Spring has sprung and I’ve been buried in my basement office, glued to my computer, finishing a manuscript! So, instead of telling you about the fun spring wardrobe I wish I’d bought, or the fragrance of the flowers that bloom in my backyard, I’ve got some very un-spring like things for you to taste this month!

First, let me invite you to the place where I've spent the most time lately - the desktop of my computer! In case you’re a new Java friend, my computer has a program on it called JAWS. It reads me everything on the screen with the most lovely British accent! Here's a sneak peak into one of my favorite folders. It's my quote folder and it contains quotes filed by categories; quotes on various subjects, quotes from various authors - some funny, some deep and some totally useless! I've found them in books, essays and even quotation websites!

Here's a sampling.

“Let us step into the darkness and reach out for the hand of God. The path of faith and darkness is so much safer than the one we would choose by sight."
George MacDonald

“There are many who have a great deal of this life in their hands, but nothing of the other life in their hearts.”
Matthew Henry

"The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.”
Benjamin Disraeli

“Affliction is a good man’s shining time”
Edward Young

“Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.”
P. J. O'Rourke

"Art is a cup into which life can be poured."
Rebecca West

Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the Verities and Realities of your Existence. The Bliss of Growth,
The Glory of Action,
The Splendor of Beauty;
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
And Tomorrow is only a Vision;
But Today well lived makes Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness, And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.”
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn!
Balidasa

“Always do what you want, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind!”
Dr. Suess

“I have found at my age, going braless pulls all the wrinkles out of my face.”
Anonymous

Aren’t those fun, useless and inspiring?!

My Assistant Kathryn, brought me a special treat while I was busy typing away, and it was delicious, but it was more the flavor of fall than a spring delicacy. It was a pumpkin pie! The reason I tell you is because it was the best pumpkin pie I've ever had...in March! It was so rich and creamy, and according to her, it was easy to make. She used pecan pumpkin butter from Williams Sonoma. So, if you get a hankering for some fall comfort this summer, trust me, its worth the calories.

Playing in the background as I worked (and ate pumpkin pie) was my all time favorite CD by Sara Groves. It's called All Right Here. My favorite song on it is “This Peace.” The woman is a poet, philosopher and can sing with a clarity and sweetness that belongs in a fine European cathedral. And besides that, I know her and she is one of the most genuine, humble women on stage today.

Well, my manuscript is safely sent off to my publisher and now I will get out of the basement and into my backyard to smell the flowers that have bloomed in my absence! And, I probably need to get on the bike built for two with Phil to work off the unfortunate results of all the pumpkin pie I ate!

So, give these three things a taste test;

1. Find some quotes you enjoy and begin a file, journal, or just write them on post-it notes.

2. Pecan pumpkin butter from WilliamsSonoma

3. All Right Here by Sara Groves

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King spoke to a quarter of a million listeners at the March on Washington. The message he spoke that fateful day has become one of the most important and well known speeches of our national history. But, it almost didn’t happen. I learned recently that the speech he had laid on the podium didn’t even include the words, “I have a dream.”

He had spoken often about his dream. He had written about his dream, shared his dream, and promoted his dream. Communicating his “dream” was his passion.

Evidently, the night before such an important speech, his handlers became concerned that the phrase had been overused and would lose its impact due to excess. So King and his closest advisors worked to develop a fresher message, one that wouldn’t risk tired familiarity. The result? A speech entitled: “Normalcy--Never Again.”

Dr. King took the stage and began to deliver his new message. As the story goes, Dr. King was close to ending his nine-minute delivery when he stopped following his transcript, and began to follow his heart.

The result? “I have a Dream."

Oh, what we would have missed if he hadn’t followed his heart-how colorless and weak would the tapestry of our history be.

Now, for a less historical and not so consequential story. I was asked to sing at Focus on the Family’s chapel several years ago when Beth Moore was speaking. For the many months leading to that chapel service, I had been singing my own arrangement of “It is Well with my Soul.” It was non-traditional and fit my range, style and comfort level perfectly. When I sang my arrangement, I was at my personal best. I was acting out of my passion. I hadn’t even sung the original melody of that song in almost a year.

Before chapel began, the crowd gathered, and Dr. and Mrs. Dobson came into the auditorium. The lady in charge mentioned that “It is well” was one of the Doc’s favorite songs and she was so happy I was singing it. Well, that’s all it took. I began to silently wonder if I should sing the traditional version. Phil questioned if I was planning to sing my arrangement and suggested that I sing the original since that’s what the Doc and the crowd would be expecting. A new transcript lay before me. I felt such pressure to follow it. But, my gut was telling me to follow my heart, not the transcript of others opinions.

So, I took the stage, still torn as to what I should do. I sat at the piano before the great psychologist, his wife and 2,500 occupied seats. I began to play. I caved and sang the original and to be honest, it wasn’t great. As a matter of fact, I am not even sure it was good! Phil even asked me later what happened! (That’s a big clue it wasn’t my finest performance!) I should have followed in Dr.King’s footsteps. I should have abandoned pressure and followed my passion.

There comes a time in each of our lives when we follow our hearts even if it’s not the prescribed transcript that lay before us. “I have a dream” was genuine "Martin Luther King". It was his passion and that is why it was, is and forever will be compelling and effective.

The same applies to you and me. Sometimes we must risk following our hearts, rather than the opinions of others. The only one who can communicate “you” well, is you. When we are truly ourselves, following the convictions and gifting God placed within us, then we will be effective.

When God’s Spirit lives in us, we can trust His still voice that whispers while the majority yells. When we listen to His voice inside us, we can trust the prompting of our own hearts. It takes courage to go against the respected views of others, but I have decided after my Focus on the Family debacle, I want to have the courage to not always follow the transcript, but follow the voice inside. It's taken decades for this “crowd pleasing” gal to risk following my passion, and being the me God created.

"Normalcy--Never Again." ”I have a Dream”

Need I say more?!

Anyway, this is a fresh brewed thought that is still percolating in me.

Question:

Just a question.... I so enjoy the music video 'He Touched Me', and wondered if it was filmed in Hawaii.

Blessings,

Barbara M.

Answer:

That’s a great question Barbara!

For my Java friends who don’t know what we are talking about, the "He Touched Me” music video is on my Fingerprints of God DVD enhanced Bible Study published by Lifeway. The whole point of the study is to help us recognize, receive and then pass on God's Touch. I filmed the introductions and music for the study in Hawaii - actually, on the beautiful island of Kauai.

Oh, the land is beautiful! But it doesn’t even begin to compare with the beautiful sisters in Christ I met there. They were God's Touch on my life!

And now, my friends, the "Beans" are officially spilled!

1. I am seeking to record a new CD this year. Please pray for God's perfect provision for a producer, studio and songs.

2. We are in the midst of getting Lessons I Learned in the Dark published in audio book format. I so want it to be accessible to the blind community and available to busy book listeners! Pray for the voice talent and the process. It is on track to be shipped April 25!

3. As the process for finishing up my most recent book continues, please pray the Lord would guide all those working on the project.

4. Most importantly, thank you for continuing to lift up my family. Clayton, Connor and Phil are the most important aspect of my calling and I never want to neglect them because of the urgency of deadlines and traveling.

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