Quote from Forum Archives on July 12, 2001, 1:28 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

During the summer months, my friend Larry Davies usually takes a
little time off from writing new columns. Last week, Larry
shared one of his well known messages about "Mulch". Later,
Larry shared how a local writer found his column by doing a Web
page search about mulch. Like Larry's situation, some unplanned
things happened. Things like that frequently occur when we allow
our lives to be used by God, even if (or perhaps especially when)
we permit God to take us out of the space that's most
comfortable.

I get into those spaces, I mean those uncomfortable spaces. It
is not as if I ask for them. Sometimes, I get into uncomfortable
spaces because I am not thoughtful and careful enough. Other
times, it is clear that I am learning something by getting
outside of my comfort zone.

Today, some of Larry's readers have responded to his annual
writing contest and have submitted their stories. This week's
message from Larry contains some of the best of these stories,
including both the writing and poetry categories. Looks like
there are some talented writers out there! I pray that these
stories will accomplish more than just reading a good story. My
prayer is that the story and poem will piece our hearts and help
us to examine our personal relationship with God.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

Reply-to: "Sowing Seeds of Faith..." <sowseeds@nesbe.com>
Subject: "The Brown Rainbow"

Sowing Seeds of Faith

2001 Sowing Seeds Ministry Writing Contest Winners

For more information about the Sowing Seeds Ministry Annual
Writing Contest and details for entering in 2002, click here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/writing.htm

The winning devotion for the 2001 Sowing Seeds Ministry Writing
Contest was written by Katie McLane from Farmville,
Virginia. Katie is only sixteen years old but wrote a beautiful
story about a conversation between herself and her grandmother.

"The Brown Rainbow" by Katie McLane

Grandmother Helen told a story about me when I was little. We
were coloring together in a coloring book and I wanted her to
draw me a rainbow. She took a brown crayon and made a half
circle on the page. "Gasp!" said my three-year-old mind. I
informed her that there was NO brown in rainbows and got so upset
that I went and told my mom. When I came back, still upset, I
wanted to rip the page out of the book.

"No," said my grandmother. "We do not rip pages out of books. We
turn the page and move on." So we did.

Has someone been drawing you brown rainbows recently: Maybe a
parent, friend, teacher or even yourself? I know when I get brown
rainbows like mistakes or disappointments, I want to rip out
that page and throw it away, much like I did when I was three. I
want to eliminate them from my life, so only the pretty, clean
pages with the colorful rainbows remain. That would be nice but
it's not very realistic.

Now I see that my grandmother did not intend to upset me. She was
only trying to please me and I can look back and appreciate her
effort. Often brown rainbows look different with time and
age. What offended me when I was three is now devotional
material and a good lesson for me at sixteen.

In Genesis 9:15-16, God says: I will remember my covenant between
me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again
will the water become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the
rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the
everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of
every kind on the earth.

God made rainbows as a promise to us that He would ever again
destroy us. Often brown rainbows can seem like they are breaking
the promise but actually they are a fulfillment of it. God is
saying, "Look, even though these rainbows are brown, they are
still rainbows. One day, although probably not tomorrow, they
will turn bright and colorful and will be a reminder to you of
bad things you might have done and how you don't want to do them
again."

Brown rainbows happen to everyone but ripping the page out isn't
the way to handle them. It's best to take my grandmother's
advice: "turn the page and move on." One day these rainbows will
be bright and colorful and God-inspired, giving you a better
life and a stronger faith.

Dear God, please help me deal with my brown rainbows, turn the
page and move on. Amen.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

2001 Sermon Contest Winner - Teresa Spies Dempewolf from Modesto
California

www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/2001_sermon.htm

2001 Poetry Contest Winner - Ronna Wilson from Orange Texas

"Circles"

If our lives are empty and there is something more we crave.
There's a reason for that longing ache, to which we've been
enslaved. We fill our lives with our money, our jobs and
self-esteem. Climbing higher, ever higher but always more we
need.

We keep ourselves so busy, hoping not to see, The gnawing deep
inside ourselves and what could set us free. So why don't we
just face it? What don't we tell the truth? Something's wrong!
Something's missing! And yet we act aloof.

We say, "I'm sure that I can fix it. What should I try next?" So
we start a new adventure and only end perplexed. How long will
we wander? How long will it take? If only we could see the
endless circles that we make.

God... you have the answers. Are we much too proud to see? That
all we ever needed... was You to be complete.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information about the Sowing Seeds Ministry Annual
Writing Contest and details for entering in 2002, click here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/writing.htm

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the internet with thousands of subscribers around the world.
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/home.htm

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=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/
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