Captive

Tell me, how can life get better than this?

Sitting here, wondering if there’s something I missed.

Bottled-up scream behind my lips.

No one listening as I burn to a crisp.

Someone, somewhere, rescue me!

I’m chained and bound, can’t be free.

Consumed by complete misery.

On the ground, off my feet.

Happiness turned to rage!

Can’t even turn the page!

Fear my life is a waste!

It’s time I went away!

A slow, soft whisper begins to rumble my core.

Shaking the chains as I lay on the floor.

Pulsing a brightness and prompting something more.

Drawing me to my feet and pushing me forward.

I rise from the ashes, and the chains fall to the ground.

Weight is lifted, and I’m no longer bound.

In a place of solitude I look around.

Is it possible I was lost, but now am found?

Steady, stop, listen, I have something to say.

Stop looking at the past, tomorrow is at bay.

The darkness is gone, light shines a new day.

Move your feet and let’s start this race.

I have the key to the chains you held.

Bondage was a mindset, leading you to Hell.

I gave you life and sight to see.

I broke the mold to set you free.

I filled your heart, know I’m here.

I gave you courage and took the fear.

The chaos is gone from your life.

Leave the darkness, come to the light.

A new beginning starts tonight.

I conquered the battle and won this fight.

Peace, be still, and know that I am Lord.

Now, take my hand and let’s explore…this life together.

 

 

 

God the Tourist

Have you ever been on a guided tour?  Let’s place this scenario at a historic site.  Maybe you did some studying or have an interest in the location you’re visiting.  The guide leads you from one house to a barn to a field where a battle took place.  At each stop they bring history to life with fun facts and interesting tidbits.  Somewhere along the way you decide to speak up about something you learned that the guide didn’t mention.  Maybe the group comes to life with this new information or maybe the guide just ignores you and continues along the way.  Whatever happens, you stay on the tour until it is finished.

 

Life is a long tour.  God sent Jesus to earth and Jesus became the interpreter of how things run down here.  Have you ever stopped to think that maybe Jesus’ time on Earth wasn’t enough?  Times change, societies evolve, and new is always around the corner.

 

God said, “The Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.  Deuteronomy 31:8

Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20

I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. Genesis 26:24

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall

not overflow you. Isaiah 43:2”

 

Some people think that God is distant and never interacts with us.  Others think that God shows up and leads us in our times of need.  But God says that he is with us always; every minute of every day.  That makes God a tourist in the journey of our lives.

 

With that in mind; where are we leading God?  Are we showing Him all the marvelous things we’ve learned or experienced ourselves?  Or are we constantly showing him junk that He’s seen too many times before?  Do we ignore Him when He speaks up to share with us something we didn’t know? Or are we captivated with the new information and share it with others?

 

God created us and He wants to be with us.  He is with us every day.  You take Him to work with you.  You sing along with the radio in your car and He is with you.  Maybe it’s time to stop thinking that we’re just along for the ride.  Life is unfolding before us and we bring God into each new adventure.  He’s like a parent who watches His children’s expressions as they learn to ride a bike or experience something new, or battle with pain.  God created the world and He wants to know how much we appreciate it.  Let’s show Him the marvels of His creation and listen when He has something new to share with us.

Daddy Children's Books

     If you search “Mommy Children’s Books” you will find a list of amazing books for children with respectable themes about childish adventures and outpouring love from Mommy to the child.  If you search “Daddy Children’s Books” you get something completely different.  There’s titles such as “Daddy Needs a Drink”, “When Mommy and Daddy Divorce”, “My Dad is Big and Strong, But”, “When Mom or Dad Dies”, and a list of other mature themed books for children. 

 

     Don’t get me wrong.  There are a few books that compete with “Mommy” books like “I love my daddy because”, “Daddy Kisses”, and “When a Dad Says ‘I Love You’”.  But there seems to be a shortage of children’s books that emphasize the importance of father’s in the lives of children.  I don’t want to sound too negative with this article, but if you want to continue your research and educate yourself on crime statistics based on the absence of a father figure, then you can google away.

 

     Fathers and their children have a special bond and it is often considered dorky or humorous which is why books come out about daddy snoring too loudly or daddy’s bald spot, but where are the stacks and stacks of books that fathers want to see?  Where are the books describing the adventures that children have with their fathers?  Every time I go to the park with my children we tell a story that involves dragons, captive princesses, a hero, and a theme where everyone returns home safely.  Where are the stories that show what fathers do best: picking up children and soaring them through the air, helping build projects, pushing them too high on swings, playing sports, going for a ride in the car to get ice cream, giving a big hug when something is wrong?

 

     I think it’s concerning and the storyteller inside of me is going to do something about it.  On the beach one day I asked little Donnie to draw me in the sand.  He did so and the character he drew inspired me to draw the same thing over and over again for the past two years.  I’ve been telling bedtime adventures for the past five years and it’s time to give fathers around the world books that display the importance of a hero daddy and a daddy whose there for his children.

 

     In January I hope to have my first children’s book available to the public.  It’s titled “The Adventures of Bubba and Sissy; Daddy Does the Same Thing” and follows the adventures that a brother and sister have with or without their daddy present.  Children play at school or in a daycare or at the park before their daddy gets home from work or visits them.  The story displays these adventures and shows that daddy does the same thing when the children are having fun.  When the children come together with their daddy they can continue the adventure.  The important thing is for children to include their fathers in their imagination time, so when he arrives they can establish a deeper bond.

 

     The role of the father will always be important to children.  A boy views his dad as a hero and someone to look up to.  A daughter sees her dad as a knight in shining armor.  Expanding their imaginations to make daddy larger than life will always have a better effect on a child than adult based humor about how out of shape or disgusting daddy can be.  After all it is the father who gives his daughter away on her wedding day and helps his son grow into a man.

Your Breath of Life

     Have you ever felt the effects of adrenaline and what it does to your body?  Your heart begins to pound as you take a seat in the roller coaster.  Your lungs open up and you take in more air.  Suddenly, you’re aware of the people’s conversation three cars back.  Your vision becomes more focused as you see the first hill in the distance the coaster will soon climb.  You began to sweat.  Blood races to your arms and legs and gives you strength.  Fear slowly disappears and you feel like you can conquer anything.  That’s what adrenaline does in a single circumstance.

     Have you ever realized that you’re standing at the fork in the road of your life?  This doesn’t happen as often as adrenaline rushes as hindsight usually plays a role with that moment has passed.  It might be a job choice or something more dramatic, but you know that your choice will influence the rest of your life or until another meeting with destiny arrives in your future.

     Have you ever placed another person above yourself?  Your wife or husband or children need something that everything inside of you screams can’t happen.  You make a decision that is ninety percent out of your control, but you know just part of you has to be willing to give it a shot for something to happen.  The outcome isn’t promised, but courage is needed in the first step.

     Combine all of these and you get a glimpse of the definition of “Breath of Life”.  It’s the past, present, and future all combined into one moment that changes your life.  You will eventually be able to look back at that moment and realize that the path you are on is better because of that choice.  You can then say that you’ve experienced the breath of life.

     I want to hear your story about that moment in your life.  It might have happened decades ago or you could be standing at the fork in the road with a decision already made and the future clear and crisp like adrenaline’s gift to your body.  Visit facebook.com/breathoflifedonaldstidham and tell your story in the comment field below the “Your Breath of Life” post.

The Ultimate Social Network for Writers

I’ve heard it time and time again that writing is a lonely profession.  I’m somewhat inclined to agree with that because we have to be alone to get our thoughts out and into the physical world.  But, today I realized there is a social network that completely erases the loneliness.

I’m currently editing my novel “Pieces” which I plan on releasing in the spring of 2014.  As my eyes sweep over the pages I realize that other people could be watching me since I’m in a public place while enjoying a coffee.  For the next few minutes I keep myself in check as my book causes emotional responses.  I’m laughing and then I stop.  I grit my teeth and pull my fistful of hair until my scalp hurts.  I reposition myself in the seat while smiling at the screen.

I think, “What are these people around me thinking about me and my reactions?”  That leads to the thought of me on a couch with a therapist.  I would pour out my questions and concerns about my characters and ask why they had to do the things they did.  By the end of the session my therapist would deem me crazy for actually thinking the characters I create are real.  I’ll take the crazy pill because my characters are a part of who I am, therefore they are real.

Do any of you writers out there feel the same way?  A character may start out as an idea, but somewhere along the way they become real.  If something bad happens to them, then it hurts us.  If something good comes into their lives, then we’re happy for them.  Some may say to change the story if something bad is going on, but it’s not that easy.  For some of us writers the story unfolds and it’s like history; it can’t be changed.

This is when I realized that writing is NOT a lonely profession at all.  The social network for a writer is greater than any social network available to everyone else.  Facebook can never have as many available friends and events going on as the worlds and characters my books offer me.  I can sit and think and social network for hours.  “Christina, what’s happening today in Bakersfield, California?”  “Mel, how are you going to propose to her?”  “John, are you going to make it through this journey with Claire?”  “Dougan, why did you pick up that hitchhiker?”  “Hayden, how deep does your love for your father really go?”  And the answers start pouring in.  At that point my fingers hit the keyboard and make it happen.

You see, our characters entertain us beyond imagination.  It’s not a false reality that some psychologist might argue.  These people are real and their lives are imprinted on us as writers.  Reality is more beautiful because they exist.  It’s not crazy.  What’s crazy is thinking that the world could go on without these pieces of us existing.  Because of that the ultimate social network for writers will always be in our minds.

 

Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ.

There’s a simple question that has been diluted over time.  The question was posed to some of us while growing up, some later in life.  Once the question was asked and time moved on it becomes ease to forget the powerful meaning behind it.  “Do you want a personal relationship with Jesus?”  The question could have been phrased differently, but there is a key in there I want to take a look at; Personal Relationship.

 

All of us have relationships, some romantic or plutonic and others biological.  In the intimate relationships they all started out with speaking to the other person.  The development of that relationship might have started slow; with respect and astonishment that someone blossomed into feelings deeper than friendship.  It could have started with fire and passion, adventure and intrigue that could only be defined as crazy love.

 

Remember those early dates way before talks of marriage?  You might have written notes or bought a simple card.  You could have constructed a poem or bought flowers.  Maybe you made reservations at a nice restaurant and caught a movie before staying up all night and just talking to that other person.  You listened for hours on the phone while they chatted about everything possible.  Think about all those hours and days and weeks you put effort into that relationship that gave it a foundation to where you are today.

 

What about Jesus?  Maybe you said that prayer, opened your Bible, read it every day, went to church every Sunday, joined a ministry, became a missionary, help your local Christian outreach programs, pray every morning and night, and fill your schedule with honest deeds for Christ.  Maybe you’re not that outgoing.  If you’re an overachiever, prayer warrior, or silent Christian you may have lost focus on the very basic definition of your proclaimed faith; a personal relationship.

 

Think of the best relationship you’ve ever experienced with another person.  Now, think of the best thing they ever did for you.  Was there a sacrifice on their part; money, time, effort, etc…?  Now watch this.

 

 

 

Jesus did this with you on His mind.  He endured more than just flogging and humiliation.  He carried a cross up the mountain of despair in your life.  He planted that cross and was nailed to it.  He died with you on His mind.  It doesn’t stop there.

 

 

 

When you wake up Jesus should be on your mind.  You should give Him at least a minute to thank Him for that sacrifice and talk to Him.  Listen to what He has to say.  See where He wants you to go for the day.  Tell others about the best relationship you have on this earth.  Strive to become closer to God just like you strived to be great in every other relationship you’ve been in.  A personal relationship doesn’t start with a prayer and get refueled on Sunday mornings.  A personal relationship comes to life with a prayer and fuels your every movement and every breath.

 

 

Movie clips from Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ on youtube.

Golf: The Writers’ Sport

Most people know that writing can be a lonely profession.  Most of our work comes from the mind, therefore thinking takes up a large part of our time.  What’s the idea?  Where does the story go?  How can I make this character stronger?  How much do I edit?  Once finished with research, planning, writing, and editing the entire process usually starts again and continues until a finished product emerges.  There is only so much human interaction in the actual writing process which means we have to be alone to write.

 

Golf happens to be the loneliest sport on earth.  You may start with a group or a partner, but you probably will only see them in the tee box and on the green.  Your ball slices and theirs cuts.  You hit it straight and they venture into the woods.  You play in the sand and they search the rough.  But golf is great for the writer.

A writer thinks a lot and the golf course offers plenty of time to do that.  After a tee shot there’s a couple of minutes until you get to your ball and again after you hit with an iron.  In that time I think about my book project.  Do I like where the story is going?  Is there a connecter I can place early on and reveal at some other point?  Is he going to die and what will that do to the other characters?  I even think about book covers and what would best exemplify the entire book with one image.

Golf and writing have a lot in common.  There are funny moments; I almost hit the group playing beside us.  There are tragic moments; the ball bounce off a tree and landed in the lake.  There are adventurous moments; I had to trample over thorns, under branches, around trees to find my ball in the woods.  And there are peaceful moments; the ball soared like an eagle for two hundred and fifty yards.

You see, golfing is a story in itself.  The writer is the main character who has a mission.  They are thrown right into the action.  They have little time to defeat the enemy; themselves.  They have their weapons, distractions, suspenseful buildups, climaxes, agony, and revelations.  With each trip to the golf course they have one question on their minds; will this be a page-turner or a flop?

Too Much Pain.

You’re standing there because He told you to.  So, why does the weight on your shoulders feel so heavy?  You went down that path and it didn’t lead where you thought it would.  You’re right back in the same place.  You grew closer to God because you didn’t want to feel this way again.  He promised you a different outcome.  The waters are rising.  You fall to your knees because you don’t know what else to do.  You scream out to God, but you no longer have a voice.  The water rushes over you and knocks you back.  You’re struggling to stay afloat.  Wind and waves crash against your face.  You frantically try to keep your head above water.  Your arms are burning and your legs cramp up.  The last ounce of will leaves your body and you realize how broken you are.

You start to sink.  You’re reaching up for help as the salty water enters your mouth.  Your throat burns.  You can’t breathe.  Tears are streaming down your face.  You cry because the pain is too great to deal with.  Life wasn’t supposed to turn out this way.  Where are you to go when the skies are dark and you can’t see past a decision you haven’t even made yet?

You’ve already reached out to everyone you know for help.  They prayed a thousand times just as you have.  Yesterday was better, but today returned with force and left you hurting.  God took a vacation and forgot about you.  You’re alone and dying from the inside out.  Tomorrow will never be as bright as the past you long for.  Darkness overtakes you.

In that moment you feel more alone than you ever have in your entire life.  You’re done talking to God.  You want to turn to something else because your trust has been shattered.  You simply want to escape the pain.

That’s when the brightest light you’ve ever seen pierces the darkness.  An explosion from the surface of the water opens your eyes.  You see an arm reaching down to save you.  The hand grabs yours with force and pulls you up.  You emerge from the waters.  Ferocious winds tear at your clothes.  Howling winds shriek past your ears.  Lightening slashes the night skies.  A massive tidal wave is heading for you.  This time you won’t be able to survive the onslaught.

“Hold me,” He whispers.

You peel your face away from His chest and notice Jesus holding you tightly in the storm.  You look into His eyes.  The peace in them transfers to your soul.  He sees the fear resonating from your eyes and opens his mouth.

Gently he speaks, “Peace, be still."

 

The tidal wave falls like rain.  The winds, rain, and lightening evaporate.  The ocean beneath your feet turns placid.  That’s when you realize you’re standing on water.  It’s the first miracle in a long line of gifts God is about to impart in your life.  All you have to do is keep holding on.  Hold on to Jesus.

You're An Overcomer!

Mandisa has an awesome song out right now that inspires the weak and hurting with phrases like “Stay in the fight ‘til the final round” and “You’re not going under”.  She tells us that God isn’t turning His back on us anytime soon.

This prompted a thought about why we need God so much and what drives us into His arms.  Fear is a major part of that drive.  In our weakened state we become fearful of the unknown.  Will I be able to make next month’s rent?  Will my kids have food on the table?  Will I have to find another job?  God, are you going to show up and do something to help me out?

I searched the Bible about fear and found that God has been driving home a message to His people for thousands of years; Fear Not!  God isn’t afraid of anything because He knows what tomorrow will bring.  He wants us to stop worrying and release our fears.  Why?

Matthew 10:28  “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.”  God wants us to fear Him only.  That’s a deep reality to grasp.  Seasons will pass, things will come and go, people will enter and leave your life for as long as you have breath in your lungs, but letting fear drive your emotions or actions does not help.  Fear only God for he has the power to destroy the soul and that is all that matters in the next life.

Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and salvation; Whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”  God ups the ante here.  He’s telling us that He gives us strength to get up and go on.  We shouldn’t be afraid of tomorrow because He is with us and will provide for us.  Do you ever feel that you can’t go on?  Is there anything else more powerful than that eclipsing feeling?  Sometimes all we need is strength because movement seems impossible.  God will give us strength.  He tells us that again in Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

If we haven’t been convinced yet God tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”  God did not give us a spirit of fear to worry about small things in this life.  He gave us power, love, and self-discipline.  God wants more than anything to show us love and for us to take that love and show it to others.  There is power in that.  He wants us to be Overcomers of our fears so we can experience His greatness each and every day.

God’s Pumpkin Spiced Latte

I’ve been seeing and hearing so much about pumpkin flavored coffees, snacks, pies, and about every other imaginable food and drink where the delicious additive is combined.  Tis the season for pumpkin scented candles, air fresheners, and automobile deodorizers.  Many say it is a seasonal trend that peaks around Thanksgiving, but holds steady during the fall months.  Is it a farfetched connection to ask if we are God’s pumpkin spiced latte sometimes?

Seasons come and go in our life where we are more active, have more energy, and feel better connected to those around us.  Statistics show that during the holiday season of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas more people experience depression than any other time of the year.  I tell you, let God make you trendy this holiday season; just like the taste of pumpkin spice in everything you consume this fall.

You might be prone to depression because of a lost loved one, a divorce, an unexpected death of a child, debt, or other struggles this holiday season.  I heard something new from a guest speaker this last Sunday in church.  He said, “I am thankful for debt in my life.  It helps me realize how much I owe of myself to someone else.”  He wasn’t talking about financial debt, but the debt he owes his parents for the direction they pushed him in life.

So, as the holidays come pray something simple to God.  Tell Him you want something different this year.  You want Him to use you in a way He never has before.  Ask Him to show you joy each day and share that joy with others.  Ask Him to bless you, so you can bless others.  Pray for your enemies and everyone you come in contact with.  Read the Bible just a little bit more than usual.  Pumpkin spice will come and go.  Starbucks will no longer have the drink when spring rolls around.  Don’t fade out like that and wait for another season of usefulness to come along.  Ask God to make you his Pumpkin Spiced Latte and keep yourself on the menu year round.

Love Alone Is Worth The Fight

What is love?  Webster defines it as an intense feeling of deep affection.  Google brings up music videos and philosophical explanations on its attachment to sexuality.  Some say love is a weapon.  Others argue that love doesn’t exist at all.  I say, love cannot be attached to the fear of being hurt in any way, form, or shape, or it wouldn’t be love at all.

Love is in all of us.  If you instantly want to argue, then I can delve into the darkest scenarios possible to prove love’s existence.  Even a killer is touched by love, but lacks conscience to lead them down the right path of expression.  With those full of hate they are choosing the opposite and that choice alone shows their battle against love’s existence.

Love is caring for others.  You want to see them blessings shower their lives.  You care about their outcome.  This feeling may prompt the spirit of giving and sacrificing.  It becomes acceptable for you to suffer for their gain.  In your suffering you feel satisfaction because they are prospering.  The sacrifice can range from the unpleasant feeling of eating at a restaurant you would rather not all the way the ultimate, sacrificing yourself.

Love can be biological.  One loves their mother because of that relationship alone.  Mom nursed, raised, protected, and sheltered you and a piece of your core shows appreciation by the feeling defined as love.  Love can be chemical; that feeling of satisfaction before, during, and after sex.

One thing for sure is love cannot change.  Love is either present or absent.  Love can grow or diminish in the same way water can be poured into or out of a cup.  A simmering love can find a source of fuel and ignite into a burning inferno.  A raging love can be put out in an instant and vanish.  But love cannot change.  It changes you.

Love has a lengthy list of side effects that include, but are not limited to: happiness, joy, peace, kindness, patience, gentleness, caring, faith, and hope.  Love puts a smile on your face when it’s raining outside.  Love brings tears to your eyes when your daughter gets married.  Love sends chills down your arm when he whispers in your ears something romantic.  Love washes away the fear and comforts you in the storms of life.  Love replaces words of anger.  Love helps you wait, so you’re not alone.  Love gives hope when there doesn’t seem to be a way.

All this being said; love alone is worth fighting for.  Love brings too much positivity with it to be ignored or without.  Some days or even years can go by without love present.  You should have your sword and shield in hand and be in the middle of the battle.  Swing away at hate.  Stab frustration until it bleeds out.  Conquer fear and raise your sword high above your head and shout in victory, “I choose love!”  For without love we are a hollow shell waiting to be shattered.

It’s Not Enough!

You’re a thousand miles away tonight.  I stretch out my hand, but you don’t take hold.  I look to the skies and see beauty, but you’re missing.  The wind stirs the leaves in the trees all around me, but you no longer dance on the breeze.  I’m empty.  The fire is gone.  How could you leave me?  You knew I would need you right now.  Where do I go?  How do I continue?  How do I start again?  All I see is this massive mountain before me, the desert behind me, and crowded woods surrounding me.  Where did you go?

Keep walking.

 

Twigs slap at my face.  Thorns tear at my limbs.  Rocks catch on my feet and make me stumble.  Fallen trees beat my legs.  Snarled branches keep the sun from me.

 

Step out of the forest.

 

Miles of land lead to the mountain.  I don’t have the strength to make it in this open area.  It’s too far of a walk.  The sun burns my skin.  It’s too bright out here.  Where am I supposed to go?

 

Stop walking and run!

 

My legs burn.  I don’t have the energy for this.  My chest hurts.  There’s not enough oxygen in the air.  Sweat stings my eyes.  Okay, I’m at the mountain.  It’s so tall.

 

Climb!

 

The ground is unstable.  The earth slips beneath my weight.  My fingers are bleeding from clawing at gravel and gripping jagged boulders.  My knees hurt from lifting my weight higher.  I look back and fear falling to my death.  Bats escape a cave and slap at my head.  Small trees uproot when I try to get a hold of something to pull myself higher.  My arms hurt.  The top appears, but there’s nothing up there.  I finally reach level ground and fall to back.  I’m exhausted.

 

Catch your breath.  Lay there for a moment.  Rest.

 

I’m so tired.

 

Now, stand up.  Get to your feet.

 

But I’m—

 

Stop talking and look around.

 

Thick clouds hover above my head.  I reach up and touch them.  Cold moisture covers my hands and erases the cuts.  I turn to see a rainbow in the distance.  The beautiful colors somehow relax the aching muscles in my arms and legs.  I take a deep breath.  The clean air relaxes my lungs.  My chest no longer hurts.  A gust of wind knocks me to a sitting position.  The breeze washes away the gashes and bruises on my legs.  I sit and look at the forest in the distance.  It seems so small from up here.

 

I brought you to this place to show you something.  Do you see where you came from?  Remember the struggle in the woods?  Remember dreading the run?  Remember climbing this mountain?  Look closer.  The forest should have killed you.  The open field should have consumed you.  The mountain should have shaken you off.  But they didn’t.  You were not alone.  What do you see from here?

 

Tears stream down my face.  My body grows warm as you wrap your arms around me.  I see defeat.  I see impossibilities.  I see death.  I see that I couldn’t see a way through all that.

 

I am the way.

 

The darkness surrounding my journey dissolves.  A great light transforms all below to majesty.  I see strength developed from the journey through the forest.  I see endurance given from the journey across the field.  I see perseverance gained from the journey up the mountain.

 

You see victory with Me.  Now, go back.  But this time realize that I am with you.  This time do not try to do it on your own.  Open your eyes and see the struggle as I do; a blessing.  During the climb I will be the solid ground beneath your feet.  During the run I am your strength.  In the darkness I am the light.  In the your struggle I am your faith.  I am the way.  And the truth.  And I am your life.

Helping Children In Need

My firstborn son, Donald Edward Stidham the Fourth, already had my namesake and was destined to be the smartest child ever born.  He would play sports and conquer his opponents.  He would learn music and become a skilled musician.  He would know multiple languages.  He would choose a profession where several years of college would mold him into a successful person.  When he was born that reality froze.  Doctors took him to a helicopter and flew him a hundred miles away to Arkansas Children’s Hospital.  Tubes were placed in him.  Pneumonia plagued his lungs and tomorrow wasn’t promised.

I could only touch my son in that warming bed.  My fingers glided down his back, careful not to touch the tubes supporting his life.  I bought him  a small lion and placed it next to him, not to protect him, but to inspire him to be like the lion and find strength.  I prayed for him constantly.

Nearly six years later he is strong and courageous like the lion.  He is smart and kind.  That future that I wished for him is still possible.  Stories like this happen all the time thanks to children’s hospitals around the world.  St. Jude’s and Arkansas Children’s Hospital save lives.  I’ve talked about it since I started writing and I always said that I would donate to these organizations once I published my first book.  That day has finally come.

Today I contacted St. Jude’s and Arkansas Children’s Hospitals and spoke with their fundraising departments.  The ball is rolling.  I don’t know how long it will take to make it official, but those who purchase Breath of Life will know that 10% of anything I make will go to St. Jude’s.  Another 10% will go to Arkansas Children’s Hospital.  This donation process will happen for the lifetime of the book, which is forever.  The giving will not stop here.  My second novel, Pieces, will do the same thing to two different charities.  My third novel will do the same and so on.  I want to help change the world.  I want you to know that you are helping right along side of me.

If you have any ideas for charities I would like to know about them.  I will research them and they could possibly land on my list to give to.  Writing has a lot of self-fulfillment involved in the process.  It’s therapy.  I’ve been blessed with the ability to create stories and I want to share that blessing with organizations that help others.  It doesn’t matter if only one book is sold each month.  Twenty percent of that will go to saving children’s lives.

Thank you for your support.

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Breath of Life Now Available on Createspace.com

I am excited to announce that the print edition of Breath of Life is now available on Createspace.com.  I am currently formatting the book for Kindle and it should be available for download soon. 

Visit www.createspace.com/4389657 to order your copy today.  I have only experienced great service with this website and am beyond satisfied with their work.  Thank you so much for your continued support.

Hindsight

Hindsight whispers with infinite wisdom to me.  I can listen for hours and capture the advice to carry with me where Hindsight cannot journey; the future.  Hindsight has an ugly friend that often tags along; Regret.  Regret has no place in anything Hindsight has to say.  Regret wishes only to hinder Progress.  Progress wants me to better myself and my future Decisions.  Decisions longs for the most prosperous journey.  Decision doesn’t like Heartache as it clouds his Peace.  Peace constantly battles Depression, Anger, Sorrow, and their gang of Negativity.  Sometimes, Peace allows them to get close and attaches part of itself to them, but only to help Progress and Hindsight.  Stillness is the key to it all.  I cannot find Hindsight and gain Wisdom without Stillness.  I must stop and focus with Stillness.  Only then can I learn from Hindsight, rebuke Regret, embrace Progress, kill Heartache, make the right Decisions, find Peace, and continue into the future where Happiness awaits.  Happiness teaches me to dance with Life.  If Hindsight has shown me anything it’s that Life and Happiness should be my best friends in the future. 

I Am With You.

Stop.  You’ve come far enough.  You’re legs are tired and your heart is heavy.  I’ll take the final steps for you.  I pull you into my arms and place your face against my chest.  Your streaming tears fall to my shirt.  I’ll rub your hair and hold you in my arms.  Can you feel their strength supporting your weight?  Fall into me.  Give up that last ounce of restraint.  You’re scared and I feel it.  You hesitate and I know it.  Close your eyes and let it all out.  Free yourself.  There you go.  Don’t be embarrassed; everyone reaches this point.  Making a fool of yourself is a perception only by those whose fear outweighs their cry for help.  I am here now.  Whisper to me your worries.  Tell me how I can help.  Ask of me and I will reveal to you my plan.  You might not like what I have to say, but I promise you it will give you strength.  You will turn away with strong legs; able to walk further this time.  You will leave here with a more durable heart; able to battle future pain.  You will start again with a fresh spirit; able to see the beauty that I see every day.  Let me change you, for the person you’ve become isn’t as beautiful and the person I want you to be.  Right here and now is all that matters.  Tomorrow isn’t promised.  I could call you home before it reaches you.  I have something for you.  I want you to take it and make it apart of your soul.  Let me touch your face and give it to you.  Let me heal the brokenness inside.  Let me carry you back to your life and set you on your way.  Now, remember I am right beside you today, tomorrow, and forevermore.  Just reach out when you need me.

Breath of Life on Facebook

I'm currently working on a Facebook page for my debut novel.  Check it out for a look into Breath of Life, my mini-bio, answers to questions about my subtitle, and more.
https://www.facebook.com/breathoflifedonaldstidham

Breath of Life



Cover design for Breath of Life.  Novel available at the end of October.



Lessons From Job

Snapshots

 

“Mommy, can we go to the park and play today?”  The excitement in your daughter’s voice while she clasps her hands together and begs makes it impossible to say no.  You push her on the swing and she screams with excitement.  You watch as her imagination unfolds with each obstacle on the playground.

“Daddy, do you want to throw the football?”  Your son stands with his feet wide and his hands in the air.  You toss the ball gently and cheer when he catches the pigskin.  He rears back with both hands and launches the ball with all his might.  You scurry forward to catch the wobbly ball and receive a cheer from him.

“Mom, why do boys act so weird ALL THE TIME?”  Oh, no!  You dreaded the day when your daughter would show interest in boys.   You sit her down and explain all the things you wished you would have known when you were her age.  You silently hope her heart doesn’t feel the pain you know will come one day with her first breakup.

“Dad, can we go for a drive?”  The first experience was bad enough.  Now, your son wants to put your life at risk again.  You sit nervously in the passenger seat and explain every rule of the road while your son ignores you to check out his reflection in the rearview mirror.  With sweaty palms you tell him to ease out of the driveway.  Instantly, you wish for a neck brace.

Your daughter screams, “Mom, Dad, Billy asked me to marry him!”  Dad, you take your daughter’s arm with pride and start down the aisle after everyone stands.  Mom, you watch from the front row in admiration of your beautiful daughter.  You both hope her future will be bright and without suffering.

As you sit at your house the phone rings.  You answer the call and struggle to comprehend the words being spoken.  Your son was involved in a wreck on the interstate.  Your daughter was on the flight that fell from the sky.  You drop the phone and see their faces behind your crying eyes.  Their presence lingers in your thoughts.  They can’t be gone.  They were just here.  You’ll never kiss your daughter again.  You’ll never hold your son in your arms again.  They’re gone.

Job had similar experiences for many years.  He had ten children.  That’s ten weddings and probably 250 plus birthday celebrations.  He spent his life teaching his children everything he knew.  His memories with them could probably fill a dozen books.  All of that came crashing down in a single moment when a messenger told him that all his children died when a house collapsed on them all.  He would never see their smiling faces again.  He would never comfort another painful moment for one of his daughters.  He would never give advice to another son again.

Job reacted by worshiping God.  He told his wife, “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?"  Job took a step back and realized that God had provided everything wonderful in his life and when it was all taken away God remained God.  Somehow, he knew God was doing something in his life.  Somehow, he still trusted God.  Job had faith and he worshiped God in the catastrophic storm.

Would you still be able to worship God if you lost everything?  When you lose something important and the pain of that loss eventually fades you will come to a place of realization.  In this place you will see that the most important thing in this life is your own relationship with God.  You can’t take anything else with you to the grave.

The Bench

A white bench sits alone in the sunlight.  Flaking paint tells its lifelong story of years with nature.  Waves crash on the rocks just feet away.  Short grass spreads from the bench to the wet boulders.  A bird lands on the seat and sings to no one.  Puffy clouds loom across the blue sky; frozen in time.  The sun turns red and touches the horizon.  The bench adapts and turns pink in the light.  As the sun exits the moon rises to center stage.  Constellations cover the vast darkness overhead.  A streaking light gives the bench one wish.  The cry for life is answered.

A man leans his cane against the seat and falls into place.  He removes his Fedora and places it next to his leg.  He struggles to cross his legs before leaning back and stretching both his arms wide.  He holds the back of the bench and looks up at the full moon.  The glowing sphere hears the story once again and accepts friendship from the man.

The night passes as rays of sunlight appear through the trees behind the man.  He places his hat on his head and stands with the support of his cane.  He wishes the bench a good day and disappears.  The bench is alone again.  The ocean continues to churn life.  The bird returns to sing a song.

A couple appears in the distance and the bench straightens.  He longs for their touch.  They pass him by and step onto the sand.  They laugh and splash in the water; entertaining the bench with their childish frolicking.  Loneliness returns to the bench when they leave.  He longs for the night and the man with the story.  When the moon appears the man returns and brings happiness to the bench.  He welcomes his friend and listens once again.

Is God Real?

This is probably the most important question you have to ask yourself during the span of your life.  Someone can give you a list of facts that could be interpreted as opinions on the existence of God.  Another can make you a list on why they believe God doesn’t exist.  Regardless of the facts it is one question that you will eventually have to answer for yourself.  A believer would say, “It doesn’t matter if you believe in God, God believes in you.”  An Atheist would argue, “Don’t waste your time because all the facts are opinions and if God did exist, then He would have showed up by now.”

Thomas said to his friend, “I’m never going to win the lottery.”  His friend replied, “Well, how much money have you wasted on lottery tickets?”  Thomas said, “I don’t buy lottery tickets because I’m never going to win.”

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that you can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket.  Well, the question of God’s existence works the same way.  I will present to you the challenge, if you want to call it that, and if you really want to know if God exists, then try it.  If you’re really searching for the answer, then it won’t be a waste of time..

Just like the lottery, you have to place yourself in the game to have a chance at winning.  With God, place yourself in His game and see if He shows up.  This challenge is for thirty days, non-stop, with as much attention as you can possibly give to each category.

1.      Rearrange your schedule so that you can attend a church for each Saturday or Sunday in the thirty days.  If you can also attend mid-week services, then better.

2.      Get a Bible and read as much as you can each day.  Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts are a great starting point.

3.      Search the internet for local Christian Music stations and tune in for your drive to and from work.  Listen to the station at your house and on your phone as well.

4.      Pray as much as you can.  Tell God you are questioning His existence.  Talk to Him about your problems and your worries.  And give a minute or two after each prayer in complete silence.

5.      In the thirty days give ten percent of your income to the church you are attending, the radio station, or a charity that strives to make the lives of people better.

6.      Talk to people you know about God.  See where they stand and ask what God has done for them.

That’s it.  For the next thirty days of your life invite God in and see if He shows up.  By going to church you are going to hear the interpretations of the Bible from the pastor and see how God is working in other people’s life.  You are also going to connect with believers and be accepted into a support group.  By reading the Bible you are going to see what God said and is still saying.  You will begin to understand His voice.  By listening to the radio station you are going to hear the praises of Christians and their thanks to God through music.  By praying you are going to speak directly to the source and wait to hear an answer.  By giving ten percent of your income you are going to feel the amazing power of helping others in need.  By talking to your friends and coworkers about God you are going to get a glimpse into the personal lives of those you know and relate with them about God.

If at the end of the thirty day challenge God doesn’t show up, then you can make your decision.  I guarantee if you put yourself in the game, then you will see that life isn’t a game at all.  Life is a beautiful experience God grants us with to spread the news of His power.  If you’re setting out to prove me wrong and on day thirty nothing has happened, ask yourself if you really did everything you could in that thirty days.  Maybe you’ll need an extension.  Thirty days isn’t that long and won’t be a waste.  Just think about last month and how fast it went by.  Get a ticket for this lottery.  It’s already been paid for.  

Starting Again

It started as a stone flying through the air.  It struck you and sent you to your knees.  The stone became a boulder that you placed on your shoulders; too heavy to lift.  Then came the first shovel-full of dirt.  Specks of dust fell from your hair and wiggled their way down your back.  Another shovel-full of dirt, then another, and another.  It didn’t take long for you to become buried with the boulder on your back and mud surrounding you.  Darkness consumed you.  A hand reached through the grave and you latched onto it for dear life.  It pulled you through and lifted you into the air.

 

Your arms are spread wide as you hover three feet off the ground and the sunlight touches your face.  The wind knocks free all the dirt clinging to your skin.  You hear the birds singing for the first time in a long time.  You smell the flowers surrounding you in the field.  Peace washes over you as you float back down to the ground. 

There’s the road before your feet; divided in two directions.  You know one of the ways.  You’ve been down that road before.  Pain awaits.  You don’t know the other path; how many hills there will be to climb, how many deserts to suffer through, how many nirvanas to lavish in.

You take a knee; this time without the boulder on your shoulders.  Strength fills your soul and prompts you to get up.  A spark ignites a passion for the unknown.  The known path will not control you any longer.  You remove its map from your pocket and set it ablaze.  You take a step in the direction of new life.  Words appear on the ground before you; engraved in stone and bold.  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

You catch a glimpse of the road ahead.  There are dark clouds, but sunlight beyond.  There are mountains, but valleys of peace.  There are thorns, but acres of willow trees.  Will you continue on this new journey or turn back to the road of ease?  Taking another step forward you feel arms embracing you in thanks for continuing.  A voice whispers on the breeze, “I will always be with you.” 

Help Me Fix My Marriage

I struggled with titling this post.  I wanted to put Mending Broken Bridges or Healing My Marriage or even More Than Just a Band-Aid.  Although a title may be hard to come up with I want to speak on the importance of finding peace with your spouse, soon to be ex, or ex-partner.

The world would be a better place if there existed a room where a couple could go to get it all out of their system.  Here are some facts that apply to most divorces that I’ve found to be true.  There will be pain and suffering.  There will be murky waters and unexplained questions whose answers never come about.  Peace will eventually arrive.  And understanding is the guest that has an invitation to the party, but no one knows if or when it will show up.

 

Alright, in this room a couple has as long as it takes to get all of that out of the way.  The wife asks why the affair arose.  She gets all the information she wants so she can have closure.  The husband might ask about the way his wife treats him or doesn’t treat him a certain way.  The point is, the couple gets all the pain out of the way.  They scream at each other, they cry, but they repeat themselves until the other person has the answers to the questions they need an explanation for.

Session two in the room consists of planning.  She tells him she is getting the house and child support.  He tells her he is keeping the boat and getting to see his children three weekends a month.  They can fight about the plans and try to adjust them to fit both their wants, but they come to an agreement on how life will go forward.  If she says she is getting the house and he disagrees, then he will be ready to fight against that in court and she will be ready for the fight.  But they both know the plan and where the future is heading.

Session three in the room deals with healing.  Both parties calm themselves and look past all the “things” in life and say their apologies.  If the husband isn’t sorry for anything, then he voices it.  The wife can react in any way she wants.  This session takes all the maturity each adult has learned over a lifetime and they practice it with sensitivity.  This room is starting to sound like it belongs on another planet. 

Here’s my point.  Watch a movie, read a book, talk to someone about the years after a divorce.  It may take one or fifteen, but there will come a time when that princess you married that became a witch during the divorce turns into an acquaintance.  She mothers your children and you talk to her about the kids and other day to day “stuff”.  The anger and jealousy is gone.  She is just another person walking this earth.  That will or should happen one day.  Getting to that day shouldn’t take so long.  If you could press fast-forward or enter that magical room, then you could both go about your separate lives without all the drama, intent on hurting, suffering, etc…

If the years that we look back on and say, “Yeah, those were pretty rough,” could become weeks, then maybe this wouldn’t happen.  “Children from fatherless homes account for 63 percent of youth suicides, 71 percent of the pregnant teenagers, 90 percent of the homeless and runaway children, and 70 percent of the institutionalized juveniles. They account for 85 percent of the children with behavioral disorders, 80 percent of rapists, 71 percent of all high school dropouts, 75 percent of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers and 85 percent of all youths in prison.”  (http://www.divorcesource.com/ds/main/u-s-divorce-rates-and-statistics-1037.shtml).

You’ve heard the phrase, “Man up, men, and be a dad.”  Sometimes that’s hard when a vindictive woman is pushing the man further and further from the family, so “Man up, women, and let the man be a dad.”  Whatever the situation is, the children need both parents to be key roles and not second-rate actors in the play of life.

So, help yourself fix your marriage by creating this room to communicate all the broken feelings and get to work on repairing them.  Mend the broken bridges or construct new ones where clear understanding can travel often.  Heal the wounds with more than just a Band-Aid, so the sores don’t remain.  With maturity, press fast-forward and get to the point where dad can be dad, mom can be mom, or bygones can be bygones.