Where are the simple days when all I had to worry about was to make sure I locked my diary and the dangling pom-poms on the bottom edge of my flower-power bedspread were straight before I left for school?

Life is weird, isn’t it? Complicated. Unknowable. Unstoppable. One minute I’m on top of a rollercoaster, enjoying life’s quirky, wind-slapping ride. The next, I’m mucking in the trenches of that darn river again, appreciative to God that He is with me, but in a shoutful way, reminding Him that I’ve already been through this part of the river and, really, last time, I learned my lesson. Need we do it again?

Dove-award nominee, Sara Groves sings on her new release, All Right Here, “These lessons are hard. Healing changes are subtle.” Not only are they hard, there are heartbreaking moments, and, try as I might, somehow sin worms its way in, too. But, I’m repeatedly finding out, change takes time. Takes, errr, working through the water again with my British “Wellies” on, until I get it God’s way.

And for me, God’s way has involved meeting some remarkable people, some ordinary, some famous, all doing their part to help people like me and you across life’s rivers.

I had the pleasure of seeing Sara Groves perform in Eau Claire, Wisconsin (my birthplace) and interview her for an Evangelical Press News (EP) story. In Sara Groves: A Dream Fulfilled by God, I think you’ll agree Sara’s rise to the contemporary Christian music scene gives every girl a reason to keep pursuing God about her dreams.

I know I’m still holding out for mine. That Summer Place still awaits a publisher. I’ll let you know when I’m on the incentive-driven rollercoaster of editorial revision. I’m deep into research for my second novel, One Blood, and will keep you posted as to my writing journey.

Written for the Minnesota Christian Chronicle, Robert Naegle’s Wild Passion is about the principal owner of the Minnesota Wild hockey team. What a dynamic man of God. Bob’s faith birthed a hockey franchise all because he believed in mountain-moving and waiting on God “to show up big.” It’s a beautiful example of a life lived on the peace principles of Philippians 4: 6-7.

Brian Lother (a descendant of Martin Luther..really!) is a remarkable pastor in Corcoran, Minnesota who lived through years of learning what God meant by the word “patient.” His church’s story, How God Changed A City’s Heart appears in the March issue of International Ministerial Fellowship’s Gathering. Hope Community Church has fashioned a unique roadmap for future church planters.

Ground Turbulence is a friendship story I sought a publisher for for seven long years. It finally found a home in the March issue of Light & Life Magazine . I’d be curious to hear if you’ve ever hidden behind your luggage when God wanted you to speak up.

Louie Giglio, founder of Passion Movement and who gave rising star Chris Tomlin his start, is a man whose heart beats for the collegiate crowd. He firmly believes churches would do well to influence students before they graduate and influence others. Written for EP News, OneDay03 Impacts Collegiate Generation, is about a four-day college-student gathering May 24th–27th in Sherman, Texas. “OneDay…is calling a generation together not for a festival, not to hear bands play, not for people or personalities,” Giglio says, “But it’s calling people together to say, ‘Let’s put our faces to the ground…with all our hearts and see what He does.”

I enjoyed attending Governor Pawlenty’s Inauguration Service at Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and wrote A Hope-Filled Send Off for Pawlenty. I learned a lot about government and God that day. Leith Anderson, pastor of the church that Pawlenty attends clarified some things for me. “God is for good government,” Anderson said, and that if it is run well, it allows, “people to live out their lives with the blessings of God.”

Two other great women, one 25, the other 71, have been life-influencers in my water-wading this year. In my interview with Rebecca St. James, she had some wonderful things to say about sexual purity based on her new book, Wait for Me, currently #1 on the CBA Young Adult book charts. I also had a chance to interview the remarkable Luci Swindoll (Women of Faith and Chuck’s sister) about her newest book, I Married Adventure. Listening to this woman for five minutes makes you want to scramble off the backporch and climb aboard God’s swing-set of life. I’ll keep you posted as to where these stories will appear.

Lastly, if you’re looking to enhance your writing and speaking skills, plan to attend the CLASSeminar at Grace Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, August 11th–13th. I attended this seminar in October of 2001. It was a life-changing moment for me and the course truly was an eye-opener for developing speaking skills as well as article and book-marketing. It gave me fresh tools for teaching my Creative Writing classes. Florence Littauer, has entertained audiences for over 30 years. A former speech teacher, a published author of over 30 titles and one million sold, Florence is a member of the National Speakers Association, and bears both the Certified Speaking Professional designation and the Council of Peers Award of Excellence. She developed a personality profile and wrote the million-copy seller, Personality Plus and Silver Boxes. Marita Littauer, president of CLASServices, Inc. believes speaking and writing go together “like a hand in a glove.” She has written 10 books, and is an incredible trainer of men and women who want to develop their communication skills.

I hope you’ve found some joy for your journey in these stories. Life lessons are hard. But as Matthew 6:33-34 says, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.”

May your day be blessed like you blessed me for being here.