DEVOTION: Reflections in the New Year

by Shirley Corder @Shirl_Corder

Let me start this post by wishing you a very happy and blessed New Year!

As you look back on last year, what do you see? I see fruitful times—and a few good visits with family. I also see times of frustration and personal reactions which I wish had not happened.

Recently, my friend and fellow author on this blog, Ruth Dell, spent some weeks on holiday in Ireland. She sent me these photos, and as I looked at them, I saw a deep significance in each one.

This photo shows a pretty scene, with reflections clearly showing in the water. But the reflections are not clear in this particular image as there are too many distractions. It is a riot of color. Branches, bushes and plants of every autumn hue stick out in all different directions. Leaves float on the water, indicating a wind that had blown at some point.

I wonder how often my life reflected chaos last year? Is it shown in the reflection I showed the world? Too much going on. Did I reflect a riot of different ideas and actions and reactions? Were they frequently blown around by the winds of change that frequent our chaotic country as well as my busy-busy lifestyle. Was that me in 2017? Was it you?

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I love this relaxing picture. What looks like a lazy stream meanders across the level ground. I've since learned from my friend that it is not in fact a stream. This is a slob! No, not the type of slob we think of when someone takes no care over their appearance or behavior. This land was reclaimed from the sea using dykes with the work commencing in the 1840s. 

How did it earn the name, slob? The name actually comes from the word slab which means mud. The lands are drained by a network of channels. The water from these channels is then pumped into the sea by a pumping station.

In the photo, there are no signs of wind or any other interference from nature. And yet, it is not what it first appears to be. Muted colors all point together to the season of autumn (fall to you Americans!) A nearby road allows people to draw close and view its beauty, but I have two questions of this slob. Is it going anywhere? (The answer is, No.) And is it giving a wrong impression to the naive onlooker?

Were any of those observations true of me last year? Lazy? Often. There were many times when I knew I should be working, but I got distracted with unimportant activities or sat staring mindlessly at a TV program I wasn't even interested in.

Muted colors? As I look at last year, it was a rather drab sort of year. Trouble is, I enjoyed the lack of activity. It's not that I did nothing. I sat for hours at my computer and published two e-books plus over 50 blog posts. But I rarely went out or mixed with others. Yes, I think my year could be described as muted.

Did I at times give the impression of being one thing, when in fact I had a different agenda to that imagined by others who didn't know me well?

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Isn't this a wonderful scene? The still, calm water shows hardly a ripple. No wind. No rain. No disturbance. You could almost turn it upside down and see the same picture! You can take one look at it and see the sun was even shining—a rare occurrence in Ireland!

Was that true of my life in 2017? How about yours? When people watched me, did they see the calmness and the beauty of an unruffled life? Sure, the occasional leaves fell into the water. But they didn't mess up the surface of my day-to-day existence. Well, not every time. It's not that I was 100% perfect. Far from it. I didn't always behave in the best possible way. (If you did, please contact me and tell me how you did it!) But as folk saw the problems life threw at me, did they marvel at the calm reflection I managed to maintain? I have to admit—not as often as I'd have liked.

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And then we come to the crowning glory of this final photo. Once again, an almost perfect reflection. This time, no leaves float on the surface. For me, living in South Africa, I can only marvel at a pollution-free lake. No debris floats near the edge. No garbage spoils the beauty of this country scene.

Central to the picture stands a Victorian pumping station which pumps the water from the reclaimed land into the sea. I first thought this was a church, a symbol of God's presence clearly reflected in the still water.

If it was a church, would this be the image I portrayed to the world last year? Did I show my day-to-day contacts, not only a calm well-cared-for life, but the clear image of Christ reflected to them? What about online? I have so many cyber friends, and we often share good fellowship. 

Even now I know it's a pumping station, I can ask myself this question. Do I show my contacts a life centered on the One who stood with me throughout 2017, ready to get rid of unwanted sludge in my lifestyle as soon as it showed up?

It's too late to change a thing about last year. It's gone onto the shelves of history. God has been so good to me and to you. He has given us another package of 365 days! Okay, make that 360 days, because we've already used up five of them! 

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What photographs am I going to share with the world in 2018? When people look at me, what kind of reflection will shine back at them? 

As I look over these four photographs, my prayer is that we will de-clutter our lives of unnecessary "stuff." May we have a sense of purpose and present the world with a calm, unruffled life-style. No matter what crises we face (and we will), may we reflect the calm and beauty of a life unpolluted by the garbage of the world.

Most of all, my prayer is that the Son will be reflected no matter what 2018 holds for us.

Thanks to Ruth Dell for the use of her stunning photographs taken in beautiful Ireland.

SHIRLEY CORDER lives on the southern coast of South Africa with her husband, Rob. She has recently embarked on a series of eBooks titled, Out of the Shadow. Available now:

• Naomi, Beloved Mother-in-Law
• Eve, Mother of All
• Miriam, Devoted Sister
• Miriam, Gifted Leader
• Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer contains 90 meditations for those facing cancer.

Devotion ~ How to Make Something Beautiful

I think many of us who are in our senior years often look back and think of all the things we should have / could have done with our lives. As the years run by, we long to do something that will count, and yet can we? Do we have time left to make a difference in today’s world?

Challenging Sermon

Yesterday in church, the minister quoted from a book by Malcolm Muggeridge titled, Something Beautiful for God. It seems that this worldly skeptical author experienced a dramatic conversion to Christianity because of Mother Teresa’s exemplary influence. He hails her as a “light which could never be extinguished.”

He first interviewed her for the BBC. The interview became so popular that a year later he traveled to Calcutta with a film crew to produce a documentary about Mother Teresa’s work among the poor people of that city. The documentary was called “Something Beautiful for God,” a title which would subsequently be given to his book about Mother Teresa.

One of Mother Teresa’s favorite Scripture verses was “Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20). She lived and died according to that Scripture. Muggeridge’s book covers mostly the author’s conversations with this Nobel Peace Prize Winner (1979) and contains many of her quotes.

Yet it was not Mother Teresa’s life that yesterday’s preacher chose to draw attention to, but her belief that we each are able to do something beautiful with our lives. Mother Teresa stressed it didn’t need to be something big or heroic.

Mother Teresa’s philosophy in life:

"Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."

In the same line, she also said,

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world."

At the end of the sermon, the preacher urged us to look for the “something beautiful” God has called us to do. If we couldn’t identify it, the minister urged us to look for it. It may be something small, like that little pencil (which, in God’s hands, did a tremendous work for the Lord). But if the Lord has called us to do it, its value is priceless, and its effect will be immeasurable. But if we could already identify it, herein lay the challenge. Were we using it to grow something beautiful? Or were we just seeking to make the best of it?

I was truly challenged and immediately identified two areas where the Lord had called me.

1. He’s called me to write for Him.

I admit I never saw my writing as “something beautiful.” I write the best I can, and produce the most professional work I am able to do, but something beautiful? Is my writing sending a gift to the world? An action of love? A beautiful thing? I find that concept challenging as well as exciting. It increases my desire to write, and to “write to inspire” (my tagline). Not everyone is called to write amazing trilogies or blockbuster movies. Even a “little pencil in the hand of a writing God” can send “a love letter to the world.”

2. He has also called my husband and me to a ministry called Prime Timers

Here we seek to reach the over 50’s in our community. We deliberately don’t try to turn it into a Gospel meeting. We’re wanting people to come to the meeting who would normally never darken a church door. For a nominal donation, they receive top-rate entertainment, a good morning tea with cakes and snacks, and fellowship around tables. And we see to it that there is something inspirational in each program to point them to God and showcase their need for Him.

Suddenly, a light bulb went off for both of us.

Is what we’re doing something beautiful? And are we doing it for Him? If the answers to both of those are “Yes,” we’re on the right track.

“There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in – that we do it to God, to Christ, and that’s why we try to do it as beautifully as possible.” ~ Mother Theresa

How about you?

What are you doing that is beautiful? Share with us in a comment box below.
I close with one last quote.

"There are no great things, only small things with great love. Happy are those." ~ Mother Teresa

After you’ve left a comment, do yourself a favor and click on this link to hear a wonderful rendition of “Something Beautiful” by Bill Gaither.

SHIRLEY CORDER lives on the southern coast of South Africa with her husband, Rob. She has recently embarked on a series of eBooks titled, Out of the Shadow. Available now:

• Naomi, Beloved Mother-in-Law
• Eve, Mother of All
• Miriam, Devoted Sister
• Miriam, Gifted Leader
• Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer contains 90 meditations for those facing cancer.

DEVOTION ~ Once Upon a Starry Night

Upcoming Launch

During this month of November, I anticipate the launching of my book, Miriam Part 2 ~ Gifted Leader. This is number 4 in the Out of the Shadow series. 

When I embarked on the journey with Miriam, I questioned whether I would find enough to write about to complete an e-book similar in length to Naomi and Eve, the first two books in the series. 

To my amazement, one book became two. Miriam ~ Devoted Sister was published several months ago, and now at last Miriam - Gifted Leader is about to go live.

Is this right?

These books are written in narrative non-fiction, a genre that allows my creative juices to get involved with real live characters. When I first started the series, someone said to me, "I don't think you should add any details that are not in the Bible. It's not right!"

I replied, "Well, then I must just give people the Bible passage to read."

My goal for this series is to ease some of the women who live under the shadow of another person or situation, and introduce her to my readers. As we identify with those ladies of so long ago, the Bible becomes alive and we find they have much to teach us.

The night sky

A  couple of weeks ago, I experienced a moment through the eyes of Miriam that spoke into my life. It was a particularly dark moonless night. The inky sky overhead was dotted with millions of tiny stars.

I remembered a scene in my book where Miriam is lying on her back in the entrance to her tent, staring at the night sky overhead. The children of Israel were in the deserts of Egypt, making their way toward the Red Sea. There were no lights in the camp, save the flickering of flames dotted around the acres of ground taken up by tents without number belonging to the weary Israelites. 

Men sat by the fires, keeping watch. There were no other lights.  It was far darker than Miriam remembered when she was back home in Goshen. Stars twinkled in their millions overhead.

Promise to Abraham

Miriam thought back to the promise God gave to Abraham, that one day he would have as many descendants as there were stars in the sky. 

"How could that be?" she wondered. "Is that how many we are?"

Fast forward several millennia. Move from a dark night in the Egyptian desert to a sunny African day near the coast. Not a cloud in the sky. A merciless sun beat down. Its rays threatened to scorch the blades of grass that struggled to survive the drought which starved the land of life-giving moisture. 

I gazed into the sky and marveled. Where were the stars now? I knew there were still there. But even if I strained my eyes, I couldn't see one of them. 

Miriam may well have thought they went to sleep during the day, but I knew better. Yet for all that, I couldn't see any evidence of stars that bright sunny day.

Two startling thoughts

That moment gave me two startling thoughts.

1) I knew they were there. I believed by faith they were there. My faith didn't need proof, because I knew they'd show up again when it became night. 

How often, the Lord encourages us to walk in His light. In the light of knowing that He's there, even though we can't see Him. And the assurance that He will be there for me when my life gets dark, as it does periodically.

2) Sometimes, when life is good and no clouds of grief or illness hang over us, it is more difficult to "see the stars". Yet when life gets dark, we can see the glory of the heavens if we look for it. We realize that God's been there all along, waiting for us to look up and see Him in a way we don't see Him when things are going well. 

A Word from the Psalms

Psalm 23 reminds us that "even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you are with me, Your rod and staff comfort me." We only find the rod and staff in the valley of death. 

So when things get tough, my friend, when life seems to be so dark it can't get worse, look up. Look for the stars. Those tiny pinpricks of light that God sprinkles around us to reassure us. "Don't be afraid. I am here."

How about you?

What is the night sky like where you live? And where is that?

SHIRLEY CORDER lives on the coast of South Africa with her husband, Rob. She has recently embarked on a series of eBooks titled, Out of the Shadow.

Available now:Naomi, Beloved Mother-in-Law;  Eve, Mother of All; Miriam Part 1, Devoted Sister

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.

Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer contains 90 meditations for those facing cancer.

Devotion ~ Teaching a Son to Drive

Last month, I issued a challenge to all those who read my post:

Set yourself a goal to avoid grumbling for one 24-hour period. No complaints at all. Not against your partner, your friends, your enemies, your boss, your co-workers, corrupt politicians, and certainly not against God. See how long you last. Then embark on another 24-hour stint. Do report back here how you're getting on. 

So let's hear from you. How did you get on? 

We really can learn from one another. Some lessons are painful. Some are fun. And some take us down memory lane.

Pexel.com

Today I read a post by one of my fellow writers on teaching her son to drive. It was hilarious. (How come things as serious and scary as this become funny when we look back?)

Her post brought to my mind one of the scariest moments I ever experienced out of all the scary moments when my kids were learning to drive.

Son 1 had just got his driver's licence. He inherited an old, but road-worthy, car from his brother-in-law. He gave permission to Son 2 to practice driving his car when either my husband or I were available to accompany him.

This was our third kid to learn to drive. The other two were reasonable safe on the road by this time, so we faced the next weeks with some dread but full of confidence that we would survive.

Stopping on a hill

One day Son 2 and I went out for a drive. He knew it all in theory. The time had come for him to practice stopping and starting on a hill. I chose a nice steep hill in a quiet part of town.

Stop went well. Gears grinding and accelerator revving, the car started to jerk forward. Then horrors! Another car pulled up behind us. Oh, please go past. But no. He was a patient kind of guy and was quite content to wait for the learner driver in front of him.

Knuckles white. Tight grip on steering wheel. Mom amazingly quiet. (I think I was trying to breathe at the time) when . . . he sat back with the steering wheel in his hands.

Seems Son 1 had been doing some renovations to the car and for reasons I choose to forget, he undid all the screws on the steering wheel and didn't replace them. ("Mom, as long as you don't pull on it, there's no problem!")

After some considerable amount of panic from both driver and mother, the wheel was shoved back in place. I don't even remember who drove, but we got home safely, and I made myself a strong cup of tea. (Fortunately, I don't drink alcohol! I'd have emptied a bottle.)

Change of plans

For some reason, that was the last time I took him out in that car. Next day, he signed up with a driving school and used their car. I was relatively certain their steering wheels were not the removable kind.

Today, all three are experienced and good drivers. And I look back on those times with pride. Or relief. Or amazement.

We survived! And so did the learners!

So what does this have to do with writing?

Or a devotion?

If you've ever had the steering wheel come off in your hands (or your son's!) you'll be able to answer me. Trust me. There's nothing like a loose steering wheel to jack up your prayer life!

As we drive along life's rocky roads, especially when we face steep hills, we need to have a good grip on our Faith steering wheel. As long as we hold on, the Lord will remain in control. What's better still, He will steer us in the right direction and use His built-in G.P.S.

And the wheel won't come off in our hands.

Over to you:

What was the worst memory you have of teaching a kid to drive?

And how did you get on with last month's challenge?

SHIRLEY CORDER lives on the coast of South Africa with her husband, Rob. She has recently embarked on a series of eBooks titled, Out of the Shadow.

Available now: Naomi, Beloved Mother-in-Law;  Eve, Mother of All; Miriam Part 1, Devoted Sister

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.

Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer contains 90 meditations for those facing cancer.

Devotion: A Grumbling Challenge

The children of Israel were chronic grumblers. Reading through the story of the Exodus, we see how the nation complained every time God asked them to do anything. They didn't actually grumble against God of course, they blamed Moses and Aaron. But God knew they were actually complaining about Him. 

God spoke to Moses up on Mt. Sinai, and reminded the prophet-of-old of the many things He had done for these ungrateful people. He reminded him how the nation had seen all the plagues, and yet He protected them from the harsh realities of most of them. They had witnessed the Nile turning into blood, and they’d heard the Egyptians cry out at the loss of their firstborn sons. They had crossed the Red Sea on dry land, and witnessed the utter destruction of the Egyptians when God brought the waves thundering down upon them. 

God reminded Moses how the people had enjoyed drinking sweet water which He changed from bitterness by getting Moses to throw a piece of wood into the lake. They'd also drunk water gushing from a rock and feasted on manna, a delicious wafer that tasted like honey. When they got sick of eating only manna, He sent them the delicacy of quail. Then, just a few days before this divine conversation, the people had experienced an amazing victory over the heavily-armed and vicious Amalekite army. 

Yet they complained. And they grumbled. 

Let's jump ahead to the New Testament. Can you think of one instance when Jesus complained? Yes, He was saddened by the people's lack of interest in spiritual matters. He grew tired of their lack of enthusiasm, but He never grumbled!

Do you remember Him praying in this way? "Father God, I'm sick and tired of this ungrateful people. Let them taste your anger, and please take me home to you!"
No, you can't. Because He never complained. Even when He went to the cross for sins He hadn't committed, He still didn't complain. 

How about you? How about me?

I have to admit I often grumble.  I complain because of the dreadful drought that is causing so much destruction to our land. I become annoyed with the stupidity of some politicians and how their arrogant and corrupt manners and words land the entire country in trouble. I groan when I see a further move into recession as finances get tighter and tighter. I grumble when I'm overtired (usually as a result of allowing myself to get over-committed!) 

I don't complain directly to the Lord of course. But I'm guessing He knows . . . 

There are so many people for whom life is so much more difficult. Has your pension dropped in value? There are people who have none. Is your marriage less than ideal? There are people who are alone in the world. Is your roof leaking? Many have no roof. 

I'd like to end this with a challenge for you. Set yourself a goal to avoid grumbling for one 24-hour period. No complaints at all. Not against your partner, your friends, your enemies, your boss, your co-workers, corrupt politicians, and certainly not against God. See how long you last. Then embark on another 24-hour stint. Do report back here how you're getting on. 

I'd love to hear from you.

What do you frequently grumble about? Please share in the comment section.

I'm signing up for this challenge. How about you? 

SHIRLEY CORDER lives on the coast of South Africa with her husband, Rob. She has recently embarked on a series of eBooks titled, Out of the Shadow.

Available now:Naomi, Beloved Mother-in-Law;  Eve, Mother of All; Miriam Part 1, Devoted Sister

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.

Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer contains 90 meditations for those facing cancer.

Cards and Words for Love ~ by Shirley Corder

A Fruitful Hobby

Many years ago, I made cards as a hobby. I ran a small card-making group within the church, called Cards 4 Luv.

Once a month we got together to create cards especially for a place of safety in a neighboring suburb. Our goal was to show love for the children who had been removed from their homes for different sad reasons.

Once a month we posted off a card to each child in the home, just to tell them we loved them. They mattered. Life might suck for them right now, but God loved them more than they could imagine—and He had a plan for them.

We signed each card, "Your secret friend."

We never met any of the children, but I was in frequent contact with the lady in charge. She would phone me to say a child had gone home, or a new child had arrived and give the details. One of us would immediately send off a ready-made card to the new child welcoming him or her to our list and telling them to expect a card each month.

The housemother would also tell us if a child was sick or needed a cardie hug from our Cards 4 Luv store, and we would post a card immediately. We all sent them cards on their birthdays, so they had about 6 or 7 cards in their post alcove on their special day.

A New Look at Cards

Recently, I took up card-making again, but this time purely as a hobby. I'm part of a bigger group of ladies that meet once a month, and sometimes on a Saturday in between. We learn a new technique each month, so I'm constantly working at improving my craft.

It is a source of amazement to me how we all follow the same instructions, cut to the same dimensions, use similar tools, and yet we come out with such a selection of lovely but different cards.

Isn't there a lesson here for us? God has made us using the same techniques. He's given us the same body parts. We all have the same organs (unless we've had some removed of course!) and the same material keeping them all together. We call that skin. Some have black skin, some brown, some yellow, some white . . .

We have different hairstyles and texture, some from birth and some through bottles or salons. Although we were all made the same, we all look so different.

Our reaction to various situations differs, and we communicate with different mannerisms.

We are different from other animals in the way we handle our emotions. A word (or card) of love or encouragement helps us feel good. A harsh word or action causes our feelings to plummet.

Sometimes those of us in the card group mess up one of our creations. The temptation is to stamp our feet and throw the offending article in the trash. But we know that sometimes out of our mistakes can come something beautiful. So we cut, trim, add or subtract to the card, and very often we produce something we are truly proud of.

Words of Love

• What will you do with your words (or cards) today? Is there some way you can use them to build up people? Will you pass on positive messages of encouragement to them?

• Will you pay special attention to the unlovely person, the unhappy teenager or the angry older lady? See what you can do to sweeten their day. You may be thrilled with the outcome of your efforts.
• What can you do today to bring joy or show love to someone you'll be in contact with? What can you write today that will later bless someone you may not ever meet?
• I'd love you to share your ideas. Please add your thoughts in the comment section below.

SHIRLEY CORDER lives on the coast of South Africa with her husband, Rob. She has recently embarked on a series of eBooks titled, Out of the Shadow.
Available now:Naomi, Beloved Mother-in-Law  Eve, Mother of All
Miriam Part 1, Devoted Sister

Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer contains 90 meditations for those facing cancer.

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.

Devotion: After the Storm by Shirley Corder

How Great Thou Art

Right now, in South Africa, there is great political storm boiling. As this post goes live, massive protest marches are taking place and the situation on the streets is extremely volatile.

I know South Africa is not alone. We need peace in our world, but everywhere we see political storms raging.

Yesterday I attended a funeral of a man who died suddenly. In his early fifties, he was struck down by a massive heart attack and died within hours. One of the hymns we sang was "How Great Thou Art". After singing that great and well-known hymn, I nudged my husband. "Don't forget I want that sung at my funeral!" I whispered.

Today's post is going to be different. I urge you to take a few minutes from your busy day and listen to the two songs below.

Mr. Carl Gustaf Boberg (1859-1948) was a Swedish pastor, editor and member of parliament. One day he was out walking when a sudden thunderstorm blew in with a fierce wind, and he had to take shelter. After the storm, he heard the sound of a church bell in the distance.To his mind sprang words which would one day become famous: O Lord, my God, When I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds They hands hath made . . .  

Over the next years, this poem was turned into a hymn, translated into various other languages, set to music, and sung in various countries ranging from the Ukraine to India. In the latter half of the last century, the hymn was brought to America where George Beverly Shea made it famous when he sang it over 100 times at Billy Graham crusades across the world.

Here it is, sung by the great George Bev Shea with a massed choir.Take a few minutes and allow these beautiful words to wash over your soul.

Isn't it wonderful?

It Is Well With My Soul

On November 21st, 1873, the French ocean liner, Ville du Havre crossed the Atlantic from the United States of America to Europe. Five of the 313 passengers were Mrs. Spafford and her four daughters. Her husband, Horatio G. Spafford was a successful lawyer and businessman in Chicao, who was unexpectedly detained and planned to follow them in a few days.

Four days after the liner left dock, it collided with a powerful iron-hulled ship and sank. Most of the passengers drowned, including the four Spafford children. One of the few survivors was Mrs. Spafford. On landing in Wales, she sent her husband a wire saying, "Saved alone. What must I do?"

Mr. Spafford boarded the next available ship to join his grieving wife. Four days later, the captain informed him there were over the place where his children had gone down with the ship. While on the journey, Spafford wrote the words, When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll     . . . The words of the now well-loved hymn "It Is Well With My Soul".  Allow these words to soak into your heart and spirit.

Storms to Peace

Two storms of a very different nature led to the writing of two of our greatest loved hymns, and you can probably think of others.

How about you? What storms have you faced? Have you learned how great God is through the tough times as well as the good times? Have you found through them all to trust in Jesus?

Can South Africa and all the other countries that need peace unite in turning to God? Then we will see peace like a river moving through our countries and our world.

And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, shall keep your hearts, your minds through Christ Jesus Philippians 4:7.

Have a great weekend, full of the joy and peace that can only come from Jesus!

SHIRLEY CORDER lives on the coast of South Africa with her husband, Rob. She has recently embarked on a series of eBooks titled, Out of the Shadow.
Available now:Naomi, Beloved Mother-in-Law Eve, Mother of All
Miriam Part 1, Devoted Sister
Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer contains 90 meditations for those facing cancer.
 

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.

DEVOTION~Linger Longer! by Shirley Corder

Image courtesy of alex_ugalek; 

In the small village of Dullstroom, South Africa, there is a beautiful resort called Linger Longer. The cottages border a small forest and have a glorious view of rolling hills and fields. All four cottages are isolated from one another, and it is possible to spend several days there without any human interference.

You may be visited by an occasional family of duiker (a small antelope found in Africa south of the Sahara), and the family dog periodically pops in to make sure you are comfortable.)

A nearby dam is a bird watcher's dream as it houses a number of different species of water birds. Visitors are welcome to walk around the estate and fishermen are free to fish in the well-stocked trout dams. The units are exquisitely appointed with everything you need for a good break. The luxurious decor makes visitors feel pampered without having to rob a bank.

Image courtesy of Phil_Bird at FreeDigitalPhotos.net; 

Are you drooling yet? My husband and I stayed there for a short break some years ago, and we would both love to go back there. The resort is well named: Linger Longer. It is the sort of isolation and place of rest which most writers, and I'm sure just about any other type of busy person, longs to experience.

In case you wondered, this is not meant to be a travel brochure, although I'm sure you would love to visit! No, it's about the new year, which in eleven short months will become the old year!

I wanted to follow the popular trait of choosing one word for the year 2017. As soon as I gave it some thought, I knew what I wanted to use, but I couldn't find one word to express it. I wanted this year to be a period of my life where I could spend longer quality time enjoying the company of people I love. Where I did not want to stop writing, I did want to soak in the lives of the people I'm currently writing about. I didn't want to just tell their stories, but enjoy their company and seek to understand their challenges as well as what brought them joy.

I also wanted to get more into the Word this year. That probably sounds strange, as I am a retired minister's wife, have led Bible Studies most of my adult life, and am writing a series based on lesser known Biblical women. But I longed to sit and absorb the Scriptures in a way I have never been able to do. To spend more time and have someone apart from my husband teaching and explaining the passages to me.

And finally, selfishly, I wanted some "me" time. The days, weeks, and even years, seem to fly past. I have so many things I want to do, but I never find time for personal fun.

And I wanted one word to say all that.

I couldn't find one, until I read Ian Acheson's Wednesday's post on ICFWay. He speaks of "Lingering in His Presence". Suddenly, I had my word. Linger. I want to linger with people I love, linger over the passages of Scripture that I'm seeking to bring alive with my writing, and linger over my Bible.

Instead of racing to meet a self-imposed deadline for the next book in my series, I'm lingering over the story, enjoying each part of the character's life, reading other material that relates to her and imagining how I would have behaved in her sandals.

I've joined a Precept Bible Study. I've longed to do this for many years, but never found the time. The idea of an hour's homework every day totally put me off! Now, I'm so enjoying the in-depth teaching of God's Word, and believe it or not, I'm loving that hour, first thing in the morning, when I get to linger over the designated passage for an hour.

And I have returned to an old hobby of card-making. I've found it an ideal way of lingering with my husband at night. We chat or watch television, while I make creative use of my time.

I have also joined a wonderful group of card-makers with whom I am in contact on Whatsapp as well as regular get-togethers where we can linger together over our shared hobby.

So thank you Ian, for giving me my 2017 word. I was already following the principle, but now I have a word for it. With a stretch, I'd even like to use the phrase, "Linger Longer" as I travel through 2017.

 What about you?

Have you chosen a word for the year? 

Please share it and tell us how you're getting on with it in a comment below.

SHIRLEY CORDER lives on the coast of South Africa with her husband, Rob. She has recently embarked on a series of eBooks titled, Out of the Shadow. Book 1 is Naomi, Beloved Mother-in-Law and Book 2 is Eve, Mother of All. Coming soon ~ Miriam Part 1, Devoted Sister.

Her book, Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer contains 90 meditations based on her time in the cancer valley.

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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.