Success

The bread dough moves soft and pliable in my hands. I form it into little balls and space them out on the pan.

I love how the sun splashes warm and comforting across the counter and mingles with the Classical music strumming. A lazy afternoon breeze wafts through my kitchen and I breathe in the quiet moment; the peace of it all.

Contentment all dressed up and making sense out of the day.

I strive for uniformity with straight little rows on the pan.

Had I heard somewhere that all were to be alike?

Would it matter if some were oddly shaped, some large, some small?

Each would successfully serve its purpose….regardless, I decide.

 

Only YOU can make your foot print.

No one else.

Your laugh, your smile, the way you sigh when you see a rainbow – it all makes you unique.

It makes you….you.

The road you take toward success won’t be like theirs. Won’t be like hers. There may not be a road at all…until you carve one out.

But, you’ll get there.

He said you would.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) NIV

Sometimes, all it takes is a dream…and to be pliable in His hands.

"Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." (Isaiah 64:8) NIV

Be Blessed,

Debbie

Just Thinkin' Ahead

My family thinks I’m a little “off” because I’m always living a season ahead. I’ve said it before (guess I’ll say it again…) there are only 2 seasons on my personal calendar:

Gardening and Christmas!

I load up our fireplace mantle with mini pumpkins, gourds and fall foliage somewhere in mid-August. It seems I’m the first one bold enough to hang a festive fall wreath on my front door before the little ones pass by on their way to school. My kids tease me and roll their eyes when I break out Christmas CDs and DVDs in September. (Small confession: I’ve already been burning cinnamon/spice candles J

This year is no exception. To me, as soon as the fireworks are over July 4^th, I’m anticipating fall. I’m thinking ahead to baking and creating “cozy” throughout my home. I watch the sky for the occasional unexpected rain showers and start planning for the holidays with childlike excitement.

Perhaps this trait of thinking ahead has been God’s plan all along. Maybe He’s been grooming me all these years, preparing me for this new adventure of magazine publishing. Magazines are already planning out a whole year in advance – luckily, with my smaller scale project, it’s only a season.

I’m glad God sometimes provides dreams coming true in small doses – aren’t you?

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

(1 Cor. 10:13)

As we’re busy assembling our thoughts and pages for our upcoming fall issue of Christian Women’s Voice Magazine, my hope is that you’ll be looking ahead, too and consider sharing your thoughts in our first-ever “Moments” contest. (It’s FREE to enter). Autumn is a glorious time of year, and you’re invited to capture and share your best writing with us (250-500 words/fiction-or non fiction). It needs to be related to the season in some way – other than that, just have fun with it! Please submit your entry by August 10^th to: cwvinfo@christianwomensvoice.org

Another way we’d like to get to know you is through our “Creation Station” contest. If you have a well-organized home-office space, maybe a home school classroom or well-organized kitchen pantry or work station of any kind, we’d LOVE to see it and learn more about it! Share your tips, experiences and ideas for the space where you create something lovely to share with others. Again, please submit your entry by August 10^th to: cwvinfo@christianwomensvoice.org

I do hope you’re enjoying your summer and are finding innovative ways to beat the heat and longer days…..but I also hope you’ll join me in anticipating the coming season and all the blessings that accompany it.

Many Blessings to you,

Debbie

Quick Thought of the day: Personal Space

Well, it happened again – another pet peeve moment!

Just about nothing grates on my nerves more than someone encroaching on my personal space. And the worst place for this to happen is in the check-out line.

There I was, once again this morning picking up a few groceries at the store, even remembered to ask for postage stamps, but when I turned to reach for them, someone’s face was in the way!

UGGH!

She was in such a hurry to toss her 14 jars of baby food down the belt assuming I’d completed my transaction….yet, I ended up snarling my way out of the store toward the parking lot thinking how completely rude the woman was to push me on my way before I’d had a chance to stuff my debit card back into my wallet!

I tossed my few bags in the trunk and suddenly realized I was in a God moment. 

I wondered about the times I may have done the same thing to Him. I wonder how many times I’ve decided He’s had enough time to accomplish what I want Him to, only to sort of push Him aside thinking it’s my turn to assume control.

Wow….have you ever done that?

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

(Psalm 27:14 NIV)

The Jul/Aug issue is HERE!

We're so excited about this issue, and you will be, too! Wanna know why???

Sure you do!

YOU have an opportunity to have your BEST fiction or non-fiction published in our magazine in the new "Moments" section! This will be an on-going contest with each issue, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to win! Check out the contest details at christianwomensvoice.org and click the link below to preview and/or order your copy today!

                 

     

       

                     Christian Women's Voice Jul/Aug 2012                  

     

     

       

 By Debbie Dillon                  

       

         50 pages, published 7/1/2012        

     

     

       Our Jul/Aug issue is packed with articles that demonstrate the fruits of the spirit while inspiring you to become the woman God intended.      

     

                               

Like the Chicken

Gotta confess, I’m dragging my tail feathers around today, so to speak. I’m moving slow. I’m grumpy. I’m sleep deprived and coffee hasn’t helped.

Not only have I formed the nasty habit of waking up @ 4am for the past 3 weeks, but this morning at o’ five hundred, my chickens decided to announce LOUDLY that they’d all gathered together up in the coop for an early coffee and egg-laying ceremony! Now, I know why a group of chatty women are referred to as “the hen house”!

So, I struggled into my slippers wrapping my robe around me and sputtering a couple less-than-pretty words into the morning as I scrambled down the stairs and out the back door.

I could just imagine the complaints already; the loud rapping on my front door of disgruntled neighbors, those who sleep at night with the windows open, complaining about being rattled from a sound sleep so early on a summer morning.

I trudged through the wet grass in my oh-so-alluring sleeping attire, and after banging on the side of the coop and telling the ladies to keep it down, I stumbled back in the house… and had to smile.

The chickens…and their clucking.

It’s just what they do – it comes naturally to them!

When it comes to being quiet about Jesus, I want to be a little like

that chicken up there making some noise and rocking people

out of their comfy place – only less obnoxious (smiles).

I want my faith and my passion to serve Him to go before me and speak louder than my inhibitions. I want it to be a natural reaction – I want HIM to be a natural reaction, the first response to everything in my life.

All the good days. All the challenging ones, too. I give them to Him, and will boldly profess His name!

“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary” (Psalm 107:2) NASB

Creation Station Contest

Calling ALL Home School Moms!!! Christian Women’s Voice Magazine would love to feature YOUR amazing classroom environment in our upcoming Back-to-School issue! 

Yes, I have a calendar and I know we’re only nearing the end of June, but it’s never too early to submit your space to our Creation Station Contest! 

If you’d like to share any organizational tips that could benefit other home school families, then please do so by submitting a write-up and photos of your special space to cwvinfo@christianwomensvoice.org

for a chance to win our Creation Station Contest and be featured in our Sept/Oct 2012 issue! You’ll also receive a “goody bag” of special items just for YOU!

Seek Him First

 

So, the bathroom sink is clogged…again! No amount of plunging, begging or industrial-strength Drano will even touch it this time. It’s pretty bad when you have your favorite plumber on speed dial like I do, but with this house, it’s necessary.

He was out here a month or so ago, snaked the drain clear out to the street and, $75 later, we thought the problem was solved.

Wrong!

This morning, I’m standing at the sink plunging away truly seeing myself and others in a similar life scenario.

When things aren’t quite working out the way we plan or as they should and we get “clogged” or stagnant in our thinking, it takes more than a quick fix to really solve the problem.

When we’re in deep and we reach for the plunger or pull out the Drano to just fix it all, they may work for a little while, but to truly put an end to the problem from the inside out, it takes the Master.

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. (Psalm 25:5)

Duh? Why not just go to the source the first time? I thought.

Why? Because the process is never easy. It’s painful and we don’t like pain. We don’t like the discomfort of the cost or the inconvenience. We’re afraid of the work involved even when we’re promised the perfect results when we simply call upon God.

So, why do we keep reaching for the same quick temporary solution expecting different results?

Hmmm….

Today, I pray you reach for the Master – the ONLY One who can break through all the messes in your life. And reach for Him first!

Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! (Psalm 43:3)