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WRITE 2 THE HEART
Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart"
May 27, 2004
Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com.
Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart." All new
subscribers will receive a free downloadable copy of the e-
cookbook, "Write 2 the Heart of the Chocolate Lover."
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Do you have a heart-touching or inspiring story to share?
Send it in the body of a plain email, no graphic or colorful back-
grounds please. Write 'submission' in the subject line. Don't forget
to write a brief bio to introduce yourself to our readers. You may
include your family friendly websites, information on your books,
newsletters, and upcoming projects. Email your submission to:
moderator@write2theheart.com. We always love to hear stories
from new, first time writers. Until the end of June, I have a writer’s
appreciation gift of a bookmark and pin for each writer whose
story appears in Write 2 the Heart. There is a limit of three per
author. There will be a new appreciation gift offered in July.
No matter how old you are, the loss of a parent affects you. Yet
God can fill that empty place and bring comfort.
That Voice in the Garden
By Ruth Marlene Friesen
In the Garden, verse 2;
He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
and the melody that He gave to me,
Within my heart is ringing.
Mother's Day always gives me mixed emotions. My own
mother was sick so much of my growing up years I didn't know
her the way others know their moms, whom they adore.
However, I learned to be very protective of my mom, and
bossed my siblings in her name, for I feared that if we didn't
behave, she'd be taken from us. At the same time, my heart goes
out to anyone who doesn't have a mother. Orphans always tug at
my heartstrings, or individuals whose mother has deserted them.
I looked after mom in the last 14 years of her life. Although it
wasn't all easy, I don't regret it now. I learned to accept our
unique relationship, and to lean heavily on the Lord for what I
couldn't handle.
That's why that song, In the Garden, is so precious to me. In
many ways God has compensated me for the lack of friendship and
sharing confidences between my mother and myself.
When Mother's Day comes, and you really don't know what to
say when others gush over their mothers, or you aren't sure how to
show love to your own mother, turn your inner eyes to the Lord
God, who is ready and willing to walk and talk with you every
day.
Need questions answered, He'll handle that. If you just need to cry
on someone's shoulder, His is strong and well able to carry you. If
you love and adore Him, the Lord will also speak in love and
gracious respect and honour to you.
Look into the Bible and read it with an eye and an ear open to
register words that God means for you. Memorize as many as you
can, and mark them in your Bible. When other times of deep
emotional need come along, it will seem that He speaks those
passages directly to you in your very conscience.
Those are the moments when you will be convinced you are
hearing His sweet voice - oh what a thrill! Someone who loves you
more than any human mother ever could is speaking lovingly to
you!
If it's a father figure you need, ask Him, and expect God to be
that to you too. Perhaps you are a boy or young man, and you have
no healthy earthly father- figure for a role model. Don’t let that
turn you away from God, for He can and wants to compensate you
for what you lack in your parents. God is the perfect parent. He'll
be as real to you as you'll allow.
With time, your character will blossom and grow, and you
enjoy your life and relationships with others, yet when you hear
from God, it'll be as if everything else fades into insignificance,
...like birds stopping their singing for awe. A special joy sets your
own heart to ringing for happiness.
I gave the heroine of my novel, Ruthe, such a close, intimate
relationship with God, because I wanted the readers to get a taste
of it. Because the story has to have action and adventure to hold
interest, the secret times she has with her Lord are woven into the
fabric of the story, but mostly in the background.
The only way you'll get a real taste of such precious love, is to
try it for yourself for a while, and let it grow in your heart’s secret
corners and nooks.
© 2002 Ruth Marlene Friesen
ruth @ ruthes-secretroses.com
Ruth Marlene Friesen makes friends wherever she goes!
Just like her heroine, Ruthe, in Ruthe's Secret Roses,
http://Ruthes-SecretRoses.com/RSR.html
Her friends become her rare and precious roses! Be one of
them http://Ruthes-SecretRoses.com. Get RoseBouquet
for more! http://Ruthes-SecretRoses.com/RoseBouquet.html
You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know
what you think of their story. Have a comment on today's story?
Send it to: moderator@write2theheart.com.
Letters From Our Readers
Cheryl,
Lyn Chaffart's essay "The Tomboy" brought to mind my
"tomboy" childhood, and comfirmed the truth that Jesus gives us
strength and control in our daily lives, as long as we rely on Him.
Please thank Carol and Barbara for their comments about my
"Gift of Patience" story.
Sorry to hear Tim and Todd are going to Iraq. My prayers are
with you all.
Hugs,
Patricia
P.S. You'll do great with the Web site!
Lyn is my kind of gal. I was always a tomboy as a child. Even
when I began to write my stories down, I climbed up to the top of a
mulberry tree to hide from chores. Only a tomboy would do that—
and I always was the child to come home with skinned knees,
sashes torn from dresses, and a dirty face.
What a lovely analogy, Lyn. I hope we females can all hold
God in our hearts and now that He doesn't care whether we have
dirty faces, bruises or painful hearts. He will accent any of us—
even tomboys.
Barb Deming
Author of
"The Quilt Maker"
The story, "The Tomboy", kind of hit home for me. People
have often told me that they admire what they perceive as my
'inner strength' and I have to admit that it has contributed in
helpingme through many happenings or situations in my life.
What those people don't see (unless they ask me and then I can tell
them)is that I reached inside for myself for Jesus' strength and
trusted Him to hold my hand. By relying on Jesus and His strength
for each situation or problem that arose in my life, I too found that
my bigger problems (to me) no longer had the ability to make me
afraid or feeling kind of helpless. As I relinquished control –
which was very difficult for me as I'm a self diagnosed 'control
freak' - I knew that I no longer had to dependon my own inner
strength anymore.Praise the Lord that He's more faithful than I
am and that He's always there for me!
I thought that you might want to know this: If a person wishes
to do somethingfor a military person for Memorial Day by
showing their support for our troops (and just in IRAQ either), they
can go to a Web page originated by that local Christian radio
station at www.thefish.com and either post a note of
encouragement to someone in the military, send a care package to
a military person, or do both.
Barbara Bullock
Military Prayer Reminder
As you read over this list of names, please take a moment to
pray for these young people and their families:
Chris Speir
Tim Speir
Alan
Todd Holland
Graham
William
Julie Sagel
Jessie
Marshal Thompson
Jason
Eric Hernandez
Kristin Danielson
Ken Prieur
Ryan
Larry Miele
Daniel
Amy
John
Joanne
Gary Boardwine
Josh
Hadassah
Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and
our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military,
or who are being called to go overseas, send their names
(first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer
reminder.
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Cheryl’s Corner
I have been working on the new website. If you have a story in
our archives, please check to see if the links work and that I spelled
your name right. I would work on it late into the night until my
eyes were crossed, so I know I probably made mistakes. I know I
have a problem with the banner on a few pages; I’m still trying to
figure out how to fix it. Learning how to do this was easier than I
thought it would be, but harder than I wanted to get involved with.
God bless
Cheryl
Copyright © 2004, Write 2 the Heart
Nothing may be reproduced or published without
the written permission of the individual author or
copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.
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