Another quarter has flown by, so it’s time for an update again.
Monday Morning Verses for the Facebook Page:
March – Philippians
April – 1 Corinthians
May – Joshua
Most Exciting Thing: Orders!
For some time now, I’ve been consistently praying for growth with For the Journey, so I’m not sure there are words for how much the picture below blesses my heart. It looks like answered prayers to me, and I am so grateful!
Favorite Devotional Facebook Post: Over Any Noise
It was hard to choose again, but if I had to choose, I think “Over Any Noise” would be my pick. I’ve included it below in case you missed it, but “Stronger and Deeper” would be a very close second, so go check that one out on my For the Journey Facebook page if you didn’t catch it.
“Over Any Noise”
Last May, a surprise, middle-of-the-night hail storm did significant damage to my home. Needless to say, it was a memorable night… I knew I probably just didn’t want to know how bad things were when I switched on the lamp and rolled out of bed to immediately note hail on the carpet in my bedroom… And, one of the things I will always remember is how incredibly loud the storm was. It was so loud that I didn’t actually hear the kitchen window being busted out. I only knew something bad had just happened because the volume of the storm itself grew significantly louder, which was impressive. My point: there is nothing quiet about a storm.
I couldn’t help thinking about that tonight while working on a lesson from Luke 8. At Jesus’s suggestion, He and His disciples were crossing a lake in a boat when a windstorm came down on the lake. Obviously, Jesus, fully God, knew the storm was coming and wasn’t the least bit worried about it, so He was enjoying a nap. And, it wasn’t the noise of the wind or the waves that woke Him from His nap. No, it was the cries of His disciples. They could probably barely even hear their own cries over the storm, but Jesus had no trouble hearing them.
The Lord always, always hears the cries of His children. He hears our cries over the noise of any storm. He hears our cries over all the noise in the world. When we cry, He’s never anything less than attentive to every word. He hears our cries over any noise, and there is so much comfort to be found in that simple yet powerful truth. #forthejourney
Biggest Surprise: Jeremiah Lessons
The new adult literature I wrote this quarter was from Jeremiah, and being honest, I was hesitant to even say, “Okay, God. Jeremiah it is,” when I was seeking direction on where to go next at the end of last quarter. I just expected it to be overwhelming, daunting, and hard…
And, it was at times. But, more often, I found myself thanking God for the time spent in Jeremiah. It was good for me, and I hope the lessons bless others as well. I actually wrapped up the thirteenth lesson unready to leave the book, so it looks like Jeremiah-Part Two will be next…
Biggest Challenge: Time…
I think time may be one of the biggest challenges of my life, so it’s no surprise that it was my biggest challenge this quarter. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day. With spending more time printing and packaging orders while still trying to stay on top of writing lessons and working some on other projects, I was more than a little sleep deprived a lot of days. But, that challenge was more blessing than burden this quarter. I’m ashamed to admit how long it’s been since I’ve been excited to put in long hours and eager to write. Trust me. Burnout, discouragement, and life angst can all be powerful foes. And, while I’m sure I haven’t faced my last run-in with them, I’m extremely grateful for a joyous reprieve of late, particularly where writing is concerned.
Project Update: Coming soon… Well, hopefully…
In addition to writing lessons and printing orders this past quarter, I also worked a fair amount on my next 30-Day Devotional. When I wrapped up “From the Writings of Paul,” my plan was to focus on another Bible study guide, specifically one from James, and not give another 30-Day Devotional much thought until after that was finished. But, God had other plans, and I have made very little progress on a Bible Study Guide from James. However, I’m hopeful that this next quarter just might include a new 30-Day Devotional release. Stay tuned to find out!
For the Journey Literature 
Praise the Lord! We are grateful, too!Sent from my iPhone
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