The picture above was taken from the venue of my nieces wedding North of Seattle.
In October I was given the most amazing opportunity to attend a screenwriter’s intensive retreat. For five days I was holed up in Seattle inside an ancient house with a serious foundation issue. I wish I’d thought to take pictures. The one below is not it, but it’s kind of close.
To look at the house from outside you wouldn’t have guessed how bad the foundation was, but once you were inside it was quite visible. The bed I slept on as well as the nightstand beside the bed both leaned to one side.
I suppose it should come as no surprise that a house that old has foundation issues, but it did. I’m reminded of the parable of the The Wise and Foolish Builders in Luke 6:48,49.
A strong foundation is critical both physically and spiritually. We need to build our foundation in Christ so when the storms of life come we won’t be crushed. Spending time in the Bible is a great way to build a strong spiritual foundation. 1 Corinthians 3
I imagine building a strong foundation in Christ will look slightly different for each of us since we are all different people and the Lord meets us where we are. For me reading His word is key.
I have found on the days when I neglect to begin with reading His word before I start to write, that things don’t go as smoothly as when I take a few minutes with the Lord. Have you found this to be true in your life?
I love the quote below. It’s so true! I’ve experienced this repeatedly throughout my life.
Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance, romantic mystery, and romantic suspense that warms the heart and feeds the soul. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
Hi Kimberly, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Totally agree- without that foundation in Christ, life does not work! As a Christ follower, I am blessed to teach at a faith based school, with majority population of students from non-Christian backgrounds, so it is a daily challenge and opportunity to gently share who Christ is and what it means to live life with Him driving. It has been a sad week for our school community with the death of a former student as a result of poor choices. Heartbreaking as it is, it has opened some small opportunities to share and hopefully get students thinking.
Blessings:)
Good morning, Kimberly,
Yes, a sure foundation is so good. I’ve never been in an earthquake but that must be unsettling.
I have walked across a “shaking” bridge. That felt odd.
Isn’t it wonderful to have good teachers pointing you in the right direction When I first got saved, a pastor’s wife gave me a devotional to encourage me to read daily. Later on, another teacher said, they never read anything before they had read their Bible. I’m so grateful for the Bible app – so even without switching on the light, I can start reading… and/or listening.
Have a blessed day!
Good morning, Kimberly! I agree, nothing can be built without a strong foundation. I thank God every day that I have been blessed to know Him and His love for me!
Most certainly. For me it has to be a constant a constant inner dialogue and morning reading and study of my Bible . Or else I’m usually derailed.
I’m sorry for the tragedy your school community is dealing with. Praying for all of you.
Yes! Just as time spent with Jesus is foundational to my life, it’s definitely foundational to my writing.
I need to get the Bible app. I can tell you from experience that being in an earthquake is indeed unsettling both figuratively and literally.
Amen, Paula.
It truly amazes me how that happens, but I experience the same, Dalyn.
That’s awesome, Valerie.
I’m a night owl and can concentrate better at night. Studying my Bible is the last thing I do each day. It relaxes me and helps me sleep. My writing goes better when I pray first.
You can get it here: https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/ Not just saying that because I work or it.
And, if you want, you can befriend people in the app which is great and even do Bible Plans with others. I’ll start this one tomorrow with some friends: https://bible.com/p/8569046/5c645ef076a696e81ffa1fdb4aad9be6
:-)
Oh, no! I’m so sorry.
You work for YouVersion? My favorite! I’m finishing up the two-year reading plan in December, and it’s been good. It had been too long since I’d methodically read through the Bible. Next year I’m going to do the one-year chronological plan. I’ve done a few of the shorter plans as well.
I really love that I can listen to the chapters as well as read along. Helps me focus much better.
You work for them?? Wow! I have had their app for a long time and adore it!
Yes, I’m on the localization (translation) team. We have 50+ teams of wonderful godly volunteers to invest their time and talent to make the User Interface and Bible Plans available to their communities around the world. God is so awesome. His Message is being spread to the ends of the earth (and then the end shall come).
Yes! PTL :-) I’m doing https://my.bible.com/reading-plans/4820-the-bible-project-whole-bible this year, which is so cool with all those awesome summary and theme videos created by The Bible Project, about 60 days to go.
Thanks for the link, Anke. :)
Very cool!
It’s wonderful how He meets us where we are.
Valerie, I agree. I really love audio books, incl. the Bible, of course :-)
I started of with Alexander Scourby tapes! then CDs, then mp3. And now, how very convenient!, in my smartphone Bible App. Yeah for modern technology. Although I’m rediscovering reading and underlining my printed Bible.
Oh I haven’t seen the theme videos. I’ll have to look them up!
What a beautiful experience! Thank you for sharing! It’s wonderful that He is available 24/7 :)
For sure, Natalya! :)