Patty Smith Hall

I was cleaning out our apartment in preparation of moving into our new home when I came across this note. It was written a few weeks before I learned my first book was going to be published but the lesson is one I hope I carry with me throughout the rest of my life: June 18, 2010 Something the pastor said this morning really pricked my heart this morning--when the children of Israel was stuck in the wildness because of their fears, God wanted them to remember all the things He'd done for them. That way, when they reached the Jordan River, they'd have a faith and strength in God to take that first step into the water's edge. That got me to thinking. Is this time I'm waiting to hear about my manuscript a time I need to remember all God has done to encourage me to this point in my writing journey? Looking back, I'm amazed at God's goodness and incredible patience in my life, especially when I think about how it has unfolded. What if: 1) My mom hadn't bothered t...

With each passing new year, I've made a list of resolutions. Sometimes, I do okay like last year, when I made the decision to write at least 4 hours every day. But for every one I manage to complete, there are others I don't even come close to achieving like dropping enough poundage to fit into last year's jeans. So this year, I've taken up the practice of picking out a word that can sum up what I would like to accomplish in 2011. And trust me, it was hard. Being a wordsmith, narrowing down the vast words to one word was next to impossible. I mean, ONE WORD! Gracious Gravy, how can one person make that kind of selection. But one word kept coming to mind and I can only think it was God who placed it in my heart. My word for the year is: FOCUS Some people may wonder about my choice. But each time I prayed, I heard the words of the old hym, 'Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in his wonderful face.' So that's what I want to do--focus on Jesus, on my relations...