We  have entered a new phase of life in the Cheney household.  Hannah is coming out of her shell.  Well, she was already out of her shell, but now she’s decided she will never turn back.  I am talking about ATTENTION. 

This week she has been non-stop.  “Danny, play with me.”  “Danny, look at me.”  “Danny, c’mon. Let’s play in my room.”  Danny, get up!”  “Danny…Danny…Danny”  For those of you who are new readers, my daughter often calls me by my first name.

I have deduced that Hannah likes attention at home.  I know she gets alot of attention already but she seems to want more.  When she calls out my name and wants me to play, it is her way of asking to spend quality time with her.

As parents, our children need our attention.  Even when we have spent a long day at the office and we are tired, they still crave the affection and attention of their parents.  Our children need us!  Parenting is often a sacrifice.  Kids do not always understand how hard our day was at the office.  They do not always understand that we are tired and need some down time.  All they know is they want some more of your time.

On many occasions I have sat in the living room while Hannah plays on the floor.  I will be watching a little TV and Hannah calls out, “Danny, sit down here with me.”  She not only wants attention, but undivided attention.  There is a huge difference there.

Here is the fact of life for today.  Parents often work 8-10 hours a day, sometimes more.  Most of the time, working parents only have 4-5 hours in the evenings to spend with their children.  Out of those after work hours, how many are spent giving attention to children?  We have so many things to do in the after hours (cleaning house, washing clothes, paying bills, yard work etc.) that we do not have much time left for quality family time.  That is why our children are looking for attention. Many of these things cannot be helped, it is the way of life in today’s society, but how can we make more time for our kids?

Only you know how to adjust your life to spend more time with your children.  I am quickly finding out that time goes by fast and before you know it, time is gone.  Find away to spend at least one quality, undivided hour each night with your kids.   They need you.

I read this thought-provoking quote this morning on Justin Buzzard’s blog.  It is from the book, Called To Ministry by Edmund Clowney.

"To miss your calling, follow this three-point program: assume that it begins in the future, decide that you don’t know what it is, and sit down to wait for the Lord’s call.
No, he has already called you–to be a Christian. Fulfill that call with all your heart and you will learn in his time what ministry is yours."

When I was about ten years old I was an Astro Buddy.  An Astro Buddy was a club for Houston Astros fans that allowed kids to come down on the field and run the bases during a break in the ball game or before the game.  I would dress up in my Little League baseball uniform and run those bases because it was a dream of mine to be a pro baseball player. 

My favorite players were Jose Cruz and Alan Ashby.  I had hoped every time I ran those bases that I would get to meet Cruz or Ashby, but we had no access to the team stars.  Only to the “lower tier” players and the bat boys.  I remember coming away from the game excited that I got to be on the field of the Astrodome, but disappointed that I had no access to my favorite players.

There is someone else who is a star player that always gives access to His fans.  Jesus Christ.  We have an all-access pass to fellowship with Him whenever we desire.  Sure you have to join His club, which is only through salvation. But the benefits are outstanding.  We have access to the Creator of the Universe.

Romans 5:2, “through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

We have access into His  grace and into His presence, because of our faith in Him.  Saving Faith.  Many people want to have access to the world’s stars.  Ball players, actors, musicians, but  they are nothing compared to having access to the greatest person in the world.  Jesus Christ gives us a backstage pass!

Yesterday was a good Sunday.  We began a two part series, Elements of our Faith.  We talked about the meaning of communion.  When we stop and think about the meaning of communion, it should make us more grateful about the price that was paid for our salvation.

Last night, we joined with Trinity Fellowship in Fayettevile for service.  It was the dedication of their new building.  What an impressive structure they have built for the glory of God!

This morning I was able to have breakfast with our District Superintendent.  I enjoyed our fellowship and the wisdom that Pastor Moore shared with me.  I always look forward to learning from ministers who have pastored for many years.  I truly appreciate him taking time out of his busy schedule to share with me.

I remember when I was growing up I had and enemy.  It was a guy who I did not get along with and I would constantly antagonize him with my smart mouth.  I know you would never think it of me, but I had a sarcastic and sharp tongue.  One day, I was spouting off to my enemy and he said a few simple words, “You better watch your back.”  And yes, he made good on his promise, no matter how painful it was to me.

In a spiritual sense, we have an enemy as well, who says the same thing, “Watch your back!”  He is looking for ways to devour you.  The devil does not like the child of God and will ensnare him any way he can.  That is why we must truly watch our back to make sure that we are not caught off guard.

I read an interesting passage in Nahum chapter 2, “ The one who scatters has come up against you.  Man the fortress, watch the road; Strengthen your back, summon all your strength.”

Nahum is relating this to an enemy of the nation but in the spiritual sense we can learn how to guard ourselves:

1.  Man the fortress

I see this as guarding the heart.  The fortress of our soul.  We must be diligent to guard ourselves from temptation and never leave our post.

2.  Watch the road

Pay attention!  Be alert!  Watch for the entrapments of our enemy.  Make sure you do not get ambushed.

3.  Strengthen your back

Not only do we need a hedge of protection, but we need someone to stand with us.  We need accountability and to surround ourselves with strong believers who can be our rear guard.  Standing together is better than standing alone.  Solomon said, “Two are better than one.”

4.  Summon all your strength

Sometimes the battle gets so intense that you have to use up all your strength.  You have to muster up courage and strengthen yourself in the Lord.  Our strength comes from Him. 

These are things to keep in mind when you are going through the heat of the battle.  Stand ready.  Having done all to stand, stand!  No weapon formed against us shall prosper.  When the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against him.  God is on our side.  If you will do these things, God will help you fight your battles.

Maybe I am blogging too much about this ice storm, but it is my first ice storm and, after all, it is my blog.  I can write what I want:)

I just went to the post office and passed a gas station that I often get fuel at.  Apparently the weight of ice is immense.  The covered awning over the pumps came crashing down on a car.  Not sure if anyone was hurt, but the car had a lot of damage. 

After three days of Ice and Snow, we have ventured above freezing.  Now everything is thawing out.  Ice is breaking off from power lines and dropping to the pavement below.  The ground has become slush as the melted water mixes with the snow.  The sun has come out to help the thawing process.  The warming trend is nice.  Hopefully it will all be better tomorrow.

As I was looking at the ice melting and the ground thawing out, I was reminded of how this is often like our spiritual lives.  We become cold and hardened to the things of God, or at least our spiritual fire cools off.  Our growth seems to freeze and we do not sense God like we used to.  But when the sun comes out, or shoudl I say the SON, He helps thaw our icy hearts and begins to warm us up to Him.  The Son causes us to have a fire where we had become cold.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”  Ezekiel 36: 26

God wants to light a fire in us again and give us new hearts and a new life.

The Resource Guide to Getting Published

For 24 years running, the Christian Writers’ Market Guide has remained the most comprehensive, complete, essential, and highly-recommended resource for beginning and veteran Christian writers, agents, editors, publishers, publicists, and those teaching writing classes.

This year’s Guide is even handier with a CD-Rom included that features the full text of the book for easy searches of topics, publishers, and markets, as well as 100 pages of exclusive content including indexes and writing resource listings.

This is the resource you need to get noticed—and published.

Completely updated and revised to feature the latest on…

• more than 1,200 markets for the written word
• 416 book publishers (32 new)
• 654 periodicals (52 new)
• 96 literary agents
• 100 new listings in Resources for Writers
• 226 poetry markets
• 316 photography markets
• 25 African-American markets
• and 166 contests (29 new)

Sally E. Stuart is the author of thirty-six books and has sold more than one thousand articles and columns. Her long-term involvement with the Christian Writers’ Market Guide as well as her marketing columns for the Christian Communicator, Oregon Christian Writers, and The Advanced Christian Writer, make her a sought-after speaker and a leading authority on Christian markets and the business of writing. Stuart is the mother of three and grandmother of eight and lives near Portland, Oregon.