The Original Ten by Brenda J Wood

 

Image by wal_172619 from Pixabay

Again, this year, instead of fifty things to do before I die, I determine to concentrate on the original ten. I intentionally examine my life for areas where I put anything before God and his will for me. I confess to making a few graven images over the years; whether by chance or happenstance. I ask God to help me recognize them and then help me clear them out of my life.

My tongue often slips a gear or two and drops words that disrespect God’s holiness. And I have to guard my eyes too. What am I reading or watching?

I will make the Sabbath Day a holy experience by setting aside my to-do list and connecting with God and others.

I honoured my parents the best I could while they were alive and now, I honour their memory, by remembering the good things about them, not dwelling on their human failures.

I haven’t physically killed anyone (that I know of), but I have slaughtered a few with unkind words and untruths about them. It is rumoured that canola oil is a bug killer and therefore will kill us. The truth is, it smothers bugs. but I doubt that humans will be dunked in it.

Physical adultery never crossed my mind, but my actions sometimes separated me from God, my spiritual spouse. I confess I sometimes withhold my thoughts, actions or finances from God when it suits my purposes. I’ve taken credit when the credit belonged to God, I’ve mistreated my own body, in contradiction to God’s commands for its treatment. And then I treat these failures as small and unimportant in God’s eyes.

I confess to bearing false witness. I’ve shared gossip and passed other untruths because I didn’t check facts. Currently, some stopped eating ketchup because it is now made with a slurry not tomato paste. A slurry to the mix of tomatoes not yet boiled down to the consistency of paste. Little knowledge and a big mouth bearing false witness against others.

And finally, I willfully crave what others have, like another anniversary with my dear husband, or abundant income or stable weight that includes daily quarts of ice-cream and brownies.

These ten set high standards, but they aren’t mine. They are God’s. (Exodus 20:1-17) Again this year, I aim to fulfill them in my life. Will I? Probably not. But my goal is to stop treading in the old footpaths of my errors and start a newly forgiven path with goals that count.

The Lord said to his people, “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths and where the best road is. Walk in it, and you will live in peace.” (Jeremiah 6:16, GN)

Brenda J Wood has authored more than fifty books. She is a seasoned motivational speaker, who declares the Word of God with wisdom, humour, and common sense.

A Loose Plan by Brenda Leyland

 

Image by Gizelle Kei from Pixabay

With summer gone by in a blur and September nearing the end of its allotted 30 days, this last quarter certainly has arrived in a hurry. And, in keeping with the pace, I am writing this post on the fly, as I don't have much spare time these days to ponder or plan more thoughtfully. Still, there is just enough room to squeeze in a '90-day project space' before Christmas (Sep 23 to Dec 21). It's long enough to achieve something, yet short enough to see the end in sight with a good chance of not losing all momentum.

So, what do I still hope to accomplish before the year's end? My list is a loose, slightly incoherent, collection of hopes for tiny steps forward.

1. Help Mom settle into her new home where she won't have to cook for herself ever again—which makes my almost-91-year-old mom (and all our family) relieved... and happy. Continue to tie up loose ends from the move and sort out unexpected glitches (of which there has been a pile to deal with). Continue to support and lend a hand and ear when and where needed.

2. Walk every day with my hubby. Being sure to enjoy the beauty of Nature around me as the season changes: watching the leaves flutter down like butterflies; crunching through the murmuration of leaves skittering across the road in shifting gusts of wind, spying glimmering vees of geese or a harvest moon on a clear night.

3. Try to slow the alarming loss of muscle mass happening in my aging body. I do cardio every day but now I'm definitely adding resistance, core, and strengthening to my routine.

4. Clear the clobber. From my desk; from my online files and social media; from the corners, cupboards, and rooms of my house (not to forget the basement and garage). I first stumbled across the word "clobber" in British novelist Rosamunde Pilcher's book, Winter Solstice. The person using the word had been referring to the collection of someone's life stuff left after they'd passed on. That word "clobber" tickled my funny bone. Although it wasn't quite so funny after having helped dear friends and my 90-year-old mom dismantle their homes this year as they prepared to move into small suites in assisted living facilities. The pressure and the stress of decision making for them, as well as those who came alongside to help, make me eager to get on with my own clobber clearing.

5. Read. For relaxation, comfort, and calming of my mind from all frets, worries, and to-do lists. I enjoy seasonal and historical novels. Nature anthologies. Poetry. Mysteries. Memoirs. Plus, I wouldn't mind focusing more on my ever-widening collection of books 'Yet Unread'.

6. Begin the dismantling of 50 years of journaling stored in over 200 notebooks. I saw someone recommending that people should, instead of endless scrolling on social media, dip into their own journals and notebooks for encouragement and ideas on what to write about. I like the idea of researching my own journals for writing fodder.  

7. Continue to write for my It's A Beautiful Life blog with the idea of perhaps transferring to writing on Substack at some point (still need to research that out). Continue to guest post here on the InScribe blog.

8. Think about how I could repurpose many of my blog posts (the number hovers now around 1500) to curate into a 'body of work'. Blogging has been my favourite place to share my writing—my blog has been home for my writer's soul for close to 20 years now.

9. Rest. I can't help anyone else if I don't take care of myself first. And listen for the word I need for each day: "Step here... and here... and here." Take things one day at a time when things get overwhelming. Not everything needs looking at, thinking about, or dealing with today. 

10. Remember to laugh. For the joy of the Lord is my strength. I remember years ago at work, when my office was piled high with photocopy boxes filled with incoming correspondence to deal with, I felt the Lord willing me, cajoling me to laugh at the piles. I also remember it was an effort, but I felt Him smiling at me... willing me to try. And I felt a lifting of my overwhelmed heart. I knew He was going to be there to help me through it all. And He was.

Note: The memoir I was determined to finish this year is on hold. There are no plans to pick it up in the near future. Other needful things presently take up my time and energy.

Brenda writes from her desk by the window that overlooks her garden, the sky, and the birds. You can find her 'slice of life' writing on her It's A Beautiful Life blog. She is also on Facebook and Instagram (under Bren Leyland).

 

 

Finish 2026 Strong! by Mary Folkerts

 

When I think of what the next four months of 2026 might bring, I have many mixed emotions. I'm excited for good things to come, like seeing my poetry book be released into the world and my daughter Reegan swimming at the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships in Portugal. There is also a cloud of grief that hangs over it all as we see my mom’s health deteriorate. Will these big life-and-death events collide, and if so, how would we deal with it? The verse Proverbs 16: 9 comes to mind: “ In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

With this verse as my guide, I will plan and pray for grace to hold everything with an open hand. God knows all the details, and I can trust Him with the outcome. So if I could plan out my course for the next few months, here are a few goals I have.

Goal One: My first goal is to finish editing my poetry book and get the final touches and endorsements done so it can move on to the next step in completion! Writing this book has been a journey of healing and revelation for myself, and I pray God will use it to draw readers along on their own healing journeys.

Goal Two: I started a writing course by Hannah Brencher, and have never finished it. I would like to complete it and also look into the writing courses available through Proverbs 31 Women's Ministries Compel Pro. (Side note! If you want more teaching and accountability for your writing, I highly recommend becoming a member of Compel Pro!)

Goal Three: I began sewing a quilt for my daughter and her husband shortly after they were married. She and I picked out the fabric together, and I started creating it. But life and summertime gardening have kept me from finishing, so I really want to finish it and gift it to them. (This listing has become a confession of all my unfinished projects, hasn’t it?)

Goal Four: My life and goals match those that I have for my daughter Reegan. She has Down syndrome, so I actually have to plan and organize for not only me but her as well! For a highly organized person, this might be a simple undertaking, but for me, it is a real challenge. I struggle to organize myself, let alone others. (Pray for me!) My goal is to keep her organized so she feels confident about her days, as she loves schedules. We plan to have her train in the swimming pool for her big swim meet, along with dryland training so she is fit and ready come the end of October. (Lord willing).

Goal Five: I have painting, organization/purging, and gardening projects I want to tackle, and sometimes the to-do list feels overwhelming. My goal is to create lists that help me break the jobs into bite-sized pieces so I can actually accomplish some of them. (I’m always open to tips and tricks!)

Goal Six: This year, my husband and I have been reading through the Bible with The Bible Recap. It's been a rewarding challenge and has created a better rhythm for my daily devotion time. My goal is to keep this daily Bible-reading rhythm and add books and devotionals that strengthen my faith. I also want to read a poem a day to inspire my poetic mind, starting with authors Wendell Berry and Mary Oliver.

This list isn't exhaustive, as it just scratches the surface of my overextended brain. It's been a helpful exercise, though, to write out some of my hopes and plans for the coming months. Part of the struggle for me is putting it all on paper, so this was a good start to the last four months of 2026. Let’s finish strong and see what God will do through us!

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 member of Proverbs 31 Ministries' COMPEL Writers Training, involved in church ministries and music. Mary’s 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 https://maryfolkerts.com/ or connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maryfolkerts/

Goals and Gleanings by Sharon Heagy

 

A friend of mine always looks great. She pays attention to the details, co-ordinating clothing, jewellery, shoes etc. It takes time and effort. It’s important to her. We are very different in that regard. The other morning I began rushing about to get some things done. My mind was unfocused and a-flutter with a myriad of thoughts. Suddenly, in the middle of making a meal, I found myself lacking a few ingredients and I needed to run down to THE store. I say THE store because we only have one grocery store in our small town. Just like we have THE gas station, THE school, THE post office, well, you get the idea. Before I left my husband called and asked if I could stop by his wood working shop on my way as he needed help to do some measuring. I grabbed my car keys from the bowl, opened the back door and shut it again. Looking down at my oil and flour-stained shirt I decided I had better change before I left. While changing my shirt I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and realized I had forgotten to brush my hair during my rushed morning routine. It looked like ‘straws in a muck cart.’ I stopped and brushed my hair. It’s not like this happens all the time but since I had to write this blog post with ten goals for the next three to four months, I decided remembering to brush my hair every morning would start things off as number one. Only nine to go.

This post should be a piece of cake for list makers like me. I love writing down lists of things I need to do and then stroking items off the list as they get completed. Sometimes though, the to-do list becomes long and unmanageable. It grows like a noxious weed and turns unrealistic and overwhelming to the point where I don’t know where to start or I start 3 things at once and don’t finish even one. When a person is able to complete tasks, it yields a feeling of accomplishment which leads to completion of other projects. Goal number 2 is to give myself realistic goals which can be accomplished and to prioritize what needs to be done and when. This won’t shorten the list but it will put the chaos under control and make the jobs easier to achieve.

Goal number 3 – eat less, exercise more. Enough said.

As a writer who wants to inspire and give hope, I would like to submit a story to Chicken Soup for the Soul. Their publications are filled with stories that touch people’s hearts and give them the encouragement I too would like to give. In addition, I need to post more often on my own blog page and learn all the ins and outs or change my platform. Writing for the InScribe blog will remain a priority in my word weaving world, and I would also like to begin a major project before the end of the year. Combined, these objectives comprise goal number 4.

Wednesday I will travel to our neighbouring province, Manitoba, to attend Fall Conference. There I will immerse myself in the knowledge and faith of other writers, gleaning all I can and not sitting there like a lump. When it comes to events like these, I believe you get much more out of them if you choose to be a willing sponge. Halfway there! Number 5.

Down at THE post office there are a few hundred boxes, each one with its own little key. One thing that can brighten any day is to approach your own little box, put the key in the lock, pull back the tiny door and find an actual letter inside! But if you really want to get an actual, handwritten bonafide letter, sometimes you have to write one. Goal 6 is to be increase writing letters and to make intentional connections with family and friends across the miles. This includes phone calls too. For some reason the advent of cell phones has me calling people less. I miss my landline and the landlines of others. You could call a household and be surprised by talking to 3 or 4 loved ones. Those were good surprises.

Fall brings me back to indoor activities, one of which is quilting. We have a group that meets once a month in the basement of a local business. It’s important to me for both the creativity and the social outing. I am not the most social creature so I need to force myself to go and be with other people. It’s a healthy thing to do. As a person who dislikes sewing to the point where I gave my machine away, I am delightfully surprised that I like quilting. Seriously. When I told one of my sons that I was taking up quilting there was a long pause and then he said, “You know that involves sewing, right?” Goal number 7 will find me in that basement on the first Saturday of each month and Sunday afternoon as well.

This November will mark 2 years since we moved to town. It is time to paint. The interior of our house is a medium to dark gray and I need to brighten it up. Though it was the choice of the former owner and popular at the time, I find it depressing and dark, especially after the bright sunny exposures in the farmhouse. We need to change the lighting in the kitchen and cut off the breakfast nook from the wonderful island too. These will be the first renos since we moved. We wanted to think about what we would change before we began. It’s time to begin. Number 8

Palliative Care is one thing that I care about deeply, not wanting anyone to die alone. A few of us have started the process to create a Community Care Volunteer group in order to support things like Palliative Care in our little town and surrounding area. During this journey I have learned it’s important to celebrate the small things. A sunrise, a bird’s song, the smell of newly cut hay, a child’s handful of dandelions. The noise of the kids in the park near our backyard and the laughter that drifts to our deck as we sit in chairs and bask in the evening glow. Take nothing for granted. Number 9

The number ten is a significant number Biblically. Ten commandments, ten plagues, ten generations from Adam to Noah and again from Noah to Abraham. It is said to represent divine order and completeness. It points to humanity’s accountability to God. If I am serious about the goals above, I need to gather them up in my arms then let them tumble to the foot of the cross under the authority of the Risen Christ. He may honour the goals I have written or He may change them as He wills and for His purposes. Oh, that I may surrender each and every one to Him. Yes, even brushing my hair. Goal 10. To God be the glory.

Thanks for taking the time to visit today. God bless.

Sharon Heagy writes from the wonderful town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan, where she lives with her husband, a big dog and furry cats. She writes to bring hope and humour to a world that needs both. She can be reached at sharonheagy@gmail.com

What 10 Things Will You Be Doing September to December? by Dana-Lyn Phillips

Graphic produced with AI in Canva

Fall has always been my favourite season. Crisp nights and warm days. The beauty created by the changing of the leaves. The return of everything pumpkin-spiced. What’s not to love?

My children are older now, so the first day of school doesn't look the same as it did a few years ago, but I have fond memories of getting my kids settled into their new classrooms and then returning home to enjoy a hot cup of coffee. It was the best cup of coffee all year.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids dearly, but there is something magical about fresh starts and a return to routine. It was definitely worth celebrating.

Although I now find myself in a different season of life, the final four months of the year continue to feel familiar. This is how I will be spending them…

1. Shutterfly Photo Book Creation

Always a huge undertaking, this involves sorting, deleting, saving, downloading and uploading. It requires design decisions and page layouts. Once it’s ready for print, it requires emptying the bank account to pay for it. So why do I do it, year after year? Well, it guarantees the preservation of memories. Capturing adventures, celebrations, and candids, and compiling them in one place, ends up being one of my most treasured projects.

2. Purging the House

I’ve yet to figure out how the items in our home continue to multiply. I’m convinced that my parents missed telling me about the ‘birds and the bees’ of inanimate objects because every year, without fail, I need to clear out to create space.

3. Best Friend Get-Away

Treasured, and protected, is this 36-hour window when my best friend and I hightail it out of town to an undisclosed location. (Just kidding - our families always know where we are…although my husband never remembers what I’ve told him). Our adventure involves sit-down meals (that someone else prepares for us), shopping, facials, hikes, Scrabble and some sugar indulging. This activity breathes enough life into me to carry me to the end of the year.

4. Birthday Celebrations

Every member of our family, including the dog, celebrates a birthday between September 3rd and January 2nd so the end of the year is jam packed with balloons, presents and more cake than I could ever want.

5. Ladies Ministry Conference

Last year began an annual Ladies conference hosted at my church. It was a wonderful day of meeting new people, and drawing close to God, so I am looking forward to another day of spiritual refreshing this year.

6. House Maintenance

Not the fun part, by any means, but necessary. There are always things to be tightened, straightened, hammered down, cut up, planted, scrubbed, caulked and cleaned.

7. Christmas Shopping

I shop early. I blame it on my Type A personality, but it also ensures that presents are paid for before they are being unwrapped Christmas morning.

8. University Tours

New to the list this Fall is the scheduling, and attending, of numerous university tours. We’re a year ahead of schedule but we’re hoping it will help with decision making. We don’t have long before our youngest will be filling out university applications. Where does the time go?

9. Meal Planning

Is there a woman in the world who enjoys making meals? (If you exist, I would like to meet you as you’re somewhat of a unicorn). I used to love cooking, but now I hate it. Dinners seem to roll around faster than pigs in mud, and my recipe book has become downright boring.

I recently started something new in an effort to inject some fresh enthusiasm into meal time. I randomly choose a different country, around the globe, and then research and prepare a native dish. It’s helped to get me out of a slump with meal ideas, and it’s also been nice to try some dishes we would never normally eat. Plus, it’s likely the closest I’ll ever come to travelling so I’m trying to enjoy it.

10. Christmas Decorating

This is the final of my ten items, however, it likely shouldn’t be last on the list because I decorate very early. The rule in our house (imposed by my husband) is that the tree doesn’t go up until after Remembrance Day so, you guessed it…our tree goes up November 12th.

I love absolutely everything about Christmas so I am sure to savour it as long as I can. There’s nothing better than curling up on the sofa, under a blanket, and watching a Christmas movie by the light of the Christmas tree.

So, there it is friends, my Fall list of To Do’s. If I’m being honest, it’s overwhelming seeing it all in print. I’m not worried though, if I don’t have enough time for everything, I’ll cross the house maintenance off the list because there’s no fun in that anyway.

I better grab a cup of coffee, and get started.

 

Dana-Lyn is a wife, and mother to teenage boys as well as a 14-year-old cava-poo named Hockley. She is passionate about encouraging Christian women in their faith and is stepping into her mid-life "calling" as a writer. Her happy place consists of a comfy chair, a great book, a hot cup of coffee and a chocolate…or three! You can read more of her work at https://plansfargreater.substack.com

Fifteen Things by Susan Barclay

From DraCat on Pixabay

This month’s prompt asks us to identify ten things we will be doing in the last four months of 2026. Whether short-term goals, intentional practices, writing tasks, or other, the idea is to put into words our hopes, dreams, or current reality.


As a full-time caregiver to my elderly mom who lives with us, at first I was daunted by the request to come up with ten things. When I thought about it, however, it was actually pretty easy.

1. I will continue to give care for as long as necessary/feasible. Admittedly, because caregiving is difficult and my mom doesn’t seem to be getting any better (or progress is extremely slow), I pray that God will be merciful to her and to us in this season.

2. I’ll continue to participate in two in-person book clubs and read a minimum of two books per month.

3. I’ll continue to participate in the life of my church through our small group and the 55+ ministry.

4. I’ll continue to exercise daily, a practice I began on July 6 this year, after neglecting self-care far too long. I strength train my arms every other day and do some form of cardio as well as focus on core and posture every day.

5. My husband and I have been wanting to take ballroom dance classes for some time now. This fall is the year! I will complete an 8 week session (two classes are already behind us). Before this we were kitchen dancers only! We will see what we become. So far, so-so.

6. I’ll continue to help my daughter and her fiancé plan for their wedding.

7. My husband and I will get away for our 33rd wedding anniversary. Only for 24 hours or so, but any getaway is a blessing.

8. My high school is celebrating its 90th anniversary this fall. Having missed the 75th anniversary and most class reunions, I already have my ticket for the 6-hour event. Looking forward to seeing some “old” and friendly faces from just a “few” years ago.

9. I’ll complete my Christmas shopping on time and on budget.

10. I’ll try to stick to a house cleaning regimen.

11. I’ll try to limit scrolling to 15 minutes a day by setting a timer.

12. I’ll try to drink 16 oz of water a day. I know this is much less than the recommended amount, but it’s a realistic amount for me since I tend not to drink more than 4 oz. Unless you count coffee, tea, and juice!

13. My husband I usually read the Bible and a devotional before bed when we are exhausted and yawning. My plan is to shift this to the morning when we are more alert. Reading the Word early sets the tone for the rest of the day.

14. I’ll continue to pray continuously. And finally,

15. I’ll keep writing monthly posts for Inscribe Writers Online. It’s the one writing activity I can currently manage.

And there you have it – a list of 15 things when I was daunted by the thought of ten. You might say I got carried away. Only time will prove how successful I am, but in writing it all down I feel a certain measure of accountability and resolve. I also feel that there’s room for grace in the things I will try to do. I am just one person. I am only human. I’ll take it one day at a time.

___________________

For more about Susan Barclay and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com

Goals Within My Soul by Alan Anderson

 

Writing Prompt

When I think of setting goals, whether long-term or short-term, I clothe them in a blanket of hope. As I pondered the prompt for this month, it moved me deep inside. I cannot fully explain why, but perhaps my response here will give at least some idea of what is going on inside my soul.

My Inner Landscape

A personal goal for this writer is to nurture my inner landscape to concentrate on peace, hope, beauty, and whatever things are lovely. This might sound lofty, but please allow me to explain in the rest of this post.

One of my favourite writers, the late John O’Donohue said,

“When we awaken to the call of beauty, we become aware of new ways of being in the world. We were created to be creators. At its deepest heart, creativity is meant to serve and evoke beauty. When this desire and capacity come alive, new wells spring up in parched ground; difficulty becomes invitation and rather than striving against the grain of our nature, we fall into rhythm with its deepest urgency and passion. The time is now ripe for beauty to surprise and liberate us…” ¹

I appreciate John O’Donohue’s statement, so included it as part of one of my goals. I pray, dear readers, you will accept my reasoning for highlighting O’Donohue’s words.

I am disheartened at the direction our culture in the West has taken. Especially in the last ten years or so, there has been such a division among people. For instance, people have invented the term “hate speech” to use when they disagree with each other. I just don’t understand such flawed reasoning. People act “offended” if something opposes their sensitive feelings. Lord have mercy on us.

Beauty, loveliness, and peace appear overshadowed by misguided views on life. A society where everyone does that which is right in their own eyes curtails even hope.

I pray to God I will no longer follow the foolishness of the world, but in my small way, will be an agent for change. May groups like InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship allow beauty to surprise and liberate us, to the glory of God.

With the previous statements in mind, I come to another goal of like mind.

Social Media

I plan to reduce my involvement with so-called “social” media platforms. To me, scrolling on Facebook and the like has no value or edification. I can stay in contact with people I care about through email, or even better, personal contact. I hope that I can stay in contact, for instance, with InScribe members through email. I don’t know of InScribe members close to where I live, but perhaps in time more will be up and coming.

My Website and Substack

For the sake and purpose of much of my writing, I will develop more of a presence on my website and Substack. Lord willing, Substack will remain useful to serious writers.

Self-advocacy

Self-advocate for myself regarding chronic health conditions I now live with. I need to maintain good health to move my writing forward. A reason for this self-advocacy is that I conclude through experience not everything health professionals tell me is helpful.

Grandparent grief

I also intend to devote more of my writing projects to being a voice for grandparent grief. For instance, I hope to publish my book, Forgotten Voices: Poetic Utterances of Grandparent Grief and Hope, in 2027.

A Need for personal interaction

A goal for the year 2027 is to make regular connections with InScribe writers and other writers locally. I will also ask my local church community if anyone would like to be part of a church-based writing group.

Orthodox Christian Church

Write an essay on the conversion of my wife and I to the Orthodox Christian Church and post it on Substack. After forty years as Baptists, being embraced by the Orthodox Church has come with no regrets. The depth of this ancient Church is a balm to our souls, and we rejoice now even more in the faithfulness and grace of God. Glory to God in all things!

InScribe

I thank God for being part of InScribe for the past eleven years. I look forward to continuing with you all as we write and offer ministry to each other and our readers.



Citations
¹O’Donohue, John (Beauty: The Invisible Embrace, NY: Harper Collins Publishers, 2004), 7.

 

In Deroche, a small farming village area of British Columbia, Alan shares his home with his wife, Terry, and their poodle, Charlie. Alan and Terry are grandparents of six grandchildren plus five grandbabies in heaven. Alan enjoys walking on the dike near his home, with trees all around and where he finds inspiration to write. In summer, however, he loves to hide in the shade from the warm summer sun. Alan is more of a friend of fall. He has occasionally written articles for FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship blog. Alan’s website and blog are https://scarredjoy.ca. He also writes on Substack.

Finishing Strong by Steph Beth Nickel

Crossfit Sports Fitness - Free photo on Pixabay

Although it has been several decades since September meant back-to-school to me, I still see the ninth month of the year as a new beginning of sorts.

And an ending.

September marks the end of summer. The end of Q3, the third quarter of the year. And for me personally, the end my daughter's move west. (We took the remainder of her belongings to her on the long weekend.)

When I return home from Saskatchewan, Q4 will be just around the corner.

My plans to finish the year strong include goals that may be an encouragement to you as well.

Writing and Revising

One of my top priorities is to complete revisions to the book I'm coauthoring with Paralympian Deb Willows.

I also intend to choose 30 of the 40+ devotionals on the Gospel of John that I've written and prep them for indie publication.

Additionally, I want to get back to writing and posting a chapter of my YA novel to Substack each week. I have posted more than half the manuscript to the platform so far. I would like to get this draft complete by the end of the year.

Are you currently working on any writing projects? Remember to carve out time to work on them. Unless we do so, there are countless things that can distract us from our writing and writing-related endeavours. Crucial things like laundry, dishes, and vacuuming. <sigh>

Editing

I have openings in my editing schedule and will prioritize any projects I take on this quarter.

Do you have obligations to complete for others? Setting aside specific time in your schedule and making note of externally or internally imposed deadlines will likely help you stay on track. 

Researching

I have an abundance of courses and books that have been long-neglected. My goal is to work on skills development from three to five times per week. I especially need to focus on the steps of indie publishing.

Do you regularly work on skills development, or do you find the abundance of material overwhelming and confusing? Why not choose a skill that will help you right here, right now, and set aside time to read a book on the subject, take a relevant course (which you may already have in your digital library), or listen to a related podcast?

Non-Writing Goals

Like all writers, I have several seemingly unrelated tasks to accomplish. (However, we all know that pretty much anything we do can have a bearing on our writing and spark ideas for current or future projects.)

Here are three things I hope to accomplish before the end of 2026:

Assist my hubby as he finishes renoing the house in preparation for putting it on the market in the spring of 2027.

Continue developing healthy habits in preparation for my blood work in October. (My numbers aren't dangerously high, but they do need attention.)

Devote more time to Bible study and prayer and (far) less to scrolling on my phone. 

Do you have non-writing goals that are achievable by December 31? Why not choose a couple and break each one down into bite-sized chunks so you, too, can finish 2026 strong.

Steph Beth Nickel is the former Editor of FellowScript and the outgoing InScribe Contest Coordinator. Steph is an editor and author and plans to relocate to Saskatchewan from Ontario to be close to family in 2027, Lord willing. (Headshot Photo Credit: Jaime Mellor Photography)

Reflections on Planning by Sandi Somers

 

As I moved into the fall season this year, I began to pray in detail over each area that needs to be completed by Christmas. In my recent reading of our pastor’s sermon on Nehemiah, I rediscovered some principles for planning and preparation. 

First priority: we don't do anything until we take it to the Lord in prayer.

God often waits to answer until we ask Him in prayer (James 4:2).

Trust God. God can do what we cannot.

Always give God recognition first—gratitude for what He'll do.

Ask: “In what small way do You want me to accomplish something in Your kingdom?”

Launch yourself in God's direction and do what God calls you to do. 

The important key in light of this blog post is to keep my eyes focused on the Lord and His purpose and plans in what Matt Bell called “art life and lived life.”[i]  

Art Life:

My overall writing goal is to continue building a larger body of work.

Finish draft of my second book.    Continue engagement with InScribe—local writers’ group, write for monthly IWO, quarterly FS. Marketing/advertising for my first book—other authors have been great examples, and I’m receiving prompts from the Lord.

Lived Life:

·       House and garden. Complete fall garden work—planting any spring flowers/bulbs, cleanup by end of October when the ground freezes. Winter—focus on house tasks of sorting, organizing clutter, recycling extras, (continuous throughout winter)—I’ve asked the Lord to confirm the upgrading needs in my house. Work towards order. 

·       Relationships. Spend more time contacting others. Continue relationship with the Lord through continued Bible study, prayer. (The Lord brings so many ideas for writing through my time with Him.) 

·       Ministry areas. Continue volunteering at church. Lead monthly local writers’ group. Participate in our InScribe local group’s November 20 event, “Invitation to Wonder”. 

·       Contingency plans. Allow for unexpected events, emergencies, or health issues that may upend any plans. 

·       Relaxation. Attend monthly Christian Women’s Breakfasts (weather permitting). Enjoy my yard and garden. Walk. Read. Slot in weekly artist’s dates (to engage the senses—drive into the country, take photos, visit a friend, etc). Discover and journal a daily highlight. 

·       Celebrations with gratitude. Honour accomplishments, both small and major. Honour the Lord in all I do.

Some items in this list can look daunting. The Lord knows what plans are feasible and will guide me. This reading from In Touch Ministries challenged me:

“Following God often takes us through unfamiliar territory, but He is faithful to lead us into His good plans…When God challenges us beyond our self-determined limits, He isn’t testing us—He’s inviting us into a higher level of trust…Each new step of surrender is an opportunity to experience His faithfulness in ways we haven’t yet imagined.”[ii]

I conclude with a quote from Ezra which challenges all of us: “I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me” (Ezra 7:28 ESV).

 

Image by Pixabay

---

[i] Matt Bell, (Refuse to be Done, NY: Soho Press, 2022), 27-31. 

[ii] https://www.intouchcanada.org/read/daily-devotions#:~:text=Growing%20in%20Trust,September%207%2C%202026 

Sandi Somers’ writing passion is to help readers grow their faith in Jesus, including their vision of what God wants them to be and do. She writes of her love of nature, gardening, travel, and family in several genres—devotionals, personal essays, and Biblical fiction. Sandi lives in Calgary, Alberta, the delightful city between the Rocky Mountains and the Prairies.

Beyond the Last Page ~ Valerie Ronald

 

If I had known it would take over a year to birth a book from rough draft to publication, I might have thought twice about tackling the project. That is a long gestation period! Any day now I am expecting the arrival of my new baby, a devotional book titled Each Shining Moment: Lingering in God’s Light. Holding my book in my hands, gazing at its shiny cover, and flipping through its crisp, new pages will be almost as exciting for me as it was to cradle my three newborn babies. Birthing this book was not as painful but certainly as laborious.

Like a first-time parent, I am thrilled with the new arrival, yet nervous about what comes next. Fortunately, my publisher provides marketing tutorials and support for new authors. Learning how to market my book is first on my list of things to do in the next four months of 2026.

My publisher assumes my priority is to sell as many books as possible in order to bank a good volume of royalties. Actually, marketing the book is more about putting it in the hands of spiritual seekers and those who desire to grow in their Christian walk. I plan to implement some of the recommendations of my publisher, however, the marketing strategy in which I have the most confidence is to prayerfully release the book to God, who knows best where and to whom it needs to go.

“Now glory be to God, who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT).

Next on my list is catching up with projects left undone as I poured many hours into the book this past year. I plan to do some deep cleaning and organizing projects around the house, return to cooking and baking from scratch after too many convenience meals, and spend more time with friends and family.

Now that the book is done I can focus on other writing projects. Writing monthly posts for InScribe Writers Online, bi-monthly columns for InScribe FellowScript magazine, and monthly devotionals for our church bulletin motivates me to write frequently. I am also looking forward to writing my annual Christmas short story and some new pieces for our local writer’s group.

Of course, these plans will depend on how well my new baby (and its author) will adapt now that it is published. This book may be a quiet child, not overly adventurous, happy to stay close to home. Or it may take off running, eager to make many new friends in faraway places. I have no set expectations for the book, choosing rather to hold it with an open hand so God can do with it as He wills, using it as He sees fit.

Just as I prayed for my children, I also pray that this book birthed from my walk with God will help others in their growth towards Him. I am eager to see what its future holds. 

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.