WRITING RESOURCES

Welcome to the August/October edition of Seeds in Season Writing Resources!

April Boyer invites you to stroll through this site and find many kinds of writing resources, make new friends, and be encouraged to take the next steps to polishing your writing abilities. Seeds found here are meant to inspire you, motivate you, promote you, support and lift you up out of standing still, and help you fly! Plant your own seeds, given to you by God, to use and return unto Him for His glory.

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Writers: NEEDED :Contributory Submissions. Your devotional essay or writer's help articles much appreciated.
Please check out our guidelines and read the current essays for an understanding for what's used. Thank you!

*Greater Harvest Workshops *Saturday, October 11, 2008,*8:30-3:30 *Countryside Church *Lebanon, Ohio *Registration: $45 *Donna Shepherd author/speaker, *Mary Busha writer's coach, *For more information and to register, go to Greater Harvest

We usually think of blessing as coming from God. The pastor of the church I'm attending reminded us that we can bless God as well. It is important to understand the definition of that word.

When a parishioner named Rose couldn't accept that we can bless God, and in fact expects it of us; I looked deeper.

It made things more clear when Pastor W. explained that even God humbles himself by lowering himself to "lift us up". Pastor W even gave us a picture of our almighty God (who loves us a father would) stoops down to reach us. It is not only Jesus the Son who humbled himself as a servant; but also God the Father who is humbled; who cannot look on sin because of His righteousness; who hears our petitions through the intervention of Jesus, and who ultimately chooses - as a servant would - to lean down to offer His hand to us in help.

What is it to "bless God?" The definition of bless in its simplest English form is "To exalt". Are you surprised? I was! Therefore, to Bless God is much more natural than it is for Him to bless me! Why would He exalt me?

I know that when I am right in the spirit and walking closely with God- He will sanctify me- making me righteous in His sight. I am His precious child, with a birthright for God's kingdom - just as Jesus is. He steadies me, leads me and prepares me to be as a saint in heaven, honored and blessed. Exalted.

Yet, if you look further at the definition, you will find that the word in other forms or context means, "approve, endorse, support, agree, commend, grant, consent, sanction, allow, authorize". Ah, well, that seemed much more acceptable to me. In blessing God, it could be said that I am approving His actions in my life, supporting Him, agreeing with Him, - and, best of all - authorizing those actions!

"God, Father, bless you and your wisdom in choosing the steps in my life". I felt good about praying those words. It wasn't just a "Bless you, Lord" as if I were canceling out a sneeze. It was a conscious effort to invite God to steer my life, and for me to be in complete support of His wisdom. It was confirming that I knew God was in control and had all my best interests at heart.

Isn't that usually why we say "bless you" to someone anyway? Certainly, we say bless you to a newly married couple, to the parents of a newborn, to a graduate stepping out on his own, to a birthday celebrant - because we have their very best interests at heart.

How appropriate to say, "Bless you" to our heavenly Father as a way to thank Him, to confirm and trust His decisions as the best ones for us.

Psa 63:4 "Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name."
Psa 145:1 "I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever."
Psa 145:2 "Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever." (Song of David)
© April Boyer 2008



~April Boyer (c)May 19, 2008

It is the author's hope that you will glean encouragement for writing and in obeying God's plan for you. Enjoy this e-zine.
April Boyer is a free lance writer in mid Ohio, wife, mother of two and Gramma Apple to two precious gems. She has published more than 47 articles in regional and national magazines and newspapers, and additional devotionals in e-zines. She is the retired founder and director of the 6-year old Ashland Area Christian Writer's Guild, and has printed a handbook, How to Establish a Christian Writer's Group, available for sale through her website http://aprilboyer.com. Pages on the website include her own writing services, writer's tips, encouragement, inspiration and a Bible study. Please mail requests or questions to April through her website contact page.

A DAY FOR WRITERS
Greater Harvest Workshops
Saturday,
October 11, 2008,
8:30-3:30
Countryside Church
Lebanon, Ohio
Registration: $45
Donna Shepherd
author/speaker,
Mary Busha writer's coach,
For more information
and to register,
go to Greater Harvest

Sign up for the "Seeds in Season Bible Study for Writers". A bible verse, prayer prompt and journal topic especially for your writing discipline and inspiration will be sent every week for a year. You may request the study at any time. Enter your email address in the "Seeds" form below submit!