Megan Byrd

Writer

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Share Four Somethings: July 2022

share four somethings

It’s that time again! Another month has mostly passed. This one has been nearly as busy as June. We spent the fourth of July with my in-laws where we kayaked, caught lightning bugs, and shot off fireworks. We had a few playdates with friends and went to the pool to keep the kids entertained. We went to a community production of The Music Man where we knew one of the actors from the kids’ musical theater group. I attended a conference, and helped out at our church’s Vacation Bible School. And there’s still a week left! August promises more lazy days than we’ve had thus far. But, before we get there it’s time to share a few things from this month. Share your own in the comments or write your own blog post and link up over at HeatherGerwing.com.

Something Loved

The very first day of July my son performed in a children’s production of Treasure Island. It was the culmination of two weeks of camp and he did great! He spoke clearly and projected well and it was obvious he’d worked hard at the choreography. It was a joy to watch him enjoy himself and the show was quite entertaining. My daughter was a counselor-in-training for the camp and was involved in the pre-show commercials with some friends which was also delightful.

Something Gleaned

I found A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman in a Goodwill and couldn’t resist since the subtitle involved the word ‘art’ and I love any book about creativity. This one was no exception. I appreciated the reminder that I was created to reflect God and one of the things I can do as an image bearer is to create using my gifts and abilities. I marked numerous passages and will share a few below.

I don’t believe there is one great thing I was made to do in this world. I believe there is one great God I was made to glorify. And there will be many ways, even a million little ways, I will declare his glory with my life.

We are not trying to become a better version of ourselves. Instead, we begin to uncover the person whom we have forgotten we already are.

What if your art is part of a bigger picture, part of a daily grace God has in mind for someone else?

The world needs you awake and alive. Does the world need another book? Song? Painted living room? Not necessarily. But the world does need you to come alive right where you are and not where you wish you were.

Something Saved

I saw a post on Instagram about how to tap into your happiness brain chemicals and took a screenshot to be able to remember what it said. It’s a good reminder for me to make time for specific activities in order to maintain a positive mindset. Some I do regularly, but there are definitely others I tend to neglect.

Something Achieved

I attended a conference for writers this month and also finally met an online person in real life. Yes, that’s right. Our fearless S4S leader, Heather, is the person I’m talking about. We have been in the same online circles for a long time. A few years ago, we became pen pals and, during our back-and-forth letters, we decided to attend the She Speaks Conference together in 2022. This was before COVID happened, so the timing really was providential. We spent three days together listening to speakers, singing praise music, and doing some introverted parallel reading to balance out ALL OF THE PEOPLE. I enjoyed the conference in addition to getting to spend face-to-face time with a favorite friend.

Share something fun from your month in the comments!

God’s Love for Us

Love Within Reach devotional

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23 ESV)

Do you ruminate over missteps? Does it lead to thinking back over your life and replaying all the big mistakes you’ve made over the years? Do you continue to feel worse and worse about yourself until you think you must be the most unworthy person in the world? Surely it’s not just me.

In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul’s thoughts spiraled downward as he considered his tendency to do what he didn’t want to do and fail to do what he ought to do (Rom. 7:15-20). Fully mired in the weightiness of his sinful nature, he cried out in verse twenty-four, “Wretched man that I am!” Tell me that doesn’t strike close to home.

More than once, I’ve forgotten to complete a task I promised to do. And more than once, my slip-up has shadowed me for days or weeks. The reminder that I let someone down plays on repeat. Instead of acknowledging that I’m imperfect, my brain continues to spiral with negative thoughts–I’m unreliable, I’m flaky, I’m stupid for forgetting, the person will never trust me again, I’ve ruined the friendship. On and on and on it goes until that one mistake becomes a part of my identity.

Many of us are excellent at beating ourselves up for our failures. We’re also subpar at acknowledging our successes. Of course, achievements don’t blot out or cover up our mistakes, but just as a win is fleeting, so, too, should our mistakes fade into our history.

A person can be generally kind but occasionally snap at another person because of stress, tiredness, or hunger. It doesn’t mean that they should now be labeled cruel. We all have the capacity to demonstrate the uglier characteristics of humanity and do on unfortunate occasions. It doesn’t mean we should allow those instances to define us.

God doesn’t want that for us. He has done everything he can to show us that fresh starts are possible. Each day, each hour, each minute, God offers us the chance to be renewed. The verse above states that his mercies are new every morning and that they never end. If God’s mercy is continual, then we can receive it at any time. God’s love for us is always available, ready for us to wrap ourselves up in it instead of wrapping ourselves in the self-condemnation we are prone to.

Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we let the negative stick to us while the positive glances off? Why can’t we remember all that God has said to us and about us regarding our value?

Read the rest over at The Glorious Table.

Share Four Somethings: June 2022

share four somethings

It’s officially summer! The kids have been out of school for three weeks and we have been busy. Our family went to Mexico with my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and nieces. It was so wonderful to get away from real life for over a week. The kids started at a camp the day after we got back, so the fun continues for them. They’ll be excited to have a long, lazy weekend for the 4th of July next weekend. Keep reading to read some specifics from the past month and share your own in the comments or by linking up at HeatherGerwing.com.

Something Loved

While we were in Mexico, I went scuba diving with my husband and father. It had been a few years and was nice to be under the water again. We saw some gorgeous fish and cool reefs. Some highlights: a nurse shark, a puffer fish, three lobsters, three green moray eels, and a large crab.

Something Gleaned

I’ve been reading through Live in Grace, Walk in Love, a devotional by Bob Goff. It’s a 365-day devotional and each day offers encouragement and a reminder that we are meant to offer the love and grace we receive from God to those around us. I’ve been noting favorite sentences and would like to share a few with you.

If it’s more important for you to be “right” than to be like Jesus, then it’s time to get back to the basics of your faith and your relationships.

We won’t be distracted by comparison if we’re captivated with purpose.

If it takes a little longer to achieve your goals, you’re doing things that last.

It’s easy to confuse a lot of activity with a purposeful life.

God never told us to compare our faith with another’s. Comparision is a punk. God told us ot be faithful to the path laid out before us and take your next step, not someone else’s.

What dazzles God are humble people who use the gifts they have and let God use them any way He decides. Don’t make following Jesus more complicated than He made it.

Something Saved

I was going through my phone to delete old photos, and I found this quote. I like to keep encouraging and motivational sayings in an easily accessible place for the days when I need some inspiration or a pick-me-up. As a people-pleaser, criticism can be hard to take, but, with the proper perspective, it doesn’t have to devastate me. I can determine whether it’s helpful or something about which I need not concern myself. The quote above reminded me of one by Theodore Roosevelt:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

If you have a quote that encourages you, please share it with me in the comments. I can always use more!

Something Achieved

If you read last month’s post, then you probably aren’t surprised what’s this month’s achieved. I finished and published my contemporary romance novella! It’s been exciting to see people downloading the book and so far the feedback I’ve received has been encouraging. Hopefully, it’ll spur me on toward publishing the first full-length book in the series. Below is the blurb of the novella. If it interests you, click the button below to receive a free copy!

Can love happen by accident?

Jeff Gaines has the ideal life. He surfs for a living and helps others learn to surf when he’s home in Huntington Beach, CA. The only thing that could make life better–a loving relationship. When a surfing accident lands him in the ER, he takes an immediate liking to his doctor, but she turns his date request down flat.

Dr. Lisa Taylor loves the fast-pace of the ER, providing care and support to people on their worst days. She’s open to love—to anyone except adrenaline junkies. It’s the reason she won’t even give Jeff a first date. With the help of one of the ER nurses, he gets his foot in the door. After several dating disasters, Jeff is ready to give up.

Can they overcome their fears and find love, or are the forces against them too great?

Accidentally Yours is a sweet contemporary romance that introduces readers to the City Love series (Book One coming Fall 2022).

Get your copy of Accidentally Yours here

If you’ve already read Accidentally Yours and enjoyed it, please consider leaving a rating or review over at Goodreads.