Regeneration

When I was given the assignment to enter the blog for today and was told my topic would be renewal I was not quite certain where I would go with this.

I find myself continually in a state of renewal with my Lord. I get on the right path spending time in the Word and journaling, but next thing I know I'm too busy, getting up too late in the morning or just totally distracted. Then one day I find myself searching for the Lord and not finding him. Oh, I know he's always there and it is me who gets lost not him. And that is where I've been for the past couple of months, lost.

I find when I'm in that dark place I try to fill the void with other things like food or shopping or television. But none of those things work and after all these years you would think I would know that. We humans are so hard headed at times I don't know why He puts up with us. He has to smile a knowing smile when he sees us darting about from one thing to the next trying to fill the emptiness and knowing it is Him we need and knowing one day soon we will return.

Amazing as it is I did not find the word renewal in my Strong's Concordance, but instead found regeneration, which directed me to scripture on renewal. In Nave's Topical Bible reference I found the definition of regeneration. It is the new birth, the inner recreating of fallen human nature by the gracious working of the Holy Spirit. It changes human disposition from godlessness, lawlessness, rebellion, self-seeking, and unbelief to a desire to love and serve God.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Isn't that what I've been doing when I find myself wrapped up in a world of me and not of Him. I've been rebellious and self-seeking trying to find something to make me feel better, when what I need is Him. Only in Him will I ever find true renewal and regeneration. He renewed me with his saving grace through Christ Jesus and he continues to renew me daily through his love and mercy.

I found a number of references in scripture referring to renewal or rebirth and the one that struck me the strongest was Titus 3:3-5

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing and rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Zzzzzzz

As I pondered this topic of renewal, a lot of things came to mind:

~Prayer – Refreshes and renews the spirit.

~Food – When you have low blood sugar, there is nothing like food to renew.

~Music – When agitated or mad, praise music can calm, refocus and renew.

~Crafts – I love doing things with my hands. The act of doing something creative with my hand helps unlock and renew my writing world.

~Writing – One of the most renewing things to my writing is writing. When a scene just flows and seems to write itself, I am renewed from the previous day’s writing struggles.

~Reading – Brings new story ideas or gives an insight into an existing story or character.

~Cats – Just sitting with one of my many cats sitting on my lap purring (the cat, not me) is renewing. Or cracking up at watching them run around acting like total spazzes over a twisty-tie. Cats are so weird. I love them.

~Daydreaming – Letting currents characters run wild in scenes that will never be in the book, or meeting new characters and spending time with them.

~A new story idea – Maybe that is not so much renewing as energizing.

~A deep slow breath – Ah, that feels good.

But as I have just spent nearly two weeks with a terrible sore throat (I mean strep throat sore with no antibiotics to make it get better because it’s not strep), so I didn’t get much sleep the past two weeks. It reminded me that one thing that renews like no other and is the foundation of the others is SLEEP. Pure, restful, deep, carefree sleep. Zzzzzz.

My First Mountain

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
 John 10:10

I was a gangly fourteen-year-old when I climbed my first mountain. Mount Huron, one of Colorado’s “fourteeners.” Climbing a mountain wasn’t really something I wanted to do. I was on a backpacking trip with my youth group and our guides woke us up in the middle of the night, told us to bundle up, get our water and our flashlights, and meet them in the center of our camp. We did, grumbling the whole way. The grumbles turned into passionate protests when they explained that we were going to climb a mountain. In the dark.

It had already been a rough day. We’d hiked over two ridges, and my muscles were sore. Earlier that day, on a particularly rocky section of the trail, the sole of my hiking boot broke off. So all I had left were my cool, pink tennis shoes. With terrible traction.

Though I pleaded my case, our guides didn’t back down. They basically told me to go or be left behind. Alone. With the bears. Since that wasn’t my idea of a good time either, I started out with the rest of the group.

I’d never felt so tired. My legs hurt, my head hurt, my eyes hurt. The only thing guiding my steps was the small, circular beam from my flashlight. As we started through a boulder field about three-fourths of the way through our journey, I dropped my flashlight. It bounced down the slope and my world went dark. I sat on a rock and cried. It was too hard. It hurt too much. I was too scared. I wanted to give up. But I didn’t. After a while, I prayed, I picked myself up, and I continued the journey—albeit very slowly—until I’d reached the top.

I’ve come to the conclusion that our fullest moments in life—the best times of refreshment—usually come after a long, arduous struggle. All the way up that mountain, I’d carried the burdens of resentment and fear. I couldn’t see where I was going. The world was dark and I was weary. But I kept hiking. And when I clawed my way up the last section of the peak right as the sunrise bled across the sky, all of those burdens disappeared. Refreshment rushed in and I only felt free.

When I think of living life to the fullest, when I think about refreshment, I always remember how I felt standing on the peak of Mount Huron. I’ve climbed many mountains since then—literally and figuratively. And after I conquer each one, I know exactly what Jesus was talking about in John 10:10. Life to the full—the life that He promises—is a life of both surrender and freedom. If you surrender to His will and hike through the rough spots, if you persevere and hold onto Him tight, you will most assuredly experience His refreshing sovereignty on the mountaintop.


A lifelong storyteller, Sara Richardson is passionate about communicating reasons for hope. Previously she has been an advertising copywriter, an Internet communications manager, and a whitewater rafting guide. In addition to writing fiction, Sara has published nonfiction articles in parenting and family magazines. As a member of MOPS International, Sara enjoys speaking to moms’ groups. She earned a master’s degree in journalism from Regent University. Visit her at www.hopetolife.com

The Constant State of Renewal

We live in an era where technology accellerates and improves at a constant hum. And us poor humans wish we could live in that constant state of refurbishing, being rebuilt, reinvented, renewed. For longer life, better power, more RAM, higher speed.

But alas, we aren't super-computers, iPads, or Blackberries. We're people. And frankly, we wear out. Get tired. Give out.

What we need is to be refreshed. Like a cool drink of water after a long hike. Or a swim in crisp, blue lake after spending hours working in the hot sun.
What refreshes you?
This picture is an ideal illustration of refreshment to me. It was taken at the Matanuska glacier in Alaska when we lived there. One look at the mountains, glacier, and beauty in that photograph and my mind and soul are refreshed. I imagine it is the view out my window as I work.

But what about when you are bogged down by the tasks of the day, the deadlines looming, or overwhelmed by the path you must travel? Kayla and I are in the middle of Revisions on our first book together, No Safe Haven. And of course, life has a way of happening. We've had scads of wonderful company, swim events, and projects. Now, I'm beginning to feel the press of the task in front of me. So as we work and head for the finish line, I look at this next picture a lot.

It's a great cover isn't it? But more than that - it's a reminder, a refresher if you will of all the other people working behind the scenes to help make it happen. So even though Kayla and I may work in the office alone for hours on end, our faces glued to the computer screen as we revise, we are not actually alone in this process. And as tired as we may get, we know there is an end in sight. A time when that cover will actually encase this beloved manuscript, like a present wrapped for Christmas.

What are other ways you can be renewed and refreshed by the simple things around you? A hug from a friend, or loved one. A glance at the birds flying in the air, or the beauty of flowers. A smile. A kiss. An email. A good book.

I think the main point is to find the time to refresh. Even if it's a glance at a picture, or taking the time to savor a cup of coffee. We may not be able to refresh ourselves as rapidly as technology, but we can definitely do it better :)

This blog was a refreshment to me, so guess what? It's back to work I go...
Revisions...revisions...revisions...

***
Kimberley Woodhouse is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. She's also the President of the Colorado Springs ACFW chapter. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 700 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family's story have garnered national media attention for many years, but most recently her family was chosen for ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, and Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER which premiered in 2008. Her story, Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy, is available now from Tyndale House Publishers. And be watching - Coming in March 2011 NO SAFE HAVEN is the first book in a three-book series set in Alaska, written with daughter Kayla from B&H Publishers. Kimberley lives, writes, and homeschools in Colorado with her husband of eighteen years and their two children in their truly “extreme” home.
Check out Kim's Website to order her books!

Time with Friends

I did it again! Totally forgot to blog last Friday. Sigh. My only excuse is that I was out of town doing a bit of renewal myself.

Last year several members of my online critique group had our first week-long retreat at critique partner Kim Vogel Sawyer's home in Kansas. We had so much fun talking writing, doing research (which is more like play!), and having sweet fellowship. So we decided to do it again this year.

One of our group of four was unable to make it this time, so we felt like a three-legged cat (a description borrowed from Connie Stevens). A little awkward and missing a limb.

After another travel adventure for me (go here to read all about it), I finally made it in a day and a half late. Still our days were packed, working (writing/editing) in the mornings, researching/playing in the afternoons, and relaxing by Kim's pool in the evenings. Saturday, Kim had a booksigning at a bookstore's booth at Wichita's homeschooling convention. Connie and I went along to keep her company and to explore the various displays to find some research materials. We didn't buy anything, but I stumbled across long-time good friends manning one of the curriculum press booths. What a bonus for me!

When I flew back to Phoenix—where hubby is still working in over 100-degree heat—I came away from Kim's refreshed, with a renewed sense of purpose for my editing and writing.

Time spent with friends, whether they write or not, is always good for renewing us spiritually and emotionally.

And now I'm looking forward to getting back to Colorado where I can enjoy another source of renewal and refreshment for me—our cabin located at 9000 ft. in the mountains.