Ten Things by Lorilee Guenter

September is a time to reflect on the year to date. When the girls were in school, September had more sway on our schedule and intentions then January. Now I can choose any month I want for reflection, kind of. Most classes and activities start September and January. 

This season I will/will not...

1) I will not let my activity level define my success. Sometimes being is more valuable that doing. I will take time to pause, it is good for health, especially mental health. God instructs us to pause, to rest so he can refresh us.

2) I will continue to write regularly. Every Tuesday afternoon for a couple of years I have had a writing date at a local coffee shop. Winter 2026, I stood myself up for a few months. I missed it. This summer, I had a writing partner. It's easier to keep a commitment when there are two of you. For the next year I may have a new partner, or I may have to go alone. Either way, I'm committing to myself to write regularly (and enjoying a coffee while I work). 

3) I won't let numbers define me. Metrics can consume us if we let them. The number of subscribers, likes, and comments, threatened to overwhelm and push us to do more and be more. Weight, calories consumed, calories burned, and clothes sizes can likewise shame us. 

4) I'll be teaching Sunday school again. The grade five six students often challenge me with their questions. If I arrive unprepared, they know it. Therefore, this is not a few hours on Sunday commitment. It is the time with God, time with curriculum, and time with young people who are curious, questioning and amazing to hang out with. I am looking forward to this time for the coming year. 

5) I will not leave everything for the last minute. I've been a procrastinator, working to deadlines for decades. Nothing spurs inspiration quite like a deadline. After years of waiting for the week, or day before deadline, I found many excuses to keep me scrambling. To change means relearning habits. But change needs to happen sometimes and this is one of those times. 

6) I will work to reshape my workspace and my workflow. Our house has gone from three occupants to two for the next year. Since we are living in a period of transition anyway, it seems like a good time to start adjusting what hasn't worked well. 

7) I will not overeat sweets and unhealthy snacks. Better said, "I will treat my body well by eating a healthy healthy, balanced way." Eating in a healthy balanced way challenges me to try new things. This year I've already learned that I can make the much maligned brussels sprouts in ways I enjoy. 

8) I won't be hard on myself when I fail. This might be the hardest item on the list so far. We live in a society that can be quick to judge. I've been judging myself and finding flaws for decades. We are all imperfect, works in progress. (Philippians 1:6) but we aren't condemned (John 3:17). Why then do I condemn myself? 

9) I will take necessary next steps to bring my novel from hiding on the shelf to shareable. On my "brain dump" tasks list, my novel next step has carried forward each month since April 2024. Each month I found excuses, sometimes wrapped up as "good reasons," to postpone action. This August I took one small step. I'm committed to taking another step this September. 

10) I will throw out this list of if it starts to be a weight that keeps me immobilised. Sometimes lists help. Sometimes they hold us back. I don't want any list to get in the way of what God wants to do with and through me in the coming months. 

Ten things, four months, and beyond. I could add don't stress, set goals (that might cause stress), laugh, explore, be flexible. Laugh, enjoy, be flexible will keep the enjoyment in whatever comes that I can't foresee. 

Lorilee Guenter is a Saskatoon based artist and writer. Her writing stems from the many questions she finds herself pondering and from the things she observes on her wanderings. One such question is how did events she lived through become the subject of history.

Carved in Stone or Bubbles in the Bath: Do You Know the Difference? by Peggianne Wright

Photo credit: P. Wright 2026

My To Do list is virtually endless. Everything from housekeeping tasks to vet visits to writing ideas to book marketing campaigns. You could say I hold a PhD in List Making. A kind of Dr. To-Do.

"We can make our plans,

but the LORD determines our steps.

(Proverbs 16:9 NLT)

Now, list making certainly has its advantages. For folks like me born in the middle of the last century, these lists written in the old fashioned style of pen and paper, serve as a backup generator, so to speak, since the memory cells are beginning to flicker. Sure, I can remember putting shovels full of sand in my Dad's car gas tank when I was three, but I can't remember the milk we need when I get to the store.

In all honesty, I have lists of lists with sub-lists.

"But be sure that everything is

done properly and in order."

(1 Corinthians 14:40 NLT)

So, when I think about the 10 things I'll be doing in the next four month of this year ... well, my brain suddenly begins to spin like the whirly-gig atop my Grandpa's garage in a major windstorm!

Now, I could be serious and imagine how I'll get finished organizing my sewing room that has been not-so-organized for the past 11 years. Or, I could excitedly think about how I'll have my Paws to Pray website completely updated and all my blogs nicely uploaded. Yes, I can smile widely as I envision how every room of the house will sparkle after a good and thorough cleaning. I can feel the deep satisfaction already for completing that new Jen Wilkin Bible study - well, it was new in 2023.

Ha!

What I've learned as time goes by, is that some lists are carved in stone, like the Ten Commandments, and some are well, like bubbles in the bath. The trick is to know the difference.

Every January 1st for the past 4 decades I've spent an entire day creating a new, customized day planner. Hours and hours of transforming lined Blueline Miracle Bind pages into a 52-week planner; transposing all the important dates - birthdays, anniversaries, memorial dates, holidays, and much more into its pages. Using my vast collection of coloured markers and pens, I embellish the most important ones with floral designs. A special section that moves from month to month includes check lists and schedules of important events and dates relating to my writing, ministry, continuing education, and fur-kids.

The ultimate organized gal, right?

Well, we find ourselves in September now; the changing of seasons that marks a certain adjustment in tempo and focus. Various clubs and groups start afresh after a summer break, new courses are scheduled to begin, engagements that may have been postponed over the summer are now planned to proceed.

So, as I sit down in my cozy study, my three four-legged colleagues all snuggled in their "cubicles", I pull out my planner from atop my piled-high credenza and gasp when I see the page lying open. MARCH 1st to 7th, 2026! I am truly shocked to realize that this ultra-organized lady has not once in six months consulted her day planner!

The world hasn't collapsed!

Throughout the past six months, I've managed to attend every appointment on time, met my writing deadlines (by a hair in some cases), and commemorated special occasions of every description. Somehow, by God's grace, I have continued to function and meet responsibilities without the rigid structure I believed I needed to stay organized.

What does all this boil down to? Well, I believe that through this time, God's been leading me to hold loosely the expectations and commitments I feel obligated to meet. He's quietly taught me to subconsciously assess the importance and value of all those day planner entries that weighed me down with worry and anxiety. He's given me discernment to recognize which ones were truly important.

Maybe I'm especially fortunate; no - I am INDEED especially fortunate! God has blessed me with this comfortable retirement after a stressful four decade career in business. At this juncture, He's reminding me that To Do lists and schedules don't always need to be strictly adhered to.

The next four months of this year will be busy for me. "With Ardent Strength", the third in a series of four Advent devotional books will be finalized for release, devotionals for monthly publications will be written, updates and renovations to my website will be undertaken, preparations for Christmas markets will be organized, marketing strategies will be planned and created, all in addition to the everyday, mundane tasks of running a household and raising three fur-kids.

So, while I know that my To Do list is brimming and my schedule is filling quickly, with God's guidance, I will set my 65-year-old nose to the grindstone and tackle the projects and tasks with eager enthusiasm and yet, using the wisdom and insight I've been blessed with, and continue making my lists of lists, with their sub-lists. Just In Case!

"Commit your actions to the LORD,

and your plans will succeed."

(Proverbs 16:3 NLT)

Peggianne Wright is a published author and is the founder of the pet parent ministry Paws To Pray, blending her passion for the Lord and all-things-K9 to form this unique, faith-based community. Peggianne is an ardent Bible study student, devoted dog mom, wife of 44 years, and lover of music. Her blogs Spiritual Scribbles and Fur-Kid Fanatics can be found on her website www.PawsToPray.ca and you can follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PawsToPray/ and on IG @Sister_In_Prayer.

Lucky 13 Things in Four Months by Bob Jones

                                          Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

We were asked to write about ten things we'll be doing in the next four months. My first thought was, “Only ten?” And then I read the rest of the prompt and saw that we could choose any number we like. So, I cooked up a baker’s dozen.

I'm lucky, or blessed I get to do these.

Number 1

In November my wife and I will be leaving for a month for Ukraine. It is an arduous journey for 70+ year-olds, flying from Edmonton to Toronto to Krakow, then transferring to a van to cross the Polish/Ukrainian border and arrive in Lviv. After teaching for a week in a seminary there'll be more cars, vans, and trains deep into eastern Ukraine.

The two days before writing this post have been the worst of the entire 4 /12 year war in Ukraine. Massive missile, rocket, and drone attacks with horrendous deaths of children and civilians. The most tragic happened on Ukrainian Knowledge Day, the first day back to school, September 1st. Imagine your children or grandchildren with no sleep the night before because of air raids, trying to find refuge in a bomb shelter and the next morning getting dressed up to go to school and gather again in a bomb shelter.

If you know Ukrainians, you won't be surprised that the children sing in those situations.

Number 2 

In the meantime, my wife and I are raising funds to assist in rebuilding churches and deliver humanitarian aid to the front lines. Our goal is $20,000CAN. We’re at $12,500 and change.

Number 3 

I've been writing a seven-session curriculum for pastors over the last nine months. After recruiting and training 25 facilitators and apprentices, we launched the cohorts September 1^st across Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

Number 4

I'm overseeing the translation and production of a book in Ukrainian for pastors.

Number 5 

And I decided that I should endeavor to keep my mind sharp and started a Masters of Leadership and Systems (MALTS) at Briercrest College. That begins in six days.

Number 6 

Before we leave for Ukraine, I'll be traveling to the Maritimes to work with pastors in Halifax and neighbouring communities, as well as up to Peace Country in Alberta, down to Calgary, and just West of Edmonton in Spruce Grove. We’ll be working as teams to listen to God’s voice and discern the Spirit’s specific vision for each church to reach their community with the love of Jesus.

Number 7

My practise for the last seven years was to write three blogs a week for REVwords. Most likely, and prudently, I will have to cut back back to two or even possibly one per week with all that's going on.

Number 8

The blog content will be heavy on justice in Alberta and Ukraine. I’ll be speaking on those subjects in churches over the next four months. I imagine I'll be extra engaged prior to October 19^th and the Alberta referendum. I also post on Substack.

Number 9

My to-read list consists of books that would source my knowledge in theology and justice. And my college textbooks will make the list a little longer.

Number 10

This week I start writing a seminary course for Growing an Effective Great Commission Church, to be completed by November 1st.

Number 11 

I've been asked to write social media prayers for Alberta MLAs in support of Pray Alberta. Isn’t that great?!

Number 12 

As well, I write prayers for Ukraine. That’s better than bombs.

Number 13

I will be experimenting on how to add an extra day of work to each week over the next four months.  

What are your goals? And if you need an extra one, I could use help with #13.

Thank you for reading. My advice to you is keep your goals away from the trolls. 

Planning and Plotting by Lorrie Orr

 

September Prompt: With summer over, autumn is often a time of new beginnings. What Ten Things will you be doing in the last four months of 2026? These could be short term goals you set, intentional practices, writing tasks, etc. Don’t be limited by the number – choose any number you like.

Photo: Lorrie Orr

September brings some nostalgia for the fleeting summer, and some excitement for a return to cozier pursuits indoors. I think back to my not-so-far away teaching days and want to organize my desk, sharpen a fistful of pencils, and arrange my notebooks. I feel energized in the fall, and I often start new projects. So, what will I accomplish in these last months of the year? These are 12 of my goals.

** Writing **

1. Revise The Characters of Christmas manuscript (written at least 10 years ago) for possible Substack articles in December.

2. Compile my Christmas recipes into an e-book for family and friend.

3. Take Ann Griffiths’ online writing course in September.

4. Continue to work on my children’s book: rough copy, revise, revise, revise

5. Check with my local bookstores to see if they will carry my memoir Life is Short but Wide.

6. Work on my Substack site and perhaps a self-contained website.

** Home Refresh **

1. Tidy my studio where I write and sew. There will definitely be new notebooks and freshly sharpened pencils.

2. Sort through photographs. Label / discard / organize into years.

3. Switch my wardrobe from summer to autumn/winter. This involves tidying closets and drawers, discarding worn items, and donating items that no longer fit my life.

4. A thorough house-cleaning. This has already begun. I try to use natural cleaners and have been very happy with Mint Cleaning Products – a two-woman company making products in Ucluelet, BC. In autumn I also use a peppermint oil spray around door frames and window screens to keep spiders away.

** Celebrate **

1. Out of 13 family members, 8 of us have birthdays between September and December. We have one combined party in September, another in November, and another in late November/December. It’s fun and busy. Plus, there’s Thanksgiving in October and Christmas in December.

2. My birthday. This year is a big one for me. One of those numbers that ends in 0. This one is hitting hard and has made me think a lot. I’m thankful for health and energy and hope to stay active for many more years. There’s so much richness in life.


I look at my list and think everything is doable. I also know that unexpected things happen in life, and I trust that I will meet them with the grace and wisdom God provides.

“In their hearts humans plan their course,

but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NIV 

 

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island, BC.

She is the author of one book, a memoir, Life is Short but Wide,

and has a number of other books waiting to be worked on,

as well as a vast amount of writing in her head.

She also writes on Substack and her personal slice of life blog.

The Goodness of Apologizing by Sandra Rafuse

 

My day was not going well. I had been talked back to more times that I wanted to count since the school day had begun. The students seemed to be on edge, they were not being nice to each other and they certainly were not being nice to me. The "straw that broke the camel's back" came when I was speaking to one of them and she lipped me off. I lost it. My words back to her were spoken in anger and without thought.  That encounter wasn't pleasant. I was miserable for the rest of the day. I'm sure she was too.

The school's track and field day was held at the school the next day. Everyone met in the gym for instructions at 9:30 AM. Teachers, students, volunteers; we were all there. I stood at the back of the gym and noticed the mother of the student I had spoken angrily to the day before. At that moment she turned around and looked directly at me. I was sure her daughter had voiced her unhappiness about the incident that had taken place between us the day before and I was sure the mom wanted to talk about it. I knew what to do.

I had accepted Christ as my Lord and Saviour in my early forties. Up until then, I lived my life in the world and I thought the world was great. In fact, I thought I was great.  All that changed when I became a Christian. I realized that I hadn't been particularly nice to people. I gave out apologies but I wasn't always very gracious about them. But now I knew how Jesus wanted me to behave and to respond to others. Scripture verses were becoming alive and meaningful to me.

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2 NIV).     "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13 NIV).

The mom was helping out in the kitchen. I went in and asked her if her daughter had told her about our  encounter the day before. She said she had. I asked her if she would like to talk about it with me. She said she would. I said it's a busy time right now. How about if I come and get you later? She agreed.

When the day was winding down, and most of the track events were finished; when  lunch was long over and the kitchen was cleaned up, I came and got her. We walked together to a quiet room at the end of the hall. As soon as we entered, I started right in. I told her about the horrible day I had had with the students and how her daughter's remark had been one more thing I didn't need to hear. Actually I had been very surprised at what she had said as she was a very good student and I had never heard her speak like that before. I told the Mom I would go to her, explain everything, and apologize.

As we walked back to the school kitchen, I knew we both felt a whole lot better

I found her daughter before 3:30 and was able to speak to her, telling her the circumstances that led up to my outburst of anger. I was so glad to give my apology to her and she was so glad to accept it. I felt good walking home later that afternoon.

Around 5:30 PM I was preparing supper, chopping up some vegetables. I had forgotten all about what had happened earlier that day. Suddenly I remembered. I stopped chopping the food. I raised my head  and said, "Lord, I did what you wanted me to do." And at that moment, I felt three separate circles of warmth descend on me from the top of my head, down alongside my body to my waist. What a wonderful, wonderful experience that was for me! It was such a blessing from God; a confirmation to me that I was learning to be obedient. 

I help put together the school/community newsletter to send out to the people of Rockglen once a month. The mother from this story is in charge of this job. We've never talked about that day but there's a feeling of friendship between us that I cherish. Her daughter is a pharmacist and we have bumped into each other a couple of times. Once we took a selfie of ourselves to send to her mom. That was fun!

Sandra Rafuse lives in the small town of Rockglen, Sask., with her husband, Bob, a Gordon setter named Sadie, and a Peregrine falcon named Peet. She is a retired teacher and an amateur writer, and is thoroughly enjoying having the opportunity to share what God is teaching her through her life experiences with others.

Photo at top of page by Anastasia Pivnenko on Unsplash

Dancing the Two-Step by Brenda J Wood

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Stop, drop, and roll because we are on fire, not literally, but figuratively.

I confess I’ve stepped on a few toes while I learned to navigate self-preservation. One week, I found myself with relatives camping in the back yard, another bunch with their fancy camper in my backyard, two small nephews with measles, a brother temporarily homeless, a full-time job and meals necessary for the multitude.

 
A neighbour asked why our dog had taken up residence at her home. I cried “He’s looking for peace and quiet, and I wish I was there with him!”

If we never, ever write, we will never, ever be read. Writing is our God-given gift and it is our job to do it. Will we disappoint God or twenty-seven hangers on?

God gave us the gift; we must open it as best we know how. And yes, we must learn to say NO. Let’s practice together. Put your tongue against your top teeth. Try this sound, N-N-N. Now make a round shape with your lips and say O-O-O. Try putting them together and make this sound. NO-NO- NO! There! You did it. Now in front of the mirror. NO-NO-NO.

Stop the distractions as often as you can. Their problem is not our emergency. Shopping is not an emergency. Babysitting is not an emergency. Editing a friend’s manuscript is not an emergency. The emergency is our personal obedience to God.

Copy out that last sentence and post it everywhere you can.

If we keep dancing the two-step in every direction, the easier it is to say, “Oh I will write tomorrow.” And tomorrow never comes. Before we know it, the word is out. And everyone is on our case with their problems and our writing for God lies somewhere in the dust of our square dancing to another’s call.

Stop the distractions.
Drop to your writing desk.
Roll out those pages for Jesus.

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.

Balance by Sharon Heagy

photo by Sharon Heagy

Wham! My side of the teeter-totter hit the ground with a thud that hurt my bottom and rattled my teeth. The person on the other end had jumped off to go and play somewhere else leaving me in the dust. Not knowing the science or thinking about the outcome I was unprepared for the jolt. It wasn't intentional and I held no ill will against the other person.... for long. (What can I say. We were kids.)

The balance in my writing life is much the same. Sometimes life’s responsibilities and crises pile up in an overflowing bag sitting on one end of a seesaw leaving writing hanging on by its fingertips at the other end, legs flailing in mid-air.

Sometimes it’s more like I’m ‘tappity tap tapping’ across the seesaw’s centre trying to find the balance between responsibility and writing but spending little time on either and doing a good job of nothing except for creating frustration.

Sometimes writing wins out and plunks itself down on one end of the board and says, “That’s it! I’m writing. You stay up in the air!” leaving the bag full of cares and responsibilities hanging by a cord from the high end. But then the wind comes up and flips the bag onto the board, the cord opens and the stuff of life comes trailing out in jumbled piles that begin to slide down towards writing. Writing sees the mess coming and types faster, knowing it is about to be wiped out as the column gets closer, creating lumpy bumpy writing.

Then there’s the sweet spot. Where life and writing meet in the middle and lean back-to-back, basking in serenity. This is usually a bubble that can’t be grasped for more than a minute. Maybe a couple of hours, maybe a day at the most. Yet recently I talked to a friend of mine who had glorious, sweet spot serenity for 5 days. The Lord’s presence was palpable, and he gave her the gift of time without interruption. It gave me hope that the sweet spot is attainable.

It occurs to me that the most important part of the balance of writing is that I show up. Each day as the pendulum sways between obligation and composition the balance changes. There is no need to maintain it the same way every day but I must keep trying. Never give up. Why? Because He has blessed me with both sides of the seesaw. Whenever life drags me to the far end in the dirt, He beckons me back to the writing. Every single time. Even when I believe I have nothing to offer that He could use He knows I do. He created me to be creative. To spread abroad His love and message in any way He inspires me.

2 Timothy 2:13a (NIV) says, “if we are faithless He remains faithful,” always.

When the board sits perfectly balanced on the seesaw, Jesus is sitting in the middle. That’s where my focus needs to be. The writer of Hebrews encourages us with these verses, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1b-3 NIV)

When I find myself unstable and wobbly, He is my balance. He can upend my priorities and show me the way. The only way. His way.

And as I was writing this piece, I saw myself sitting on the dirty, dusty end of the seesaw when suddenly Jesus, smiling and full of love, jumped on the other end and transformed the seesaw into a catapult. He sent me soaring to exactly where He wants me to be. I smiled at the thought. May it be so. For me, for you.

 

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

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

 

Aligning Myself with His Plan by Susan Barclay

Image from Pixabay

Ha. I didn't post anything in July because for some reason I had this month's prompt in mind and I wasn't sure what to say. I guess the joke's on me.

This month we're asked to address the questions, how do you balance life and writing in the seasons of life and what have you found helpful in maintaining balance?

Good questions! Still not sure how to answer them, but I didn't want to miss three months this year (I didn't post in May because I don't currently have a specific writing space). This will be short!

I guess what I've learned is not to beat myself up when the season I'm in doesn't afford either the time or silence/solitude that I require for writing. I remind myself that this too shall pass and I will write when I can. I do write when I can, which right now isn't often (and mostly for this blog). I also remind myself that the Giver of this gift of writing knows all about my present situation and is allowing it for His own purposes (and, I trust, glory!). I am wise to align myself with His plan and discover all that He has for me. Even though I haven't been journaling (sigh), one day everything I've been through may be a treasure trove of content. Let it be so, Lord Jesus!

_______________________

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

A Season To Slow Life Down by Alan Anderson

 

“For everything there is a season,

and a time for every matter under heaven:” 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)

Words from my doctor

A couple of years ago, while at a doctor’s appointment, my doctor made an interesting comment. He said, “Alan, you are getting older. Your body is like an old steam train engine that is wearing out.” I couldn’t argue with him, and it was something I needed to hear.

In a recent appointment with the same doctor, and after listening to my health concerns, he cautioned me to “slow things down.” I knew I had to take time to process what he meant. He suggested there are responsibilities in life I must now allow other people to take care of. This is a new season for me.

I know that “to everything there is a season,” but there are times I wish this was not so. I enjoyed and poured a lot of energy into helping people over the decades, but that season has passed. Taking on projects around the house was something I also enjoyed, but that’s no longer possible as it once was. This too is a new season for me.

Words from my priest

In November 2025, my wife, Terry, and I began attending an Orthodox Christian church in another town than the one we had been part of for eight years. Driving to our new church is a less stressful drive than the one before. Health issues were the motivation for this change.

In a conversation Terry and I had with our new priest prior to our transition to our new church, we knew we were making a wise move. He confirmed with us we were in a new season of our lives, and our new church was part of this season. He affirmed our move with his words, “You are more than welcome to be part of Holy Apostles Orthodox Church. We will love having you with us.”

This new season

In this new season of life, I now concentrate on the energy it takes to navigate my life at a slower pace. These days employment is not a concern. My children are all grown up and have their own families. Terry and I have a healthy marriage. Charlie, our beloved poodle, although growing older, is a beautiful companion for us. We enjoy good friends and don’t allow negative people to interfere in our lives. We also enjoy and love our church family.

I reserve a lot of my energy these days for my writing. My health challenges have indeed slowed me down, but I still have lots of energy for what I want to write. I also pray to become more skilled as I write in this new season that has embraced my soul.

This present season has drawn me into a more contemplative style of expressing the words I write. The more activist views of my younger years have given way to how I might help people be content with their lives. I leave the results of this to God. I realize I may never have an influence in the world, but I pray at least in my circle of people, including my readers, they will know they matter.

To everything there is a season, and God is aware of each one of them, for He is with us in every matter under heaven. As I look towards the coming winter season of my life, I also seek the glorious season of the Son, the season that has no end.

 

 

In Deroche, 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.

A Time for Everything by Steph Beth Nickel

Pocket Watch Time Sand - Free photo on Pixabay

There is a God-appointed time for everything he has planned, but often, we try to make time for everything we deem necessary (and it's usually all within the same 24-hour period).

We need only take a look at our To-Do list, which for many of us would more accurately be called an I-Want-To list.

Making plans and scheduling tasks is biblical.

And so is surrendering to God's plans, which are often (most times?) different from ours.

The analogy of filling a jar with rocks and sand is a great way to approach our schedule. Those Must-Do's are the rocks. These are the things that we write on our calendars in ink. The pebbles are those things that are important but not necessarily essential. There's room for them around the rocks. And lastly, there are those things we'd like to accomplish and those tasks that don't take much time and can fit in the small gaps between the rocks and the pebbles. These things are the sand.

This makes me think of Stephen Covey's perspective. He wisely says we should deal with the important things in life rather than those that we too often view as urgent.

When it comes time to write and tend to writing-related tasks, "the urgent" may call loudly and try to distract us: notifications on our cell phone, the laundry, yesterday's dishes, etc., etc., etc. Many of these things are sand. They will need to be dealt with at some point but not immediately.

Unless writing is our full-time gig or we have an imminent deadline, too often everything else seems to press in and sitting down in front of the computer or with pen and paper falls further and further down our list.

This month, I had hoped to achieve a lot more writing and revising. However, August's important tasks have not left me with as much time or ambition as I'd intended to devote to the three books I'm working on: one fiction, one nonfiction, and a memoir I'm coauthoring.

Instead...

My hubby and I are getting our daughter's things together in order to drive them from Ontario to Saskatchewan in early September.

I also have two editing projects that I'm seeking to complete before we hit the road.

For a number of summers now, I have been taking photos at our church's summer-long day camp. I've only been taking pictures a couple of times each week since the last week in July, but it's definitely a large pebble, if not a full-sized rock.

So, while I don't have the wherewithal to accomplish all I would like to in the next few weeks, I do know that I am in the season God has chosen for me, and if I ask, he will let me know what his priorities are for me each day.

And that includes any writing and writing-related projects that will bring him glory and encourage my readers.

When we ask for wisdom, he will let us know what the rocks, pebbles, and sand are in our individual lives.

I'd love to hear what you're working on these days and how you make time for your writing.

Steph Beth Nickel is the former Editor of FellowScript and the current 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)

Balance for a Wobbly Writer ~ Valerie Ronald

                                                                          photo credit Valerie Ronald

My season for physical balancing is long past at my age. I can stand on one foot for perhaps five seconds, but that’s it. I grew up near the ocean where, as children my brothers and I would challenge each other to see how far we could walk balancing on beach logs. I recall dancing down the logs, leaping from one to the other, walking heel-to-toe with arms outstretched like a tightrope walker. Back then, balancing was easy.

Balance means something different now. Do I eat a balanced diet? Does my cheque book balance? How do I balance life and writing? This month’s topic prompted me to evaluate how I do both and where I need improvement. Perhaps you will identify with some of my discoveries.

I would rather write than almost anything else. If I’m not in the writing zone at my computer, then I am dreaming up writing ideas and story lines or thinking about how to express a deep topic in a way that readers will understand. But meals don’t get made or errands done if I’m always following my passion. So I need to prioritize and compartmentalize.

Do your chores first, then you can play. That’s what my mother always said. Sitting down to write is easier when the house is tidy and meals planned, so early afternoon is a good time for me to write. It doesn’t always happen, but most days I try to do something writing-focused in the afternoon, even for a short time.

Deadlines stimulate writing, as long as there are not too many. I give prayerful thought to a writing project with a deadline before committing to it. There are so many opportunities I would like to participate in but if I over-commit then it creates stress. In order to maintain balance with writing and life, I need to assess how much I can do.

Be realistic about physical and mental energy. These days it takes much longer for me to do household tasks due to age and physical limitations. I’ve relaxed my cleaning standards, cook simpler meals, and ask my husband for help often. The need for frequent rest provides time for me to think through writing projects. I keep a notebook or my cell phone nearby so I can jot down my ideas.

Serve others first. My husband is in leadership in our home church, so I do as much as I can to help and support him in his ministry. This requires commitment to building into the spiritual lives of our church family, as well as the other roles we fill in our small congregation. As much as I love to write, when a need arises, people come first, whether in family relationships or church connections.

Nurture your relationship with God. Not to be impertinent, but God is my ghost writer. I depend on His Spirit for direction, inspiration, creativity, and more in my writing. Having quiet time with Him in the morning is absolutely essential for all aspects of my life. Often as I’m reading His Word, ideas shine forth or a particular verse sends me on a search that may develop into a full-blown writing project. The writer of Hebrews exhorts, “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest” (Hebrews 3:1 NIV).

If we stop seeing our daily life and writing as enemies, and instead let them blend together, giving ourselves grace to face each aspect of our day as a gift from God, then balance will take care of itself.

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.

Writing Balance in the Seasons of Life by Carol Harrison

Photo by Carol Harrison

I am in a season of life where it should not be difficult to find balance between time for writing and obligations of daily life. I have no small children. Grandchildren are mostly adults with their own busy lives, so I am not fortunate enough to have to babysit or even get to hang out often with them any more. Amee can do many things for herself and even helps me around the house. I have no spouse to devote time and attention to. I’m not leading a ladies’ Bible study or doing much speaking. Basic daily chores don’t take heaps of time.

So why then, with all the time now available for writing, does it feel like a winter season of dormancy? Now, when juggling many balls is not part of the equation, balance should be easy. But maybe that is part of the problem. I have too much time and it is easy to procrastinate; easy to be lulled into complacency; easy to get lost in the pages of a book; easy to not bother picking up my pen or sitting at my computer. Excuses run rampant through my mind, skittering here and there like a mouse darting from one place to another.

As I look back to other seasons of life where more writing happened, I had great encouragement or even sometimes nagging to go and get writing from my husband. I also realize, for me, deadlines helped me carve out time to write – even self-imposed deadlines. Yet, procrastination still lurked, making me leave things until deadlines loomed larger. Maybe if I set myself some deadlines or booked appointments for my writing time that I honored faithfully, I might find the words and ideas begin to flow again. Maybe then the winter season of writing would give way to spring. Ideas could begin to bloom; words could grow into paragraphs and finished pieces. Spring would be a season of time for writing after the winter of rest and learning. Now to quit procrastinating and follow through on picking up my pen or sitting at my computer. It is a matter of trying to write until ideas begin to germinate. To everything there is a season.

Carol Harrison writes from her home in Saskatoon. She loves stories and often gets lost in the pages of a book instead of writing or even doing daily chores, procrastinating too many things.


Profile photo by Bruce Guenter

Balance or Rhythm by Lorilee Guenter

"By The Book" photo by Bruce Guenter

Balance is a myth created to keep me from embracing the rhythms of life . Ecclesiastes 3:1 opens with "there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens." The list of opposites brings to mind the old playground teeter-totter. If the opposing individuals were similar weight, it was possible to get the teeter-totter to balance as a straight beam. More often the partners couldn't hold the balance due to weight differences. One partner would be pushed up while the other dropped down. The goal of a teeter-totter is to keep it in motion. The achievement of balance halted motion.

Instead of chasing balance, I'm working to create movement, and rhythm. Sometimes the movement is rapid, other times it is a languid motion that takes attention to recognize, like the slow movement through winter. We mark time through seasons, through months, weeks, and days. In some places it may seem like the entire range of weather happens at once. We hear the saying: All four seasons in one week, or one day," yet even during these times we're not experiencing January and July simultaneously. It is either January or it is July.

There's a time and a season for every activity. We are tearing down or we are building up (v.3); we are silent or we are speaking (v.7). If we talk strictly about balance, it lends itself to an absurd reference to ratios. If we speak 50% of the time we should be silent 50% of the time, just like January and July each have 31 days. They hold equal weight within the year. What happens when God calls us to speak up, or write, and we've already used up our 50% of speech for the week? What if a friend, neighbour, or acquaintance needs us to just listen instead of us interjecting our own thoughts. I recognize I've taken these on these to an extreme. No one expects us to count the minutes we speak versus those we are silent. No one tries to live January and July in alternating days. Instead I am learning to lean into a rhythm of seasons. With a rhythm I progress through alternating activity, emotion, responsibility, hopes, and dreams, each in their own time. I learn to give them the space they need. Sometimes I walk through them in a straight line. Sometimes, like with the weather, it seems like they all happen in a day. There is no prescribed timeline. There's movement. If the season of grief is heavy, like the larger teeter-totter partner, it may take extra time to get to the dancing (v.4). The encouragement in these verses is that the dancing will come. Seasons change, in life as with the weather.

As I walk through this life I have been given, I'm learning to recognize my rhythms. They may not be the same rhythm as what God has given you, but he is walking with both of us. Ecclesiastes 3:11a "he has made everything beautiful in its time." Everything is known by God. Everything has a season, even when I can't see it. In the middle of the tears I want laughter because I don't like to cry. I can take courage from the fact the tears won't last. They have their season. I'm thankful that God knows what we need each season, each activity, and each day.

My writing seasons, my organizing seasons, my gardening seasons, and my life seasons all have a rhythm. Sometimes I notice them and sometimes I don't. My life season is in transition. The girls are adults and now need a different type of energy and presence from me than they did while growing up. My writing, my hobbies, and my studies no longer need to occupy the margins of life. Whether in the margins or not, my writing has times of reflection and times of action. Sometimes I want to linger in reflection even when God is calling me to the action of putting words on the page. Sometimes I want to rush ahead. I continue to learn that whether I'm laughing or crying, reflecting or writing, God is in the season with me. He is leading me from shadow to light. No matter the season, I can be confident of His presence and His leading.

Lorilee Guenter enjoys gardening, reading and more. During the summer, her and her husband Bruce often hit the nearby trails. He carries a camera. She carries a sketchbook.

The Rhythm of Prayer by Peggianne Wright

Photo credit: P. Wright 2026

Valleys of darkness and despair, peaks of sunshine and joy, monotonous straight lines of humdrum; our journey through life follows a unique path filled with ever-changing seasons laid out for each of us by God. I've learned over the years that this also applies to our rhythm in the craft of writing. The ebb and flow of inspiration, the interruption that disrupts focus, and the exciting new idea that strikes without warning also subtly steer a writer's life in many directions.

"My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure." (James 1:2-3 GNT)

On an "off" day I will sit here in my study, surrounded by my "four-legged colleagues" all cozily snoozing, my fingers sitting idle on the keyboard. A dozen opening sentences are typed and then deleted. Feeling the symptoms of an oncoming migraine, I'll stare into space in a struggle to concentrate, knowing the looming submission deadline is ticking closer, my inner voice admonishing me for having let the days slide by without completing my task. I pray for encouragement.

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15 NRS)

Yet, another day will find me at my desk excitedly tapping out a new chapter or devotional, the words flowing faster than my 60 wpm fingers can fly. Not a single distraction will interrupt my train of thought; my colleagues snuggled in their regular places, softly snoring a quiet chorus. I pray in thankfulness.

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12 ESV)

And then, there are days that find my study in darkness, my colleagues scattered in all directions with their toys and games, my day dominated by a To Do list or appointment schedule. No writing to be done. I pray in confident anticipation.

When I first committed myself to the craft and dared to call myself a writer out loud, I often stressed and worried about meeting not only hard deadlines for the publications for which I was writing, but also the self-imposed deadlines I believed were necessary to advance to a higher level. After all, to be a writer you have to commit to writing those thousands of words per day, right? I read and followed the experts who pointed out that if any success was to follow, serious focus, routine, and discipline was required. I prayed for direction.

On a day when I'm struggling to get something written in the midst of an excruciating migraine (I suffer from a chronic condition), I stop and pray. I know I need the Lord's guidance and inspiration but also the touch of His healing presence. Sitting in relative darkness, I pray for fortitude.

Ecclesiastes 3 describes how the rhythm of life will move us throughout our earthly lives. As Isaiah 43:2 reminds us, God guides through the good times and hard, the busy times and the idle ones, the difficult circumstances and the celebrations.

Finding balance, in my personal experience, has evolved through the enrichment of my prayer life. As I pass through the ever-changing seasons of my life, recognizing them and then praying over them, brings God into the story and deeper into personal relationship with me. As I pray for healing, encouragement, gratefulness, wisdom, and more, I am also opening doors to my creativity; a precious gift from God.

The ups and downs of life will always follow God's plan. By staying in close relationship with Him through prayer, balance will emerge in all our circumstances.

"So I realized that all we can do is be happy and do the best we can while we are still alive." Ecclesiastes 3:12 GNT

Peggianne Wright is a published author and is the founder of the pet parent ministry Paws To Pray, blending her passion for the Lord and all-things-K9 to form this unique, faith-based community. Peggianne is an ardent Bible study student, devoted dog mom, wife of 44 years, and lover of music. Her blogs Spiritual Scribbles and Fur-Kid Fanatics can be found on her website www.PawsToPray.ca and you can follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PawsToPray/ and on IG @Sister_In_Prayer.

Balancing Life And Writing by Bob Jones

  

Photo by Loic Leray on Unsplash

“Life balance is more about intentional imbalance.”

Brian Moran

Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.

James Clear’s principle in Atomic Habits is like a neon directional sign pointing the way to wholeness.

I wanted to become a writer, and fortunately good advice came my way a quarter century ago. It was simply this:

Writers write.
So, write something every day.
It doesn’t have to be long or profound.
It doesn’t even have to be just right.
It does mean to just write.

Consistency rules.

Everyday I vote for writing.

Writing made me a writer and allowed me to live my life away from the keyboard.

Intentional Imbalance

So, every day, and usually at the start of the day, I write.

There have been seasons in writing a book that it was essential to invest long hours in segments everyday to complete the book on time. But those were short seasons.

Compared to the whole of my day, my writing time is way of out equalized balance with my other activities. I have a full time job at age 72. However, that is where Brian Moran’s quote comes into play. To balance life and writing is to live an intentional imbalance.

I must admit that I have to put a governor on my writing time because I love to write. How about you? I can get lost in writing, especially on Saturdays and realize 2-3 hours have gone by before I know it.

Energy Management

I’ve also learned that what is most profitable to manage is energy, not time. There are lots of books about time management but what created a breakthrough for me was an introduction to energy management.

Do what creates the most important results when you have the highest amount of energy.

I used to run first thing every morning and then work into the late afternoon. But my peak, creative energy is when I wake up. So, now I run or walk after 4:00 pm and start creating at 6:30 am.

Thank you for making time to read and if you will, comment.

Flexibility and Grace by Lorrie Orr

 

The famous lines of times and seasons in Ecclesiastes 3 tell us that “to everything there is a season.” How do you balance life and writing in the seasons of life? We all have lives that require physical presence away from the keyboard. What have you found helpful in maintaining balance? 

 

Photo by Lorrie Orr

I get up early, dress quietly and close the door softly so as not to wake my husband. I go downstairs to make a cup of tea, then climb the same stairs up to my studio. A neat stack of pages sits on my desk, the growing height an indication of the words typed and printed yesterday and the days before. Moments of meditation and prayer are followed by a productive hour or two of writing before I eat breakfast with my husband. I clean up the kitchen and do a few chores before returning to my desk to deal with correspondence, business items, and perhaps some editing.

Oh, if only. It's fun to dream about an ideal writing life, but that's all it is, a dream. In my real life, there is a garden to tend to, grandchildren to entertain, shopping and cooking that must be done, and a plethora of other tasks and delights to distract me from writing. And that’s okay. I like my varied life.

Writers throughout the ages have faced the challenge of their writing lives. In his article The Daily Routines of 12 Famous Writers, James Clear writes of authors who get up early, of others who rent hotel rooms for writing, and others who spend their days teaching and write in slivers of time. The key takeaway for me is that every writer has an individual approach to balancing life and writing. It may take time to discover the balance, and it’s likely to shift throughout life.

Flexibility is a key word for me. When I am engrossed in a project, I find it easy to dedicate more time to it, and I do get up early to work in the hush of early morning. This is easier now that it’s just the two of us at home. When my children were younger, I would use the time they were at school to write my articles or write while they were doing their homework. I fit my writing around the daily routines of meals and teaching. I don't determine to write every day. I try to write four days in a week, usually in the morning, but not always. 

Sometimes I must be intentional about my writing. It’s easy to get out of the habit of sitting down to write regularly and much more difficult to get back into a routine. There, too, however, flexibility comes into play. It’s okay to take time off when life presents challenges or other opportunities. As a teacher, I’ve always found sticking to a schedule in the summer almost impossible. Now that I’m retired, I give myself permission to take summers off.

Grace is another key word when it comes to balancing life and writing. Or life and anything! I can become quite negative about myself when I let things slip and I fail to meet the goals I’ve established. I am learning to give myself grace and to rest in the loving presence of God who loves me whether I write a single word or not. And I realize that sometimes God has other things for me to do.

Some days writing takes the form of words added to the Notes feature on my phone, or capturing a few thoughts on paper while I’m in the kitchen preparing food. These are small steps, but each step forward brings me closer to my writing goals.

The writer of Ecclesiastes also wrote these words: 

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding

it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled 

with rare and beautiful treasures.” 

(Proverbs 24:3-4) 

As I build my life and my body of work, I want to be wise, and am so thankful that God generously gives his wisdom to me, and to anyone who asks him.

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island.

Her first book, Life is Short but Wide, a memoir of 21 years

in Ecuador, was recently published.

More of her writing can be found at

Substack

her slice of life blog