There’s little doubt that we are collectively embroiled in a season that tries the soul. It doesn’t matter which side of an issue, an event, or what persuasion you happen to be personally, politically or professionally, at present it is seemingly impossible not to be at odds with another—often a family or friend, co-worker or relative—with whom you’d prefer to coexist in peace.
Intense times often create this challenge, and few deny times have not been extremely intense. Unfortunately, and for some reason that escapes me, there are a multitude of people perpetuating the discord and division. Why? I’m sure their reasons are as diverse as the people themselves, but the result has netted unnecessary fear, upset, and led many to conclusions not seated in logic or science and definitely not in good will toward others.
So, since we cannot control others only ourselves, what do we do about it? How do we stay balanced and on a scale of reason, logic and common sense during these times?
I’m sure different people have different coping skills that work for them. For me, I’ve made some changes, big changes, in my life that have proven to be productive.
I read about Isaiah, who definitely had a soul-trying season. Early on, I noted two things: “Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid” from 2 Kings 19:6. That leapt off the page at me and I felt an inner calm. The second thing noted was Isaiah asking God for a sign. He was ill and, he thought, dying. It wasn’t the illness or dying that snagged my attention. It was a sundial of sorts in 2 Kings 20:9: And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?
That really caught my attention. The specificity of his prayer. God knows our hearts, yes. Of that I am certain. But something else niggled at me to think deeper, so I paused there to ponder on the matter.
God granted us free will, and He always keeps His promises. That includes respecting our wishes with regard to our free will. Reason then follows that the more specific we are in petitioning Him in prayer, the more assured He is that we are expressing our free will and He is acting in accord with us and not violating His gift to us.
I confess, it is hard for me to ever think in terms of God violating me in any way. He comes from a place of love and protection, after all. But His desire to not violate makes sense, too. For any violation would be a violation of Himself, and that God would never do. He might say no. He might chastise, correct, make us aware of our flawed thinking or actions. But He would never violate us or Himself.
That makes specificity extremely important, doesn’t it? I think so. And I examined my prayers and things we’d talked over, and I wondered if I had been specific in the way that wasn’t (when you get down to it) an affront to God. None was intended, and He would know that, of course. Still, I wonder if I haven’t made His efforts to guide and instruct, to assist, harder. If in a sense, I haven’t often tried His soul. And if my specificity could make guiding, instructing and assisting easier, then I must attempt to do it.
To that end, even more important during this season of trying times, I made some changes:
- I stopped watching the news. I go directly to the sources to seek information and stay informed, but I do not rely on those I once did in the media. This helps one to avoid slant and spin, misinformation, and to skip the drama and sensationalism.
- I limit discussion on current events. If someone specifically asks a question and I can, I answer it. But I do not enter into debate. Right now, many consider everything political despite knowing full well that not everything in life is about politics. Yet everyone is entitled to their own view and opinion. That’s as it should be since we’re all at different points on our personal journeys.
- I start my day with a constructive, positive thought. It sets the tone for the day. I want a good start, not a day I spend grimacing. The point? Be the change you want to see. If you want positive, then be positive. I particularly like thoughts about gratitude for all the blessings in life. Mine, loved ones, everyone’s. Gratitude is both humbling and liberating. A wonderful way to start the day.
- I’m doing things in small doses or increments. Rather than trying to eat an elephant in one bite, I’m taking little bites of everything. Work projects, tasks, the to-do items. I prioritize it all so the “must-dos” get done first and then work in bits. There’s less frustration when one stops before hitting maximum overload and when one switches from a physical task to a mental one, to a spiritual one, to work, then to another physical task, perspective of the task and what is being accomplished is fresher on each effort. You’re not worn to a frazzle before you start. Instead, it’s as if you’re energized.
There are other changes and other benefits, but I wanted to share just enough to give you the idea without taking too much of your time. I do want to share the most important lesson I’ve learned in this.
We all endure times that try our souls. They are seasons, not life sentences, and they will pass. The harder we work to make our time during them as painless as possible, the less we suffer during them. Our view of these times aids and assists us in dealing with them.
The most significant point is to hit your knees first and not as a last resort.
Talk things over, have an extremely active prayer life. I’m not saying you have to pray every minute or for hours. I’m saying be mindful and active in prayer. Some prayers might take a while, particularly if you’re puzzling through something that confuses or confounds you. Other prayers might take a second or a minute. One of my daily favorites: “Thank you.” Two words. But heartfelt and important to me.
During some rough health issues, I learned any morning you wake up is a good morning. Life holds the potential for hope. So, thank you isn’t a canned phrase to me. It’s profound and brimming with potential and hope and, yes, healing.
God wants this close relationship with us. He wants to be involved in our lives. He wants us to live life abundantly. Not wearing rose-colored glasses or unaware of things but keenly attuned to Him. Each of us matters to Him. He needs to know He matters to us.
It benefits all to pray and live and keep moving forward on our journey with gratitude, without fear . . . and with specificity.
Blessings,
Vicki
NOTEWORTHY
Sometimes We All Need a Second Chance
We all make mistakes. Some cost us our destiny…right?
It may seem that way, but to some, life offers merciful second chances. What makes them special? Why them and not everyone? And what kind of second chances—so they have better odds of success?
Those questions intrigued me and set me off on a journey to explore possible answers. What I landed on was a common theme of Reunions. There are three novels (no cliffhangers) and the second-chance reunion is the unifying element in this series so the books can be read in any order.
SHE SURVIVED BEING HELD CAPTIVE. WILL SHE SURVIVE COMING HOME?
After six long years, ex-POW Katie Slater is finally rescued from the terrorists holding her captive. But coming home isn’t the sweet reunion she’d dreamed it would be. Everything that had made her life perfect is gone. Her husband’s remarried, her kids are strangers who call another woman mom, and her former co-pilot and best friend, C.D. Quade—the sexy best friend who’d deserted her in the desert—is all she has left. How is she supposed to cobble together any kind of life?
CAN SHE FACE THE PAST AND CLAIM HER FUTURE?
Katie struggles to determine what is real and what are tricks of the mind, to build a new life and rebuild relationships, and she makes an astounding discovery. Her perfect life hadn’t been so perfect. But when she sees C.D.’s memorial to her—that she forever walks in his soul—Katie realizes this new life holds promise and could be perfect—if she has the courage to face the horrors of her past and claim her future. If she has the courage to dare to love…
Her Perfect Life Awards:
RITA® Award Finalist, Best Novel with a Romantic Element
RT Career Achievement Award Nomination for Series Romantic Adventure
Reviewers’ Choice Award
Readers’ Choice Award Finalist, Best Book of the Year
Holt Medallion Award Finalist, Best Mainstream Novel of the Year
“Her Perfect Life is the perfect read. From the very first sentence, I was hooked by this engaging and heartfelt story of a woman’s journey through danger, adventure and romance.” –Susan Wiggs
SHE KNOWS A CHILD’S LIFE IS IN DANGER BUT NO ONE BELIEVES HER
Caron Chalmers is an empath. A mind reader cursed with imaging only victims. She sees what they see, feels what they feel, endures what they endure, and has since she was seven. But even with all the sensory perception and insights, sometimes she fails to save victims. Sometimes she wrongly interprets the signs—and a year ago, she did exactly that. She messed up and a victim died. Caron nearly died with her. Her “gift” shut down.
Now it’s back. There’s another victim—this time, a child—and because of the mistake made last year and the shut-down, her police contact, though aware of her many successes, isn’t willing to stake his career on her. Yet he can’t dismiss her, so he calls in help from private investigator, Parker Simms.
HE KNOWS SHE IS A FRAUD AND IS OUT TO PROVE IT
Parker Simms is a man with a past as bleak as Caron’s and a specific agenda of his own: proving Caron Chalmers is the fraud he believes her to be. What better way to do that than to work with her?
THEY DISCOVER THE TRUTH CAN SET YOU FREE…OR KILL YOU
In a hostile alliance, Caron and Parker seek the truth…and discover a labyrinth of lies and deceptions that require skills and experience they have and trust they don’t have but must somehow find before this child becomes another victim lost. Yet trust never comes without costs, and some prices are too steep to pay.
The situation grows desperate. Time for the child’s survival grows short…and for Caron and Parker, who must live with the consequences of missteps and wrong moves, this is exactly the wrong time to be on the brink of falling in love. The dire situation grows worse, the unthinkable happens, and stakes that couldn’t get any higher soar.
* Two Time Maggie Award of Excellence Finalist *
- Five Star Gold, Heartland Critiques
- Finalist, The Maggie Award of Excellence (Published)
- Finalist, The Maggie Award of Excellence (Unpublished)
- Southwest Writers Award Finalist
SHE IS ORDERED TO WRECK HER CAREER DEFENDING A MAN SHE KNOWS IS GUILTY
On the cusp of realizing her dream as a career military attorney, Captain Tracy Keener is ordered to defend Captain Adam Burke, a Special Operations officer who caused the deaths of his entire team. Everyone knows Burke is guilty and defending him will cost Tracy her career, but under orders she has no choice.
HE IS ORDERED TO SACRIFICE HIMSELF TO PROTECT A DEADLY CONSPIRACY
Captain Burke swears he was framed. He’d acted under orders. Swears things that can’t possibly be true: breaches of protocol and corruption at the highest levels. He swears the honchos deliberately sacrificed his entire military team. Now they’re sacrificing him. Impossible!
SEEKING THE TRUTH PROVES EVEN MORE DANGEROUS
Tracy and Adam dig for facts. For their trouble, Tracy is issued cease-and-desist orders and instructed to drop the case—to let Burke go down. Under restrictions and daring threats, Tracy and Adam rebel, push back against power and position, seeking truth…and threats spiral. They’re targeted for assassination.
THINGS CAN’T GET WORSE…AND THEN THEY DO
To their horror, Tracy and Adam discover others too are marked for death—millions of Americans they had sworn an oath to protect and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Even at the cost of their own lives, they cannot fail.
Yet to really succeed, Tracy and Adam must risk more that their lives. They must also risk their hearts. That proves far harder for both of them, being trapped in an intricate web of Duplicity.
“[A] page-turner that fuses thriller and romance. Hinze has a knack for combining compelling realistic characterizations with suspense and a romantic plot line.”– Publisher’s Weekly
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