was supposed to speak at the downtown Charlotte memorial rally, but the weather was too nasty and it was cancelled.  I worked my TAIL off preparing my speech. So here it is. I know I look old and tired, and had to use my notes. Focus on the content. It is an important story. I know God spoke to me very clearly as the story unfolded. What is God telling you?

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Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,

Psalm 139:13-16 

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Jeremiah 1:5 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Grateful for the Humble Spirits

This is me on the microphone in the FRIGID day at the abortion center, urging women to choose life. This fantastic photo was taken by Anna Misko, a fellow counselor, who has a heart of gold and the gentlest spirit I have ever encountered.

I have a pro-life book coming out very soon, and I needed an author photo. I asked Anna if she would mind snapping some of me in action. She didn't mind...though to snap photos, she had to take off her mittens in FRIGID cold. I was so consumed by the message I was giving over the mic, that I never saw or even thought about her taking photos.

But sweet Anna, true to her word, was snapping away. When I consider the people who I am blessed to serve our Lord alongside, I am overwhelmed with the goodness of God. I do not deserve them. Not any of them. Certainly not Anna. But I am grateful.

Too often, we forget to notice the gentle and sweet spirits that unassumingly occupy space with us. They don't clamor for attention. They excel, but never demand that anyone notice. I have no great message from God today except to urge all of us to say thank you to the Anna's of the world. They make it a better place.

Thank you, Anna.
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1 Peter 3:4 

But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

Galatians 5:22 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Proverbs 15:1 

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Ephesians 4:2 

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,