What's In A Name?

My latest God's Wonder Woman column is posted at Take Root and Write! This month I have focused on self-care and self-acceptance. The latest post, What's In A Name? explores how the many names of God help us identify more intimately with Him. Also, to remind us that He is a personal God, ready and able to be our strength in any situation or circumstance.

I encourage you to stop by to read both posts at the site. My July 1 post is entitled, Redefining That To Do List. My prayer is that you will be blessed by these posts and that you will take some time to focus on yourself and your spiritual needs so you can care for the others in your life.


Go Here to Sign Up to Receive the Take Root and Write Magazine in your inbox once a week.

Bessings on your journey,

Mary

Beatitudes for God's Wonder Woman - 5th in the Series

It's hard to believe I've already made 6 bi-weekly posts at Take Root and Write! God's Wonder Woman is the name of my column there.

A new post is published every month on the first and third Wednesdays.

This column has been big time investment for me. It has challenged me and enriched me with the opportunity to discover God's word through new eyes - the eyes of a woman who is loved beyond imagining by a God beyond understanding or comprehension.

Each time I study and research for my columns I have the gift of delving deeply into scripture and the opportunity to read some incredible commentaries by biblical scholars and "regular" people like me.

I have been equally stretched and blessed to be the columnist for God's Wonder Woman. I hope you will take the time to stop by God's Wonder Woman at Take Root and Write soon.

When you click on this God's Wonder Woman link, you'll see the introduction/explanation of the column name and theme. Then you can scroll down to read any (or all!) of the columns.

If you would like to sign up the Take Root and Write digital magazine, click on this Get Rooted link to find out what it is and how to receive it in your email every week.


Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. (2 Timothy 2:15-16 NIV)

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:18 NIV)

Submit to God and Be At Peace

I've been sharing over at Godly Graffiti about my adventures as an author and writer. One of the joys I have had this week is that my column at Take Root and Write is posted. I am the 2X a month columnist for God's Wonder Woman!

I was also asked to contribute an article to The Writer's Lounge at Christian Women Take Root! That article is also posted and available to read. I strongly urge you to join these two sites - not just because I'm there or have writings there, but because it a group of strong, seeking, questioning, encouraging and empowered, faith-filled women.

You know, God is really blessing me right now. I have been fighting Him for a long, long time! Have you heard about the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land? Oh, how I can relate to them and their backsliding, complaining and generally fighting God! I have been praying for quite a while that God would release me to do His work in the world and I believe He just may have answered my prayer!

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.(Joshua 1:8 NIV)

Besides a few quick counseling sessions with a Christian counselor to help me get my head together, I have done some very specific things to arrive at this place in my life. I have most of all prayed. I mean on my knees praying.

The Prayer of Jabez has long been a hallmark prayer for me and I prayed it throughout most of 2008. God heard me. When He felt I was ready, He answered that prayer on my behalf.

Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!" And God granted him what he requested. (1 Chronicles 4:10 (NAS)

Since early January I have also been doing lectio divina each morning which I talked about a bit in an earlier post. I use the Lord's Prayer and repeat it over and over again until nothing else is on my mind. If - okay - when idle thoughts, concerns about the day ahead or life in general enter my mind, I keep repeating the Lord's Prayer until there is nothing on my mind except God. Sometimes it takes five minutes. Sometimes it takes much longer:-)

I am still in awe and really almost disbelief that God is using me to minister to His world. I spent so many years not believing in my heart and soul what my head kept telling me: I was worthy and good enough. God views us from a different perspective than the world does - and even than we view ourselves!

Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. (Job 22:21 NIV)

He created us for a purpose and until we begin to fulfill that purpose we will not have peace in our lives. I'm beginning to glimpse God's vision for my life. I will continue to pray continually for Him to renew, refresh, correct or redirect that vision as I move forward.

Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, (Deuteronomy 30:9)