Today is the fifth Tuesday, which means we have a guest blogger! Thanks to Mary Lou Cheatham for sharing her thoughts with us today.
Guard My Ax by Mary Lou Cheatham
Grandpa Bud lived at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century in rural Mississippi. He had a loyal dog that he trained to help him with his work. Grandpa’s land was a mixture of fields and forests of virgin timber. He cut trees for fuel and to build a new house. Often he worked alone or with one other relative.
Times were hard, crime was rampant, and the woods provided a cover for lawbreakers. Often it was necessary for a man to lay tools beside his wagon and go off to work. For example, the men would use an ax to start cutting a tree and then switch to a saw. Wild neighbors would steal tools while Grandpa and his helper worked.
He taught his dog to stay by the tools and guard them. If he commanded, “Guard my ax!” the dog would lay down his life for that ax. Bud instructed his wife and daughters not to pet the dog when he was guarding. Nobody, not even family members, could go near Grandpa Bud’s tools when the dog was on guard duty. Only a fool would try!
Our relationship with God is like that dog guarding the ax. God through the love of Christ will guard us. Our all-powerful God will keep us with Him and for Him, no matter what.
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39, KJV)
“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25, KJV)
The beautiful benediction at the end of the little epistle written by Jude, who is believed to be a half-brother of Jesus Christ our Lord, says something we need to keep in mind. In our times when apostasy is seen on every side, we need to remember that the Lord is the One who is able to keep us from falling. His Spirit guards us, and so do the angels.
“For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:11-12, KJV)
We can go through life without even so much as a smudge from the damage of sin and temptation. Christ has shed His blood to cleanse every sin and to present us faultless. We are continuously guarded.
Biography:
Mary Lou Cheatham, award-winning author of Louisiana and Texas, has enjoyed careers as a teacher and registered nurse. Mother of one daughter, she has published a novel, Solomon’s Porch, dealing with Gullain Barré Syndrome; a story cookbook, Flavored with Love; and a daily devotional book, Do You Know How God Loves You? She has also co-authored a story cookbook about collard greens and cornbread, The Collard Patch. Currently she is writing a series of inspirational novels set in rural south Mississippi at the beginning of the twentieth century. You can visit Mary Lou’s blog here.
Thank you for joining us today, Mary Lou. Blessings on all your projects!
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Who Wins Julie Papievis’ Book, Go Back and Be Happy?
The winner is #10 Gwyn! Congratulations! Gwyn, just contact me with your mailing address and we’ll get that book right out to you.
I’m sorry that everyone couldn’t win, but I know you’ll want your own copy of Go Back and Be Happy, so click here, and one will be on its way!
And thank you to Julie for sharing her amazing story. We’ve all been encouraged by it.
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Send Your August MoGo7000 Results by Sunday, September 4
Tomorrow, August 31, is the last day of the month AND the last day to add words
to your MoGo results for August. So be sure to count your NEW WORDS on your BOOK PROJECT and if you reached at least 7000 words this month, please leave a comment with your total. Please note: Only comments left by Sunday, September 4 can be included in the drawing.
Those who wrote at least 7000 new words this month will have another entry into the drawing for $100 at the end of the year. So far this year, Christian Writer’s Den readers have written almost a HALF-MILLION WORDS! Hoo-wee!
And it’s never too late to join in! To get the details, just click on over to MoGo7000 Guidelines. You could win $100. 
Can’t wait to see what y’all did this month!
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Time Is Running Out!
Whether you need a writing retreat or a speakers conference, we have just what you need! The NCompass Writing Retreat is September 29-October 2 and the Christian Communicators Conference is October 26-30. Both are held in a well-appointed lakefront home on beautiful Lake Keowee, SC. Feel free to contact me with any questions.
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The Fall/Winter Speaking Season is About to Begin–I’d Love to See You!
I’ll be at these upcoming events and would love for you to join me.
- NSA Carolinas, Charlotte, NC, September 10
- Antioch Baptist Church Women’s Event, Lumberton, NC, September 17
- Riverside Baptist Church, Greer, SC, September 24
- NCompass Writing Retreat, Lake Keowee, SC, September 29-October 2
- Westside Church Women’s Retreat, Myrtle Beach, SC, October 14-16
- Christian Communicators Conference, Lake Keowee, SC, October 26-30
- The Story of a Woman’s Life Cruise, Bahamas, February 15-20, 2012
- Write2Ignite Writers Conference, North Greenville University, SC March 16-17, 2012
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Parting Words from The Word…
Thank you for stopping by. What a joy it is to visit with you each week! As we go through our days ahead, let’s remember to apply God’s Word as a filter of everything we allow into our hearts and our minds.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on
what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.
Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting
into practice all you learned and received from me- everything you heard
from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8 NLT
I pray God’s blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda
