Devotionals
The brochure sat on my desk for weeks...a Christian Writers Conference in Colorado. I had been once before about three years ago...and sure enough the closer it got, I begin to feel the answers the answers to my prayers. I arrived on Thursday. And still on Saturday was wondering why I had come. The classes were great, the speakers were motivating, the appointments with agents and publishers informing....but there was a brewing sense of something unfinished...until Sat. morning. That morning I slept in and missed morning devotionals...and caught the tail end of breakfast! The ballroom was packed...so I scaled the outlining tables looking for a seat.
Everyone was up singing and I landed at the first vacant spot I saw....asking the man next to me if it was vacant. The speaker, Liz Higgs, who is outstanding, wrote the Bad Girls of the Bible...is hilariously funny..had left the crowd in an upbeat encouraged mode and most everyone was off. But there were three of us, sitting at the same table who were moving a little slower, a couple from Canada and myself. I was gathering my things, my three published books and my conference notebook and stuff, for I had one more appointment with a magazine editor that morning...and they like to see your work.
I made the first attempt to visit sharing good mornings and such and knew instantly that they were just darling. In conversation, Jennifer, the wife asked if these were my books...I said yes,you are welcome to glance through them. Her husband carefully glanced at titles and when he got to the one on the bottom, "Sweet Sixteen with Hodgkins"...replied...Hodgkins', I have Hodgkins' ''Non Hodgkin s that is! This is why I had come! We sat as if we had been friends for years, and as I listened to his story and to Jennifer's precious comments, one of the conference staff members came and asked us to take our conversation elsewhere as they needed to clear the dining room.We had been there for at least half an hour....we moved to the reception area and didn't miss a beat with continued conversation. We shared our thoughts and concerns and Godly interventions and how important faith before a crisis was and talked of the many things in the world of medicine that we had experienced and things that we had in common.
It was a connection that only God knew and could personally, in all his ways, connect in a room of over five hundred people. Their daughter at age 34 had been diagnosed with Non Hodgkins' first...with an unwarranted "terminal" diagnosis.... then dad, a physician, years later. I knew this was a God set up as Jennifer said several times..this is no accident that we have met and you have said the things to us that you have said. How grateful are we for your words. I was leaving the conference a day early to meet my husband...so this would have been my last chance to have met them and had time to visit. God knew that! But what they didn't know was the blessing they in turn gave to me.
When we pray for answers of what to do and where to go...and how to do something....God listens. We may not know why the nudges are so strongly felt and may never know the reasons...but God has his purposed overview in mind. And it is in that that we are called to trust. I knew I was sent all the way to Colorado to this conference for something...but as so often I do, I was thinking it was about me. I certainly did go away with greater knowledge and perspective...from teachers, and professionals....of the craft of writing, but I am convinced that meeting the "Cooks" was my primary purpose to be there. The remaining rewards were Godly seeds of wisdom and truth and know how that he will use to temper the gift of writing that he has given. For until Christ nudges me in a direction of service that differs from than the way I am going then I figure he just wants me to stay put and do a better job with what he has given me.
Try to be alert to Christ's nudges....for through His purposes we will find His peace!
Matthew 10:27
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.
Dear Lord, Once again you have reminded me to pay attention....when you nudge...especially if that nudge continues to be consistent on one path. Thank you! Amen
Praise God wherever you are or whatever situation he has allowed you to be in....for his glory will shine through.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 477 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Cathy Jodeit or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 477 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.