Tag Archives: blogging

PRACTICE WRITING 3-16-2025

Posted on by under PRACTICE WRITING

In these practice writing sessions, I have been trying to awaken the writing craft within my soul. The muse went into a state of hibernation when I took on the role of lead pastor of Cornerstone Church.

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I used to write a lot. I generally turned out about four blogs a day. Some of that was written expression but I was also experimenting with photography and pencil artwork. I also finished a book and was toying with the idea of self publishing or maybe even finding an agent.

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I knew when I took the role as a lead pastor, that my dedication to this art form was going to change. It was one of the things I considered when I answered the call. In the end the call won out. I was resigned, if need be, to say “good bye” completely to writing and my artistic side.

For all that, I did try to create a modified writing lifestyle. I managed to keep Lillie-Put alive, by posting a daily devotional blog. Over time though, the ability to write began to fade. I found my use of words becoming clunky and even ideas for blogs which used to seem a dime a dozen became harder to drum up in my mind. Other creative gifts also began to atrophy. I noticed my vocal range was shrinking and when I attacked the keyboard to wring a song from it, my fingers felt like sausages only mildly obedient to my brain.

I have not minded the loss much, though. The work I have entered into is some of the most rewarding work of my life. I know that this work is what God wants me to be doing. Still, I have to admit there have been moments that I have missed my creative side: I have missed music; I have missed poetry; I have missed story telling; I have missed art.

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Then about a year ago, I noticed a change beginning in me. It seemed I was building capacity…room for more in my life. It seemed that I was being directed to fill that new space in my life with creativity. It has taken time to implement a rhythm in this new margin of life, but I feel like finally I am getting there.

It strikes me that this was not anything I consciously intentioned. It seems more a gift God is giving me for the season that lies ahead. However this margin has been built, wherever this capacity has come from, I accept it with open arms and I am so thankful for it!

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BASKING IN THE SON

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

Here I am convalescing through COVID.

I had two days of real sickness where I didn’t get out of bed. The rest of the week the sickness has been pushed back to a stuffy nose and a sometimes tickle in the throat that makes me cough.

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My energy level feels good today and for that I am very happy.

However, Mom tested positive for COVID this morning . She is asymptomatic so I am praying that she stays that way.

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I am still in quarantine for two more days; So Amanda has been holding down the church and doing all the errands and housework. I so appreciate this daughter of mine who is such a talented pastor and who can run things in my absence. Most of the staff also has COVID so she has been the only one in office a few days this week.

This week has also been the beginning of our church-wide 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer…. 30 hours a week of church prayer scheduled and I haven’t been able to make one session in person.

I am so grateful to Jon Bauver and his team for running these sessions with their ministry, The Worship Room.

Jon’s ministry is a missionary prayer movement dedicated to bringing twenty-four-seven prayer to our region. They opened about two years ago and they are up to twenty hours of regular prayer every week. For the next twenty-one days they have really stretched themselves towards thirty hours a week to partner with us and I so appreciate it.

Of course when the plan was laid to let The Worship Room take the lead on this year’s 21 days I had no idea I was going to be out of commission for the first whole week of the fast. BUT GOD DID!

So here I stand or sit as the case were and instead of leading prayer meetings I get to bask in the radiance of the Son of God as a long distance participant rather than a leader. I am taking these moments to listen deeply and breathe in the grace of God for all the ministry that lies ahead. I am intensely aware that these moments of quarantine without strong sickness are a gift from God to help me prepare. Sometimes God needs to force us to our necessary rest.