Robin Lee Hatcher's Write Thinking

unforced rhythms of grace

On May 1st, I began the second of my three times reading through the New Testament in 2008. The first time through, I used the New Living Translation. This time, I chose the wonderful Eugene Peterson paraphrase, The Message. I haven't used this version since 2004, and I am loving being in it again. For serious study, I go for a more literal translation, but for reading and soaking in the Word, The Message is a wonderful option.

Like these wonderful verses:

[Jesus said,] “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matt 11:28-30)

I know that I haven't posted anything about my Bible reading in a while, but my heart is to encourage believers to get into the Word and feast on it regularly. It is so important. For how else, if we don't know what God has to say, can we sift out the whispered lies of the enemy?

[Jesus said,] “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove." (Matt 10:16)

We won't be cunning as snakes if we are not on the alert, and we will not be on the alert if we don't study what God has spoken. As Christians, we need the Bread of Life to sustain our spirits just as we need food to sustain our physical lives.

Some while ago, I got a wonderful email from a reader in Sydney, Australia who serves on my prayer team, and I asked her if I could share her words on my blog. I'm thankful that she agreed. It's a long letter, but I hope you will take the time to read it all the way through because I know it will bless you.

Dear Robin,

Back in January, after receiving one of your special prayer bulletins, I emailed you for your schedule for reading the New Testament through three times in one year - and you responded, thank you very much.

I thought long and hard prior to January about the way you've often mentioned how you read the Bible: through the complete Bible one year, and three times through the NT in the next two years. Also, your themes, that come to you as you prayerfully consider how you can get closer to God that year.

In December last year I decided that if you could do it, so could I. And, unbelievably, like a pebble tossed in a pool, this is having an amazing effect on the people around me. I'm writing to let you know about it, because I'm awestruck by what's happening.

After much prayer I also asked God for a theme/thought for the year, and - in big bold letters that surely got writ on my forehead, it came back as: STICKABILITY. Okay, that sounds a bit naive, but it totally fits my personality. I need to *stick* at things... like - gee, reading the Bible through in a year! If you want to reinvent the word I guess I can retranslate it as PERSEVERANCE. Not a bad theme at all for my Christian walk. So, I'm praying for stickability. And I think it's working. How brilliant is that?

As for reading the Bible through in a year, that's also working, and I'm so so *so* excited about it! I had a copy of a chronological Bible at home that I - yes yes, always meant to read it but, you know, no time, rush rush rush, no stickability, life got in the way, etc etc...

Silent tsunami of hunger

If you've been to the grocery store lately, you know that the cost of groceries is on the rise. The thing is, Americans have been very focused on the price of gas to fill our cars but we tend to grab off the store shelves what we want/need without thinking about the price too much. After all, we've grown up in an era of prosperity. Well, we're thinking about it now, especially those on fixed incomes. And we're thinking about what is happening around the world because we are no longer isolated and economically strong.

If you're a believer, remember that we were born for such a time as this. God has a plan. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His heart is for restoration, reconciliation, redemption. We can make a difference in the crises the world is facing: Corrupt and immoral leadership/government; poor health and disease; environmental decline; world hunger; human injustice (human trafficking); illiteracy; confusion and spiritual deadness. My church, through what is being called Isaiah 61 ministries, is dedicated to reaching out and making a difference in these seven identified world crises. God is calling His people to action.

Here is a good article from USA Today that is worth reading:

'Silent tsunami' of hunger washes over poor nations

Since the 1970s, aside from isolated famines caused by social upheaval, world hunger has been on the decline. Undernourishment in the developing world dropped from 37% of the population in 1969-71 to 17% in 2002-04, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Improved agricultural techniques, smart planning and global trade all played a role in this success. In fact, too much food was produced in some places, including the USA, and more farmers were paid not to produce food.

But suddenly, hunger is again plaguing the planet, threatening human beings and political stability. The crisis, stoked by soaring commodity prices, is hitting the world unevenly.

In the USA, rising costs for staples such as white bread (up 16.3% in the past year), milk (up 13.3%), eggs (34.8%) and bananas (17%) are causing hardship for lower-income Americans.

Read the remainder of the article here.

-rlh-

greater love has no man

Via Dolorosa, the way of sorrow . . . Christ died so that we might have life and have it abundantly.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

Law & Order bias

I've been a Law & Order fan for years and years. There are so many great things about the show—the acting, the writing, even the da-da music. But lately, maybe for the past two or three years, there has been a growing number of plots that center around lunatic so-called "Christians." The bias is so obvious against Christianity it makes me wonder about the writer or producer who has an ax to grind, the person who is on a mission to portray people of faith as dangerous, war-mongering fanatics. This week's episode was another one. A mother stoned to death by her fire-breathing son who killed her because he learned she was having an affair and it was God's will that she be stoned.

I've been a follower of Christ for over 30 years, and I have never met anyone like those who show up on a regular basis on Law & Order (and its off-shoots). I'm not saying there aren't cults and individuals who call themselves Christians but who practice something very different from what millions of believers around the globe practice. But why can't they have some characters who are Christians who display the wisdom and discernment that I see on a daily basis? Why can't they be regular folks who have jobs, who are good to their children, who pay their bills and their taxes, who attend church but also go to baseball games and volunteer for charities? The believers who do good work, who have a social conscience, who feed the poor in the park or knit winter caps for the homeless. The believers who give up their easy lives in America to travel to a third world country to minister to the poor.

The hatred for Christians on L&O is disturbing and it's a kind of brainwashing that is seeping into our culture more and more.

-rlh-

Experiencing the Resurrection

If you are a follower of Christ, then you know that we are in the midst of Holy Week, a time for reflection on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, our Savior. My mom's health hasn't been great this past weekend, so I may miss some of the events my church holds. I hope not. Thursday is communion and a reenactment of the washing of the disciples' feet. Good Friday takes us to the Old Penitentiary where we view three scenes: Gethsemane/Betrayal; Courtyard/Denial; and Golgotha/Death. And of course, Easter Sunday there's the Sunrise service followed by Celebration of the Risen Lord. It's a precious, meaningful time.

With the importance of this week in our minds and hearts, allow me to tell you about a new book that is just out: Experiencing the Resurrection: The Everyday Encounter That Changes Your Life by Henry and Melvin Blackaby. If you ever had the good fortune of doing the marvelous previous Blackaby study, Experiencing God, you'll know you want to read this small volume too.

Dr. Henry Blackaby, president emeritus of Blackaby Ministries, is the author of more than a dozen books, including the best-selling classic Experiencing God. He has spent his life in ministry, serving as a music director and as a senior pastor for churches in California and Canada. Today he provides consultative leadership on prayer for revival and spiritual awakening on a global level. He and his wife make their home in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Melvin Blackaby coauthored with his father, Henry Blackaby, the Gold Medallion winner Experiencing God Together. He travels extensively as a conference speaker. He and his wife and their three children live in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, where he serves as senior pastor of Bow Valley Baptist Church.

Leave a comment on this blog post, and your name will be included in a drawing to win a copy of Experiencing the Resurrection . Here's the blurb:

What does the resurrection of Christ really mean for us? What does it reveal about the heart and mind of God? And what real differences can the miracle of the resurrection make in your life today?  

Discover answers to those and other questions as you examine God’s Word with this companion study guide to the book Experiencing the Resurrection by Henry Blackaby and Melvin Blackaby.

Packed with practical notes, advice, and questions for reflection, this highly interactive guide—ideal for small group or individual use—shows you how to witness Christ’s resurrection in and through your life. Each chapter of the book is explored in a flexible one-week format with “life change objectives” that arise from applying the truth for each day to your life.

I've only had the time to review a small portion of Experiencing the Resurrection, but I know it will be a blessing to all who read it.

And may you experience the resurrection anew throughout this week.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

there is no more

I awakened at 4:00 this morning. After a bit of twisting and turning and futile attempts to go back to sleep, I rolled onto my back and turned on the bedroom TV. Somewhere in my sleep-fogged brain, I remembered being told that Beth Moore is on TV on Wednesdays at different times on different channels. As I'm not normally watching TV in the mornings, I've only caught her a time or two and then by accident. But I flipped through the Christian stations, and I found her on the James Robinson program.

What a blessing! She was speaking on the first miracle from John 2 when Jesus turned water into wine. I have always underscored Mary's words in my Bible when she says to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” That's how I've strived to live my life, doing whatever Jesus tells me to do.

But Beth pointed out the first thing Mary said, which was to her Son: “They have no more wine.” Beth pointed out that Mary didn't tell Jesus how she wanted Him to fix the problem. She didn't give Him several options of how she thought it should be resolved. She simply stated the problem as fact. She left it up to God how to resolve it. Or even if He would resolve it.

Beth gave some wonderful examples of those kinds of prayers, and although these aren't exact quotes, they are what I took away from the message: "God, there is no more money." "Lord, there is no more job." "Father, there isn't one thing more we can try in this situation. We're all out of options." "Jesus, I have no more energy. I'm depleted." "Father, I'm spiritually dry. I'm all out of faith." "Jesus, there isn't a speck of creativity left in me."

There is no more. Period. You are God. Only You know how to take care of this. I trust in You, and I will do whatever You tell me to do.

Too often when I pray, I have in mind the exact way I want/hope/expect God to answer my prayers. Often I tell Him what those ways are. Expectations set us up for failure and disappointment, too. But my expectations are way less than all that He plans to accomplish. I want to begin praying this way more often. I want to silence my list of suggestions for quick fixes and instead simply tell Him my need.

There is such beauty in knowing that God loves me and wants the best for me. His plans for me are good and include prospering me, making me fruitful as I abide in the Vine. I can trust Him with all things, big and small. What a great way to begin my day, with that truth held close in my heart. I hope it blesses you, too.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

security in the LORD

This morning I reached Psalm 125 in my study of the Psalms of Ascent in Stepping Up:

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion.
It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.
Jerusalem—the mountains surround her.
And the LORD surrounds His people,
both now and forever.

The scepter of the wicked will not remain
over the land allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous will not apply their hands to injustice.      
Do what is good, LORD, to the good,
to those whose hearts are upright.
But as for those who turn aside to crooked ways,
the LORD will banish them with the evildoers.

Peace be with Israel. (HCSB)

Those who "trust" in the LORD are like mountains that cannot be shaken. Beth tells us that the Hebrew word translated as "trust" is batach. It is defined as being "confident, secure, sure."

Security is a big thing for Beth. More accurately, insecurity is a big thing for her, and it is a big thing for me, too. For her it was abuse as a child; for me it was growing up without a father (he died when I was 4 months old). Insecurity has led me down many a wrong path as I looked to feel secure. Beth says:

"You would be surprised to know how many people who seem to have it all together are chronically insecure. Though insecurity can be rooted in all sorts of experiences, I have a feeling that many of us share the same one. When key people in your formative years were supposed to bring you security but brought insecurity instead, you inherit a tremor in your soul that is impossible to naturally still. Add to it all the times you let yourself down and fail to measure up like I did, and naturally speaking, you're a piece of earth in a constant quake."

In the natural, I suffer from insecurity a lot. It shows up most often in relation to my writing. It doesn't matter how many books I've written, I continue to be unsure of my abilities, to feel myself on unsteady grounds. The slightest thing can knock me for a loop, even though I know that I know that I know that God called me to write for Him. Brandilyn Collins has written a seven part post on her blog about the book, Art & Fear. I bought it and hope to find time to read it as soon as I'm finished judging books for the RITA Award.

Do you suffer from insecurity in some area or areas of your life? If so this exercise might be of help to you as it was for me. Take the first verse of Psalm 125 and replace "trust" with each of the definitions (confident, secure, sure), then describe what that means in the Lord. Here are my answers:

• Those who [are confident] in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.
• Describe confidence in the Lord: Trusting Him no matter my circumstances.
• Those who [are secure] in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.
• Describe security in the Lord: Feeling safe, knowing He watches over me.
• Those who [are sure] in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.
• Describe being sure about the Lord: Knowing without a doubt that He will do what He says He will do and that He is who He says He is.

I praise God this morning for these reminders. Trusting in Him makes me into a mountain that cannot be shaken. I pray that I will remember this the next time the enemy tries to tempt me to go down the insecurity path. God has proven Himself able to stop the quaking earth when I look to Him with trust, in confidence, with security, and in absolute assurance.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

God and squeaky toys

In the Stepping Up study, Beth Moore asks participants to begin every day or every study session (unless physically unable to do so) prostrate, face-down, on the floor before God. She promises that whatever God wants us to learn in this study, He will tell us when we are on our faces because in God's economy, the way up is down.

So yesterday morning, I lay down on my office floor. As I began to pray, Poppet started hitting my back with the little stuffed toy in her mouth, making it squeak.

Squeak, squeak, squeak. Squeak, squeak, squeak. Squeak, squeak, squeak.

Here I am, trying to be in an attitude of worship, and I've got a dog bouncing a toy against my back. It soon became obvious that she wasn't going to stop until I got up off the floor. (Note to self: Shut Poppet out of room when I lay down to pray. Kneeling is safe. Lying down is not.) Needless to say, my prostrate time before the Lord was cut short, and I'm thinking how nonspiritual I am that I can't ignore a little dog while I talk to my Father.

A short while later, I was reading my lesson for the day and came to the part where Beth talked about the experience of being prostrate before God. She instructed that while on the floor to "put your own words to your personal act of reverence and surrender," then she shared the prayer she spoke the morning she wrote this part of the study. Here's the next paragraph:

The whole practice probably took no longer than a minute. Sometimes I linger longer if I'm particularly distressed or filled with a heightened cause for praise. Sometimes I abbreviate if I forgot to leave my dogs in the house and they're fretting over my head, fearing I'm dead.

LOL! On Tuesday I was marveling over how God put the tools together to start my year off as He did, and today He's showing me I am not alone, even in the pestering dog department. I am not a spiritual weakling with the attention span of a gnat. Even Beth Moore shortens her prayer time when the dogs are worrying over her head.

Squeak, squeak, squeak.

What a sweet reminder that He cares about the little things in my life, not just the big things. He didn't want me to fret over that abbreviated time on the floor, and He cared so much that He even had it written into a Bible study many months ago.

How cool is that?

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

words for the year, day one

I wrote a long, really good post about my quiet time this morning, and when I went to post it, my program shut down. Bummer! This version won't be nearly as good. The first one took me about an hour to write. Sigh.

Katy at Fallible had a cute post today about being afraid to ask God for a word. It really made me laugh. Katy is one funny gal.

My words for this new year are Intimacy and Devotion. When those words were given to me, I looked forward with anticipation to all this might mean. I've felt in a dry and parched place in recent months, and those words seemed to promise cool refreshment. But I never expected the Lord to start off the year with such a blessing.

I entered my office this morning, ready to begin my Bible reading and new Bible study. This is a year to read through the New Testament three times. I went to my bookshelf for an NLT version and my eyes fell on a New Testament volume I was given for Christmas in 2006. I packed it away soon after in my preparations to sell my house and move. To be honest, I'd forgotten all about it. But when I saw the words "friendship with God," my heart quickened. Friendship with God = Intimacy with God.

The Bible is called Friendship First New Testament: Living in Friendship with God and Others. It is a beautiful volume. Not the sort of Bible you carry to church or travel with because it is over-sized, like a coffee table book. But it is the perfect Bible for my reading in the New Testament as I seek to find a new intimacy with my Father. Plus I'm being accompanied in my Bible reading by two of my dearest friends, making the choice even more perfect.

When I finished reading my chapters, I then reached for Stepping Up: A Journey through the Psalms of Ascent. I first heard of this brand new study from Beth Moore in September or October. I ordered my copy of the workbook and the audio CDs in early December, excited to do a study in the Psalms. About 30 or 40 minutes into the audio introductory lesson, Beth read Joshua 5:14, And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” And then she said (paraphrased), "God has something specific to say to you. You'll hear it on your face before Him." Talk about my heart quickening! On my face before God (in prayer) = Devotion!

I love it when I catch a glimpse of the ways God has been moving behind the scenes. When He gave me the words Intimacy and Devotion, I didn't know He had already placed the very Bible I should use onto my bookshelf. I didn't know that the Bible study I learned about in the fall would be the very study that would relate to the word/words He gave me for 2008. Seeing His hand in these things made me even more excited for what I will learn in the days, weeks, and months to come.

In those moments this morning, I felt a breeze blowing away the desert sand. I felt myself taking sips of cool refreshment.

Jesus replied, “People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.”   John 4:13-14

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

2007 Wrap Up: looking forward, looking back

I let myself relax over this past Christmas week. Not that I didn't do some work, but I didn't allow myself to feel under the gun. I moved at my own pace. I must say that this was the least stressed December I've had in a decade, and I enjoyed it a great deal. Too often I've been under a tight deadline during the holidays.

Well, I do have a deadline, of course. And tomorrow I must hit the ground running. So last evening, I took down all the Christmas decorations. Everything is back in boxes and stored in the garage. It helps that I do just enough decorating to feel festive and not so much that the idea of putting things away is mind-boggling. Been there, done that.

Like many other believers, I've gotten in the habit of asking the Lord for a word for the coming year. In 2005, the word was Endurance. In 2006, the word was Victory. For 2007, I was given two words: Peace and Simplicity. I can look back and see how the Lord taught me many things as He brought those words to fruition in my life. For 2008, God has again given me two words instead of one: Intimacy and Devotion. I already have a hint of what He means to teach me in relation to those words, but I also know there is much I don't understand yet. And so I look forward with anticipation to the new year.

Since I read through the Bible twice in a row (Bible in a year in 2005 and the Bible in 90 Days in 2006), I spent 2007 doing Bible studies and focusing on specific books. But now I'm ready to return to my usual reading schedule (whole Bible in odd-numbered years, New Testament 3 x in even-numbered years). I've got my reading schedule for going through the NT three times, and I'm starting with the New Living Translation but haven't decided which translations I'll use for the other two read-throughs.

This year was a busy one for me. I sold my large home with its large yard and bought a smaller home with a small yard and no yard work. I still have way too many boxes stacked in my garage, but little by little I'm getting through them. When I moved to my last house in 1996, it took me at least a year to get fully settled. So looks like I'm running true to form.

What books did I work on in 2007? A Cloud Mountain Christmas in Hearts Evergreen, Steeple Hill, Nov 2007; The Perfect Life, Women of Faith Fiction/Thomas Nelson, Mar 2008; Wagered Heart, Zondervan, May 2008; Bundle of Joy, Steeple Hill, Nov/Dec 2008; and (just barely started) an untitled historical for Zondervan to be released the very end of 2008. I guess I wasn't lazy this year.

Favorite novels I read in 2007 (in the order I read them): Ten Thousand Charms by Allison Pittman; The Road by Cormac McCarthy; A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini; The Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck; Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson; and Widow of the South by Robert Hicks. I reread some great books, too, including C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters. Love that book!

I don't make it to many first-run movies, mostly because it isn't much fun to go alone and fitting my schedule with the schedule of others too often doesn't work out. So I'm a DVD gal, thanks to Netflix. So here's a few of my favorite movies that I watched in 2007: Amazing Grace; We Are Marshall; Little Manhattan; and Freedom Writers. I enjoyed the new National Treasure: Book of Secrets movie that I saw on Christmas Day, although still like the first one better. And I hope to make it to see Enchanted before it's gone from the theaters.

What else should I add? Hmm. Unhappily, I'm carrying an extra 6 pounds, put on after moving out of the two-story house where I went up and down the stairs an average of 30 times a day. My official work-outs have been sporadic. I get really good for a month or so, then "fall off the wagon" and get lazy. December has been a lazy period. So one of my goals for the new year is to be consistently faithful at my exercise. I took up knitting again after a 30 year break and am really enjoying it. I've already made scarves for Daughter #1 and Granddaughter #1, as well as one for myself. Grandson #2 requested a hat, which is finished but I think it will be too large for him. I just ordered a few knitting books, plus Debbie Macomber's Knit Together, the latter purchased for both spiritual and knitting inspiration. And finally, one more goal for 2008: To be more faithful in my journaling. I was sporadic at it this year, and I feel it. I learn more from life when I write it down and can reflect on it. As the Lord says, "Remember..." It helps me remember when I have a record of events and emotions and revelations.

So there you go. My year in review. What about you? What stands out for you? Do you have a word or words for 2008? How about any goals or New Year's Resolutions? Please share if you feel so inclined.

And Happy New Year!

-rlh-

one week until Christmas

This morning I was reading A Classic Nativity Devotional, and I paused to reflect on Isaiah 9:6-7 and John 1:14:

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the LORD Almighty will guarantee this! (Isaiah 9:6-7, NLT)

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, KJV)

Then I had to put on a song by Anointed, The Word Was Made Flesh. It's from the album Emmanuel - A Musical Celebration of the Life of Christ. I love this album. It features songs by many favorite Christian artists including Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Twila Paris, Sandy Patti, and Point of Grace. This particular song has a drum beat that resounds in my heart as it plays. I can play it over and over and over again.

But back to the verses above: Consider what they tells us. God came to earth as an infant for "us." For you and me and even for those who mock Him and reject Him. His government of peace has not ended for 2000 years. Imperfect believers have not managed to destroy it nor have those who hate those who believe. His government will never end. He took a bunch of imperfect men and empowered them to spread the good news. They did, and it changed the world.

When I get discouraged over the direction our nation has taken in my lifetime, when I wonder if it is possible to impact America as it slides ever deeper into immorality, when I see the atheist manifestos rise to the top of the bestseller lists, I am reminded of the godless cities of the first century world. Cities that were changed by the good news that God was made flesh and dwelt among us. Christ remains full of grace and truth. He was given to us, for us. His royal titles endure: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Thank You, Jesus. I am grateful for and amazed by Your arrival into this world so long ago, doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. I bow down and worship You, Mighty God and Prince of Peace. Amen.

May you, dear reader, know the wonder of the Word made flesh this Christmas season.

Robin

all unrighteousness

For the past two weeks, I've been getting only about four hours of sleep a night. Once I wake up, I'm awake for good. This is a pattern of sleep I've known before (fibromyalsia being the prime cause), and I was sorry to see its return after more than a year of seven to eight hour nights.

This morning, a few minutes before 3:00 a.m., I awoke from a dream. I don't remember any details, although I think what started the dream was watching a movie last night about three generations of women who were so dysfunctional and abused and abusive and warped by sin and their view of the world that I felt my heart break for those fictional characters. Anyway that movie brought to mind stuff from my past, stuff I regret deeply, despite the passage of two-plus decades. And that "stuff" was a direct result of the period of time when I drifted away from Jesus. When we don't get and/or stay close to God, we make very poor choices and are influenced by the world's strong pull and temptations.

But this morning, on the heels of the memories and familiar feelings of remorse, a Bible verse flooded my mind and heart:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9, NASB)

Not just forgiven but cleansed. Not just cleansed of a little but from all. Here is the same verse in the Amplified Bible:

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].

I've known this Scripture since I first gave my heart to Jesus. It's one I memorized and have quoted many, many times through the years. I haven't just known it; I've believed it. But this morning, I felt God wanting me to grasp the truth of it in a new and deeper way. I felt it wash over me, engulf me, set me free. And from there, He took me to the beauty of Psalm 139 (quotes below using the NLT):

O LORD, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my every thought when far away.
You chart the path ahead of me
and tell me where to stop and rest.
Every moment you know where I am.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, LORD.
You both precede and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to know! (verses 1-6)

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God!
They are innumerable!
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up in the morning,
you are still with me! (verse 17-18)

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (verses 23-24)

Amazing. Awesome. Such knowledge is, indeed, too wonderful for me to comprehend.

Do you have regrets that still haunt you? If so, I hope you felt God at work in you as you read those words above.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

He is everything

In today's lesson of the Breaking Free study, Beth Moore asks: "Do you presently have a yearning for the presence of God? I'm not talking about guilt feelings or even conviction of sin when He's not your priority. I'm referring to a yearning for God that draws you over and over into His presence. A yearning that makes only a few days without time in prayer and His Word seem like an eternity."

A few days ago, I emailed two of my dearest friends, saying: "I want to hear [the Lord] and go through the doors God chooses for me. I want to learn again to be still before Him. So would you both pray for me in that regard?"

It's so hard in this world we live in of 24/7 news and cell phones that make us available 24/7 and email and entertainment and responsibilities and the need to nurture relationships and a host of other things to simply be still before God. Especially during this season of the year. And I know that stillness in His presence is what He is calling me to experience, His presence in the quiet, a time for loving Him. Everywhere I turn He is speaking to me about this. In Sunday's sermon. In my Bible study. In the worship songs that play in my iTunes.

This morning, I listened to this song over and over again (You Are Everything, Everything I Need by Brian Doerksen):

My soul is yearning for Your living stream
My heart is aching for You
All that I long for is found in Your heart
You are everything I need

You are the thirst
You are the stream
You are the hunger living deep inside of me
You are the food that satisfies
You are provision for the journey of our lives
You are everything You are

Simple, simple words but so profound.

Lord, You are both the thirst and the water that quenches it. You are both the hunger and the food that fills me. Cause me to love You above all else. Cause me to seek You throughout my day, throughout my life. Bring me into Your sanctuary and teach me to abide in You. I love You, Lord. Teach me to love You more. And in loving You, help me to be a reflection of the miracles You have worked in my life. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit. In Christ's magnificent name, Amen.

May you, dear reader, experience His awesome presence today.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

all about my life

Usually once a day I look at the Typepad stats, showing how many visitors I've had in the previous 24 hours. Many don't show what brought the visitors to Write Thinking. People either have this blog bookmarked or view on Bloglines or another RSS reader or they subscribe to the FeedBlitz email. Sometimes it shows another blog's address, so I know they clicked on a link in that other blog. (Just in case you aren't familiar with this, let me reassure you that I can't see anything that identifies you unless you leave a comment and identify yourself.)

The thing that interests me most, however, is the search criteria that brings visitors to Write Thinking. My post about BSU football player Marty Tadman still gets regular hits eleven months later. A search string about writing thank you notes has brought a number of readers here. I haven't a clue why. Dancing with the Stars and American Idol posts get me visitors. Other writers' books or movies that I blog about gets me visitors too. My post about Sandy Patty brings visitors almost on a weekly basis.

Of course, the most frequent of all searches are simply the words "Robin Lee Hatcher." I have to assume that these are people who have read one of my books and now are looking for more information on line. That search always brings up my web site first and this blog second. I'm delighted that these visitors were interested enough to look me up.

There have been a couple of search strings over the past couple of years that have actually bothered me. Let me just say it made me wonder about the people who were looking for that information. (Know what I mean?)

thankful . . . even for the deadline

Daughter #1's house is probably starting to smell good about now. Me, I'll pop my contribution into the oven in another hour. In the meantime, I'm working. This book is due on Monday, and it'll be by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin that I make it.

Our society has done a good job of taking Christ out of Christmas and it has done a similar number by taking the thanks out of thanksgiving. Today is often referred to as Turkey Day, and thus many who can afford to celebrate with a big turkey and stuffing and sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes with turkey gravy and several kinds of pie for dessert fail to stop a moment to count their blessings.

I'm thankful for so much. I'm thankful for another year with my mom (approaching her 94th birthday). I'm thankful for my daughters and their families, for the love we share and for always being there, no matter what. I'm thankful for my dearest and closest of friends, who know me well and love me anyway. I'm thankful for the community of Christian novelists who encourage one another as we pursue our callings. I'm thankful for my publishers, my editors, my agent, and my readers. I'm thankful for Mac computers and iPods and Blackberries. I'm thankful for Poppet and other pets I've loved through the years. I'm thankful for a good reliable car and a warm snug house when it is only 30 degrees outside at noon. I'm thankful that I live in America, even as I pray for a nation at war, without and within. I'm thankful for the freedom I enjoy to read the Bible. I'm thankful for good books to read when I go to bed at night.

And for all of the above, I'm thankful to God who gave me life and a purpose. I'm thankful for the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Atheists can deny Him until the end of time, and it does not negate that He is God, that He is the Creator, and that He loves us.

So here is to Thanksgiving Day instead of turkey day. Here is to remembering to be thankful.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

God's way of saying "Have a nice day!"

I was just sent this photo by email, and it is simply too cool not to share:

Psalm 13

In my time of worship this morning, I was listening to (and singing along with) Brian Doerksen's beautiful song, Psalm 13 (How Long Oh Lord). The words of the song always move me, especially the chorus which is taken from the last two verses of the psalm:

O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever?
         How long will you look the other way?
      How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
         with sorrow in my heart every day?
         How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

     Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!
         Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die.
     Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
         Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.    

But I trust in your unfailing love.
         I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
      I will sing to the LORD
         because he has been so good to me. (Psalm 13)

Because of my current study by Beth Moore, Breaking Free, I've been thinking a lot about the times and ways God has rescued me, and how thankful I am for His unfailing love. For a number of years (from about 1997 through 2002), I led a women's Bible study in my home, and I remember telling the women in that study that God's lesson to me for the '90's was "Obedience, Obedience, Obedience." When I obey God, I keep in footstep with Him, following the path He has for me. And when I do that, I don't need rescued. But because I'm human, I sometimes get off that path, and it is oh-so-good to know that His unfailing love will always come to my rescue.

I can trust Him. So can you.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

the victorious God, a victorious faith

God wants us to be victors. We don't become victors by conquering the enemy. We become victors through surrender to Christ. We don't become victors by our independence from the enemy. We become victors by our dependence on God. Victorious lives flow from victorious thoughts. Thinking victorious thoughts comes from setting our focus on a victorious God.
— Beth Moore in Breaking Free

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith." (1 John 5:4)

I want to be a victorious overcomer every day.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

Life Verses

Are you looking for a different devotional for the new year? Here is one that might interest you. It's The One Year Life Verse Devotional. When I received my copy last week, I flipped through it, reading a number of entries. I'm going to enjoy this devotional a lot.

Book Description

Is there a verse from the Bible that has special significance to you? Maybe it’s one piece of Scripture God used to inspire, challenge, or rescue you at a turning point in your life. Maybe it’s a verse you learned as a child from a grandparent. Or one you recite each morning to begin your day. The One Year Life Verse Devotional contains stories of well-known authors and speakers, athletes and entertainers. Uncover how these key verses helped define people’s role in God’s plan--whether they are Bible characters or ordinary people. Discover God’s revelations to his people through Scripture, including your very own life verse.

From the Back Cover

Remarkable People. Remarkable Stories. Remarkable Verses.

Randy Alcorn
Stuart and Jill Briscoe
Chuck Colson
James and Shirley Dobson
Elisabeth Elliot
Jerry Jenkins
Kevin Leman
Patrick Morley
Josh McDowell
Lee Strobel
Francine Rivers
Joni Eareckson Tada
Kurt Warner

Remarkable people and their inspiring Life Verses from the Bible.
Discover for yourself the power of God’s Word in the lives of 365 people.

          

FYI, my entry in this devotional is on March 1.

-rlh-

a year of biblical living

Here's an interesting piece from Newsweek (a web exclusive).

What if you spent one year following every rule in the Bible? A. J. Jacobs did exactly that.

After A. J. Jacobs spent a year reading the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica for his book “The Know-It-All,” he figured he had the yearlong experiment thing down. How much harder could it be to follow every rule in the Bible? Much, much harder, he soon discovered, as he found himself growing his beard, struggling not to curse and asking strangers for permission to stone them for adultery. Jacobs spent the year carrying around a stapled list of the more than 700 rules and prohibitions identified in the Good Book, and also consulted with religious leaders and spent time with the Amish, Hassidic Jews and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Read the rest of the article here.

This guy was obviously mixing different religions that take their text from the Bible, and although he didn't exit the experiment as a religious Jew or a born again Christian, he did end it with respect for a life of faith.

-rlh-

this, that, and the other

Revisions and Rewrites:

I've been keeping my nose to the proverbial grindstone and will continue to do so for the next few weeks. Expect blog posts to be sporadic as I don't know much about the world beyond what is happening in the story in front of me (although while I worked out this morning, I saw that OJ was arrested).

Breaking Free:

I decided to participate in the Beth Moore study, Breaking Free. It started last week. The other two Moore studies that I've done (Believing God and Living Beyond Yourself) were both done on my own using the on-line videos. So it is nice to be doing this with a group. I think there were between 80 and 100 women in my class. There is another class doing it on a different day and time. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Lord reveals to me through this class.

Christian Fiction Monday:

It's that time again for me to feature another great author and great book. This Monday the book is from my good friend and fellow brainstorming partner, Tricia Goyer. Tricia is an amazing writer and her books set against the backdrop of war are intricately researched and fascinating to read. So don't miss her latest.

Shadow of Treason
Book 2 in the Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series

Sophie discovers that nothing is as she first imagined. When Walt, the reporter who helped her over the border, shows up again after Guernica is bombed, Sophie is given an impossible mission. She must leave behind the man she's fallen in love with and return to the person who betrayed her. Another layer of the war in Spain is revealed as Sophie is drawn into the international espionage schemes that could turn the tide of the war and help protect the soldiers from the International Brigade ... she must find a way to get a critical piece of information to Walt in time.

Read the first chapter of Shadow of Treason.

Tricia's Bio:

Tricia Goyer has written seven novels for Moody Publishing. Night Song was awarded American Christian Fiction Writer's 2005 Book of the Year for Best Long Historical. Dawn of a Thousand Nights won the same award in 2006.  Tricia has also written Life Interrupted: The Scoop on Being a Young Mom (Zondervan, 2004), 10 Minutes to Showtime (Thomas Nelson, 2004), and Generation NeXt Parenting (Multnomah, 2006). Life Interrupted was a 2005 Gold Medallion finalist in the Youth Category.  Also, coming out in the next year are: My Life, Unscripted (Thomas Nelson, 2007), Generation NeXt Marriage (Multnomah, Spring 2008), and 3:16-the teen version of the a book by Max Lucado (Thomas Nelson, Spring 2008).

Tricia and her husband John live with their three children in Kalispell, Montana. Tricia's grandmother also lives with them, and Tricia volunteers mentoring teen moms and leading children's church. Although Tricia doesn't live on a farm, she can hit one with a rock by standing on her back porch and giving it a good throw.

discipleship lessons from Luke 14

At the Boise Vineyard, we are working our way through the Book of Luke. And yesterday we were in Luke 14:25-35. Pastor Tri said some great things worth repeating here (and worth listening to if you choose to follow the link):

• "Don't build a mega-church. Build mega-people." [I love this!]
• "We're not looking for hot flashes. We're looking for a long, slow burn."
• Jesus didn't say, "Go make converts." He said, "Go make disciples." He wants authentic believers who are engaged in the Kingdom work.
• There are four steps in the process of discipleship:

1. Consecration - dedication to God
2. Transformation - to change within (transformation puts us in touch with our sin so that we can't bear to live the same way anymore)
3. Sanctification - set aside by God for His purposes
4. Reformation - to form again

• The world is in serious trouble. Drug and alcohol addictions. Human trafficking in the millions upon millions (primarily women and children, sold into slavery, often sexual slavery). And so much more.
• Many today are withdrawing into small groups as their only church because they think it will be more "relevant." But we shouldn't be breaking into small pieces. We need to be uniting in discipleship.
• The world won't change until the church is reformed and then moves out to reform the world around us. God wants His people to be salt, to change the church and the world.
• The world around us today is confusing and fast moving. It is a completely different place than it was just a couple of decades ago. Comparing what President Bush does to what President Reagan did is apples and oranges because Reagan's world was so very different from what the world is today. God is calling His people to action, to engage in the world around us.
• Salt adds flavor, but it also causes extreme pain when it is put it an open wound. Are we willing to be salt in this world we find ourselves in? We were not born into this world by accident but for a purpose.

Body of Christ, we can make a difference. We really can.

-rlh-

left behind?

This video isn't to be missed. It came to me courtesy of Katy Raymond at Fallible. I have already forwarded it to the worship leader at my church and one other pastor who I'm sure will pass it along even further. I also sent it to one of my writer's groups, and I see that Angie Hunt beat me to posting about it.

Katy's church's Minister of Music "penned this puppy in response to Pastor Tom Nelson’s current teaching on the book of Daniel, and specifically in response to the chapters of Daniel that deal with the End Times." Hey, I can still tell you the nightmares I had in the 1970's because of some End Time teachings.

Anyway, this YouTube video is so funny and delightful. It will make you chuckle and maybe get rid of some of those old nightmares. And there is truth too. We can trust our Sovereign King. Don't miss it.

-rlh-

a thought from the past

Steps and Stops

The steps of a man are established by the LORD;
And He delights in his way.
When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong;
Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.
(Psalm 37:23-24, NASB)

God has a plan for my life. He guides my steps. Not only does He guide my steps, He is also in charge of the stops that happen in my life. Sometimes I stop when He tells me. Sometimes I stumble and fall. But I'm not hurled headlong to the ground because Jesus holds my hand.

Awesome! You are awesome, God Most High! The steps and the stops in my life are established by You, and You delight in my way. Praise Your Holy Name!

May you have a blessed Lord's Day, dear readers.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

wisdom

Here I am, at the Boise Airport, waiting for my flight on a regional prop plane. I love that I have free Wi-Fi here. Every airport should do this since travelers must spend hours waiting ... and waiting ... and waiting.

Anyway, I thought I would post something about the time I've spent in Proverbs recently. FYI, after a slight detour to do Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself, which was wonderful, I am back into my regularly scheduled odd-numbered year reading through the Bible. The past six or seven days I've been in Proverbs, part of the wisdom literature of Scripture.

I've been very mindful of the passages that tell us about our enemies: If they're hungry or thirsty, give them food/water.; don't rejoice when they fall into trouble; don't envy sinners; and many more. One reason these verses stood out to me this week is because a friend of mine was recently treated rudely/cruelly by someone she thought was a friend. My friend is a believer. Her friend isn't. I've experienced similar rudeness/cruelty. I know the sting. And I know it's not always easy to respond as God would have me. But if I listen to Him, He'll help me, in my actions and even in my thoughts. And so I pray for my friend to find His comfort and healing for the hurt she has felt, and that she will rise above the pettiness of others.

One of my first pastors told me that I should read a chapter of Proverbs every day of the month (chapter 1 on the first, chapter 2 on the second, etc.). In doing so, I would absorb God's wisdom for living. I never got into that habit, but I can see that it is good advice.

If you are looking for a Bible reading plan for this year, feel free to jump in with me. You can find the schedule I use here. Of all the books you can read, the Bible is the one most needed. For a believer, it is bread for the journey. Don't starve yourself.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

reasons the choir is sick?

Ann Tatlock has a great post over on Charis Connection about "Preaching to the Choir." And I don't say it's great because she attributed one line to yours truly. The whole post is worth reading, but it was these two paragraphs that struck like a knife in the heart:

Unfortunately, anything is going strong. Did you hear about the Presbyterian church that sponsored a retreat for women, inviting them to get away and worship the divine goddess within themselves? The Methodist church that incorporated Wiccan (modern witchcraft) prayers into its morning services? The Baptist church that taught a class on our fellow Christian believers: Mormons, Christian Scientists, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Unitarian Universalists?

I wish I could say it weren’t so. But in fact I attended that class at the Baptist church out of curiosity. My jaw was on the floor throughout. This same church offers a wide variety of New Age literature in its library.

In my comment to her post, I said:

For the record, it was God who whispered those words: "Yes, and the choir is sick!" in response to my question: "But God, isn't writing for the CBA preaching to the choir?" From that moment on, I knew God had called me to write for believers. I want to write entertaining fiction with a strong Christian worldview in order to encourage, edify, and build up the body of Christ.

But your examples of some reasons the church needs edification, etc., made my heart ache. I had not heard these before.

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the possibility that churches who profess to be Christian can encourage women to "worship the goddess within" or incorporate Wiccan prayers in their services. How can this be? It makes me fall to my knees in thanksgiving for my church home where the Bible is taught in fullness and truth. It makes me thank God for the teaching I have had throughout my Christian walk, grounding me in the Scriptures. It makes me thankful for the easy access to the Bible, in all the wonderful English versions and as audio books and on my computer.

Oh, friends. Read your Bibles and don't let your ears be tickled (2 Tim 4:3-4).

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

Athiests take aim

June 6, 2007, The Barna Group

(Ventura, CA) - A new evangelistic movement has emerged in America. Yet this effort does not spring from those loyal to a particular faith or religious view.

The new evangelists are atheists. People who have determined there is no God or who doubt his existence (a group commonly known as agnostics) are adopting a more aggressive, intentional effort to discredit the notion that God exists and to critique people of faith. Widely reviewed new books such as The God Delusion and God is Not Great represent this movement. 

Beyond the bestseller lists, however, a new survey shows there is indeed a significant gap between Christians and those Americans who are in the "no-faith" camp. For instance, most atheists and agnostics (56%) agree with the idea that radical Christianity is just as threatening in America as is radical Islam. At the same time, two-thirds of Christians (63%) who have an active faith perceive that the nation is becoming more hostile and negative toward Christianity. ("Active faith" was defined as simply having gone to church, read the Bible and prayed during the week preceding the survey.)

Read the rest of Atheists and Agnostics Take Aim at Christians

Guest Blogger: Rachel Hauck

 

Hi Everyone,

It’s great to be guest blogging on Robin Lee’s site again. She gave me space last November, too. Thank you, Robin.

Even though this is part of the Diva NashVegas blog tour, I had on my heart to share about my first impression of Robin when I met her in ’03.

It was October 2003. She was the keynote speaker for the second annual American Christian Fiction Writer’s conference. I was the inadequate conference coordinator. (Never, ever doubt God’s grace to help you do something you don’t know how.)

I’d heard a lot about Robin, but was not familiar with her work, or person.

She was gracious and lovely. Kind, soft spoken and very transparent. I’ve seen her once a year since then, and she’s the same.

Her opening talk in ’03 touched to every attendee. People still talk about it.

What did she say? In a word, God is good. Robin talked about her life that morning, highlighted her successes as well as her failures. Throughout, she reminded us of the Father’s love and grace.

God ministered to every attendee. There was such a graciousness in the room. Robin is an encourager and mentor.

Recently, I bought a Mac computer. Robin, bless her, answered many of my technical questions. For a brief time, she was my tech support. <G>

Robin exemplifies Jesus and wants others to succeed in Him. She is the real deal.

And, on a pleasant side note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROBIN!

Colossians 4:6  “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”

---

Robin here: I'm not quite sure how to respond other than to say thanks for Rachel's kind words. I'm so blessed by the many special people God has brought into my life because of my ministry of writing, both writers and readers. Rachel is one of those special people. Be sure to check out Diva NashVegas soon.

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