Difficulty Finding Jesus

by Sally Matheny

Many of the children had never heard of Jesus.

“Who is Jesus?” asked the little girl.

The seed was planted. Not just in the girl’s heart but also in mine. 

The Vacation Bible School curriculum we brought on a Vermont mission trip didn’t quite meet the needs of the children we met there. Most had never heard of Jesus. We were trying to build on a weak or nonexistent foundation. 

I told our pastor we needed to find a VBS curriculum for unchurched children, those who had never heard of Jesus. My pastor's reply, "I think you should write it."

"What? I've never written VBS curriculum. I wouldn't know where to begin."

He came back with the same reply. "I think you should write it."

This was going to be difficult. I knew I could not do it alone. So, I began to pray for help and a VBS curriculum titled, “Who Is Jesus?” began to form in my heart.

Writing and directing is hard work but
so much fun!

The first six months was mostly a steady stream of prayers and sporadic brainstorming of ideas. 

Not only did I lack experience writing VBS curriculum, but neither did I know how to write and direct a drama. Many VBS curriculums include a DVD drama, which students watch each night of VBS. The DVD has mini-episodes which unfold spiritual truths throughout the week. 

Where I was weak, God was strong. He answered prayer after prayer and the script for the "Who is Jesus?" DVD was finally completed. 

However, writing the script was not as difficult as finding someone to play the part of Jesus. 

Initially, the criteria were that he had to have a kind, bearded face, and a strong, kind voice. Several people were considered but there was always a little something that didn’t quite fit what we had envisioned.

We finally found "Jesus!"

It was based on their looks, voice, schedules, and personalities. Even though we knew we would not find a perfect man to play the part of Jesus, We knew we couldn’t ask someone who was blatantly defying God. 

No matter how good of an actor he is, he wouldn’t be believable. So, we had to add another item to the criteria. In order to reflect the character of Jesus, he has to love Jesus.

Nine Things My Dad Has Taught Me

My father is still married to the same woman after fifty years. He has been fathering for forty-eight years and grandfathering for twenty-one years. My dad is the kind of man who says what he means and means what he says. Many people have learned from him through his job as a personnel manager or as he led in his church. Even after retirement, he still volunteers his time and talents on a regular basis.

Today’s post is in honor of my father. My Dad has taught me many things. Here are nine of them.

 

Work hard

Finish what you start. It doesn’t matter if it’s hot or if the job is difficult. Get the job done and do it well. Sweat is good for you. Work hard so you can pay for half of your first car.

Take care of things

Wipe the sand off your feet before entering a tent. Remember to feed the dogs. Don’t leave a bike parked behind a car. Change the oil regularly. Don’t wreck the car.

Do the right thing

Volunteer. Donate. Give to those who have little. Go to church. Tithe. Speak up for what is right. Write a letter. Ask to speak to a manager. Practice self-discipline. Say you’re sorry. If it’s your fault, make amends.

 

Understand the value of money 

Be frugal. Watch for good deals. Get your money’s worth even if it means refilling your cup of tea three times. When eating out, you can leave the bread but you must eat the meat. Take good care of things and don’t wreck the car.

Do your best

He would rather me fail, than cheat. Be honest. Always look for ways to improve. Challenge yourself. Pay attention. Don’t give up. Stick with it.

Be careful

Wear shoes when you ride a bicycle or a motorcycle. Helmets are even better. Don’t talk to strangers. Look both ways—twice. Wear a life jacket. Wear a seat belt. Don’t wreck the car.

 

Be adventurous

Don’t be afraid. Try new things. Go places you’ve never been before. Jump the biggest waves. Swing on a rope over a river and let go. Ride the fastest roller coasters. Go to college. Drink pickle juice from a jar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laugh—a lot

Don’t worry. Find the humor in things. Take things in stride. Keep it all in perspective. Have fun but be safe. Don’t wreck the car.

 

Difficulties build character

When you don’t always get what you want, when you want it, it builds character. Learning to manage with less builds character. Working hard for something builds character. When there is no other explanation for a denied request, “It builds character” is the response to accept.

 

Proverbs 6:23 says,

        “A wise man’s heart guides his mouth,

        and his lips promote instruction.”

 

I am blessed. My dad’s teachings are wise. Some things he knew before I was born and some things he learned along the way.

As a father, he had to work hard and take care of things. He understood the value of money and handled it wisely. Although not perfect, he tried to do his best and do the right thing. While being protective and careful with his children, he still managed to provide lots of fun, adventure, and plenty of laughter for them.

 

My dad is a man of character and integrity. I’m thankful for the time he now devotes to building the same character in his grandchildren that he first began in his own children.

 

I love you, Daddy. You wisely teach us, by the way you live your life. Thanks for always being there for me—even the three times when I wrecked the car.

 

 

The Seasons of Life Are About to Change

Spring prepares to hand over the change of the seasons to summer, which eagerly waits to splash upon us.

 

 “There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

…a time to plant and a time to uproot,

…a time to weep and a time to laugh,
…a time to mourn and a time to dance…” (from Ecclesiastes 3)

Things are changing around my house. We’re preparing for our oldest daughter’s wedding and our middle child is making plans to head off to college. While we are excited for them, the transitioning is not always easy.

We’ve spent all these years loving and tending to our young “plants” and now it is time to uproot them. As they’re transplanted, hopefully some of the fertile home soil will cling to their roots, encouraging  a continuation of strong growth.

There’s been a little weeping but mostly laughing as we remember days gone by…chubby little hands painting my toenails, sometimes entire toes, a rainbow of colors…little girls covered in mud as they tried to build an adobe…and all the special concoctions they came up with using discarded refrigerated items.

Those precious hands will continue to create a unique place in the world. One daughter will teach pre-school music and art while she finishes her last year in college. She will also create a loving home with her new husband.

The other daughter will blaze her trail into pursuing God's plan for her life. Both girls are passionate about serving their Lord and Savior in the ways He creates for them.

While he hasn’t wept (yet), I guess Dad has done more mourning than anyone else. He’s happy for both of his daughters but he is a bit sad about his girls moving away from home. He’s going to miss their steady stream of smiles, hugs, and kisses. He has always been a good keeper of his daughters’ hearts—protecting them from day one.

When our girls wanted to share their hearts with someone special, Dad was always first in line to check the gentlemen out. Any young man who has called on one of our daughters can testify it is not a deed taken lightly.

We are blessed that one sweet, young man understood. Thankful for what God has brought together, we plan to celebrate and dance into the changing season.

Are You a Butterfly or Still in a Coccoon?-- Patience During Life's Hard-Pressed Days

by Sally Matheny

     Happy to be out of those tight cocoons, butterflies and moths are flitting about. Are you aflutter with happiness or are you in the midst of a dark cocoon? We all go through trials in our lives. Patience is needed during life's hard-pressed days.

     We often ask God to take away difficult situations. Sometimes He does change our circumstances, but quite often, He chooses to change us.

     When a caterpillar is inside the cocoon, it is essentially being broken down and reformed into something new. Can you imagine going in as a caterpillar and being pressed and pulled in all sorts of seemingly unnatural directions?

   “ But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (NIV)

Psalm 118:5 reminds us   

^“When hard pressed I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.”

 

    
     It’s during our most difficult and darkest hours that, if we trust God, and lean not on our own understanding, then we, too are transformed into something stronger, something better.

     How many of you can testify that it has been through your darkest hours that you grew closer to Jesus? And when you came out of the testing, you were changed for the better?

     Nobody wants difficulties in life. No one really desires to go into a dark cocoon. But, what a miracle it is when God brings us out of one and into a spacious place!

     God promises he will never abandon us. We may question that at times. However, when our situation seems impossible, that’s when God’s power is more visible.  

     A certain kind of caterpillar builds its cocoon on a reed underneath water. The cocoon protects it from drowning. And in God’s perfect timing, a butterfly emerges from the cocoon. Can butterflies swim? This one does! It swims right through that pressing water and out into a “spacious place.”

     Another type of caterpillar produces a sweet juice. Ants really like this caterpillar. When the caterpillar enters into its cocoon, the ants carry the cocoon down deep under the ground into their nest. Seems like the caterpillar is doomed, doesn’t it? But God has a plan. The caterpillar stays protected in its cocoon. When the butterfly finally emerges from the cocoon, God enables it to climb right past those ants, out of those tight, dark tunnels and into a spacious place!

     No matter what "cocoon" you’re in, anything is possible with God! Hang on and keep praying—butterfly days are just ahead!


     Share with us! Have you had "cocoon" type days? When you felt hard-pressed, how did God bring you into a spacious place? Any helpful tips for others on what they can do as they wait on the Lord?  

 

The Stress and Joy of Attending a Writers' Conference

by Sally Matheny


We've all experienced times, when one thing after another seems to pelt us with discouragement. 

Sometimes, when it rains, it pours.

Two days before I attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference I found myself overwhelmed. If it weren’t for the non-refundable deposit, I would have surely backed out. 

It all started with an umbrella.

Two days before the conference, my umbrella flipped its lid during a rainstorm and never recovered. I kept forgetting to pick up a new one. Then I heard they were calling for rain during the week of the conference.

The night before my departure, I begged my husband to pick one up on his way home from work. 

My directions were explicit. It needed to be a one-push-button, compact umbrella. He even called me from the parking lot asking what a push-button umbrella looked like. He assured me he knew what I meant. 

Somewhere between his car, and the aisle with his favorite little blueberry muffins, he forgot all about the umbrella.

When the muffins arrived home, without an umbrella, I dashed to the little store down the street. I grabbed one of the one-push-button umbrellas near the checkout and dashed back home to finish packing.

I should have tested the umbrella at the store. That umbrella weighed less than the six dollars I paid for it. One slight breeze would result in another soggy disaster. I threw it in the back of the van and prayed for sunshine.

There were several misadventures during the week:

·         My room had a broken air conditioner (God quickly sent a repairman).

·         The microwave beeped erratically at all times of the night (I pulled the plug).

·         I became disoriented on campus on numerous occasions (God sent me a new friend to guide me each time).

·         I was locked inside my room, on the third floor, due to a faulty lock (I got out. How I got out is a miraculous story I’ll save for later!)

These things kept me laughing and made for good conversation at meal times.  However, not everything was humorous.

 Early in the week, I was overwhelmed with some writing work I had brought with me. Deadlines looming, I was second guessing every word I wrote.

Then self-doubt began to pour through my clouded thinking.

I tried to pray often when writing but occasionally I allowed Satan to drop a negative thought in my head.

"Who are you to do this?”

Day Three at Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference



Wow! Three days of packing in writing workshops and making wonderful new friends at the BRMCWC is wonderfully exhausting!
 

This bumbling new conferee made a little progress today. I only got lost two times today. Actually, my directional limitations are a blessing. People tend to befriend lost puppies.

Making new friends is the highlight of my conference experience. Most of them I only recall their first names but I have plenty of business cards to help me reconnect later.

 



Todd Starnes, Yvonne Lehman

Today, I did make it to the correct workshop led by Todd Starnes of FOX News. Between what I learned in his class and the class led by agents, Blythe Daniels and Jessica Kirkland, I plan to implement a few changes to my blog and facebook accounts soon. Apparently, I need all you dear friends to interact with me on my Sally Matheny Writer page, so more details about that later.

 

There is so much to learn about the business of writing. Now, when I read a book to my son, I say, “Let’s see who poured their life into this book.” 

Edie Melson & Sally Matheny

This week, I’ve met many people who are pouring their lives into learning the craft. Some are early in their journey. Others have been traveling the writing road for some time. Tonight at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference writers set aside the laptops and notepads to acknowledge the rigorous, long march of a few writers. We celebrated their successes with an awards banquet. 

Want to see more photos? Zip over to my facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sally-Matheny-Encourager-Writer-Speaker/330720517002724?fref=ts


Day Two at Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference

Making Great Friends at BRMCWC

Day two at the conference sent me in all directions. Again, I became lost. I wonder if someone could invent a room locater? I could type in my current location, Holly E, and my desired location, Mountain Laurel #2. My lovely device would then systematically take me where I’d like to go. Then, that sweet, older man who works here wouldn’t feel so bad for me. After asking him for directions several times today, he insisted he take me to the building in his golf cart. I was totally embarrassed but I enjoyed chatting with him about his family. The staff here is exceptional.

Todd Starnes (FOX News) at BRMCWC

Embarrassment was the highlight of my day! The class schedule is printed in size 2 font and I forgot my glasses in my room. I thought I would try Todd Starnes (of FOX News) class on blogging. After the nice man in the red shirt drove me to the front door, I bumbled in a few minutes late. I hastily found the room number and quietly slid in the door. Apparently, not quiet enough as all seven of the punctual ones turned to see who came in late. I smiled weakly and mouthed the word, "sorry."

Celebrating with a new friend who just got a nod of
interest from agent, Blythe Daniel!

It didn’t take me two minutes to figure I had made a mistake. I had looked at the wrong day on the schedule. Mr. Starnes was talking about how to prepare for TV and radio interviews once your book is published. Have you all read my book? Yeah, well, there's a reason for that. (I write for magazines)

Then, horror of horrors, Todd Starnes begins going around the room asking people their areas of expertise. The answers began, “lawyer…lawyer…doctor…" What have I done? How do I get out of here?

Mr. Starnes must have a sixth sense. Or perhaps he noticed my jaw on the floor. He asked every person except me.

Nonetheless, I had an answer ready to verbalize as professionally as possible.

“My area of expertise is an extensive study of cerebral disorientation.”

An eternity of a minute later, a photographer came in to take a few photos. Before the door could shut behind her, I made my quick getaway.

Author and BRMCWC co-director, Edie Melson

Oh, and if some photo pops up somewhere about published authors at BRMCWC, just overlook that lady with the red sweater and matching face in the back row.

 

(There have been many great things happening during my time here as well. I promise to share those soon.)

 

Day One at Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference

Alton Gansky drawing names for prizes. 

I'm doing a little something different this week. This is my first time attending the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers' Conference in Asheville, North Carolina. So, this week, I'm posting about my perception of the conference as a new attendee.

The conference is held at the Ridgecrest Center which is on hilly terrain. I didn't arrive early enough yesterday to get one of the prime parking spots so I'm getting in lots of much-needed exercise!



The staff here is fantastic. There are people all over campus eager to help. Somehow I keep getting lost and can't find my way to different buildings. Yes, I have a map. But unless it sports a "You are Here" circle, I can't figure out where I am! Thankfully, I'm staying in the same building where the meals are served.

The workshops have been great. Some of the awesome classes I had today:
"4 Characteristics of Best-Selling Children's Books" by agent Sally Apokedak,

"Start Making Money Now" by author Michelle Medlock Adams
"Write From Your Life" by actor Torry Martin, who was also our keynote speaker tonight.

I have been gleaning from editors and agents all day. Writers can set up 15-minute appointments with them throughout the conference. These are golden opportunities for writers. Even if you do not have a project to pitch, you will always gain helpful and encouraging insights.

Today I met with one editor and one social media expert. The time was well spent. Tomorrow, I plan to meet with an agent and another editor.

Another great thing is conferees are allowed to sit at the tables with all these agents, editors, and published authors during meal times. Sometimes the conversation is business, but also we hear their personal life experiences. It helps reduce stress during interviews later when they've just shared helpful hints at the dinner table on how to bathe cats, or kids, or whatever.

Keynote speaker, Torry Martin, was terrific tonight. If you ever have a chance to hear him speak or watch him on YouTube, do it. He generously shares his knowledge as well as his heart for the Lord.

One of the most awesome things about this conference is the Christian atmosphere. While we're all unique (or as Torry puts it "uniquely weird!"), we all have a heart for Christ. It is amazing to see how God brings people together. No meeting is by chance.

I've met lots of new people today. I haven't met anyone I didn't like. In fact, I think I met a woman today who will be my friend for a lifetime.