40-Day Card Challenge

I love Lent.

I grew up in the Catholic Church and the idea of giving up chocolate or sweets while I was growing up, made me feel like I was doing something important for GOD. That I could sacrifice a little something of myself for Him.

Of course, as I grew older, and my faith grew more mature, my 'sacrifice' became slightly different.  I learned that good behaviour and good acts do not solidify your position in heaven, and perhaps I should change my outlook on what I would do for those 40 days.

This year, it is the 40-Day Card Challenge.

Which means, that every day, during my quiet time, I try my best to allow GOD to choose whom I should pray for. Then during my Bible reading, I would write out the best verse I thought to encourage that person. I would then type it out in lovely font, tape it to a lovely card, and then write some kind words, cover the envelope in pretty stickers and then send it in the mail. These people would be friends, acquaintances, and even a few people whom I knew didn't like me (I just didn't put my name or return address on it).

I used to send cards all the time. I love sending cards. I would get such a thrill walking up and down the stationary stores and choose out the pretties cards, the coolest colours of envelopes, the sweetest stickers. I had a carousel of coloured felt-tip pens. I loved to do it, and I used to do it all the time.

Until I stopped.

Wasn't anything serious, it just slowly and gradually stopped. 
Maybe it was because I stopped hearing a 'Thank you', or a, 'You really made my day'.  
I wasn't doing it for the acknowledgement, to be sure, but at some point...you lose...the joy in doing it.  Even my closer friends, whom I know needed a card of encouragement, they wouldn't say a thing. And made me feel badly about our relationship.

Isn't that awful?

I am in full agreement that relationships are not what they used to be. It is extremely difficult to get friends to talk to you on the phone. I sometimes miss being sixteen, with my long curly phone cord winding its way around my room as I would gab for hours, my parents yelling at me to stop tying up the line.  I can't remember the last time I had a long conversation with someone on the phone. I kind of miss it, you know?

This tells me, that in our fast-moving, technologically-advanced age, that we need more cards in the mail.  I love getting cards, who doesn't?  Especially encouraging ones that say, 'Hey. I'm praying for you right now, and you didn't even ask me to.'

That is a wonderful 'sacrifice' that I am willing to make. And maybe after 40 days, the habit will stick, and I will keep doing it.  Because even though most of my relationships are through Facebook now, I can do my part by sending GOD's love through the mail. And that, to me, is a wonderful challenge.

And lets me buy more pretty greeting cards.

Jenn Kelly is a farmer who is getting back into writing. Slowly. If you would like a card in the mail, you can reach her at jennkelly@jennkelly.com. She will do her best to make sure you get an envelope with rooster stickers.

DEVOTION: A Fish Ladder ~ by Shirley Corder

Sovereign LORD, you made the earth and the sky by your great power and might; nothing is too difficult for you. Jeremiah 32:17
Whoever heard of a fish ladder?

For some reason that I don’t understand, our creator God’s plan for the salmon in Scotland is for them to swim out of the cold North Sea and travel upstream for a great distance before they breed. Some years ago, my husband and I visited the small town of Pitlochry in the Highlands. Nearby the town, a large dam had been built which effectively acted as an obstacle to these fish. They could no longer make their way upstream. 

An enterprising group of engineers came up with a plan. They built the fish a ladder comprising, not of rungs, but of large tanks. The large fish leap freely over high barriers from one holding tank to the next higher one, until they finally arrive in a river above the dam. It is a fascinating sight to stand and watch as these large fish leap from the water and splash down in the next tank.

When my husband retired from full-time ministry, the way ahead was unclear. We faced many seemingly impassible problems. Where would we live? What would we do? How would we come out financially? Yet God had a plan. 

Like the salmon, we didn't have to conquer the whole problem at once. As we took one leap in faith, we reached the next stage. God then gave us a chance to gather our strength before we took the next jump, finally arriving in a pleasant cottage in a secure retirement village near the sea. It takes us only six minutes to  walk to the beach. My husband receives many preaching appointments, and we are involved in local church ministry. 

When I wrote my book, Strength Renewed, I had no idea how I was going to publish it. I couldn't afford to self-publish, and I live in South Africa where we don't have publishers for this type of book. What could I do?

Once again, I didn't have to do it all at once. God opened one door and I jumped to a writers' conference in Florida. Another door opened as I met the acquisition editor of Revell publishers. Yet another door, and I submitted the manuscript to the publishers as requested. Several doors later, I opened a large cardboard box and whooped with delight. What better sight is there for a writer than that first consignment of brand new books with their name on the cover?

What seemed impossible to us, was totally possible to God. And we only had to take one leap at a time.

Over to you: What huge challenge lies in front of you right now? Maybe God only wants you to take the first leap. Once you've done that, He'll show you the next one.

SHIRLEY CORDER lives on the coast in South Africa with her husband. Her book, Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer contains 90 meditations based on some of the ways God's Positioning System directed her through the rough times in the cancer valley. It is available globally in print or online in e-versions. 

Please visit Shirley through ShirleyCorder.com, where she encourages writers, or at RiseAndSoar.com, where she encourages those in the cancer valley. You can also meet with her on Twitter or FaceBook. Sign up for her newsletter.

DEVOTION: Fancy Fins ~ by Ray Hawkins

Saturday September 22nd I was involved with a new venture. I only had a very small part to play in it, as did Mary, but we were there! Craig and Rachelle Hawkins opened a new venture associated with Seahorse Australia. This was in their shed on Inspection head Wharf, Beauty Point Tasmania.

Fancy Fins is the name of their fresh water aquarium shop , officially opened that day. Included were a garage sale and sausage sizzle. Four of our six grandchildren helped out by selling books and videos or cooking and selling sausages.

It was a beautiful sunny day and drew lots and lots of people. There are still facets of the shop still to be finalised, still the people who came gave it the thumbs up, especially the local fish lovers.

God seems to delight in taking His disciples into new and challenging dimensions so as to make Himself known in a deeper way. For Craig, who is a professional forester with many years leadership in the area, the Lord has literally given him a ‘sea-change’. Our son is the first to admit the change-over was hard to adjust to.

Our Lord sometimes requires us to trust Him with new ventures of faith and obedience. Often it requires perseverance and determination, confident in the call of God. That fragrance permeates their whole business and has produced a testimony to the Lord’s faithfulness, especially through demanding days.

Over to you: What change has God led you into recently?

Ray Hawkins is retired after 30 years as a minister. 

He is author of five books of Biblical meditations which you can see on his blog site. 

Do visit his stunning new blog and say hello!

Scripting a Five Minute Radio Program

It's a challenge. A continual challenge. Often when I think I'm completely out of ideas, at he last moment I'll see something on TV, or somebody will make a comment and it get's my mind into gear.

You see, after many years of producing a fifteen minute program, we've just begun a new one five minute we've named VANTAGE POINT. It begins in the secular and gives the Bible answer to issues that are on people's minds. I guess it's something like 'casting your bread on the waters' because only the Lord knows who will be listening at a time when they might need to hear a message that has the potential to change their life. Or perhaps encourage someone to take a stand, or explain something from God's point of view.

Even so, it would be wonderful if anyone of you in our writing fraternity would share an idea that's on your mind that could make a great five minute script. Oh, I know we're all busy, writing, editing, marketing, and so on, but something you have thought about, or even more exciting...a rough SCRIPT would be an extraordinary gift to help get the message out. We've heartily embraced this commitment, and how wonderful if you feel led to have a share in this great outreach.

At present we are heard on scores of FM stations throughout Australia. So, like the man in Macedonia in Paul's vision, I can also say 'Won't you come over (via email) & help us?'

Rita Galieh is also a novelist with two books published and two now being looked at by Even Before Publishing an Australian publisher.

If you'd like to contact Rita about this, her email is:  ritagal  (at)  optusnet  (dot) com  (dot) au