2019 – A Review

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. (Ps 33:4)

It’s hard to believe another year is coming to a close. My blog posts serve as a reminder of things that have happened in my life this past year, and I believe reviewing them is helpful. I can see areas in which I’ve grown and where I still need to do more work. I note lessons I’ve learned and common themes among those lessons. I’m encouraged by God’s faithfulness, which increases my faith and trust in him. Continue reading “2019 – A Review”

Lessons Learned from Leading OWFI

“He [David] cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.” (Ps 78:72 NLT)

For the last year, I’ve served as the 2019 Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. (OWFI) president. As of today, my tenure as president is over, but not my involvement in OWFI or my local writing community. (In last week’s blog post, I wrote about the transition I was facing. You can read that post here.)

For years, I believed I couldn’t be a leader because I’m introverted and quiet. I don’t like making decisions, but I do believe in standing up for people and doing the right thing. Over the years, I’ve held various leadership positions that, in hindsight, I know prepared me for this one. Continue reading “Lessons Learned from Leading OWFI”

The Enemy of the Good

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov 3:5-6)

I’m a big believer in goal setting. I set goals that span the year, and I’ve learned to break those goals into smaller chunks so that they’re more manageable. Reaching my goals, whether it’s the large ones or the smaller ones along the way, gives me a great sense of accomplishment.

Goal setting is backed by scientific research, and it’s also scriptural. While we won’t find a checklist in the Bible, we do see those in the Bible setting goals and striving for them. Moses’ goal was to lead the Israelites out of slavery and into the Promised Land. John’s goal was to proclaim the coming of the Messiah. And Jesus’ goal was “…to seek and to save the lost” (Lk 19:10). Continue reading “The Enemy of the Good”

My Personal Top 40

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa 41:10)

Today is my 40th birthday, so happy birthday to me! I wanted to share with you 40 lessons I’ve learned over the course of my life. Some of them are obvious, but I think they bear repeating. Some, like the lessons I’ve learned about putting myself out there and talking to strangers, may not apply to you if you’re an extrovert. Some are humorous because “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Prov 17:22a). Hopefully, you’ll find some of them to be eye-opening and helpful in your own life. Continue reading “My Personal Top 40”