Saturday, July 31, 2010

I Crossed the Finish Line!

I officially crossed my "Finish Line" last night -- nine months and three days in the making.

Yesterday was an absolute flurry of action ---- and the climax came when I signed the approval for going to press, faxing it back at 7:45 pm.

The "baby" has been born!

I'll have her, "Beyond the Greenhouse," in my hands Tuesday... and you can be assured I will be posting a picture with me holding her!

Now to being my recovery. Oh just the word, "recover", brings such elation! I must say I slept like a brick last night. The world coming to an end probably would not have woken me up! I just need a few more nights of rest like last night and my battery will be fully charged.

I so appreciate the ability to share my news with you! It is the act of sharing that deepens my joy, so thank you for being there!

May the Lord bring forth much fruit from this labor of love and obedience!

Have a most blessed, restful weekend! I know I will!
Giving my God all the glory, honor, and praise!
Deborah

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Labor and the Waiting Room

Okay -- so, perhaps I am coming up for air... perhaps.

On Friday, I received an email from the publisher to expect the book back for review from the printers Tuesday. God is SO good to me with the timing!! So very good!

Dear hubby was going to be in town Monday (long story), and I knew I wouldn't want to be working on the book. God did too! Almost like clock work, he left after supper on Monday, and about an hour later, I received an email with the book laid out by the printers.

You guessed it. All day today I have been combing the book with a fine tooth comb for any errors. I found a few and faxed them back to them. Are we ever close! I know you may be weary of hearing that, but we truly are!

You can't imagine how I want this in your hands already!

Today -- TODAY -- marks the nine month point. Nine months ago today I came home from running my elder son to an art lesson, only to discover a curious message on my machine that set my course for the past nine months. It said, "Hi, I am ****. You don't know me, but someone told me that you wrote a book associated with your ministry. I contacted someone on your behalf and they are expecting you to contact them." The short of the story is that 24 hours later I was meeting the someone off a plane. Not just anyone, mind you. As we left our over two hour meeting with the someone, my husband said, "If we were in real estate, that would be likened to sitting down with Donald Trump!" Indeed.

Ten months. Ten months of patient release as the book sat in my filing cabinet, honestly wondering if Father would ever choose to use it. Never a publisher called. Never a step of striving. Just waiting for the "when" to Father's timing. And here I sit.... nine months later... on the verge of giving birth literally to a book spoken into my spirit several years ago. Surreal does not even begin to cover what I am feeling.

God is at work even when we are at rest. Aren't you thankful!? I know I am!

It has been a long nine months, as are most pregnancies .... and the push right here at the end has been so unreal that I must liken it to euphoria!

I suppose that "big authors" have people who do everything I have done in recent months for them. But you know, I am thankful for the full experience. It gives me a tremendous appreciation for what it takes to get words between a cover! The experience has been invaluable!

So will you keep pacing that waiting room floor a bit longer?
It really is on the way! Believe you me! (hee-hee-blow, hee-hee-blow) :o)

Loving to you tonight........
Deborah

Sunday, July 25, 2010

I'm still here!

Good evening!

I am still very much here and breathing!

In the heart of complete transparency, I have been in a very quiet, meditative state in the past week. I have been pondering purpose and life. Sound a bit heavy? It sort of has been, but at the same time I have had the most tender moments with God.

I have written an article titled "Severed...for Purpose" at www.joyinthemorning.com under the "Articles" tab. I pray it blesses you and causes you to further assess your own "peculiar" relationship with God.

Loving you!
Deborah

Friday, July 23, 2010

"Beyond Amazing"

I know the drummer to this band personally. He has a heart of gold and a passion to share God... Enjoy!

Monday, July 19, 2010

"The Robe" --- Are you wearing His?

Staycation

Good morning!

It's Monday, and I am about to head out the door to greet the morning. Before I do, I thought I would post some pictures from the weekend. Saturday was a bit rushed for us, so we decided to take Sunday and make it a "stay-cation" day. We went to a local amusement park and played..... Fun times....!









(Yes --- my two sons really were up that high!)









Have a wonderful week, siblings!

Carpe diem!
Deborah

Friday, July 16, 2010

Introducing: "Beyond the Greenhouse"

You are invited to view the front cover to my new book HERE .

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Another evening on "our" hill....

Oh, what an evening I had on our hill tonight! I found myself singing "How Great is Our God" up there tonight. Oh how God really lit up the sky tonight with the most splendid rays.

As I headed out the door for our beloved hill, this is the view that greeted me...(You should click on the picture to enlarge it! The "silver lining" is just beautiful!)


Perhaps you can see why "How Great Is Our God" bubbled up in my spirit. He left me no choice but to sing that song to Him this evening as I took in the "painting" He did for me tonight... Enjoy both picture and song!

Life is eternal.... somewhere...

As I sit here, my thoughts are taken back to yesterday. It was an unreal kind of day.

Yesterday morning, I learned that two people I knew approximately ten years ago were murdered this week. Later in the afternoon, it was communicated to me that a sister in the Lord had passed away earlier in the afternoon.

Life is so very precious... may we truly value each and every moment.

Each of us will one day enter into our 'forever home.'
Do you know where yours is located?

For the lost, this world is the closest thing to heaven they will know. For the saved, this world is the closest thing to hell they will ever know. In which group do you count yourself among? As this world is but temporal, it is part one to your eternity. One day we will all step across the death veil so thinly masked and step into our forever home.

Your forever home will not be a place of peace, happiness, and joy if the hole in your heart is not filled by God in recognition and acknowledgment of His Son as your Lord and Savior. It will be a place of darkness and torment.

Today I am sure I will think of the three precious souls that were ushered to their forever homes in the past forty-eight hours. Two of them had not a minute to prepare. You have right now. Use 'now' wisely.........

Love,
Deborah

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Bits and pieces of life....

Well -- my spiritual abs of patience are being worked over this week. The countdown is under way to the book's debut! Are you as excited as I am? I hope you are! And I hope you will help me to spread the word. May it be a blessing to many!

However for the now -- I shall exercise my "spiritual muscles" to be in the moment....

This morning I woke up early, dressed, and made the mistake of lying back down on my made up bed to read. You guessed it. I fell back to sleep! I suppose I needed it more than I knew, but oh does it ever take me time to get back in gear...and that aggravates me -- just a tad. ;o) It is cloudy this morning, and that just gives the whole day a lazy feel. But alas, life calls, as I am sure it does for you, too!

So may you have a most blessed day! Sow well, dear one.
The seeds of today are tomorrow's harvest!

Loving you!
Deborah

Monday, July 12, 2010

For my weary siblings:

I know some of your personal situations, but I also know there are other situations out there of which I do not know. It is my prayer that you take a moment before you begin your week to soak in this song. Let its message sink deep within.....

Loving you so much this morning I surely do ache for you, but I take great comfort in knowing God is your strength and your provider!
Deborah

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Day to day...

So you wonder what has transpired in the Kirby household in the recent past "behind the scenes"?

In the past few days, I have been enjoying mostly days of rest - much needed rest.

Praise be, my sleep clock has been re-set back to normal. I cannot tell you how thankful I am for this, and the rapidity by which it happened truly blesses me! In the past week, I too have returned back to my exercise routine that I have missed terribly in recent months due to the demands of life and work. It has been a very good week indeed.

Now let me sort of go back in time a bit... You will see why in a moment...

Approximately six to eight weeks ago, things really heated up around my home. The trials were significant, but in the scope of the book being taken across the finish line, I cannot say I was surprised in the least.

Just as one example: in the past six weeks, my husband's front car axle has had to be replaced three times, a water coolant hose busted with him on the highway, and a head gasket blew (again, on the highway). This from a car that has historically given us ZERO problems! Progressively the harassment increased as I approached the finish line with the book. (It almost became laughable....almost.)

The head gasket blew two Wednesdays ago .... the very week I sent the book to the publisher for printing. Dear husband called, "I'll handle things on my end; you handle things on your end." Love him for that! Unreal determination arose as I worked crazy "round the clock" hours-- but I came across my finish line that very Thursday evening, July 1st.... greatly rejoicing!

One very interesting tidbit is that our house (which is on the market) has not shown at all in weeks. In the midst of all the craziness, I awoke one morning with the thought, "I need to clean the house in case someone calls to view it." Then I heard God say, "No need, no one is going to come look at it." Although I thought that was odd, I confess was greatly relieved to have that burden removed. No one called to view the house in the following weeks, until.... the morning AFTER I sent my book off. I am not kidding!!

I was on my way home from visiting the Farmer's Market with my kids on July 2nd -- after sending the book back to the publisher on July 1st. The phone rings with people wanting to view the house July 3rd. Are you kidding me? I just chuckled.... and I heard Father say, "I have your timing in My hand..." "Yes, Abba --I am thankful...so very thankful! And in You, I find my rest!"

In the past week, all the repairs have been accomplished, my sleep cycle has been restored, and I am preparing for the next phase of this journey.

A walk of faith is certainly the only way to walk this life out!
It is not to be a walk we strive in -- but that we seek to discover His current and simply ride it to places only He can take us.

If you plot and plan, you will lose.
If you play it safe, you will lose.
If you fret, you will lose.
If you disobey, you will lose.

BUT when you do things His way in His rest, you can't help but win because He is the greatest Champion there is!

"....let us lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith....." Heb 12:1-2

Radical living happens a day at time when we determine to take life trials and endure in His strength, determining to grow through the trials. Such living brings Him incredible joy! When we set our eyes on Him, our harassers depart -- and Father's smile and His affirming words follow!

I know I posted this song earlier -- but it has repeatedly been in my heart and soul. May you listen to it afresh! Press on, dear sibling, fixing your eyes on Jesus..... for His pleasure alone is a tremendous reward indeed!



Loving you today! And praying oodles of encouragement in your own walk!

Walk on, dear one -- walk on!

Deborah

Thursday, July 8, 2010

One More Fast Week...

Goodness, this has been one more fast week.... at least for me. Others I know are feeling like this week will never end. I send you my virtual hugs if this be you.

I just arrived home after a morning at the dentist. We all go together for our regular check-ups, so it makes for a lengthy visit, but then it is over! (By the way, all went well. :o) )

This afternoon I am going to one of my favorite places and read a book. Yesterday a friend wrote to me, congratulating me on "birthing the baby to the end." When she said that, I felt God lead me back to last year's calendar to discover just when He brought me the publisher. It was October 27, 2009. It will have been almost nine months from that day to when it is available for purchase. Isn't that just neat? I pondered the scope of her "naive" words coupled to the facts and just marveled over God's details. So after being diligent in not only the birth of the book, but the tangible birth of Joy In The Morning Ministries and the website these past nine months.... I am looking forward to having a "do-nothing" afternoon! It's been a busy nine months!

One of my favorite place is indoors, praise the Lord! After the triple digits yesterday and the forecast of92 degrees today, I think I'll be found limiting my vitamin D exposure. ;o)

Well -- you all stay cool and enjoy the remainder of your day!
Many blessings!
Deborah

Monday, July 5, 2010

It's July!

Good morning!

Okay, so are you faring okay these days?

In my neck of the woods, we are doing well. We went off to the Farmer's Market on Friday to collect fresh peaches, tomatoes, and cacti. Yes, you read correctly... cacti. My children came across cacti and really liked their uniqueness -- so we brought back three small ones. I am told they are "kill-proof" --- I'll let you know! ;o) I also took a picture of an egg tree. I had never heard of such, much less seen it before. The lady said the eggs are indeed edible! Edible! Can you believe that?



I will say I spent Friday and Saturday catching up on some well needed rest. I worked myself into a stupor last week and hit a brick wall, but I got all my to-do's done!

Sunday was a day of quiet reflection.... reflection on our spiritual freedom in Christ. And today is, well.... full, so I had better sign off and get on with it!

May you have an oh-so blessed day!!
Deborah

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Oh, Sleep, Where Art Thou?

Yes, I am chuckling! I am just so taken at how sleep has evaded me this week, but God's strength carries! Profoundly so!

I better get to it! I want to leave you with these words Father dropped into my spirit this morning:

Radical living happens a day at a time.

(And yes, I'll be writing an article with this as the title very soon!)

By the way, have I told you lately I am glad you are there? ;o)
Deborah