by Nan Jones @NanJonesAuthor
Guest bloggers: The Writing Sisters,
Betsy Duffy and Laurie Myers
@WritingSisters
I’m delighted to introduce The Writing Sisters to you, Betsy Duffy and Laurie Myers. Yes, they write their books together and yes, they really are sisters. How fun! I’m currently reading their most recent release, The Shepherd’s Song. What a fascinating book that applies one of the Church’s most beloved Psalms, Psalm 23, to everyday life and with everyday kinds of people. The Shepherd’s Song will penetrate your heart with the knowledge that God’s Word is living and is available to minister to us every moment of our lives.There’s more info about this engaging book at the end of the post.
Welcome Betsy and Laurie!
You anoint my head with oil. Psalm 23:5
It is often the small things that
are our undoing. We know to gather our strength and to pray for life’s
large challenges, but what about the petty annoyances that come every day,
every hour and even every minute?
are our undoing. We know to gather our strength and to pray for life’s
large challenges, but what about the petty annoyances that come every day,
every hour and even every minute?
In our research for The Shepherd’s
Song we learned a lot about sheep from a book by Phillip Keller, A Shepherd’s Look at Psalm 23.
Particularly interesting to us was the act of “anointing with oil”. The
shepherd would anoint the sheep’s head with oil for protection against annoying
and dangerous gnats and flies.
Song we learned a lot about sheep from a book by Phillip Keller, A Shepherd’s Look at Psalm 23.
Particularly interesting to us was the act of “anointing with oil”. The
shepherd would anoint the sheep’s head with oil for protection against annoying
and dangerous gnats and flies.
Only
the strictest attention to the behavior of the sheep can forestall the
difficulties of “fly time”. At the very first sign of flies among the
flock he will apply an antidote to their heads. I always preferred to use a
homemade remedy composed of linseed oil, sulfur, and tar, which was smeared over
the sheep’s nose and head as a protection against nose flies.
the strictest attention to the behavior of the sheep can forestall the
difficulties of “fly time”. At the very first sign of flies among the
flock he will apply an antidote to their heads. I always preferred to use a
homemade remedy composed of linseed oil, sulfur, and tar, which was smeared over
the sheep’s nose and head as a protection against nose flies.
Oh, those pesky nose flies! What are they in your life? One more phone call? The hole in the new
sweater? Milk is out? Cut off in
traffic? The little things can grate on us and pull down our mood. Like sheep
we need the Shepherd’s anointing and protection.
sweater? Milk is out? Cut off in
traffic? The little things can grate on us and pull down our mood. Like sheep
we need the Shepherd’s anointing and protection.
Once
the oil had been applied to the sheep’s head, there was an immediate change in behavior. Gone was the aggravation, gone the frenzy, gone the
irritability, and the restlessness.
the oil had been applied to the sheep’s head, there was an immediate change in behavior. Gone was the aggravation, gone the frenzy, gone the
irritability, and the restlessness.
How can
we position ourselves to receive that anointing of oil that brings peace and
releases aggravation, frenzy, irritability and restlessness? Just a moment in the Word can change our
mindset to focus on the important things in life: loving our families, serving
others, sharing Christ.
we position ourselves to receive that anointing of oil that brings peace and
releases aggravation, frenzy, irritability and restlessness? Just a moment in the Word can change our
mindset to focus on the important things in life: loving our families, serving
others, sharing Christ.
- Look at a scripture message pasted on the fridge: Be anxious for nothing…
- Carry a card with God’s Word in your wallet: Come to Me, you who are weary…
- Post a scripture message on your mirror: For God so loved the world…
Keller writes:
Just as with the sheep, there must be a continuous and renewed application of oil to forestall the “flies” in my life; there must be a continuous anointing of God’s gracious Spirit to counteract the ever-present aggravations of personality conflicts.
Keller adds a prayer that he prays when he encounters irritations:
“O
Lord, I can’t cope with these petty, annoying, peevish problems. Please
apply the oil of your Spirit to my mind. Both at the conscious and
subconscious levels of my thought life enable me to act and react just as you
would.”
Lord, I can’t cope with these petty, annoying, peevish problems. Please
apply the oil of your Spirit to my mind. Both at the conscious and
subconscious levels of my thought life enable me to act and react just as you
would.”
A good prayer to begin the day!
How do you deal with life’s small
irritations?
irritations?
A Tweetable to Encourage Others
*******************************************
Bio:
The Writing Sisters, Betsy
Duffey and Laurie Myers were born into a writing family, and began critiquing
manuscripts at an early age for their mother, Newbery winner Betsy Byars.
They went on to become authors of more than thirty-five children’s novels.
Their first book for adults, The Shepherd’s Song, is being released in paperback April 2015.
Duffey and Laurie Myers were born into a writing family, and began critiquing
manuscripts at an early age for their mother, Newbery winner Betsy Byars.
They went on to become authors of more than thirty-five children’s novels.
Their first book for adults, The Shepherd’s Song, is being released in paperback April 2015.
You can connect with Laurie and
Betsy on their monthly newsletter where
they send out updates and their popular free devotional books. Contact them at WritingSisters.com and find them on Facebook,
Twitter or Pinterest.
Betsy on their monthly newsletter where
they send out updates and their popular free devotional books. Contact them at WritingSisters.com and find them on Facebook,
Twitter or Pinterest.
Back Copy:
Follow
the incredible journey of one piece of paper—a copy of Psalm 23—as it travels
around the world, linking lives and hearts with its simple but beautiful
message.
the incredible journey of one piece of paper—a copy of Psalm 23—as it travels
around the world, linking lives and hearts with its simple but beautiful
message.
The
Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures…
Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures…
Shortly
before a tragic car accident, Kate McConnell wrote down the powerful words of
Psalm 23 on a piece of paper for her wayward son. Just before she loses
consciousness, Kate wonders if she’s done enough with her life and prays,
“Please, let my life count.”
before a tragic car accident, Kate McConnell wrote down the powerful words of
Psalm 23 on a piece of paper for her wayward son. Just before she loses
consciousness, Kate wonders if she’s done enough with her life and prays,
“Please, let my life count.”
Unbeknownst
to Kate, her handwritten copy of Psalm 23 soon begins a remarkable journey
around the world. From a lonely dry cleaning employee to a soldier wounded in
Iraq, to a young Kurdish girl fleeing her country, to a Kenyan runner in the
Rome Invitational marathon, this humble message forever changes the lives of
twelve very different people. Eventually, Kate’s paper makes it back to its
starting place, and she discovers the unexpected ways that God changes lives,
even through the smallest gestures.
to Kate, her handwritten copy of Psalm 23 soon begins a remarkable journey
around the world. From a lonely dry cleaning employee to a soldier wounded in
Iraq, to a young Kurdish girl fleeing her country, to a Kenyan runner in the
Rome Invitational marathon, this humble message forever changes the lives of
twelve very different people. Eventually, Kate’s paper makes it back to its
starting place, and she discovers the unexpected ways that God changes lives,
even through the smallest gestures.
With
beautiful prose evocative of master storyteller Andy Andrews’ The Butterfly
Effect, this story will touch your heart and remind you of the ways God
works through us to reach beyond what we can imagine.
beautiful prose evocative of master storyteller Andy Andrews’ The Butterfly
Effect, this story will touch your heart and remind you of the ways God
works through us to reach beyond what we can imagine.
Writing scripture out now!
I know what you mean, Judy! Isn't this a wonderful reminder of the tools God has for us if we'll only apply them and walk in His wisdom? I'm so glad you stopped by. Hope to see you again.
Good for you, Judy! Hope you will find this a good way to connect with God and receive His peace. Betsy and Laurie