I think this is the longest time I've gone without writing.
There's been no particular reason.
My days are completely filled with family and work and all things Crossroads. And I'm so thankful!
I'm praying over Christmas and working specifically on that right now, so I can hand it off next week for all of our talented staff to 'take it' and make it happen like they always do!
I pray it will meet people where they are, that Christmas at Crossroads will cause the miracle of Jesus to come to life in a very personal way they've never experienced before!
Pray for us as we work to prepare Christmas...
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory To God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
Quality writing feels so far away right now. I write when I have time to think and sitting and thinking hasn't been on the agenda for a few days.
It's a season of being caught in the details of creating and producing. Constantly producing.
Going through my stacks of folders and papers, adding one date after another to my calendar, it dawned on me I also need to add 'deck time' and 'writing time' or I'll watch every single day fill up. So I added those things too!
This is my mess from this week. But the pile of trash at the far end represents an end in site. Things I'm done with and can throw away.
I need to quit for the night, but, I am praising Him even in the mess - that He walks beside me, and from our mess comes life change, and opportunity for the lost, and hope.
Tonight a full wastebasket and organized folders makes me very happy and thankful and ready to rest for another day!
This writing was nothing deep - but I wanted to just take a moment and thank my Lord in writing for the gift of another week!
As my day draws to an end, I ask myself if there was anything within my day worth writing about?
The definition of worth is "the quality that renders something desirable, useful or valuable"
Desirable? Yes, many aspects of my day at least I considered desirable!
I held my grandson
I talked to my daughter via FaceTime
I watched my son sitting with high school students in the Crossroads service
Valuable? Yes, I learned truths from the first few verses of John taught expositorily by Pastor Tim!
Useful? Yes, I had the privilege of introducing a new worship intern to everyone tonight and began using her to help prepare the services!
Was my day worth writing about? Yes, because by putting it in words I praise Him for giving me all these things, it was another day with loved ones and small things accomplished and time to appreciate all that I had in my day!
By the time I sat down tonight to write - everyone is asleep so no one is reading!
If no one is reading is it worth writing?
Why do I write? Is it for me or for you? Would I write if no one read?
I started out writing just to report what was going on mostly at Crossroads. But it's turned into more.
It has become an important way to form my thoughts into words, to make sense of things I've been thinking about, a place to discuss things that need to be figured out and a place to celebrate incredible blessings that need to be shared.
So tonight when no one is reading, it kind of just puts my day to rest. I write this as the very last thing I'll do with the day the Lord has given me, a day I'll never have the opportunity to live again, a day that I pray brought
Him glory.
Your faithful reading has put the views on this blog at 100,502. I have no idea how that is possible, or why - and that is not false humility. It makes me more thankful than I can ever express that you have continued to read the words that I write. And it renews my determination to live for Christ. For only in Him is there worth in anything I spend my days doing or writing about.
I currently have a lot of challenges before me from a work standpoint. I would suspect that anyone over 15 years into something needs to take a step back and closely examine the direction and evaluate the excellence of what you've been doing. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to improve.
Writing has become a powerful friend, a means of expressing myself without audibly verbalizing even though many times I'm shouting from this page. You hear my shouts, my confessions and my pleading and still you read.
I appreciate you all - I celebrate that we've been together for over 100,000 views of my writings, and I invite you to journey on with me - with Him.
I have been behind in writing I do for a couple other websites due to a busy schedule lately, so I put my blog on hold a couple days to get caught up. Not that it takes much time to write but I have to remain focused on watching for things that spark my curiosity or challenge me in some way in order to spark the writing.
One of the websites I write for is a Canadian Drama site and I always tell them the same thing, not to feel obligated to use my writing unless they feel it will meet a need in some way. What he said shocked me, he said one lady recently said "I feel like that Lori Biddle lady must be looking over my shoulder",I was Totally shocked that my writing resonated with others in ministry.
I tell you this to encourage you to use your experience no matter how limited you feel it may be. You may be able to help others avoid some of the mistakes you have made in ministry or in business or raising kids. Who knows!
I love to write and now I am all caught up and writing again here and wondering where else if anywhere I will have opportunity to put words together...hmmm.
It is probably just my age, but all of a sudden I find myself terribly interested in learning more.
Today I took a small step by signing up for a 12 week course on creativity. It sounds really interesting and practical. It concentrates on a balanced focus between three areas of creative work, passions/skills/experience. The focus of week one was the development of practices = regular practice built into our lives increase the capacity to do great work and not get burned out.
I love practical teaching that transfers into my spiritual life as well. I am looking forward to the evaluation of my work that this course encourages. I want to learn, I want to work in an excellent way while remaining healthy with my family and my spiritual walk with Christ. Very exciting.
Next, I decided I am very interested in taking a writing course of some kind (after Easter). Do any of you educators out there have a suggestion? I would prefer doing this on-line as opposed to attending a class. It could be through a college or a reputable site of some kind.
After spending time investing in my 'work life' I went to the Word and read the most blessed things...
I John 1:14-18..."From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another." vs 16
I should be so full of joy based on these verses that my love for the Lord is overflowing. All things can be found in Him!
John Piper says, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him".
He offers himself and all that means to us, and yet time an time again we settle for what the world has to offer. My prayer today is to intentionally pursue Him - to remain in Him, to be completely satisfied in Him! How amazing His grace is to me!
I am SO behind in all of my writing. I really miss the process of thinking about a given topic and writing all the details out. For the next few days that is a luxury I can not dedicate time to. After Christmas I plan to write extensively for the various websites waiting for articles. I look forward to this tremendously!
Until then - I will just cherish each moment with our kids and family and enjoy Christmas!
Tonight was spectacular as we walked around one of my favorite areas - Easton in Columbus, Ohio. So gorgeous!
We all have words 'out there' for all the world to hear and maybe also to see.
I recently have been questioned about a comment I made on Facebook. When I looked back at the comment I realized I didn't mean it the way it read at all.
Good grief at the very least if I'm going to throw my words 'out there' - I need to carefully examine the intent and the way it sounds before putting it 'out there'!
Friends I know that have no love lost with Facebook and other on line communities do have some legitimate concerns. Misunderstandings, unkind opinions, no face to face interaction, and the ability to make ourselves look and sound so Godly or the opposite!
So I ask myself why do I think it is important to put my words 'out there'? I don't do it because I think what I say is important.
Never in my life, NEVER, have I ever been consistent with a journal or much of anything in the area of study or writing. This blog is my first consistent endeavor. Except, I pray - my growth spiritually and the consistency of my marriage!
What I find it does is make me more aware throughout my day. Watching for something significant to happen - enjoying just a little bit more whatever I'm in the middle of - or best of all, learning more. Learning by paying closer attention, taking notes or focusing more. This is why I write. It began selfishly for me.
But...when one of you come up to me and tell me it challenged you, or you learned something or most of all the you were encouraged...I cannot describe the feeling and complete shock! So if in my own attempt at consistency you come along - well, that's just cool and I thank you so much!
I am constantly trying to come up with new creative ideas. Not always easy.
When it comes to writing, I write a lot of things out longhand and I especially like to write with a pencil, not a mechanical pencil a real pencil. I have no idea why, I just always have. So I split my writing between computer and long hand for no specific purpose - just enjoy it.
Today I was reading an article by Mark Shead about how to write more creatively and the suggestion was to spend some of your time writing longhand instead of on the computer. They said because it stimulates different parts of the brain, partially because of the motor skills involved, it can help you write more creatively. The researchers said we actually think significantly different when we write by hand.
The same thing applies in work or other areas of creativity - if you find yourself stuck - take a break, change locations or discuss what you are working on with someone completely out of your area of expertise. Simple solutions to help move us forward in our work or hobbies!
A good friend of mine recently commented on my blog, telling me how much it encourages her. She also said she cannot believe how much I study. I don't! I couldn't believe I had given that impression!
It is SO simple to 'be all that' in the blog world. People believe what they read. As believers we cannot be misleading with our writing, we cannot be arrogant with our writing, we cannot manipulate with our writings, or we shouldn't write!
My position requires research. I am constantly watching and looking for the best ways to support the pastors teachings. I also look constantly for devotions or teachings for our Magnification teams. It is during these activities that I come across things I become curious to learn more about. Often I write about something God has tugged at my heart about that I discover during my search. Even though I do spend some amount of time daily in the Word in preparation for the services, study is one of my weakest areas.
It was important to me, to make sure I have not been misleading any of you who so faithfully read this blog, misleading you to think more highly of me than you should! I am a Child of God, I am dedicated to His service, but I have much I need to improve on. I created "What I learned today" every Tuesday on this blog to force myself into a habit of study. I am glad you are on this journey with me - but we walk side by side - I am not leading...
