Tuesday, November 04, 2008

A whisper in my heart

When I graduated from high school in rural Northeast PA, I decided to go to college to be a teacher. It's what most women chose to do in my town--that or nursing or stay home and be a wife. But after one semester and an A in Psychology, my heart shifted. I changed my major and counseled adults for fifteen years.

During my last two years in college, I dated a wonderful man and planned to marry him. But after one night out with friends, I met another man and again my heart shifted. I changed who I loved, married him and still call him my best friend after thirty-one years.

Time and time again, I find myself on one path and then I a shifting in my heart takes me to another place. I like to think that shifting is a whisper from God.

One of my favorite verses is "Be still and know I am God." (I'd have to jump out of bed and look up where it is found so I'll leave that to you.) I have a plaque on my office wall to remind me that sometimes my own ideas aren't always the best and if I am still and listen to what He is telling my heart--the better choice will be made.

When I write, I try to put words on the paper that my heart tells me to share. Sometimes, I want to write about one thing and then I shift to something totally different.

I'm experiencing one of those weeks. I had fully intended to work on my fiction but the whispering is stronger and now I find myself more excited to shift over to some nonfiction articles.

What about you? Are you listening and writing from your heart today?

14 comments:

Robin Lambright said...

PS 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

My favorite as well!!

BeckyJoie said...

Yes, so true, Terri.

We have to be still enough to hear it. Thanks for the reminder.

BeckyJoie

Janna Leadbetter said...

Very powerful post, Terri. You gave me goose bumps. And I, too, listen for that still, small voice. No other voice is as guiding.

Anonymous said...

Terri: Thank you for sharing that blog. You have reminded me to STOP, and just LISTEN to my heart and Him. I would like to share my favorite bible verse with you: Matthew 21:22 "You will receive whatever you ask for in prayer, if you believe." International Standard Version.

Thank you for such an inspirational blog.
Ang

Vickie said...

What a great testimony. He is always speaking. We do well to stop listen and then obey.

I too have been encouraged by others and feel sometimes even in myself to go in a different direction, but I know what God is saying to my heart about where He wants me to go so I am following His leading.


blessings,
Vickie

Kasie West said...

I always try to listen. It saves me so much time. When I don't listen and write how I think my book should go it makes so much more work for me because it never turns out right. Thanks for reminding me to listen more often.

Melissa Amateis said...

Another great blog post, Terri. Your posts are always so inspiring to me.

Donna M. Kohlstrom said...

Each morning I pray that I will be obedient to where the Lord will lead me in my writing and in my day. Like you, many of my planned days get set aside for His plans. When I follow His lead, I am blessed.

Angie Ledbetter said...

It's so hard to listen today with all the distraction and noise...but we can train ourselves to hear it. Glad you're listening!

Kathleen said...

Well, actually ... I'm in the process of padding the walls in the TV room and hiding all the razor blades before hubby gets home from work. It's hard to ponder, much less write when he talks to or hollers at the TV (which always cracks me up!).

Tomorrow I'll probably have LOTS to say. But tonight I'm taking yours and Robin's cue and being still. Our God reigns!

Kathleen

Renee Collins said...

Wow, I LOVE that verse. It strikes a real chord for me, and my current situation. Thanks so much for posting this.

Pat's Place said...

Be still, and know that I am God is one of my favorite (and often MOST NEEDED!!) scripture verses! I often forget to sit quietly and wait for that whisper in my life. Nice piece of writing, by the way! Submit it somewhere!

Anonymous said...

Very good post. I can't say I've had the heart shifts you described... For me it's usually a sledgehammer taken to my life to make it change completely. ;-) But I do know what it's like to totally change direction!

Terri Tiffany said...

Dube--thanks for stopping by my blog! Do you have one?