While It Is Today ~ Valerie Ronald

 

Today—a word ripe with hope and possibilities.

I remember waking up on bright summer mornings as a child, eager to experience the adventures the new day had in store. Today stretched before me, full of exciting prospects. Who would I play with today? Are we going swimming at the lake? Will mom make hamburgers for supper? Being young, I knew instinctively how to live in the moment, so in a spirit of innocent anticipation I dove into the day without fear. 

Once I grew to adulthood however, not every morning held the promise of good things to come. I had learned through difficult experiences, that not all days are good ones. Life could change in an instant, leaving me wondering how a day that started so beautifully could end so badly. Grief, loss, pain or hardship often made facing each one a struggle. I was tempted to stay in bed rather than face the difficulties I knew the next 24 hours held.

When I became a believer in Christ, I learned that though I cannot predict what today will hold, I can face it by turning to God’s Word to help me navigate it. Despite my circumstances or the state of my emotions, the wise counsel of scripture teaches me to pause for regular consideration of my day in light of God’s ways.

Teach me to number my days, that I may gain a heart of wisdom. Satisfy me in the morning with Your unfailing love, that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days. (Psalm 90:12&14 NIV, paraphrase mine)

As today dawns, God’s book invites me to open its pages. By numbering my days illumined by His Spirit through His Word, He satisfies me in the morning and affirms His unfailing love. Even on the most difficult days, there is still a song of joy and gladness within me because I am His. He tells me so every day.

One thing God’s Word teaches us about today which is particularly applicable to writers, is that we are to make use of it to encourage or exhort one another.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Heb. 3:13 NIV)

In context, this verse warns the Hebrew believers to be careful to avoid unbelief or turning away from God, who gave them life. Instead, day after day, they ought to exhort one another while it is still called Today, seizing every opportunity to build each other up in their faith. We too, need to constantly encourage and exhort one another as writers, so that none of us will be hardened by sin or be pulled away from our true calling. Not only can we encourage one another, our ministry as writers who are Christians is primarily to encourage our readers toward God.  

In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul emphasizes the immediacy of accepting God’s offer of salvation today.

For God says, “Your cry came to me at a favorable time, when the doors of welcome were wide open. I helped you on a day when salvation was being offered.” Right now God is ready to welcome you. Today he is ready to save you. (2 Cor. 6:2 TLB)

Today I encourage you to weave the truth of the gospel, the good news of salvation through Christ, into your writing. As writers, we are each unique, having our own style, voice, and perspective. God has called us to speak truth into the lives of our readers. What a holy privilege it is to convey God’s love in our own words to those who need to hear about Him ˗˗ today.
 

The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.  (Psalm 118:24) 

 

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.

 

 

What's Your Touchstone? by Lorrie Orr

 

Last week my 12-year-old granddaughter wanted to sew a new pencil case for school. She looked at Pinterest and pinned a selection of ideas to consider. One triangular-shaped case appealed to her, so I downloaded the pattern. Nope, that wouldn't work; the opening was too narrow. Next, another on-line pattern. She cut and stitched and we both decided it was a silly pattern. Another one abandoned. We attempted another on-line pattern. With some revision, this one worked. Sadie was so pleased to finally have a successful project. But how much better it would have been if we could have evaluated the patterns without trying them out first. A two-hour project turned into most of the day.

Our prehistoric ancestors used what they found in the earth to help them survive life. Flint, gold, and copper were made into tools, jewelry, and later, coins. It didn’t take too long before wily traders figured out how to forge coins, making them with a veneer of gold, silver, or copper covering less worthwhile minerals. Real or fake? This became the question for shopkeepers and customers.

The solution – drawing a line with a dubious piece of metal on a flat dark stone, often made of jasper or slate to create a mark to compare to a line made by a known coin. Different metals and different purities make distinctly different marks. These flat dark stones became known as touchstones, and are still used today to test metal purity in some applications. The word touchstone evolved over time to become a “test or criterion to determine the quality of a thing, and later to refer to a fundamental or quintessential part or feature of something.” (Merriam Webster)

How does a writer evaluate her own writing and reading? Grammar, diction, flow, storyline, structure, and more are all things a writer must think about. But when it comes to the content, the things I want to write about, what standard do I use? What is my touchstone for choosing which words to write?

For me, Paul’s words to the Philippians, “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy – dwell on these things” are my touchstone.

I'm currently on the second draft of my memoir of our years in Ecuador. Every day I think, "shall I include this or leave it out?" I do not want to sugarcoat life, nor do I want to dwell on the dark times. I must ask myself, "Will reading this experience draw someone to Jesus or away from him?" "Is there grace?" When the subject matter is difficult or even ugly, I can write with sensitivity trusting the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth and the moral excellence I want to convey to readers longing for light in a dark world. I am so very thankful that God leads me to the light, to redemption, and to grace. I want my words to do the same for others.

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island where she loves spending time with her five grandchildren. She enjoys sewing, gardening, and reading. Traveling with her husband is fun to do now that we are both retired. 

Take Charge of Your Writing Life - Tracy Krauss

For most of the writers I know, finding ideas to write about is not an issue. Finding the time to craft these ideas into something worthy of sharing is another thing altogether. It takes effort. It takes discipline. It takes a certain amount of dogged determination.

Here are some pointers that I have found helpful:

1. Just sit down and do it! Don’t wait until you are less tired, more inspired, or not as busy. These are excuses that we’ve all used from time to time, but in the end, they are still excuses. Dust and dishes tend to regenerate—we’re all too busy—and that mystical muse gets far more credit than it should. Take control of your time and your muse. I have found that beginning is usually the biggest hurdle. Once I just sit down and start writing, fatigue, lack of inspiration, and anxiety about what else I need to do melts away.

2. Make writing a habit. Choose a daily word count or a time allotment. This is a habit I try to maintain at least five days a week. I also set monthly and yearly goals for myself that are specific and measurable. Note that when I say “writing,” I mean just that. Writing time is not the same as time on social media, editing, marketing, or other writing-related activities. Writing for me means composing something new, be it a play, a novel, a short story, or even a blog post.

3. Eliminate distractions. Turn off the TV. Shut the office door. Allow the answering machine to take messages. Close your Facebook page. If you choose to write for one hour, let’s say, then give yourself 60 minutes without all the distractions. I’ve even heard some writers say they set a timer. I’ve tried this a few times and it actually works well. When the timer rings, chances are you’ll be inspired enough to continue writing.

Naturally, we all go through seasons of productivity, and that’s okay, too. However, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut of inactivity that has its roots in our own excuses. Don’t do it! Take charge of your own writing life. It’s as easy as one-two-three.

I admit that I found this post in my archives. I wrote it for the InScribe Professional blog back in 2015, but I think the advice is still pretty good!

________________________

Tracy Krauss writes and lives in Tumbler Ridge, BC. Visit her website: https://tracykrauss.com

Trees, the Writer’s Friend by Alan Anderson

 

“Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy”—Psalm 96:12 (NIV)

 

Trees are our Friends

 

I graduated from high school a few years after dinosaurs bid farewell, a long time ago! The world did not seem as crazy as it is now. There was hustle and bustle, of course, but, at least in my experience, there wasn’t an information overload as one experiences today. People were busy working, going to institutes of higher learning, raising families, and finding their place in the world. This still happens today. Oh yes, and writers were writing. We often used pens, pencils, and if we could afford one, a typewriter, to put our words onto paper.

 

Speaking of pencils and paper, did you know they have something in common? You guessed it, they both come from trees. I mean the wood part of the pencil comes from trees. Pencils and paper are best buddies of writers. This means trees are also a writer’s friend.

 

Trees have strong roots

 

I live in an area surrounded by trees, both evergreens and deciduous. By walking among trees, they have taught me about the part they play in God’s creation. They are home to all kinds of birds, from little chickadees to bald and golden eagles. Five minutes walk from my home is a dike by a water body known as Nicomen Slough. Across the slough are small farms, homes, a school, and a store, all watched over by tree-covered mountains. Wow, a sight to behold!

 

Strong winds often visit the area at certain times of the year. Any tree that cannot withstand the winds does not last long. The ones who have survived for countless decades have strong roots holding them fast to the ground. The trees grow near water and the water gives them life.

 

Trees have Stamina

 

The dike feels the footsteps of residents of the area all year round. Walks on the dike are worth every step. Observant walkers will notice trees waving as they stroll by. The trees wave because they love the company of people. They even sing through the colours of their leaves when a creative person walks by.

 

You see, the waving trees all have stamina, this ability to be strong and courageous in the face of adversity like strong winds, heat waves, and torrential downpours. Trees recognize writers rooted in a call from God as those who also have stamina. These are writers who respond well to rejection and polish their writing instead of giving up. Writers with stamina work on their projects until they, like the trees, sing. When writers walk in the presence of trees, they are with kindred spirits.

 

Writers are like Trees

“They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”—Jeremiah 17:8

 

Trees give us cause to be inspired and write well. To walk among trees may cause a seed of a story, poem, article, or song to sprout into life. With this act of creation, the writer creatively sings and declares God, the Master Writer, will bring one’s words to life.

 

Through all the time they have existed, trees still stand strong. They tell endless stories of all they have witnessed as part of God’s handiwork. Trees are a constant reminder for writers to know they also create beauty. Wise writers learn from strong-rooted trees. We can ensure that we root our efforts and skills in God's call on our lives.

 

 

 

Alan lives in a small village called Deroche, British Columbia, with his wife, Terry, and their poodle, Charlie. He enjoys walking on the dike near his home with trees all around, where he finds inspiration for his writing. He occasionally writes articles for FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship blog. His website is https://scarredjoy.ca.