Write His Answer

We are pressed on every side by troubles,
but not crushed and broken.
We are perplexed because we don’t know why
things happen as they do,
but we don’t give up and quit. 
2 Corinthians 4:8 TLB

But maybe you are really, really close to quitting – to giving up on what you felt God is calling you to do or to write. Honestly, haven’t you wondered why, when you’re trying to serve Him, He doesn’t make it easier? How does He expect you to keep pushing through all the obstacles? It just doesn’t make sense. And you’re so exhausted.

Yep, I’m writing from personal experience. This week has been a nightmare of trying so hard to get everything ready for the May 13-16 Colorado Christian Writers Conference but encountering problems every step of the way.On Monday Cindy and I lost Internet access off and on for several hours. Then Tuesday the printers wouldn’t go online. Exasperated and stressed, I purchased a new modem Wednesday that we tried to install today. Six hours and no Internet access most all of that time later, I finally got the old modem reinstalled and was able to get online so my son could remotely change settings that are way beyond my expertise to figure out. He even got the printers networked again.

In the midst of all this, a crisis in my extended family has consumed more valuable time. I am exhausted. And yes, the deadly Ds of discouragement, doubt, and even despair have been threatening to overwhelm me. But God . . .

 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
Psalm 139:7 (NIV 2011)

Especially when I cannot feel His presence, when my prayers seem to be bouncing off the ceiling, I choose to keep believing in His faithfulness. He is strengthening my faith muscles for the even more difficult days that are ahead for Christians in our nation. I don’t feel strong enough to withstand the persecution I believe is coming, but the weaker I am, the more I depend on Him.

Friends, we cannot, we must not, give up doing what God is calling us to do. We need to trust Him and not grieve Him by our lack of faith. And remember, ^“Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, he remains faithful to us and will help us, for he cannot disown us who are part of himself, and he will always carry out his promises to us” (2 Tim. 2:13 TLB). Thank You, Father!

Conference Updates

It’s not too late to register! Walk-ins are welcome, but if you register online through May 9 you’ll save the $15 late fee. (I call it the procrastinator’s fee!) We’ll be glad to work out time payments if needed.

Another really exasperating challenge I had this week was pulling up the latest Access database of names to create the mailing list for the brochure that is now off press. You can imagine my distress when I discovered a number of missing names. So . . . if you’ve been to a recent conference but don’t receive a brochure within the next week, please let me know. You can access it online, but since it’s 16 pages, it’s helpful to have it in booklet form. You have until June 1 to register at the early price. The first 75 to register receive an additional free appointment so don’t delay.