Yes, We Can . . . Change the World!

Wanna read something that will really make you think? I was so impressed with a recent post by Shaun Groves that I wanted to share it here in case you missed it. Shaun is currently in the Dominican Republic viewing up close and personal the ministry of Compassion International, and has some excellent thoughts on President-elect Obama. I urge you to read it. Just click the link below.

Yes We Can

Perspective

Have you ever made a decision to do something really ambitious and once you got started realize that you hadn't fully counted the cost? Or perhaps you did count the cost but your perception of the cost was, uh, skewed? Ah, perspective. Looking at the goal from the underside somehow looks much different.

On October 22 I made the decision to join the community of writers who set it as their goal to write a novel in a month. That's right . . . the National Novel Writing Month online community set out on November 1 to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. That amounts to 1,667 words per day or about 4 pages.

I started out strong, and my brain was just popping with ideas, plots, characters, it was going to be great! Much to my surprise I was so energized by the prospect of doing this that I picked my exercise program back up, surmising that the time in which I worked out would be filled with dynamic brainstorm sessions, and when I sat down to write, my brain and body would be pumping strong and the words would just breeze across the page.

Then I got inspired to re-energize my blog, what you're reading right now, and so started spending time posting, re-designing the look, finding some graphics, etc. My one big project of the novel turned into three rather significant activities that all use time. I feel like I have possibly bitten off more than I can chew.

I plan to keep up with the exercising...I just need to do that for my health. The blog is something that I have been planning for a long time to grow and develop. And, I am not certain at this point if I will be able to complete the novel by November 30, the original project I set out to accomplish. Sigh.

Ok....friends....kick my butt, encourage me, advise me, anything to get me moving again. I'll let you know how it goes.

Awwww

Aren't they gorgeous? My DH sent them this morning just because . . . we've been married just a few months over a year, and thankfully all the romancing and tender gestures still exist for us. Thank you, hon, for all the ways you show me that you're crazy about me. I am a lucky woman. xoxo

Kingdom Coming Download

A little ditty that Shaun Groves wrote as we consider what kingdom we belong to while we're residing here. Thanks, Shaun.

Pray for them

It's finally here - election day. After a rigorous campaign season for all the candidates, the day has finally come for Americans to make their voice heard. Regardless of which side you fall on, we can all agree that our country desperately needs prayer...we need God's intervention in our affairs. The Bible says that the kings heart is held in God's hands, and that brings some comfort to the political process.

So as you go speak your voice today, pray. Pray for both candidates that God will give them wisdom, courage and strength to make good and right decisions for our country. Both of them will still have a job after the results are in and need God's help. It's also good to remember that regardless of who wins, the answers to our most important questions are still found in the Bibe, the Holy Spirit can still move and change hearts, and that our ultimate hope for living each day is found in Jesus!

I wish I could just write in "Jesus", and vote for him, it would make it so much easier! But, I can still vote for him every day of my life with how I live it, how I spend my money, etc. Both votes count.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

It's in the details

I have always described myself as a big picture kind of person...details, well, they are the necessary process of getting from one big picture to the next and I admit to being weak at those in-between steps. I don't think I'm lazy...but I admire people who seem to effortlessly think in details. In writing this novel, I am actually having loads of fun working on the details, fitting characters and events together cohesively to strike that balance between making sense and not making sense to create the necessary element of mystery. Even if I don't finish the novel, I am going to give it one heckuva try...I see tons of benefit from the process already.

For example, yesterday out on my walk for the day I was noticing the details...in the trees, the sidewalk, the song I was listening to, the cool air, the feel of the cool air on my skin, the trail of chocolat candy bar on the sidewalk....and these details were sparking ideas to be incorporated in the novel. I felt so alive and everything was so interesting. Makes we wonder if I've just been plodding through life relatively bored and not noticing much of anything.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons