As you can see on the left, we have another new author to welcome to the blog. Hi, Randie...we're so glad you're here!
We have three other email invites out there, so fingers crossed there will be more people to welcome soon.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
My Vindicator
Do you ever feel that you have an enemy that is so great that it's only objective is to destroy you? Or is it only me? Am I alone in this fight for my survival in this world? What can my purpose be that this enemy set out to destroy me so many years ago and is relentless even today?
As I begin to see the light and hope begins to rise up inside me, my enemy immediately becomes threatened and seeking its most appropriate vessel uses him most effectively. His chosen vessel begins to berate me with words that scream loudly in my head. As I fight his onslaughts, and as I try to defend myself, every word I speak is turned against me, even in my tears he screams my inadequacies at me, scorning my tears as a weakness that I should be ashamed of. He grins at my lack of control, gaining power in my loss of it. As I make my stand face to face he finds pleasure in my stance. He sees that he has roused my old self, my calm, loving disposition is beginning to disappear, and he begins to revel in the old me rising to the occasion. He knows he is winning again, he knows that I am weak to his temptations. His lies slither out of his tongue with such a vile sting. Part truth, part lie, twisted with great expertise that the very mission of these words find their target as they penetrate into my gut. I start to lash back at him wanting more than anything to destroy him, but I stop myself and begin to pray. I ask God to help me, that I not to be used as a weapon to cause more pain. God gives me strength to weaken in my stance and I lean on him as I quit fighting. My enemy unexpectedly retreats. Exhausted from my restrain I lay my head on my pillow and I cry myself to sleep. I awaken the next day with my enemy's vessel at my feet. Unlike before, he appears broken and full of sorrow. He leaves on his own accord to seek out the demons that rage inside of him, and as I watch him drive away, I realize that my enemy is also his! I rejoice that I had the presence of mind to reach for my vindicator, my banner, Jehovah Nissi, letting him fight my battle for me breaking the enemy's power over me and foiling his plan to use me as his vessel against another. Today, I am tired, but I find comfort in the scriptures and I rest assured that tomorrow will bring a renewed strength.
Scripture references:
Duet 20: 3; 4
Eph 1: 19-22
Eph 6: 10-12
As I begin to see the light and hope begins to rise up inside me, my enemy immediately becomes threatened and seeking its most appropriate vessel uses him most effectively. His chosen vessel begins to berate me with words that scream loudly in my head. As I fight his onslaughts, and as I try to defend myself, every word I speak is turned against me, even in my tears he screams my inadequacies at me, scorning my tears as a weakness that I should be ashamed of. He grins at my lack of control, gaining power in my loss of it. As I make my stand face to face he finds pleasure in my stance. He sees that he has roused my old self, my calm, loving disposition is beginning to disappear, and he begins to revel in the old me rising to the occasion. He knows he is winning again, he knows that I am weak to his temptations. His lies slither out of his tongue with such a vile sting. Part truth, part lie, twisted with great expertise that the very mission of these words find their target as they penetrate into my gut. I start to lash back at him wanting more than anything to destroy him, but I stop myself and begin to pray. I ask God to help me, that I not to be used as a weapon to cause more pain. God gives me strength to weaken in my stance and I lean on him as I quit fighting. My enemy unexpectedly retreats. Exhausted from my restrain I lay my head on my pillow and I cry myself to sleep. I awaken the next day with my enemy's vessel at my feet. Unlike before, he appears broken and full of sorrow. He leaves on his own accord to seek out the demons that rage inside of him, and as I watch him drive away, I realize that my enemy is also his! I rejoice that I had the presence of mind to reach for my vindicator, my banner, Jehovah Nissi, letting him fight my battle for me breaking the enemy's power over me and foiling his plan to use me as his vessel against another. Today, I am tired, but I find comfort in the scriptures and I rest assured that tomorrow will bring a renewed strength.
Scripture references:
Duet 20: 3; 4
Eph 1: 19-22
Eph 6: 10-12
Another Writing Link
I thought of Stan's Student when I first saw this link for "Write a Novel" (http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/novel), but it has some great pdf. download articles with topics such as the elements of a successful story, ten points on plotting, scene construction, and symbolism, which I know will be helpful to me in writing my creative piece for class.
For those of you who may have missed it in a previous comment, Stan's Student provided the link to the National Novel Writing Month site or nanowrimo for short. He has been an active participant in this event and has won the last three years! He's promised, as the time gets closer, to blog about the contest and his participation.
(Wow, reading over this, it's obvious Lesson 7 hasn't sunk in yet. Yikes!!!!)
For those of you who may have missed it in a previous comment, Stan's Student provided the link to the National Novel Writing Month site or nanowrimo for short. He has been an active participant in this event and has won the last three years! He's promised, as the time gets closer, to blog about the contest and his participation.
(Wow, reading over this, it's obvious Lesson 7 hasn't sunk in yet. Yikes!!!!)
My Creed
Too many years ago to remember, while some of the events in the "Story of Stories" were unfolding, I needed to work out who I was and would be about. No current bow existed to trace the source of my arrow of life, thus came a calling to define a target so the arrow would have a place to land. So the following is...My Creed.
It is my right to be decidedly me;
not a creation of those around me -- provided I will!
I look for chances to explore -- rather than to snore.
I want to risk; to dream and to build,
to fail and to succeed.
I refuse to trade favors for favors in order to get ahead.
I prefer the challenge of life to the guaranteed existence;
the thrill of accomplishment to the stale calm utopia.
I will not trade my dignity for a handout.
I will never cower before any master,
yet offer all praise, glory and respect to my God in Heaven.
It is my decision to stand erect, proud and unafraid;
to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit
of God's creations and those created through my hands,
and to face the world boldly and say, this I have done.
All this is what it means to be me.
It is my right to be decidedly me;
not a creation of those around me -- provided I will!
I look for chances to explore -- rather than to snore.
I want to risk; to dream and to build,
to fail and to succeed.
I refuse to trade favors for favors in order to get ahead.
I prefer the challenge of life to the guaranteed existence;
the thrill of accomplishment to the stale calm utopia.
I will not trade my dignity for a handout.
I will never cower before any master,
yet offer all praise, glory and respect to my God in Heaven.
It is my decision to stand erect, proud and unafraid;
to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit
of God's creations and those created through my hands,
and to face the world boldly and say, this I have done.
All this is what it means to be me.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Another Interesting Writing Link and a Blog Bizness Note
(Everyone: Please let me know if you don't want these types of postings. I wasn't sure if any of you would be interested in links to online writing resources or not and didn't know if I should add any to our writing links section. We've got a great group of people here and we should all have a say so as to what should be posted here or not. I think we're all comfortable enough with each other to be able to express our honest opinions on these types of issues without hurting anyone's feelings.)
Another great writing site I'm falling in love with is http://www.writerswrite.com/ It seems overwhelming at first with the huge amount of information that hits you on that first page. But, I've found some great sections on the left hand side near the middle and bottom of the page. The two sections I've spent a lot of time in are the "Special Section" (which has every form of writing you can image) and the "Resources" section (which includes articles, interviews with authors, writers conferences, writers groups, writing contests, and, the bane of all our existences, grammar searches). Also, under "Jobs and Markets" there's an incredible "Guidelines Database" (for those interested in being published) which includes a search engine which lets you search by keywords (like specific genres), pay status, etc.
And just so you know, Ann Garci, I searched it by the keyword "Christian," checked all pay sources, and checked poetry and there were quite a few publishers to choose from.....HINT HINT!!!!!
Our blog is really picking up steam, which is incredible! I just wanted to let those of you who aren't familiar with Blogger to know that our page is only going to show a certain number of posts, which may not be all the posts for that day. If you scroll to the bottom of the blog, under the last post listed, you'll see "Older Posts" on the right. Click on that and you'll be able to see the posts before the ones on the first page so you won't miss any of the incredible writing being posted here (or the rants depending on how our writing went, haha!).
Another great writing site I'm falling in love with is http://www.writerswrite.com/ It seems overwhelming at first with the huge amount of information that hits you on that first page. But, I've found some great sections on the left hand side near the middle and bottom of the page. The two sections I've spent a lot of time in are the "Special Section" (which has every form of writing you can image) and the "Resources" section (which includes articles, interviews with authors, writers conferences, writers groups, writing contests, and, the bane of all our existences, grammar searches). Also, under "Jobs and Markets" there's an incredible "Guidelines Database" (for those interested in being published) which includes a search engine which lets you search by keywords (like specific genres), pay status, etc.
And just so you know, Ann Garci, I searched it by the keyword "Christian," checked all pay sources, and checked poetry and there were quite a few publishers to choose from.....HINT HINT!!!!!
Our blog is really picking up steam, which is incredible! I just wanted to let those of you who aren't familiar with Blogger to know that our page is only going to show a certain number of posts, which may not be all the posts for that day. If you scroll to the bottom of the blog, under the last post listed, you'll see "Older Posts" on the right. Click on that and you'll be able to see the posts before the ones on the first page so you won't miss any of the incredible writing being posted here (or the rants depending on how our writing went, haha!).
Mother
Several years ago, I had a serious disease and other related health problems, I was in a nasty divorce situation and had no job or money and a child to support. Mothers day was coming up and I just didn't have a thing for my mom. The following poem was all I had for her. She still has the original tucked away in what she calls her "treasure drawer"
MOTHER
As a young girl from the country you came,
You met a young boy and walked down the lane.
Excitement and love filled your head,
You and the young boy were wed.
There was a place for more love in your home,
You wanted children of your very own.
First came Sally with eyes of blue,
Oh my, if then you only knew.
Second came Harry with curly hair,
With all curiosity he really does care.
Third came Daniel so big, gentle and meek,
A handsome little baby when he was asleep.
Ma-ma, the first word of these three,
What a joyful sound it came to be.
Nothing for ourselves could we do,
All our needs were met by you.
As days went by like turning gears,
We grew into our teenage years.
Our trials and troubles came by the miles,
But we were always met with loving smiles.
With questions and problems to you we came,
No matter how big or small you answered us just the same.
Our mistakes and failures you are not at fault,
If we had just listened like we had ought.
Your deep devoted friendship and love,
Came to us, through you, from God above.
The struggles and sacrifices you have made,
Has surely a crown in glory laid.
The values of life that we have been taught,
To our children we pray have been brought.
Our childhood years have long been gone,
Most of your grandchildren are now grown.
Even some have children of their own,
We are so thankful for you they have known.
On this one most celebrated day,
To give you due thanks, there just is no way.
Your love, guidance, leadership and total giving,
Made all our lives worth living.
I am very hesitant about hitting this publish post, I feel as though I will bare my soul. I know this isn't professional writing but it's just a little something I have done. I hope you enjoy reading this. Well here goes the publish post button..............
Possible Writing Links of Interest
Science-fiction writer Michael A. Burstein has a livejournal blog at http://mabfan.livejournal.com/ with some interesting links for writers along the right-hand side near the bottom of the blog.
If you're a science-fiction writer, you'll be in heaven with all the information he includes. But, even if you're not part of the SF genre, there's a couple of websites he links to that I think would be of interest to any writer: The Grand Index of Writing has some amazing articles for beginning writers regarding ideas, word usage, the common mistakes of beginning writers, etc. that I'm really enjoying. Then, for those who have publishing dreams, the links for Robert J. Sawyer: Landing an Agent and Ralan's Publishing Index have some wonderful information.
Have fun!
If you're a science-fiction writer, you'll be in heaven with all the information he includes. But, even if you're not part of the SF genre, there's a couple of websites he links to that I think would be of interest to any writer: The Grand Index of Writing has some amazing articles for beginning writers regarding ideas, word usage, the common mistakes of beginning writers, etc. that I'm really enjoying. Then, for those who have publishing dreams, the links for Robert J. Sawyer: Landing an Agent and Ralan's Publishing Index have some wonderful information.
Have fun!
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