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5 Reasons to Write Your Story NOW

What stories could this old barn tell? The hay field? The home hidden in the trees?

“Remember the days of long ago! (Ask your father and the aged men; They will tell you all about it.)” Deuteronomy 32:7 TLB

Writing our memoir has been an amazing journey. I am totally blown away by what I have learned – about myself! Seriously. It has been fun, challenging, gut-wrenching, surprising… I could go on. I genuinely believe every person needs to write their story; if only for themselves.

While THE REBEL AND PREACHER MAN is our true love story, it also holds some mystery, more than one miracle, and….

There are many reasons every single person should write his or her life story. Here are five that I personally think are good reasons.

Most Important: Do it for YOU!

I cannot over-emphasize this point. If you never plan to have anyone else read your writing, you still need to do it for yourself. Honestly, something happens when your words leave your head and heart and through your hands onto the paper. I am serious. Do it for you.

Help Others Overcome Challenges

Every person faces challenges of one kind or another. As you write about your personal challenges, you gain insight into how to help others. What has formed you into the person you are? God never wastes a thing; he will use the good and the bad for His glory as you yield control to Him.

So You Don’t Forget Where You Have Been

As I wrote The Rebel and Preacher Man, I gathered information from small notepads, journals, and even scribbles on the back of envelopes. There are little tidbits in the book that I had long forgotten; jewels in every sense of the word.

Preserve Your Family History for Future Generations

Get beyond forming the family tree. Consider the heart issues. Why are you living where you are now? Is this where you planned on spending your last years? Did the cares of this world pull you away from your youthful dreams?

Pray about Sharing All or Part of Your Story

You do not have to write a book. Do you have life experiences that might help others? Are there some fun, crazy times worth sharing? Both print and online publications are looking for short stories that encourage or lighten the load of others. We need each other.

For informative articles on writing your story, click here

I am praying for you as you read this. Please, ask God where you are in this article. What does HE want you to do? Trust me on this. Follow your heart as He leads and you will be amazed at what God has for you.

Blessings, prayers, love and Hugs,

For more of my story, click here

God Gathers His Lambs

DAVID LOCKHART FAMILY – Justine Owsley Photography

Guest post by Cindi Stafford Lockhart

“See, the Lord God comes with strength, and His power establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His gifts accompany Him. He protects His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them in the fold of His garment. He gently leads those that are nursing.” Isaiah 40:10-11 HCSB

Gatherings around the table have always been an important part of my life. I remember as a child, BIG family dinners on every holiday. As David and I started our own family, those gatherings continued to be very important to us. We would gather at Grandma Dorothy’s for our annual Christmas Eve seafood feast and celebration, or at Grandma Lilly’s on Christmas Day for ham, mashed potatoes, delicious white gravy, and brown-and-serve rolls. As our children grew into adulthood and started their own families, the traditions of gathering continued. Our family not only has a deep love for food and gatherings, but a deeper love for each other.

Click here for forty Bible verses about family.

In 2020, our lives drastically changed. Our oldest son, Brian, and his wife had filed for divorce. Brian was able to join our family traditions, but it was unbearable for him without his children. Brian was raised in the church, VBS, and Sunday School (with the famous Margaret Hamlet and Catherine Crump as teachers). At the age of 10, Brian and I made a trip to Lake of the Ozarks, and on the way home, in the backseat of our car-Brian asked Jesus to forgive him of his sins and be His Savior. But, as with many teenagers and young adults, church and Jesus were often replaced with friends and fun. I often talked to Brian about his relationship with Jesus and prayed for him (and all of my children) every day.

In late 2021, Brian met an amazing woman who loved Jesus. Kayla and her family were answers to my many prayers. Kayla’s dad kept asking Brian to go to church with them; Brian started attending church and re-dedicated his life to the Lord. We had several conversations about his Bible readings and the Bible studies they were doing. I could see a change in his life and in his heart. I also could see the inward struggles he was experiencing from the ongoing divorce and custody battles. Brian was a very private person and carried so much weight and struggles alone. On August 2, we lost our son. His struggles became too much to bear. Our family would never be the same. There was an aching, gaping hole in our hearts and around that precious dining room table.

I had wanted to do family pictures for some time, but we never captured family photos before his death because we wanted his children in the photos. God’s mercy, grace, and comfort have been my constant. There are days that I could literally feel God answering the prayers of dear friends helping me to pick up one foot and place it in front of the other. I have poured over scripture to find peace. I have worshiped when all I could do was take all of my emotion and pour it out to Him. I decided that part of my healing would be to get those family photos completed.

Honestly, two days before the scheduled shoot, I was ready to call and cancel. I couldn’t think of having family photos without him. I prayed and asked God to help me because I could feel it would be an important step not only for my healing but for my family’s healing. God helped me find ways I could include Brian in our family photo. I went to the Bible he gave himself for Father’s Day 2022, and there was a bookmark on Isaiah chapter 40. He had marked verses 10 and 11. In those words from God, talk about God’s protection and how He gathers His lambs and protects them in the fold of His garment. Brian found peace knowing that God would protect and watch over his kids. I also know because Brian had given His heart to Jesus, Jesus gently holds Brian now.

Our pictures are a reflection of God’s goodness in our lives. A reflection of our family and its love, strength, and our legacy of the “gatherings”. God clearly made His presence known to us through His creation that day-enveloping our family in a sky that speaks of His goodness. Healing came in the form of laughs that speak of our resilience and our love for each other. I look forward to heaven-the GREAT gathering, where we can all be together again. I kind of think there will be a big dining room table filled with all of our favorites….enjoying each other and praising our Savior for eternity.

Please feel free to leave comments for Cindi,

As always, hugs,

Your Father Knows What You Need

God’s Immeasurable Bounty

“… your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.” Matthew 6:8

“Mom, I’m going to Sam’s Club on Monday. Do you want to go with me?” Daughter, Debbie Cardwell’s timing was perfect. I had been putting off the drive to Sam’s Club in Springfield for their good fresh fruit and rotisserie chicken.

The idea of spending the day with my older daughter was exciting enough; however, God had more in store for me. I headed to the chilly produce room while she shopped the entire store.

As I assured an employee I didn’t need help with produce, he smiled and said “Blessings” as he turned to leave. “Wait,” I said. “I have something I think you will want.” As I handed him a copy of the Jesus storybook, he immediately returned to inquire where I went to church.

“I actually attend several Southern Baptist Churches in Dallas County. My husband was Director of Missions there for twenty-one years; they are all my family.”

His smile broadened as he replied, “Russell Adams! I knew him. I was so sorry to hear he had passed. I’ve been to your home. He gave me my first opportunity to speak in one of your churches after I surrendered my life to preach. His support had a lasting impression on my call and my life.” He continued describing exactly where I lived and sharing what Russell had meant to him and his ministry.

We stood a long time in that cold produce room talking about his family, exchanging phone numbers, and vowing to get together after The Rebel and Preacher Man was published. He has stories that need telling in the next book (prayers, please)! A co-worker took our picture before he left!

Do you realize God has such blessings for you as well? His love for you cannot be measured. My earnest prayer in sharing this story is that you, dear reader, will open your eyes and your heart to what our Loving Father has for you. And, if you have any doubts or questions that He is your Father, please drop me a note.

Free Beautiful Story of Jesus

I have given away hundreds of these beautiful little books. They tell the chronological story of Jesus’ life with a section in the back for you to look the scripture up in your own Bible.

I want to challenge you, whether you want to order books or not, to go to their page and pray for this ministry.

You can order one or more individual books or a case of 120. I ordered ten cases last time and carry them with me wherever I go. We must get Jesus’ story out to our lost and dying world.

My personal challenge to you. Whether you have a book to give or not, you can always give a smile. Our world desperately needs to understand how much God loves them and we can help.

I’m looking forward to hearing how God has touched your life this week.

Hugs,