Posts

July 16th

July 16th

Posted on by Lois Williams

Well, I was in Montana for a few days! Now we have arrived in Casper, Wyoming for a couple of weeks. Fred’s sister is getting married on Saturday and we will be celebrating Fred’s 60th high school class reunion the following Saturday, before we turn for home. And back again to Montana.

There is so much going on in my heart and mind…I’m excited at how well “Signposts” is being received. I’ve nearly sold out of my second shipment, thank You God!! I am filled to the brim with sweet moments of family time and memories that erupt around every bend in the road! If I were to coalesce my thoughts in any way I would want to talk about water. Maybe next week I can talk about mountains! But as we drove the hundreds of miles to get here I was mesmerized, as usual, by the many rivers, ponds, lakes and streams we passed. I love the sound of a rushing river; the sight of sunlight on the frothy sprays that occur when the water meets an obstruction like a rock or log. Placid, slow-moving sometimes; rushing headlong at others. How alive they make me feel! But the next curve may bring us to a separate pond. A pond that sits away from the river, scummy with slimy growth, and looking dead and still. I mused at the contrast. With no apparent inlet or outlet, the pond has very little, if any, life. The rivers and streams however, pulse with energy, constant movement…life.

My spiritual life often contains the same contrast. And I think it’s true of all of us. When we are drenched with the water of the Word, it enters us, flows through us and out in love and service. But just as water can become stagnant with no fresh water, so can we. Water’s freshness or staleness depends on the circumstances surrounding it. I want to be a conduit of fresh water to those whom God places in my path. It is so vital, then, that I allow the Word of God, the Living Water Jesus says He is, to be my Source. John 4 and 7?

I can hardly take my eyes off the beautiful rivers of Montana, pushing through canyons, racing along the farmlands, watering the earth. After many years of traveling the same roads, I know where to look! And prepare myself for a jolt of excitement, as I always say to Fred, “Look at the river, how it glistens in the sun!” My prayer is that I never look inside myself and see a stagnant pool, covered with algae!

Thanks, as always , for accompanying me on this journey we call life. Let’s splash in the river of Joy in Jesus this week!

Sending my love, Lois

What Is Success?

Posted on by Lois Williams

June 19th

A beautiful summer day! It lifts one’s spirits just to look outside at blue skies, and smell the freshness of the cool breeze. Yep. I love summer mornings!

It has occurred to me that I failed to post my thoughts last week! It was a week filled with rehearsals, speaking, performances, doctor appointments, and it zoomed by before I practically had a chance to catch my breath. That is not a complaint; in actuality I am gratified to have these events in my life, rejoicing in good health and anticipation.

I finally received the first shipment of “SIGNPOSTS”! And as some of you know, we are planning a book-signing on Sunday, the 24th. Which means that there is much to be done to get ready. And as I think about the days ahead, I want to share with you my heart with regard to this book project. There is obviously a lot of emotion attached to the marketing of a book. Some trepidation, concern about its reception in the marketplace, and of course, the ego! I’d like to quote author Holley Gerth from a post she shared that has bolstered me, encouraged me and brought peace as I’ve completed my part.

Hear from Holley: “How can I make sure this goes well? As I ponder, slowly I begin to see the true meaning: Success isn’t about outcome; it’s about obedience.” ( I actually have this quote on my refrigerator!) She goes on: “Who I’m turning this over to matters more than how it all turns out. God’s got this. He’s got me too, And whatever happens next, in His eyes it will be a success.”   I have to trust this truth. Because I feel I have been obedient in putting this book together.

So yesterday, waiting for the book delivery, I wrote in my journal: “Father, as this book goes out, may I be confident in You to work through it. And the verses from Isaiah 55:10-11 surfaced in my heart. ‘For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth and make it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall MY word be that goes forth from MY mouth; it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.’ This is Your promise, God. I am simply reminding You of it. ‘Signposts’ contains Your word from Your mouth, flowing through the ink of my pen. Please, please, may it accomplish that which You please, and not return to You void! Oh, that is my prayer.”

I am asking you, my friends, to pray that prayer with me in the days ahead. And I will be forever grateful.

As a commercial, the book is still available at the pre-order price of $12.00. Just let me know in a comment. Amazon has it in both bound copy, and a Kindle edition. I trust that as you pray, you will be blessed to be a part of this whole thing…as you already have been!

Love, Lois

For Mothers

For Mothers

Posted on by Lois Williams

Hello my friends! It’s been a crazy week so far, but it’s smoothing out and I want to settle for a moment and share with you some thoughts.

It’s getting close to Mother’s Day and as always, our thoughts turn to those who carried us and who gave birth to us, as God’s perfect plan for our lives began. Most of you know that my own mother went to heaven when I was little girl, so there is a poignancy to my ponderings this week. I so often wonder what my life would have been if I had had the privilege of growing up with her loving wisdom and grace surrounding me. What would she think of the woman I am now? How would I be different had I not experienced the grief of her passing? And the bitterness and resentment that filled me for so many years?

When my first book came out I sent a copy to my aunt, my dad’s sister. She knew my mother well, and she called me after receiving the book and said, “Oh, Lois. Your mother would be so proud of you!” Something broke inside me at those words, and I cried and cried as a healing peace settled over my heart. I had not realized how much I craved words of approval that my mother might have uttered. It was a huge step toward a renewed sense of my worth.

So, as I sit here at my computer thinking of you and all of the issues that surround our mothers and our own mothering, I want to say that my heart goes out to all of us…because all of us are affected one way or another by how we are mothered. Some are blessed by having had, or still have, a nurturing relationship with your mother. Some are wounded by rejection or painful relationships. Some are longing to become a mother and finding disappointment. I believe, as well, that some of you are facing that final earthly separation, as age and illness take their toll. Whatever is the case in your life right now, I encourage you to know at the depth of yourself that God is sovereign over our lives. He longs to heal the painful things, and receive praise for the good things.

I am a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother. My own blessing came from having a mother-in-law who loved me as sweetly and intensely as if she had borne me. She often told me so. I have no idea of what I would have done as a mother without her! My prayer is that I will be the kind of mother-in-law to my sons’ wives that she was to me. To love them unconditionally and be supportive as they walk alongside of our sons. To celebrate their own mothering and keep my mouth shut!!  (Unless they ask, of course!) Seriously, the best way we can give God thanks is to be all He has made us to be, and nurture that goal in those who come after.

I pray for myself that those who are coming behind me will see and know my faith and my heart. That my grandchildren and great-grands will observe a life that honors God. Billy Graham once said: “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or the material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.”

For you, however you will be observing Mother’s Day on Sunday, my prayer is that you will pause for a moment and let your Heavenly Father speak His love into your soul. And that you will resolve to say with the Psalmist, “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.” Psalm 78:4.That’s all for today!

Love,

Lois

Focus

Focus

Posted on by Lois Williams

Hello!

It’s been a few busy days, trying to get the final work done on my book.  We have chosen the cover and finished the bibliography, so the end is in sight. It is always exciting at this point in publication, but also some anxiousness stalks the corners of my mind! So many details with timing being pretty important.

Anyway, with all that said, I really want to examine some of what I wrote about last week…our focus on God in worship and praise. I find myself with my mind wandering as I sit before Him. Not too long ago I wrote a meditation following a message from my pastor that challenged me to look at my priorities. I share that with you now.

FOCUS

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”  1 John 3:16

Love dictates our focus.
Like an etching on glass,
what we really love
grows in magnitude under
the microscope through which
we peer at life.

Is it Jesus?
Is our desire to love like He does?
Or do we only see the selfish needs
that demand our attention.

I am challenged to examine the specimen
that defines my motivations, fuels my behavior.
Perhaps there is a fresh need clamoring for perusal.
A need to serve, not myself, but others;
serving from love, like Jesus does,
seeing lacks, hurts and pain,
and reaching out with the right motivation…

Love.

Because He first loved me.
Oh, how that would change
the slide under my life’s microscope;
not one etched with my needs,
but the things that break the heart of Jesus.

©   Lois Williams

I’m focused on so many things right now, but what I really want is to find my way to an undivided heart, a heart totally focused on Him. This reminds me of a story I heard not too long ago. A busy father was working in his office, while his little son played nearby, happy just to be with his dad. Wanting to get a bit of attention, he said, “Dad,” to which his father replied, “Yes, Son, I’m here” without taking his attention from what he was doing. Again the little boy said, “Dad!” Twice more this happened, with no change in the father’s absorption in his work. Finally frustrated, the little boy said very loudly, “Dad, I want you to listen to me with your face!”

I thought about this and about our relationship with God. We want Him to listen to us with His face, His total attention.  Is it not to be assumed that He, too, wants us to listen to Him with OUR face? To be absorbed in what He is showing us, telling us. Hearing Him and letting all else fade into the background for a time. As the poem above says, “love dictates our focus”; thus the real question is, “Do I love Him?” One more quote! This from a hymn, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” Amen. That beautiful, wonderful face that sees us with unfathomable love, longs for our willing focus.

I am challenged.

Til next time,

Love,

Lois