Guest Reader & Author: Sara Turnquist on Postpartum Depression

Welcome, Dear Readers!

This year I’ve set out to get to know you better, hear your story, what God’s done or doing in your life, lessons learned, trials, triumphs, recipes, and fun projects. I want to hear what you have to say, and so do a whole host of others.


 

http://saraturnquist.com/Meet Sara!

I’m a stay-at-home mom in Clarksville, TN. But I do also work at Disney’s Animal Kingdom as an Educator seasonally. I have three beautiful children: Audrey, 5, Andrew, 4, and Aiden, 16 months, and one wonderfully supportive husband, Greg. I have been a “closet writer” for many years and my debut novel will be coming out this summer.

His Eye Is On The Sparrow: Postpartum Depression


Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father….so do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29, 31

Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart feel lonely and long for heaven and home?
When Jesus is my portion, my constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy
I sing because I’m free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.

I love this song. Maybe because my grandfather sang it often and it’s a fond memory I have of him. But in the midst of my (post partum) depression, this song took on a whole new dimension (meaning) for me. This song proposes that with Jesus as our portion, we shouldn’t feel discouraged and the shadows shouldn’t come over us. You and I know that this is not true; that even with Jesus in our life, depression will come. It rains on the righteous and the unrighteous the same (Matthew 5:45). Depressive disorders fall on those who live with Christ in their lives and those who live without Him just the same. It doesn’t seem right, it doesn’t seem fair…but yet it is true. Scripture tells us that this is how it will be.

This song does, however, hit on the very thing that separates a Christ follower who suffers from depression from an unbeliever who struggles in that same darkness: “Jesus is my portion, a constant friend is He…His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.” We have a constant friend and companion with us that walks with us through the whole thing. Even our spouses and closest friends cannot understand and may very well end up getting shut out in our attempts to escape from our lives, but we cannot escape from God. And, though it may feel like you can’t see Him at times, that you can’t feel Him (though we know feelings are deceitful, right?), He is there…every moment of every day. He is experiencing every agonizing moment of that darkness with you. He is watching over you as this verse and song says, but more than that, He is with you. Let Him be with you. Let His presence wash over you. Ask Him for that very thing. What part of your depression are you thankful He sees/experiences with you?
 
 

Wow, Sara, that was beautiful. Thank you. Could you share with us a favorite scripture and perhaps the reasoning?

For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
There is so much hope in this verse for those who live in fear and anxiety and for those who struggle with mental illness. During my depressive episodes, I truly felt as if I was losing my mind because of the intrusive thoughts (thoughts that were not my own that came into my mind urging me to…well, mostly to hurt myself). To not feel safe in your own skin is a, well, a very scary, very crazy feeling. But that is not who God made me to be. He did not give me a spirit of fear. He gave me a sound mind. And He gave me the power to defeat what Satan has in store for me (I’m NOT saying depression is from Satan…depression is, by and large, a chemical or hormonal imbalance…but believe you me, Satan will take every advantage he can get).
 

You’re so right. You know, I love hearing how God has set people free, and I think you can relate. There’s so much more to freedom than patriotism. Would you share a time with us when you experienced God’s freedom?

I experienced a lot of freedom during the course of my recovery from depression. It was a hard place to be in for sure, but it was also a place of healing. In the depths of my depression, everything was dark, there was nothing there but this inescapable gloominess. I couldn’t even find God, though I cried out for Him. I knew He hadn’t abandoned me because His word says He never would, but I felt all alone. Where was He? Why couldn’t I see Him? But now, as I walk in freedom from that darkness, I look back and see, just as the poem “The Footprints in the Sand” proposes, one set of prints during that time. What? He was carrying me to be sure. And I now believe that I couldn’t see Him during that time because He was holding me so tightly that my face was pressed into His shoulder, blinding me. But how did I find that freedom? Through faith steps. I had to let go of the need to see the whole path. God only showed me the step in front of me, as a lamp unto my feet. And even at that, sometimes only dimly lit. I found that I would have to take that step in faith and then trust that He would provide enough light for the step after that.

There’s nothing about what your describing that sounds easy, but totally worth every step you took in blind faith. We all struggle in our walk with God, what affected your walk the most through the depression?
The fact that I felt He wasn’t there. During my second episode of post partum depression, I struggled with why He would allow this to happen to me again. I struggle through verses like…”I am the Lord and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity. I am the Lord Who does all these.” Isaiah 45:6b-7  How do I deal with that? A kind, merciful, gracious God “creating calamity” in my life, “creating” this darkness that threatened to swallow me whole? But I had much to learn about being disciplined. About what lengths He would go through to draw me to Himself, to teach me, to mold me. (Again, not saying depression is a sign you are being “punished” by God. Quite the opposite…but I DO believe that God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

I have held on to that verse for years, Sara! It’s given me strength in good times and in bad. For our readers out there who may be experiencing depression, what three things would you say to someone who is struggling?
1)      God is there – you may not believe it, you may not see Him, but He is there, in that darkness with you; He feels it, He cries for you, with you, over you; this is a time He can draw you close to Him, if you only let Him.; quiet yourself and let Him speak to you, dear soul; you would be amazed…the God who sings over you (Zephaniah 3:17) wants to speak into your heart in the silence if you’ll only let Him
2)      Take one step at a time – one step out of bed at a time; one faith step at a time…don’t try to see the whole road, just look for that one step in front of you.
3)      Don’t trust your feelings, trust His word – your heart is “more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9) It is not to be trusted. The Word of God is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword…discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12); our emotions are fallible; God’s Word is not; so when your feelings or when intrusive thoughts threaten to take you down the wrong path into negative thinking or something worse, turn to God’s word to find the truth
 
Sara, thank you for being here with us, and thank you for your transparency. It’s been such a pleasure having you here today!
 
Connect with Sara:
 
Other Suggested Reading:
 
Be a Guest on My Blog 🙂
I love hearing from my readers and so does everyone else! Have a testimony to share? Something cool God has done for you? A recipe the world needs to know? What about a DIY project you’d like to teach us? Then I’d love to have you as a guest on my blog! Shoot me an email at authorhannahconway@gmail.com to get started.

Author Spotlight with New York Times Best Selling Author, Tosca Lee: Interview & Giveaway!!

Welcome Dear Readers!! Today we have New York Times Best Selling Author, Tosca Lee, with us! Tosca will be giving away an eBook copy of her novel, Havah: The Story of Eve! Leave a comment below to enter to win!  Read on for another special gift from Tosca to you!!

Meet Tosca:
www.toscalee.com

Tosca Lee is the multi award-winning, New York Times bestselling novelist of Demon: A Memoir, Havah: The Story of Eve, Iscariot, The Legend of Sheba, and The Books of Mortals series (Forbidden, Mortal, Sovereign) with New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker. She is best known for her exploration of maligned characters, lyrical prose and meticulous research.

Thank you for being here today with us, Tosca. I’m a HUGE fan, and I know you have A LOT of readers here today that feel the same. We’ve read all your works, and now we’re curious…do you have any current projects you’re working on? Care to share?
I’ve just finished a contemporary thriller. (Yay!) It’s a small break from the biblical historical genre, and I really needed this. It was a super fun ride filled with action and suspense and romance, too. I hope you enjoy it!

I can’t wait to get my hands on it!! And congratulations on finishing this novel. I know how difficult it can be to etch/carve/pray out time to write in order to meet those deadlines.  Is there a favorite time of the day you prefer to write  to get the job done?
You know, I tend to do anything serious in the evening. Usually after 9pm. These days I work until dawn, and now that it’s spring, the birds are out to sing me to sleep (or keep me awake…)

Ha! I have a love-hate relationship with the birds outside my window too! Now, is there a specific place where you like to write? I have to kind of lock myself away.
My office is the place I write—there is only one seat in that space, and it’s behind my claw-foot desk. For some reason, I always seem to work at night.

All writers reading this, take note: a claw-foot desk, and night writing. I’m on it!


Moving on! I’m gonna get a little nosey here.  but I wanna know if there are there things you put off doing because you dread them? (ie I can’t stand to fold socks. Torture!)

I am a master procrastinator. I put off writing until I either can’t stand it any more or I better get a move on if I want to make my deadline. It’s a form of perfectionism that stems from fear. And in the end, the fear never goes away—I just start slogging through to the end.

I appreciate your transparency and your bravery to face fear by “slogging through to the end.” Fear is something that we can all struggle with, and it’s encouraging to know we don’t have to succumb. 

Switching gears  a bit now. I’m a Military wife, and love to have my guests put themselves in the military life roll. Let’s play!
Many Military families move several times over the course of their career relocating to duty stations all over the country and the world. While moving can be difficult, it’s also pretty exciting to meet new people and see new places. Sometimes we’re able to choose our duty station. If you had a choice, where would you like to be stationed and why?
Korea. 🙂 I have a ton of family (half of it) in Seoul. And I need me some good Korean food.

My hubby spent a year in South Korea!! I got to spend close to a month over there and LOVED it! Seoul was amazing! And you’re right, the food is crazy tasty!

I also like to honor the Service men and women in my guest’s family. Do you have family that have or are serving in the Military?
Some of my extended American family have served in the Air Force—uncles, a cousin. All the men on my Korean side of the family have served in the Korean military (it’s compulsory). My uncle is a former Korean Secretary of Defense, but the coolest part of his career, for me, was when he was a two star general because I got to ride around with him in his Jeep. ;D

That is totally awesome! Please thank both sides of your family for their service!

I’m not only a Military wife, but like a large portion of my friends and readers, I’m a stay at home momma.  It gets a bit crazy around my house, especially when I have edits to get to! Could you share some advice for all those parents out there raising their babies juggling insane schedules?

Oh boy. I’m a brand new step-mother to be of four—one young lady (19) and three young men (14 and 11 year old twins). (My fiancé is a single father.) So I’m the one who needs the advice—namely, ways to make vegetables appealing. Right now I’m just trying not to get wiped out by kid germs. (I managed to catch Whooping Cough last January.) One of the most amazing privileges of coming into this role is listening to them talk about the things that are important to them (i.e. football and Minecraft).
First off, Tosca, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Welcome to the wild, wonderful world of parenthood! Readers, let’s shower Tosca with some advice in the comment section! My advice: pray. Pray for your kids to like veggies. Pray you don’t get sick. And pray with them…even about Minecraft, football, or in my case, Elsa, Anna, and Pokémon.
Tosca, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to be our guest today. We’ve had a great time, and have room for one more response.
Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers? I know they’d love a personal note.
I love you guys. I truly have the most wonderful readers in the world. I think of you as I sit down to work, as I go about the business side of writing, and am grateful every day. One of my greatest joys is when I get to meet readers at signings, talks or events and hug them.

Again, thank you for being here with us today! Tosca has a special gift for everyone here
today! See below for the details! Remember to leave a comment to enter to win Havah: The Story of Eve!


http://www.amazon.com/Ismeni-eShort-Prelude-Legend-Sheba-ebook/dp/B00MS0FZAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429481376&sr=8-1&keywords=ismeni

Ismeni, the free eBook prequel to The Legend of Sheba is available for free on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and in all eBook formats.

No eReader? Get the FREE app for your computer, phone or tablet: https://www.amazon.com/gp/digital/fiona/kcp-landing-page?ie=UTF8&ref_=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd 

http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Sheba-Rise-Queen/dp/1451684045/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429481557&sr=8-1&keywords=queen+of+sheba

 
REMEMBER TO COMMENT BELOW TO BE ENTERED TO WIN HAVAH: THE STORY OF EVE

Stay Connected With Tosca:

4 Tips for Planning a LEGO Birthday Party

Welcome, Dear Readers!

This year I’ve set out to get to know you better, hear your story, what God’s done or doing in your life, lessons learned, trials, triumphs, recipes, and fun projects. I want to hear what you have to say, and so do a whole host of others.

Today we welcome Nicole Hines! Nicole is a mother of two, a Kindergarten teacher, and my sister-in-law! She’s got some great crafty ideas, and today she’s sharing some excellent tips on throwing an incredible Lego themed party!

Meet Nicole:

Hi everyone!
Since my boys birthdays are 3 weeks apart I decided to have a joint birthday party this year.  One thing both my boys love are LEGOs.  So I quickly decided on a LEGO themed birthday party and started surfing Pinterest for ideas. My goal was to spend as less as possible but make it look like I spent a lot. Here are 4 tips to how I got the job done!

1. Centerpieces:  I took glass mason jars and filled them with Legos.  I actually had my father-in-law cut some PVC pipe to place in the middle of the jar as a filler.  That way I didn’t have to use all my Legos for the centerpieces.  I then tied balloons to the jars for some height.  Under the jars I used some Lego mats from a Lego set I already owned. Finally, I sprinkled some jumbo Legos on each table too!  I think it turned out so cute!

2.  Cake: I love cupcakes!  They are so easy for birthdays, and so good.  So I bought some Lego molds off Amazon for $8.  I bought just regular white frosted cupcakes from Kroger.  I got red, yellow, green, and blue candy chocolate from Michaels craft store, and made Lego bricks to put on the cupcakes.  I was worried that the different colored chocolates would taste gross, but I had so many compliments on how good they were.



3. Games:  A birthday party is not complete without some type of entertainment.  The space I rented for the birthday party wasn’t big enough for an inflatable.  Honestly, I didn’t want to blow my entire birthday budget on one bouncy house anyway.  So I had to get creative in order to keep 15 little kids entertained.  First, we played pin the head on the Lego man.  Then I used the remaining Legos, scattered them all over the hallway, and gave each child a paper bag to decorate.  When everyone was ready, we had a Lego hunt.  The goals was to pick up as many Legos as possible.  After the hunt all the kids had to try and build the tallest structure.  To say they loved it was an understatement. 



4.  Party Favors:  I used the mini figure Lego mold and made Lego crayons (I got the mold from Amazon).  The boys loved helping me peel the crayons paper off, break them into pieces, and place them in the molds. We baked them in the oven at 200 degrees, for 15 minutes. Once removed from the oven, I used a toothpick to pop the air bubbles in the melted crayons, then set the mold in the refrigerator until it cools. Afterward, I popped them out of the mold. Easy! 🙂 Each child at the party left with 2 Lego crayons and a small little tablet. It was a hit!


Thank you for sharing Nicole!

Guest Reader Jessica Adkins: Living Love Loud by Becoming a Surrogate

Welcome, Dear Readers!
This year I’ve set out to get to know you better, hear your story, what God’s done or doing in your life, lessons learned, trials, triumphs, recipes, and fun projects. I want to hear what you have to say, and so do a whole host of others.


Today we welcome Jessica Adkins! Jessica has quite a testimony to share with you, and it seems quite fitting given that it’s Easter weekend, and we have so much life to celebrate!

Meet Jessica:

 
I’m 28 weeks pregnant with a precious baby boy. The twist? He’s not my husband’s baby…or mine! I am a gestational surrogate for an international family. I am just the incubator, or an extreme babysitter, for another family’s biological child. 
 
Meet Jessica Adkins
At this point, there Is no hiding that I’m pregnant! So, there are a lot of questions and comments from random people. Everyone loves a pregnant person! Or maybe it’s just they love to give advice and talk about your size! Most comments are from strangers making small talk who don’t know I’m a surrogate. I often struggle with knowing when to tell people that I’m carrying for a family or when to just smile and say, “Thank you.” 
 
My desire during this journey was to be open and vulnerable and make the entire process known.  I wanted people to see my heart, how The Lord was working through this, and what an amazing blessing this has been for both our families…it’s just kind of hard to share that in a 3 minute conversation! When I do mention that I’m a surrogate there are some people who are instantly supportive, but I mostly get a really weird sideways glance with three responses, “Why would you do that?” “I could never do that” and “Won’t you be too attached?” 
 
I totally understand all of those questions! I thought those too. I have been living through this process almost two years now and often times it’s still crazy to me that I’m pregnant with another family’s baby! I didn’t enter this process lightly and without prayer or guidance. I completely understand people have different opinions and values that they are entitled to.
 
THE WHY? 
 
We have 2 small children of our own. They are such a blessing and bring so much joy to our lives. Daily they humble us and teach us amazing truths about God’s love…but we feel complete with our family! No more planned babies for us! However, maybe that would convince my husband to buy me the minivan that I so desperately want…
 
When we made that decision not to have anymore kids, my heart was kind of sad! I am not a great pregnant person who loves every second of being pregnant if that’s what you assume! I complain about being pregnant every day that I’m pregnant…but there was still this longing to help create life, or carry life. Crazy woman hormones. 
 
As I’ve gotten older, I was taken back by the amount of infertility struggles that so many women and our close friends were struggling through. Honestly, I didn’t know surrogacy was a valid option until I quickly researched it. Once it was on my heart, I couldn’t get it off. 
 
One of my favorite versus is 1 John 3:18-24; “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth…” 
 
When I read this verse, it always hits me in a different way depending on my stage in life. How can I ‘love out loud’? I wanted to not only have a heart for families by being supportive and praying for them…I wanted to find a way to love them with actions. My body could carry a baby and there are families that desire a baby, so why not?! Obviously, there is more involved, but those were my beginning prayers! 
 
We chose to pursue surrogacy through an agency for the protection of our family. There are a lot of laws, medical, and legal issues that come along with surrogacy. Having an agency handle the business aspect allows us to focus on the relational side. We were matched with a wonderful couple based on our interest and personalities. It has been the greatest match. The mom had tried IVF 3 times before cancer was found and she had to have a full hysterectomy. They were on the adoption list for several years, but waiting up to five years is common. They chose to come to the US to pursue surrogacy since it is illegal in their country. 
 
Aren’t you going to be attached?
 
Precious Baby Boy
Right now, I am focused on enjoying this process. My husband and I are loving the relationship we are building with the parents. Being able to meet a couple we would have never known and call them family now is amazing. A pregnancy has never went by this fast in the past! It really is enjoyable…maybe because I now realize how amazing of a gift being pregnant is?! I love to feel him move, kick, and punch because I know he’s growing and is healthy. My husband feels my belly and is protective over my pregnancy and health. We both love the baby and his parents. So, yes we are attached! 
 
However, it’s just different. I don’t feel like he is my baby (because he’s not). I don’t have a crazy plan to ‘keep him’.  It could be because I’m not spending that time nesting in our home and planning his future. I feel like I love him and want the best for him…for him to be with his parents who love and desire to finally be able to hold him in their arms! The excitement and anticipation of that moment make it all worth it. 
 
I am not just helping to create a baby for a family…but a future brother, son, uncle, husband, father, and grandfather! That makes my role in this feel so small in comparison of what God can do through him. 
 
I would love your prayers for the rest of this pregnancy and over this sweet little boys life! If you would like to follow our journey you can check out my blog at: www.letsnotjusttalkaboutlove.weebly.com

Thank you for being with us today Jessica! I’m moved to tears, and I will be praying for you, your family, this precious boy, and his family. You’ll have to come back and give us update info and pics!!

Guest Reader Ann Knopp: A Journey of Stories

Welcome, Dear Readers. This year I’ve set out to get to know you better, hear your story, your lessons learned, trials, triumphs, recipes, and fun projects. I want to hear what you have to say, and so do a whole host of others.

Today we welcome Mrs. Ann Knopp! Thank you for being here with us today.
Meet Ann!

My name is Ann Knopp.  I am a pastor’s wife and mother of 2 basketball-playing boys (well, young men) who are die-hard, true-blue Kentucky fans.  In my free time, I work full-time at a nearby high school in the office and am also the women’s minister for our church.  I have a true heart for ministering to women.  My goal in life is to always leave a positive impact on lives wherever I go.
A Journey of Stories

Hi!  I am so thankful that Hannah has allowed me to share my story even though I feel that my life is just that – a journey of stories.  As I was thinking about what I should write, ideas of my 110 pound weight loss journey came to mind, as well as my dating life (which didn’t start until I was 24 and was short-lived because I married him a year later.J).  I thought about my God-rockin’ experience moments when He shared snippets of what I would do with my future.  But when I narrowed it down to a theme, it basically came down to my life’s theme – encouragement.  God has allowed my life to go down many paths but in every path, my question is always, “Who can I encourage today?”
I began an encouragement program at a school where I worked in Tennessee. I was allowed to have parents write letters to every student, teacher and staff in the school to let them know how important and valuable they were.  It was amazing to see the confidence soar in not only the kids’ attitudes but also in test scores because they knew someone cared.  Teachers and staff seemed brighter knowing they were appreciated.
I took my love for encouraging into my church as the women’s minister and had a great 2014 with the theme being “It’s Not About Me.”  This year, our theme is “Faithful in All Things.”  We started our ladies’ night in January by studying 2 John.  John is admonishing a lady and her children for doing what they are supposed to do but also warning those at the same time to not grow weary and start listening to people that aren’t of God.  In today’s society, there are so many distractions to lead us away from where our focus needs to be (especially during all holidays).  We do well for a while and then start to get lazy in our focus.  Our job is to strip away all that hinders us and get back to the basics in the Truth.  So during our meeting, we stripped the room of decorations, food and tables and left a single table with a candle lit and the Lord’s Supper on it with a circle of chairs connecting to each side of the table.  We took the focus back to Jesus and why He came in the first place – to die for our sins.  It was a very powerful evening.
My desire is to always encourage others whether it be in weight loss, keeping a strong marriage, your walk with the Lord or just to hold someone up when they are travelling through some dark times and can’t see any light.  I pray that if you need encouragement this year, email me at ukknopp@comcast.netor facebook message me at Ann Luck Knopp.  I love to share my story and all that God is doing in and through me. 
May God bless you tremendously this year!
Much love to you!

Contact Ann:
Email: ukknopp@comcast.net

Running the Race by Guest Reader, Dawn Freeman

Welcome, Dear Readers. This year I’ve set out to get to know you better, hear your story, your lessons learned, trials, triumphs, recipes, and fun projects. I want to hear what you have to say, and so do a whole host of others.

Today we welcome our first Guest Reader of 2015, Ms. Dawn Freeman! Thank you for being here with us today.

Meet Dawn:

Dawn Freeman is a writer, blogger, speaker, and Bible teacher.  She is currently pursuing a Master’s of Arts in Christian Ministry through Liberty University.  She has a heart and passion for God and His word.  Dawn desires to help other believers to come to know God and love Him with all their hearts, soul, and strength.  She also wants to help them become the Godly people He has created them to be for His purpose and plan. 

 

Running the Race

By Dawn Freeman
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  (Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV)
As I was recently driving back from a women’s Bible study at a friend’s house, I received a great visual image of the lesson we had studied earlier that night.  First of all, I had to duck out a little early in order to be somewhere else in plenty of time.  However, it worked out well for me.  I may not have received this visual image from the Lord if I had stayed for the entire Bible study.  Or, I may not have seen it the same way. 
Earlier, several ladies and I sat around a friend’s living area and discussed running our individual races.  We talked about the joy set before us as well as enduring hardships, trials, and other difficult circumstances.  We briefly mentioned the hindrances, distractions, and interruptions which are a part of this life. 
Later, as I was driving down the highway, I was focused on getting down the road as quickly as possible.  I had to stop by a retail store to pick up an item before the store closed for the night.  There were many other vehicles on the road.  Drivers pulling out in front of me.  Others switching lanes.  Some turning off the road onto another road.  I could see some vehicles in my peripheral view.  Others, I couldn’t see at all because they were either behind me or way out in front of me.  I wasn’t concerned about them though.  I was so focused on the path that was laid out before me.  I didn’t have the desire or the time to look at what everyone else was doing on their paths.  I didn’t necessarily care what others were doing on their part of the road either. 
That’s what we also need to do in our spiritual lives.  Be so focused on running our individual races that we don’t have the desire or the time to look at what others are doing on their individual paths.  We almost need to have tunnel vision where we don’t see anyone beside us, anyone behind us, or anyone else out in front of us.  We only see Jesus.  He’s the only one we see right in front of us.  We only hear what He wants us to hear.  We only see what He wants us to see.  We only say what He wants us to say to us or through us.

Connect with Dawn: