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All Things Southern, blog, Good news, latest chat

When God Has a Question for You

Hello friend, greetings from my back porch where I would not be stationed were it not for the breeze from the ceiling fans! I dearly love writing outdoors but the August humidity in Louisiana is legendary and today is no different. It showered briefly earlier and it’s trying to build up again. I’d give up and ask the Good Lord to send it on down, but we’ve just started harvesting and we’re hoping He’ll keep the faucets turned off for a few weeks around here. And that thought takes me back in time… This farmer’s daughter remembers telling her mother a lifetime ago that she was not going to marry a farmer because we were always praying for it to rain or praying for it to quit raining. Mama laughed and told me not to say what I wouldn’t do. Bless her. She was right again. Of course, unless you’re brand spanking new to this community, you know I’d marry the Beloved Farmer a thousand times over. Following Jesus will always be the best decision I’ve ever made, but Phil has the number two spot sewed up. Here’s a sweet shot of I took yesterday when I made it home from Fairhope, Alabama. I’m going to tell y’all about that trip in just a moment, but first, this guy.

 

 

When I’m driving back into town I always go to the farm to find Phil before I even think about going home to unpack. Look at that smiling face! Wouldn’t you? See that blond hair curling out from his cap because he hasn’t stopped for a haircut? He doesn’t like that but I love it! I’d say it reminds me of our dating season, except we’re still dating. Still smiling at each other like this. You do know how important that is, right? I know life is busy and it can be hard when it’s good, but that’s all the more reason to be intentional about how you treat each other in the thick of it! And now, about that trip. 

I was speaking at First Fairhope Baptist this past weekend and was grateful to be able to combine it with a few writing days. Other than my morning prayer sessions on the beach, I put in silly long writing sessions on the balcony of my condo listening to the ocean and occasionally looking up to see the beach, when I really wanted to be sitting on the beach reading someone else’s book. True story.  Of course, God was who He is. Faithful. And the result? I was able to turn my manuscript in yesterday, two full weeks ahead of the deadline. Somebody help me shout! I should be able to share the title and final cover design any day now, but for now, this is the Bible study I’ve been writing on John’s gospel. And seriously, a year ago I was talking to my agent about it and he was beginning to shop the proposal around and me– I was trying to figure out if I had lost my mind. The very idea of writing a Bible study on John felt daunting, like far too big an undertaking for this girl. And now, it’s done. I haven’t quit smiling since I hit send on the email. Granted, I’ll see it again once my editor takes a brilliant pass at it, but that’s work for another day. 

I’m asking the Lord for really big things from this one, friend, because He asked me to ask Him. Yeah, that will need some explaining, won’t it?

I’ve been praying over the material as I’ve been writing, as is my custom, and I’ve had a prayer team (a most treasured group of people!) praying over it with me, but something happened in my vegetable garden that took those prayers to another level. I was trying to wrangle the plants back into submission. The garden had been quite the over achiever while I was gone and what with the husband harvesting, there was a good bit of work to do. I can usually take one bowl down to our beds by the lake bank to gather produce. This morning one bowl wasn’t enough. I had to go back to the house for another bowl, and then another bowl, in order to hold all the bounty. And that’s when Holy Spirit began asking me, “Can you believe for this kind of unexpected over-the-top soul harvest from this book?”  
It startled me. I began to respond, “Yes, Lord! Yes, I will believe!” But the thing is, He kept asking! The entire time I was in the garden I kept hearing the same “can you” question even though I kept saying yes to it. And then, I saw the light, so to speak. LOL. I understood what He was asking.

“No, Lord,” I said. “I actually can’t. I can’t believe like that in my own faith. I’ll need YOU to believe that way. Help me believe.” 

Holy Spirit was satisfied, dare I say pleased. I’ve asked my family to pray this way with me, and I would greatly appreciate it if y’all would join us.  When’s the last time you knew God was asking you a question? I’d love to hear about it. Drop me a note. Oh, and I have more to say about Orange Beach and my experiences with Jesus there, but I’ve decided to put it in another post. Stay tuned. 

Hugs,
Shellie

Comments

  • shellie
    August 25, 2022

    Hey Michael! Thank you kindly for your encouraging words, your commiseration over our humidity LOL, and most of all, your prayers. Your correspondence has been a blessing today! Hugs, Shellie

  • Michael Cresswell
    August 25, 2022

    As usual Shellie, my spirits are lifted having read your prayerful missive.
    I too shall pray that this new “Book to be” will be done and gone to
    market. The one thing that I do not miss is the heavy, weighty feel of
    that deep south humidity. Like someone soaked a wool blanket in boiling
    water, rung it out ,and wrapped you up in it ; all under the existing
    heat of a 100 degree blazing sun.
    Take care now. I, and those with whom I share your writings always
    look forward to your next one! I’ve included my alternate email
    ( It’s just for family and friends chatter) (Longstreet61@gmail.com)
    Of course I can always be reached at either. Peace be upon you………….Michael

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