One Voice ~ Write Right

Accentuate the Positive

2012-01-31T05:40:00.000-06:00

Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.
Willie Nelson

***

In writing, you’re going to come across negative and positive situations. I’ve run into an entire site of negative goofballs that I’ve found, and it is just time to eliminate the place entirely from my life. Happy them, oh joyous me!

I always try to surround myself with a positive flow of energy so that the positive will flow through me and into them, but I do expect the same in return. If you can’t respect me a little, then you are not worthy of an ounce of my energy. By putting a positive spin on our writing, nothing negative can from it. Hand it to a negative and you’ll get a negative return.

Sure, if you put it in the hands of negative people, you do know what’s going to happen don’t you? You will surely be told all negative things about your work. They might say, “This stinks! You really need to work on your writing!” “Well this is okay, but this could certainly be better.” No I’m not saying that you want to hear all good things and praise for your work, but you would like honest feedback and respect, wouldn’t you? You’d like to feel something positive coming through the screen.

In a world where Satan has plans and twists and turns for everything that God has put into place, we need to be a stronger species and become aware and delete the force from our life so we can walk in the Light of the Lord. In my writing world, the negativity has worn me down to where I had never ever wanted to write again. And it wasn’t until I got rid of those negative people from my life, that my writing life took on a whole new turn, for the positive.

Sunday evening, satans minions were out in full force, tugging at me and pulling my strings. As you know of my health issues, you know I am at this point, very weak physically, but have never been stronger spiritually. While I was bonding with my sweet sisters in Christ, through prayer and common bonds, the dark one was swiftly at work trying to put an anchor to the ship that has done set sail with God’s breath.

Are any of you aware of his malicious intent? Are any of you brave enough to put a stop to him that speaks as a viper, licks with a wicked forked tongue and strangles you with his mighty bound force? Many walk on in stride, ignoring his clutch, pretending that if you ignore his strength, befriend him, he just won’t exist or have any input in your life. That my friend, is a lie that he has fed you and a lie that you believe.

I woke in a sweat Sunday morning at 3 a.m., from a nightmare. The doctors were telling me that they couldn’t help me, they wanted their money ($5000 dollars) and to come back and see them when I got the funds. Shaking and trembling, tears didn’t just leak from my eyes, it was a deluge! I came out to write. Still reeling from the negative spew of the night before, nightmare all to vivid in my mind, it was washed away by the Grace of God and one email! “We have the funds!”

You see, satan had wanted to put a halt to Gods plan for me, but he forgot who has more power. God has more power and has surrounded me with a positive flow of people who will lift me up in Christ, and satan holds no power with his negative people and forces!

I don’t apologize for not allowing the wolves in sheep's clothing, to come and sit with me so as to find my weaknesses so they can strike. If by the Grace of God, you are surrounded by the power and positive energy of the Light, satan and his minion folk can’t touch you. Oh, they will try...but one needs to be aware, or the negative force will wreak havoc in YOUR life.

Go with Godspeed... accentuate the positive; you, your health, and your writing is well worth it!

Internal Editor

2012-01-30T05:39:00.000-06:00

It is perfectly okay to write garbage – as long as you edit brilliantly.
C. J. Cherryh

***

Now this has happened to all of us writers at one time or another in our writing career. We open our workspace (document) to write, begin writing, and see a typo or something else that catches our eye, we go back to fix it and do that down the entire page, and realize the entire five hundred words were led by...our internal editor.

As much as I hate to admit it, editing has hindered my writing on more than one occasion. I don’t just mean a proofreading of my work; finding the misplaced comma, grammatical errors, typos and such. I mean editing to where I rewrite a sentence, place a more heavily understood metaphor in its place; trashing an entire sentence and rewriting it to where it looks and sounds right. This has been me on more than one occasion.

I’m here to tell you to shut it off!!! You can not get anything accomplished if you’re always looking back over your shoulder to see the trail (mess) that you leave behind. We must always look ahead and embrace whatever we must at that place in time. Writing is like the long journey which we trek down in life; we’re always doubting, shaking our head, often trying to fix the wrongs and make them right, and how successful was THAT? Impossible!

As writers we always try to fix the wrongs as we’re writing and that is just plain futile! It gets you nowhere and certainly doesn’t keep you writing. I’ll let you in on a little secret. It might not be a secret, maybe all writers have found this morsel as they grow as a writer.

1. Open your document and turn spellcheck off!!!
2. Start writing and DON’T look up at the screen!
3. Don’t stop until you feel that you’ve hit 500 words, AT LEAST!

Okay, now you can look up at the mess, I mean writing. If this is enough writing for you. Stop and fix. If you’re writing a short story, look back down at the keys and begin writing again, another five hundred words. Keep doing this until you’re done for the day and you’ve accomplished what you came for.

Don’t allow your internal editor to tell you what to do! Too often we listen to others around us or that small voice inside, and we’re ready to listen to it too, because we always think it to be right. Well I’m here to tell you the truth. Nine times out of ten, that voice is wrong and just wants to confuse you and lead you astray. Know anyone like that?

I grew up in a household full of negativity and had to teach myself how to break free from that scary inner voice and listen to the one true voice that God gave me. One Voice- one truth. Remember that! As you’re writing and the voice says, ‘that’s no good! You stink.’ Turn it around and repeat after me, ‘MY WORK IS GOOD! Not GREAT BUT GOOD!!!’

As you continue to feed a positive affirmation to the mix, the negative voice sounds like a muffled taped-mouth voice! Eventually ONE VOICE will win, and it won’t be that lackey the internal editor!

Poetry Sunday ~ Angel Speak

2012-01-29T08:34:00.003-06:00

1 Chron. 16: 10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

***

Angel Speak

***
The purple azure sky
calls me to a place of rest
where my body knows no limits
I’m one of heavens guest.

The sun has not yet risen
although beauty still abounds
the earth is meek and quiet
with silent morning sounds.

The pleasant walk among them
I hear their morning call
life is stirring round me
in the elegance of it all.

They dance with fine twined linen,
sing with voices nigh
gives all praise and honor
to the One who sits on high.

I prance with patient glory
I know His will for me.
To dance among the angels
to live and tell the story.

Quotation Saturday

2012-01-28T07:46:00.000-06:00

HEALTH

The trouble with always trying to preserve the health of the body is that it is so difficult to do without destroying the health of the mind.
~G.K. Chesterton

I reckon being ill as one of the great pleasures of life, provided one is not too ill and is not obliged to work till one is better.
~Samuel Butler, The Way of All Flesh, 1903

The power of love to change bodies is legendary, built into folklore, common sense, and everyday experience. Love moves the flesh, it pushes matter around.... Throughout history, "tender loving care" has uniformly been recognized as a valuable element in healing.
~Larry Dossey

In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired.
~Author Unknown

Physical ills are the taxes laid upon this wretched life; some are taxed higher, and some lower, but all pay something. ~Lord Chesterfield
Diseases of the soul are more dangerous and more numerous than those of the body. ~Cicero

In minds crammed with thoughts, organs clogged with toxins, and bodies stiffened with neglect, there is just no space for anything else.
~Alison Rose Levy, "An Ancient Cure for Modern Life," Yoga Journal, Jan/Feb 2002

In a disordered mind, as in a disordered body, soundness of health is impossible. ~Cicero

Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.
~B.K.S. Iyengar

SELF-RESPECT

In my day, we didn't have self-esteem, we had self-respect, and no more of it than we had earned.
~Jane Haddam

I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence. ~Frederick Douglass

Self-respect cannot be hunted. It cannot be purchased. It is never for sale. It cannot be fabricated out of public relations. It comes to us when we are alone, in quiet moments, in quiet places, when e suddenly realize that, knowing the good, we have done it; knowing the beautiful, we have served it; knowing the truth we have spoken it.
~Whitney Griswold

Never violate the sacredness of your individual self-respect.
~Theodore Parker

I care not so much what I am to others as what I am to myself. I will be rich by myself, and not by borrowing.
~Michel de Montaigne

If you want to be respected by others the great thing is to respect yourself. Only by that, only by self-respect will you compel others to respect you.
~Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Leaving a Mark

2012-01-27T08:53:00.001-06:00

Immortality is to live your life doing good things, and leaving your mark behind.
~Brandon Lee

As a writer, it is your job to leave a mark in the hearts of readers. I’ve seen a lot of writers over the years and quite frankly they have not left a mark, or left an impression that they even care to write. So why be the all mighty and powerful poster of nothingness? I’m a bit confused on that one.

Since the beginning of the new year, I have written every single day. I take the time to write something of value so I can touch every reader of my work. I feel that if I just pull rubbish out of my hat to write, then what is the point in writing? I’m not saying that last year I didn’t write, because I sure did do a whole lot of writing, but my FOCUS was not on the writing world it was a lot of rubbish about my life, my triumphs and trials and I’d toss in a few writing posts. Then I was off taking care of writers and just not interested in writing.

As a train came down the track, and basically ran over me slicing my legs in two, figuratively, I lost the joy of writing! I seriously contemplated giving it up because of the disaster, but as the year ended, I realized, I am more to the world than any person that unleashes hatred on me. More I tell you; to myself, my life, and to the world. They have their cozy place all picked out and I hear it’s a nice warm place too, but me? I rise above, spread my wings and take flight!

Like I said, I began the new year with a juicy new incentive, to WRITE! That’s right, my legs may have been severed but it did nothing to my hands that could tap out promising posts day after day. Here we are, twenty seven days into the new year and already am I revived, rejuvenated, eager to bring to the world something of substance.

As my health hangs on the wings of prayer, which is mighty fine by me since I know my health is in good hands, I continue to shine on and give to the world a light that they may have thought dimmed. *I* can not be dimmed by the likes of imps. Nope, I march forward each and every day, write to my hearts content, and make something of this life that I’ve been given. I’m proud to call myself a writer! Honored that the Good Lord gave me awesome gifts to share with the world.

I began another blog telling of my pretty ugly life story. I’ve written daily writing posts that actually pertain to writing. I have put off all the silliness, tossed aside the immature-unprofessional-zany-crazy-woohoo-life of last year, stood up and took notice of where I was going wrong and have put into perspective just what I am here on this earth for, I have come to this world and this juncture in my life to leave my mark on each and every one of you! The goal of every writer!

This year: Mission Accomplished!

"A writer lives, at least, in a state of astonishment. Beneath any feeling he has of the good or evil of the world, lies a deeper one of wonder at it all. To transmit that feeling, he writes."

~William Sansom

A Passion for Writing?

2012-01-26T09:50:00.001-06:00

Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you're doomed.
Ray Bradbury

***

Are you passionate about writing? I may not make millions of dollars on my writing but truly, I don’t write for the love of money. I write because it is a fire burning inside me that I call my passion in life!

When you sit down at the computer are you sitting down because your passion for writing is calling you, because the virtual social world is tugging for you to come on in and play? Or is sitting down to write a chore you’d rather let someone else clean up for you? Whatever the reason you are sitting down at the computer, your passion is calling you to come and stroke the softness of the keys, to tap out a sumptuous piece of writing that is worth reading by other people.

If everyday you come to this computer and get nothing accomplished in the writing world (assuming you’re a writer) does what you came here to do, actually make you feel complete? Are you accomplishing what you set out to do? Writing takes on the roll of passion as it moves you forward in your writing journey. It doesn’t take a nonchalant approach, a fun filled whimsical lifestyle, it takes serious passion!

As I watch other writers move around me, I sit at the observance level watching them make their way through the day. Yeah, did you know you can glean a lot by witnessing people throughout the day, move through the virtual world, thinking themselves a fly but really are a loud elephant stomping through the safari? They are leaving a trail behind of who they are, piece by piece, step by step, the squirrels like myself follow and study the elephants as they walk slowly, making a mark, their mark, in the virtual world.

Are you going to be one of those writers that is admired for your writing? Are you going to be thought of as the silly one that went through the day getting nothing done, but had fun doing it? Or are you going to be a passionate writer, that people look up to and want to emulate?

I’ve discovered that each writer is different in their actual passion for writing. Some I see, setting goals for each day, and accomplishing them daily as they publish, submit, and get published. I call those writers the Goal Setters! I examine the behavior of some writers actually working on a novel or story, writing every day to move one word closer to getting the book or story where they need it to be. Searching markets and striving to be the best writer they can be. I call that type of writer The Go-Getters! Then there is the writer who writes sometimes, plays all the time, never accomplishes anything with their writing in their day of service to writing, and I call them, The Wanna-be Writers.

Writers need a passion for writing and whether it is reading or actually writing, you need to stoke the fire daily or you will certainly watch a once flaming element burn out and turn to embers before your eyes. Make a wise decision in your journey, because it is all the passion that is left in you today.

Do Readers Write?

2012-01-25T10:04:00.000-06:00

In yesterdays post, I stated that writers read. We flip through the leaves of a book, go sailing on an ocean, climb into a characters head, and enjoy the journey we’re taken on. What is also true is that not all readers write. My dad was an avid reader. He could always be seen, sitting in his recliner, blanket over his legs, and a book in his hand. Lots of people in my family liked to read, educate themselves, drink from the fountain of knowledge, but none of them aspired to be an actual writer.

That’s not saying that they couldn’t write, but none ever went the distance of pursuing a writing career. I sometimes thought that with the proper support, they might have journeyed out into the unknown world of writing, but as it was in my family, support was not to be had. We were lost kids seeking approval of something, anything, and it was not to be. Just as I had to find my way to Christ (or He found me) I had to lead the way down my own path in life.

I’ve seen people who’ve read all their lives who never ever wanted to write. “That is just not for me.” they say, but then after retirement sets in, and they want something different to do, they try out their hand at writing. And I’ve seen some success from that leap in life. They’ve gone on to be published writers!

What is the difference in a reader and a writer? A writer WRITES!

A story is told of a famous writer who was invited to address a group of aspiring authors. He arrived at the venue, walked onto the stage, and looked down at the upturned faces of his admiring audience. "Ya wanna be a writer?" he said. "Then go home and write."

With that, he pocketed his check, and left.

So you wanna be a writer? Here’s some interesting tidbits for you:

1. Do you write almost every day? Journal, snippets, 500 words or less. Or more?

Then you’re not a writer

2. Do you allow yourself to think of YOU?

Writing requires that you spend a fair bit of time in your own, totally isolated zone, oblivious to the demands of others, no matter how reasonable their demands might be.

3. Do you know WHY you want to be a writer?

The urge to share is a primary driving force for writing. Whether it is to share an idea, a story, just a simple piece of information, you feel that people have a need to know. The main thing is, that what you write should matter to YOU and to your readers.

4. Do you think you’re a good writer?
Well there’s a problem. No one THINKS themselves a good writer! We ALL think we can use some work!

5. Do you read as many books, as much as you write?
Then you have a persistent road that needs grading, get to it!

Tidbits over, now a few thoughts to leave you with.

If you wanna be a writer, plan on reading A LOT!
Plan on WRITING a lot!
Plan on harsh criticism, mostly from yourself!
Plan on getting published!

Writers Read

2012-01-24T09:40:00.000-06:00

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

~Eleanor Roosevelt

As a writer, it is essential to read, and I don’t mean every book On Writing that you can get your hands on, because I’m from the old school, you can not ‘learn’ to be a writer. And this is true, if you think you can write just because you want to, you are on the wrong path. Jump off and join a circus, better odds of success there. You can learn the basic elements of writing, but to be a writer, you need to READ and to WRITE! All writers are avid readers. You’d be hard pressed to find a writer who says, “I don’t read books.”

Are you kidding me? Why does one become a writer to begin with? It is because you were little once and climbed into a book and chapter after chapter you were swept away into a fantasy land. You then thought things like, “I could do that! Take people to another world of imagination.” And the dream of becoming a writer was born. What were you, a month, two months old when your first book was ever read to you?

I didn’t become a writer, I’ve been a writer all my life, and you’ll hear that a lot too in the writing community, “I was born to write!” We began our life being read to, then we began reading all on our own, then we saw something that was like a small spark of fire in the dry timbers of the pages. We knew we could write a story like this or that, and so we started with an essay, then it grew to a short story and maybe poetry, then we were well on our way to driving the train into the writing world.

I used to read anything and everything I could. I began diving into books of fiction then moved onto philosophy, then psychology, then I got into reading about the many different religions, physics, quantum physics; I just got wrapped up in those books educating myself for who knows what purpose, then I returned to fiction. All the while growing, I was writing poetry and stories on a typewriter until about ten years ago I got a computer and began joining writing sites and poetry sites, posting my work for all the world to see.

Being the most popular will not make you a good writer, popularity and over eagerness will NOT make your writing appear better! My family never supported me then and doesn’t support me now. In my physical realm, it is just me. In my virtual world I have an over abundance of support! How did you become such a good writer, you ask? Well, it was through the encouragement of the many writing communities, a two year writing course, and being wrapped up in words like a blanket to my soul. It was due to the fact that I have read thousands upon thousands of books. To be a writer, one must be a reader first and foremost, then writing comes almost as natural as brushing your teeth in the morning.

You're Not Alone...

2012-01-23T09:03:00.000-06:00

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.
Albert Einstein

Have you ever felt like sometimes your writing is in vain? That you’re alone on this intergalactic spaceship filled with words that are taking form but no one is there reading those thought provoking words? I have felt this way many a time in my writing career and that is the reason I join writing sites, so I can share my words with at least SOMEONE who is like minded and cares enough to read what I write.

Often times I post my hard work and it is as if I have the plague. People won’t comment and I realized something this week. I wrote this awesome poem. Yes, I am conceited enough to know when my poems are awesome. Some I might say, “EH.” to, but more often than not I say, “Wow! Where did that come from?” So what did I discover this week? That newcomers to the writing world are intimidated by another writers ‘well written’ work. Even if they like it, they should respect me as a writer and say so. If they don’t like it, then say so that too!

You see, my poem was so awesome that they felt less confident in themselves or they may have felt they didn’t measure up in some way. I’m here to tell you, stop with the ‘I fear, woe is me pity party’ please! You have a right to be nervous, you have a right to be leery of sharing your work with others, you even have a right to feel you won’t measure up. But by golly, if YOU are taking on the name of calling yourself a ‘writer’, you better stiffen up and get in line that stretches around the corner to the pity party.

YOU are not alone! You need leather-like skin in this business. We writers are not here to stroke your ego, we’re not here to make you feel special, we’re here to read what you wrote, and give honest feedback, so you can GROW as a writer! Sometimes people don’t feel like they are in a place where they can give feedback and that they just want to write, post and have people like what they write.

Well I’m here to tell you, not everyone will like what you write, and good writers will be the first to tell you where you might need work, where you did great and where you need a little tweaking. Did you join a writing site to post pictures? Did you join to promote your blog? Did you join to make all the friends you possibly could? I don’t think so, I think you came to learn the craft of writing and to share what you have learned along the way.

Too often I see people who write, but need a picture to visually give an idea of what they have written. If you need a picture to help people understand what you’ve written then you better go find a stock photography site and start posting there. Writers can give you a visual with no picture needed. THAT is what the craft is all about! Being able to fill your readers mind with the visual picture of your spectacular work!

You’re not alone in the journey, you joined a writing site to share the journey with fellow writers. The least you can do is respect the others, and give a kind and gentle comment (if you have nothing to offer constructively) and begin becoming a REAL WRITER.

Writing is an occupation in which you have to keep proving your talent to those who have none.
Jules Renard

Poetry Sunday ~ Cataclysm

2012-01-22T06:47:00.000-06:00

Matt. 8: 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Cataclysm

***

Windswept willows work the breeze,
timbered towers sway the trees
singsong stallions stay the field
fiery foxes, to man, gives yield.

Hallowed hounds track the scent
another day for him is spent;
wicked wind howls through the air
fleeting falcons weave with care.

Gathering geese have all give rise;
brisk beat winds bare the skies.
Cumulus clouds clap with thunder
Every eye looks on in wonder

All will weaken lest they wallow
something strange is sure to follow.
Awakened conscious now can see
a shattered world we can not flee.

Silent sickness sweeps with sound
gnashing teeth torment the ground.
Swords will swing as men have fallen
heaven’s open, He’s come a callin’!

Is. 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Quotation Saturday

2012-01-21T08:59:00.002-06:00

~ ACTION ~

I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts.
~John Locke

We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.
~Frank Tibolt

An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied.
~Arnold Glasow

Note to self: finding a cool quote and writing it in your journal is not a substitute for Getting. It. Done.
~Betsy Cañas Garmon

~ WRITING ~

Detail makes the difference between boring and terrific writing. It’s the difference between a pencil sketch and a lush oil painting. As a writer, words are your paint. Use all the colors.
~Rhys Alexander

Zest. Gusto. How rarely one hears these words used. How rarely do we see people living, or for that matter, creating by them. Yet if I were asked to name the most important items in a writer’s make-up, the things that shape his material and rush him along the road to where he wants to go, I could only warn him to look to his zest, see to his gusto.
~Ray Bradbury

If you find yourself imitating another writer, that doesn't have to be a bad thing, especially if you are a young or a new writer. However, you should be conscious of exactly how you are imitating him - word choice, sentence structure, motifs? - and think about why you're doing it.
~Poppy Z. Brite

Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

~ GRAMMAR ~

My spelling is Wobbly. It's good spelling but it Wobbles, and the letters get in the wrong places.
~A.A. Milne

Devotees of grammatical studies have not been distinguished for any very remarkable felicities of expression.
~Bronson Alcott

Women are the simple, and poets the superior, artisans of language... the intervention of grammarians is almost always bad.
~Rémy de Gourmont

Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson: you find the present tense, but the past perfect!
~Owens Lee Pomeroy

~ ART ~

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.
~Henry Ward Beecher

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
~Scott Adams

The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life.
~William Faulkner

Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.
~Stella Adler

SoulSongs~My Minds Eye

my life story

Professionalism

2012-01-20T08:17:00.000-06:00

It only takes one person to change your life – you.
Ruth Casey

***

There comes a point in ones writing career when you realize the importance of acting like a professional. If you’re just writing to make friends, to be popular, to just plain old have fun, then you are in the wrong business. Maybe you should think of joining a circus, or a carnival, or perhaps a day care where the children don’t want you to be professional, they want a like-minded person who is funny and will play all the time. Remember, they WANT Bozo the Clown for a friend!

When you join the writing sites, it is pretty important that you come off as a professional. You never know if a prospective editor, agent, or publisher is sitting right next to you, observing you before she/he approaches you. If they see that you can’t even act professional, why would they want to take something as serious as getting you published and helping you with it, into their professional business?

Allow me to ask this, when you submit your work, are you going to put cute little hearts on your work, a few woohoos; are you going to sign it with (hugs)? I’m just here to tell you, that your work will go right in the trash! Why? Because not only did you not adhere to the guidelines, it was because you were very unprofessional in the submission of your work!

As teachers of writing, we have to set proper examples for the new writer to follow. When we act in a childish manner, the newcomer finds this as an example to follow and they go on acting like a child, then the whole class begins acting like a child, then the classroom erupts in crazy behavior and becomes a circus-like atmosphere. Which has me running for the exit. But it has the newcomer embracing the silliness, and then the entire school is acting crazy and unprofessional and makes me not want to be a part of the writing world!

I will not take seriously anything someone is trying to teach me if they continuously shout out “WOOHOO” with a smiley or the words, woohoo. An occasional smiley might make them feel welcome, but the annoying over use makes you appear not very knowledgeable, or better yet, very unprofessional in the field. You’re waging a popularity contest, an ego boost, and in hindsight, you’ve created a series of fellow performers. You were just suppose to teach lessons.

The RINGMASTER - YOU, the teacher! The one who is guiding and leading has trained:
CLOWNS - these are the folk that follow your insanity and lead others too!
TIGHTROPE WALKERS - these are the ones that stand high above you looking down, wondering what they got themselves into.
TRAPEZE ARTISTS - these are the ones who swing all around the place, trying to fit in, and showing off their silliness, as you taught them!
JUGGLERS - Who juggle many sites, doing the same thing. Running around being crazy.

Now don’t get me wrong, the newcomer is frightened as it is upon entering a new course, and when they see someone acting like a goof, they then think, “Hey, this is an okay place! I feel at home.” Then they go onto acting a little loose too, where otherwise they might have remained professional. I say this: Know your boundaries! Set your limits! Know that the writing community is full of professional people, just waiting to help you along your path. Even the ‘stiff shirts’ can be a little zany sometimes, but we know what our job is and that is to guide you in the RIGHT direction, not skirt you off to the circus!

The Confident Writer

2012-01-18T13:44:00.001-06:00

You don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.
Les Brown

***

I have noticed that a lot of newcomers come into the writing world lacking confidence. I don’t know if its their age, immaturity, low self esteem, or lack of confidence in their writing ability, but these folks need to learn from the ground up. Their first step is to join a writing community. This is where they take that first baby-step.

I’ve watched many join a writing community that are well versed, well spoken and darn good writers, still they lack the confidence needed to get them to the next level, and that is, publication! So they meander around the writing site, setting their writing free to the writing community, and get accolades on their writing and in essence get their confidence built up!

Now with the ‘newbies’ they call them, they are testing the water, dipping a toe in, seeing if it is warm enough to go swimming with the, I’ll call them ‘oldies’. The oldies are going to show the newbies the ropes and hopefully lead them in the right direction with their writing. Now some oldies are just as unprofessional and unconfident, so I think that is giving the newbs false leadership because then when the newbs decide the water IS nice warm and safe, they find they’ve jumped into shark infested waters that the oldies never warned them of at all!

Confidence is opening a vein. Have you ever walked into a crowded room, all eyes were on you, and your stomach started churning and gurgling? You stood there with beads of sweat starting to form on your brow and the palms of your hands were sweaty? That is your lack of confidence rearing it’s ugly head trying to get you to bolt right out the door. But in your confidence, you stand and walk through the throngs of people with a gentle smile, and you look at the people, straight in the eyes, and make your way to the buffet table!

A confident writer is one who has written a tale, has read the story and maybe even revised it, walks into his classroom and delivers one of the most outstanding short stories the people have ever read. They attack the grammar, fix a few sentences, tear apart your spellbinding work and you, you walk away from the buffet table feeling full as if you have eaten the entire table. Your peers liked your work so much, they felt it worthy to straighten a few things out with you. The confident writer goes back to the table, takes all of their advice, reshapes, re-forms the tale and brings it back to the classroom shiny and new.

They love it! Now the confident writer seeks a market for the story. Searches and searches until they have found a home for it, and when (not if) it gets published, you go back to your peers and they all let out a roaring clap and congratulate you.

Now the not-so-confident writer fears even pulling her/his work out for everyone to see. They’re the ones who either bolt out the door as soon as the eyes are upon them. Or they walk slowly to the buffet table, head lowered, never seeking eye contact with one individual. They eat (read others work), they nibble (give a little feedback) they mingle (befriend and enjoy the camaraderie), and soon, after seeing that the people are all just like him/her/them, the confidence starts to build and slowly but surely, they are sharing their work.

Whether good or bad, you will never ever get an ounce of confidence if you don’t walk in the door, and take a big old chomp out of what scares you the most! With fear you will always remain a newbie in a world of popular confident people.

My entire point here is this: Share your writing with confidence! Or you will remain a fearful newbie writer for a good long time!

Write On!

2012-01-17T09:16:00.000-06:00

If you have an hour, will you not improve that hour, instead of idling it away?
Lord Chesterfield
***

The world of writing is all about writing. Trying so hard to over please people, clicking the LIKE button one hundred times a day, does not make people LIKE YOU more it makes you pitied more. I have joined a couple of new writing sites where a like button is obscure. And the one site that does have a like button I haven’t seen anyone going down the board clicking like to something as simple as “my dog died”. You know these people don’t even read what they are clicking like to, they just want to BE liked and are over compensating while looking a little foolish.

No this isn’t at facebook that I’m speaking of, this is just my observance elsewhere on the net. A site that I no longer promote because honestly, its an embarrassment and I would not refer a professional, only for them to lose money because that is what they sought, a professional writing atmosphere.

Writing takes focus, writing takes commitment, writing is the breath of you and there will come a time when you can like your way into peoples lives, and some will buy it, but professionals won’t. A professional writing site is focused on your writing, your creativity, your story and structure, they don’t need the like button because everyone is equal!

That is what I seek in my writing journey, like minded people, who are creating and crafting stories, willing to give honest feedback, and are a comfort to wake up to, not a big scare. I laid my dream on the line, now I’m going after it without all the idle distractions of the day.

What will you do this new year to make your writing dream come true? Will you waste it trying to be liked? Or are you going to write, snag that keyboard by the keys and begin tapping ‘til your fingers bleed? You betcha!

Things to get you focused on WRITING:

1. Open your MS word, or whatever program you use, and begin with...”The clouds swept over the house...” or something to that affect. I notice if I open with an action line, many other words start to flow that I didn’t even know I was sitting down to write!

2. Disconnect from the internet! That is one of the main distractions to writing and that is the internet, looming in your browser, if it is open, you are more tempted to be distracted from it!

3. Focus on writing AT LEAST 500 words at one sitting. When you take away the distractions, more times than not, you can produce more than 500 words at a sitting.

4. Open the internet but only for research reasons! We may have written a 1500 word short story and need to do a reference check or something. Be strong, and focus on RESEARCH!!!

5. Have confidence in yourself. You DO NOT need a Social Scene to boost your moral, or to get you writing. If you honestly go there to boost your writing, then why all the LIKES? You are not focusing on writing, you’re more focused on being accepted, popular and LIKED. In the WRITING world, focus on WRITING!!!

So there you have it, all the tools TO WRITE! Writing software, focus, NO INTERNET, research tools, and most importantly, confidence in yourSELF! Now WRITE ON!!!

What progress, you ask, have I made? I have begun to be a friend to myself.
Hecato, Greek philosopher

Dream On

2012-01-16T06:39:00.000-06:00

“Dream on it. Let your mind take you to places you would like to go, and then think about it and plan it and celebrate the possibilities. And don't listen to anyone who doesn't know how to dream.” ~ Liza Minnelli
***

Dream on, dream on, dream until your dreams come true. Ahh the words of a song by Aerosmith. I remember as a kid hearing this song and it just moved me on to dream. Sitting there with my feet up on the sofa, foot and head bobbing along with the song until finally I was on my feet playing air guitar! Those were the days. Just like my aim with this blog, to move you on to dream of becoming a writer.

You see so many reality shows with young people dreaming of being singers, dancers, winning a million bucks for stranding themselves on an island with some other folks with the same dream. I even remember a day where stand up comics were given the spotlight to see if they had what it takes to be ‘professional’. Why is there no show for writers to showcase THEIR work.

Ok somebody is going to steal my idea, and I lay claim to it if they do, because maybe I want to see a show, of wannabe writers standing up on stage reading their work and in as few as 500 words hook the audience, and only giving the audience more, if the writer has nailed hooking them and leaving them wanting more.

Oh this reality show is only on dream status for now (tv producers out there? Contact me, I’ll give you the entire idea, for a small price. ;) ) You see it would never come to fruition unless you of course wore your most sleaziest outfit, showed lots of cleavage, and delivered something that our sick society would want.

You, as a writer, have a job to do. You’re writing is not just a dream. I was always told by my siblings when I said I wanted to do this or that, to 'DREAM ON!' And that is all I ever did was dream. I never had the encouragement from my siblings that I do now from the writing community, and that is what I’m here to tell you, DREAM ON... you can do it! You’re dream can become a reality. Stick to it, write your heart out, never give up, and as Liza said, “Don’t EVER listen to anyone who doesn’t know HOW to dream!”

Sometimes words can elicit a dream like the famous works by Martin Luther King, “I have a dream...” There comes a time in everyone’s life, where we dream a dream of bigger brighter and better days. This is my dream, to see each of you reach out and fulfill your very own dreams! I’m tired of all this talk about ‘reality’ shows, lets make our DREAM, a reality!

Are ya with me? Dream on, dream on...dream until your dreams COME TRUE!!!

Poetry Sunday ~ Soul Dance

2012-01-15T06:57:00.000-06:00

Soul Dance

***

I’m consciously aware of dipping my toes
into the stars yet no one knows.
They care to know all physical things
not wanting to dance where a soul now sings.

My soul is one that loves to prance;
jump right in and take a chance.
Free my spirit that quietly rests
among the earthly peasant guests.

I’m free as a bird that soars on high,
I mingle with lights spread through the sky.
I float on by with nary a care
of dogma drizzled in the air.

My spiritual quest on which I ride,
is out in the open no reason to hide.
My journey glides from idle distraction
into the unknown where rises reaction.

To one I am all and all I am one,
giving my soul to some or to none.
Within my essence is formed a quark
a barrier of light to protect me from dark.

Quotation Saturday

2012-01-14T08:57:00.001-06:00

FAITH

He who has faith has... an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness, and assuring trust that all will come out well - even though to the world it may appear to come out most badly.
~B.C. Forbes

Treat the other man's faith gently; it is all he has to believe with. His mind was created for his own thoughts, not yours or mine.
~Henry S. Haskins

Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. And lo, no one was there.
~Author Unknown

Be like the bird that, passing on her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings.
~Victor Hugo

Faith is raising the sail of our little boat until it is caught up in the soft winds above and picks up speed, not from anything within itself, but from the vast resources of the universe around us.
~W. Ralph Ward

BOLDNESS

Few novels or plays could exist without at least one troublemaker in the group, and perhaps life couldn't either.
~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966

Boldness is ever blind, for it sees not dangers and inconveniences whence it is bad in council though good in execution.
~Francis Bacon

I speak truth, not so much as I would, but as much as I dare; and I dare a little the more, as I grow older.
~Michel de Montaigne, translated

The unforgivable crime is soft hitting. Do not hit at all if it can be avoided; but never hit softly.
~Theodore Roosevelt

IGNORANCE

Before we work on artificial intelligence why don't we do something about natural stupidity?
~Steve Polyak

You can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge and still come out completely dry. Most people do.
~Norman Juster

The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.
~Mark Twain

Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.
~P.J. O'Rourke

THE WICKED

Gen. 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Ex. 23:1 Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

2 Sam. 4: 11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

2 Sam 22:22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

RIGHTEOUS

1 Tim 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Phil 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Tit. 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Rev. 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

Charlie in the Box

2012-01-13T07:47:00.000-06:00

"When we feel love and kindness towards others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it also helps us to develop inner happiness and peace."

- Dalai Lama

Nobody wants to play with a Charlie in the box. I love that line in Rudolph when Rudy tries to guess his name, “I know, it’s Jack.” and the reply “No, my name is Charlie,” the sad crying box goes on to say. So why was Charlie on the Island of Misfit Toys? Because, all together now, “Nobody wants to play with a Charlie in the box.”

As a writer, you will sometimes feel this way as you write things no one wants to hear about themselves in your words. You’ve hit a nerve, and with that you get tossed out onto the Island of Misfits. They don’t mean to, but in their anger, they put up a shield of protection against your words and can not see you there. Either they are justifying their actions, turning a blinds eye, shutting you out completely, or running in FEAR of the truth. They remain at a distance, pretending to care, but really they are the ones that put you on the Island. You are now a misfit.

Nobody wants to play with a ‘Charlie in the box’!

It is okay to be on the Island with other misfit toys, because you have reached into your reader and touched them so much that they hurt, are angered, hate or just want nothing more to do with you, yet they keep on reading your words. You become Charlie; alone, in isolation on the Island, but there, you don’t feel the warmth of being loved and appreciated in life. Or do you? I’m okay with that because I have a mission. I’m not here to please all of the people all of the time, I’m here to strike a nerve within you, as a writer! I am not here waving my arms, flagging down a passing sleigh trying to get someone's attention. I’m not a people pleaser and I’m not an overactive drama queen (or king). I will not conform to a way that others have conformed to because God created me to be more in life. The one thing writers do in life is get easily side-tracked and distracted. You can ask any of them

Why do you think there are so many writing posts on GOALS and FOCUS? It’s because we as writers find the pretty colors and images of the day distracting so we stop writing and put our fingertip in the pool of colors and play. We finger-paint our way through, we play and enjoy what is offered to basically anyone, and you all make sure you put Charlie in his place, and isolate him from Santa’s workshop where all the happening elves are making merry.

Sure why not, as long as you don’t have to write. You’ll do anything to be distracted from it. Go ahead play all you like, but one day you’re gonna say, “Where did all that writing time go?” Well go look in the sand, there is some words there, oops it’s all washed up, which is what you are, if your not sitting at home, writing the story or novel of your dreams! FOCUS people!

I think I’ve went and isolated a few people with my writings about how addicted everyone is to facebook. Some could care less what I wrote and shrug off my posts. They are the ones confident with who they are, not embarrassed or ashamed at all! They actually HAVE lives. But others have climbed into their closet of guilt. It is theirs, so I let them embrace it for a spell. Me? I’m visiting King Moonracer today and asking him if he has plans to upgrade this place. “Yes, Charlie. You will be our bearer of news to the writing community who tells all the boys and girls about us!” Can you just imagine an isolated writer? :)

It’s okay, I still have you, all my followers and the new writing sites I’m joining will have new friends too. I might get picked up by Santa after all and put in a nice little home! I’m looking forward to it!

Job 4:16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

Story to Tell...

2012-01-12T06:54:00.000-06:00

Prov.10:20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

As a leader in the world and the writing community, I see something that knits us all together. We all have a story to tell. Even if it was not a dream of ours, or maybe it was and we just got lost along the way (see yesterdays post) we all need to be aware that we have a story to tell and how you write, effectively drawing out emotions in the reader, will either spell success or fail in your journey.

As our story unfolds, heartstrings will be tugged and like a rubber band, it will snap something in the reader. Either a tear will exit the eye and make a beeline for the chin, or maybe a crinkle will appear on the mouth and form a smile. Maybe a fevered pitch will drive a stake right in the heart of your reader, and anger will bubble up to the surface and a scream will bolt out of the mouth. Whatever emotion that is elicited, it will have to come from bringing it home for the reader.

I have met quite a few people that have said, “I’m a writer,” and I know many who are ‘published writers’, I know many who write, but again, it isn’t the story you tell or the perfect sentence structure, it is the emotions that are tied to the story. I don’t care if it is a sci-fi thriller, a Western, or Romance, (I think we all relate to them in some way) or a supernatural thriller, we have to tell the story with the reader in mind. We need to reach them, or we have no story.

Allowing your best friend to say, Good story! Loved it! Really does not tell us how we’ve done in pulling on the heart and making them feel as if they were in a Narnia-like closet, lost among your very words. We need them to express how their heart pined for the star-crossed lovers, we need them to say “I cried when I read about Mary’s death.” Why did they cry? Because you reached into their heart, and touched a cosmic emotion that wriggled the tear ducts and left them feeling pangs of pain.

Is that what we want? Pain? Not necessarily, but we do want to get an emotional reaction. If we just TELL a story, we are not going to get any reaction except maybe, “Well that was nice.” When we take it to the level of a writer, we are going to show them the same story, only they will say, “Wow! That was great! Touched me all over!” Can you see the difference?

I know a lot of people who read my poetry, who really don’t even like poetry, say things like, “I got it! It touched me! You moved me.” That is what I like to hear. I wrote my dad a birthday poem (as always) and my mother said, “It was beautiful. I could really feel the emotions in it.” I know I know, it was my mother, but I said, “Did dad cry?” She said, “I don’t know about him, but I sure did!”

YES! I scored! I got a tear out of the reading of my poem. I went back, read what I wrote, and even *I* welled up at the reading of it! Daggone it! Not me. I’m not supposed to cry! But as a writer, even sometimes WE need to cry too at the good writing of our souls. Every one of us has a story to tell!

See Yourself Here?

2012-01-11T06:37:00.000-06:00

Pss. 73:20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

Do you see yourself in my words? Last weeks posts were all about having you see yourself in my words as I sorted out the state of my mind. Although I know my mind is not your mind and we are all different, we are the same in many ways, for one, we’re writers and as such we share a common bond; a string that links us together whether you like it or not. I know that through the years, many people I’ve known have looked to doctors, and pills, alcohol and social scenes on the net, just to feel like the pit isn’t so deep and swallowing them whole. I have not been exempt. Nope, I jumped right in, feet first, and wallowed in the abyss with everyone else, and must say, I enjoyed it, it was fun!

But I stood back, looked at the pool and it was a green mossy goo and grimy. It was as if the sludge had covered all the bodies and scenes of a horror show came to mind as only the faces surfaced, distorted in a grotesque fashion, and I knew, something had to change. But I was not going to change. I was enjoying myself, justifying my actions, I continued. Until that is, while my head was turned, I smacked into a solid brick wall! Not the soft ones that your mind conjures and you walk into without a bump on the head. Nope a rock solid brick wall.

I was forced to change. You see how these posts came full circle? I went from facebook forcing a change in my social scene addiction to today’s post of the All powerful God, forcing a mighty change in my life! You might again say, “That is not me, I have no problem.” But He sees in me what He himself created, and I’m not using it so He took action to make me see.

I am a writer! God created me to write and as I lost sight of that, got lost in the murky water, I realized why my face was poking through, all of our faces, because that was to keep us breathing so we can take action and change, or stay covered in the marsh, floating on your back, with just a grotesque face showing.

Do you see yourself here? In all of my writing, whether my poetry, in the scripture I share, or in a story I tell, my goal as a writer is for each of you to see yourself, take a look in the mirror, and see if that is the you that God intended, or are you just another character in a story hiding among the myriad of words behind the masks that you yourself have created.

Through this blog, I want you to see yourself AS a writer. If God intended that for you, then embrace the words He puts in your heart and give the world a you, that you can be proud of. Share stories, journal your thoughts, learn how to build word upon word, a story that everyone else can see themselves a part of. Don’t make it all about you. Connect in ways that you were born to connect with. Thread by thread you will be building a blanket of warmth that lights the heart and souls of others, just the way that He intended.

Commit to Writing

2012-01-10T06:04:00.002-06:00

It is within my power to commit to writing. As I give up a few things, I will be drawn to other things, possibly forming a new addiction. An addiction to writing is not a bad thing. Did you ever notice that the word ‘addiction’ makes you cringe? Probably because addict sounds negative, but not all addictions are of the negative. I come from a long line of family members who have been addicted to drugs, alcohol, you name it, and as I clawed my way out of the mire to become a free spirited addict of writing, I lost many family members along the way.

I met new family members in the world of writing, who not only shared my addiction, they are pushers too, they pushed me forward and helped my addiction grow into the fruit producing tree that is spoken of in the bible. My new family has come along side me, embraced me, my quirkiness, my beauty, and my words. I met many at f2k, my beloved writing course that I gave up, and as they moved into the Village, I embraced them to welcome them all to the family, that so lovingly welcomed me many years ago.

Some addictions you recognize as more painful than worthwhile. Some addictions abuse you, so you must give them up, whether positive or negative, you just have to, to save your sanity! My writing has never abused me in any way. It is an addiction that I will carry to my death, and possibly to Heaven where I can meet with the writers that have gone on before me. Maybe we’ll share, maybe we won’t, but I do know that committing to my writing is what this year is going to be all about.

What will you commit to in the new year? Are you not going to change at all because you like where and who you are? I’m not that old that I can’t see when the time of change has come into my life. I’ve been here through many journey’s, many climbs over mountains and through the boulders of life and I walked away a better person because of each choice I made. I think that is the operative word, choice. You need to see that boulder as a mere pebble. You need to look at that mountain and don’t whisper, you demand it, move mountain! And with all the strength you’ve gathered from your Lord, your faith carries you and the mountain, in a remarkable amazing fashion, moves.

You have a choice to change things. You can stay the same and as you do, not one mountain will move and not one boulder will sway, you will become trapped by the deluge that has fallen into your life of loneliness, you will become overcome and suffocate. Is that what you want for your life? That’s all fine and dandy, but it is not what I want. I have a choice and I choose life, and my commitment to writing! I will not be as the sleeping man, caught unaware when the change comes. When you sleep (know what I am speaking of) you will always remain idle in everything. Every venture, every spurt of possible growth, you will miss, because you were too busy sleeping.

Mark 13: 33- 37 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

My inspiring journey: Soul Songs

Pros and Cons

2012-01-09T06:01:00.000-06:00

You know, there is a useful side to the Social Network, facebook. As I see Writers Digest, and many other writing pages soar and become LIKED by thousands, I wander in, seeking the benefits to which I might reap. They offer posting of your writing, critique, contests, and some even have magazines that offer publication! So that is one of the good things to come out of Facebook and all the other Social Scenes for me. Am I ragging on them too much? I’m a writer and I need the technology to advance my learning and to write my work. The computer and the internet is a part of the writers arsenal.

I seem to come down pretty hard on the Social Scene, but again, there is a marked difference in the Social aspect, and the Networking aspect. I love all the Christian pages, so much so I can get lost in them, too. Commenting and praying throughout the day, but again, it is just a means of justifying my time spent on there among friends. Maybe I’m addicted to my friends??? Well let me tell you, they have been an ironclad support system whereas my family members have been a wet leaf of support!

Every aspect of life has Pros and Cons and the Social Scene is no different:

Pros:
1. You make friends in the writing world to which you might have never had the chance to meet, and they are SUPPORTIVE, to the brink you wonder how you got through life without them!
2. You gain from knowing these people because you can brainstorm on your work.
3. You get to be a nosey busybody, and become friends with basically everyone that you know and that all your friends know.
4. You find out who really cares, sincerely, not just for the show.
5. These people via my blog and FB just might become lifetime friends who actually give a hoot!

Cons:
1. There is a non professional feel to the Social Scene, that leaves you crying out in utter disgust as you seek sanity.
2. You get used and washed up, tossed aside like a worn kleenex.
3. People want to become your ‘friends’, not because they care about you, but because, they want to know your business.
4. You make a deal with the devil that you can not take back!
5. You become an addict, no different than the drug abusers. So, you’re not harming yourself with toxins, but sometimes these sites ar toxic!
6. You’re absorbed into the sponge like atmosphere and become a social fungus.
7 You become oblivious to the harm it is doing to your psyche.
8. You justify your actions, again, just like a drug addict. “I don’t have a probelm.”
9. You’re in the maze of confusion and have found peace there.
10. Swallowed whole, your life no longer has purpose and meaning. You’re a washed up old rag, and you like it!

As I head into the New Year, I go with God. I will keep my health issues to myself and allow you all to just keep sending up prayers for me and in some way, you will know that I am okay. I can not pretend and like my way through life, I have to have something physical and real that I can hold onto even if it is for a short time.

The cons outweigh the pros of the social network for me BUT my point in all of this, is this. KNOW your limits, stay focused on what you need to do to get to your next goal you’ve set for yourself. Achieve something daily, to make up for the wasted time. And always and I mean always keep WRITING!!! That is more essential than ANY socializing scene!

Poetry Sunday ~ A New Day

2012-01-08T06:21:00.000-06:00

Pss. 14: 2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

***
A New Day

A new day is dawning
the sun peeks through the trees
In a blazing show of splendor,
I drop down to my knees.

His grandeur took my breath away
in a winking of wondrous bliss
I stood there waiting for Him;
this moment I couldn’t miss.

A new day is dawning
I sense it in the air.
Change is painting color
across my heart with vibrant flair.

I reach for quiet victory
in His arms I find my peace.
Always praying His amazing grace
will grant my soul release.

A new day is dawning
inhale His holy light.
Glory will shine through you
with radiance so bright.

Quotation Saturday

2012-01-07T07:35:00.003-06:00

ON WRITING

***

"Know something, sugar? Stories only happen to people who can tell them."
~Allan Gurganus

"A writer lives, at least, in a state of astonishment. Beneath any feeling he has of the good or evil of the world lies a deeper one of wonder at it all. To transmit that feeling, he writes."
~William Sansom

"However great a man's natural talent may be, the art of writing cannot be learned all at once."
~Jean Jacques Rousseau

Real writers are those who want to write, need to write, have to write."
~Robert Penn Warren

BREVITY

It is with words as with sunbeams. The more they are condensed, the deeper they burn.
~Robert Southey

A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.
~William Strunk, Jr., The Elements of Style, 1918

"In good prose (says Schlegel) every word should be underlined!" that is, every word should be the right one; and then no one would be righter than another. There are no italics in Plato.
~Augustus William Hare and Julius Charles Hare, Guesses at Truth, by Two Brothers, 1827

If you can't write your idea on the back of my calling card, you don't have a clear idea.
~David Belasco

SELF-CONTROL

Self-respect is the root of discipline: The sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.
~Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Insecurity of Freedom: Essays on Human Existence, 1967

The cyclone derives its powers from a calm center. So does a person.
~Norman Vincent Peale

It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
~Buddha

And so, Reader, (for it is time to have done with guessing) would I bid you conquer in your warfare against your four great enemies, the world, the devil, the flesh, and above all, that obstinate and perverse self-will, unaided by which the other three would be comparatively powerless.
~Augustus William Hare

SIMPLICITY

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction.
~E.F. Schumacher

Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things.
~Elise Boulding

Everything we possess that is not necessary for life or happiness becomes a burden, and scarcely a day passes that we do not add to it.
~Robert Brault,

To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life.
~John Burroughs

“It is with simplicity, brevity and self-control that I will go on writing. ” ~Joni Zipp

My NEW Christian Blog: Soul Songs~ My Minds Eye

Finding My Place

2012-01-06T06:50:00.000-06:00

2 Cor. 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

A week into the new year and I’m just trying to find my place. I thought I knew where I was heading last year, but I got caught in a tailspin then it all went haywire and out of control. An illness attacked my body and a dark force tried pulling me down, but I kept the Lord front and center (as always) and with Him by my side, I am overcoming many obstacles.

I have come down heavy on the Social scenes this week because that is one of the dark forces that tried swallowing me up. I say dark force because it distracted me from what God had intended for me to do in MY life. To many, Social Scenes are their life, to me it is just a fun playground, where I ran around and lost myself in the zany crazy aspect of life but when I started losing sight of my goals (see Mondays post) I realized it was time to move on into the new year and into the Light.

To find your place, you need to embrace the reality that is before you. Sure you can drown in your virtual world, pretend that you’re working, tell yourself this is what you enjoy doing and this is fulfilling to you, but really think about what you’re saying. A technological gadget, has swallowed hours upon hours of your time, you wake up to drink coffee with a virtual social world. You sit all day updating a status and liking and when it is time to go to bed, you wake mid-morning and find yourself sitting at the Scene, posting that ‘you’re awake.’ Is this what God had planned for your life? A lot of people pray, asking God for things, but did you ever pray and ask Him what He WANTS for your life? Do you hear what He says when He speaks/answers???

While I love my friends dearly that I’ve met in the virtual world and would not trade one of them for anything. They are my friends and know me respectfully and know that it is time for my mending and healing. This string of posts are all about me and how *I* need to change my life. If, for some reason, you see yourself in these threads, then maybe that is God speaking to you, not me.

While Social scenes might be to some, their world, it can not be my world. My healing is physical, my life is going to gain spiritually and the waves coming through a machine, sometimes hinders that flow of the spirit. You can ‘post’ a hundred scriptures a day, it doesn’t bring you (or anyone else for that matter) any closer to God, than when you speak to Him directly. The reason I posted scriptures was because I am sharing my walk with Christ. If someone gets moved to Christ, well then, All Glory to Him! My motto, “Don’t talk the talk, if you don’t walk the walk.” This is where I walk...

It is Monday, and I have written five days of blog posts including this one, over 3000 words, and that’s not including all five days for next week, and my journaling, etc.! I’m focusing on NOT giving up writing, because that is a part of my spiritual healing. As I move into the second week of January (lookout people. This series of threads will drift into a more promising outlook), my healing along with My Savior, is right beside me, and we shall move forward into the Light that I need to be in. I’m finding MY place, are you?

Gal. 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

Social Misfit

2012-01-05T07:01:00.001-06:00

Why am I such a misfit, I am not just a nitwit...

Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.
~ Mother Teresa ~

I walk into Church on Sunday morning, hand outstretched to greet someone, I smile and say hello to the regular Sunday morning attendees, and I have a big smile for the ones I might not recognize and see them as new potential attendees. I go on to praise God, like it says in the bible, and to lift my voice in Glory to Him.

I might walk into a store and have the greeter greet me, but I return a big smile and an ample “Good Morning” too. I might attend a dinner with family members and I always have a smile and a chuckle for anyone who might be in need. I think this is what is called socializing, in the real world, that is.

In the cyber-world, socializing is made up of liking all sorts of things, doing things you might not normally do, and pleasing everyone you possibly can. I watch as Social Kings and Queens, meander through the walls and halls like ghosts, linger and haunting, liking and chatting, communing and accepting many things that in the real world, they might be totally hardened to act upon. To me, they seem like stalkers hunting their next prey. Eagerly over compensating, they try too hard to be something in the virtual social world when really, they are painstakingly lonely and crying out for help or some form of attention and this is their only means of communicating with people and touching in part, a part of themselves they need to reach.

Now some, socialize with finesse. I’ve witnessed them post, say thank you and go on their way. Very sparing with their bubbles, I have the utmost respect for the Classy Socializers, but the stalkers, just as in real life, are annoying to the brink of insanity and I’m wondering where I fit into this crazy scheme of things. I know where I belong, in the palm of my Lord’s hands embracing the reality of His world!

As I write this I realize some people will spit on my thoughts, fear of the truth, possibly become aware of their own behavior, and might decide to work on their addiction. I DO NOT apologize for my writings, my beliefs, I make no apologies for my faith; I AM who I am because HE made me who I am. No apologies necessary. God makes no mistakes. We need to realize that when we hit the TURN OFF button to the computer, we are then allowing ourselves entry into HIS world. Leave the virtual world behind, it is not the be all and end all of living! You DO turn your computer OFF, don’t you?

Sometimes I might feel worthless and alone, but an addiction is no way to fix what I broke, it only feeds the addiction more. I know I am loved, and who I am, makes me SPECIAL. It’s not about how many friends are on my list, not about how many likes I click that makes me who I am, it is about the light that shines from me, and everyone wanting a small tiny portion of that, and to them I offer... my outstretched hand, as I always do.

I do apologize to you, if you feel targeted by this post. I have no target in mind, this is just me sorting through the things that tried to swallow me whole in 2011. I watch as other people get swallowed up and I can only hope they recognize it also OR maybe they are happy and virtual socializing is what WORKS for them. Me, I’m happy being a Social Misfit.

Matt. 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Networking

2012-01-04T05:49:00.002-06:00

A sticky situation...

Networking is a part of the online world. It is where the meeting of the minds takes place. Facebook is luring folks with the Social Network, but is facebook really all about networking? I remember when I was new to facebook it was about finding friends, maybe from your childhood or high school that you’d like to reconnect with. I, personally, like connecting with my writer friends and a few family, but I in no way want to connect with EVERYONE in the world.

Me, I joined facebook to Network with writers and writing sites and quickly got swept away in the tidal flow of incoming friends, games, posts, the what ifs and what nots, apps and likes like blood to a shark! It became a virtual playground taking me away from what I came for and that was Networking!

I joined twitter but didn’t like the aspect that it had a 60 word minimum or something like that. I’m a writer, I can’t say what I need to say in 65 words. I totally blocked Myspace from my computer, only because to me, MySpace is a sexual predators playground. With young kids posting explicit portraits of themselves, in hopes of what? Having a grown man hunt them down? Too many bad dark stories kept/keep me far away from MySpace. And too many perverts continue to prey upon kids there.

Twitter is a word only page and quickly people in my “Network” were following me. These are usually people from the Village where I attend an online course. Through my blog, I was networking as a writer through BlogCatalog and this is when my followers started growing in leaps and bounds, then it was onto Linked In and now I’m with Networked Blogs. And the list is growing and growing.

All this stemmed from the love of writing!

What is different from Networking and becoming a Social Fiend buff, a Facebook Addict if you will? Well, to me, with Networking, you remain focused on a very clear goal of accomplishing something of importance. My clear goal was, and I say WAS because I’m admitting to getting off track when my train was plowing through the worldwide web, my goal was to get my writing published, then to market myself or should I say, promote myself. A study found that Facebook addicts (a category defined by reportedly spending over four hours everyday on Facebook) had a higher incidence of depression and lower physical and general self-esteem levels than less frequent Facebook users.

As I got pulled into the playground-like atmosphere, I realized I was no longer on the Networking track, I was conforming to a Social Frenzy, something I honestly don’t believe in. I don’t like to follow along because everyone else is skipping and looking merry, I like to lead. I got lost with flowers and gardens, towns and pics and likes and shares, until finally the over saturated wall (my life) became nothing but bubbles of notifications. And you can’t turn them off! (maybe another glitch being worked on) Twitter doesn’t have BUBBLES upon BUBBLES of a like fest. With reality biting me in the butt, I jumped off the bubbly train and decided to regroup!

More like, grow up, prioritize, and focus! There’s that word again, focus. Even in my writing course, it has now become a Social Site, with all the pics, smileys, likes and dislikes, (yes someone actually gave me a thumbs down, imagine that!) and chat addicts; no longer a peace filled learning experience, TO ME! I actually justified my actions because I was one of the teachers, but again, the overwhelming immaturity of some, has ruined it for the serious mindedness of others, ME.

And with that, I move on. I focus on my health, my blog, and hopefully finding a common ground with writers at a new site. I will Network, with like minded people, I will grow and heal. AND walk faithfully with the Lord.

authors note: before you jump to the conclusion that this weeks posts are targeted at YOU, allow me to say, it is about ME!

Timeline

2012-01-03T06:35:00.001-06:00

Luke 24:11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
***

Well Facebook is at it again. This year was met with many changes at facebook and I heard so many griping people whine. Grown men and women, who for some reason, are so set in their ways that change rocks their world like a landslide! If you are a non-conformist like me, you won’t like change very much because it is like forcing a wet rag down your throat with no other option but to swallow!

That’s what facebook seems to do on a monthly basis. First the option of new security on who and who would not see your posts happened, new ads streamed the right of the screen like a frozen ticker-tape, people were subscribing and LIKING things that their mothers would surely not be proud of (and it is streamed to all your friends) and the list goes on and on with the changes of 2011!

Are you a person who accepts any friend just because they request your beloved presence? Does that make you feel good standing at the center of all the likes, to where you don’t even realize you’ve accepted a stripper with lurid pictures on their wall which are then streamed to all your friends walls??? Do you even care who you ‘choose’ as a friend, just as long as the ‘friends’ list grows and you’ve won the popularity contest? Do you fear not being liked?

As we ended out the year of 2011, facebook was well on its way with yet another change in their pocketbooks! The timeline! They (the kingpins at facebook) want your facebook experience to be like a Newspaper of all your friends happenings. It’s much like the Enquirer, a mag that feeds you junk! Thank you facebook for choosing the junk of my friends that you will spoon feed me. Facebook (logical minds?) says, “is that if you’ve been away from the site for a few days, you won’t be in danger of missing the most important posts friends put up.” What? So it’s like getting an OLD newspaper, days out of print? Yippee?

This new Timeline was available to those who wanted to try it out before the new year, but come 2012, wet rag people, down your throat.

The NEW Timeline? :
1. Cover image: no more banners, just a big bold pic. (the new facebook is all about pics) Sorry blind people, you are excluded!

2. Friends, photos, maps, and likes. (the timeline is like a journal of all the things you’ve done on facebook, since YOU JOINED! And it is all SHARED with each and every one of your friends. How sweet! Good thing I seek all the Christian pages.

3. Choices in hiding the crud. (Yeah go back in time and delete the insane posts that your new facebook caused you to post)

4. Not much control on the settings, once again. (Facebook remains in the driving seat, YOU are their Truman Show!)
Who can find me? Everyone? Friends of friends? Friends? Where is the ONLY ME option, Zuckerbird? Can’t limit access either? CONTROL FREAK, ZUCK! And when someone POSTS on your wall? Whether you like it or not, you CAN NOT remove it!!! It 'appears' that you can, but try it. (possible glitch being worked on)

5. LIKE/UNLIKE button is still there as is the SHARE button. (the over-abused like button is the only thing you have in the race to popularity and having people LIKE you. It’s what facebook is all about. The SHARE button is again for personal use only to share things on YOUR wall and hope your friends come visit you to catch it. (What’s the point of sharing to yourself?) Oh wait it gets streamed (spoon fed) to others IF they’ve subscribed to your newspaper!

So the NEW Facebook isn’t all about networking, it is all about YOU, Socializing and being liked for it. It’s about sharing your pains, sorrows, laughter, and embarrassing posts. YOU are Truman on the worldwide web! To me, it’s all about stepping in poop barefoot and having everyone come and take a sniff. So you can see how much I like facebook, new or old!! I’m not whining about the ‘change’ The pics are pretty cool! But it is like the bouffant hairdo. Too big, and will wear out quick. For me, it already has, anyway.

Enjoy the new Timeline, the New Year, the likable You!! I’m out >>> ---------->>>

Truman: Good morning, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!

1Tim. 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

Goals for the New Year

2012-01-02T07:08:00.003-06:00

"So often we dwell on the things that seem impossible rather than on the things that are possible."
Marian Wright Edelman

As the new year begins, this is the perfect time for setting your goals; whether it is for the week, the month or the coming year! As writers, we need to have goals in order to accomplish them. A lot of writers make plans by spelling out their goals; they make a list, either on white board or in a document, so they can visually SEE the goals and once they’re achieved it gets marked off.

Say for example:
January’s Goals
write story
revise story
edit story
find market
query
send

Or maybe the goals are simpler in that it’s a time line for your novel. You’ll need to follow each character created so the consistency remains solid throughout the novel. Or maybe executing goals was your problem in 2011? Whatever it was for you, goals were made to be broken. It seems like thousands, no, millions of people make resolutions when the year ends and the very next day, they break them like an egg into a frying pan. There goes your goals, all fried to bits.

You need to set realistic goals, ones that are possible to accomplish and carry out. How many people say, “I’m going to start going to Church! Every week in the new year!” or “I’m going to quit smoking!” or my favorite resolution across the country, is, “I’m going to lose weight.”

You’re setting yourself up to fail. I’m setting myself goals that I aspire to keep. But when you’re addicted to things it is not easy to just say, goodbye addiction. Some people are in the throes of social addiction. They NEED the sites, so they feel a part of something solid and whole, even though it is a virtual, temporary, blissful world. Maybe it is what completes them as a human being, maybe it fulfills the empty aches in their heart? I don’t know, but I realized that while the internet is a voice-box to the world, I also realize it can suck the oxygen right out of your lungs! Some know where to draw the line, some can’t draw the line, and some have no desire to draw the line. I’ve decided to draw the line and work on my writing, not the social ins, outs, gizmos, apps and gadgets. A danger to computers and lives, everywhere!

Networking is an entirely different use of the net, that as a writer, is necessary. But is it all about pics and ‘like’ing? Networking is connecting, it is not a social popularity contest. Suffering from low self esteem is an entirely different blog!

As we enter into a new year, goals are all a part of feeling as if you have something to reach for in the year, and maybe accomplish them too. And when next year ends you can look back and say, “I set goals, AND I followed through!”

My goals for the new year:

1. Use facebook to network with other writing sites/writers.
2. Focus on MY writing!!!
3. Focus on my health and not being a Socialite
4. Remain focused on my Lord and Savior.
5. Be strong, endure the pain, chin up and move on!

Basically I’ve set pretty achievable goals for myself, so I don’t set myself up for failure. The tie that binds my goals? FOCUS!!!

authors note: Please keep in mind the views on this blog are entirely mine and not targeted at anyone. I’m entitled to an opinion too, I’m a writer!

addendum: My Lord and Savior has and always will be first on any list in my life, it's a given.

Happy New Year!

Poetry Sunday ~ A Hazy New Year

2012-01-01T00:05:00.002-06:00

A New Year
***
As all the people gather round
swigging drinks, guzzling them down
They hold the festive new year show
to move the calender to a new low.

They think it’s fine to wander from Him
for just this day to revel in sin.
As He sits right on their shoulder
they blink Him away, as blood gets colder.

They’ll praise His name the very next day
as the smell of beer lingers this way.
As all the folks try to look upright
The Lord Himself has bowed out of sight.

Justify why their breath has been poisoned
the wine with which their lips were moistened
Carry me from this hidden society
into a world of livid sobriety.

I sing a song of praise to You
as we embrace on Heavens hue.
Glowing Light shines forth for me
A New Years delight, for all to see!

***

Happy New Year
may it be full of blessings for you!

Judges: 13:4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

***

Deut. 32:33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.

Quotation Saturday

2011-12-31T13:55:00.000-06:00

'pic taken from the internet'

New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.
~Hamilton Wright Mabie

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.
~Bill Vaughan

Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits.
~Author Unknown

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.
~Author Unknown

No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference. It is that from which all date their time, and count upon what is left. It is the nativity of our common Adam.
~Charles Lamb

The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months!
~Edward Payson Powell

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.
~Henry Ward Beecher

For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever.
~Mark Twain

And ye, who have met with Adversity's blast,
And been bow'd to the earth by its fury;
To whom the Twelve Months, that have recently pass'd
Were as harsh as a prejudiced jury -
Still, fill to the Future! and join in our chime,
The regrets of remembrance to cozen,
And having obtained a New Trial of Time,
Shout in hopes of a kindlier dozen.
~Thomas Hood

Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.
~Brooks Atkinson

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
~Edgar Guest

"In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete…In th...at day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God."
~ John 16: 23-27

The Year in Review

2011-12-27T10:13:00.002-06:00

Pss. 6: [2] Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
***

Well I have to admit this has been a year of roller coaster riding. Up and down, then back up and then down.

January -- Found my dog hit by a car and for weeks I nursed her back to health. With ice packs, and the mounted up snowfall, January started off on the lower section of the roller coaster. The shoveling was taking its toll on my back, but I plowed right through. Hey, I’m young, right?

February- March -- Found my dog healing and finally the medicare kicked in for Steven and he was able to get to the eye doctors, one that God chose, not one that anyone had referred him to. We were high on the roller coaster now, things looked good from up here for a bit.

April-May -- These two months found us in high spirits with the opportunity arising that a cornea transplant would come soon. With a doctor visit; the physical was done, and now he was on the transplant waiting list. We did just that, waited. And waited. In the meantime there was mowing to be done, a yard to tend to, weeds to pull, but the cold air was hanging on tightly and May was just too chilly to really get out there and sink my hands into the soil.

June-July -- These months warmed up nicely. Weeds were sprouting everywhere, so much so I could not keep up with them. Adam and I mowed and yanked weeds. I planted and pulled more weeds, and my back was crying in pain but I went on. You just pull your big girl pants on, swallow the pain and become friends with Mr. Heating pad! I’m not one who likes to pop pills to relieve pain, so just some stretching exercises and nice relaxing days.

August- September -- Ahh the start of school! I had to get Adam in for a dentist appointment. He got a cleaning and two small fillings, then a clean bill of health. The school year started off on a good note this year and he’s been doing pretty good with his grades. I guess home schooling all those years before high school made him a well adjusted teen. Good job! Here we were still waiting on the cornea transplant to arrive and the long summer wait was now turning into a Fall wait and see. Patience my friend, patience.

October -- We got the long awaited call...the cornea had arrived. On the 10th, the operation took place and after an initial scare, which took us to Omaha five times in the month. My back was beginning to feel the pressure and an excruciating toothache held me captive the entire month. The month ended with sight restored and an amazing miracle as Steven could see his hometown in full color after two and a half years of being blind!

November -- This was the month that as Steven healed, my body crumbled. I had a tooth extracted, but the infection in my mouth was needling at the nerves in my back. A back x-ray showed that I had facet-joint arthritis and as I looked into more info on it, it flares up in the presence of an infection in the body. The dentist didn’t think the pain in my back related to the infection in my mouth, but then again she had no idea that I had arthritis which is just another name for inflammation.

December -- Found me at the dentist again with some not so great news. Close to ten grand needed but a down payment would get me and all the work needed started. She may have sympathy on me and possibly only 4500 will be needed but still she says this to a woman who hasn’t a penny to her name. I am poor, and found myself actually begging for my life. Literally.
Where is Steven in all of this? Well, he is on Social Security, and medicare, and if not for medicare, medicaid and the Lions Club, he would not have been seeing all the lights this Christmas. It will take a year of healing, and possibly the sutures on the cornea may not be taken out; the doc will watch him closely for a year.

I’ll end the year not knowing what tomorrow will bring or the New year, but I can say, I AM BLESSED! My family of writers/ artists, my church family have all surrounded me and comforted and help me in ways, you can only dream about. I am loved. And the year isn’t over!

I will rejoice in the New Year. I hold my head high and rejoice in the Lord and Savior, for it is He who carries me through each and every day!!! I WILL heal and I will come back fighting to the writing world! But for now... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Read more at: BenningsWritingPad

Merry Christmas ~ Poetry Sunday

2011-12-25T07:33:00.000-06:00

The Mystery

***
Within the snow capped dome I see
the mirror image looking back at me
Ice propels one to bliss
the wash of love I dare not miss.

The pine it lingers in my soul
fragments left to control
the gifts are but a vivid illusion
of life that struggles with confusion.

Christmas carries an air of mystery
as does the spirit throughout history.
Propels the thoughts of one who sleeps
into a place where cynicism weeps.

Allow the truth to never hide
Christmas day I will confide.
Hold out the hand of all you ration
within your heart the stem of compassion.

A Winter Scene

***
The morning breathes a sigh of relief
a new dawn has broken through.
The snow it whispers from the sky
the blush of a fresh days hue.

Trees are barren as they sleep
each limb has clinging cotton
crisp cold air wafts throughout
squirrels are all but forgotten.

The crunching noise it lingers
as deer and elk creep by.
Silence holds this winter day
as snow falls from on high.

The air is full of Christmas
a holy day abounds.
Bells and holly carry on
the wondrous seasons sounds.

Mystery here is clinging
as angels sing a song,
coming is a new born babe
leading men along.

Awaken all you nations
hear the words I plea,
God has sent a part of Him
for sins of you and me.

Generations have come and gone
but everything’s the same.
The Holy night is cherished
as the very day He came!

(c) Joni Zipp

Audiobook Heaven

To All a Good Night

2011-12-24T08:01:00.002-06:00

Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

To All a Good Night...
***
'Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the house
all the creatures were stirring
even a tiny small mouse.
The stockings all hung but not by a fire
across the wall they hang by a wire.
The kids are ready for Christmas to come
I sitting quiet with a soft spoken hum.
I think of times that were happy and gay
I look for my family that sits miles away.
They are all bustling in their own lovely house
with food and warmth, some with a spouse.
All of my needs are well taken care of
my home is joyous and full of love.
My fridge has food with milk to spare
I have sugar cookies, all ready to share.
I have great friends who all support me
in writing, and fellowship just like family.
I sit and I read with new found joy
of this wonderful story, of a God sent boy.
I look to the Light and all it’s glory
of Jesus and angels a glorious story.
I think the world has passed on by,
they whine for wants and it makes me cry.
I need to drink in all this I’m given
my life is full and worth me livin’,
I’ll focus on me and all that I AM,
remembering to Him, my life is a gem.
To all of my friends I give great praise,
I’ll pray for them in the coming days.
For now I’m tired and must travel far,
to find that wondrous beautiful star.
This angel must go as she rises to flight
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Angel's Among Us

2011-12-23T12:58:00.000-06:00

Ps.8: 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Angels among us

***

You feel their presence
throughout the day
you know their there
but can you say?

By chance it happens
and so you believe
the angels are not
ones to deceive.

Wrought with pain
this they know
a loving light
is what they show.

As snowflakes gently
fall to the ground
the angels move
without a sound.

Whispers of power
to give you strength
measured in love
eternity’s length.

You flow in the light
the touch of art.
The angels tattoo
is across your heart.

I do not worship
the celestial being.
For God alone
grants all I’m seeing.

All glory and honor
to the One True Light
as angels watch over
in the still of the night.

Pss.91: 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Pss. 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Christmas Spirit

2011-12-22T10:11:00.000-06:00

Christmas Spirit...

Well it is three days before Christmas. Normally my season is full of cleaning, preparing, getting ready. We’d normally have a Christmas party where my jazz man plays the sax and people all gather around for Christmas cheer, and then we look forward to the bustling holiday with family.

This year was changed by the spirit. I might say, the Holy Spirit. With my illness upon me, leaving me basically immobile, and my mans sight restored, the Spirit moved us to bow humbly before the world, the season and life itself. It caused me to see more clearly, listen more carefully, and appreciate the tiny things that matter more than the big things that don’t.

I had thought that I appreciated life in every possible way, but not only did he gain sight, I gained insight. While I cherish my privacy and hold a lot inside, I have a tendency to release to the world my pain and sorrows via my blog, but have I shared the blessings too? Have I told you about the Glory that has been granted me this Christmas season?

Christmas is not about gifts, it’s not about shopping and it certainly isn’t about receiving. I had a God slap moment, where He took me aside and showed me great things. Unlike many, I hear His whisper in the wind, I see the beauty in the snow fall, I feel close to Him when the sun rises and plants a kiss right on my cheek. That is my communion with the God who came to this earth to be with each and everyone of us and LIKE us, human.

I am a gifted woman and I need to let you all know that when it rains, it pours. Whether it is pain and sorrow, or joys and blessings, everything under the sun is for a reason and as so many this season worry about the gift to give, the right party to attend, some will even wonder if the alcohol will be tasty this year.

MY friends, I have a tree, I have a son, I have a man who has made cookies and cleaned up the place nicely (and has made a few quite awesome dinners too). I have all my needs met, and my wants are sitting at the bottom of the hill somewhere, covered in mounds of snow. My season, while filled in pain has found bountiful blessings surrounding me via friends who have reached out and offered an arm of support during this time. Whether they prayed for me, offered kind words, or helped monetarily, they reached out with arms longer than I had ever imagined possible. I am truly blessed. With sight, I send to them blessings.

The Spirit has moved me to see, that this Christmas is all about humbling yourself to the Lord. We live in a world where too much chaos is ruining too many lives, and we need to just step back and embrace our humble lives and appreciate the tiny things because within every one of those, are blessings to be cherished!

May God Bless you all this Glorious Season!!!!

My Family

2011-12-20T08:43:00.000-06:00

Tis the season to deck the halls and all that stuff. Well as you all may know, it has been a trying time for me. Read the post below, my Health Issues Unmasked. You’ll get a glimpse of the pain and joys that I’ve endured.

Let me also say, I come from a big family, and not one has reached out to help me in any way. They’ve never supported me and my writing, so I don’t expect any of them to actually google my name and see what I’m up to these days. I don’t expect any of them to help, but I did expect them to at least CARE what was happening to me.

Long story short, I left home eight years ago, and since my communication has been scarce with anyone except my niece, my mother, and when my dad answers the phone, and sometimes my sister; coming from a family of four brothers, and a sister, aunts and uncles, you’d think SOMEONE would give me a shout out. Not even on holidays do they call. It’s sad.

What’s that you say? Have *I* called them? I sure have, and they always say, “Keep in touch.” But we never do, we let the year pass without a care. I’ve waited and waited in hopes, but then I just figure they have more important things to do, to take care of, to ever want to know what is happening in my life. We were never the Brady Bunch, we were more like Rosanne’s family, dysfunctional with a capital ‘D’! So I guess it just carries over into our later years too. Sad is what it is!

I thought I was close to them. I cared for all of their kids when they needed me to, I cleaned their houses, helped them with anything they ever asked of me. I was the strength they’d turn to in times of need! I never once felt like they didn’t love me, but when I left, I guess the void in the family was too big and maybe in their minds they were bitter that I got away. I did something they always wanted to do, but they just lived in their comfort zones for too long to ever break out!

Yeah, I broke out. Can one ever break out of a family? I did. And I found myself nestled in a Writing Community, that embraces me, my writing, my being, my humor and wit, they like me for me, not what I can do for them. And it goes both ways too, I’d do anything for them, and they know this. But I love them most because well, we support one another. We’re family and they’ve shown me, THIS is what family is all about! Love and support, when you need it most!

I have a Church family too that embraces me, and what I’ve found, is that I can actually depend on my Writing Family AND my Church family. They never let me down and it is because of this family of mine that I’ve been lucky enough to have in my life, that I’ve truly been blessed with, that will make sure I have a MERRY Christmas!

I wish I could repay every ounce of generosity that you, my true family, have shown me, but I know you all so well...you’ll say, “You already have, just by being you!”

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the highest of Heaven!

Eph.3:13-15 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

Poetry Sunday ~ Angel's Flight

2011-12-18T00:01:00.002-06:00

Ex. 23: 20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

***
Angels Flight
***
In the midst of it all,
in a puddle knee high,
the pain is holding me,
seething, I cry.

In the midst of it all
as angels gather ‘round.
the snow it whispers
nary a sound.

In the midst of it all
while men remain sleeping.
I slowly gain strength,
no longer weeping.

In the midst of it all
as they pass me by
the Lord is my power
with Him I’ll fly.

In the midst of it all
as Christmas draws near
time to embrace
the things we hold dear.

In the midst of it all
in the still of the night.
I gather my faith
as my wings take flight.

Quotation Saturday ~ I hold no shame!

2011-12-17T00:01:00.001-06:00

Luke 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

I hold no shame in asking for help.

When you see someone fall into icy water, do you keep walking? Or do you help?

When you see a car broken down and a woman out in the cold trying to change the tire, do you keep driving? Or offer assistance?

Acts 3:10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

Are you the kind of person that gives to receive or gives unknowingly, knowing that you have had one small measure of assistance in the aid of the ill?

Acts 10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Do you attend church so that all the people will look at you, and think “What a good person she/he is? Or do you attend church to praise His name and all the mercy that He and He alone has given you?

What has God done for you, that you only wish you could return the favor?

Acts 10:4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

At Christmas, as you gather for your feast, will you remember the the ones without? Or will you rejoice in all you have?

Matt.13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

When you hear of my passing, will then, you sit up and say, “I should have helped.” Or will you go on and feel good, knowing you did all you could?

Matt. 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

When someone, in their hour of desperation cries out for help, do you aid, or ignore?

Matt. 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

I will end my days knowing I helped everyone I humanly (and not so humanly) I possibly could. I will rise knowing I am wrapped in the arms of my heavenly Father. I will hold my head high, knowing I begged for mercy.

I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence. ~Frederick Douglass

Self-respect cannot be hunted. It cannot be purchased. It is never for sale. It cannot be fabricated out of public relations. It comes to us when we are alone, in quiet moments, in quiet places, when we suddenly realize that, knowing the good, we have done it; knowing the beautiful, we have served it; knowing the truth we have spoken it. ~Whitney Griswold

sadly, John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

In ending... I say Heb.13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

AMEN! God Bless one and all...

One Voice...

2011-12-13T08:07:00.001-06:00

One Voice...

I hear the voice in the still of the night

it whispers to me causing a fright
I toss and turn I can not sleep
this voice I hear is from the deep.

It wells within the heart of my being
sweltering my soul I wind up fleeing.
Alone in this world with nothing to hold
I straddle my fears as if I am bold.

I wallow in the shapeless city
there to smother in my own pity.
I know no one who’ll toss me a rope,
clinging here relishing hope

The voice it says, “You must convey
your message to all so they’ll obey.”
but is my voice reaching the few
who need it the most, who haven’t a clue?

I’ll spread out my inspired word.
In hopes one ear it will be heard.
Handling the message that I must give,
an awesome release of all I live.

One voice...

Lonely Christmas

2011-12-12T09:45:00.000-06:00

Lonely Christmas

***

Where are you Christmas?
My heart is hanging low;
like a tattered worn out ribbon
a frayed old crumpled bow.

Tinsel has lost its luster.
Lights have all drawn dim.
I cradle my lonely Christmas;
my tree I just won't trim.

Where do you hide, my Christmas,
this joyous festive season.
Shine your light upon me,
give my life a reason.

Egotists all set astride,
ready for the day.
While all alone I sit and cry,
for love to come my way.

Underneath the velvet stars,
the cratered moon so high.
I wonder what the sheer night holds;
I span the open sky.

Where is my treasured Christmas;
a Rockwell theme of yore.
With family gathered all around,
glistening lights galore.

Want and greed have sold you out,
your nothing but a show.
No longer lighting up my life.
my Christmas holds no glow.

Poetry Sunday ~ I Pray

2011-12-11T06:40:00.001-06:00

Ex.32: Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

***
I Pray

why are they so caught up
why does no one care
why do they just assume
that I’ll always be there.

why are they all laughing
why do they pass by
why do all, turn their heads
when seeing someone cry?

why the tunnel vision
why am I left alone
why does no one reach out
by way of telephone?

They text their friends
they buy their things
they talk with others
like joy it brings.

they wear false faces
for all to see
yet hide themselves
from lil ol me.

but it’s okay
these tears I cry
will bounce to heaven
without a sigh.

God will hold
my hand and face
spread His love
throughout the place.

Christmas will not crumble
all because of them
I’ve lined all my doorways
with loving cherubim!

Exodus 33:13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

Quotation Saturday

2011-12-10T09:16:00.000-06:00

VANITY ~

Job 15: 31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.

Ps. 4:2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

Pr. 30:8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Is. 58: 9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

Vanity is so secure in the heart of man that everyone wants to be admired: even I who write this, and you who read this.
~Blaise Pascal

Without this ridiculous vanity that takes the form of self-display, and is part of everything and everyone, we would see nothing, and nothing would exist.
~Antonio Porchia, Voces, 1943

Cure yourself of the affliction of caring how you appear to others. Concern yourself only with how you appear before God, concern yourself only with the idea that God may have of you.
~Miguel De Unamuno

CONFIDENCE

A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.
~David Brinkley

If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.
~Vincent Van Gogh

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.
~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.
~Anaïs Nin, Diary, 1969

Vanity is pride walking with newly dyed hair, fake fingernails, along with a boastful attitude. Confidence is knowing vanity is buried, and people see the REAL beauty in you shining through!
~Joni Zipp

Gotta do, what I gotta do...

2011-12-09T10:06:00.001-06:00

Gen 1: 20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

Do any of you remember the Village people from quite a few years ago? Yeah, I remember when...they were popular, free spirited, zany and crazy and people just loved them. They were a small group of different characters, not a whole lot of songs to remember them by, but they were popular in their day.

This is how I feel here lately. I have outgrown my once popular Village. There was a time when I’d wake up, eager to get in there and help, but now as things have shifted, times have changed, I wake to find it a Village of Society; a facebook for writers. It’s a clique of people and while the newcomers are finding delight in it all, it will one day wear off and become a lack luster place, and they too will move on, just as the old timers who once filled the halls. I no longer want to be a part of the insanity and am slowly weaning myself of the place, and I have to let the Village People move from my world.

Gen. 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

I think you all know I’m not a big fan of facebook and wonder why I even signed up to the place. It being a good place to share my writing, and saying hi to a selected few friends that I have, even facebook has lost its luster. Sometimes a girls gotta do, what a girls gotta do, and move over to let some one else pull the heavy laden pain bearing sled.

Since October...I’ve been in a lot of pain. To be honest, I’ve had very few people even care. I have people praying for me and as I continue down this road, it is all and surely will be enough to get me through the Christmas holidays. I don’t go around facebook saying, “Hear ye, Hear ye, Joni is in pain! Woe! Woe is me!” If they read my blog, they know. I have two family members aware, and that would be my mother, (whom I talk to every single night) and my Dad, whom she tells everything to. That’s it. When family and friends find out, they’ll say, “Wow I didn’t know! You didn’t say anything.” Well Joni is tired of all the dramatics; if you say you love me, you’ll KNOW what I’m going through! Ahh, feel the love.

Prov. 13:14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

So as you deck those halls and jingle them bells, there are a lot of people doing without this year, and not just material wise. Comfort wise. What people need is a comforting friend who understands and is willing to REACH OUT to help. Words are vanity, action is priceless.

As I go into the new changing of the calendar, a lot is going to change for me. Instead of everyone and everything shifting on me, it is my turn to shift on them. I’m not saying that in a bitter tone, I’m saying it as a realization of things that need to be done so I can soar and achieve what I need to achieve in the new year and leave all the excess baggage on the carousel of insanity.

Listen up! Joni is having some serious major health issues that she needs to tend to. Go on without me but just remember, I was there for YOU!

Thank you and God Bless!

Prov 15:24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

Put off until tomorrow...

2011-12-09T08:21:00.001-06:00

Deut. 28:2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

...what you want to get done today. Yesterdays words of wisdom were from my mother. “It could be worse.” Remember I told you she tells me that all the time? Well last night while telling her of my ailment in my back, she said, “Well put off until tomorrow, what you want to get done today.” I scratched my head and started laughing, because my mother means well and since her stroke six years ago, things don’t wrap around her brain right.

But it got us both laughing, and at this point I need it, really need it. The tricky part is, how am I going to relate that to writing?

Okay, here goes. I tell all the students in the writing courses to NEVER put off writing. I tell them it is essential to get what is on your mind, onto paper and write, write, write. You can’t stop and edit, you have to keep writing or the muse will be gone in a puff of smoke. It’ll be airborne and fizzle out and the next day when you try to recapture it, it’ll be gone!

So don’t take my mothers advice unless you’ve overworked your body into a ripe old age whilst still young, and need to give it a rest! Her words are for us only to rest when you have a God slap moment, and He says, it is time to rest.

As you sit at your computer for hours upon hours, you are whittling your bodies spinal cord. Always remember to leave that place that you find so much enjoyment in and remember to walk around, exercise those legs, move that body. Some bodies have overworked all their lives and when sitting at the computer, it has become a disease that will eat and nibble on parts you never worried about because the computer kept you blind to the inner infestation. DON’T put off until tomorrow, what needs to be done TODAY!

I’m going to wrap up this week with the blessings of this year. Just to name a few.

1. My faith ~ My faith is a blessing because as troubled waters wash over me, it is my faith, that keeps me grounded.
2. My Church ~ It is through my church that I see the people as lit candles in a darkened world.
3. Sight ~ Taken for granted, people go on every day amusing themselves; they survive on the me factor, and when something is taken away, THEN they take notice. SIGHT is a blessing, cherish it.
4. My writing ~ I am blessed with my writing. If it was not in me to write, surely I would not be alive.
5. Snow ~ Although I don’t like driving in it, it is a beautiful layered purity that melts my heart and cleanses my spirit.

Thank you Mrs. Sue and Mrs. Carol for being a true friend and giving me hope in each new day I’m allowed.

It could be worse...

2011-12-08T06:20:00.001-06:00

Inspirational Writing ~

All this talk about genre has me thinking what genre my novel falls under. Well, its a spiritual thriller, mystery laden, ghosts, angels, and toss in some thrilling uncovered mystery, and a possible time warp and you have... a doggone good novel is what you have.

That is what I’ll be working on during my hiatus in mentoring. I’ll begin the task of revising my novel while working on my health issues that are plaguing my days and nights. This way I’ll feel as if I’m still hands on in my writing, while everyone else is at class whooping and hollering and having a blast living it up.

My mother always has a way of saying, “It could be worse.” And I have to agree with her on that one, it could be worse. But let me remind you that she always says that right before things actually do get worse. She means well in her ways, but sometimes I just have a problem with accepting that theory.

It could be worse. Now there’s a concept we need to look at while writing our novel. Keep those words in mind as your hero has fallen out of a tree, crawled to the highway and is signaling for help. Does a savior come and rescue her? Think “It could be worse.” Then make it worse, she crawls into the path of an about to be picked up hitch-hiker, she calls out for help and as he turns to look at her, his face resembles that of Freddy Kruger! Her heart sinks, but just remember, “It could be worse.” She could have met up with Hannibal Lecter, when all of a sudden the man driving the car gets out to help, and it IS Hannibal Lecter!!!

You see, maybe my mother is not all wrong. Maybe she has something there with that, ‘It could have been worse theory’. As I go through trying times repelling the dark force that wants to fill the hole in my life, as I fill it with the Light, the forces tend to battle it out and I’m in the middle, swirling and twirling and in the end, the light wins, at which time I will stand up and whisper under my breath. “It could have been worse.”

There’s a point to be made here, I’m certain. With Inspirational Writing, you can always talk about the good and the light and the love of the Lord, but your audience more than likely is in a dark spot and can’t relate to a word your saying. Reaching out to their level. You have to give them the depths of the hell that you’ve been through; every slimy shimmering taste of it so they relate, then dish out the light so they drink in the benefits of all that was worse and how you fought to make it better.

In a world where people struggle with their Faith, it is quite easy to see all the Light, surround themselves with what they think the light is, but it is too soon that they forget that the dark exists. “The dark only has power if you let it.” The most untrue words I ever heard spoken. When the dark has its tentacles wrapped around you while you are breathlessly grabbing for that one ray of light. The dark friends, people, acquaintances all feel you and tug you dragging you into the road, only for you to be spotted by Hannibal and Freddy.

It’s a war out there in this world of Light and Dark...but hey, it coulda been worse...

Genre

2011-12-07T08:14:00.004-06:00

Have you gotten a genre all picked out that you like to write for? The lines are sometimes blurred but publishers accept many along the blurred lines because the genres mix and match. I think sometimes people make up their own genre then the publisher says, "Hey, we accept horror and fantasy, why not publish mystical spiritual?"

Are you writing to entertain? To inform? To persuade? Setting the purpose for writing is just as important as setting the purpose for reading, because purpose influences decisions you make about the shape and form your writing will take on. And this is why we have a genre to categorize our writing.

When researching GENREs, I never got a clear picture; that was so strange because I thought genre meant: Mystery, Horror, fiction, historical fiction, non -fiction, poetry, etc. but I kept running into list like:

The different genres of writing include descriptive, expository, narrative, persuasive, poetry and technical writing, and a combination of these are usually used for any given body of writing.

The National Writers Union bases its organizational structure on three very broad genre groups: the book division, for both fiction and non-fiction writers, the journalism division, for magazine and newspaper writers, and the biz-tech division, for business and technology writers. In addition, they include a special caucus for those who write prose and poetry.

I can see why now, we as writers have a hard time organizing our work and the need to classify where to send out work if we don’t understand the many genres being accepted in today’s writing world.

The type of list I was going for was something like this:
Action-adventure -- features physical action; the knock down dragged out missions of take no prisoner--ALIVE. Many times set in forbidding locales such as jungles, deserts, or mountains. May be historical fiction, containing facts.

Crime -- centered on the criminal society; told from the point of view of the perpetrators. Ranges in tone from lighthearted "caper" stories to darker plots involving organized crime or incarcerated convicts.

Detective -- has become almost synonymous with mystery. These stories relate the solving of a crime, usually one or more murders, by a protagonist who may or may not be a professional investigator. This large, popular genre has many subgenres, reflecting differences in tone, character, and it always contains criminal and detective

Mystery -- Think ‘whodunit’ in this category. Technically involving stories in which characters try to discover a vital piece of information which is kept hidden until the climax. Keeping the reader enthralled throughout, I might add. I might also add spiritual Mystery to this. Not having the gore elements of horror. Also Paranormal fiction fits in here along with horror.

Fantasy -- Think Lord of the Rings; unrealistic, make-believe things exist in imaginary worlds such as wizards, dragons, griffins etc

Horror -- Bloody, gut wrenching, spine tingling, gore.

Romance -- Love! A couple meet, fall apart, and in the end live happily ever after. Not to be confused with, Eroticism!

Science fiction -- Think of extrapolated, theoretical science and technology; A lot of new planets are in this genre

Western -- Primarily set in the American West in the second half of the 1800’s. Has romance, and cowboys!

Inspirational -- A term that refers to fictional or non fictional works with religious themes and aimed at a Christian audience.

There is also added categories :
Childrens -- targeted audience kids under 8

Young Adult (aka YA) -- young people from 10 and up because let’s be honest, many adults are readers of YA

Adult fiction -- can get by with foul language and topics

I hope you enjoyed today's Genre piece. Categorized as Informational!

Come on 100th Follower !!!

2011-12-06T05:23:00.001-06:00

Let me be your Inspirational Blog...

I began this blog in 2005, deleted 2006 and it wasn’t until 2008 I took it to a more serious level. I started this blog with the intention of writing about the paranoia in this society, then after becoming a mentor and not having much down to earth assistance out there in the writing world, I decided to make my blog about writing. By down to earth, I mean writing pages that are targeted to the novice. Always plenty of pages on the technical stuff, but the small stuff that we as writers need to know and are eager to learn? I wanted to reach those writers.

Then the followers began marching in like soldiers, and I was well on my way to happy in seeing all the folk enjoying my blog. I care for and appreciate each and every follower, even if I don’t get comments, I know they are there, reading behind their screens, drinking coffee perhaps, and *I* being their morning paper. (wow, can someone say run on sentence here?)

That’s a good feeling of being read. Now I know what drives all those popular published authors onto bigger and better writing days, readers! I wrote a post about me one time and I saw comments appear. My readers were enjoying my writing posts but they also were enjoying hearing about me and my life. I began having post about Writing, but also about Me. This combination drove my followers up, because I think deep down, we all want to know what really makes a writer tick. Even if they themselves were writers, closet writers, they were more about writing, not divulging personal issues about themselves.

I think my followers realized that Joni was a complex writer, spilling her guts about herself, and spreading light through scripture, love through my heart and soul, and giving some pretty good advice on writing, while sharing very informative writing links. It was then that One Voice ~Write Right began moving along into a new era. Poetry, Quotations, personal issues and plausible Writing Assistance became a virtual must read. Okay maybe that is pushing it; Must Read? But it has become an endearing read, and a Good Read, so much so, my hits are up, my visitors are up, I have flags from all the different countries that visit, and with the change of my layout, people are liking what they are seeing!

As my dental woes mount, the needed thousands of dollars for the amount of work necessary, along with the damage to my body and health that the dental woes are causing all the way down to not taking care of myself, will all fall on me in avalanche fashion as the year ends. But I am here, a living testament of true faith, I stand as the miracle of sight was brought into this realm of mine, and I hold my head high and push onto the next leg of this interesting journey God has placed me on.

Now if I could just get that 100th follower, my new year would begin on a high note!

Why Write?

2011-12-05T09:27:00.001-06:00

In today’s world, many people seek so many different things and I think this is why chaos ensues. Many of those people who cross my path (in the writing community) have had college degrees, good paying jobs, money out the gazoo, and yet here they are, coming to writing after retiring or just tiring of not being fulfilled in their dream.

They have always wanted to be a writer, felt the calling, have written since they were kids, but never really pursued a writing career. Then there are those people who like writing and dive into wanting to become a writer and try their little hearts out, studying, learning, blooming and growing, often times getting discouraged because they don’t see any results.

I write to inform, touch people, raise awareness, or to offer something to this chaotic society. Writing isn’t all about fictional tales, horror stories, or tell-all non-fictional tales; writing is a form of release. I write to heal myself. After going to a ‘doctor’ who is really a Nurse Practitioner allowed to run a small office in a small town, I realized that sometimes we need healing that they can not offer. I was sent for x-rays, have gotten no results and it has been two weeks, not one call. Whereas I went to the dentist, got some relatively not great news, and when I got home, the dentist called to see if I was okay!

Amazing.

We live in a world where technology has made enormous advances, yet I am left in pain because the NP is not concerned with me and my health. This saddens me, but not enough to give up writing. I have to give up mentoring because at this point, I need to focus on me. I have many friends living with daily pain and now I am among the crowd who endures. No medical coverage, I too endure.

So why does one write? Why would I continue to write if I am going nowhere in my career choice? Because besides my Lord and Savior, my writing is my healer. It is my safety net, my blanket that keeps me warm on these bitter cold days. If I focus on a topic, I can belt out a good 1500 to 2500 words a day AND get my mundane chores around the house done. Although, in previous weeks, my mundane chores have taken a backseat, and just breathing is a welcome relief.

This year has been one of the strangest years I’ve lived. Miracles have taken place in my life, pain has surfaced, but also therein lies an utter joy and happiness and I find it in my writing. Whether a poem, a blog post, or encouraging another writer to be their best, the writing gift that I hold in me, is a blessing that I must share with others.

Why do I write? It is a God given talent, if I didn’t write, then my talent is empty and wasted.

Poetry Sunday ~ God Made You

2011-12-04T09:58:00.000-06:00

God Made You!
***

God made you
especially for me
awaited the seconds
that we could be.

God made you
He shaped the mold
gave to me
a world of gold.

God made you
to endure great pain
family umbrella
to shield the rain.

God made you
not to be blind;
only to seek
and one day find.

You found me
and you found Him
We were both there
when life got dim.

God made you
a righteous man
He made me
by your side I’ll stand.
***
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MY LOVE!

Poetry Sunday ~ Broken Beauty

2011-12-04T07:21:00.001-06:00

To the love of my life, as we embark on yet another journey of our lives!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!!!

Broken Beauty
***

Take me as I am
broken beauty
a small token
forlorn duty.

Hold me
as I crumble
I will rise
newly humble.

Hear me weep
all my sighing
I am me
beauty dying.

Touch me
worthy crown
all my heart
falling down.

Lift me up
to the skies
as my world
slowly dies.

Find me
in the mire
peel me
from the fire.

Guide my soul
to the realm
where God alone
mans the helm.

Quotation Saturday

2011-12-03T08:44:00.000-06:00

FEAR

You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.
~Mary Manin Morrissey

Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
~Marie Curie

Keep your fears to yourself but share your courage with others.
~Robert Louis Stevenson

The one permanent emotion of the inferior man is fear - fear of the unknown, the complex, the inexplicable. What he wants above everything else is safety.
~Henry Louis Mencken

Panic at the thought of doing a thing is a challenge to do it.
~Henry S. Haskins

FATE

Sometimes, perhaps, we are allowed to get lost that we may find the right person to ask directions of. ~Robert Brault

A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it. ~Jean de La Fontaine

We cannot bear to regard ourselves simply as playthings of blind chance; we cannot admit to feeling ourselves abandoned. ~Ugo Betti, Struggle till Dawn, 1949

You know that saying, that when God closes a door he opens a window, well, sometimes out of nowhere he'll do you one better and he'll kick a whole wall down. ~Ryan Murphy

FAITH

Faith is not without worry or care, but faith is fear that has said a prayer.
~Author Unknown

Faith is like radar that sees through the fog.
~Corrie Ten Boom

Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.
~J.R.R. Tolkien

Faith is putting all your eggs in God's basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch.
~Ramona C. Carroll

FRIENDSHIP

A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world.
~Leo Buscaglia

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.
~Albert Schweitzer

If a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it. ~Edgar Watson Howe

A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.
~Donna Roberts

Thank you Miss Carol. For relieving my fears, making sure I keep my faith, and being what a real friend is, a true blessing!
~Love Joni

The Angels Called

2011-12-02T06:17:00.000-06:00

Ex. 23:20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
***
~~The Angel’s Called ~~

The angels came from mounted high,
cradled his soul I don't know why.
Wrapped in fleece-like softened wings;
silenced now he no longer sings.

Nestled within a tidal womb
fertile bed becomes a tomb
Shrouded in the serene abode
a vacant place his body stowed.

Earthbound duty not his call,
a rain of stars on him did fall.
Whisked away before I could hold;
a lifeless body lay there cold.

Summoned to be an angel himself.
Journey of breath put on a shelf.
Though I miss his earthly duty;
I savor now his angelic beauty.

Today is the BIRTHday of my son, whose eyes I never saw, whose heart that didn’t beat, whose arms were never touched, for we never did meet.

Happy Birthday to Christopher Alexander
born -- 12-2-82 moved on 12-2-82

The Light Show

2011-12-01T06:44:00.000-06:00

1 Kings 6: 4 And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.

It happened on Saturday, the 26th of November. I was allotted the time of rest on the 25th, and I knew, I just knew I had two eager kids who wanted the tree to be assembled and lights and bulbs adorning the limbs. Did I just say kids? Plural? Well I meant, my man and my son. How bad of me.

Anywho, I woke up, not feeling able to do anything and I just prayed, “Please God, give me the strength to get this day moving along and allow the light show to be embraced by my family and I. Please! Please! Please?” So after movement began in the house, stirring was a welcomed sound, thus I began.

I dusted the furniture, began humming Christmas tunes, (that was to signify that we might get moving.) Steven looked at me as if to say, “You okay?” And my returned gaze said, “No, but we’re getting this done!” I told them of the plan (not that it was going to go off without a hitch) but they were on my team, so it was a win win for me. Christmas music playing, we started.

Adam descended the stairs and began bringing up, piece by piece, the Christmas ornaments. For every step he took up, he carried down a nic-nac or something that would be put away until after Christmas. Huffing and puffing, and puffing and huffing, the Christmas ornaments adorned the shelves, the manger stood firm with the lil people in their places and pardon the pundit here, it was ‘beginning to look a lot like Christmas... every where we turned’ !!!

Adam took a break, I made some sandwiches, stopped to sit on the heating pad after popping some ibuprofen, then it was back to the assembly line we went. Adam was bringing the tree up. It weighs more than 50 lbs of awkward dead weight, so limb by limb it was carried up the steps, until the huge box was able to be carried up.

Steven and I were on this end, waiting in the living room and assembling the tree, while Adam, the lil trooper, kept going and going. After the tree was upstairs, he carried up the lights and bulbs, and was still at this time carrying stuff down the dreaded steps. And all he asked for was...a Pepsi! I said “YES!” and on he went lugging this and that, traipsing here and there, then finally, the first set of lights were now on the tree.

Steven and I were wearing thin, my back aching, my legs useless as I sat on the floor as a referee. Adam took over for the second and third pair of lights and now it was ornament time. I sat in the desk chair hanging ones at eye level, and Steven and Adam were moving around the tree and bringing it to completion!

More trips to the basement for Adam after we cleaned up any remaining mess, and the light show was a hit!!!

Then I had to find the energy to make supper... I did; afterward, we all collapsed. I on my sofa and him in his cap, Adam settled down, for a long nights nap!!!

Hark the herald Angels sing...Glory to the newborn king.

Thank you Dear Lord for prayers answered!

***

Pss.136: 7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Techie? Not me!

2011-11-30T07:41:00.002-06:00

"You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated." - Maya Angelou

I’m no techie, I’m a writer. But being such, I should have a little knowledge of this machine that does the majority of my writing for me. Well, it collects what I say and records me like some kind of futuristic tape recorder with printout abilities. Yeah, typewriters are a thing of the past and some kids will say, “Man, you’re old, a typewriter?” Yes boys and girls, before the advent of this here thing called the virtual world of technology, we were like cavemen embracing the tools before us, and one of the tools was, a typewriter.

I often times miss the simplicity of my old electric typewriter. I could sit for hours upon hours, with a book; (yes boys and girls, a BOOK made of paper, bound into a front and back hard cover.) it was called a thesaurus and it was always at my side. Typewriter and book, things the tech world rarely comprehends.

Then a new dawn came and overtook our lives and we evolved from cavemen on typewriters, to techies, to surfers, to bloggers, to riding the shores of the information highway. It enveloped our lives like a tidal wave and we rode the swahbuckling massive wave like marshmallows, getting absorbed and melting our way through life.

When I sought change for my blog, since I’m not a techie, I went to my nearest and dearest, Master Stormcrow! He has a way with this thing that I truly don’t envy. Even when he was blind, he kept two blogs going, adding content, making a writer out of himself, embracing the technology of newness, just without 3-D color pixels. (Pixels, is that the right word?) lol Maybe he could see pixies, I dunno! But anyway, he can take a computer apart with his eyes closed (or when blindness owns him) but as soon as his sight was restored, the blog world and he met and he became enamored.

Yeah, sure he liked seeing my beautiful face *cough cough*, and the sky and trees *blah blah* and the grass and leaves *yada yada*, but what he enjoyed tremendously? Surfing the net and actually SEEING what it has been up to in these two years without sight, and that is when he took his blogs and made them more appealing to the wandering eye.

If you’re a techie, you might appreciate seeing changes, if you're blind for ANY amount of time, you’ll appreciate the changes even more. So all these changes going on in our life and world around us, made me want to stand up for myself and make some necessary changes. And the changes are a rolling, with the grace and finesse that I actually look like a techie myself. Okay stop laughing!

In a world where darkness tries to overrun all that we’ve accomplished, as we embark on new beginnings and embrace the changes before us...we must not lose sight of the fact that WE are HUMAN first, not a computer. Our minds are our motherboard and our bodies the hard drive. Keep that in mind and maybe your future will be full of the LIGHT that God intended!

"Keep a diary and one day it'll keep you." ~Mae West

What a difference...

2011-11-29T08:38:00.001-06:00

Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

...a day makes.

Wow, all I can say is, WOW! I said I wanted change, and I just can’t stop looking at my blog page and thinking, Wow! Now this is change! Many years have passed through in my life and many have been full of change, but this one has to be the one that will stand out as one of the most exciting years of change. This is why I wanted the drastic overhaul of my blog, so you all can change with me.

I decided a few months back that things needed to change in my life. After I made that decision, oh about the end of September I’d say, that was when things began to swiftly change. I peeled off layers of pain, let go of the darkness that tried to swallow me, left it to build it’s own little playground of dark matter and I moved on, at a snails pace.

I was consumed with life! You know this thing we must live, in a physical world. Life, the reality of things in real-time happening, not virtually. I got off of the maypole, slid across the sand on gravel-burnt knees and embraced, LIFE.

Have you ever read a book, gotten so consumed with the character(s) that you lost track of time and space? That’s a writers job, to make sure you are consumed with their characters so much so that you forget your reality. That is exactly what the virtual world holds in its clutch. Sure, some folks will say, “There are some good things too, that the computer holds.”

Sure there is, and just like God himself is a struggle to find when you are in the pits of darkness, the computer wraps you in its tentacles, squeezes you real tight, until you are gasping for breath, never really knowing who you are or the insanity that has taken over your life. You dig and plow your way though the mire, stab through the muddy waters, and find pieces of the light as you surface. What am I saying? That the computer, IN MY OPINION, holds more dark than LIGHT!

In October, a realization hit me, that it isn’t about consuming myself with the virtual world. Life is not about building walls of defense to protect yourself. You should be able to freely live and appreciate the snowballs that are tossed in your face, and with great strength, brush away the powder!

Life is about change, characters are about transformation, story line is about variations, so why would we not take the precious care of our lives as we do with the characters and worlds we form? You can not produce something of context, if you haven’t taken the time to shape the content of your life.

It’s not about consuming all you can of the virtual world, because change only comes when you’re brave enough to tackle your inner world.

Change is in the air...

2011-11-28T07:50:00.000-06:00

Job 30:18 By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.

***

Can you smell it? *sniff* *sniff* It's called change. I’m about to embark on change in my writing career. Not sure I know exactly where I’m going to wind up but I’m gonna begin by changing the look of my blog. No nothing is changing with the content, I’ll still give writing tips and squeeze in a few personal pieces of my life, but really, the change is going to be within.

As his sight was restored, he will return to a lot of his old things, old stomping grounds like surfing pics (thanks for the redo up top), artists, songs, music while I heal this worn out body and find myself moving on into the future wherever God needs me on the next leg of this journey. By years end I should have a clearer picture of where I’m headed, whether it is up or down, falling flat on my face.

The writing life can be a lonely place. You find yourself on the edge of sanity many times. You create characters that call to you in your head, then your paranoia rises and the voices get louder and louder. You sit at the keyboard tapping away at keys as if your in a marathon, running and running with no end in sight.

You get tired of always running here and there and everywhere winding up no place special. And that is where I am at right now. I sit here second guessing writing. Can you imagine? I’ve been writing all my life and now at the young age of *muffled age* I’m second guessing myself? Again, I allowed others to define me and where I am going, knowing full well they don’t hold the key to the door in which I need to go. While they were maliciously tearing down the walls, I was strategically building them back up and figuring a way to peel them from the floorboards and eliminate them from my life. Can I ask, did Jesus WELCOME Satan as a friend into his home? NO!!! In Matt.4:10, He commanded, “Get out of here, Satan.” And I will do the same by eliminating the intruders from my life.

I only feel alone because everyone, and I do mean everyone, around me has let me down. How much family support do I have? None. I’ve been in pain for, let’s see, October, all of November and the only people that know of my health are my church family, and my writing family. Who has expressed concern? Those same folk. ALONE! Alone am I! So as I move toward change, I have decided to gradually move away from being a thread of help to writers, and actually focus on ME and MY writing.

I will not let my blog go and that is the one thread that will keep us all tied together. Maybe you comment, maybe you don’t, maybe you read and actually glean some info from this blog, whatever the case, my heart, blood and soul is poured out in this blog, and you all, have become the characters in my life, that keep this blog going. I will not let you down, like everyone out in this world has let me down! If anything you know of me, *I* am not like them, I’m a character to be reckoned with and we’re on a journey and the tale is far from over.

Not only are the seasons changing... everything in life is changing.

Job 13:13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

Isa. 2:11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

Poetry Sunday ~ Seasoned Spirit

2011-11-27T00:01:00.001-06:00

Job 8: 13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

Seasoned Spirit
***

The lights are all lit,
candles aglow
that time of year
this I know.

The brisk wind blows
the chill is biting
consumers all flustered
grabbing and fighting.

So sad a day;
he follows the ghoul
beaming in pride
he looks the fool.

Walk in the spirit
a troubled task,
for those who try
the dark ones mask.

There’s more hidden
within the season
than walking around
always people pleasin’.

You hold the key
the spiritual walk;
choosing wisely
with whom you talk.

Your words will fall
on deafened ear
if you’ve faked the path
that was all laid clear.

Choose the stone
on the gravelly road
to spiritual growth
the Lightened load.

Settling on
the lonely clique
leaves you outside
the righteous pick.

December comes
seasons unfold;
remember your spirit
don’t tag it as sold!

Light and Love
Warmth and Joy.
Trust and faith
are yours to deploy!

Job 20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

Quotation Saturday

2011-11-26T08:57:00.002-06:00

Baltimore's Inner Harbor...
...HOME!

GIVE THANKS~

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
~Melody Beattie

For, after all, put it as we may to ourselves, we are all of us from birth to death guests at a table which we did not spread. The sun, the earth, love, friends, our very breath are parts of the banquet.... Shall we think of the day as a chance to come nearer to our Host, and to find out something of Him who has fed us so long?
~Rebecca Harding Davis

Thanksgiving is nothing if not a glad and reverent lifting of the heart to God in honor and praise for His goodness.
~Robert Casper Lintner

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.
~Meister Eckhart

Got no check books, got no banks. Still I'd like to express my thanks - I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night. ~Irving Berlin

We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning.
~Albert Barnes

It is delightfully easy to thank God for the grace we ourselves have received, but it requires great grace to thank God always for the grace given to others.
~James Smith

For hearts that are kindly, with virtue and peace, and not seeking blindly a hoard to increase; for those who are grieving o'er life's sordid plan; for souls still believing in heaven and man; for homes that are lowly with love at the board; for things that are holy, I thank thee, O Lord!
~Walt Mason

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?"
~William A. Ward

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
~William Arthur Ward

And though I ebb in worth, I'll flow in thanks.
~John Taylor

Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.
~A.W. Tozer

I have strong doubts that the first Thanksgiving even remotely resembled the "history" I was told in second grade. But considering that (when it comes to holidays) mainstream America's traditions tend to be over-eating, shopping, or getting drunk, I suppose it's a miracle that the concept of giving thanks even surfaces at all.
~Ellen Orleans

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.
~Cicero

~ FAMILY ~

To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.
~Barbara Bush

Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted.
~Paul Pearshall

The Day After: Part II

2011-11-25T14:06:00.000-06:00

Jude 1:25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are His before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen. (NLT)

Through all of this, I have been literally brought to my knees in humble prayer. Thanksgiving was a day to give THANKS and nothing short of all thanks, was given to Him.

I awoke in normal fashion, wobbling through the house while opening the blinds (with the wand) to see such a wonderful ray-stretching sunrise. I waited for sounds to fill the house before I did much else. The sounds began just before eight a.m., and after wishing all my writing friends a happy Thanksgiving via facebook, my day went on.

I made it to the kitchen, as Steven woke and opened all the blinds, via pulling the string, to the very top of the window (that’s his new thing since gaining his sight back.) He came to help me load the bird without wings into the baking pan. It was ten by the time I finished cleaning Tom turkey and prepping it, then Steven took over like a mad man!

I mean that in a good way. He wanted me to rest and as he knew my wobbly legs wouldn’t hold up to the normally exhausting day, he took charge in a way a blind man never could have. Well he could, but it would have taken him extra time, but how glorious is it to see your once blind man, scurry through the house looking like he had sprouted wings on his feet?

We were invited to his moms house, and my dear friend from church wanted me to come give thanks with her and her family, but with Steven still acclimating to sight, he wanted to take the day in and drink from the scents of the day and the hurriedness of making a holiday meal. He just wanted peace and serenity and to share it with Adam and I.

As we sat to eat the hearty meal, after our prayers, we each took a turn saying what we are thankful for. Adam went first, me second and Steven cheated by saying he was thankful for everything! :) Yeah, the ol guy is coming back at full force. Although the doctor won’t allow him to play his sax, and the Christmas get together with family out here on the farm, might be put off, we move forward. He will be fitted for glasses come December, and this will give him much more vision! The doc also told us that the eye can take up to six months to a year before it is completely healed; thus the need for prayer continues.

We normally put up the tree the day after Thanksgiving (that has been our tradition for nine years) but this year, this day is a day of rest. He can’t lift more than ten pounds and well, I’m completely incapacitated on being able to lift and walk up stairs, so we will get it done when we get it done. We’re in no hurry, but I think I have someone here who is eager to SEE the tree and all its lights! AMEN!

Christmas holds none of the old world traditions for me. To me, the tree is a symbol of life. The lights to me are a symbol of the Light of the world. The ornamentation of the tree holds memories of each year that passes. The manger is the symbol of a Savior who was born (although it may have not happened on the 25th of December.) Christmas has never centered on Santa, and since my son was born on the 27th of December, it has always been about Light, love, joy, and birth!

I send to you the joy that you find within your heart to celebrate a season that has been overly commercialized, over sold and ticketed as a gateway into the New Year with drinking, lasciviousness, and idol worship. May you find your family’s honored tradition, respected and embraced. And may you understand that love and Light is what this season is all about! Give thanks this Christmas. Allow Thanks and a giving heart to live all year long. And may you all be blessed with a living miracle.

The Day After

2011-11-25T08:46:00.000-06:00

Ps 63:5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. (NLT)

Here it is Thanksgiving past already. The day we all await to arrive, it comes and goes so quick, then you’re left with still feeling full upon wake-up. That’s right Thanksgiving has come and gone and now we hurriedly move towards Christmas; but wait, let’s recap the building up to Thanksgiving so we don’t allow the day of gratitude to pass by without a mention.

As many of my readers know, I often open the vein into my world, and I thought, “What better time, than when you are all at home ignoring me today?” But I might get a few who care to actually scurry in here as you sit at your computers. Welcome to my world.

Right before Halloween, I began hearing Christmas music playing on Wal Marts sound system. There is no time to waste when it comes to the Day of Giving and getting, stress, and noise, lost joy, and loud toys. I’m not a bah-hum bug by any means, but if man is going to decide that Dec. 25 is Jesus’ birthday, shouldn’t we show Him SOME respect and celebrate it in a proper fashion? Nah, man is too weak for that. The respect we show the Lord is by televising women in bras and panties, waltzing down the runway? And men sitting there drool faced lusting in great pleasure? And human beings allowing this? A sad sad society we live in!

Thanksgiving is left in the dark as we speed right through the Thankful meal to get to the stores either at midnight or early morning as we absorb like a sponge, all that the media has fed us and we fall prey to the demon that grabs us. We are mighty thirsty for what that demon offers and I sit here, just enjoying life. Happy to wake up and see a glorious sunrise, not caught up in a world that wants me to conform to their rituals and self absorbed habits.

Some of you may also know that Thanksgiving was going to be extra special for Steven, Adam and myself, since Steven got his sight restored, and by golly it was the best Thanksgiving I’ve had possibly in all my life. But it was not without its twists. Since the many Omaha trips have taken a serious toll on my body, I sat planted on the sofa, unable to do much except enjoy the comfort of my heating pad.

The month of October was full of pain from a tooth that was screaming for help, and by mid-October, my legs and back could really feel the strain of seven hours of tense filled driving, over five times that month. By Halloween, and the success of the cornea transplant was a go, my body collapsed, literally. My legs wobbly like rubber-bands, pain shooting in my mouth, everything that could possibly attack me, did and had its pleasure.

My fight, was to see a dentist, done! Tooth gone and pain in my mouth somewhat subsiding. Then my numb legs, I knew I had to see the doctor; I thought, this is pretty serious. I CAN NOT WALK, and when I do, it’s five steps and I feel like my legs are jell-o. Blood tests came back all clean. Now I await the x-ray results and hopefully SOMEONE will give me SOMETHING to relieve this pain and misery, or it is GOODBYE CHRISTMAS for me!!!

Not that Christmas is all about shopping to me, it is all about bright lights and celebrating the appointed birthday of my Lord! I love the lights, I love the living mangers, I love Church and my church family, because they are whom He placed in my life, MY life, at this time, since no one else (except a selected few) has taken notice.

All Glory and praise to the living Spirit that dwells in me!

Happy Thanksgiving ~ I'm Thankful... ~

2011-11-24T09:18:00.000-06:00

Remember God's bounty in the year. String the pearls of His favor. Hide the dark parts, except so far as they are breaking out in light! Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude! ~Henry Ward Beecher ~

I’m thankful….

I’m thankful for that one warm ray,
that shines on me to lighten my day.
I’m thankful for the dewy grass
that tickles my toes as I pass.
I’m thankful for the fragrant air,
that wafts on by without a care.
I’m thankful for the torrents of rain
that soaks my skin; releases my pain.
I’m thankful for the budding flower.
that blooms in glory, a scented shower.
I’m thankful for every timeless season,
new bark; new bough with endless reason.
I’m thankful for all the joyful bliss,
that graces my cheek as a gentle kiss.
I’m thankful for being allowed too touch,
that one lost soul whom needs so much.
I’m thankful for every little thing,
that has no worth, but smiles they bring.
I’m thankful for the minuscule,
for that where my soul can rule.
I’m thankful for all my eyes can see,
breathless beauty from God to me.
I’m thankful for all of this and more,
the love of life, the chance to soar!

In this day of thanks, may you too find a rose in your heart and blessings on your soul. May the sun drench you in warmth as the Light embraces you. Have a Glorious day!!!

2 Chron.4:15 ~ For all things [are] for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Poetry Sunday ~ The Tree of Life

2011-11-20T08:07:00.001-06:00

Gen. 1: 20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
***
Tree of Life

In the vision of my eyes,
I see the world in a disguise
playing with the human emotion
like a child without a notion.

I scan the open field of dreams
everything clearer than it seems.
Wandering round in an enlightened state,
hoping my words don’t come to late.

Can you feel the life of you
within the world of confusion too?
Upon the doorway of mystical bliss
there is a lot I feel I miss.

The trees they prosper with each season,
some are wounded with good reason.
Getting stronger from each storm
within each branch about to form.

Life it takes us for a spin;
seasons strengthen us to win.
This world is one we all must commune
lets play our lives in an angelic tune.

Sin will compromise our feat
sacrifice is our only mete.
When we serve the One who is True,
the tree of life will flow through you.

Quotation Saturday

2011-11-19T06:28:00.001-06:00

CHANGE

The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them. ~George Bernard Shaw

He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator. ~Francis Bacon
Every single thing changes and is changing always in this world. Yet with the same light the moon goes on shining. ~Saigyo

Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

KINDNESS

Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up. ~Jesse Jackson

A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. ~Charles H. Spurgeon

During my second year of nursing school our professor gave us a quiz. I breezed through the questions until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was a joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before the class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our grade. "Absolutely," the professor said. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy. ~Joann C. Jones

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~Mark Twain

LIFE

Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower. ~Hans Christian Anderson

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. ~Elwyn Brooks White

Life is not always fair. Sometimes you get a splinter even sliding down a rainbow. ~Terri Guillemets

Try not to waste life on things that really have no meaning. If it does not move you forward to the next step, then you have just wasted precious minutes out of your time. ~Joni Zipp

Change taking places...

2011-11-18T08:13:00.000-06:00

1 Sam. 21:13 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

***

Change taking places...

Okay, I do believe I’ve bored you enough with the week of change. Thank you ever so much for tolerating my week of Compassion, and then to jump into a week of Change topics, you all are real troopers. We have to end on a high note, a positive in the world of negative.

A miracle changed and shaped my life as of October 10, 2011 when the cornea transplant took place. I liked staying in a hotel, having a continental breakfast, eternal coffee around the clock, and the lovely confusing Omaha. It started to feel like home, since we’ve been back so many times. All in all it’s been good.

For two and a half years we’ve lived here in Nebraska, about ten miles from his hometown where he grew up. He hadn’t ‘seen’ it since we came up from Texas a few years before that and I know it was killing him not being able to see his old school, and the demise of it as it got torn down, new buildings emerge and life in Little Town Nebraska taking on new shapes and memories.

His sight has returned and everyone assumes yippee 20/20, easy peasy. It has been anything but ‘easy’. It has been a challenge and breathtaking all at once. I say a challenge because we never know what to expect with each new day, and breathtaking in watching him see a snow squall for the first time in years, watching Sassy our dog recognize that, “Hey, Papa man can see again.”, and seeing him change his blogs, The Drums in the Deep and AudioBook Heaven, to a more aesthetic view, with charm oozing out all over the place. This has been an amazing, quite astonishing sight, literally.

I notice people posting pics, as if he even goes to facebook, but they post in hopes he’ll look, but he can not SEE THAT WELL YET!!! Give the man time! So much is hitting him, that it exhausts him. A day of looking out the window, seeing the sun, sky, grass, leaves can be very tiring to a man who has seen total darkness for years. It’s kind of funny watching the people react, who’ve seen him as a blind man, take in this miracle.

The people at church for instance, each week (as always but with new vigor) smile with a gracious smile, shake his hand and can not say enough about how happy they are for us. Us? Well happy for him that he can see, and me, they are happy to see my elbow free and him walking in the door all on his own and finding our regular seat. :)

His mom and sister have come out to see him, (they were great help while we went to Omaha, taking care of our beloved Sassy) and people want him to come here and there, ride here and I think they have the idea in their heads that he is one hundred percent healed, eager for a visiting frenzy and ready go running around all over the place and drink in the beauty of all that awaits him, and return to being that old guy of his past.

I say the old guy of his past because when I met him eight, almost nine years ago, he was a completely different man. He was a man I didn’t like too much, but had fallen in love with and was determined to ‘stand by my man’ and all that entails. It means putting up with nasty habits, enduring the slimey pieces to get to the solid middle. He began the change about six years ago when we began going to church.

No, it was no miraculous event and it took its good old time, but I’m telling you now, the man before me today is not the man I met 8 years ago, he’s the inner man that I fell in love with. And with that, a miracle unfolded, and we both are here enjoying the newness of life, taking in every grain of sand; finding pleasure in the changing of a clock, the making of a bed, the vacuuming of the floor, the petting of a dog (who, by the way, doesn’t move out of his way, because he can see now!) and the loving of a snowflake.

I’m not preaching to you to change, but one day, you might wake up and say, What is wrong with my life? You’ll look in the mirror and realize, you’re what’s wrong; and your kids, your family and everyone in between sees you, and you then realize in an instant, I need to change something.

Go on, make that change. Miracles await you, too.

***

Pss.55: [19] God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
Prov. 24:[21] My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

What? No Change?

2011-11-17T08:24:00.000-06:00

When you are through changing, you are through.

~Bruce Barton
***

Well the week of change is coming to an end as we near Friday. I’m sorry again for boring you but really, writing is all about change so in actuality, I AM writing about, writing. :)

You know, as with anything, everything takes time. In it’s own season and for a reason. When one decides to BE a writer, there are things that you go through and years of persistently grinding the stone to the curb, and in the end, you’ll feel as if you’ve accomplished something. Then there comes a season where you wake up and smell the coffee and realize things aren’t working out as planned, so you begin making other plans.

My entire life has been about change, but until recently, one thing that has never changed, has been my love of writing. Only recently have I begun to think this is the season to change plans, take a turn down the road, hop off this moving train, give back the oars ‘cause I ain’ta paddling! Thank you September incidence's, you marred and scarred me for life.

So what exactly ARE my plans? I may be heading into the mentoring field at WVU, since I am dedicated to Mr. Hembree and the Institution of higher learning. I’ll continue to embark on educating others in the writing field as a side job in my ever changing world as I grow and learn myself. Then it will be off for a world of change for me.

What is with all this change going on? Well let me tell you, you don’t have a miracle plop smack dab in your lap, molded and shaped by the hands of God Himself, and go back returning to your old ways. No way, no how! Normal takes on new and supernatural shape and form. Never considering myself normal in the first place, life was slugging along at a snails pace, and we were just patiently waiting for change to whack us upside the head.

I don’t really think anyone can understand or grasp the depth of what happened to us. Trying to put it into words has been quite a challenge in and of itself. Plain and simple, he was blind, and now, he sees! On a more complicated level? Everything shifted! The earth moved, literally! Look at the recent earthquakes in the Va./Md area and in Oklahoma too. We’re not the only ones who FELT the shift, apparently the Earth took notice too.

And what is so sad, is that as this shift happens, everyone goes on as if nothing has moved in the transformation. Maybe this was just meant for us? Are we the only ones who’ve experienced the altered state? Am I talking to myself here?

The windowed world holds nothing for me now. Once I’ve been given the chance to see things from a new perspective everything transitioned into a new and improved life altering phase of light. You look different, he looks different, life in general has taken on the variance of shapes and colors that are all meshing in my brain and while people say, “How are you?” I can only answer with “Fine.” because in all honesty, I don’t really know myself.

Things change, people change and nothing is ever the same again. We muddle through, do what we do, and wake up every day doing the same-old-same-old, mundane routine. For me? I’m alive...in an altered state. Grasp THAT!

Change...again???

2011-11-16T06:37:00.000-06:00

Rom. 12: 1- Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
***

Change again????

I know, right? Day three and I’m still talking about change? Change already and move on! Sorry if these topics have you wanting to run for the hills, but really, writing is all about change. I have journals dating back to the early eighties, and in them there is nothing BUT change. It wasn’t as if I was writing about all the good things in life, no, when I journal I write about my life, in a metamorphosis, and as I sit here now, my wings have taken shape.

Change is a part of human evolution. Y’see, Darwin had it all wrong, we didn’t evolve from monkey’s into humans, we evolved from something sinful, hurtful, spiteful (think Cain and Abel) into something consciously aware of our sinful natures and only through change can we recognize the nature and change what needs to be changed.

We can stay the same, as I’ve seen many do, never growing and changing. Always staying the same but using a mask as a front so people see you as changing but deep down within, you are still the same. To change within, enormous leaps and bounds have to be taken, we can’t just baby step through things, like we’re walking on egg shells, or broken porcelain. We have to tread on the glass, we have to hurt and feel the pain. We need to embrace the inevitable change and not dress it up in some bible words. Give Him a little more credit than that!

When you look at pictures of people from say, the 1800’s, while although women still had make-up, their faces had different shapes, men had different looks too. As technology evolved, men and women did too. Today’s woman can be airbrushed, men can pop rogaine pills, we can hold the destiny key, and shape ourselves into who we want to become, without ever looking to reconstruct our inner selves.!

We can have boob jobs, nose, and butt jobs; liposuction, tummy tucks, manicures, pedicures, weaves, shapes, and anything we want to ‘change’ we basically CAN! But is all this part of our natural evolution? I think it is evolution on steroids! It has evolved into something grotesque and inhuman. I think Darwin would wake today and say, “See we DID evolve from animals, but I was wrong, monkey’s are the better looking species!”

Women have sold their souls to the devil, men have danced in the dark with them, all thinking that this is the way that we’re supposed to live; just a natural evolution. Has no one retained a moral to carry through life? Has everyone landed in a pile of marshmallow and allowed their brains to become pillows of disgust, justifying their actions by saying, "this is what we’ve evolved to become. Live with it.’"

I personally thought that we were supposed to be aware of something higher and bigger than us. I consciously am aware of God holding the key to my destiny. Change does not come from anything outward that technology has cloned. Humans have become living products of ‘Technology Gone Wild’.

Change comes from within. Holding the destiny key of change, does not give you the right to cosmetically enhance who you are because, lets face it, you can have Parton’s breast (and hair for that matter, it’s a fake too), Matt Damon’s smile, but when you turn in at night, you will always be the you that God created.

Return to change...

2011-11-15T06:34:00.000-06:00

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. ~Victor Frankl

***

Yeah I think I should return to my writing blog before I bore all of you to tears. Since I AM the mastermind behind this blog, I do have the free reign to do what I want and write the topics that I want. But will you walk with me down this path? Only time will tell.

Last week was blog topics about ‘Helping the Unfortunate of Society’. It has nothing to do with writing, but writers I believe, have a duty, when they’re not off making millions or maybe it is just hundreds of dollars, to help the less fortunate. Me, I make nothing and still feel the need to help the less fortunate and if my words encourage just one person to help someone in need, then my work is not in vain.

We’ve gone through some changes here on the Nebraskan home front. Some good changes but as you know, not everyone embraces change. Change to me is like waking one day having a beautiful luscious green tree, broken in half and the leaves all turned brown. Yeah, I don’t embrace change very easily, but I know, it is just a part of the natural flowing river that God has placed in our fluid lives.

Some folks ride the river screaming, whee whee whee all the way down, missing a few of the intricate steps it takes in getting to the end of the river, or really they are so absorbed in the water they miss the true beauty of the ride. They embrace moving right along, ignore necessity, and they just...flow. That can be good in some instances (if you’re a baby who has no other care in the world, and enjoys being pacified), but in a world full of chaos? That uninhibited flow can also be detrimental.

Others, grab hold of a floating branch; just coast down the river, enjoying all the blessings that surround them and are well aware of and prepared for the forceful waterfall ahead of them. The rushing of chaotic change comes and suddenly you’re pulled in many different directions; being stretched here and there but if you’re lucky, you’ll have a guiding hand tugging you on the right path.

That is what is happening to me as the year moves downstream into a new era. I’m putting to rest something that held me captivated for eight years, and while those who continue to flow don’t recognize that they’ve shattered a dream of mine, they’ll flow, missing the fact that they alone were the ones who broke the mirror.

While I hold onto the branch and look skyward seeing what is the next leg of my journey; I’m going to embrace the change that will carry me swiftly to new heights. What am I going to embrace in the new year that will carry me, rushing into a new dream, a new phase, a loving world of souls with their arms outstretched to me? Only time will tell.

I know one thing for certain...my blog and I will survive.

A Year of Change...

2011-11-14T09:40:00.000-06:00

“One path in life is lonely, directionless and hopeless. The other is taking the hand of Jesus and letting Him guide you along the way.” ~ GodVine on Facebook

There’s a Readers Digest contest of 150 words of Thankfulness and what it means to you. Promote? A contest should be judged on merit of a story, not how many votes you can get, and in hindsight, I wished I never would have entered.

Seeing that I have no friends, or not that many really like me and who have basically pushed me out of a circle I once belonged to, I scaled the ropes reaching for the 100 votes mark while others, who had friends, neared the 1000 mark and the 20,000 mark.

This really gave me an idea of where I want to go with my writing. Seeing that book sales are all about the people you know. Nothing stands on its own legs any more and if you have a novel to sell, it goes for 4.99, the ebook trade swallows it up, and you never really get recognition unless your name is King, or someone in the industry (think Ellen or Oprah) promotes you.

This year has brought about many drastic changes. None that I have had any control of but changes that I’ve been a part of the unraveling of, like a ball of yarn.

We began the year in the unknown. Would this be the year that the Blind Man sees? As March approached swiftly, we were off on doctor visits and running around on the legs of hope and prayer. I understand intrinsically that waiting is not just a requirement that God asks of us, it is a measure of faith. Not diminishing faith, but some have a better resilience on the waiting bar than others who want it now. They think, “I prayed and I want it now. I shouldn’t have to WAIT!” But guess what, you HAVE to wait and as I’ve learned over the years, that waiting is just a small part of the plan. Sure I have my anxious moments, but I know if I wait patiently, the Lord will take care of everything. Then the anxiety is diminished.

July brought about an unexpected blessing. I received a laptop. It was a strange miracle because I’m used to everyone else receiving them and I sit and watch the glory of God take shape and form. But in this instance, I was the receiver. Then I decided, against my better judgment, to mentor f2k, thinking this would help me relieve some of the anxiety I was facing, little did I know, it was the culmination of a poignant year of realization. It opened my eyes in the writing world. F2k changed my life in more ways than one.

Ironic isn’t it? October brought about the the sight being restored to my man, and for me, the sight into the reality of my life and where it is going? The month began in pain for me as my mouth needed attention, but I’d have to suffer in pain and give my undivided attention to matters at hand. Sight is a pretty big thing that I think we all take for granted, and until it is taken away for years, you’ll never really understand the level of dependence you have on your sight.

Trip after trip to Omaha, took its toll on my body, and finally my mouth hit a heightened pain that could no longer be ignored, but who would help me? Again, no close friends, I slept in pain and rose in anguish until someone near to me like a mother said, “Get to the dentist! I’ll help!” As tears rolled down my face, I made the appointment and felt the loving arms of God once again embrace me.

Life will shape into a ball if I allow it, or into a pile of dung, either way, the year will come to rest on change. Change in focus, change in direction, a broad change in the path I’ve decided to travel down.

Poetry Sunday ~ The Rainbows Touch

2011-11-13T06:08:00.000-06:00

Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

***

The Rainbows Touch
***

The sun drips rainbows from the sky,
a canopy of color blooms down.
Skyward my eyes squint to behold,
the hue of God to which I’m bound.

Rest those eyes, my precious child
For you are not alone.
Color the sky in rainbow pearls
where angels before have flown.

Whisked away to the palette
where brush and paint collide
In His hand I’m gently cradled
the arc of the bow I reside.

Flecks of color come alive
they dance in a splendid show.
His voice now sings a melody
of which I’ve come to know.

Beads if shivers rush my spine
but warmth of light abounds.
Spinning in a cosmic glow
awashed in harps and sounds.

In Gods eyes we unite
the harmony I seek so much
I’ve found it in the loving care
and warmth of the Rainbow’s Touch!

Quotation Saturday

2011-11-12T07:30:00.000-06:00

BALANCE & MODERATION
***

I soon found out you can't change the world. The best you can do is to learn to live with it.
~Henry Miller

My good friends, while I do most earnestly recommend you to take care of your health and safety, as things most precious to us, I would not have that care degenerate into an effeminate and over-curious attention, which is always disgraceful to a man's self, and often troublesome to others.
~Edmund Burke

We may outrun
By violent swiftness
And lose by over-running.
~William Shakespeare

Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance.
~Epicurus

PLEASURES
***

Fun I love, but too much fun is of all things the most loathsome. Mirth is better than fun, and happiness is better than mirth. ~Thomas Carlyle

In diving to the bottom of pleasure we bring up more gravel than pearls.
~Honore de Balzac

We can often endure an extra pound of pain far more easily than we can suffer the withdrawal of an ounce of accustomed pleasure.
~Sydney J. Harris

Pleasure is the bait of sin.
~Plato

PURPOSE
***

We all possess the thunder of pure fury and the calm breeze of tranquility. If it wasn't for tomorrow, how much would we get done today? Whatever your purpose... embrace it completely. Get lost in the clouds every now and then so you never lose sight of God's wonder.
~Paul Vitale

Men, like nails, lose their usefulness when they lose direction and begin to bend.
~Walter Savage Landor

To have no set purpose in one's life is the harlotry of the will.
~Stephen MacKenna

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
~George Bernard Shaw

PRAYER
***

When we pray to God we must be seeking nothing - nothing.
~Saint Francis of Assisi

Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays.
~Søren Kierkegaard

Don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines.
~Satchel Paige, 1974

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.
~Oswald Chambers

11-11-11 Thankfulness and Glory

2011-11-11T05:54:00.000-06:00

John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said to them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
***

We’ve arrived at the last day of the week which is 11-11-11. A culmination of Help the Less Fortunate Week. All those ‘ones’ in the date, makes me think of the number one front and center force in my life and that is the Lord God. Throughout this week I’ve given you a window into the world in which you live and perhaps maybe sit in judgment of innocent human beings. Have you hung pretty curtains at the window, so the low-life outside doesn’t look so clear. Have you put up shades on your window so their tattered and torn smelly clothes can’t be seen or inhaled? Have you turned your nose up to the needy?

This is what you have done in the season of Thanksgiving? Shut yourself off from giving and absorbed yourself in YOU. “I have all my Christmas shopping done! Aren’t I great?” “I dropped a five dollar bill in the Salvation Army bucket, instead of my usual one dollar!” Wow, don’t you just feel so good about YOU? I have not written this week to guilt you into anything. If you can not act of your own fruition then acting at all will be futile.

I’ve helped you to open your heart and mind into the world of compassion so that maybe when you see a person in need, you won’t turn away from them, out of disgust, maybe you’ll humble your heart, and go to them and see what they need and how you can help. Maybe they just need a cup of coffee, not a whole order of food, maybe the car behind you in the Wendy’s drive-thru could use a spontaneous act of kindness, maybe an elderly person in your building, complex, neighborhood could use a visitor. Maybe someone in the hospital where you’re visiting a friend or loved one, never gets to see a friend or loved one, why not go in and say, Hello?

Instead of gossiping behind peoples back who are not as fortunate as you, why not reach out to them with an arm of compassion. Why not bend in a different direction this holiday season and better yet, why not do it year round? Why wait for the holiday to begin?

Heb 13: 1-3 Let brotherly love continue.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

As we entertain ourselves in the company of like minded people, our hearts will overflow with the compassionate nature that Jesus had intended for us. When we surround ourselves in the body of lust, greed, perversion, we get lost in the mire and can never see clearly what God has intended for us on this Earth.

As I sit here in farm country, watching the harvesters reap what they sow, I look out into a nation who is being swallowed by earthquakes in divers places, fires, storms, unearthly behavior. Remember, we’ll be protected, because we as Christians will see the signs and wonders and won’t be caught unaware. We’ll have our arms wide open, and ears wide shut to all the naysayers who wish to drive us away from our innocent intent, and that is to help someone in need, without once asking for praise in return. Can you do that?

Why a person shuns people in need, is really beyond my comprehension. How can you neglect looking out the window and not SEE what is going on around you and how can you not care unless there is something in it for YOU? Have you ever just given, to give? Have you ever went above and beyond YOU, and thought of someone else, not for gain or recognition just for the sheer warmth that it left lingering in your spirit?

Feel that warmth of a giving heart. It is the rainbow of God lighting your soul. Don’t deny it when it happens to you, embrace it and do something because of it.

May the joy, peace and compassion envelop you this glorious season. Bring a miracle to life. All you have to do is...PRAY! Godspeed my friends...

“Remember this, what you do in secret, God sees it. What you think silently, God hears it. What you post publicly, would your mother be proud to call you hers? What you think is innocent, would your Father, think so too?” Joni Zipp

***

Before you act, listen.
Before you react, think.
Before you spend, earn.
Before you criticize, wait.
Before you pray, forgive.
Before you quit, try.”
~ Ernest Hemingway

***

to all the veterans in

the world

I salute you.

All Tied Up?

2011-11-10T08:43:00.003-06:00

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
***

Did you ever notice people with the means to help, don’t. And the people without the means, do? Or at least want to. I think I remain poor because even if I was a popular published novel writer, my money would be flung out the window, handed off to people who need it!

I have family members who make more than $100,00 thousand a year, and ones who make less than $25,000 a year. Wanna know who helps in our dire time of need? Yup you guessed it, the ones with the least amount to give. And if you ask the ones with more than enough money for help? They tell you they don’t have it, their money is all tied up. What does that even mean? Oh wait...it is in savings for THEM, so THEY have a good life, for the rest of their lives. Poo, on those who have nothing, get a job they say. Well! I don’t need you, I have GOD, and YOU have your place carved out for you.

More so than that, the ones without don’t even need to ask if I need help. Have you ever seen the man with raggedy clothing on the street corner, cup in hand, sign on ground, NEED FOOD, some call them ‘bums’, some say they are derelicts, some whisper, ‘street trash’, I say the are ‘homeless’ victims.

Why victims? Because they became a victim of circumstance. Please don’t give me the story on these men and women, how they are just out for booze. Sucking off of ‘good taxpaying people’. Do you hear how wrong that sounds? I grew up in the city, Baltimore city, and the homeless could be seen sleeping on top of steaming sewer drains, they will carry their ‘home’ with them, usually a cardboard box, a lot of times a shopping cart filled with a coat and boxes that they would roll around the streets from one place to the next.

It was always so sad to see these men AND women clinging to the very edge of society. A misfit among the human race, pushed there by disease? Hard times? Society? Or Family? I have been on the edge of that line numerous times but God has always sought someone to reach out to me and bring me something, anything in my time of NEED, not want. God is the only saving Grace during these hard times of need, and having real Christians surround you and pull you together into their arms, that is what you NEED!

Sure we all want a nice home, a warm home with a car outside waiting for us to jump in, clothes on our backs, and food on our plates. We also want that new blouse we saw at JCPenny’s, or that purse we saw at Macy’s, or the new sofa we saw at the Furniture Store. But those are all WANTS and nothing that you really NEED.

I NEED my state of mental health, and the Greed Factory is not where I’ll ever visit anytime soon. You enjoy your time there and if you see someone who resembles Jesus, in need, tell him you can’t help, “YOUR money is all tied up.” See how that works for you.

Hebrews 13:1-2 "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares".

But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mk 10:43-45 (NLT)

Pointing Fingers

2011-11-09T06:26:00.002-06:00

Ps. 136: 25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
***

After yesterdays post, I could feel the fingers pointing, the mouths hanging open, whispering sounds, “You were on welfare?”

I’ve known many people who should BE on assistance but they don’t because of pride. Pride holds people back from many things and when you get the haughty attitude in life, you are missing a main element in your human existence; compassion, meekness.

“I’m not going to lower myself and go THERE” they say, while slopping up oats, or mac and cheese, for the 28th day of the month. When you don’t have a child, I guess you and your pride can stand on the pedestal thinking yourself really something way up there, above everyone else. Looking down on the lowly, meek and humble.

“HaH, look at me, I’m way up here and you, you have lowered yourself and will sit in that welfare office with all those stinky people who have absolutely nothing.” They have absolutely nothing? Really? I don’t see it that way. I see them as having MORE than you and as human beings who need food and are willing to go and get it, even if that means, shaking off the prideful attitude, humbling themselves and standing in line for hours at our government offices, and going home with food. Real food, delicious healthy food that will strengthen and nourish their bodies.

Meals on Wheels, food assistance to the elderly. Would you stand on your pedestal and deprive the elderly of a meal every day? You sit there and say that the welfare offices are full of people who take advantage of the system, yet you have no idea the persons life or circumstance that caused them to be in that situation. The meals-on-wheels is no different, the elderly need food and sometimes they don’t have cars or a means to get a meal each day, but would you deprive an elderly person a meal? Then why judge and deprive anyone else who is getting a much needed meal?

Oh, I get it now, it all boils down to your ego. “I work for my meals!” or “I have a job, now YOU go find one and stop allowing taxpayers to pay for you!” Really? Is that what it is to you? You being better, you having something others don’t have, you wanting to keep it for yourself and not share it?
You’ll spew back at me, I have no ego, I just call ‘em as I see ‘em. My point exactly, YOU call it the way YOU see it. When YOU have an ego, remember your pov lessons? Ego is all about YOU.

So what we have is YOU calling yourself a Christian, and YOU depriving innocent people of food and shelter, YOU taking from the poor, to give to the what? I can’t say rich, but those just getting by, too?

We have greed festering and surfacing, boasting, taunting, yet you say you have no ego?

Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Can you imagine just for a moment the weak and lowly of the earth coming to Jesus and saying, “I’m hungry.” And Jesus scoffing and saying “Get a job! I have nothing to offer you!” You’re jaw just dropped open. Close it before the flies get in, would you? Why did your jaw drop open? Because you know that Jesus would NEVER deny any man food, and I do mean ANY man or woman. So you calling yourself a Christian and denying a man his food, is no different than your Lord and Savior turning his back on the needy.

We as Christians have to humble ourselves and at one point in our life, become a weak, meek, lowly person to grasp the reality of what is being taught us by Christ. Some of us never seek to rise above humility because we’re comfortable teaching what truly needs to be taught. All I ask, is look within at YOU and see just who it is YOU serve. It's not all about YOU pointing fingers, remember that.

Pro. 13: 23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

Humble Yourselves

2011-11-08T05:45:00.000-06:00

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
***

I remember a time sitting at the welfare office in Texas with hundreds of other folk in need of the same thing we needed, assistance. Things had just gotten that bad we had to resort to help from the state. In Texas you sit in the office for hours upon hours awaiting your number to be picked. If you arrived at 7 a.m when the doors open, standing in line outside in the cold, you might be lucky enough to get a number that would only leave you in the office for two hours instead of four, but if you arrived late, you were definitely going to be there until five.

Short staffed, enormous need, and a bad system left many sitting there grumbling, but many, just patiently waiting their turn. This system was for ANYTHING you needed, even if you just went to ask a question of things you needed to bring with you, you waited! One day after sitting there for an hour, a young couple came in with a baby. They didn’t look like they belonged there any more than we did. They looked at their number and after an hour I finally asked, “What number do you have?” Well the man said a number, and I KNEW it was going to be a long day for them. I handed him my number, he looked amazed.

“But it’s almost your turn.” he said. I looked at him, “God bless you.” His wife came back in, she was making a call telling her mother, I guess, that she’d be there all day. Her number was next, she looked amazed too. Her husband pointed at us. “Thank you,” she said, “Thank you so much.”

They just moved from Oklahoma, he had lost his job, and they had never been in this situation in their lives. He was telling us his story as his wife went to the counter to ask a question. She came back and they thanked us again and again. I sat there another hour but to see the smiles on all three of their faces was well worth it!

I had done that one other time to a pregnant girl who was there alone, and looked like she was going to give birth, right then and there. She was nine months and didn’t need to wait for four hours so I handed her my number.

It was a humbling experience sitting in that office and I thought of all the people who condemn and put down welfare recipients. “Nobody pays for my food,” they taunt, “Get a job!” they scream, but I assure you, if those same people lost their jobs, had no means for food, and family wasn’t forthcoming in the ‘help’ department, I can guarantee you, they would HUMBLE themselves, get into that office, and have a means for feeding their family!

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a savings. Not everyone has the ability to help themselves, and not everyone can rely on so called ‘friends’ because they will be the first to say, “I really don’t have it this week.” This circumstance is merely a stepping stone for most people, people who have worked all their lives, paid their taxes and have fallen on hard times. You judge them because of your ignorance. Have you ever been in a welfare office to be able to actually give a proper judgment? “I wouldn’t be caught dead there!” you say, then YOU have NO RIGHT TO JUDGE!

Humbling yourselves is what God wants us to do, maybe so all the taunters can see how ‘non Christian’ they have become? Maybe God just wants you to see His handiwork at work. Not everyone in those offices are drug dealing, boozers, or multiple time pregnant women, sucking the system for all it’s worth; many are there because of NEED. They NEED food, they NEED shelter! THEY NEED COMPASSION!!! And all you people on the outside looking in are just that, looking from your glass houses. Judge not...lest YOU be judged.

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Amazing Grace

2011-11-07T08:31:00.001-06:00

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Ps 34:1-2 (NLT)

Are you there God? It’s me, Joni.

Have you ever felt like your voice is echoing in a tunnel and no one is hearing? I’ve never really felt like that because I always knew God was listening, as He was talking to me along the journey of Stevens blindness, He spoke, I listened. I never really asked anything of myself, I just kept praying for everyone else in need.

The power of prayer is simply amazing. When I send out a prayer for someone or say to a person, I’ll pray for you, those are not empty words that stop at just words, I really sincerely pray for that person. I won’t go into the amount of prayers I’ve said or for who, but I can say that the persons prayed for come back to me and say, “I FELT your prayers.” All Glory to God.

So when I send a prayer into the tunnel, it doesn’t have an echo, because of all the prayers it is bumping into. The tunnel is full of prayers and when I say, “Are you there God, it’s me, Joni,” I know God will hear my prayer. He forgets no one.

People think I’m crazy because when they ask or tell me to do something, I have a tendency to say, “I’ll see what God says,” or I’ll wait to hear what God wants me to do.” and if He says wait, I wait, patiently, sometimes in deep pain, struggling, gasping for air, but I wait, and God answers in a resounding brilliance of rainbow colors.

I don’t mean He puts a rainbow in the sky for me, (although sometimes he has done that.) But He layers his answer in a colorful rainbow that only I hear, and obey. ROYGBIV
Red-- “REST my child for you are weary”, Orange-- “OPEN your heart and let the Light shine through.” Yellow -- “YOU are my child and never forgotten.”, Green -- “GRACE from your Lord and Savior surrounds you.” Blue -- “BE one with all that I AM.” Indigo -- “I am the Lord your God.”, Violet -- “ VALUE all that you are!”

Then He adds... “You are not alone.” And then gives me a hug that is like no other warmth of the universe surrounding me.

How can you ignore that? Maybe you don’t hear Him? Maybe you’ve been so busy with reading the scripture, you never really gave it a chance when it came to actually living the scripture. I am not perfect by no means, I am a sinner like each and every one of you and think myself nothing more, but I strive, every day I wake up, and listen for the rainbow, I strive to make my day full of Glory to God.

I rose today, along with the glorious sun and felt, His Amazing Grace...
...was blind...but now... I SEE!!!

Thank you Lord, for prayers answered! Praise be your name!

NOTE: We are nearing a holiday, where people are lonely and need our prayer. Thanksgiving and Christmas should be a time for celebration and giving thanks. This weeks posts will be for the needy, the less fortunate, the ones no one cares for, but Jesus.

Matt. 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Poetry Sunday ~ Autumn Beauty ~

2011-11-06T06:28:00.001-06:00

Ecc. 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

***

~ Autumn Beauty ~

The leaves have fallen on the ground
they whisper at night moving ‘round.
Climbing tendrils of circular motion
the autumn leaves are colorful potion.

Autumn is the season in our lives,
laying to rest where Summer thrives.
Crunching colors under your feet
stomping the sound to ear does it meet.

Playful swooshing with a flurry,
leaves are there to hide and bury.
Put to rest the years vocation
find yourself in Winters elation.

Autumn is full of screaming fans
blustery days for months it spans.
it creeps right in you’ll hear the footfall,
the sound of chimes and noisy football!

Rest you now as in Winter you go
early evenings and Halloween snow.
Fill these moments as cherished with time
find your heart into which I will climb.

Quotation Saturday

2011-11-05T03:33:00.001-05:00

“Rise and shine. Greet the new day with warmth and kindness. Live and learn and learn to live. Love yourself and love to give! Your journey into today awaits...”
~ Joni Zipp

Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want.
~Margaret Young

Friends really do come and go. Some come back. Some don't and that's okay!!
~author unknown

People may forget what you said, and they may forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
~ author unknown

"What the mind can conceive and believe the body will achieve."
~Unknown

"The same fence that shuts others out shuts you in."
~ Bill Copeland

If you have wronged someone -- sincerely apologized and tried your best to make ...amends -- but forgiveness was denied, do not carry the burden of guilt with you. Forgive yourself, and create a better person from the experience.
~ Dodinsky

‎In life, you can never do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Stay around those who makes you feel yourself. If not, then you are wasting your time & energy with those kind of people & they will surely hamper your growth.
~ Tejas Patel

"You should lower your expectations of other people, and raise them for yourself."
~ Harry H. Harrison, Jr.

Do you always have an opinion and stand by it or are you the neutral kind? If you cannot take a Moral stand on an issue that you are passionate about, then, you are not much of a Man or Woman. Here is something inspirational for you. The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.
~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Life is one big road with many signs. So when your riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, instead put your vision to reality. Wake up and live.
~ Unknown

Life is a ticket to the greatest show on earth.
~Martin H. Fischer

“Expecting life to treat you well just because you’re a good person is like expecting an angry bull not to charge you because you’re a vegetarian.”
~ Unknown

I don’t normally like to post by authors unknown, but there are some pretty thought provoking quotes out there by this person, ~unknown~

May you all find a word in your heart to share with someone, as long as it’s good, you will feel good! ~Joni

ACTION!!!

2011-11-04T09:10:00.000-05:00

"A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom." ~ Robert Frost
***

You’ve heard those words I’m sure, LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

Do you know why they say that, because that is the time the cameras are going to roll and everything all the producers had envisioned is going to come into play now. All their hard work, will be put into action.

Even the good Lord, in the Holy Bible tells us, faith without works is dead. Do you know why? Because even God wants you to ACT upon your vision. Say we have a talent and don’t use it, we don’t make proper use or any use of it, it has its own plan of going dormant and without action behind it, the force that once drove it, will surely die.

Action, speaks louder than words. You’ve heard that one too? Well when you’re just a word person, no one can really take you seriously because in all honesty, people have heard the gab before, and without action in your WORDS, they are no different than “faith without works”. ACTION propels. Words are just that...words.

Without action we writers are just tap dancing through life, going through the motions, but to ACT is to force you to move forward. Say you’ve written a novel. Have you done everything in your power to move it forward to the chopping block then to the submitting table for a publisher to look at?

Listen to me, I have a completed novel, a memoir in the works, hundreds of poems all just sitting there because I am not moving them forward. I don’t know why, I think I use the excuse; let me get to this first, and that first, and and and, I become a procrastinating frenzy, and get nothing but other people moving forward.

Since I’ve taken on a new mission to think of myself, and please don’t hand me ‘the selfish little wench’ bit, I NEED to take care of myself. I’ve neglected me for far too long and as my mouth is still in pain, it will have to remain that way until I get some money, to get it looked at, in the meantime, I’m searching markets and before I jump feet first into the care for others pool, I am going to take a little time to care for me.

My body is just beginning to feel normal after two weeks of feeling numb. I think I had a pinched nerve somewhere, still might, because I’m not completely healed, my mouth now feels like a train has rammed into the side of my face and has docked for permanent residency. I hope this gets taken care of soon because I have so much to do, so much in the house to do, so much to write! And no funds to do it.

Pray for me because in my mission to care for others, others have prayed for me, and healing has taken place. I have been in a writing frenzy and am acting upon the God given talent to move ME forward. I may leave a few behind, but then again, those that are left behind, really were not there wholeheartedly to begin with.

James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Baby Steps...

2011-11-03T08:08:00.001-05:00

Follow your passion, and success will follow you.

~Terri Guillemets

Baby Steps ...

...into the world of writing

I remember watching a movie, quite a few years back titled, What About Bob, starring Billy Murray, and who cares who else was in it, it had Bill Murray. (I’m kidding, I’m sure it had quite a few other good named actors in it) Veering off topic there. In the movie (which I own and watch over and over again) Bob fears everything, so he goes to a doctor who basically forwards him to a specialist.

Long story short. The doctor tells Bob to take baby steps, every second of the day, so that he can get to where he is going, and eventually in the end (after a long hilarious bout of driving his doctor insane) Bob is healed, sorta, kinda, somewhat. teeheehee! Are any of us ever really healed, come on now, be honest.

I have a knack for shamelessly calling writers insane, but I’m telling you, you’ll be hard pressed to find writers themselves saying otherwise. They’ve gathered in their cubby holes, tapped on the keys for days at a time, expounded on the threshold of many words, (eww, that sounds gross) and have all come to the conclusion that they are sane. A sane writer? Now that is some funny stuff.

What is needed is baby steps. You can’t just think that you can write because you see a bunch of other writers hammering at the book, don’t believe for a minute that you can knowledge yourself into writing, by that I mean, you can study until you’re blue in the face, if you don’t have what it takes, it isn’t going to happen for you.

I’ve seen so many come into the Village, (wvu) WANTING to be writers and they quickly gave up when they realized, they were not cut out to be a writer. They crammed, purchased, shelled out time and money, but still in the end, they missed the passion of a writer. They had the will to write, but without the drive and nerve ending passion that it takes to wait, years and years before an ounce of effort pays off, they quickly dissolved from the radar screen.

They actively pursued someone else's writing dream, just to fit in. That is seriously not the way to do it. I have been writing since I was a baby and learned HOW to write the alphabet. I took baby step after baby step, and grew to write poetry, for my English classes, for holidays, and actually I saved money. I entered free contest (vanity) only to be let down but still, I persisted. (I did win honorable mention, but wondered how many others won that title also.)

It wasn’t until about 10 years ago when a computer magically walked into my house, free of charge, that my entire life and writing dream took a turn around. I diligently sought out writing groups where I could feel a part of something.

After taking a two year writing course with Christian Writers Guild came to a close, the fire was lit and my passion burned inside as I grew as a writer. And I’m still taking baby steps but now, I feel as if they are strides, strides in the right direction after cutting out the insanity and moving forward.

My baby steps have led to a full gaping walk. How about you?

Joni Zipp's : https://apps.facebook.com/yourlifecontest/content/see-again

World of Words

2011-11-02T08:33:00.001-05:00

"Broadly speaking, the short words are the best, and the old words best of all."
~ Winston Churchill ~

Our Words create Worlds...

Imagine a life without words. We’d be all running around in silence hoping for some swishing sound to fly by our ear. Maybe a fluttering leaf, the waves in the ocean? The downpour of a mid-summers rain?

Without words there would be no books, no imaginative writers and no creator! A writers life is a World of Words. We take one word at a time and shape it into a sentence, then we link those sentences together to form a paragraph; and before you know it, our one paragraph leads to another and the deluge happens; you’re sitting atop a mountain of words called... a novel!

Is that possible, for real? Can you make a mountain out of a molehill? With words, you can create worlds of life, death, light and dark, joy, sorrow, grief, pain and happiness. You are the artist but instead of paint you dip your fingers into the word pool and drip onto the paper the world that you have imagined.

Also your words are going to be splattered on the page and as your reader picks them up they can either lift them to new heights or drop them a few feet below the soil. As the creator of these tales you are the master of the world you create. I think it takes some form of ego to think you are God and can create something out of nothing, but that is basically what writers do; we create something out of nothing and see what can happen allowing the world free reign of all that you created. A God given talent, surely not something acquired through training. All the studying in the world will not make you a writer.

Think of your tale as Earth being formed out of a void of emptiness; breathed into existence. Now think of the readers as Adam and Eve, the ones who will make or break the world you brought into existence. Well, we know how earth turned out, right? So be prepared for not all readers to accept what you write, think it utter foolishness, or think it is divinely inspired by truth.

Let the reader then breathe into your novel their own world. Allow them to create what they want from your words, whether they get what you had intended, or walk away with a totally different aspect of your intentions. Either way you have all filled the world with light and rainbows. You have walked through the forest, taken misguided paths, but in the end, if all goes as planned, you’ll all wind up in the same place, or maybe not.

Have faith...the world was not created over night and as you, a writer, knows success in your novel will not blink into existence. Remain calm, take deep breaths, think yourself the potter, and mold the clay into something everyone will stand in awe of, and most importantly...godspeed. :)

Joni Zipp's : https://apps.facebook.com/yourlifecontest/content/see-again

NaNo WriMo

2011-11-01T06:24:00.002-05:00

Today starts the big NaNo WriMo. Say that ten times why don’t ya. NaNo is the writers dream. It is where they hunker down and commit to writing 1670 words a day for thirty days (really it is 1666.6 but hey, I rounded it off for good reason). The point being that you will have a 45,000 word, rough draft of a novel and you as a writer can shout out a YEEHAAA!!!

NaNo is a no no for me. I don’t like to make plans and commit to something as big as a thirty day writing frenzy. I don’t like cliques and clubs, and I’m trying to free myself from some negative things right now, so nano would only bring me down and not UP. Just think, if I choose to write a novel, I can sit here and belt out 2000 words a day for two months and not feel one bit like a pressure cooker about to blow!

National Novel Writing Month is a well respected force of nature in the writing world. I’m just wondering if any well known artists will claim that their published novel was a product of NaNo? Come on Mr. King, you know you want to tell the world you’re a NaNo fan!

From wikipedia:

National Novel Writing Month - also known as NaNoWriMo is an annual internet-based creative writing project which challenges participants to write 50,000 words of a new novel between November 1 and November 30. Its sister event is a script-writing challenge taking place in April called Script Frenzy. The project started in July 1999 with just 21 participants, but by the 2010 event over 200,000 people took part - writing a total of over 2.8 billion words.

Writers wishing to participate first register on the project's website, where they can post profiles and information about their novels, including synopsis and excerpts. Word counts are validated on the site, with writers submitting a copy of their novel for automatic counting. Municipal leaders and regional forums help connect local writers with one another for holding writing events and to provide encouragement.
______________________________

Who would be crazy enough to sign up, commit to, and want to be a part of NANO? Well, writers of course, because as I’ve said in numerous previous posts, writers are a crazy bunch. And apparently over 200,000 people are plum crazy!

I mean that in the kindest way. A lot of my friends and some who are friends no more are registering and going into the battle with eyes wide open. They’ve got their outlines, character plots, their atmosphere and all the scents (not sense) about them. They will hurl words into space and come out the other end of November with a completed first draft.

So, as I sit in WVU alone, catering to the few that remain left behind. I will write close to a thousand words a day for my blog, under no pressure to achieve anything except a good post, and I’ll be getting ready for Turkey Day, in Joni fashion, as I look forward to a Christmas day with sleigh bells and lights and music to string me along into the New Year.

Please don’t tell me I just mentioned Christmas. I holler at the TV for showing me Christmas commercials BEFORE Halloween and here I am mentioning it too? Ugh...

Let the writing frenzy begin. Good luck to you all!