Are There Conditions to Answered Prayer?

Do you wonder why some prayers aren't answered? Have you ever stopped to think that it may be due to a wrong attitude? Oswald Chambers says, "We look upon prayer as simply a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself."

In his book, Handle with Prayer, Charles Stanley gives six considerations when wondering about prayer:
1) Establish a close personal relationship with Christ
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:4)
2) Make your requests specific
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you...(Luke 11:9a).
3) Always pray according to God's will
Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth" (Luke 11:2c).
4) Pray in Jesus' name but only in accord with His character
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that I will do, that the father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13).
5) Pray with faith based on who God is and His Word
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matthew 21:22).
6) Have the right motives; they can't be selfish
Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2).

But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6).

If it seems that we're having to wait a long time to see a prayer answered, it might be that we need to learn an important lesson first. If the above six elements have been met, then keep praying. Persistent prayer is rewarded. I've prayed for the salvation of some people for two or three years, but, in each case, they eventually accepted Christ as their Savior and were baptized. Pray believing in God's wisdom.

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought to always pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1).

It's important to remember that, as a child of God, He wants what's best for us.That's not always what we ask for. He does always answer, but it might be "no," "wait," or "yes," depending on the situation. We can continue in faith, knowing that He will always do what is best. How awesome is that!

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

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Self-Publishing or Traditional Publishing?

In the five-year stretch when I was trying to find a publisher, but it looked less and less likely, I asked myself if I should go the self-publishing route. Many writers are doing this, and, with ebooks and sites like Amazon, it's become easier to do. Yet, something seemed to hold me back, and I decided to try to find a traditional publisher for a while longer. In hindsight, I'm glad I did. 

Going through the editing process with two different editors has made me acutely aware of how hard it is to catch your own mistakes. I have taught English and can proof and edit other manuscripts, but my mistakes don't jump out at me in the same way. I tend to read what's supposed to be there. 

With Cleared for Planting, I had a lady, who has spent years proofreading and editing other people's writings read and correct it first. My husband also read the manuscript right before I sent it in. Then, the editor assigned to me at Ambassador International Publishing and I went through it a number of times. She even used an editing software program on it. After all this, mistakes still slipped by us, and we've caught nine so far in the book. I can't imagine doing this without a professional editor. In fact, many of the self-published books I've read on my Kindle has so many errors they're hard to read. Those that come from a publishing house tend to have a lot less. I think the editor and I have done better with Sown in Dark Soil, coming soon.

Another reason is that I wouldn't want to publish only ebooks and not offer print versions, as some self-published authors do. I found that, although I love my e-readers and think they have many advantages, not all people feel the same way. I've discovered that many people out there don't have one and really don't want one. A great many people have told me they still prefer print books - too many to keep count of. In addition, I can't sign my ebooks for them, although, if we can sign a credit card bill electronically, it may not be long before the companies design a way to do so. You can self-publish both, of course, but not all self-published authors do. It is also much easier to get the book into bookstores if published traditionally.

And lastly, my publisher has helped me in many areas. The Chief Executive Officer there has answered every question I've had as I've entered this new role as a published author. When a major bookstore made it hard for me to hold a book signing, he stepped in and took care of it. I've felt supported at every junction.

I know the publishing/book industry is in a transition period, and there's a lot of uncertainty. Changes have come rapidly, and no one knows when it's going to slow down. I guess every situation is different and should be looked at individually. However, I think I made the best choice for me when I decided to go with traditional publishing.

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The House in the Horseshoe

The Deep River meanders through Piedmont North Carolina to help irrigate fertile farm fields. In one of bends of the river, stands one of the finest early houses built in the upland frontier. This home was originally know as Alston House, because it was built by Philip Alston in 1772.

Front of houses faces toward Deep River

A staunch Whig and a colonel in the American Revolution, Alton's home was attacked by a group of Tories led by David Fanning on the morning of July 29, 1781. Alston and his band of men were camped at the house. Fanning's soldiers tried to set the house on fire, and there were casualties on both sides. Alston finally surrendered, and legend says that Mrs. Alston's courage kept the Patriots from being treated too roughly. Bullet holes riddled the house after the skirmish, and you can still see them today.

Although Alston was recognized as noted officer, a justice of the peace, and a state senator, he became infamous as well. He was indicted for murder twice, removed from the office of justice of the peace, barred from the state legislature for a number of reasons, and served jail time more than once. In 1790, Alston sold his plantation and fled the state.

Governor Benjamin Williams bought it to use as a retreat away from the capital. He too had been a colonel, and he'd served under George Washington. He added two wings to the the house to have more room for his family. Eli Whitney had invented the cotton gin making growing cotton profitable (see my blog of May 15), and Williams planted nearly 200 acres of it in 1804. He had about 50 slaves to work the plantation.

Williams died in 1814, and he and some of his family are buried at a grave site on the grounds. Williams was first buried farther out, but his body was moved to be closer to the house.

The House in the Horseshoe is a free NC State Historic Site.It's open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday, except for certain holidays.

Back of house faces rolling fields and countryside

288 Alston House Road
Sanford, NC 27330
910-947-2051
horseshoe@ncdcr.gov

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St. Martins, New Brunswick

If you like the feel of quaint villages that are small on residents and large on charm, St. Martins may be the place for you. Located on the Bay of Fundy, Loyalist founded the town in 1783. Throughout the 1800's, St. Martins was known for its shipbuilding. When this industry began to dwindle, lumber, fishing, and tourism increased to take its place. It also has a good lobster business.

For those of you, who like me, appreciate books, around a dozen bookstores dominate the tiny town. In fact the legislature has declared it New Brunswick's Book Town. Maybe that's why I felt so much at home.


From the unusual twin covered bridges to the light house and sea caves, there's a lot to like about this area. You can hike the trails along the rocky crescent-shaped beach or past waterfalls, Anvil Rock, or  salt marshes in other directions. If you're looking for a real getaway and a peaceful retreat, you might want to check out St. Martins.

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National Egg Day

June 3rd is National Egg Day. For several decades, news reports warned us that eggs were high in cholesterol, and intake needed to be limited. However, although they are indeed high in cholesterol, newer information shows that other factors may offset that, and eggs can actually be beneficial to health.

Eggs have a good amount of nutrients the body needs. In many people, the high cholesterol count in this food doesn't seem to adversely convert to a higher number in the body. Eggs also have HDL, the good cholesterol. In fact, they can turn LDL, the bad cholesterol, from small and dense to large and linked, which can reduce the risk of heart disease and may help ward off strokes. Of course, we all know they are high in protein and amino acids, but eggs also have antioxidants that can help keep eyes healthy.

This information may not apply to diabetics or people with other special health problems in the same way. My theory is to eat most things in moderation and eat a varied diet. It's always best to discuss diet changes with your doctor, especially if you have health issues. But today's a good day to celebrate with an egg fixed just the way you like it.

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Carl Sandburg and Connemara

On this day in 1919, Carl Sandburg won his first Pulitzer Prize for a collection of poems, Cornhuskers. Of course, at the time he was still living in Illinois, the state in which he was born.

In 1945, he moved to Connemara, a 246-acre estate in the beautiful North Carolina mountains. While here, near the village of Flat Rock, he wrote over a third of his published works. The farm also had plenty of room for his wife to raise her goats. A Chicago reporter had predicted the move would be "a hard pull" for the writer, but he couldn't have been more wrong. The Sandburgs loved it.

Seven family members moved to the new home: Carl; his wife, Lillian; Margaret, the oldest daughter, who had nocturnal epilepsy; Janet, the middle daughter, who had a nervous condition and headaches from being hit by a car when she was 16; Helga, the youngest daughter, who was divorced; and Helga's 2 children, Paula and John. All of them seemed happier in the peaceful mountain countryside.

Carl chose two small rooms in the loft for his personal, writing space. Lillian spent a lot of time in her office and at the barn. In fact, the estate was large enough, with extra buildings, that there was plenty of space to spread out. Yet, none of them were luxurious or lavish. Some of his friends failed to understand the Sandburgs preferred a simple, comfortable life. 

Today Connemara is presented much the way the Sandburgs left it, as a National Historic Site. It's open daily from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Days. There's also hiking trails available from sunup to sundown. You can tour the grounds free, but for a guided tour of the house, the fees (cash or check only) are:  
$5.00 for ages 16-61
$3.00 for those 62 and older
Free for 15 and under

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NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, North Carolina, is a good place to go for a quick look at sea life common to the area. It's laid out so you can see a lot in a little time, and it welcomes children. This will be a learning excursion that doesn't feel educational.

Stroll through the galleries that focus on some aspect of marine life of the Outer Banks. Both animals of the mainland and creatures in the ocean are displayed.You can see coastal freshwater life that live in the marshlands and estuaries, such as river otters, turtles, and alligators. 

They have a gallery with sea turtles and a rescue program for them. When the injured or sick ones are fully rehabilitated, they are released back into the wild. In the Close Encounters gallery, visitors can actually touch creatures, such as crabs, sea urchins, stingrays, and white-spotted bamboo sharks.

The last gallery is a favorite, The 285,000 gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit holds several kinds of sharks, as well as large game fish. This is the largest collection of sharks in the state. The dim lighting and huge tank almost give the feel of being underwater.

The aquarium is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily and only closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. It's rarely crowded, except in the summer months. There is an admission fee.

374 Airport Road
Manteo, NC 27954
252-475-2300
http://www.outerbanks.com/nc-aquarium-manteo.html

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