One Truth

    The other day, I got in a discussion with a non-Christian friend that didn't go very well.
    We were talking about God and the theory of evolution, and that conversation took a turn towards the topic of truth. What it is. The Bible clearly says that there's one truth, but my friend and a bystander who happened to be listening in seemed comfortable with the notion that truth could be something or something else, but it was okay to get it wrong. They didn't seem concerned at all about believing a theory concerning our origin and our eternity that's not true.
    This is sad and dangerous, regarding truth like a flavor of ice cream--as if it's alright to guess on or even make believe what reality is. Believing that it doesn't matter whether or not you believe in God or the devil or heaven or you-know-where.
    But it does matter!  If there's no solid foundational truth, anything--including something very wrong--would and could be considered right. Mainly, if someone chooses to disregard God's Word, if they choose to think of Jesus Christ as an option they could pass on, they'd literally be condemning themselves.
    The truth is this: we mess up. We need a Savior to redeem us in order for us to get to heaven, to have a relationship with God, and to fulfill our purpose. Jesus Christ is that Savior, the Son of God--and God the Son. We need Him. He loves us, and will redeem us the split-second we ask Him to.
    Truth isn't whatever you want it to be. It's singular and real. That's what makes it true. Agree?

Incentive

    Incentive. It's motivation used to inspire a person to work or accomplish a task.
    A lot of people use incentives to get to work. Some people set up a reward for themselves that they'll earn when they reach a goal. It motivates them to work hard and push through issues to reach their goal.
    A lot of writers use incentives to motivate them to write during writing slumps or to keep themselves encouraged. Some writers use the right to watch certain shows as incentive, or relaxing time, or snacks. I use popcorn. :) And these incentives do help a lot of the time, motivating us to get a lot of work done.
    But on the other hand, sometimes incentives can become distractions. If it's something like an addictive show that you simply cannot keep your mind off after watching, or if it's a small snack like M&Ms that you can't merely stop munching on . . . there could be a little problem with getting back to solid work. Sometimes, not always.
    Do you use incentives? What are they? Do they work?

Acts 2:4

"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Acts 2:4 (NKJ)

     Now wouldn't that be awesome? One moment, you can only speak English, and the next you can speak in a dozen other languages fluently. Spanish, French, Mandarin, Russian, Japanese, Arabic . . . the skill would certainly open up a lot of job opportunities--and opportunities to spread the gospel.
    As far as I've heard, radical episodes like this are rare these days--but the Holy Spirit definitely still gives utterance to people. Even utterances that are completely foreign to us. The Holy Spirit can make a stuttering person speak with perfect eloquence and He can empower someone who doesn't have a way with words to make perfect sense.
    The Lord has told us not to be afraid concerning what to say because He'll give us the words we need. This verse is a good example of how He does that, isn't it? :)

Awakening

    You know how on school days, lots of people are accustomed to waking up at six or seven sharp, but that when they're on vacation, most people sleep in?
    I've heard that in a way, spiritual life can be like that. When you're not going through a trial or wrestling through a problem, when things tend to be all calm and peaceful, you start to get comfortable. Maybe after a long time, too comfortable.
    When one kicks back, relaxes just a little too much, they tend to drift into a slumber-like state. Soon enough, they can't remember certain important things like Bible verses, they don't have the energy they used to, and they just aren't accomplishing as much as you did before. One just feels . . . tired.
    I think maybe that's why God doesn't let things always be quiet. When we're active, when we're fighting the good fight of the faith, we're using our strength and getting stronger, being wide awake, alert . . . and winning those battles.
    So if you feel like you just can't get a break, don't worry. He does give them, and until then, you're getting stronger. :)

Jocelyn Hughes On Secondary Characters

   I am so sorry this post is late! Homework burns time so quickly . . .

"Treat all your secondary characters like they think the book is about them."

~Jocelyn Hughes

    I adore a story that brings you so deep into it that the storyworld seems like reality and the characters seem like actual people. A well-written protagonist and antagonist are two of the most important factors in a story--and also, having well-written secondary characters are vital too.
    After all, how different would The Lord Of The Rings be if Merry and Pippin were just "the comic relief guys who joke around all the time" instead of two noble Hobbits trying to do their part to save the Shire? Or if Roar from Under The Never Sky was just only Perry's best friend, not mentioning that he's also a charismatic guy on a mission to rescue his love? Or if Christine from Divergent was only another Dauntless girl rather than a humorous, kick-butt best friend of Tris?
    A realistic character is one you have fun with, one you enjoy reading about. Giving secondary characters goals and lives of their own is a great way to make them like that.

Romans 12:21

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Romans 12:21

    Anyone here ever heard a song called "Overcomer" by Mandisa? It's really catchy and powerful. Fun. :) This verse kind of reminds me of it.
    It's way too easy to fall victim to evil in this world. And I'm not only talking about being robbed or beat up or contracting a deadly illness. Evil can also hit you with fear, unnecessary shame, depression, fury. And sometimes it's really hard to resist these feelings, these tendencies.
    But thankfully, the Lord's given us a way to fight back--with good. What is good? God is. And His Word has been called our sword in spiritual warfare.
    We aren't meant to be victims of evil. We're meant to fight it--and beat it. God will give us all the strength we need to do so.
    I hope this is encouraging. May God bless you today! :)

Be At Rest

 

"If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at God, you'll be at rest."

~Corrie Ten Boom

    It's true, isn't it? When I look at the things that are happening in the world, all the political problems, the global threats, the evil that's shadowing this world, I tend to get at least a little nervous. And when I look at myself, really look at myself and remember the mistakes I've made, the sinful nature I've got, my human nature, I feel really disappointed.
    But when one looks at God and His awesome love, His incredible grace and forgiveness, and His unmatched power, all that fear and worry don't seem to matter anymore. The problems are dwarfed by God's awesomeness. When I see how much stronger than the enemy He is, I no longer fear them. When I see how God is willing to and has already forgiven even the sourest sin, I'm freed from guilt and shame. When I see how God wants to help me change and be better, I'm strengthened in that.
   We can rest in the Lord, in the sacrifice He made to redeem us. And it's a pretty great rest. It's freedom.

Growing Older

 

 

"Do not regret growing older. It's a privilege denied to many."

~Unknown

    I couldn't find out who said this quote, but whoever it was couldn't have been more right on the matter.
    Lots of people have despaired at least once during their life about getting older--including me. Becoming older means entering a whole other world--one that seems gray and tough, unforgiving, with frightening problems like debt and keeping a job. Frankly, it can really bring a person down--and make them want to be young for the rest of their lives.
    But this Unknown person is right. We shouldn't be upset about getting older, about becoming adults. There are lots of people who won't get to grow older, who won't have the time to get old and have so much experience.
    Becoming an adult--or an older adult--really isn't the end of the world. It's an opportunity. An opportunity to do things, create things, and make differences in lives.
    The Lord promises that He's with you, and that He's got a great future planned for you. That no matter what happens in life--be it money troubles or relationship issues--He won't let you sink.
    So don't be afraid of getting older. With God, there's no need to be.

First Draft Syndrome

    Have you ever just stopped writing in the middle of your first draft and thought, "wow, this writing stinks. There are so many errors. The characters are flat. The plot is dry." And you can't shake this miserable feeling and the voice in your mind that says that the story isn't going to work out?
   Not a fun feeling. It's First Draft Syndrome--the point in time when you're writing your first draft when you see all the  flaws and want to give up. All the other story ideas in your head suddenly seem so sparkly, so fun, so perfect. And what you're presently working on seems old, dry, and maybe even deplorable. You begin to consider the prospect of dropping the story and moving on to something else.
    Don't! At least, not so soon. Writing is supposed to be difficult sometimes, something you work at, something you perfect. Sometimes it takes more time with certain projects than it would with others, but if you put strong effort and passion into writing and rewriting, the story's bound to at least be better than it was before.
    God wants us to be successful in our writing, He inspires us--but the Enemy wants just the opposite. If God is leading you to do great things with writing, the Enemy will fight that fiercely.
    So if you're currently or ever get burdened with First Draft Syndrome, keep writing and keep praying on it. God will lead you through it.

Jeremiah 33:27

 

"'Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?'"

Jeremiah 33:27 (NKJ)

    I like this verse a lot. It's short, easy to remember, but very, very powerful and comforting.
    When life gets hard, when the world seems to be shrinking around you, boxing you in, and everything seems to be getting darker, God's Word is something you definitely want to hang on to. It bring peace and hope and promises that will be fulfilled.
    This sentence is no exception. God promises here that He is stronger than whatever problems you may face, and that He can do anything--including the seemingly impossible.
    God cares about you deeply--so much that He died to save you (and then rose to life again). He wants what's best for you, and He will always be there for you. Just trust Him.

Ah, Vacation . . .

    Ah, vacation. Right now, I'm on Spring Break, and it is so relaxing. I get to take walks, take an occasional nap, procrastinate from writing, eventually get to writing, read, go to the public library. It's so fun.
    It's nice to get a break from work, isn't it? Holidays are cool. The word holiday actually derives from the Old English term for "holy day."
    God invented a bunch of holidays for His people. Days of feasting, remembrance, rest. Days of happiness. And then there was the weekly holiday, the Sabbath (which our Saturday comes from :D).
    God understands our need for rest. In fact, Christ says that He will be our rest. Isn't that cool?

Beating The Beast Of Writer's Block

Hello, blog world! How's life?
    And for everyone writing, how's the story (or poetry)? Is it coming along? Getting into any writing slumps? Or even--grimace--writer's block?
    Writer's block is a beast. A slug-like beast that grabs you with its tentacles, covers you in slime, makes you drowsy, and immobilizes you. You don't know what to write when you have writer's block--and you may also feel totally dry. It can make a writer dismayed or drive one crazy!
    Here are a few ways to beat that beast (at least, some of the ways I try to beat it):
    -Read. Reading is fun, it refreshes a person in serious need of an adventure, and it stimulates your creativity when imagining the scenery as you read. Not to mention, you could also observe how other writers write and develop some of their techniques. And who knows? Maybe while reading, you'll get a burst of inspiration, a new idea!
    -Write. I know, I know. Writing is the very thing you may be having difficulty with right now. But maybe you're just getting tired of writing a specific thing all the time--maybe your imagination needs a vacation to another setting. Try looking up writing prompts and use them to write some paragraphs (or even just a few sentences). You never know--maybe a character or plot will rise from the prompt that you'll fall in love with instantly.
    -Just Relax. Take a break. We need relaxation every now and then. That's why God invented the Sabbath day. Give your brain a nice rest and do something non-writing related. Take a walk. Watch some movies. Eat a bunch of snacks. Bake something. Chat with some friends. Have fun. :) I've observed that when I to stop thinking about a story for a while, when I come back to it, the story, characters, and storyworld seem much more interesting and fun. Plus my mind isn't tired and stiff.
    -Brainstorm. You'd be amazed how much talking can help a story. It doesn't even have to be a person you talk to. Just talk about the story, the ideas you have, the settings, the problems. Vocalize your thoughts. Pray about it. You might be surprised at what good ideas spring up.
    -Listen To Music. Maybe there are a few songs that fit your story perfectly. Songs that would be background music should your story be adapted into a movie. Try listening to that music. It's encouraging, and maybe your mind will dream up scenes that'd go with the music perfectly.
    Well, I hope these would help. Have a great day! :D

Luke 24:6-7

"'He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."'"

Luke 24:6-7 (NKJ)

    Happy Resurrection Day, people of the blogging world!
    Resurrection Day is another term for Easter. And indeed, it is a happy day.
    It's happy because of what it means, what Christ's resurrection means, for us. Three days before, He had been crucified and had died--but He did it to offer Himself as a sacrifice in order to redeem us from our sins. And according to His word, we would know His sacrifice worked (that we were forgiven) when He rose from the dead three days later. If He didn't rise from the dead, that would mean that we would be stuck in our sin, unable to have a relationship with God, unable to go to heaven--because no human being is perfect, no one is good enough on their own.
    But Christ was resurrected! He did rise from the grave! His sacrifice redeems us of every mistake me made and every sin we ever committed if we accept Him as our Savior. Because of His sacrifice and the fact that He lives, we are completely redeemed. It's such a wonderful, awesome, joyous thing to know.
    So I hope you do have a wonderful Resurrection Day. :)

Ah, The Beauty Of Nature

I take these pictures of things from every day life with a regular camera. Isn't the world pretty?

Ah, Spring is so beautiful. Flowers everywhere, awesome sunsets, nice weather . . .

    God can do some awesome stuff in nature, can't He?
    He makes beautiful flowers grow every Spring, but lets bare branches and snow show their glamor during Winter. He lets red and brown leaves fall during Autumn to decorate the ground, and during Summer the skies are bright and warm. He lets the stars wink at night, the moon shine brilliantly like a round diamond in a velvet background. He paints sunsets and sunrises, swirls clouds, lets breezes dance in the air.
    Seriously, if you stop and just watch nature for a while, you'll see how beautiful it is. How creative God is with His art.
    Ah, the beauty of nature is a wonderful gift, isn't it?

Let It Begin!

    Ah, April is here. A new month. New things to do.
    Today just happens to mark the start of Camp NaNoWriMo. I'm not attending this year, but I am trying to write the first draft for a new story this month.
    Starting a new story can seem thrilling, daunting, or both. You're thrilled about the new adventure awaiting, but maybe doubts are also floating around. Will this story be dull? Will the plot sound stupid later on? Will you run out of ideas to keep the events coming? Will this thing work out?
    If you do have these doubts, don't worry! All great things usually start out this way. The most talented and successful authors have doubts about their newest stories. It's a part of the writer life.
    If you're starting a new story, congratulations! Enjoy the experience! Get to know your awesome, friendly (or maybe not so friendly) characters, see the sights, jump the fences. Have fun!
    Let it begin!