Month: November 2016

Journey of Choice | Quote Day 05

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Well, Journey of Choice has taken an interesting turn this month. My goal was to write 20,000 words and finish the rough draft. I wrote 10,414 and reached a dead end. 🙂 So, I printed out what I have and am about to read through it — to get ideas, to critique, that type of thing. I may actually start my editing/rewriting before I have the ending solidified. 🙂 There isn’t a law against that, is there? 🙂
This type of thing has happened before in my life: where I thought I knew what direction I was going then slammed to a halt and had to regroup. What about you? What is one area that you thought you had something mapped out, then God allowed things to go differently than you planned? How did you grow from that experience?
Now for the promised quotes…
Envisioning the battle…
Honestly, reading up on what our brave ancestors went through, I feel like I just cannot do their service justice. But to imagine the battle, men in action… it is sobering and exhilarating. 

^ True story ^

Scripture Graphics 14

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“And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good. And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.” 2 Chronicles 18:12-13
Whether we are preachers, counselors, writers, speakers, or just friends, what do we speak? Do we veer from God’s truth to speak that which ears want to hear? Or are we faithful to speak only that which God says?


“Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” 2 Chronicles 20:17
Some battles are won by seeking the Lord (2 Chron 20:3) then standing back and letting Him work.


The power of influence is shown here. But living upright only under godly influence is not enough. If that influence is taken away, will we still follow God? If not, then were we following God or a person?

Change it Up!

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Today I’m happy to have a guest blogger over, Rebekah A. Morris. Rebekah has a whole bookshelf of novels and short stories that she’s written. Check them out!

Have you ever heard those words shouted at a hockey game? Have you watched some players suddenly leave the ice and take a seat on the bench while others vault over the sides to join the game? I’ve only seen it happen in movies because where I live, well, we don’t have any hockey teams.

But just the same, I think there is a lot to be said for that little phrase in regard to us writers.

Have you ever felt like you just couldn’t write? Like your creativity was being stifled or lacked that something that you use to have? I have! Many times. And that’s when I’ve begun to discover something.
For years I’ve known that I wrote best in the evenings. From after supper up until time for bed was the best time. But I wanted to write more. So, since I don’t do well staying up late, I decided to start writing before supper. At first it was hard. I could hardly get anything written. Then it got easier. And easier.

I used to write sitting on my bed. Then I tried standing up when I was tired of sitting all day long. I discovered that I wrote better that way most of the time. But sometimes it still couldn’t write. So I tried a chair in the other room.

Sometimes your writing may need you to “change it up.”

Now I may write standing up and using my music stand as my desk. Other times I find more inspiration sitting in a chair near a window, or perched on the edge of my sister’s bed with my music stand lowered. My writing time can now start as early as 3:30 or as late as after supper. I’ve never tried a coffee shop though. (Maybe because I don’t drink coffee.) But I did discover that I could write in an empty class room at church on Wednesday night after I helped with the nursery class.

So, if your writing is feeling blah and you just can’t seem to find the excitement, “Change it up!” Don’t be afraid to be different. Move to a new place, stand instead of sit, write at a different time. That might be all you need to get fresh energy. Don’t get stuck in a rut because someone told you that you “need to always write at the same time.” Maybe you need a change.

Have you ever experienced a fresh energy for writing by changing how, where or when you write? What is the most unusual place you have found yourself writing a story? I’d love to hear about it!


Scriptures Graphics 13

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The ability to learn is there. The comfort and hope is there. Do we apply ourselves to glean from God’s Word?


I was working on memorizing these verses last night, and the beauty of it struck me. Jesus Christ, centuries before I was born, laid down His life for mine — not because I’m someone special, but because He loves me.


What a blessing to know that God does not help us based on our greatness or our ability. Whether it is in small areas or large, He is our help in time of need.

A Royal Ball

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Okay, so maybe it’s a cyber ball… but anyway… I’m excited to be a part of a FaceBook party for several authors today! We’ve already had some fun the past week and there’s going to be a lot more. I’m “on” from 6:00-6:30 (CST) if you’re on FaceBook and would like to stop by for a chat. I’ve got something fun planned out with me and my character, Belle, from Befriending the Beast.
But! I wanted you all to be a part of the giveaway, even if you’re not on FaceBook! I’ve not read most of these authors, but a giveaway for a Kindle is pretty fun! 🙂


The CROWN JEWEL PRIZE giveaway for a Kindle e-reader and 12+ e-books is sponsored by the authors of the “Meet the Authors of 2016 Royal Ball.” The giveaway will remain open until 12:00 am (EST) on Monday, November 14. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on the event page (https://www.facebook.com/events/1755476794702604/) on Monday, November 14 at 1:00 pm (EST). No purchase necessary. Open to US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open Honesty: Hard Days

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
I sit at the piano, plucking things out, trying to find something creative, but all I get is a monotonous run of the same-ol’, same-ol’. Come on.I’ve arranged hundreds of songs! Surely one more won’t be the end of me!
I dig into God’s Word… only to come up dry. Shouldn’t I find something — something— to encourage me for the day?
I stare at my computer screen. One hundred words. This is all I need to write for my novel today. But it is hard. Nothing is coming. And I get further discouraged. (By the way, THIS makes 100 words — yeah, not much is it?)
The examples can go on. Whether it is with projects, home-life, friendships, spiritual life, or church issues, we’ve all been there. Days can be hard. Tough. Dry. Discouraging. Days in which we want to do nothing but surround ourselves in a fat layer of self-pity and mope. Because after all, writers are supposed to write, aren’t they? If I’m in God’s Word daily, I should get something out of it daily, shouldn’t I?
When I was having a hard week recently, the Lord had to put some things into perspective for me.
1) I can’t claim verses such as 1 Peter 4:12-13.
When I truly think about my “hard days” in light of Scripture, I am not suffering for Christ, per se. Sure, it may be an attack from satan, if I am truly striving to do something to follow Christ. But I’m not spilling blood because I’m standing up for Christ. I’m just frowning because my day isn’t going smoothly. There is a big difference.
 
2) I’m not the only one struggling.
It’s easy to think that I’m the only writer out there who can’t get words or ideas to come. Even when I know that two of my author friends have admitted writing had been hard for them too. On spiritually hard days, I tend to forget the friend that just texted me that she’s also having some spiritual struggles.
3) My struggles aren’t the biggest ones out there.
While I’m sitting there, tempted to mourn about lack of ideas and inspiration for my pet projects, there are several families in our community who are morning the tragic accident that killed three family members and sent seven to the hospital in critical condition. This is just one instance I know of. Many others around me are facing life-threatening issues. I am nothing but a selfish wimp that wants things to go my way.
4) My focus is on ME.
The magnifying glass is on my problems. They’re more acute, more painful, more serious than the problems anyone else is having. Which often leads me to not having “room” for other people and their struggles because really, “Mine are more than I can handle.”
5) I need to get beyond this.
The beauty of realizing points 1-4 is that the Lord then shows me ways to overcome them.
–  One of the greatest ways is to pray for others. When struggling spiritually, pray for other believers and their spiritual walk (even if I think they have it all together). When words don’t come, pray for other Christian authors who are striving to share the Gospel. When I’m tempted to pity myself, pray for people with real problems — big problems — that only God’s grace can help them through. The list of people and needs I can pray for are much larger than my life.
– Another very important thing is to “count it all joy” or “in everything give thanks.” Seriously. I stop and start listing things I’m grateful for. I could never count them all… so by the time I get through a dozen or two, wow! I’m really blessed.

You know what? I have had some puddles to wade through, but when I think realistically — when I turn my focus away from myself and to God and others — my days really aren’t that hard after all.

How do you get through hard days? What helps turn your focus away from yourself?