The Tragedy of Inner Vows

     When I was a child, certain events caused me to make a decision that plagued me much of my adult life. I decided I would never allow anyone else to control me. This was impossible, of course, if I was going to be a lawful citizen and moral person. Everyone is subject to some kind of authority, whether in school, on the job, or as a member of the community. But as time went on, my subconscious found subtle ways to control aspects of my life and the lives of those around me. I was acting out the "inner vow" I had made when I was young.

     An inner vow is a decision, usually subconscious, that we make due to some uncomfortable or traumatic experience. For example, I watched my own father allow an inner vow to affect him in a negative way throughout his entire life. As a younger man, he received a life-changing blow to his career. Because of that disappointment, he lived the rest of his life dominated by sadness and depression. Only death gave him complete release from the burden he carried.

     My father made an inner vow that changed the course of his life. Unfortunately, it also affected the rest of our family as well. Living with the emotional fallout of his loss planted a deep fear of loss in my own life. As a result, when I became a young woman, I struggled with the need to exert control over the circumstances of my life and the lives of those around me.

     Fortunately, we can be released from these subtle, but powerful, controls on our emotions and behavior. Victory over the effects of my early decision began after I read about the concept of inner vows, understood it, and recognized symptoms of it in my own behavior. I saw that a lot of my life revolved around my fear of losing control over my life.

     The next step in my recovery was to turn the situation over to God and allow Him to have ultimate control of my life. Scripture says that perfect love casts out fear. God's Word also says that fear has torment and I had experienced that torment. As I submitted to God's love and his will for my life, I was gradually able to hand the reins of control to God. As a result, my fear of  loss lessened and so did the need to control those around me.

     When we examine the roots of our negative behaviors, we likely will find an inner vow somewhere in the mix. Releasing past trauma to God initiates a healing process that frees us from the negative effects of an inner vow.

                                                                                                © Laura Allen Nonemaker

Thanks To All Who Made Benny's Angel Book Signing Successful!

My first book signing for Benny's Angel: A God's Secret Garden Adventure was a success and a blessing. What a joy it was to read the book for the children, who included my own great-granddaughters! All the children enjoyed coloring the printouts of Benny Bunny and Marietta the Angel that we made available to them. The adults were gracious with their response when I shared my experiences leading up to the birth of the book. The question and answer session was lively, enabling me to share the positive experiences I have had with Tate Publishing & Enterprises during the production of Benny's Angel. I am looking forward to several more pre-launch events that are scheduled for September and October. Stay tuned for dates and times.

                                                                                 ~ Laura Allen Nonemaker

Order Benny's Angel

Benny's Angel Available Now!

Exciting news! Benny's Angel: A God's Secret Garden Adventure is available now at the online bookstore of Tate Publishing. In this colorful picture book written by Laura Allen Nonemaker the adventures of whimsical animal characters teach children the value of prayer and the importance of trusting God.  You may order now at http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613460092 

Benny's Angel: Coming Soon!

Benny's Angel, the first book in the new children's series, God's Secret Garden Adventures, has moved to marketing at Tate Publishing. The picture book for ages 3 to 6 will be available shortly for purchase and book signings in various locations will begin. More information will be posted on Digging in God's Garden, as well as Facebook and Twitter, as it is available. Thank you for following!

                                                                                  ~ Laura Allen Nonemaker

FORGIVING

This is an awesome post on the importance of forgiving! http://www.facebook.com/notes/joe-lindsey/forgiving/10150218869203588

Vision: Keeping Our Focus

Since I posted The Road Map of Vision, the importance of keeping my focus on what God has called me to do is always present in my thoughts. There have been times in my life, so precious in my memory, when I knew that I knew that I was in the center of God's will. I am in one of those seasons now, experiencing the publication process for Benny's Angel.

I feel strongly that this book has a specific purpose in God's plan for me and that He wants to use it to touch lives for eternity.  More and more, I am inclined to pray about each activity I engage in and examine whether it supports that purpose. Once I feel confident that it does support the vision, I seek God's direction to determine where each activity should be placed in my list of priorities.

There are so many good things I might participate in, but as The Road Map of Vision points out,  I could be sacrificing the best for what is merely good. Learning to focus on God's best for me is an ongoing process, but God has promised that, as I seek to walk closely with Him, I will hear His voice telling me which way to go (Isaiah 30:21).  My job is to listen for His voice and obey.

                                                                                                                Laura Allen Nonemaker

Benny's Angel: The Journey Continues...

On the first day of February, right on schedule, I received an e-mail from Alex Russell, my editor for the conceptual editing of Benny's Angel. He introduced himself and laid out the timetable for the next part of the production process.

During the first three weeks of February, Alex will edit my entire manuscript, watching for plot formation, story arc, and character consistency, etc. I will not hear from him until February 21, when he will send me the edited manuscript with problem areas and suggestions highlighted.  Once I have approved, disapproved, or rewritten these areas, I will return the manuscript to him, and he will combine my edits.

The manuscript will be returned to me in the second week of March. I will review it and, if I am satisfied, sign it off as approved, using a Content Approval Form. Once Alex has received the manuscript back, he will move it on to Tate's Audio and Design Departments.

In addition to giving me my timetable, Alex asked me to return the questionnaire I completed last month. I explain the questionnaire in a previous blog post, Update on Benny's Angel. He also requested that I send in the endorsement I had received for the book, as well as confirm the exact title and the way my name should appear on the cover and title page.

This is all very exciting, while at the same time sobering. Once I approve the final changes, the wording of the manuscript is "set in stone" and cannot be changed. That is why I am seeking God for His wisdom and direction more than ever. As I do this, He gives me a peace and assurance that He is with me now, just as He was present in my secret garden the day Benny's Angel was conceived in my imagination.

                                                                                                                                     ~ Laura

The Star

Shortly before Christmas, our five-year-old grandson,

Brandon, bounced through our front door and climbed in my lap. He threw his arms around my neck and, with a big smile on his face, announced proudly, "I'm the star in the Christmas play!"

"How wonderful, Brandon!" I said. His grandpa signaled his approval by rubbing his head affectionately. We were bursting with pride that our precious grandchild had been chosen to star in his kindergarten play.

The night of the play, we were filled with anticipation. The band of tots filed onto the platform and we craned our necks to catch a glimpse of our Brandon. There he was, his sweet face wreathed in a huge silver cardboard star. Although he was flanked by several other little luminaries, our grandson was for us the shining star of the show.

Note: Brandon is grown now and this Christmas his two little girls will be, for us, the "stars" of their show.  

                                            

                                                                                                                                ~Laura

Ten Practical Steps to Bring Hope to Your Holidays

  1.  Be careful about focusing on yourself.

  2.  Reach out to help others.
       a. Practice hospitality.
       b. Donate time to charity.
       c. Give gifts of yourself - crafting, cleaning, cooking, babysitting.

  3.  Get physical exercise. Be realistic - 20 minutes, 3 times a week.

  4.  Eat, drink, rest properly. "Be sober..." (1 Peter 5: 8-10) This means without the influence of an intoxicant.

  5.  Read your Bible and meditate every day.

  6.  Live one day at a time.
       a. Set goals for today - attainable ones.
       b. You only have today - don't throw it away grieving over yesterday or worrying about tomorrow.
           (Matthew 6:25-34)

  7.  Make good plans and accept invitations. "God sets the lonely in families." (Psalm 68:6)

  8.  Write letters, send some cards, read some books, etc.

  9.  Stay connected.

10.  Go to church. "In the presence of Jehovah."  "God inhabits the praises of His people." (Psalms 22:3)

The angel said, "Get dressed. Put on your shoes." Peter did it. (Acts 12:8, The Message) God will do for us, but He expects us to do what we can for ourselves.
                       
                          Adapted from a message by First Assembly of God Women's Ministries, Fort Myers, FL

Giving Thanks

This is my first post on my very first blog. It's an exciting new world with a steep learning curve, but I'm getting it little by little. Thanks, Crystal - I love it!

God has been so good to me and I thank Him with all my heart. There are some amazing things happening in my life. I am watching the scripture that I have stood on for a long time, that my latter days will be greater than my former, coming to pass. Thanks to my dear husband, Paul, for your love, patience, and support as I begin this new venture. I am blessed to have you in my life.

By the time Benny's Angel, my first children's book, goes to print in 2011, I plan to add a special page for children, with interactive features related to the book. This is a lofty goal, but as Pastor Dan says, when you shoot for the moon, you have the possibility of landing in the stars!

At this time, I dedicate this blog to my precious Savior, Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that those who visit here will linger awhile to dig in God's Garden and leave enriched in spirit, mind, and soul.