REST

REST - Jan Cox

I have a plate that says, "Stop and Smell the Roses".

The plate was a gift and at the time I saw it as a “cute plate”. My life was in high gear – supermom, always on the go. No time to smell the roses.

Of course, eventually I burned out. My body couldn’t take the pace. All the stress and tension with no time or outlet for release put my body into a physical wreck.

Jesus tells his disciples:

“Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” (The Message 4-6)

Jesus knew that taking time for restoration was essential for us.

“Certainly work is not always required of a man. There is such a thing as sacred idleness – the cultivation of which is now fearfully neglected.” (G MacDonald)

Release

Everything

Stop

Thinking

Finally forced into REST – I Iearned that rest is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.

Release

Everything

Sit

Tight.

My first time sitting still lasted five minutes. No great accomplishment but a start. Being in high gear meant it would take time for me to put myself into a lower gear. I needed to be patient and practice.

Gradually in those times of solitude (no interruptions, no TV and no radio) I heard my own heartbeat. I knew I lived. I started to understand me.

And into this solitude God came. My intentional slowing down led me to know myself as God made me. I began to enjoy these times of refreshment. I learned more about me.

REST is not an easy thing to accomplish. It takes perseverance, discipline and time.

When was the last time you found REST?

Prayer:

Into our busy lives I ask for time to REST – to restore our bodies and minds. And in that REST I know You will be there, Lord. Come and restore us to knowing You. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.

Discovering Fresh Mercy - M. Laycock

I’ve been doing the Joy Dare with Ann Voskamp and many others for the past month. Ann has provided a list for us to follow, spurring us to notice three things each day that make us grateful for God’s grace and mercy. Some days it’s easy. Some days not so much. But even on those days the effort is worth it. Looking for gratitude. Looking for grace and mercy. How could you go wrong?

Well, we’re all human and we all do go wrong. I discovered even this process can take me off track in a subtle way. It was day eleven. We were to find three yellow things that struck us as “fresh mercy.” I hunted around my daughter’s small house, where I’m spending my days lately as I undergo radiation treatments. The first pick was sitting on the living room couch - a yellow afghan crocheted by my mother-in-law. The second was just as clear - a yellow turban I use to keep my bald head warm. It was the third item that gave me pause, not because it was hard to find - it was in the living room too - a retro chair my daughter covered herself - but it gave me pause because I realized I was focusing on the items, rather than the mercy or the One who dispensed it.

I found three things that were obvious, things that did bless me. But did I really recognize them as “fresh mercy?” That was the point of the exercise but I realized as I photographed my last pick, that wasn’t where my mind or heart was focused. I was focused on the finding, not on seeing how and why they were gifts from God.

So I took a few moments to ponder each one again. And I found the mercy was there, as easy to find as the objects themselves. I just had to take a few extra moments to recognize it. And the Joy Dare is working. The joy was there too, bubbling up as I recognized how much my God loves me. Enough to provide things like yellow afghans, turbans and retro chairs and then to show me that they are indeed fresh mercies dispensed to one who does not deserve them.

“If I say, “my foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.” Psalm 94:18

Writing Goals - Susan Barclay

I have about a dozen writing goals for 2012, but my top three are:

• participating in 12 x 12, the challenge issued by blogger Julie Hedlund to write 12 picture book drafts in 12 months,
• completing my adult novel, and
• writing a new Christmas-themed short story for adult readers

Why these three? Well, they're all possible, for one thing. Twelve picture books may sound like a lot (or perhaps not so many, if you're among those who think writing such books is a snap), but we're talking drafts  here, not fully polished beauties :)  As for the novel, I'm in the home stretch, and started it about eight years ago, so it's definitely time to wrap it up. I wonder, if as Ernest Hemingway postulated, I'm so close to the end that it's almost scary to write it. But write it I must. I don't feel I can start any of the new novels that are churning in my brain until this one is complete. The Christmas-themed short story already has a publisher, involves characters I already know and that readers have asked for more of, so it would be stupid not to do it.

I've found a new tool, too, for goal-setting and tracking. It's called Pick Four and is an updated, simplified version of Zig Ziglar's Performance Planner. I've done the preliminary work now, and had planned to start tracking my goals today, but I've come down with a cold that's sidelining me for the time being. Once I get my health and energy back - which hopefully will be soon - I'll let you know how it's working for me.

In the meantime, I hope all of you are tackling your goals with great success, and are popping your vitamin C with regularity!

[For more of my writing, check out my website and my writing/general interest blog.]

10 Reasons I Write - Ruth L. Snyder

Every once in a while it is healthy for us to stop and evaluate why we are doing what we do. Some people hate New Year's resolutions. I appreciate the opportunity to review the past year, evaluate what I have been doing, and make goals for the next year. Writing the goals in a notebook helps me track progress and challenges me to be serious about my writing. However, if I don't know WHY I'm writing, it is hard to set goals. Here are ten reasons I write:

1. I enjoy writing. Some people enjoy sports, others gardening or cooking. I enjoy the challenge of clearly communicating thoughts using words.
2. Writing forces me to learn new things. In order to share information, I need to process it and understand it myself. In order to share my writing I have learned how to use Twitter, Blogger, and Wordpress. I am currently learning about inbound marketing.
3. Writing allows me to encourage people. When I was in high school I had a teacher who never smiled. I made it my goal to put a smile on his face every time I saw him. There are many people who need something to smile about. Writing is a tool I can use to encourage others.
4. Writing is good therapy. Some people find it therapeutic to talk through their problems. I would rather write out my thoughts and process my struggles personally.
5. I have a unique perspective. I know I'm not the only writer in the world, or necessarily the best writer in the world. However, I have experienced many things others have not experienced and may never be able to experience. I can share my unique perspective through writing to encourage, inspire, and motivate others.
6. Poor writing frustrates me. Most writers are avid readers. I am no exception. Sometimes when I read material that is poorly written, it motivates me to write well.
7. Writing is a gift that must be polished. People are born with varying abilities. Those of us who have the ability to communicate through words need to hone and polish our God-given gift. We can read examples of great writing, take classes, listen to webinars, join a critique group, and join groups like Inscribe Christian Writers' Fellowship, but most of all WRITE!
8. Writing helps me communicate information. One of my tasks as a school board trustee is to communicate with the people who live in the Bonnyville area of Alberta. Writing is one way I can pass information on to them. Technology allows people access to this information 24/7. 
9. Writing helps me remember. I learn best by writing while I'm listening. Taking notes also allows me to review what I heard months or years later and remember.
10. I have to write. People who do not write may not understand this point. However, I write because I have to write. If I don't write, I find myself frustrated and antsy.

These are reasons I write. How about you? I look forward to hearing why you write.

WORDPERFECT AND THE PERFECT WORD--Bruce Atchison

Acquaintances periodically ask, "How can you write when you can't see well?" This question is easily answered, though it does take a bit of explaining.

I use a screen reader, a program that converts the text on the computer monitor, as well as the keystrokes the user types, into synthetic speech. Thirty years ago, various developers made voice synthesizer hardware that either plugged into a serial port on the computer or fitted into one of its expansion slots. Modern screen reader programs use the computer's sound card and speakers to inform the user of what is happening on the screen.

I was introduced to the world of synthetic speech and screen readers in January of 1993. The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), paid for three-quarters of the expensive hardware/software package, allowing me to use a computer for writing my articles and music reviews.

WordPerfect 5.1, difficult though it was to learn, opened the way to my future writing career. With it, I could write, edit, and overcome my chronic spelling problem. This MS DOS program gave me the additional ability to format my writing in an acceptable way for editors and readers alike.

I still use WordPerfect 5.1 today because it works reliably . With obsolete computers (which I choose to use), I wrote a variety of freelance articles, beginning in 1996, as well as two books. I have written a third one but it's only in manuscript form. By the grace of God, I hope to have it published this year.

Though I have done a fair amount of secular writing, my heart's desire is to glorify our heavenly Father through my craft. Having always had the desire to tell stories, I believe the Lord gave me the talent for communicating ideas. With his help, I hope to bring him glory through my upcoming How I Was Razed: A Journey from Cultism to Christianity memoir. I also post excerpts of my books and relevant stories about them on my blog. My books can also be purchased there.

Pathway of Faith - Denise M. Ford

I just completed an exercise for my current Bible study course. I had to create a timeline of a period in my life depicting my journey with Christ. I had to particularly note how faithful and intentional God has been toward me.

I decided to have a look over the 53 years of my life from as far back as I can recall. Now someone with a different personality probably would have taken out a ruler, drawn a straight line, marked off carefully measured spots to indicate the number of years that passed between each significant event. I admire anyone who might have decided to portray a lifeline like this. However, when I immersed myself in this activity I found my drawing became a winding, curving, descending, rising stroke of my pen. Happily I look at it now and see that it naturally followed a lovely loop upwards to show where I am at present. There, that’s me sort of wobbling back and forth on top of a high point, contemplating the future, pondering the past.

Perhaps some of you remember playing a game called Mr. Tip It. I assume it would be considered an antique by now since it’s well over 40 some years since I played it. At that time, I rated games by whether or not I could play them by myself if a friend or family member wasn’t around to keep me company. Mr. Tip It ranked as one of my favourites as I easily set up an imaginary group of players to join me. I moved those discs carefully from stack to stack, watching as the figure of Mr. Tip It swayed above on his precarious point. Would he or wouldn’t he tip over? How could I keep him balanced and continue to play?

As I review my journey with Christ over the years I am so thankful for the ways in which He met me even as I made mistakes, even as I toppled, even as I didn’t think it was the right time to try a writing plan.

As I set forth a plan for writing goals for this year, I’m feeling a bit like Mr. Tip It, waiting for the next turn to find out if I will be able to balance everything I want to do, or believe I am supposed to do. Will each item on my list slide carefully into place or will I find myself reconsidering whether or not I should attempt to add another challenge to my life.

Gotta love Mr. Tip It. He just swings around up there oblivious to his plight, letting those rings pull him one-way or the other. He has no idea when he’s going to fall or if he’s going to be picked up and given another chance to gain a steady position. Thankfully I do.

In the new updated 2012 version of my Mrs. Tip It game, I’m up there sitting on a solid rock, looking over my choices of what to do next. As I close my eyes I remind myself that on my travels I have gained strength and courage to continue by relying on the way prayer, trust and faith have always slid constantly into place throughout my life. As I consider which pathway to follow I know it won’t matter if I tumble down a dead-end, or crumble into a curve. I know I will be met with a loving hand that reaches out to me with a firm grasp, places me upright, waits for me to find my balance, and nods for me to take another turn.

Just as God has done to me, it is now time for me to meet Him on that Pathway of Faith, intentionally honoring Him with the talents and skills He has granted me. May I find my way on a trail that loops around and about, ever moving forward.

To read Denise's personal blog and writing website go to: www.walkingwithDustyandDee.com

A Plan in Place - Karen Toews

Five months ago I launched my blog.

That was following months of picking my way along a steep technical challenge and building up the courage to commit to a long term journey. Surprise, surprise - that was one of my best writing decisions ever. I have:

• a self-directed weekly deadline
• a readership
• readers' comments to encourage me to develop content pertinent to them and to my blog's theme.
• a writing process that's giving me clarity and confidence for the online, and person-to-person, aspect of building my business.

Can you sense my satisfaction-thanksgiving?

I thank God for:

• helping me make a difference
• the anticipation of things to come

My heart's desire is to expand the whole-life, nutrition message (online and in person) to Christian women: to en-courage them in being the complete, whole-hearted person God has meant them to be, that:

• we have influence over healthy food and exercise choices for our families and circles beyond
• it's okay (crucial) to take time for your soul-care
• the rewards of having courage to "swim upstream" can bring new life and energy - for you and others

How can this next step take shape?

• continue writing blog posts - for the readership that's already there and growing
• seek out/connect with other Christian health and fitness blog writers
• contact Christian "markets" e.g. local womens' church groups

And in the day-to-day practicality - how am I going to make enough computer-working time available?

• organization=less paperwork on my desk: more sort and file, less shuffle
• less emails out=less emails received (that's what I've heard!)
• saying "no" to requests and options, so I can say "yes" to what I want to do, that contributes to reaching my goals (I'm not referring to "me and my selfish agenda" - you get my drift...)

Oh yes, there are days when:

• my brain can't wrap around one more technical thing
• my creativity meter has bottomed out
• this work I love to do has stacked up to the tipping point

Where does my help come from?

• prayer and meditation on Scripture and other inspirational reading, current book: Simply Jesus by N. T. Wright
• my daughter (whom you've probably already "met" in my posts). She continues to be my mentor and inspiration, most recently through her open letter to young Moms .

It feels great to have a plan.

It's wonderful to be well - body, soul and spirit - to make it work.