The Curious Work of Processing Words

July 11, 2015

When I really need to process something, I find I must sit down and work it out through my fingers. Over and over again God has used my own words to speak to me, my own words to teach me what He is asking of me.

I’ve heard friends express similar sentiments. Some are published authors and others journal for their private enjoyment, but they’ve all had the experience of learning through their own writing. I tell you this in hopes that you’ll understand why I’m so completely captivated by the following verse. I discovered it while doing Biblical research for my current manuscript. The words are attributed to King David but they feel like my own.

“All this,” said David, “the Lord made me understand in writing by His hand upon me…” I Chronicles 28:19

Wow. David was made to understand, in writing, by the pressure of God’s hand? Swap a scroll for a keyboard and you’ve got King David processing what God was telling Him through his fingers, much as I do. Much as you may do.

Then again, maybe you learn through conversation. I get that, too. Over the years I’ve been instructed, counseled, and encouraged by God while praying and during heart to heart conversations with other believers. So, yes I’m familiar with that kind of “iron sharpening iron” friendship, but I’m freshly aware that I need to pay even closer attention to the way my heart burns when my fellow believers and I are chatting, and to the itch I feel in my fingers when I need to understand. I believe this is one more way our great mysterious God invites us to search Him out– through our very own words.

It puts me in mind of another scripture, “Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name.” Malachi 3:16

It also makes me want to talk All Things Jesus with my friends. Drop me a line sometime.

Hugs, Shellie

Comments

Shellie Rushing Tomlinson

July 13, 2015

Mrs. Kay! I’m so happy you took time to give us an update on Pam. I’m praising God that you and she both know that she is in His mighty hands, and that y’all are resting in His care, while taking every opportunity to avail yourselves of the wisdom He has given the medical community. Much love and continued prayers from here~
Kay R. Mitchell

July 12, 2015

Several months ago I wrote requesting prayers for my oldest daughter who had been diagnosed with lung and brain cancer. When being told that she could die by Christmas, my heart was breaking. Her answer to her many physicians was that God knew the number of her days and she would continue to trust in His timing.
Since February she has had 27 radiation treatments and some chemo.
We just received an extended study of her tests from 2013 breast cancer compared with the scans in Dec. 2014 with findings that the cancer now was an extension of the breast cancer. As there is much more studies done for breast cancer, this was a wonderful report as new medicines can be tried.
My sweet daughter has received hundreds of prayers and mailings that she cannot contain her joy for the future. God IS our great physician.
Her name is Pam Mitchell Holt.
Blessings from your many talents are appreciated.