faith – Light to grow in; reflections by Genevieve Howard

60-Second Sanctuary is here!

February 3, 2016Posted in UncategorizedTagged Book, faith, personal growth, spirituality, WritingLeave a comment

My book, 60-Second Sanctuary, launches today! If you’d like a copy, please buy one now for $6 on Amazon.

This book grew out of my book from last fall, Creative Women’s Devotional (also on Amazon). People told me, “I liked your book, even though I don’t crochet,” or “I liked your book, even though I’m not Christian,” or “I liked your book, even though I’m not a woman! 😀 ”

After visiting with readers like this, I felt the need to write a devotional that connected us to the Spirit in a quick and open-ended way.

In my new book, 60-Second Sanctuary, every single devotion only takes a moment to practice. If you are busy but feel a longing to strengthen your creative and spiritual side, this book is made for you!

I would like to give a special thanks to my endorsers, Nick Larson and Jenny McGee, who wrote these words about my book.

“We all have but a few minutes a day. I know as a young parent and busy pastor that I often have the urge to ignore enriching my creative side because I feel too busy. Genevieve’s 60-Second Sanctuary is a fantastic tool to help focus my creative God spark and is such a grounded, plausible, inspirational tool that can make an impact in your life.”

—Nick Larson, associate pastor at Broadway Christian Church
and co-author of Never Pray Again

“I highly recommend these daily devotions because they bring you right to the heart of God. You can’t help but have a spiritual and creative transformation as you journey through this book.”

—Jenny McGee, abstract painter, Azulbyjennymcgee.com

I want to thank my family. My son, Derek, who is only in high school, both photographed and designed the cover. He’s way too talented for one person. If you need photos in the CoMo area, contact him. My husband, Logan, was master tea-maker and cheerleader.

❤ Thank you to the many friends and readers who encourage me with notes, gifts, meals, hugs, prayers and squeals when they see me. I love you! You keep me going more than you know!

Tonight (Wednesday) from 6:30 to 9 p.m. (central) I am having an online book launch party on Facebook if you’re interested. What’s an online book launch party? I will post some behind-the-scenes photos of my inspiration, show an excerpt of my raw writing and generally celebrate this happy day! What do I need to do at an online book party? Nothing! Like and comment if you want. Using an event is a way for me to talk about the book to my friends who want to hear about it and not add clutter to the main news feed for friends who aren’t interested. So if you like book stuff, then please join!

As always, God bless you today and always. Wherever the Spirit is leading you, I hope you will follow and find your next adventure. This book has been an adventure for me with ups and downs but a worthwhile journey. I know now I can travel lighter as I work on my next book (a short story memoir about yarn things!)

PS—I hope you’ll let me know how you like 60-Second Sanctuary! If you find it helpful, would you please leave a review on Amazon or on your social media? I’m an indie author and every mention helps the book find its way to new readers. Thanks! ❤

Beyond strong hands

January 28, 2015January 28, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged Christianity, faith5 Comments

Communion_Baptist — Photo by Alanscottwalker, creative commons license

I depend on the work of my hands to feed my family. All day, my fingers tap the keyboard.

I use my hands for my hobby, looping yarn into warm pieces to wear or dishcloths to clean.

I struggle with my hands. Since breaking my hand in a motorcycle accident in my 20s, I’ve always felt the weather. Then I was diagnosed with arthritis in my hand in my 30s.

I serve as a deacon in our church. As I pass the brass trays of bread and juice, I see how many people struggle with their hands, too. The tray might be too heavy. The wafer of bread—as small as a fingernail—might be too small to grasp. The juice cup might be unmanageable for hands that shake.

As I see people struggle, I see others notice and respond. They see the need, respond to the need and show God’s love.

I pray that when my hands give out, I sit next to a true Christian: a person who sees the need and responds to the need, showing God’s love.

Photo by Dino Olivieri, creative commons license (orig: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dino_olivieri/460053136/)

Blessing

God bless your hands. May they do good for others when they are strong, and accept help from others when they are weak.

The scraps of my life

January 21, 2015January 21, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged crochet, faith3 Comments

We pick some experiences in our life. Many more happen to us.

We want joy and pretty sunsets. Sometimes we get pain and time stuck in traffic.

I’m working on a project now that uses up my scrap yarn. It will be an afghan when I’m done. Scrap plus afghan makes scrapghan!

I didn’t pick any of this yarn on purpose. It’s all just yarn that happened.

The variegated rainbow was from a leftover ball a friend at church gave me.

The camouflage was from a hat I made for my husband to use in airsoft. It was a terrible hat that had the power to make anyone wearing it look like a mushroom.

The orange was from a vintage afghan I made based on a book from the 1970s. Long live the color sensibility of the 70s!

The stripes are from a project I never finished. I was going to make a stained glass-type wall hanging. Instead, I didn’t finish it and let it linger in a plastic bag for two years.

When I put together the scraps of my life, all my experiences sewn into one, they look beautiful to me. I think this is how we must look to the angels. A mix of joy and sunsets, pain and time stuck in traffic.

May you be blessed today with air to breathe and grace surrounding you. Peace be with you.

Light for the New Year

December 31, 2014December 31, 2014Posted in UncategorizedTagged faith, new year's resolution, spirituality, Writing6 Comments

2014 was a good and bright year! One of the highlights was the book signing in September. I had fun seeing everyone and getting a taste of celebrity (and that is all I need…just a taste).

If you remember my 2014 resolution, I did well with my singing and sang almost every day. My husband was sweet enough to sing with me. The song acted as a way to start the day with a reminder of what matters. It’s not the race to be fastest on the highway or be most powerful but what matters is a humble, thankful heart. Life can be as simple as I make it.

An ongoing source of joy was time with family, friends and animals. Our home is a place of sanctuary and peace for me. I’m grateful to learn that I made a difference in people’s lives, as shown in this story by a former student of mine, A profile in how to live a joyful life: Genevieve Howard.

My plans for 2015 include

Edit my story that I wrote during NaNoWriMo and publish it
Improve my physical health so I’m more flexible and vibrant
Finish my Creative Women’s Devotional and publish it
Encourage others in their faith, creativity and hope

My most popular posts of 2014

I’m glad to see these are the most popular. They were all close to my heart: prayer, crochet, honesty, my family and my writing. Thank you for your support of my blog.

I wish you loving people, interesting adventures, a lightness of spirit and health in the coming year.

May God bless you!

The Love of Christmas: For everyone

December 24, 2014December 24, 2014Posted in UncategorizedTagged Christianity, Christmas, faith2 Comments

"Marianne Stokes Madonna and Child" by Marianne Stokes

We focus on love this week in Advent. What does love look like in your life?

I heard a report today on NPR that more happiness comes from our natural generosity that selfishness.

My Christmas wish is that the coming year will be the most generous one yet for me: that I give more, enjoy more and live all my days in the depth of God’s love.

With much affection for all my readers, I wish you a good and merry Christmas!

Many ways to say Merry Christmas! From 1907. Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Pray with me

Let us celebrate the birth of our Lord
with all our might, all our strength and
all our heart!
For God so loves our world.

The Joy of Advent: confusion and acceptance

December 17, 2014December 17, 2014Posted in UncategorizedTagged Christianity, Christmas, faith5 Comments

I don’t see well at night. Where most people can make out an understanding of their surroundings, I struggle to make sense of the shadows.

The other night we were driving home on our gravel road. I was a passenger, my son was in the back and my husband drove.

As we got closer, I saw something running in front of the car. Rather than dashing across, it took a lead position and kept a few feet in front of the car. Worried it was one of our cats, I said, “Careful! Is it one of ours?”

“Honey, we don’t own a raccoon,” said my husband. We all broke into laughter.

“Well, thank goodness we don’t. Seven animals is enough,” I said. “I can’t imagine how chaotic it would be adding a raccoon to our mix.”

I’m grateful to be known by people who love me and accept my weaknesses.

This week in Advent is focused on joy.

Joy to me isn’t quite the same as happiness. The feeling of being happy can be momentary, as in, “Oh! You brought me chocolate! I’m so happy!”

Joy can come mixed with challenges. Parenthood is a joy, but doesn’t always make people happy in the moment. Joy comes from recognizing the holy and being grateful. Things might be rough but joy is always available.

Horatio Spafford, the writer of one of my favorite hymns, It Is Well with My Soul, lost his son from scarlet fever, faced financial ruin after the Great Chicago Fire and then lost his four daughters from a shipwreck. As he traveled the sea near where his daughters died, he wrote the words, “Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to know, It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

That wellness of the soul is the joy of a God-centered life.

I can’t see in the dark. I might mistake raccoons for pet cats. But I can tell joy when I see it. Coming home with my family, laughing as we go, this is joy.

May you be blessed with joy this week!

Blessing

God, give us eyes to see your goodness,
strength to do your will and
bravery to accept your grace.

Tell me your thoughts!

How do you enjoy your life?

The peace of Advent: Prayers in the darkness

December 10, 2014December 10, 2014Posted in UncategorizedTagged Christianity, Christmas, faith1 Comment

This week in Advent focuses on peace.

Every night, I pray for peace.

Peace, I ask of you, O Lord.
Peace in my words,
Peace in my hands,
Peace in my memories,
Peace in my home,
Peace in my relationships,
Peace in our world.

The world doesn’t seem peaceful now, does it?

All the more reason to respond to upheaval and distress with compassion, to reach out to those who need help.

I have more to say but not the strength now to say it. Another time.

Peace, I ask of you, O Lord.

Blessing

Thank you for the blessing of peace and the opportunity to bring more of your love to others.

Peace, we ask of you, O Lord.

Renew our eyes to see who our neighbors are.

Rehabilitate our hearts to heal the pain, the lack and the suffering around us.

Restore us to harmony.

Fill us with peace as today ends.

Tell me your thoughts!

Where could you use more peace in your life?

The hope of Advent: a question for the Christmas season

December 3, 2014December 3, 2014Posted in UncategorizedTagged Christianity, Christmas, faithLeave a comment

Whew, what a month November was for me! I wrote a novel during NaNoWriMo that I’m excited for you to read in the coming year. Fiction was fun, so much easier compared to memoir!

I printed out a copy that is wire-bound and begging for edits. Nothing like the heft and substance of a printed book, especially my own! With many colors of highlighters and matching sticky flags, I will do some revising and then prepare the story for its public debut next year.

Thank you, everyone, for supporting my writing. Without you, my treasured readers, there would be little reason for writing.

Advent

Advent began this week, the time of the year in Christianity when we wait with eager hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This week in Advent focuses on hope.

During my Stephen Ministry meeting last night, our leader asked,

“How will you keep the Christmas season Christ-centered?”

I will reflect on this question and think on ways I can make it so. How about you?

May you feel a renewed sense of hope this week!

Blessings to you during this Advent season.

Last quarter: the quarter that counts

October 1, 2014October 1, 2014Posted in UncategorizedTagged change, faith, family, football, personal growth3 Comments

My son Derek #73 goes for a tackle. Photo courtesy of Erin McGruder. — My son, Derek, #73, goes for a tackle. Photo courtesy of Erin McGruder.

I’m an ignorant football mom. Supportive but ignorant. Although it’s the second year of my son playing football, I have barely more knowledge than I did at the beginning of his football career.

A friend who understands football asked me what my son plays. “He has a new role this season,” I answered.

“A new role? Don’t you mean position?” he asked.

“Yeah, that’s right. New position,” I said. “I don’t remember what it’s called, but he’s on the line.”

“On the line” means something, although I don’t know what. They all seem to line up on both sides, except for the quarterback. Maybe they’re all “on the line” except for him?

On the line. Photo courtesy of Erin McGruder.

I learned there are people who hold exclamation point-type markers attached with a chain to show the distance the team needs to move the ball. They might be called the chain gang?

Realizing the distance was marked made the game much easier for me to follow.

Staying strong in the last quarter. Photo courtesy of Erin McGruder.

Even with my self-confessed obliviousness, I know the last quarter is the most important quarter. Teams can make comebacks and last-minute turnarounds.

The game is won in the last quarter.

When this year started, you had dreams, inklings, whispers, desires, questions and hopes. Find them again. Follow them again. Feed them again.

This is the last quarter of 2014. This is the one that counts.

Blessing

Lord, bless us with bravery and trust when we hear your calling.
Bless us with patience and trust when we don’t.

Tell me your thoughts!

How will you revive a dream you’ve let slip?

Think you’re out of balance? Add this to your to-do list

August 6, 2014August 6, 2014Posted in UncategorizedTagged Christianity, faith, God, personal growth2 Comments

In the education portion of my recent Stephen Ministry meeting, we learned about the need for balance between giving energy outward and restoring energy inward. Too much giving creates burnout. Too much rest produces sluggishness.

Where would you fall on that spectrum? You can probably guess where I am.

I have lists from when I was 8 years old. Nothing like a good list to put things in order! Take care of something, cross it off. Next thing. Next thing. A list maker must have more things to put on the list. Next thing. Next thing.

On an average day, I make three lists: a personal to-do, one for work and one before I go to bed at night with any worries on my mind. I buy books of lists to keep my household on track. I avoid shopping without one. I’ve been known to make a list of pros and cons when faced with a tough decision. Lists give me a sense of control in a life of uncertainties and demands.

I love lists and hope to always be a list maker. But I want to use them for my good. My established list habit can be a tool to restore myself and strengthen my trust in God.

What would my life look like if I put “rest and refill my positive attitude” on the list as an item? I can build in more breaks between writing code, shopping for school supplies and caring for others. Well rested, I will have more patience and good humor.

How about if I added “spend time in friendship with God”?

I will take the time to relax over a cup of tea and ask God to help me recognize when my need to accomplish is coming from pride or fear. Yes, the laundry needs to be done, but I can stop for a moment and give myself a chance to hear God.

Even if all my items don’t get crossed off, I’ll see clearly the blessing that is my day-to-day life.

Blessing

Lord, our minds grow anxious
from undone things and outside demands:
jobs, family needs, losses, requirements, changes.

Place your holy hand of peace on our shoulders.
Remind us we can trust you.
Your kingdom is our destination.

The needs of the world are passing away;
we can rest in your mercy
and take comfort in your loving embrace.

Tell me your thoughts!

What do you feel that you have to take care of by yourself? How would it help to stop and rest with God? Where do you find you push yourself the hardest?