tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372585562024-03-19T01:48:23.566-07:00InScribe Writers OnlineEncouraging InScribe members to share their writings with each other and the worldTracy Krausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05066853243062725525noreply@blogger.comBlogger3655125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-43587132847469049882024-03-18T08:24:00.004-07:002024-03-18T08:24:38.508-07:00O is for Ordinary by Lorilee Guenter<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQApDbXfGetF6260EJOhm0HofUyRfNh0_08Frg9NY0VxKQj2EmN36ebd4rjR6Y3-lHAaNZ1aZpAcSUt5pnnmcRZ5XdHlsNag-9szZ8_szpTr2UY5efEwprdJ3WPvLpPqfri9chXCh283_hoNYnVfBdvLZIJLe3lcmebm3NtUa-I8G5M6DOm_gi/s2048/20220304-165149cam-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQApDbXfGetF6260EJOhm0HofUyRfNh0_08Frg9NY0VxKQj2EmN36ebd4rjR6Y3-lHAaNZ1aZpAcSUt5pnnmcRZ5XdHlsNag-9szZ8_szpTr2UY5efEwprdJ3WPvLpPqfri9chXCh283_hoNYnVfBdvLZIJLe3lcmebm3NtUa-I8G5M6DOm_gi/s320/20220304-165149cam-web.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />This past week, I have stumbled across a number of quotes related to journeys. There is an excitement about the destination. New experiences, celebrations, and milestones all draw our attention. In between the milestones are everyday, ordinary events. these are part of the journey that at times we overlook, at least I do.<p></p><p>In the midst of planning, hoping and dreaming we encounter the moments of life. Some church traditions mark ordinary time. It is important. When I rush around, or when I fix my attention on that upcoming event, I miss the daily joy of being. When I pause, when I lean into the everyday experience, I notice details. Conversation flows as we enjoy a meal together. The ordinary becomes extraordinary as I notice and acknowledge God's presence. I am able to recognise His hand at work in the moment.</p><p>Rushing and wishing, grumbling and complaining,with impatience, not only lead me to miss what is in front of me, they block my creativity. This is not a surprise since I believe my creativity is a gift from God. It is one way we as humans can reflect God's image. Grumbling does not reflect His character. Rushing causes details to disappear that might draw us closer to Him. Stress of what might be clouds what is. Peace falters. My mind spins. I lose sight of the source of everything.</p><p>As I sit down to revise and edit, I realise it is only when I ground my characters in the ordinariness of life that the story begins to come alive. Those ordinary details set the stage for the journey that pulls the reader in. They are connection pieces. I can not include these grounding pieces if I haven't allowed God to ground me in the moment.</p><p>Recently I have been in a liminal space, a time of transition. I am not quite here and I am not yet there. It is a place of waiting, of trusting and of learning. It is a place God is reminding me that the ordinary, everyday experience is valuable. He is with me in the waiting. He knows what comes next and will show me at the right time. When I write a story, I am discovering as I go. Not so the author of my life. He knows me intimately and is gently guiding me into every discovery. He is shaping me by them.</p><p>This gives me confidence and comfort as I live out my ordinary days. It is my hope and prayer that as the next destination comes into view, I will be able to enjoy both the anticipation and rest in each ordinary moment between now and then. I hope you will join me in this. </p>lorighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079649451877996088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-76700487931859503392024-03-15T02:00:00.001-07:002024-03-15T02:00:00.157-07:00O is for Object Lessons by Carol Harrison<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijK7fUOK6g7FxBRTZksrhCbI9i3WmiFoAK3NWXi3LoDVmOQrRduSpvHacsgw_jL5zDnQgCIjoHK1pHYnE3R7X7I2rjdRl8Vbdm0XhFGq7P9X6NBeMV79KY9WCoFWo7tMhfePHCIttq9TCm-Wunn4aGbVE3fKfajIjkaZONbWchk_w5MlzvQiWH/s1566/136725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijK7fUOK6g7FxBRTZksrhCbI9i3WmiFoAK3NWXi3LoDVmOQrRduSpvHacsgw_jL5zDnQgCIjoHK1pHYnE3R7X7I2rjdRl8Vbdm0XhFGq7P9X6NBeMV79KY9WCoFWo7tMhfePHCIttq9TCm-Wunn4aGbVE3fKfajIjkaZONbWchk_w5MlzvQiWH/w192-h200/136725.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Object lesson is defined in the Merriam Webster
dictionary as a practical example of a principle or abstract idea. Using object
lessons O is for Object Lessons</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">An object is not a new concept. Even Jesus used object
lessons such as washing the disciples’ feet to teach them about servant
leadership. I use object lessons when I speak to children at Bible camp but
even the teen leaders and adults enjoy the small lessons to capture the audience
attention and lay the groundwork for the Bible lesson to come. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Have you ever used object lessons in your writing? How
did you incorporate them? I took many of the object lessons I had used at camp
and wrote them as devotionals which I published in a little book called <i>On Target.
</i>I want to share one of these pieces in the blog today. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Jelly Bean Jar</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I held up a jar of jelly beans. Bright colours of this
sugary treat grabbed the camper’s and staff’s attention. I told them they had
an opportunity to win the entire jar of jelly beans but a few rules must be
followed. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Everyone leaned forward as if they did not want to
miss one word about my proposed contest. The rules were simple. Each cabin had
to work together to come up with their guess—yes teamwork—not an individual
guess. They needed to find me before lunch, supper, or during free time, as a
cabin group, leader included. This meant planning on their part. The jar could
be held and observed but not opened or tampered with in any way. Once each
group decided on their answer, they needed to write it on a slip of paper and
deposit in my special container. The cabin with the correct number would share
in the prize of a jar of jelly beans. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hands flew into the air. Some campers stood up and
waved to try and get my attention. The one question they repeatedly asked, “Do
you mean the one whose answer is closest wins the jelly beans.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“No. The correct answer wins. There is only one right
answer and close is not good enough.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Their second favourite question, “What happens if no
one guesses the right amount?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Then I get to keep the jelly beans because I know the
exact number in the jar.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Groans and murmurs of ‘it’s not fair’ floated towards
me as I repeated the instructions before dismissing them to attend their next
skill. I knew if they didn’t come and find me before the deadline, I would
search for them because I didn’t want anyone to be left out. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I loved observing the interactions between the cabin
mates. The variety of ways they came up with to try and figure out the correct
answer intrigued me. I answered their questions about close enough versus
correct amount a number of times. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In all the times I have done this object lesson at
camps, no one has ever guessed the exact amount. The closest has been two away.
Each time I get to keep the jar of jelly beans as I explain how the Bible tells
us there is one way to be right with God. There is only one way to heaven and
that is through Jesus who died for us. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, “I am the way, and
the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course everyone wished they had got the right
answer, but I had kept it a secret. God never keeps the way to Him an unknown.
The Bible tells us the way is Jesus and nothing we can do on our own will make
us righteous. It also tells us to share the good news with everyone. In Matthew
28:19 Jesus tells his followers to go and make disciples of all nations. I
Peter 3:15 reminds us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who
asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness
and respect, keeping a clear conscience so that those who speak maliciously
against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The good news of the gospel needs to be shared. It is
not our secret to keep. The jelly beans were not mine to keep so I shared them
with everyone. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyA9QBxrv2v0N4e9WPBuIwWJtaAyMbcNuxQCncc-0tRZOXo5tPShu5MdCwvCP9heVAVQlYRowoAxl92Rplr4C5TBlK5BVZRl60RfCJFvZqyA0CLEplotdOBEDcPEMynp91WBpu5O7kO00NxFXrqrLXVidgwlAfdNqLb5_JlB5Oj-resM9H1zw/s3275/a57-29641edit%20carol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3275" data-original-width="2457" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyA9QBxrv2v0N4e9WPBuIwWJtaAyMbcNuxQCncc-0tRZOXo5tPShu5MdCwvCP9heVAVQlYRowoAxl92Rplr4C5TBlK5BVZRl60RfCJFvZqyA0CLEplotdOBEDcPEMynp91WBpu5O7kO00NxFXrqrLXVidgwlAfdNqLb5_JlB5Oj-resM9H1zw/w150-h200/a57-29641edit%20carol.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Carol Harrison loves using object lessons and everyday stories and objects as she shares the truth of God's Word with audiences of all ages. <br /><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
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CarolEHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273180649453611788noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-5861321492994894582024-03-14T05:56:00.000-07:002024-03-14T05:56:13.673-07:00One by Sharon Heagy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsS1q6ZMliFO0Qta2IxdtRXoUWP3icLWTIjU-klYHXw-LXv_dAz7noa1bZvKPJNmsI77t_cF0v2iuHE8LxBlJlqT5-DV-Ht4gD33BJO43g2iKGedZ2a0Kg5vwEBb3JBFLEggShu5Q5BCl8I9fblAjuM0Z2otlo_KpA5CYePP-Nzrc9en00-ZyBiw/s225/IMG_9530.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsS1q6ZMliFO0Qta2IxdtRXoUWP3icLWTIjU-klYHXw-LXv_dAz7noa1bZvKPJNmsI77t_cF0v2iuHE8LxBlJlqT5-DV-Ht4gD33BJO43g2iKGedZ2a0Kg5vwEBb3JBFLEggShu5Q5BCl8I9fblAjuM0Z2otlo_KpA5CYePP-Nzrc9en00-ZyBiw/s1600/IMG_9530.jpeg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> One. Such a significant number for being the least in quantity. “One is the Loneliest Number” sang Three Dog Night. Bob Marley’s mellow reggae tune speaks of “One Love.” “You’re still the one who can scratch my itch” belts out the band Orleans while “One singular sensation” describes the star of the show in the Broadway hit <i>A Chorus Line.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Then there are books which have the number one in the title. <i>One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest </i>by Ken Kesey, <i>One Hundred Years of Solitude</i> by Gabriel Garcia Márquez, <i>One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich</i> by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. And of course the wonderful book written by that great philosopher, Theodor Geisel, <i>One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. </i>(a.k.a. Dr. Seuss)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> One can be the mistake everyone remembers. You can do something without consequence hundreds of times but make that one error and that’s what people remember! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> The Jewish faith takes numbers very seriously. The Hebrew number one is a distinct number that never changes, it is always one due to its indivisibility. The number one references God in daily prayers, morning and evening, as they recite the beginning of Deuteronomy 6:4. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” These are usually the first words taught to Jewish children and they are part of their bedtime prayer. They are also to be the last words uttered by those who are dying.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> In the writing world, one is also an important number. One is the number of ideas we need to begin. One is the number of papers, pens or computers we need to get started. One is the number of words to get down on a page and get going. Just one. Everything we write can flow out of just one. A melting icicle will begin its thaw with a single drip that turns into a steady stream as the heat increases and the melting amps up. Sometimes a large icicle will suddenly crash down like a dagger in the snow. This is sometimes what happens with writing as we begin with one. Once the flow of words starts it can become a torrent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> But the greatest, most magnificent number one for the writer of faith is <i>the </i>One. What a privilege to have such a Source as Him. Have you ever noticed how lyrics of a popular song can be sung about or to Jesus? I think about that a lot when I hear various tunes and I was thinking about that as I read the lyrics to Marvin Hamlisch’s <i>One, </i>so I changed the lyrics a bit:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">One singular sensation, every little step He takes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">One thrilling combination, every move that He makes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">One smile and suddenly nobody else will do<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">You know you’ll never be lonely with You-Know-Who<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">One moment in His presence and you can forget the rest<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">For the Lord is second best to none, son<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Oooh! Sigh! Give Him your attention<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Do I really have to mention He’s the One.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Unfortunately, I am more cognizant of all the Lord has done during this season leading up to Easter. Unfortunate because I should be acutely aware all the time. When I clack away on these keys or scribble words on my ever-present writing pad, I am thankful for the One who paid a price so dear and allowed me to know Him and for the gift to write. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> May you be blessed beyond words as you spend time with the One. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p></div><p><br /> </p>Sharon Heagyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026362425515759048noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-33418205211178668782024-03-13T03:00:00.003-07:002024-03-13T10:55:52.132-07:00Overcoming Overwhelm by Steph Beth Nickel<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq-NvhEBoJAPKI7d5PTBkAT021jNeMHQ4KzW6WkNcMyFozQpc7HFQMMcMezqGZplREuNwkATNaEsb55jURx5jEScx4BQnWzN1t-NHOUN5zKbo_8Yo0YtxoKuTrUP4Ka8KQQVJtvVp_d1GIj2ZMli9Bs2sJoeV85Igzni7UBHG5X-QV3ygp2zwQQ/s1280/little-boy-1635065_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq-NvhEBoJAPKI7d5PTBkAT021jNeMHQ4KzW6WkNcMyFozQpc7HFQMMcMezqGZplREuNwkATNaEsb55jURx5jEScx4BQnWzN1t-NHOUN5zKbo_8Yo0YtxoKuTrUP4Ka8KQQVJtvVp_d1GIj2ZMli9Bs2sJoeV85Igzni7UBHG5X-QV3ygp2zwQQ/w358-h238/little-boy-1635065_1280.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://pixabay.com/photos/little-boy-hiding-sad-child-fear-1635065/</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have you ever felt like hiding in a pillow fort?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was just the other night that overwhelm struck. I had several balls in the air at the same time, and, quite frankly, I felt like letting them all fall, shutting down my computer, and hiding in a pillow fort (or watching an episode of "Rescue Special Operations").</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While I did finish writing the email I was working on, I decided that I needed sleep more than I needed to power through anything more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And in the morning...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was refreshed and ready to tackle the day. No pillow fort needed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are a number of other things that recharge my batteries and chase away overwhelm. Among them...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. Going for a walk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Doing a brief workout.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. Taking nature photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. Having coffee with a friend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. Listening to a podcast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. Reading a chapter in one of the books I'm reading.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7. Focusing on a single task at a time. (Close those extra tabs, Stephanie!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And let's not forget the aforementioned getting some shut-eye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This post has only scratched the surface of how to overcome overwhelm. Among the other things we may want to try are...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. Determining if there are commitments we need to let go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Learning that it's alright to say no when we're asked to take on a task we don't have the bandwidth for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. Reworking our schedule.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. Deleting social media from our phone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. Decluttering our surroundings so we aren't as distracted when we sit down to work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. Setting a timer and working on the task at hand until the timer goes off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7. Establishing a ritual that tells our brain, "It's time to get to work" (i.e.: settling in to a spot set aside for work, lighting a candle, turning on some instrumental music...).</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, above all else, as believers, we ought to cast our cares on the One who loves us more than even our closest family members and friends. We must also ask for wisdom from the One who promises to give it generously.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>How do you deal with overwhelm?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><p></p>Steph Beth Nickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627893861025559884noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-22899145742951273412024-03-11T01:00:00.006-07:002024-03-11T10:43:39.069-07:00OBVIOUSLY by Joylene M Bailey<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiu_9w0KJexLb3q6dgGhdEB7lDnh8Ugjsqwygpm83gy4TR6jhiWePG6M2sezadtGswAH9cr0oDG_xpxrUuZ24dK3WeUkLRuySkbaWvcDHb2snw_pOxM4mO7qEKJOCbOJu4qcDxfHjvYUmLPTlCWSc3cOD7Lv64wWpWyu-m1WEsfThfbImwYYyB" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiu_9w0KJexLb3q6dgGhdEB7lDnh8Ugjsqwygpm83gy4TR6jhiWePG6M2sezadtGswAH9cr0oDG_xpxrUuZ24dK3WeUkLRuySkbaWvcDHb2snw_pOxM4mO7qEKJOCbOJu4qcDxfHjvYUmLPTlCWSc3cOD7Lv64wWpWyu-m1WEsfThfbImwYYyB=w580-h386" width="580" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">One spring I was hiding our girls' Easter baskets, accompanied by the boyfriend of my 19-year-old. I opened the door of the old playhouse and put her decorated basket smack dab in the middle of the table in the middle of the room. Mark looked at me questioningly.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">"Isn't that a little obvious?"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I replied, "I know her. She'll look in the playhouse, but she'll never see it right in front of her face." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And I was right. She looked in the playhouse, under the table, around the table, in every corner, then closed the door and went hunting elsewhere. Too busy looking to actually see.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">~~~</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">At the latest meeting of my writers' group, we had an interesting writing prompt. We each chose playing cards, then had 17 minutes to write a story or piece about anything we chose, but in which we had to mention the suit of the card, the colour of the suit, and the number or face on the card. We could be glaringly blatant or only hint at the components. Then, the group had to guess what our card was, based on the story we read after 17 minutes of writing. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I had the Queen of clubs, so my story included a black lab named Queenie. Later, when I read the story to the rest of the group, most of them got the suit and the colour but couldn't figure out the number/face card. Somehow, the name Queenie went right over their heads. And I thought I'd been so obvious.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">~~~</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>What you see is not what others see. We inhabit parallel worlds of perception, bounded by our interests and experience. What is obvious to some is invisible to others."</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>-- George Monbiot, British journalist and author --</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">~~~</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It's striking that what might seem obvious to us isn't obvious to others. I suppose that's why we need to know who we want our writing to reach. But that can be tricky too. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I once wrote a story for an American children's magazine in which the students come in from recess and change from their outdoor shoes to their indoor shoes. The question that came back to me was, <i>Why do the children have two pairs of shoes? Is it customary in Canada for students to continually change shoes from outdoor to indoor and vice-versa? </i>I had just assumed this was the protocol in all elementary schools. Apparently not in the US.<i> </i> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">~~~</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I've discovered, as far as my blog goes, it's easiest for me to write if I have in mind one specific person to whom I'm writing. When I think of writing to that one person, I know how much information is just enough, and where I'm being too obvious. It's so much easier to write to one person. Then, when others become my readers too, it's a bonus.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It's a delicate balance to say what we need to say without getting bogged down in the details ... making it too obvious. Would you agree?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I just finished reading a cozy English mystery in which I knew who the murderer was AND where the body was hidden before I was half done the book. It was so obvious. How disappointing!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Our readers need to know just enough to move the story/article forward and yet not too much to bore them. For myself as a reader, once I feel like I'm getting too many unnecessary details I quit reading.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">But that's just me ...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Other people like lots of details ...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Depending on the topic ...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Oh dear, this is getting complicated.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What kinds of tricks or methods do you use to keep your writing balanced between too obvious and just enough information? I'd really like your feedback on this, because the deeper I get into this topic, the more complicated it seems.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Obviously.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">~~~</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Feature photo by Jill Wellington from Pixabay</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPFZB8EOPJlTt_oOOVt3aVk3EthMeejED7QEXauygy5EGMingpaBo05sulFPt4b0JYMH2A4HAIUteMPZZD7oxTPrGGSEaFkon2IU7L0xIj25ygAKO9nMeI5TkVZ7eDchEn4ovG2GZEB15bE7KWpUW7ggXtSYmVoO771CUWW2RY1vyNBQY1U-d/s2048/IMG_3258.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1281" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPFZB8EOPJlTt_oOOVt3aVk3EthMeejED7QEXauygy5EGMingpaBo05sulFPt4b0JYMH2A4HAIUteMPZZD7oxTPrGGSEaFkon2IU7L0xIj25ygAKO9nMeI5TkVZ7eDchEn4ovG2GZEB15bE7KWpUW7ggXtSYmVoO771CUWW2RY1vyNBQY1U-d/w150-h239/IMG_3258.PNG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Joy writes from lake land Alberta where she lives with The Cowboy, a couple of seniors and a couple of pets. Usually her writing is a bit more coherent, but right now the meds for her sinus infection are making her a little loopy. You might find a better example of her writing at her blog, <a href="https://scrapsofjoy.com/" target="_blank">Scraps of Joy</a>, but maybe not.</span></div></div><br /><p></p>Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17929945787972647603noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-40113663281112134602024-03-08T04:30:00.024-07:002024-03-08T04:30:00.127-07:00O is for Onward! by Bob Jones<p> </p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitQs8rN5yg6WB_1OxUGKGXBONud2ilkZkkpJc0eNNq_iE7pQ5sdKmMOsnO_CzavA747Wnr8dcCoJ54Lir52xH3rvbkuImViOIJGnVjSrgIzjirt8LWpEngwP9gXnqA4PS79hyphenhyphenhMNHUDOLvEXXd41gxWOekjaKGW6zPxGayr6zxVWDShfARj1aNg/s3120/jon-tyson-dYlgOu_J2CI-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="3120" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitQs8rN5yg6WB_1OxUGKGXBONud2ilkZkkpJc0eNNq_iE7pQ5sdKmMOsnO_CzavA747Wnr8dcCoJ54Lir52xH3rvbkuImViOIJGnVjSrgIzjirt8LWpEngwP9gXnqA4PS79hyphenhyphenhMNHUDOLvEXXd41gxWOekjaKGW6zPxGayr6zxVWDShfARj1aNg/w640-h426/jon-tyson-dYlgOu_J2CI-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p> Photo by Jon Tyson, Unsplash <br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I’ve been waiting fifteen
months for March 2024, the Inscribe Writers month of O and O is for onward! It’s
a one-word mantra for creatives. The six-letter word that I use half a dozen
times a week.</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Feel like quitting? Onward!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Discouraged? Onward!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Opened another
rejection email? Onward!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Pages of prose that
will never survive the final edit? Onward!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Hebrews chapter
twelve great cloud of witnesses employ a one-word cheer for the struggling.
Onward!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Moving onward
requires dedication and a habit of refusing to give up. Challenges are always a
reminder of the promise of growth and improvement.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Just as one moment
can bring despair, a moment can also be a new beginning. Onward!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The world was built
to develop character. We can learn from the setbacks. Onward!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Instead of trying to
make life perfect, make it an adventure. Onward!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Outside your comfort
zone? Onward!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When we love
something, emotion often drives our actions. This is the gift, and the
challenge writers face every day. The content we dream of and craft from
scratch is part of us and intensely personal. Our writing is our babies. Our
lives. The highs are high, and the rewards can be thrilling. But the lows can
break your heart. Writers must love what they do to such a degree that writing
is worth sacrifice and, at times, pain. But doing anything else, we think,
would be unimaginable. Onward!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When you start to
think that things should be better this year, remember the valleys of the shadow
of death you walked through to get you where you are. Onward!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When the going gets
tough, put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Onward!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">O</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">wn your moment.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">N</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ever give up.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">W</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">rite your goals.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ct your way into
feeling.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">R</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">eward your
successes. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">D</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">etermine to repeat.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Need a word for your
day, month or year?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Onward!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLNvhDj1tVJh7SQxX_DVXYnhknnKOgN-VhVwAc02TWu42Vg7DLP5NLaxr-tcmekn0fg93ENJthxdl0oS_CcLiftlBFWO5ycskSIsQ6GVCWU8-QcCKX_hdVqxMBcQYy3CujpCfqEm5eNVo8u7qPyT_x2cf7kiMtkEw6jf3H3fN1JZwq7ibNscGLQ/s800/Bob.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLNvhDj1tVJh7SQxX_DVXYnhknnKOgN-VhVwAc02TWu42Vg7DLP5NLaxr-tcmekn0fg93ENJthxdl0oS_CcLiftlBFWO5ycskSIsQ6GVCWU8-QcCKX_hdVqxMBcQYy3CujpCfqEm5eNVo8u7qPyT_x2cf7kiMtkEw6jf3H3fN1JZwq7ibNscGLQ/w257-h171/Bob.jpg" width="257" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thank you for reading. I write at <a href="https://revwords.com/">REVwords</a> where I move onward every day. </span><br /> <p></p>Bob Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01288943530653568720noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-4831226476202915302024-03-06T01:00:00.001-07:002024-03-07T15:39:21.347-07:00O is for Omega and also Omicron by Susan Barclay<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvEoBDcTj1dWUwWvXsjmyr1JH2zcgN8p09xGb_ccgfJi6fmGC7N5q-CnV9OgczuXYFspVNVie0Mvj1DhE_PxPOPzlC6z7BK-H0rL5Dv_WgguYlua7Anhu3mgtc9PYJG7OM4C4fhWRjIJPC3b6QoJ1fCcIMn-HeGM0BxFfJwMlAhvBvTEMRwxc/s1280/mountains-8411954_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvEoBDcTj1dWUwWvXsjmyr1JH2zcgN8p09xGb_ccgfJi6fmGC7N5q-CnV9OgczuXYFspVNVie0Mvj1DhE_PxPOPzlC6z7BK-H0rL5Dv_WgguYlua7Anhu3mgtc9PYJG7OM4C4fhWRjIJPC3b6QoJ1fCcIMn-HeGM0BxFfJwMlAhvBvTEMRwxc/w400-h268/mountains-8411954_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I recently finished reading <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61349493-amazing-grace?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=bmdsgAX2pE&rank=1" target="_blank">Amazing Grace: the Life of John Newton and the Surprising Story Behind His Song</a></i> by Bruce Hindmarsh and Craig Borlase. Among the fascinating facts this well-researched book offers is that John Newton wrote his autobiography anonymously to share the truth without becoming the spotlight. A later book, <i>Twenty-six Letters on Religious Subjects</i>, was published under the Greek word Omicron, because "Christ was the Omega, or large <i>O</i> in Greek, but John was simply Omicron, the smaller <i>o</i>." Hindmarsh states eloquently, "You don't celebrate a monument: you celebrate what it points to." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A powerful preacher, sermon- and hymn-writer, with an incredible conversion story, Newton might have capitalized on his assets. Instead, he served his churches and communities with the humble heart of a true pastor, going the extra mile as few others would, never forgetting the grace poured out on him by a merciful and loving God.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The point of this post for us as inspirational writers is this: how do we see ourselves? Do we seek to be celebrated for the gifts or testimonies God has given us, or do we seek to use our gifts and stories for His glory alone? Do we long for name recognition or to make <i>His</i> name famous?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">God's Word is emphatic that He abhors pride and values humility. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">James 4:6 says, "...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Verse 10 adds, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you." </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Colossians 3:2 says, "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." A parallel scripture, "Store up not for yourselves treasures on earth... but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." (Matthew 6:19-20).<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We have a tendency to want our work to be read and for all our effort to be rewarded. Is our motive God- or self-centred? Are we focused on flesh or spirit? Do we want our work to be read because it points people to Him or because we think it's a good story? Just thinking out loud here...<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Psalm 25:9 says, "He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Let Psalm 86:11 be our prayer today:</span></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="text Ps-86-11" id="en-NLT-15272" style="font-family: inherit;">Teach me your ways, O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-86-11">that I may live according to your truth!</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-86-11">Grant me purity of heart,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-86-11">so that I may honour you.</span></span></span></i></span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">May He be both our Alpha and Omega as He becomes more and we become less. May the name that matters most to us be His.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">_______________________</span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">For more about Susan Barclay and her writing, please visit <a href="http://www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com">www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p>Susan Barclayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668380401591029520noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-33806978878304234992024-03-05T00:30:00.058-07:002024-03-05T11:29:04.548-07:00One Project or Balancing Multiples? By Sandi Somers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4SGcizycooMz392dreZ2pC1VEHc0EwdMMj9p_XUG4AXA90_obkDabGSJgRKPMRf-wiokzSoZ5pUNrayGgMsCcoW9qQZbgpMJ4Tv-gCqIRvAihkSxu5Z-ZIgdgYVOHbwrEJBN6pt7q4qspXW0lkCSQfpSi8DWAmvykK4lbYawRMuUnaVESWmJ-g/s185/O%20One%20project%20or%20multiple%20resized%202x%20image%20by%20Getty%20Image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="128" data-original-width="185" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4SGcizycooMz392dreZ2pC1VEHc0EwdMMj9p_XUG4AXA90_obkDabGSJgRKPMRf-wiokzSoZ5pUNrayGgMsCcoW9qQZbgpMJ4Tv-gCqIRvAihkSxu5Z-ZIgdgYVOHbwrEJBN6pt7q4qspXW0lkCSQfpSi8DWAmvykK4lbYawRMuUnaVESWmJ-g/w400-h277/O%20One%20project%20or%20multiple%20resized%202x%20image%20by%20Getty%20Image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">Are
you a person who can balance several writing projects? Or do you
prefer to work on only one project? This question came up a number of
years ago when I didn’t know how to organize my time to polish several
assignments that were on my plate.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I began searching for how
other writers and artists managed their projects.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac Asimov, who wrote over
500 books, kept five or six typewriters in his workroom, each with a page
inserted in readiness. He rotated from one project to another with whatever momentarily
piqued his interest. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Philip Yancey focussed on
writing one book at a time. When he was writing a column for <i>Christianity
Today</i>, he enjoyed taking one day off a month to write the column. (<i>One
day</i>! It would take me a week!)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Vincent Van Gogh set up as many
as 14 canvases of the same scene, drawing clouds and natural landscapes as the
light changed during the day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Madeleine L’Engle combined
writing one book with adding ideas and journal entries to several others she
had in mind. Then when she was ready to begin a new work, she chose the one with
the most complete ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Grace Fox, speaker at our Fall
Conferences, batches her work for speaking engagements, book proposals,
podcasts, books, etc. She works, for example, two days on one project, three days on
another. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 18pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">As well as discovering how
authors and artists worked, I‘ve gleaned wisdom, some from our own InScribers.
I’ll pass them on to you.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Discover how many projects you
can manage. Alan Anderson said he chose three. (Sorry, Alan, I can’t find the
blog post where you wrote this—but I remembered it.) On the other hand, Steph
Beth Nickel emailed me that she is a writer-juggler who loves to “keep all the
plates spinning. ... Most of the time, having several projects on the go at once
energizes me. Most of the time.” </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">But in general, maintain at
least two projects. When you get bogged down with one, switching to another
will enliven your spirits. Marcia Laycock needed to take a break from working
on a major novel, so she wrote a delightful children’s book, <i>Merrigold’s
Very Best Home, </i>that refreshed her and won awards.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Ray Bradbury said that sometimes
a major project needs to be set aside and incubate for up to a year. When you come
back to it, you’ll see it with fresh eyes. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">If your current project is
revising and editing, continuing to write new material will keep your creative
juices flowing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Along with the above
strategies, <a href="https://inscribewritersonline.blogspot.com/2023/02/balance-by-tracy-krauss.html">Tracy Krauss</a> wrote in one blog post the necessity of keeping
balance in all things. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 18pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Like a complex machine, we must strike a
balance between marketing, promotion, and business activities…and the actual
writing side of things. All of these writing-related activities must then
fit into the greater balance of life…work, family, church, household chores,
devotional life..</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">But above all, we need to draw on the Lord's strength. As Steph
Beth said that she needs to, “rely on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide and to provide me with
the wherewithal I need to accomplish the tasks at hand.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m reminded of Scripture
which says: “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work
of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17 NIV). He
will do it.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I’d like to know: How many
projects or project components can you handle simultaneously? What strategies
have you discovered? How do you balance your time and energy? How do you and God
partner in this process?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Image by Getty<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></p></div>Sandi Somershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03097011585168805837noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-34634957968768228102024-03-04T01:00:00.026-07:002024-03-04T12:23:19.336-07:00Overly Thankful by Brenda J. Wood<p> </p><p>Do you struggle with acknowledgments for your inside book cover? Yes, me too. What I say isn’t always what I wanted to say.</p><p>Alan Greenspan said “I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant”. </p><p>We write truth in our books and we should write them in the acknowledgements too. </p><p>I’ve helped many a writer onto their path. I don’t expect thanks but I’d appreciate one. </p><p>It is courtesy to name all those who helped you, in order of importance, whether it be family, writing buddies or editors.</p><p>And if you got financial aid, share that as well. Keep your emotional thanks to the end. </p><p>One Possibility?</p><p>I wish to thank Sir __________ for his comments on my newsletter which set me on this path. Certainly, I must mention the government grant that got me this far.</p><p>And surely, I must mention _________ __________who spent ages editing my unpolished manuscript. And then I wish to mention all those in my writing group who offered helpful hits toward the plot.</p><p>I am grateful to my husband and children who believed in me and suffered through many evenings of take-out food on my behalf. Signed___________</p><p>OR??</p><p>You can write the truth like the multi-award winner Ruth Goose did in her excellent mystery, ‘Doing it in the Dixie Dew.’ </p><p>This is not to thank the members of my long-ago Charlotte writer’s group who disliked this manuscript from word one.</p><p>My husband, who said, “Whatever you do, don’t write a novel. It takes too long. You’ll never get published and you can’t plot. </p><p>My sons, who asked, “What do you know about running a bed and breakfast?’ </p><p>Note to my academic cell mates, ‘Doing it at the Dixie Dew has the only two subjects W.B. Yeats said were worth writing about: sex and death, plus the third one: food. </p><p>And then she goes on…Seriously, I do want to thank…. </p><p>From this message I glean this truth. We write truth in our books and we should write them in the acknowledgements too. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyot4RjcMyLoOFRZGUyCiwL1jGCDjOlSZVeUQhVpsSNI3THfoESsGE6zrFymLoLjW6NW0a2fD3OPQZwy_AOGZNvr69CLO4igm_y-IsAgnU0E__OEzv3Bv8Gx4dIvCE35mFezEq7kr5iP8ksgv_Uyb0fBKsH0cxJ3IPnxXlzCyZywIhzkrj730/s640/Brenda%20pic%20small%20(427x640).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyot4RjcMyLoOFRZGUyCiwL1jGCDjOlSZVeUQhVpsSNI3THfoESsGE6zrFymLoLjW6NW0a2fD3OPQZwy_AOGZNvr69CLO4igm_y-IsAgnU0E__OEzv3Bv8Gx4dIvCE35mFezEq7kr5iP8ksgv_Uyb0fBKsH0cxJ3IPnxXlzCyZywIhzkrj730/w268-h400/Brenda%20pic%20small%20(427x640).jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1100754" target="_blank">Brenda J. Wood</a> has authored more than fifty books. She is a seasoned motivational speaker, who declares the Word of God with wisdom, humour, and common sense.</p><div><br /></div>Wendy L. Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01702077484754964660noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-65982903762092179192024-03-01T01:30:00.002-07:002024-03-02T09:16:06.315-07:00O is for ONE: One Step at a Time ~ by Wendy L. Macdonald <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02cwuoBKGtq0-FXuxzigUCB4cok94yABHZvH4GEFlLpqgoGb62LjxrCtrMYjTm1bAdqRBIWIzrZGbFMkPQe744TlTM9a7ArCM3Ky6RpCE1jdY4XcG9wSe8J2YsbQirtJoPEGsYbWT_-8BgIjhLYYJqo4LL3yWtYkQG-NQREzjczCzpKKX_16a/s4608/IMG_1776.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02cwuoBKGtq0-FXuxzigUCB4cok94yABHZvH4GEFlLpqgoGb62LjxrCtrMYjTm1bAdqRBIWIzrZGbFMkPQe744TlTM9a7ArCM3Ky6RpCE1jdY4XcG9wSe8J2YsbQirtJoPEGsYbWT_-8BgIjhLYYJqo4LL3yWtYkQG-NQREzjczCzpKKX_16a/w400-h300/IMG_1776.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>One step at a time gets us to our destination. Procrastination doesn’t.</p><p>Recently I read a wonderful Christian living book by <a href="https://www.drewdyck.com/" target="_blank">Drew Dyke</a>. <i>JUST SHOW UP: How Small Acts of Faithfulness Change Everything</i> was the perfect read for me because it helped me see and believe that one-step-at-a-time living works. As Drew said in a podcast interview:</p><p></p><blockquote>Your focus is to be faithful.</blockquote><p></p><p>We can be faithful to complete anything if we are determined to keep taking one step at a time. Baby steps like showing up to write the first draft of a blog post soon became a Word Doc that could be completed and edited later.</p><p>One step at a time completes a journey in time.</p><p>One step at a time makes a manuscript shine.</p><p>Perfectionism can be subdued by pressing ahead and telling the nagging inner editor it will get its chance to play later. First drafts are just one step of many. Writing is one step at a time. Editing needs to wait its turn. </p><p>One step at a time works for all areas of life. Getting in shape, doing housework, renovating, decluttering, decorating, and artwork can all be broken down into small steps. Each time we complete a step, we’re building momentum and confidence that we can do the next thing. Step by step we climb the ladder of a project or goal. One rung, one step, one day, one moment at a time brings us closer to completion. </p><p>Not despising small steps helps us get big things done. </p><p>I’ve been writing a poem a day for several years. They’re not great works of art. But one step at a time created material I was able to share on my Facebook page. Now I’m posting them less often so that I can do the next step of editing hundreds of poems to create a devotional book. One step at a time takes time. But since time flies by fast, it doesn’t take long before we’re ready for step two.</p><p>What big project are you dreaming of that could be done one step at a time?</p><p></p><blockquote>Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Matthew 6:34 The Passion Translation (TPT)</blockquote><p></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://wendylmacdonald.com/" target="_blank">Wendy L. Macdonald</a> is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep."</p><div><br /></div>Wendy L. Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01702077484754964660noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-2538504751479756212024-02-28T02:30:00.002-07:002024-02-28T12:37:05.744-07:00"Not my circus! Not my monkeys!" by Mary Folkerts<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYwUMPeATubWJrywf1ywruS6ldDe27GFADdBHtMQVJ-RjeIaDj-xvQ8lOqpiv_4VTbszmFHY8awahZ8W-415HYlDCNogOE3-zRn2KRtGCqcYC5jmQySeYE90GM0peR_vI2r8HfREtfyO1lLrw3nd4Kz8d2_Lv7g3J3gZXCOyLZPo6Ynnwhqyi5w/s1080/Pink%20Orange%20White%20Clean%20and%20Corporate%20Protest%20Content%20Square%20Pro-choice%20Square%20Instagram%20Post.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYwUMPeATubWJrywf1ywruS6ldDe27GFADdBHtMQVJ-RjeIaDj-xvQ8lOqpiv_4VTbszmFHY8awahZ8W-415HYlDCNogOE3-zRn2KRtGCqcYC5jmQySeYE90GM0peR_vI2r8HfREtfyO1lLrw3nd4Kz8d2_Lv7g3J3gZXCOyLZPo6Ynnwhqyi5w/w350-h350/Pink%20Orange%20White%20Clean%20and%20Corporate%20Protest%20Content%20Square%20Pro-choice%20Square%20Instagram%20Post.png" width="350" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">My friend used this phrase the other day, which echoes our often-held sentiments. "Not my circus, not my monkeys!"</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">In other words, "Not my problem. Don't bother me with the details!"</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Sometimes, that's a good attitude to have when a situation doesn't concern me and my involvement won't improve it. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">But not always.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I wonder if we sometimes use this thinking as an excuse not to become involved in difficult circumstances. The problem may seem too large, and my efforts too small to make a difference. What can my "drop in the bucket" help do to change anything? It's easy to want to live a quiet life, mind my own monkeys and not make any waves in the water, but if God calls us to "seek justice and to love mercy," it might mean getting involved and speaking up for those who can't. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I'm not suggesting we all become political and begin some "fight for justice" campaign, but we all see little injustices within our circles of influence that we can speak out against. We all experience areas of struggle that, if we are vulnerable about, could potentially help someone else in their struggle. Our vulnerability might help someone learn how to wrangle their own monkeys! </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">One thing is clear. We can't live our lives unaffected by those around us. Preoccupation with our own struggles, concerns, and problems shrinks our world inward, but when we open our hearts to others' needs, we find blessings beyond measure. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">As writers, we have the opportunity to call attention to situations even if they don't directly affect us. Advocating for those who don't have a voice means it's sometimes necessary to get involved in circuses, not our own. Our small words can have a powerfully positive impact on someone else's life.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><h4 style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"<br /></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: bidi-override;">Micah</span><span class="s1" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: bidi-override;"> </span><span class="s1" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: bidi-override;">6</span><span class="s1" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: bidi-override;">:</span><span class="s1" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: bidi-override;">8</span><span class="s1" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: bidi-override;"> (</span><span class="s1" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: bidi-override;">ESV).</span></span></h4><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Mary Folkerts is mom to four kids and wife to a farmer, living on the southern prairies of Alberta, where the skies are large and the sunsets stunning. She is a Proverbs 31 ministries COMPEL Writers Training member and is involved in church ministries and music. Mary’s personal blog aims to encourage and inspire women and advocate for those with Down Syndrome, as their youngest child introduced them to this extraordinary new world. For more inspiration, check out Joy in the small things</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span><a href="https://maryfolkerts.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #6a908d; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">https://maryfolkerts.com/</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">or connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maryfolkerts/ </span></p><div class="post-footer" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.5em 0px 0px;"></div><p></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8456817446966973834" itemprop="description articleBody" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 646px;"><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2221" data-original-width="1612" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqOf8rTsyUlv6vMqrLhZVcm6re6Dk2_NGtdAS-UO8Wo_0iGnPF2lyhQtZkrQY5NNxEzYGiAgNDRhrWSzj1jc_K6yOXhCTiNRtRPN-qkwrfPUjSyQSOsG1nSv0h_le3tw0R_9okRaA7ZfC2lMu17qYjTpc3lG04u8qILVcZDonRqay63bcBEE/w114-h157/E8ED14F5-E0D3-4F95-9670-92CD173B7FC4_1_201_a.heic" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; color: #22a7b1; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center;" width="114" /></p>Mary Folkertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288372843939944655noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-88362333760685347362024-02-25T23:00:00.005-07:002024-02-25T23:00:00.148-07:00N is for the Next Moment ~ by Michelle Strutzenberger<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The instantaneous death of my twin sister in a car
accident years ago seared my mind with an awareness of how quickly life can be
over.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">In my days of fresh grief, this awareness led to me
make unhealthy choices as I struggled to learn how to live without
the one person I’d spent mostly every waking moment with since we were born. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">Over the years, I have come to a place where my
alertness to life’s brevity ignites a flaming desire in me to do whatever I can
to make the most of my remaining time on this earth. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">Redeeming the Time<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">I remind myself often of the verses Ephesians 5:15-16:
“<span style="background: white; color: #001320;">See then that you walk
circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days
are evil (NKJV).”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">Other translations of
the Bible present the phrase “redeeming the time” as “making the most of every
opportunity” (NIV, NLT) or “making the best use of time” (ESV). These phrases
can help with understanding, but redeeming has a unique nuance that I love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">To redeem means to “buy
back,” to “get back,” to “free from what distresses or harms.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">How can I live in such
a way as to free the time I have left on this earth from what distresses or
harms? How can I do this for myself? And how can I do it for others?<br />
<br />
<b>Freeing the Next Moment from Distress</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">Now, as great of a
question as this is, it can be rather overwhelming, especially if one is in a
state of emotional anguish, whether from grief or some other trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">It has helped me to
bring the question back to just focusing on the next moment. How can I free my
next moment from what distresses or harms? Is there someone I need to text and apologize
to? Do I need to stop by and say hello to a neighbour? To whom might I write a
letter or email of comfort or encouragement? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #001320; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">Just a Few
Written Words<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">These small actions may
also include creative writing. A Lectio 365 devotional shared the story of a
verse in a hymn written by an African teacher Enoch Sontonga, who died suddenly
at the age of 32. This verse, the first lines of which are, “God bless Africa;
May her strength rise high up,” went on to be included in anthems of several
countries across the African continent, at least for a time, and today it is
embedded in South Africa’s national anthem. “Do I underestimate what God might
create out of the ordinary things I do?” the Lectio writer, Carla Harding,
reflects.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #001320; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">Asking for
Help<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">But even when reining
it back to the next small moment, we may still feel a sense of overwhelm about
how to make the most of our time. Even if we’re talking about small actions and
choices, we might be stressed about where exactly to focus our energy. There
are so many needs and options! Over time and experience, I have learned that
the very best way to go about handling this question is to ask the Holy Spirit
for guidance. Today, I constantly seek His help in knowing who to reach out to,
where to give, how to encourage, what to write, again, how to redeem my time –
today, now, in the next moment. <br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">I
have found so much more peace and so much less stress when I do both of these
things – focus on just the next moment and ask the Holy Spirit to guide me as I
take another small step towards eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Michelle and her family enjoy hiking mountains and trails together. She is currently sharing a series called, What Growing Up in a Mennonite Family of 10 Taught Me About Survival. To read the series, visit this <a href="https://michellestrutzenbe.wixsite.com/survival-suitcase" target="_blank">link</a>.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></i></span></p>Michelle Strutzenbergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11975438318007611473noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-73003090625379274802024-02-23T01:00:00.005-07:002024-02-23T01:00:00.238-07:00Noticing Nuances ~ Valerie Ronald<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRmQHrJJlYQydN-aYEgL2kLoobcV0d8BBfIxGU3ayG13tDPEpOutIp31RccGHaHrZD4UAN5A_pX44-DgEPva2JlTFAo7AkjfNONZ8HuRQCrMoldMgIMnfBNDt9JDQKKn5ZqbE5TkDsb-zjra2iCKRK_WkZ84Z6euqz8o04qU6VFCVFoaoa-2JbQ/s1409/Nuances.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="977" data-original-width="1409" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRmQHrJJlYQydN-aYEgL2kLoobcV0d8BBfIxGU3ayG13tDPEpOutIp31RccGHaHrZD4UAN5A_pX44-DgEPva2JlTFAo7AkjfNONZ8HuRQCrMoldMgIMnfBNDt9JDQKKn5ZqbE5TkDsb-zjra2iCKRK_WkZ84Z6euqz8o04qU6VFCVFoaoa-2JbQ/s320/Nuances.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /><br />I keep this poem in my writing files to remind me to look for the nuances, subtle shades and depths in the commonplace with potential to blossom into inspiration. <b><br /> </b></p><p><b>Valentine for Ernest Mann</b> by Naomi Shihah Nye <br /><br />You can’t order a poem like you order a taco. <br /><br />Walk up to the counter, say, “I’ll take two” <br /><br />And expect it to be handed back to you <br /><br />on a shiny plate. <br /><br />Still, I like your spirit. <br /><br />Anyone who says, “Here’s my address, <br /><br />write me a poem,” deserves something in reply. <br /><br />So I’ll tell you a secret instead: <br /><br />poems hide. In the bottoms of our shoes, <br /><br />they are sleeping. They are the shadows <br /><br />drifting across our ceilings the moment <br /><br />before we wake up. What we have to do <br /><br />is live in a way that lets us find them. <br /><br />Once I knew a man who gave his wife <br /><br />two skunks for a valentine. <br /><br />He couldn’t understand why she was crying. <br /><br />“I thought they had such beautiful eyes,” <br /><br />And he was serious. He was a serious man <br /><br />who lived in a serious way. Nothing was ugly <br /><br />just because the world said so. He really <br /><i><br />liked</i> those skunks. So, he re-invented them <br /><br />as valentines and they became beautiful. <br /><br />At least, to him. And the poems that had been <br /><br /> hiding <br /><br />in the eyes of skunks for centuries <br /><br />crawled out and curled up at his feet. <br /><br /> Maybe if we re-invent whatever our lives give us <br /><br />we find poems. Check your garage, the odd <br /><br /> sock <br /><br />in your drawer, the person you almost like, but <br /><br /> not quite. <br /><br />And let me know.</p><p><span> </span>*** <br />I think this poem is telling us something we all know as writers. Our readers may think writing ideas come from the fascinating and adventurous lives of writers but few of us lead such lives. The truth is, we as writers have a certain way of looking at the world around and within us, seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary ˗˗ a story behind the mundane. As the poem says, what we have to do is live in a way that lets us find them. By looking for subtle nuances in small, everyday circumstances and scenarios we find ideas to fill volumes.<br /><br />What this poem doesn’t tell us is that as writers who are Christians, we have a Divine Inspirer. God is the Master Creator. Everything in this vast universe came from His infinite mind and hand. Being made in His image, we have a small share in that creativity. We have unlimited resources for writing ideas everywhere we look, but how we look is inspired by our heavenly Father. </p><p><i>I will give you hidden treasures and wealth tucked away in secret places; I will reveal them to you. Then you will know that I am the Eternal, the God of Israel, who calls you by name. </i>(Isa. 45:3 The Voice) </p><p>I have found that going to the Revealer, asking Him to make known what He would have me write, eventually results in what I call a <i>shining moment </i>˗˗ that moment when I see something in a new way, when the seed of an idea blooms suddenly in my mind and I can’t wait to develop it in writing. He never fails me. <br /><br />Writing is a shy craft. Ideas flit through our heads at the oddest moments, in the strangest places, waking us from a sound sleep in the middle of the night, requiring a notebook close by for us to capture random inspirations for possible writing projects. That surge of adrenaline when an idea hits is God speaking, telling us, <i>“Here! I am revealing to you the wealth tucked away in secret places! Be aware of the nuances here, with subtle shades of meaning and depth. Write it down and use it well, My child.” </i><br /><br />Keep looking for the poems hiding in the eyes of skunks, waiting to curl up at your feet. </p><p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-DKLAw5CX96-pRNj_-n47OHx0daSqInJ_8at7K3gm7ptcmHFbtQncabtXNtx_BdY0zZhtbZVwZt3f5oSEC1ggEo6lAW3gpzEWN_GSsRHjqpzu4hU1J_zH79LvZ_c3WEXbUhqpOv6eTcE6x-QEHc6pS-MzNGiRDWV6p8GowIKaW_2dCsBLnKkPA/s800/Ronald-7546.Ronald-7546.10-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="633" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-DKLAw5CX96-pRNj_-n47OHx0daSqInJ_8at7K3gm7ptcmHFbtQncabtXNtx_BdY0zZhtbZVwZt3f5oSEC1ggEo6lAW3gpzEWN_GSsRHjqpzu4hU1J_zH79LvZ_c3WEXbUhqpOv6eTcE6x-QEHc6pS-MzNGiRDWV6p8GowIKaW_2dCsBLnKkPA/w121-h154/Ronald-7546.Ronald-7546.10-001.jpg" width="121" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Valerie Ronald writes from an old
roll top desk in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, with her tortoiseshell
cat for a muse. A graduate of Langara College School of Journalism, she
writes devotionals, fiction and inspirational prose. Her purpose in
writing is to encourage others to grow in their spiritual walk.</i></span><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUaQXW83fwM76utKsEx0MPhB3XBa4Zv_SBp2wHH_02EOhwmh8my5O5L7M8xJjiTjDTSTxiVFYhPjSjQ71La70ExTmMV0h0HaWkC80fqaFqHgV5_ZfrtbErqqMNjwQxYWr85p98iTyuQid0TNtnTSGN-JMmAUSevaSbdVy2f9owF8eYDZFgScQFg/s800/Ronald-7546.Ronald-7546.10-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span></a></p><br /><p></p>Valerie Ronaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07020108953259726880noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-37646891383043396552024-02-22T04:30:00.003-07:002024-02-22T13:11:53.471-07:00Nature Writing by Lorrie Orr<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenF19kzOtI-0nDNhagmrE9V1lplkOnArRV4Wm_RxxJv-7KFCfARoQcQuisWlzrH2z2jZJcM1pLFTYrg-rDNv9KF5gNEwsgoFsq44SyTQ8e61K2u3cXt5XtrKFfWpVs7Q2_yWyf8MRteYkoUTOmvxgey-kJNxHuZmEYxebmMQ3hcIySGjbZX5_/s799/P1029642-2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="799" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenF19kzOtI-0nDNhagmrE9V1lplkOnArRV4Wm_RxxJv-7KFCfARoQcQuisWlzrH2z2jZJcM1pLFTYrg-rDNv9KF5gNEwsgoFsq44SyTQ8e61K2u3cXt5XtrKFfWpVs7Q2_yWyf8MRteYkoUTOmvxgey-kJNxHuZmEYxebmMQ3hcIySGjbZX5_/w603-h530/P1029642-2.JPG" width="603" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I would argue that every story written contains something of the natural world. It is within the setting of nature that we live our lives. Nature affects much of humankind's actions throughout millennia. The houses we build, the clothes we wear, the food we eat - all are a product of and a response to the created world - nature. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Nature writing is a sub-genre of creative non-fiction that seems to be growing in popularity. It is not scientific writing, although elements of scientific observation are a useful tool. It is also not completely poetic and personal, rather it bridges these two types of writing to, as one writer puts it "take our world and make it sing." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Including elements of nature in our writing allows readers to enter into the world we are laying out for them and make connections to our work, and to the world they live in. How many have gotten up to put on a sweater or make a cup of tea when reading The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder? I know that I have. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">John Muir, an early Nature writer, wrote that nature gives "a glimpse of the mind of God." In the natural world we see abundance, diversity, constancy, and hope - all aspects of God's character. The earth spins on its axis, the seasons change, and flowers bloom because of God's constancy, even in our broken world. He is faithful.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Biblical nature metaphors abound - from "the storehouses of the snow" in Job to God portrayed as an eagle that "hovers over its young" in Deuteronomy. In life, metaphors of rivers often indicate the passing of time, and we use tidal language of ebb and flow for life's seasons. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Every writer, not just a Nature Writer, benefits from including elements of creation in her work. We can draw inspiration out of our surroundings to highlight emotional responses from our readers. A murder taking place on a dark and stormy night is perhaps trite; a murder taking place on a sun-filled afternoon in the garden provides striking contrast.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Writing about nature requires us to be observant and, as Mary Oliver says, to "pay attention." I find that in my personal journals I often begin writing by describing what's going on outside my window. There's a balance between overly flowery language and mere facts. It's good practice for me. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A few of my favourite writers who use elements of nature writing include Mary Oliver, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Annie Dillard, Charlotte Bronte (Jane Eyre), Gladys Taber, Raynor Winn, and Celia Thaxter. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguhWzJ6nrRiI-RHNvk6YrOXvdJvINeiydvGLk3YKSs1KQaVDSVPaE7lUwoKiQyEnk_nosnZMr_QZNxjX8lrwm2Pov6_cd4SgJQjpCOIy7aqsJFrFN0h0ZieeEIuT05ybVwrjlav298Bxt5PDJ_lahT1EoVGIWbpiAdgiSo3m5CZy0sNjMA-jCn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguhWzJ6nrRiI-RHNvk6YrOXvdJvINeiydvGLk3YKSs1KQaVDSVPaE7lUwoKiQyEnk_nosnZMr_QZNxjX8lrwm2Pov6_cd4SgJQjpCOIy7aqsJFrFN0h0ZieeEIuT05ybVwrjlav298Bxt5PDJ_lahT1EoVGIWbpiAdgiSo3m5CZy0sNjMA-jCn" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island where she and her husband love exploring the beautiful and astounding world God created. </i></span></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span><p></p>Lorriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03653026442945027184noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-6389188180441004542024-02-21T04:30:00.062-07:002024-02-21T04:30:00.234-07:00Newsletters and Networking - by Tracy Krauss<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Newsletters and Networking</b>. These are two very practical aspects of the writing life. Upfront, I’m going to be linking to further reading on these topics since I can’t possibly cover everything here, so take some time to do some digging if you’re at all interested. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">If you are a published author – or plan to become one – a <b>newsletter</b> is an essential tool. It’s “Marketing 101”. Even in these days of social media hypertension, an email newsletter is considered by marketing experts as the single most important piece of an author’s platform. It allows you to speak directly to your audience without the hindrance of censorship, algorithms, or any number of other roadblocks that can occur on social media. I won’t go into all the details here since I’ve written some posts on the professional blog on the topic. <i>(Links at the bottom.)</i> These expound on the importance of an email newsletter and also provide tips on starting and maintaining one. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">I recently wrote a post on my personal blog called <a href="https://tracykrauss.com/anatomy-of-a-newsletter/" target="_blank">"Anatomy of a Newsletter"</a> about my own newsletter journey. I started mine in 2013 and I’m still going strong more than ten years later. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>Networking</b> is another essential aspect of the writing life, but unlike a newsletter, networking with other authors is something we should all be doing, whether we hope to be published or whether we simply write for purely personal reasons. Everyone needs encouragement; a group of individuals that “gets” our need to scribble words. Finding like-minded individuals—one’s tribe—opens doors of friendship and support, but can also be an entry into further education and skill building. Being part of a writing community, whether it be large or small, is important for our health as writers. No one is an island. Although writing is a solitary activity, it should not be isolating. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Organizations like <i>InScribe, The Word Guild, ACFW</i> etc. are an essential part of the mix. (I belong to all three of those mentioned as well as the <i>Playwright’s Guild of Canada</i>.) However, sometimes we need a smaller, more intimate group—a place where we can feel safe and heard. This is where community writing groups come in. (<i>InScribe</i> partners with many writing groups across the country. <a href="https://inscribe.org/connect/connect-2/" target="_blank">Contact Sharon Hamilton</a> for details.) Your group might be less organized, or you might be part of a small virtual group online. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>Whichever way you do it, find people you trust and engage with them!</b> </span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9g-YNoa2seFKVSYRu27Gd537Y_iafcHMUGLrzoXptJ0GYkxKWTyxLUxSlCSKSrBZrbrkhGaDKHCSNt7CifuS9pnI9THkZBqDuxiISOQl71msmnkswjOED9HB4eBcusi54hyEjRUSAtjjj5OqtWB_i5AreVC5GtgQtXznHdjgacHos94kRWgL/s1500/networking%20&%20newsltters%20banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9g-YNoa2seFKVSYRu27Gd537Y_iafcHMUGLrzoXptJ0GYkxKWTyxLUxSlCSKSrBZrbrkhGaDKHCSNt7CifuS9pnI9THkZBqDuxiISOQl71msmnkswjOED9HB4eBcusi54hyEjRUSAtjjj5OqtWB_i5AreVC5GtgQtXznHdjgacHos94kRWgL/w400-h266/networking%20&%20newsltters%20banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></div><i>Below are a couple of articles from the Professional blog on the topic, as well as the newsletter articles mentioned above. <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">I encourage you to do some further reading. </span></i><p></p><p><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://inscribe.org/2020/07/10/building-your-writing-community-by-tracy-krauss/" target="_blank">Building Your Writing Community</a></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://inscribe.org/2020/08/01/developing-team-support-by-tracy-krauss/" target="_blank">Developing Team Support</a></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://inscribe.org/2020/02/15/email-newsletters-by-tracy-krauss/" target="_blank">Email Newsletters 1</a></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://inscribe.org/2020/02/28/email-newsletters-by-tracy-krauss-2/" target="_blank">Email Newsletters 2</a></b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQ4tZ5LCDU52zWD1oCw069imVhot2PzKemev5c-IdaimmPFCCMpcyvJabgx4AsuJRLu3ISJF5GhVU1Zx5NKFyezZqCNEvENrZ3ikt8Hfap9xlVRc-WIQDdT3am2s8jdc2FvsH25ThJiCDKf5AvzTn8wP_dhSbkp2BiNpRvgToCOxgx9b8d-um/s900/Tracy-Krauss-7%20social%20size.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="601" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQ4tZ5LCDU52zWD1oCw069imVhot2PzKemev5c-IdaimmPFCCMpcyvJabgx4AsuJRLu3ISJF5GhVU1Zx5NKFyezZqCNEvENrZ3ikt8Hfap9xlVRc-WIQDdT3am2s8jdc2FvsH25ThJiCDKf5AvzTn8wP_dhSbkp2BiNpRvgToCOxgx9b8d-um/w134-h200/Tracy-Krauss-7%20social%20size.jpg" width="134" /></a></b></div><b><br />Tracy Krauss</b> writes from her home in northern BC. She is currently serving as InScribe's Regional Rep for BC/North and Acquisitions Editor for <i style="font-weight: bold;">FellowScript </i>magazine Visit her website for more: <a href="https://tracykrauss.com" target="_blank">tracykrauss.com </a> <i>fiction on the edge without crossing the line. </i><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><br /></p>Tracy Krausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05066853243062725525noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-4456868987969584152024-02-20T04:30:00.007-07:002024-02-20T04:30:00.136-07:00Night Nudges by Alan Anderson<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokDDClJA-Dnm8relP5-hjIJMSMLK7_WSnyQi4YLReSonUSR0-uswwnaApx1wOyunaDe6o78j-xCHhyh5WNVB5_sppLuIzS-bk7KmZQViXnjdTwJsB345Ui9O4tunia0Y-cX-EhFjGlw_npOqwU1oczVWnwTYCLkE-_CHZpw04VVkdB9Dx0WGn/s5525/TWILIGHT%20SETTING.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="5525" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokDDClJA-Dnm8relP5-hjIJMSMLK7_WSnyQi4YLReSonUSR0-uswwnaApx1wOyunaDe6o78j-xCHhyh5WNVB5_sppLuIzS-bk7KmZQViXnjdTwJsB345Ui9O4tunia0Y-cX-EhFjGlw_npOqwU1oczVWnwTYCLkE-_CHZpw04VVkdB9Dx0WGn/s320/TWILIGHT%20SETTING.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By day
the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a
prayer to the God of my life.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalm 24:8)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What is a Night Nudge?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Right about now, you might wonder
or even scratch your head and ask, what is a night nudge? Let me say first, you
asked a deep and thought-provoking question. Second, I am most pleased to
answer your question. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Here goes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You slip into your lovely,
comfy bed and drift off to sleep. Evening moves on like a quiet, slow river
with the sound of silence serenading you. A perfect, gentle end to a day
overwhelmed by tasks. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Suddenly you wake up. “What?”
“Huh?” The mist of sleep makes way to a storm of jumbled thoughts in your mind.
Once the thoughts settle down, one remains. This thought is golden. Before one
more second goes by, you dive at your light switch to enable you to see as you
grab your notebook. You learned long ago of the value of keeping a notebook by
your bedside. With great haste, you write this golden thought in your notebook
before it flees from your now awake brain. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A night nudge is like a gentle
push to encourage a writer not to lose or neglect an opportunity to put
meaningful words into the world. From my perspective, I find a night nudge more
of a friend, therefore not one to run from or ignore. I do, however, write it
down without haste.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">More about night nudges<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Night nudges can feed our
sense of wonder as writers. We can wonder what sets this night nudge apart from
others. Is this how God develops one’s creativity even while we sleep? If so,
then the ability to write is truly a gift. This is all part of the fun and awe
of night nudges. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are times a night nudge
might wake us with a gentle touch and lays someone on our hearts. Perhaps, for
whatever reason, God’s still small voice is nudging us. This is a nudge never
to ignore. One where in the quiet bliss of the night we can pray for someone
loved and cared for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dear writers</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">, let
us never take the silence and solitude of the night for granted. God may stir
our creative gift to bring forth words too precious to miss. Rest indeed but be
open to the gentle inspiration of a night nudge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjryDsiX7n9ZmacoX0lFddnqKT1yuLYjBqOU64GWpBet9UJQdFH0Vsle7Jr3gkOL2q2IEwxJmKH64H5aDvB6-EuaRxKGdgZGx7p7plCuSfvDUQXuzyBbp6a2DxAkz23sWsBjir9G3rSXKnF3In2nhDTVV3ffUkWwC1pJCzhR1R3LKkKKtzPe3v/s2048/Alaska%20memories%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjryDsiX7n9ZmacoX0lFddnqKT1yuLYjBqOU64GWpBet9UJQdFH0Vsle7Jr3gkOL2q2IEwxJmKH64H5aDvB6-EuaRxKGdgZGx7p7plCuSfvDUQXuzyBbp6a2DxAkz23sWsBjir9G3rSXKnF3In2nhDTVV3ffUkWwC1pJCzhR1R3LKkKKtzPe3v/s320/Alaska%20memories%203.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Alan lives in Deroche, B.C. with his wife, Terry, and their
poodle, Charlie. Alan’s byline is “Touched by grief and held by hope.” He has
been working on a work of love for three years called, “Hidden Poetic Voices: A
Reflective Work of Grief, Faith, and Poetry.” This is a work of poetry and
prose highlighting the grief of grandparents. Alan periodically writes articles
for FellowScript Magazine and the online magazine for Compassionate Friends. He
has written posts for our InScribe blog since 2015. His website, <a href="https://scarredjoy.ca/">https://scarredjoy.ca</a>, is under construction.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Alan Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192838076987472527noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-28595210359954909942024-02-16T06:58:00.001-07:002024-02-17T09:23:52.112-07:00N is for Name by Lorilee Guenter<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqO4rU1ATZdcIR-0NldgxqYdQEpKbe4dqXu4XOZ2_2wIlC7Ya64NEyyB1C7kNByg2-3LIOaDXle4nNmLMxtar6CUrh4XalmEPx9RLlN3_1U9bdz4A3AU4Xi3KqDi8uWevDbJKRQt5y3G0TN7qqg5cKso6T-O84_dASukesHitIBqUuB-UdE21b/s2048/IMG_20240216_074510_114-web.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqO4rU1ATZdcIR-0NldgxqYdQEpKbe4dqXu4XOZ2_2wIlC7Ya64NEyyB1C7kNByg2-3LIOaDXle4nNmLMxtar6CUrh4XalmEPx9RLlN3_1U9bdz4A3AU4Xi3KqDi8uWevDbJKRQt5y3G0TN7qqg5cKso6T-O84_dASukesHitIBqUuB-UdE21b/s320/IMG_20240216_074510_114-web.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Psalm 147:4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>When I was in university, my student number was my identifier. It is impersonal. In smaller classes we had the chance to interact through discussion and learned each other's names. The professors learned our name. We became seen. I've read that by naming a character, we signal to the reader that this person will be seen again. They are worth paying attention to. They are not just part of the crowd. Sometimes, I like to hide in the crowd. Crowds become lonely places if no one knows your name, if no one sees you. Our Good Shepherd calls us by name [John 10]. By knowing our name, He shows He values us. We are someone worth paying attention to.</p><p>Just as words have power, names have power. We receive names over time in a variety of ways. My parents named me Lorilee at birth. Over time, those who get to know me call me Lori. I've had nicknames, some that I liked, some that I am glad disappeared. My girls call me Mom. God calls me daughter. These are relational names. </p><p>Sometimes, labels related to our character or actions become part of our identity, part of our name. When our internal dialogue moves from "I failed," to "I am a failure," we have added a label, a name to who we are. The label now colours actions and reactions. There are many ways we acquire these labels. Sometimes, we accept labels that are inaccurate such as the example I just used. Other times we hesitate to accept labels. We resist them, even when they are positive and true. Think about why it is often easier to say "I write" instead of "I am a writer." For some it is much easier to believe "I am unloved" than "I am valued." </p><p>In writing, I give my characters names. I put them in situations where they face fears, failures and flaws. I make them wrestle with who they believe they are as they interact with other characters. In life, we wrestle with who we are as we face the joys and the trials of living. Through the story, my characters grow and change. I am part of God's story. As I grow into my identity in Christ, I let go of the old names and labels. I recognise the names he gives me: beloved, beautiful, chosen.</p><p>What names do you call yourself? Are they the same ones our Father calls us?</p>lorighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079649451877996088noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-75859718584599535232024-02-15T02:46:00.001-07:002024-02-15T02:46:00.124-07:00N is for Handwritten Notes by Carol Harrison <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlSBnrI0ViR6FOzlKvg73n5S0x4DnJ5dM8TxPtYtSpRcb5Rs5r4rJS_bi9sh3NxurV0jWZ2_iVC-QoxG9USKSk0xKMsWJWD540wWTU24MQIkZ8kQAaRfiH2FSdO30haAyN3KLhrsaNxumhsexD_2uz9H0ChtmRfGXmJSyQXxN52tuGBUI-NFC/s3264/IMG_8932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlSBnrI0ViR6FOzlKvg73n5S0x4DnJ5dM8TxPtYtSpRcb5Rs5r4rJS_bi9sh3NxurV0jWZ2_iVC-QoxG9USKSk0xKMsWJWD540wWTU24MQIkZ8kQAaRfiH2FSdO30haAyN3KLhrsaNxumhsexD_2uz9H0ChtmRfGXmJSyQXxN52tuGBUI-NFC/w150-h200/IMG_8932.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">N is for Handwritten Notes</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In an age of instant communication with texts and
emails, phone calls and video chats, have we pushed aside the art of sending a
handwritten note? Why should we bother with something that takes more time to
write, send, and be received? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Digital communication is great when a quick message
and answer are needed, to set up appointments, or check information with a friend
or colleague. Texts need to be shorter. Emails can offer more words on any
given subject and any communication can be great. However, these digital
communications lack warmth and the personal touch. Handwriting a note
personalizes it with your words and your handwriting (which we may or may not
like)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As a young girl, hand written thank you notes were a big
thing and a must when you received a gift. It would be impolite to not
acknowledge the thoughtfulness of the giver. How often do I do more than a
verbal thank you these days? The answer is simple – I don’t. Yet I appreciate
when someone gives or sends me a written thank you for something I’ve given or
when I have spoken at an organization. I save these as encouragements and a way
to remember the event. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Handwritten notes show a thoughtfulness beyond what
can be found in a text or email. They can be kept and read over and over again.
I keep a file of notes and cards with handwritten messages I have received.
When I need a pick me up, I pull them out and read a few of them. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Why write notes? Handwritten notes can encourage,
thank, offer sympathy or simply brighten someone’s day. How much more fun to
receive happy mail of a card or note than simply bills or junk mail. Recently, I received
postcards from two different granddaughters. Totally unexpected. Totally enjoyed.
I set them out on display, read the messages multiple times and appreciated
their thoughtfulness. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My six-year-old grandson wondered why there was never
mail in the mailbox for him. So a few of us in the family sent him notes,
postcards, and cards with short messages printed in them. He loved to see his
name on the envelope and displayed the pieces proudly. It made his day when a
new piece showed up in the mail. I think all of us have a little bit of that
kid in us when it comes to receiving notes. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My husband’s great-grandmother and her sister who
stayed in England wrote letters back and forth for sixty years until they saw
each other again. The great grandmother saved each letter and reread them. Then
her descendants had the opportunity to read these missives and get a personal
glimpse into by gone times and the lives of their relatives. I’ve even had
opportunity to read a few of them sent from Southern England during WW1 and WW2. What a treasure for the family to have. What
a wealth of research for a writer who finds them. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yes N is for handwritten notes that can be simple or
noteworthy, elegant or plain but if they are heartfelt they will impact the
recipient over and over again. When was the last time we sent a note? When did
we receive one and how did it make us feel? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWi7b3MEytU92Pl1WwXVeLCJ43jQKZxEHfxl3QOMi5Q3L3G4xzR4IHTX4Bw2SkD2S1NWX0dibv-vS1YJLnXJEHBNQrHKsD2zAZyyOmQOjIv8Gr0A1Q8d1hvdVmvRGBrQLdKmgNbYE43kUNXx6rqRjaiJbT7PRm1IdlJxH49qlIwa8YMOn37Ry/s3275/a57-29641edit%20carol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3275" data-original-width="2457" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWi7b3MEytU92Pl1WwXVeLCJ43jQKZxEHfxl3QOMi5Q3L3G4xzR4IHTX4Bw2SkD2S1NWX0dibv-vS1YJLnXJEHBNQrHKsD2zAZyyOmQOjIv8Gr0A1Q8d1hvdVmvRGBrQLdKmgNbYE43kUNXx6rqRjaiJbT7PRm1IdlJxH49qlIwa8YMOn37Ry/w151-h201/a57-29641edit%20carol.jpg" width="151" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Carol Harrison does better at receiving these handwritten notes and cards than in taking the time to send them but hopes to change that. She loves to read family history and tell stories in written and oral formats from her home in Saskatoon. <br /> <br /></span><p></p>
CarolEHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273180649453611788noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-7546411407303081722024-02-14T06:18:00.001-07:002024-02-14T06:18:44.777-07:00Nothing by Sharon Heagy<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxixL0n6HT_DqPIuAz8m71cRakB1uZhWZtwwe5EkY705gYavxU0Ru7WiwXXuJzaYgxtITyAygNMQpHunpNaabhl-IpXoNBQiNP6BtpI1P7V3zQsvhgh5njFGkn4iJhsB1A97tampUTdojYAfQOwkleu9PatskYCZR4XPcqZKihqOSSoz4uPq1G_w/s4032/IMG_6803.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxixL0n6HT_DqPIuAz8m71cRakB1uZhWZtwwe5EkY705gYavxU0Ru7WiwXXuJzaYgxtITyAygNMQpHunpNaabhl-IpXoNBQiNP6BtpI1P7V3zQsvhgh5njFGkn4iJhsB1A97tampUTdojYAfQOwkleu9PatskYCZR4XPcqZKihqOSSoz4uPq1G_w/s320/IMG_6803.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Satellite train over our farm</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Nothing. I am going to regale my writing community with nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Zero. Bupkis. So many words to describe nothing. Huh, isn’t that something.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Many a Mom and Dad know all about nothing. It is the answer to every question. What did you do at school today? Nothing. What are you kids doing in there?! Nothing. Yes, I know so and so did that to you but what did you do? Nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Sometimes when we need a day to decompress and unwind we say we are going to do ‘nothing.’ But isn’t resting doing something?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> There is a place in space called the Boötes Void which it is more commonly known as the Great Nothing. It is a spherical region of space found in the vicinity of the constellation Boötes and contains very few galaxies. But since it contains some, is it really nothing?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Early Greek philosophers and modern Physicists have debated and explored the concept of nothingness with most agreeing that it is impossible for nothing to exist. Before the creation of the universe and the world as we know it, there was God. He has always existed. Has there ever been nothing?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> For the writer the word nothing is exceptional in its versatility. It can be used as a pronoun, noun, plural noun, adjective and adverb. Wow! Nothing really packs a punch.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> But for the writer called by God it becomes a goal that comes with emptying. It is what we are to become and what we are to have. Nothing in ourselves so that He might flow through us. His words flowing through our minds, down our arms, through our hands to the paper.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> When we strive without Him we are like the four fishing disciples who fished all night and caught nothing. But when we surrender our writing nets to Him they become full to overflowing. Divine inspiration floods our being and there is a stirring that cannot be denied or satisfied until it becomes written word. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> John the Baptist is quoted in John 3 as saying, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven……. He must become greater; I must become less.” What wisdom for us as writers of faith. This means the words we write are sacred as we are receiving them from heaven. When I read that passage as I researched for this post, it took my breath away and filled me with humble and heartfelt thanksgiving. Indeed, He must become greater, we must become less. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> The chorus to the song <i>Nobody</i> by Casting Crowns has these words:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“I’m just a nobody<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Trying to tell everybody<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">All about somebody who saved my soul<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Ever since you rescued me<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">You gave my heart a song to sing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I’m living for the world to see<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Nobody but Jesus.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Maybe we could tweak those last couple of lines a bit and sing “I’m writing for the world to see nobody but Jesus.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> It’s a process and a journey but day by day He’ll get us there as we get out of our way and into His way. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Hope your day is blessed and thanks for sharing a few minutes with me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Sharon Heagyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026362425515759048noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-68156992122041153532024-02-13T06:00:00.002-07:002024-02-13T09:38:57.339-07:00Never Ever Ever Give Up by Steph Beth Nickel<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZc0ndHUjGPOTf12ZnHvXSFmvabU7zabpgFIZcSd6KOMeU73KnHRDk2RnBqpYJAhe5lPDmIDye85L8AN5pbS7zSpJxDSusR2cKwpKMshX5JBlND8yKvX2AgHG-VqRW9gNTaQgzCE_yoxb0Q5Najq8fM8YBR1Aa6gQ9oqOffjmrkXUhjEaX6cMsQ/s1280/outdoor-steps-8569487_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZc0ndHUjGPOTf12ZnHvXSFmvabU7zabpgFIZcSd6KOMeU73KnHRDk2RnBqpYJAhe5lPDmIDye85L8AN5pbS7zSpJxDSusR2cKwpKMshX5JBlND8yKvX2AgHG-VqRW9gNTaQgzCE_yoxb0Q5Najq8fM8YBR1Aa6gQ9oqOffjmrkXUhjEaX6cMsQ/s320/outdoor-steps-8569487_1280.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as writers, as believers, as humans</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we must persevere</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">sometimes life (and our writing)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">seem to flow smoothly, unhindered</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and then...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we round a bend</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and the path reaches for the sky</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a steep incline</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">loose rocks</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">rickety steps</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we prefer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">even ground, sure footing, a moss-covered path</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but the challenging sections</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this is where we grow strong</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we learn to press on</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we learn to reach out to others</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">more importantly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we learn to reach out to God</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">is your life</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">an uphill climb</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">is your faith wavering</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and your endurance at its limits</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">have the words stopped flowing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">are you ready to put down your pen</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">consider the words you've read</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the words that have encouraged you</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">spurred you on</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">built you up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">did they come from a place of ease or</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">did the writer dig deep</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">did your fellow creative</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">reach inside and share their heart</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the hurt, the pain, the challenge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">of what it means to be human</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we must follow their example</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we must take the next step</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we must never ever ever give up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Steph Beth Nickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05627893861025559884noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-32293563732766689222024-02-09T02:00:00.005-07:002024-02-09T02:00:00.131-07:00What's in a Name? by Joylene M Bailey<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7RvXyfOfwrNvScu826zd4UcIpRxNDxR8PCIBEWVmro5DL50uxK3oEexgBk40z3XcaamWDZeVvtbQcryZp5iV3DJxmGqqMHDpaVNFXu1D6Y-9g1PwM51cQvlg4RmPRlYHPY2wNa2lhsLDVEVDbfypJ76vrafMXx7YOQU8WozFhimW7KZyecbJg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7RvXyfOfwrNvScu826zd4UcIpRxNDxR8PCIBEWVmro5DL50uxK3oEexgBk40z3XcaamWDZeVvtbQcryZp5iV3DJxmGqqMHDpaVNFXu1D6Y-9g1PwM51cQvlg4RmPRlYHPY2wNa2lhsLDVEVDbfypJ76vrafMXx7YOQU8WozFhimW7KZyecbJg=w515-h343" width="515" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>"What's in a name? That which we call a rose</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>By any other name would smell as sweet."</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This is Juliet's line while thinking about Romeo and his family's rivalry with her own. She is saying that a name is just a convention with no meaning behind it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Really?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In light of the fact that Juliet is a mere inexperienced child when she utters this phrase, I will let it go. However, allow me to contradict Mr. Shakespeare.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Names are important. Think of all the Old Testament names with strong meanings. Here are a few:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Eve = To breathe; to live</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Abraham = Father of many</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Isaac = One who laughs or rejoices</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Judah = Praise</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Samuel = God has heard</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">David = Beloved</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Benjamin's name was changed from Ben-Oni (Son of my Sorrow) to Benjamin (Son of my Days) ... that's how much importance a name carried.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">All over the world, parents give their children names that are meaningful to them. Here are only a sampling:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><u>African</u>:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Onika = who is greater than God?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Azizi = precious one</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Badru = born on a full moon</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><u>Japanese</u>:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Manzo = third born son</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Kikuko = chrysanthemum</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Arine = one who is full of joy</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><u>Canadian Indigenous</u>:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Gizhaate = it is sunny</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Waaseyaa = first light from the rising sun</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Nishiime = younger sister</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Consider:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Martin Chuzzlewit, Ebenezer Scrooge, Oliver Twist</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Hercule Poirot, Atticus Finch, Holly Golightly</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Marilla Cuthbert, Huckleberry Finn, Forrest Gump</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Long John Silver, Willy Wonka, Captain Jack Sparrow</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Ichabod Crane, the Lady of Shalott, Pippi Longstocking</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Eeyore</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Don't these names conjure up stories and pictures for you?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I might be overstating the obvious, but all this to say ... names are important.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Memorable names.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Purposeful names.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Whether or not your readers know the significance, you do, and wouldn't you say that it enhances the way you write about them?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I've always been taken with names: their meanings, their histories, even their rhythms. In my current work in progress, a secondary character has the last name Beaufort. It means beautiful fortress, which is what this character is for my protagonist--a place of safety. My readers may not light upon this, but I know, and I believe it makes the character stronger. It even makes the <i>writing</i> of the character stronger. For me, the name of my character helps to give it depth. It plays into the purpose of the story and the message I'm trying to get across.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the end, I think I must take back my contradiction of William Shakespeare, at least in part. For one thing, the meaning of Capulet (Juliet's family) is <u>headstrong</u>. I imagine the bard knew what he was doing when he gave names to his characters. Touché, sir!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">***** </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Feature photo by Markus Winkler from Pixabay</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiG62PBZ5W8e_htrA8kl1c7m85ynehoVqzJ-ru3p6LWvp6X87L7pl1CBsHEPmlm5Un5z4kjjMn_RKU3Xk4ficvxyCgBq657yz1yBzA2DrjreaLFiIwdpdNf4i2C-ZXuchDG_zy_y72BLWXOKLSYUdxMKDaMwX0O95S1-BfmN_n4tA3l74qdZYQ/s2048/IMG_4305.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiG62PBZ5W8e_htrA8kl1c7m85ynehoVqzJ-ru3p6LWvp6X87L7pl1CBsHEPmlm5Un5z4kjjMn_RKU3Xk4ficvxyCgBq657yz1yBzA2DrjreaLFiIwdpdNf4i2C-ZXuchDG_zy_y72BLWXOKLSYUdxMKDaMwX0O95S1-BfmN_n4tA3l74qdZYQ/w123-h153/IMG_4305.PNG" width="123" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Joy's parents named her on purpose and prayed from the time she was tiny that joy would be evident in her. Find more of her joy-infused writing at <a href="https://scrapsofjoy.com/" target="_blank">Scraps of Joy</a>.</span></div><br /><p></p>Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17929945787972647603noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-44679897788794900152024-02-08T05:00:00.063-07:002024-02-09T06:59:38.938-07:00N is for Ninja by Bob Jones<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJAC5va3dgoarhSalJ4NsGSsAU8MH8gtI6jUPRWxaOk8ZPBOoCJQqORVoMlAqBfKkAolqJyDRgQtzy9JUpW9hOnoWX85e5jwExkN4bLTigc4ggPAS-4MTJ0sehZLFucX5_aP2799xTBjilVmJRmx2fWUWSKbr5JPI7fWWY84SbvEZq_KSiWOC0w/s962/Screenshot%202024-02-03%20at%2010.16.32%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="962" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJAC5va3dgoarhSalJ4NsGSsAU8MH8gtI6jUPRWxaOk8ZPBOoCJQqORVoMlAqBfKkAolqJyDRgQtzy9JUpW9hOnoWX85e5jwExkN4bLTigc4ggPAS-4MTJ0sehZLFucX5_aP2799xTBjilVmJRmx2fWUWSKbr5JPI7fWWY84SbvEZq_KSiWOC0w/w603-h409/Screenshot%202024-02-03%20at%2010.16.32%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="603" /></a></div><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">February is
the month of N. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>Ninja is a
cool word that starts with N. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">That’s
Ninja Bob <s>in the image</s> in his imagination.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>One click
of a search engine surfaced the notion that </span><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">some people
like to call themselves ninjas for doing anything well.</span></span><span lang="EN"> </span><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Did
you know that there is such a thing as a Ninja Writer?</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">A Ninja Writer is a writer who writes well.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">I <s>want to be</s> a Ninja Writer. I am a Ninja Writer.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="pw-post-body-paragraph" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="pw-post-body-paragraph" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A Ninja Writer is a writer
who gets better with every draft.</span></p>
<p class="pw-post-body-paragraph" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="pw-post-body-paragraph" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A Ninja Writer is a writer who reads. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="5d63"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><mark class="vt vu ao"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span></mark></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">A Ninja Writer is a writer who writes poems, posts, and publications
all the way through to the end.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">A Ninja Writer understands how to tighten loose sentences.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">A Ninja Writer sharpens blurred sentences. </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">A Ninja Writer brings rhythm to sentences that don't flow
well.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">A Ninja Writer is a writer who acts now, does not make
excuses and forgives themselves and starts again when they fail to act or makes excuses. </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">A Ninja Writer is a writer who stays focused and
committed to realizing a vision.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">What kind of Ninja are you?<br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJAC5va3dgoarhSalJ4NsGSsAU8MH8gtI6jUPRWxaOk8ZPBOoCJQqORVoMlAqBfKkAolqJyDRgQtzy9JUpW9hOnoWX85e5jwExkN4bLTigc4ggPAS-4MTJ0sehZLFucX5_aP2799xTBjilVmJRmx2fWUWSKbr5JPI7fWWY84SbvEZq_KSiWOC0w/s962/Screenshot%202024-02-03%20at%2010.16.32%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="962" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJAC5va3dgoarhSalJ4NsGSsAU8MH8gtI6jUPRWxaOk8ZPBOoCJQqORVoMlAqBfKkAolqJyDRgQtzy9JUpW9hOnoWX85e5jwExkN4bLTigc4ggPAS-4MTJ0sehZLFucX5_aP2799xTBjilVmJRmx2fWUWSKbr5JPI7fWWY84SbvEZq_KSiWOC0w/w200-h136/Screenshot%202024-02-03%20at%2010.16.32%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="200" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thank you for reading!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Ninja Bob writes at <a href="https://revwords.com/">REVwords</a> where he fearlessly pursues improvement every day.<br /><br /> </span><br /></p><p></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Bob Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01288943530653568720noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-30666008782365989572024-02-07T01:00:00.802-07:002024-03-06T15:57:16.476-07:00We Nourish Others by Brenda Leyland (Guest Blogger)<br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iNDnSAAWW5pjrxjDN1LSgLTbW41WY0s0rZbBqBWIrV1aN8norNb-5-_iNl6FZHjRbfByvAboy30pTRgNhCp0BsUkUgRpVbHeyBZf5fd7ZQcV5qqCkGQrVE6nnnv9HoN4ZcBqbIDxOHeHKx90ouXxBPjWqVYUsVgpWED6ZnymVx_4Ua7W-NW6cg/s1280/bulla-2476018_1280%20Image%20by%20boutiquerosa%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1280" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iNDnSAAWW5pjrxjDN1LSgLTbW41WY0s0rZbBqBWIrV1aN8norNb-5-_iNl6FZHjRbfByvAboy30pTRgNhCp0BsUkUgRpVbHeyBZf5fd7ZQcV5qqCkGQrVE6nnnv9HoN4ZcBqbIDxOHeHKx90ouXxBPjWqVYUsVgpWED6ZnymVx_4Ua7W-NW6cg/w547-h388/bulla-2476018_1280%20Image%20by%20boutiquerosa%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="547" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Feed my sheep."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">JESUS</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Where would we be without books? And where would we be without the authors who wrote them? It hardly bears thinking where I would be. Without their inspiration and influence through the decades, I could easily have ruined my life. How often a timely word came when I was in danger of losing my way. Their words gave me direction. They fed my starving soul. They made me feel in the company of others. And sometimes they made me laugh out loud when comic relief was what I desperately needed.</p><p>I have no doubt about my being a needy soul. Ever since I could hold a book in my hands as a child, I have grazed my way through hundreds, perhaps thousands, of books. My commonplace notebooks are packed with the wisdom I gleaned from their pages. Sometimes when I had no words of my own, it was the life-giving words of others that kept me going. </p><p>In one book I read not so long ago, I came across a passage that caught up my breath. Belgian-American novelist, poet, and memoirist May Sarton wrote in <i>Journal of a Solitude</i>:</p><p></p><blockquote>"But there always have been and always will be people who . . . are starved for nourishment. I am one of those readers and I am also one who can occasionally provide this food. That is all that really matters to me this morning." <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">p. 68</span></i></blockquote><i></i><p></p><p><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">"I am also one who can occasionally provide this food." </span></b>I was startled by these words. I felt encouraged, and maybe, relief, to have this beautiful writer remind me that I am not only a receiver of nourishing words—occasionally, like May, I am also a provider of words that give life to others.</p><p>As writers we are in the business of nourishing hungry hearts. Our writing is not foolish or in vain. "Feed My sheep," Jesus once entreated Peter. That call passes down to those of us who are writers. We hope the words we speak will nourish. We yearn for the words we write—whether in blog posts, Medium and Substack articles, books, and other publications—to be a source of sustenance.</p><p>I whisper a prayer: Dear Lord, draw us to our laptops and desks. Stir our hearts. Give us words that are alive with divine hope, light, and courage. Nourish us that we may, in turn, nourish others. Let us be the ones who can occasionally provide food for famished minds and hearts.</p><p>That is all that really matters to me this morning.</p><p><br /><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Top Image by boutiquerosa from Pixabay</span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><span style="color: #999999;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0EC59GT5IpG6YcwnKU7QGtLsxYDyC1b2CuCECoky1kdaIKVhFme-0asLP53MYwEUA3CMQuWeopibSUgXkq_HT1Y2mHDLy4hMjuSGKsJiv0GAa9hA5cvujLhcmh-n0FfBvcwpIodc7psLKPcHZTaVQNESm3J8El45qMm9DJYcAqmjM1IlqA8/s768/IMG_5978%20-%20Copy%20(3).jpg" style="clear: left; color: #6a908d; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="638" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0EC59GT5IpG6YcwnKU7QGtLsxYDyC1b2CuCECoky1kdaIKVhFme-0asLP53MYwEUA3CMQuWeopibSUgXkq_HT1Y2mHDLy4hMjuSGKsJiv0GAa9hA5cvujLhcmh-n0FfBvcwpIodc7psLKPcHZTaVQNESm3J8El45qMm9DJYcAqmjM1IlqA8/w167-h195/IMG_5978%20-%20Copy%20(3).jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="167" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times;">Inspired by the beauty of God's world, Brenda writes on her blog </span></i><span style="font-family: times;"><i><a href="http://beautiful.wordfromhome.com/" style="color: #6a908d; text-decoration-line: none;">It's Still A Beautiful Life</a>. </i></span><i style="font-family: times;">A lifelong lover of books and reading, Brenda also delights in nature walks, the flowers in her garden, and the birds at her feeders. With February known as the month dedicated to love, romance, AND chocolate, she hopes for a supply of each to feed her soul and enthrall her taste buds.</i></div></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-22565196962459392712024-02-06T00:30:00.000-07:002024-02-07T14:51:38.990-07:00N is for Nice (or Not!) by Susan Barclay<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEr-ypNy2fWbHsSuT3vBx9cRw48SitzUv95i7xsSHFOJE38RtnLvBSVr9fOM4kids2vRvbwPGuKPbRy_MoBepmGMQRdnME6KiZj8MVNP7ufTnfiY7LZq6DjvSr4bCUoTplUb2LDfH5deyccWruI13VpOK2bmay_LfmqD98_FdWXqAOUKcT1Exh/s803/slack-7503561_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo from Pixabay" border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="803" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEr-ypNy2fWbHsSuT3vBx9cRw48SitzUv95i7xsSHFOJE38RtnLvBSVr9fOM4kids2vRvbwPGuKPbRy_MoBepmGMQRdnME6KiZj8MVNP7ufTnfiY7LZq6DjvSr4bCUoTplUb2LDfH5deyccWruI13VpOK2bmay_LfmqD98_FdWXqAOUKcT1Exh/w320-h213/slack-7503561_1280.jpg" title="photo from Pixabay" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Back in my dating years (and we won't get into how far back <i>that</i> was) my boyfriend's friend asked for my opinion on something.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"It was nice," I answered, smiling, clearly digging deep.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He raised an eyebrow. "Nice? What does <i>that</i> mean? 'Nice' doesn't tell me anything!" </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I don't remember if I managed to salvage my reputation as a word-savvy English major and Library Science student that evening, but I did learn my lesson: effective communication requires specific and meaningful language, not vague terminology. In the above interaction, I used 'nice' to convey 'pleasurable, agreeable,' and no matter which way you slice it, the listener learned nothing worthwhile. What <i>made</i> it pleasurable? What <i>made</i> it agreeable? What <i>made</i> it nice?<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What word, phrase, or expression might I have used instead? I don't recall whether Mahil was asking about a movie, book, vacation, or weekend, but for argument's sake, let's say it was a meal. Rather than saying it was 'nice' or 'I enjoyed it,' given the opportunity of a do-over, I might reference the succulence of the steak, the creaminess of the mashed potatoes, the perfect combination of seasonings on the roasted vegetables, the decadence of the chocolate cake. I might comment on the ambience of the restaurant, the crisp white table linens, the style of dinner music playing in the background, the attentiveness of the servers. As you can see, my friend has the ability to learn a lot more about my experience when I dive into the details to paint a vivid picture.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">As inspirational writers (or writers of any sort), we must avoid words that are vague and lacking in description and favour those that enrich. One way we can do this is to provide a sensory experience for the reader. Use sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste to make the scene come alive. God gave us all these wonderful senses and we ought not waste them!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>Wonderful</i>. Is there a better word I could have used to describe our senses? I await your thoughtful replies.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Repeat after me: no more 'nice'!! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">___________________________________ <br /></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">For more about Susan Barclay and her writing, please visit <a href="http://www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com">www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span><br /></p>Susan Barclayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668380401591029520noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37258556.post-27643658703691088412024-02-05T00:30:00.013-07:002024-02-07T15:02:03.375-07:00Notice…then Pay Attention by Sandi Somers<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlp2xq919YcPc-tfOZT7X0leIXqbViFb4kxCKP1Kj7XeJ1LxPRO-N_XhORa3MxtpMm-WmQuwY5kVBIedif7AqsspfliuS2tEFjVVv_zc0pDJ2nmCbLijuQ-Z2ZZgBGBpSWwydfqaGM2TaCgJbga6_daM7xwqNpMm49DCHQlPIrC2tYLd37S4Q3g/s273/N%20Moses%203%20inspired%20Scripture%20cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="149" data-original-width="273" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlp2xq919YcPc-tfOZT7X0leIXqbViFb4kxCKP1Kj7XeJ1LxPRO-N_XhORa3MxtpMm-WmQuwY5kVBIedif7AqsspfliuS2tEFjVVv_zc0pDJ2nmCbLijuQ-Z2ZZgBGBpSWwydfqaGM2TaCgJbga6_daM7xwqNpMm49DCHQlPIrC2tYLd37S4Q3g/w400-h219/N%20Moses%203%20inspired%20Scripture%20cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">Pay attention…Pay
attention. That is all you have to do. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">Never, for an instant,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"> leave off paying attention<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">~Thornton Wilder~</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">Whenever
I think of noticing and paying attention, I think of Moses who noticed the
nearby mysterious flaming bush. He did more than notice, however. He said,
“I’ll go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up” (Exodus
3:3). When he paid attention, God spoke to him about the plight of the Hebrews’
brutal slavery in Egypt. God was commissioning him to go and deliver them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">It’s
one thing to notice something, but another to pay attention. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">Noticing
means we see something, maybe unusual, or striking, or impressive, as Moses did.
Paying attention means we take a second look. God draws our attention to both
immense burning bushes and tiny flames that continue to burn in our spirits,
flames of something God wants us to do and be. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">These
last few weeks the concept of paying attention has come up so often that it’s
become my word of the month. Comments in books and blog posts, and mental
reminders seemed to recur wherever I looked.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">Scripture
kept popping out at me.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">“We must pay the most careful attention,
therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” Hebrews 2:1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">“Look carefully, listen closely and give attention to everything I tell you” Ezekiel 44:5.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and
perfecter of faith” Hebrews 12:2 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">Noticing
and paying attention are important to both our spiritual and writing lives, as
my examples below illustrate.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">Spiritual</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">Among
other things, God is impressing on me to listen carefully to the Spirit’s still
small voice. He’s calling me to intercede more intentionally for my family and
others. Often
this comes through Scripture that pops out at me. As I pray that verse back to
God as a “Scripture Prayer”, I know I am praying according to God’s intentions.</span><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">Writing</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">Some
of my early writing lacked close attention to sensory impressions and to the people
and world around me. It became true that vagueness in the writer causes confusion in
the reader. Paying closer attention has taught me to be a better writer.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">* * *</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;">If
what you notice is strong, it is significant. Trust it. If it remains in your
mind, mull it over. Write about it. Find a meaning to it. Julia Cameron wisely
said that “the audience we require is our own loving attention.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>Keep this Book of the
Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be
careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and
successful.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p>
</p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>Joshua 1:8</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"><b><br /></b></span></p>Sandi Somershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03097011585168805837noreply@blogger.com14