Do It

 

    Procrastination is like a sinkhole, isn't it? It's so easy to put something off! Especially when you can make up excuses to do it later, or find something else that "needs" to be done before you do it. And sometimes, you just don't feel like doing it--you're more in the mood to do something else.
    But then time flies and two days have gone by. Then another day, and another, and another. Then a week has passed. And soon enough, it's too late to do the thing. Sometimes the consequences are small and bearable, but other times, consequences are . . . not so small and bearable.
    My advice is: do it. Just do it. Despite how difficult it might be, even if you really don't feel up to the task, get it done and over with. When you do, it can be very rewarding.
    Procrastination is a beast that must be slain!
    Do you have a specific way to beat procrastination?

Little Mistakes

    Everyone makes mistakes--big ones that makes one embarrassed every time they think about it, and little ones they can shrug off.
    Characters definitely make mistakes too. In the stories they're in, they typically make big mistakes. Huge mistakes that change the course of their life and/or their journey, mistakes that hurt or ruin a relationship with another character. But what about the little mistakes?
    I think that a character should make one or two little mistakes in their story. Something that doesn't make a dramatic change, but isn't completely pointless either. A mistake that causes something, but doesn't have long-lasting consequences. Like running into a wall or misplacing something.
    If used correctly, little mistakes can be used to set a scene or reveal a part of the character or push the plot forward a bit. Like for example, a scene could be opened with the protagonist calling another character by the wrong name. This gives an opportunity to introduce the other character and/or to show that the main character is somewhat distracted with something else on their mind.
    So what do you think? Does your character make little mistakes?

Jeremiah 1:8

"'Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,' says the LORD."

Jeremiah 1:8

    I can't be the only one who's afraid of making people angry with my words, right?
    Surely it's understandable. People are not pleasant when they're angry, and when that unpleasantness is directed towards you, it's not fun. At all.
    As Christians, we want to talk about God, tell people how wonderful it is to have a relationship with Him, and show them how to get saved. But when we do that, there's a real risk of being mocked, branded as narrow-minded, or of making that person really ticked off at us. Of course no one wants that to happen--so a lot of people are scared of mentioning God at all.
    But God encourages us and tells us not to be afraid. He is with us all the time, and He'll give us the right words to say. Sure, you might be put down or made fun of. But if someone listens and becomes interested in God as a result, isn't it totally worth it?

Luke 12:25

"'And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?'"

Luke 12:25

    The answer is . . . no one.
    You can't get taller or solve your problems by worrying. If anything, being worried worsens the situation and it wears you down.
    A lot of people are stressed and sleepless because of worry. They're unable to hope for the future because there are so many things that could go wrong. Some people might think that being worried is logical--that by expecting the worst, it won't hurt as much when it happens. There may even be people who think it's healthy to worry.
    But God says otherwise. He knows that worrying is torturous, and that by worrying, we're denying ourselves hope. Worse than that, we're denying God's promises. He's promised to keep us safe and that everything happens for a good reason. Time and time again, He's told us not to be afraid, but to trust Him.
    God will be with us no matter what we go through. He has a plan that ends in our favor, and He is with us every step of the way. So no matter what happens, we don't have to worry.
    God is with you. Everything will be okay.

Behind Closed Doors

     Five days ago, on the night of the Fourth of July, my cat was sitting in front of the French doors in our living room, gazing longingly out through its doors at the sky.
    He was meowing--and I'm not talking about the cute little "mews" that kittens pine or the silky "meows" that young cats coo. I mean the deep, throaty, low-pitched "mrows" that adult cats apparently like to yowl over and over again early in the morning or in the middle of an otherwise peaceful afternoon--pretty much whenever they want something.
    On that particular night, our cat wanted out. He is a major predator, and by being indoors he was missing out on important prowling time. Not to mention hours he could be spending defending his backyard territory from the other neighborhood cats. He was very indignant about being imprisoned indoors, and so he staged a protest of repetitive, insistent mrowing.
    Of course, we didn't let the cat go outside because it was the Fourth of July. There were at least a dozen bad things that could happen to him, like getting hit by stray sparks from a firework, or being hit by a bicyclist or a car. We were keeping the cat inside for his own safety--not that he realized it.
    I think that's kind of how it is when God closes doors to us in life. He does everything for our safety and welfare, so when He doesn't let us do something, it's because He knows it'll hurt us. Sometimes, we might not see the danger in something God closes a door to--it might be something we really want, something that looks like a boatload of fun. But if God's not letting it happen, it's because He loves us deeply and wants to protect us.
    I think it's really a comfort to know He'll keep us safe like that. Don't you agree?

Try Another Genre

    Boredom. It's unpleasant. It's fatal in writing. And it's one of the main components in writer's block.
    Eventually, most if not all writers get bored of what they're working on--not always a specific project, but sometimes it's a genre one gets tired of. After months of thinking, reading, and writing about the subject, it can seem really old and overused. Ever felt that way?
    Try writing in another genre--not permanently, but temporarily, kind of like a vacation for your brain. That way, your creativity doesn't stop, but it's not running dry either. You have a chance to stretch your wings in another topic, and maybe discover something you love writing about as much as you did with the previous genre.
    Go ahead! Try it! See what happens. :)

Psalm 27:8

"When You said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'Your face, LORD, I will seek.'"

Psalm 27:8 (NKJ)

    "Seek My face," God said.
    To seek someone's face is basically to meet up with them and know them better. Kind of like you'd get to know a friend, growing closer to each other and strengthening the friendship. Here, God is giving us an invitation to get to know Him better.
    Why do we have to be the ones to approach? God's not being hard-to-get or anything. He wants us to approach Him because He won't impose on us. He wants us to be fully willing and glad to be in His presence, praying and hearing from Him not out of a sense of duty, but out of an eagerness to know Him better. You know what I mean?
    Well, have a great week, people of Internet land! :)

Songs: Good For The Soul

    Music is really awesome--and beautiful. Harmonious sound that can touch the heart and make one feel certain things.
    Lyrics are similarly amazing. They're words that come together in a certain beat, holding deep, strong meaning. And they too can bring out emotions from people.
    Together, music and lyrics are a powerful combination with unlimited potential.
    A joyful song that sings of the greatest things in life can make a person feel empowered and ecstatic. A sad melody about loss can provoke someone to tears. Songs about a place or a time period or a person can make a person reflective and thoughtful. And songs with a message in them (like to have faith in the Lord when things seem to be rough) give people peace and encouragement.
    Songs are powerful, beautiful, and enjoyable. Good for the soul. Don't you agree? :)