Christmas Time

So, it's Christmas again.
December 25, 2013.

So, most people that I know are probably sat in their living room floor, eating out of oversized hosiery, with relatives packed in about a dead evergreen tree (or even a plastic replica of a dead plant).

Most of my friends removed decorated paper from cardboard boxes, boxes filled with random items, typically purchased within the last month.

So, it's the same here at Grammy and Poppy's house.

Our tree is fake.
There is wrapping paper everywhere.
Many faces wear smiles…or laughter.
Dogs and a cat are everywhere. Dog hair everywhere…
Tissue papers and boxes are being the new residence of the bird.
The house smells like pie (pumpkin and cherry pie mostly).
And the people are wearing new outfits.


I now have some fun new things!!

This summer I went to Dominican Republic, and I've been working to learn Spanish since. Part of that, is looking up Bible verses friends sent to me, and trying to translate them into English, then looking them up in my (English) Bible. So, this Christmas, my parents wanted to get me a Spanish/English Bible, but it was hard to find, so they employed the help of my Aunt Elaine, who searched her city for the Book, but found it not. Finally, a copy was discovered online and it was ordered. She got it only the day before she drove up for Christmas.
I opened it and kinda stared for a moment in shock…then picked it up and hugged it. When I put it on the table to watch others open their gifts, I just put my chin on the Bible.
I am so glad to have this Bible, the English in it is ESV, and the Spanish version is RV. I'm so happy!!!!

But is this the purpose of Christmas? To get gifts? Or is it to give gifts? Or is it about spending money to support small businesses? Or is it to be with family?

Why do we have Christmas?

God the Father GAVE Jesus the Son to us!

Through Jesus Christ we RECEIVE salvation!

Since before the world, this was God's plan. This was His intention, His purpose, His design. This is not a secondary back up measure. This is not man's plan B, but this is God's precious mercy and grace.

I Peter 1:20-21

"He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."

So, this was God's plan all along. But just how would He fulfill all the prophecies?

How would the King of kings and Lord of lords come to conquer the world?

How would the Prince of peace overcome death?

The Mighty God would come in the form of a human, humbled to be a baby, birthed in a stable, and laid in a manger.


His mother would be Mary, a virgin, betrothed (engaged) to a carpenter. Thus this was not a family of high esteem or rank. And this child was the God of the universe! He had come, to ransom His people.

Matthew 1:22-23

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel."

(which means, God with us)."

He is the Saviour of the world! I'm so glad He came into our dark world.

John 8:12

"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the wold. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Jesus was and is the Christ, the Son of God, and completely equal with God.

John 10:30

"I and the Father are one."

So, here we are, Jesus, completely man and completely God.

John 1:29

"The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of god, who takes away the sin of the world!""

Jesus Christ came to this world, born as a vulnerable baby, so that we as weak sinners might be ransomed. He became the weak to save the weak, He became the shamed and despised so that we might be accepted and beloved.


He accomplished this by taking all my sin and being crushed by the Father for my sin, so that I might be spared that fate. He was crucified so that I might live.

Isaiah 53:5

"But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed."

PRAISE HIM! THE SAVIOUR IS BORN!!! JESUS IS COME


…and He is coming again.

II Peter 3:10

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed."

Happy Birthday Joshua

So, often a person might make a new friend, and thus a friendship is born, yet siblings may not be included in that friendship, worse they may even be seen as the "third wheel" or viewed as "cramping style". This is very sad to me, my friends siblings are just as much my friend as the first sibling I met from that family! My best friend's youngest sister is my "twin".

And the brother to Jenn, the author of Becoming A Fair Lady blog (and the one who invited me to the Dominican Republic), is one of those kinds of friends. I didn't know him until AFTER getting to know Jenn. He soon went from being "Jenn's brother", to my own friend. The entire Raimundo family is dear to me. So, without further explanation…

Happy 18th Birthday Joshua!!

It was such a joy meeting you, and wonderful to get to know you throughout the trip. I've loved that we still keep in touch.

Yes, when I am out there next, I'll teach you to drive. :-)

You, sir, are a blessing to my life, a dear friend, and tons of fun!!

Your kindness and thoughtfulness wasn't missed on the trip, I was always very grateful for your gentlemanly conduct. Of all the men I've been around that gave effort to treat the women around them as SISTERS in Christ, you have succeeded. I felt honored and treated well when around you.
Often you gave up your will to someone else's, that is wonderful. It is a brilliantly burning light in you, that you serve Jesus Christ.

Dear brother, may this coming year be a year defining to your character and being in Christ. May our Lord continue to mold you to look more like Jesus.
I pray that you keep growing into the man of God you were created to be!

It has been, it is, and I am sure it will continue to be, a huge blessing in my life to watch you as God directs your footsteps.

Dear brother, when life pressures you to compromise, keep your eyes on Christ, He will make you able to withstand pressure.
When life seems upside down, remember that Jesus IS the WAY! You will never be lost or misdirected if you're guided by Christ.
When sin crouches at the door, remember two things…One, for it to overtake you, first it must bind up the strong man that is Christ, and two, you are in armour is given to you by God. He will always provide you an escape.
When it's hard and you're exhausted and it seems good to give up, hold tight to what you know is Truth. He'll never leave you, and He provides you with everything, and He is enough for you.

Dear brother, grow, like a tree planted by the still waters, soak up the blazing hot SON Light. Remember you are chosen by Him, and kept by Him.

Ephesians 4:32 - 5:1-2

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Stand strong brother, fear nothing but God, be bold and courageous! Be unashamed of the name you were chosen for…disciple of Jesus Christ.

Romanos 1:16

"Porque no me avergüenzo del evangelio, porque es poder de Dios para salvación a todo aquel que cree; al judío primeramente, y también al griego."

NaNoWriMo Day 30 (Guest Post) - Perspective

Credit Pinterest :)

“Use your words.”

This simple phrase is often used by parents teaching their young children to use language, words, to communicate with the world. How often as teens and adults do we forget this? We lapse into the valley girl talk, “Like, yanno, totally.” Most of us are not that bad, but we hem and haw out of troublesome scenarios, instead of tackling them precisely in speech. Hence the wondrous habit of writing. You can mess up, re-write, tell your enemy what you truly think of them, (in love of course ;) ). This is the last day of Nanowrimo and I just want to say congratulations, you valued words enough to write 50,000 of them! You composed a complete novel :)


I know, here come the protests, “But I still have to write almost three thousand more words.” Then, dude, go write them down. Because words are powerful. They are dazzling, distressing, and like dynamite, effective means. Spoken, or written, they are all powerful. Only the ones written down last longer.Writers, we are the gifted ones. We know how to use words with purpose, telling stories to impact time itself. Adolf Hitler knew this power. He used it to change his nation and cosequently the world. He was a leader, because he could speak with strength. Harriet Beecher Stowe understood. She impacted the start of the Civil War by writing her novel one chapter at a time for the newspaper.


It is up to us as Christian writers to take the words and make something useful for Christ; to use them to show the world a different viewpoint. That they may understand part of the incomprehensible story God has written for all of us. The worldview we can help shape in others, changes the world we live in.


Last week I bought a book to read during my Thanksgiving break. It was an historical fiction that was written through a viewpoint that I had never seen in before. It showed the world all awashed in gray. Nothing absolute. It was not a viewpoint that had previously been introduced to me, but I am glad it was. It helped me to understand the way unbelievers watch the world and to be honest it was awful. Yet, these contrasting perspectives give us a fuller picture of events and people. The descriptions you wrote mean something different for each person that reads it. No one reads the same book. My mom and I do this all the time, we each notice different things, pick up on opposing characters and feelings, but the overall theme of the novel stays true.


You recorded a prime novel. Or perhaps you are still dashedly finishing. You employed your words.You consist of power, be purposeful with this undertaking. Today you finish this thirty day task, make it worthy of your time and name. The viewpoint you have shown could change the world, one reader at a time.

Matthew 12:37

“For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Thank you Jessie for letting me blog! Even it is the last day of your series!

NaNoWriMo Day 29 - Happy Birthday Patty Cake

So, in my little group of NaNo's there is one special girl who has her birthday DURING NaNoWriMo!

I thought I might write a post to share how she has encouraged me and how much of a blessing she is to those around her!

My darling friend, it has been a wonderful blessing to me to know you and see you growing closer to the Lord over the course of our friendship. In the past few months you have amazed and encouraged me with how much you point me to Christ and how you live to make Him the center and gravity of your life. It shines brilliantly though you, how you seek to honor Him.
Each and every time you share your heart it is a glorious display of His faithfulness in creating you to look more and more like His Son, Jesus Christ.
I am blessed to call you friend and it is wonderful to know that we shall spend eternity together worshiping and growing deeper in Christ. 

I love you Sister.

A few friends wanted to say happy birthday to you as well.

"Happy Birthday Tricia!!!I hope you have a wonderfully, blessed day! You always put a smile on my face! May the Lord bless you and make His face to shine upon you.
~Shiloh :)"

"Hey Tricia! Your joy is contagious and your wisdom inspiring. Hope you have a great birthday!!! Much love, Beka"

"MATTY PATTY! I love you mostest and hopeth you have a really awesome day and all that stuff.
Love, EstheRRR"

"Patricia!!! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAAAAAPPPY birthday! I hope your birthday is as amazing as you are...which...is very very very amazing. Your Angel/Genius Buddy & Evil Partner in Crime, Clari"

"Happy Birthday!
-Sam"

"Happy Birthday Dear Tricia! Your cheery personality is a delight and I pray that God uses it as a light for Christ and His glory. May God bless you this next year of your life, starting with a wonderful birthday.
*hugs* Hannah Mackey"

"Happy birthday, Tricia! These past few years of getting to know you has been such a blessing. You seem to have this knack for doing something that completely surprises me, and then I think, "Oh, wait. That is Tricia all over!" But the one thing that never changes is that your surprise of a person is always kind, loving, funny, and moving towards Christ, bringing others with you. Hope this day is a celebration of that, and what God has done in you! May this next year hold more of the same, and more of Him.
Love,
Jenn"

Here is your birthday blessing…

Darling Patricia,
It is my prayer that God would continue to grow you closer to Himself, that He would keep all His promises to you, though this process, I pray that you dive deep in your faith, to trust the Lord in all things.
May you be blessed with finding rest in your Saviour.
May you be blessed with enough trials to ever remain on your knees seeking your Father's will.
May you be blessed by the Lord's faithful and tender mercies that sustain you through each and every moment.
May you continue to bless those around you, by always looking to the Lord.
May this year be a year of growing and stretching, may you learn to dance for and sing to the Lord.
May your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Numbers 6:24-26

"The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

NaNoWriMo Day 28 - Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving Day.

It's a day where American's will consume approximately 51 million turkeys...

There are probably hundreds of blog posts today about the history of Thanksgiving Day, and posts about how to cook a turkey, or how we should not celebrate any patriotic and religious holiday.

This is a post not about how to cook a turkey, nor about the history of Thanksgiving, or whether or not to celebrate religious or political holidays, rather this is a post of thanksgiving to God.

During this month you have been writing diligently to finish a novel totaling in at least 50k words. You've probably given up things such as sleep, games, free time, tv, Facebook, or other things that you enjoy. You've sacrificed these things so that you might accomplish your goals.

But stop for a moment.

Turn your gaze from your novel and your short life, and look up and realize, the last month has been a blessing from God.


Here is a list of somethings that I am thankful for during this month.

- The chance to write a blog post (almost…except this last week) every day, it's taught me about diligence and accountability. It's blessed me by learning that I need to stay focused on Christ, because people are watching me every moment of every day.

- A intermittent WiFi signal. I often have to turn off my WiFi, and turn it back on. It's helped me to become more patient and to be okay with not having lightening fast internet.

- Warm blankets and a warm home. It's been getting below freezing, and I am very thankful that God has blessed me with a warm place to live.

- The ability and freedom to post Scripture all over the internet.

- I am thankful for the wonderful and inspiring group of NaNo's that I get to work with everyday! They are a blessing to me.

- I am thankful for a family that understands my obsession with NaNo.

-  I have a super manly brother who went out in the cold to scrape the ice off my car's windshield for me, without me even asking!

- A warm kitty to pet when I'm stressed out.

- A very encouraging CollegePlus coach, who pushes me to accomplish a big goal and my small goals.

- I am very thankful for a group of young ladies, we pray weekly together. It's been highly encouraging to me as well as taught me so very much.

- I was blessed and thankful to hear the Oklahoma Baptist Symphony play this month. It's awesome to hear music that glorifies Christ.

-  Talking about coupons late into the night, with Mrs. Castille's Mother.

- Struggling to do half a chin up with my brother cheering me on. Playing in the park with him. I am very thankful for this.


Tell me, please comment with things that have blessed you lately, what are you thankful for?

Philippians 4:4-7

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

NaNoWriMo Day 22 - Don't Survive, Thrive

Hey NaNos,

It's getting close to thanksgiving, and you want to get ahead…don't worry!

You're almost done, let's not give up in the last few days! So what if you are 10k words behind, you can still win!!!

Life isn't about writing 50,000 words, but maybe the next few days it's going to seem as if that is your life goal!

Go! Go write something! (then come back!)

*waits*

*yawn*

*hops in the T.A.R.D.I.S.*

*sips some kombucha*

*checks Twitter*

Okay! So you wrote a few words, great!

Now think of your favorite song, and go listen to it and write like crazy for the whole song! GO!!

Well done, now you can keep doing that till much too late at night, or you can go to bed and get up earlier and write in the peace of morning.

Now, this is merely surviving thus far. But I want you to THRIVE!

So, I want you to go somewhere that is very conducive to your creativity, grab a drink (water, tea, something that helps you, coffee), get your lap top, and start typing!

For me this is my couch corner, or laying on the couch with my feet propped up on the armrest. Just somewhere comfortable to you and either peaceful or with a hum of activity around you.

Now get writing, and for there first part it may take a few minutes, or even 45 minutes, but find your groove, and live it up! Writing is something that ought to be freeing to you. Some write because it makes them happy, some write because they want to tell something, and some write because they have to, whichever it is for you, write.

Love that you have the ability to write and enjoy that God has given you the blessings that He has. It is good to write, we ought to all write a book at some point in our lives. It will help us to be more creative and hopefully produce something profitable and grow us in the process.

Find your groove and enjoy carving it out, let its base be a simple design, and work in the beautiful details as you go, soon you will have a stunning work of art, if only you press on and don't give up or give in.

Romans 15:5-6

"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ"

NaNoWriMo Day 18 - Subplots

Howdy NaNos,

I hope this post finds you well on your way to your novel.

A subplot is a plot within your main plot. For example:

Finding Nemo -
Plot: Marlin rescues Nemo

Subplot: Marlin befriends Dory
Subplot: Marlin meets Crush, and learns that sea turtles can live 100 years
Subplot: Life in a fish tank can do things to you…my bubbles


See? Every story that is told INSIDE of your main plot, is a subplot. Use these to your advantage.

What subplots are advantageous for your novel?
- a romance
- an unresolved past
- mysterious death
- social drama
- a random act of kindness from a stranger
- daily life

Whatever you decide, remember a subplot is to be a background story line, it is to aid your plot. So, if it begins to take over and master your plot, you can try pressing it back into the shadows once more, but if that doesn't work. No freaking out! Just go with it, you can alter it all in December!

Subplots can be very complicated…think of the movie Inception. O_o Man, that movie messed with me nearly every time I saw it!

Subplots can be very simple…think Nemo, Marlin's experience with Dory, it played out rather straight forward.

Now, it is possible to have two pronounced plots, and subplots. I did this in my first attempt at NaNoWriMo.

I had my main character's plot (find and save his sisters) and the bad guys plot (banish main character). Added to that was the subplots of the main character's life in his neighborhood, and the lives and interactions of those in the societies around his changing situations.

So, subplots can be useful or in the way, but they are sure fun to experiment with. One thing they are useful for, is continuing a novel into your next book. If the book ends with the main plot concluded, and the subplots unresolved, then it's a lot easier to lead into another book. Makes them seem more real and connected.

Have fun with learning to use subplots!

For example, this verse. It's a story within a story. It is a plot line, a timeline, a series of events that strengthens the main plot.

Genesis 7:1

"Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.""

The main plot of the Bible is the gospel, that is Jesus' ransoming and redeeming His bride to Himself, and the glorification of God. A subplot that God used as a type and shadow of that, was Noah's story. (btw, the Flood as depicted in Scripture was a literal world wide flood, total catastrophe, wiping out everything.)

NaNoWriMo Day 16 - Creating places and buildings

How you word things shall greatly impact how those things are perceived by your readers. Perhaps I told you there was a tall building, made of stone, and sitting in the middle of a green field, atop a knoll, what is the mental picture you have? I don't think you and I are thinking of the same thing…let me explain once more. There is a magnificent castle, presenting an imposing demeanor from it's seat upon a knoll over the green field, it's structor was composed of all white stone. Hmmm, there, now we should have similar mental images of this structure.

Now that we have established that how we write will influence our readers perception, we must now guide them through our novel's world.

Readers have incredible imaginations, never underestimate their mental  picture abilities. Give them incredible details, and let their mind's have the space to roam free through the world you have created.

Keep continuity, maybe write note cards for each place, like a home, or country, and stick with it. Readers like knowing that you care that the places are 'real', and not random. If you say a tree is leaning north, don't randomly straighten it out. Don't mess with your readers, you'll lose their respect.

Give your readers something to PLAY with. Remember that imagination I spoke of? Create a world that is so rich and brilliant that your readers can imagine themselves in, and can roam about in it freely as if they were there, sitting beneath the trees, listening to the wind rustle through the leaves. They need the details that allow them to create more world than you wrote for them.

The color of stone…matters.
The fury of the storm…matters.
The blueness of the sky…matters.

Because it matters to your reader.

Whether you are writing a love story, poetry, fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, or your autobiography, you are painting a picture for your writer to see. You're making them feel at home, or out of their comfort zone, or you are making them anticipate something, or feel fear, but you are guiding them. Your attention to that fact will enhance how you write, because you will be writing with not only your plot in your mind, but now also how your audience will read a chapter, process the story, and react to the situations.

If a situation is lovely, give your readers warm and fuzzies.
If a situation is tense, make your readers feel the tension.
If a situation is exciting, get the reader's adrenaline pumping.

I Kings 6

"In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD.The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house, and ten cubits deep in front of the house. And he made for the house windows with recessed frames. He also built a structure against the wall of the house, running around the walls of the house, both the nave and the inner sanctuary. And he made side chambers all around. The lowest story was five cubits broad, the middle one was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad. For around the outside of the house he made offsets on the wall in order that the supporting beams should not be inserted into the walls of the house.

When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built.

The entrance for the lowest story was on the south side of the house, and one went up by stairs to the middle story, and from the middle story to the third.So he built the house and finished it, and he made the ceiling of the house of beams and planks of cedar. He built the structure against the whole house, five cubits high, and it was joined to the house with timbers of cedar.

Now the word of the LORD came to Solomon, “Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel.”

So Solomon built the house and finished it. He lined the walls of the house on the inside with boards of cedar. From the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood, and he covered the floor of the house with boards of cypress. He built twenty cubits of the rear of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the walls, and he built this within as an inner sanctuary, as the Most Holy Place. The house, that is, the nave in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long. The cedar within the house was carved in the form of gourds and open flowers. All was cedar; no stone was seen. The inner sanctuary he prepared in the innermost part of the house, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD. The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high, and he overlaid it with pure gold. He also overlaid an altar of cedar. And Solomon overlaid the inside of the house with pure gold, and he drew chains of gold across, in front of the inner sanctuary, and overlaid it with gold. And he overlaid the whole house with gold, until all the house was finished. Also the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold.

In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olivewood, each ten cubits high. Five cubits was the length of one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the length of the other wing of the cherub; it was ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other. The other cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same measure and the same form. The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was that of the other cherub. He put the cherubim in the innermost part of the house. And the wings of the cherubim were spread out so that a wing of one touched the one wall, and a wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; their other wings touched each other in the middle of the house. And he overlaid the cherubim with gold.

Around all the walls of the house he carved engraved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, in the inner and outer rooms. The floor of the house he overlaid with gold in the inner and outer rooms.

For the entrance to the inner sanctuary he made doors of olivewood; the lintel and the doorposts were five-sided. He covered the two doors of olivewood with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. He overlaid them with gold and spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees.

So also he made for the entrance to the nave doorposts of olivewood, in the form of a square, and two doors of cypress wood. The two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. On them he carved cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and he overlaid them with gold evenly applied on the carved work. He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone and one course of cedar beams.

In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid, in the month of Ziv. And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its parts, and according to all its specifications. He was seven years in building it."

NaNoWriMo Day 13ish - Finding Inspiration

*yawn* It's way too late at night for me, NaNos…

But I'm doing word wars, so might as well catch up on posts!

This post is about inspiration for writing, because sometimes things become a blur, or get boring, or just  seem pointless. It's important to keep things interesting. I mean, seriously, if you are bored, you may just bore your reader to death, or at best put them to sleep, at least then you'd be curing their insomnia.

I found inspiration for my book by looking up pictures I found on the internet of actual places, or imagined places.

Such as a map of New Zealand, a house with a long grassy road, mountains, and things like that. Maybe things like that can inspire you as well. Just don't get caught up in searching for pictures or videos, or music, to the point of wasting all your time. But it's nice to have those pictures, so that you can have a more vivid imagination of your story, or to keep continuity. Suddenly changing the color of your main characters front door could be an awkward blooper. (hey, but if you do have a blooper, leave it there! You can edit in December.)

If you're a Visual person, looking at the pictures or going to places will help you to be inspired.

If you are a Kinesthetic type, then snuggling up in a blanket, sipping hot tea, curled up around your computer, and dreaming about your novel will be inspiring to you. (oh great…now I want tea…)

If you are Auditory, maybe listening to sounds associated with your novel would be an aid. Such as tracks that have the sounds of forests, thunderstorms, waves, busy streets, etc. Hearing the things that your characters hear may impact your thoughts and thus strengthen how you write.

If you are Auditory Digital (like me), then try any or all of the above, plus research facts about your novel. What model cars would there be? How much does your main character's coffee cost? Asking specific questions like that, may help you to be inspired and know more about your character's world, so that you might be more accurate.

Finding the things that inspire you, may take time, so take it. Savor those things, dwell on them for a while. By soaking in the information and thoughts and sights and sounds, you will create a more vivid and real world in your work. Enjoy your inspiration, enjoy the creativity that you write.


This Psalm always inspires me because of how creative God is, and how much science He has placed in Scripture. I hope you enjoy this Psalm, maybe it can help you today. :-)

Psalm 104

"Bless the LORD, O my soul!

O LORD my God, you are very great!

You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

covering yourself with light as with a garment,

stretching out the heavens like a tent.

He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;

he makes the clouds his chariot;

he rides on the wings of the wind;

he makes his messengers winds,

his ministers a flaming fire.

He set the earth on its foundations,

so that it should never be moved.

You covered it with the deep as with a garment;

the waters stood above the mountains.

At your rebuke they fled;

at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.

The mountains rose, the valleys sank down

to the place that you appointed for them.

You set a boundary that they may not pass,

so that they might not again cover the earth.

You make springs gush forth in the valleys;

they flow between the hills;

they give drink to every beast of the field;

the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;

they sing among the branches.

From your lofty abode you water the mountains;

the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

You cause the grass to grow for the livestock

and plants for man to cultivate,

that he may bring forth food from the earth

and wine to gladden the heart of man,

oil to make his face shine

and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly,

the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

In them the birds build their nests;

the stork has her home in the fir trees.

The high mountains are for the wild goats;

the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

He made the moon to mark the seasons;

the sun knows its time for setting.

You make darkness, and it is night,

when all the beasts of the forest creep about.

The young lions roar for their prey,

seeking their food from God.

When the sun rises, they steal away

and lie down in their dens.

Man goes out to his work

and to his labor until the evening.

O LORD, how manifold are your works!

In wisdom have you made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.

Here is the sea, great and wide,

which teems with creatures innumerable,

living things both small and great.

There go the ships,

and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

These all look to you,

to give them their food in due season.

When you give it to them, they gather it up;

when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

When you hide your face, they are dismayed;

when you take away their breath, they die

and return to their dust.

When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,

and you renew the face of the ground.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;

may the LORD rejoice in his works,

who looks on the earth and it trembles,

who touches the mountains and they smoke!

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;

I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

May my meditation be pleasing to him,

for I rejoice in the LORD.

Let sinners be consumed from the earth,

and let the wicked be no more!

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Praise the LORD!"

NaNoWriMo Day 14 - Procrastination

Hi NaNos,

This is me admitting that I procrastinate.

By Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary, Procrastination is defined as "PROCRASTINA'TION, n. [L. procrastinatio. ]A putting off to a future time; delay; dilatoriness."

Practically speaking, it means that I put off doing things, because I am undisciplined (slothful and lazy) that means I choose to be unwise with my time management.

I allow things to become more important than they should be, and therefore reorganize my priorities when not in a proper mindset. By doing this, I sabotage my own efficiency, integrity, and reputation.

Did you know that your procrastinating could do that?

Maybe, but maybe you'd not thought that far on it.

Do not put off things that need done. If it needs done, do it. If it has a place, put it there. Maintain order in your life. Order is important, because God is a God of order, not chaos.

What does all this have to do with NaNoWriMo?

Well, you see, when you get behind on your work, it can be discouraging, and you may lose heart, and then you are prone to give up. The best way to prevent this downfall, is to NOT procrastinate, and not get behind. But sometimes life doesn't play along with our plans. So, maybe it was unavoidable to miss a couple days, and now you're behind, and not sure you can catch up.

Yes, you can!! You can do this! *

First, realize you can't get those moments back. This is the hardest thing for me, I struggle sometimes realizing I can't change the past (be it a big mistake, or simply forgetting about something I missed on my errand run). But rest in knowing God is in control, once you believe that, then you can rest in His sovereignty! It's awesome!

Now, just move on. It's time to get busy, and run with it! You've got plenty of time to make up the word count. Even if you started with 0 words today, then you only need to be writing 3,125 words a day. At a typing speed of 30 words per minute that is less than 2 hours of solid writing! So, don't lose heart! Keep going.

Also, if NaNo is important to you, then commit to it. Let those around you know about it, and that you are committed to finishing. This helps them to know why you may not play as many games, or spend as much free time with them this month. It will also help you, by knowing those around you know, you can be less worried of offending them or shutting them out. They know! They can survive without you for a few days. ;-)

So, keep going, you can do this!

Romans 12:2

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

NaNoWriMo Day 12ish - Know your Target Audience

Tis late (I'm sorry about that!)…but here ya go NaNos,

"Be specific Bob…" ~ Character from 'The Incredibles'.


Okay, so, this one is late in coming…but it is very important for your novel, and any writing you ever do in life. (…when else do you plan to write?)


- In what style do you write?

How you write your thoughts will impact who reads what you have to say. That is slightly odd, but it is true. If you have the grammar of a four year old, then you will most likely lose the audiences of those who read on a high school level. If you write with the vocabulary of the 1700s, then you will most likely lose the interest of those who no longer possess the comprehension of such verbiage. So whatever your style is, it will influence who reads your writings.

- What do you have to say?

What you say, will impact who listens. As I have been writing posts on NaNoWriMo, then I suspect a fair amount of my readers are either NaNos, writers, or those who enjoy literature.  If I were to talk more about Bible commentary, then my audience may shift to readers who want to read things like that.

The topics you cover will dictate who is interested. If you write on historical fiction, then the reader * who likes fantasy may not be interested in your writing. A poet may not appreciate your work of blog-ish rantings.

It's important to remain yourself when you write, because writing is laying out your thoughts. So, I can't write in a fashion like you can. I'll always be me.  I can mimic you, but it will still read as mine. That's a neat thing, because it allows authors to have their own flavor in their work. Those who like your tastes, can savor the time spent reading your writing. So don't 'force' a style upon yourself, be who God created you to be, and grow in that place. It's brilliant to branch out and grow, I think it's a lot of fun to stretch my writing ability, and take on new challenges. But don't let things that build your ability drag you down or discourage you, take it as it is, growth.

- Who do you want to be reading your writings?

Now, this is a very important part of this post. If I want to write for people who speak spanish. Then for one, I should probably be writing in Spanish. If I want to write for someone who enjoys poetry, then I ought to write poetry. Now, this point actually does not stand in opposition to my last point. Why? Because it's still MY style of writing. If I want you to read my posts, then I need to write in a way that keeps your attention, presents the information that you want to know, and communicates my thoughts effectively. I need to present my thoughts in a way that you want to know them. It's one thing for me to say ideas in a way that makes sense to me, but if you don't understand it, then my writing is for nothing. But if I present an idea to you, in a way that is comprehensive to you, then you'll read it, and (hopefully!!) run with the idea!

So write in creative ways, write in ways your readers will actually read, and don't be afraid to try new things!

Romans 1:16-17

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith.""

NaNoWriMo Day 11 - Imagination...more words

How to write more words:

Be descriptive!!

"Carol drove past him."

Yes, that gets the point across, but it is not beautiful, it is not detailed, and it is not using words. Try again.

"Carol smoked the worn tires, as she recklessly swerved past him."

That is good, but don't over do it, or it's boring and distracting.

"With a mix of anger and bitterness, the tearful but not sorrowful Carol slammed on the gas, causing the old balding tires to smoke and squeal as she narrowly missed hitting him by mere inches, carelessly swerving recklessly through the red, yellow, brown, and stick covered black asphalt."

That is not a good rendition, but it could easily be salvaged.

Stay simple. One idea = One sentence

Be creative, test your vocabulary. Maybe even invent a new word!

Be descriptive, your readers create a world based off of your words. It's up to you, by how you use your words, or lack thereof, to give them the same pictures in your mind. So, be colorful, imaginative, and take time for details.

If you don't know what details to write...

WHERE is your character? Pretend that I am your reader, I want to know what is happening around the people! Is he outside, is it cloudy, is the grass brown, is their noise, is anything happening?

WHAT is your character doing? Maybe Carl is walking across the yard...oh that's cute....but tells me so very little. Do his shoes make noise? Is he crunching through snow or gravel? Do his hands swing at his sides or are they balled into fists, shoved in his pockets with his shoulders hunched against the wind?

WHEN is it in the timeline? It's TOTALLY okay to jump around in your timeline. In NaNoWriMo 2012 I did that, I had my main character do "flash backs", thus I accomplished two things at once. Writing more words down, and also flushing out my character. So, be sure to let us know where your character is from. 1930s? 1870s?

Give your reader every detail they need, and every detail that you want them to have that they might see a more vivid picture in their mind.


I hope you have a lot of fun writing all the details, that was always my favorite part.

Isaiah 40:12

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span,

enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure

and weighed the mountains in scales

and the hills in a balance?"

NaNoWriMo Day 10 - The Gospel and Your Novel

Evenin' NaNos,


First, I need to clarify something (and this topic will be for another day!) I am writing for a specific group of people.

Christians.

A Christian is someone who is called by Jesus Christ, bought by Jesus Christ's blood, and live a life conforming to Jesus Christ.

This is my chosen audience, if you are not a Christian, you are welcome as my audience, I pray that Jesus Christ would ransom you just as He has me!

But, I am writing as a Christian, for Christians.

This is why today's topic has come up, and is very important.

Is the gospel in your novel?

When I write stories, I plainly speak from a christian view, yet that is not always a necessity. C.S. Lewis did a fantastic job of presenting the gospel throughout his books in the Chronicles of Narnia. Another way of doing this is by presenting the ideas of the gospel, salvation, and redemption, you may fancy JRR Tolkien's various books.

It is important to have the gospel in your writing, because we are to do everything unto the Lord, and we are also designed to be creative, part of this is taking every thought captive to Christ. You know as do I, that what is written is first a thought in the authors mind. By taking these thoughts captive and placing them into submission to Christ's will, we are able to craft brilliant stories!

Now, what I am not saying is that ingenuity is taboo, or that fiction is bad, or that silly tales are frivolous. Rather, what I am saying, if you are giving effort and time to something, aka your novel, then it needs to represent Christ, just as you and everything you do, represents Jesus Christ.

Obviously, if you are sticking to the NaNoWriMo rules, then you are writing fiction. If you are attempting to write 50,000 words in 30 days, then you need to be ingenious. If you try doing everything in your life plus NaNo, then some of your writing will become frivolous from sleep deprivation.

If you prefer not to present the gospel as the most obvious point of your story, use the mind that God gave you and be creative in how you do things.

The character of Gollum is an epic example. He's the one who knew the truth, but never absorbed it, submitted to it, and proclaimed it. The evil consumed him and it was his ruin.

So, use the imagination that God gave you and enjoy creating awesome stories with clever characters and intricate plots!

Matthew 22:34-40

"But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”"

NaNoWriMo Day 9 - Writers Block

Hola NaNos,

So, we all get cases of writer's block now and then, and how you handle it varies, but it is important to deal with it quickly while under such time constraint as NaNoWriMo pressures you under.

How can you avoid losing critical hours to this debilitating disorder?

Firstly, take a break.
Because you can't really force through this part of writing, so take a break and do something else. Even getting up to get a drink can be helpful in alleviating this problem.

Secondly, breath.
It's okay not knowing what is about to happen in your story. If you have an outline, it's okay to not know how to create the bridge to the next point in your plot!

Thirdly, read a bit.
It's always nice to change your pace, and read something. Maybe even re-read your last chapter, or go read a book that gives you inspiration.

Lastly, relax and work through it.
You are free to write ANYTHING you want in this challenge.

So, go write something, just anything. Maybe try describing something you haven't talked about, maybe WHY your character is or is not doing something, or HOW their surroundings look, maybe try telling your audience some piece of information that will only make sense when they read the rest of your book!

If all else fails - word war.

I have to admit, I actually had writers block when I started this post. Oh, the irony, I know.

But my beloved NaNo group did a word war, and suddenly...words flowed, and I actually won the word war! 167 words in 5 minutes!

So, if you still can't write anything, go take a walk, a shower, go for a drive, a run, make dinner, pet your dog or dragon, do something that is totally different, and something that is creative and either rests your mind or engages your creativity. Knitting? Meditating? Nap?

I hope it doesn't last too long, but I do know one thing for sure, you do not need to panic.

For all my Grammar Nazis out there who are panicking over their work's errors...

theirye're.

Problem solved

Mark 9:2-8

"And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only."

NaNoWriMo Day 8 - Killing Characters

Alright NaNos,

There are a few types of people out there in the writing world.

Type I - Those who bawl their eyes out when they kill a character, because they are emotionally attached to it...

Type II - Those who like killing our favorite characters...

Type III - Those who used lots of drama, it's a selling point...
Type IV - Those who don't care either way, because to them it's just writing...

Regardless of which group you belong in, you will probably end up killing a character in your writing career. So, here are somethings I have done when writing a death scene.

Make it believable -

If it's something like:

"Jimmy swam steadily through the channel, but just moments before his rescue a narwhale impaled him."

Okay, seriously, you are crazy enough to be attempting to write a book in 30 days, please have more imagination. Try something more realistic:

"Collin should never have been in the alley, but he was late to be home. His thoughts turned to the thrashing his father was sure to give him for his tardiness. The cold bit into his cheeks as he buttoned the top button of his coat, it was then that Tony appeared from the shadows. Tony made good on his promise, the next time the two met, one would die."

What is the difference?

Jimmy gets killed by a narwhale, and Collin gets killed by Tony. So what?

Well, the difference is, narwhales do not have a habit of killing people. (This may not be true if you are writing about whaling ships.) From the bit of information on Collin/Tony that I gave you, there are things you can infer. Collin is probably a young man, and he and Tony have a past. With that you have motive for murder, thus it is more believable.

Believable does not have to be detailed or graphic in nature. I killed a character once by having him fall to his death while climbing, but my reader heard about it from the police officer telling the deceased character's wife. So, obviously it was short of details, and only gave the point...he died.

Believable does mean following through. If a character dies, remember that he's dead, and don't make the mistake of having him walk through another scene as it can be hard to fix. (When you edit in December of course.) But also remember that if a beloved character is killed, your other characters would need to deal with that trauma. So don't forget them.

Now, the dirty work.... the death of "Someone".

How do you kill a character?!?

Now, this is where you get to let out a bit of your depravity and creatively murder a person (legally!!!!).

I've killed characters by car crash, bullets, abortion, and falling off a cliff. So, be creative and be sure to stay on that topic. 

Such as:

If you shoot Someone, you need to know, the person would not (typically) die instantaneously, while a head shot would turn them off permanently.

If you beat Someone to death (with fists), it might take a while.

If you kill Someone by accidental death, it would be very traumatic for nearby witnesses.

If you kill Someone through a long battle with cancer, you may need to know some pharmaceuticals and physiology.

If you kill Someone by Roman Coliseum, then the character would probably be pumped full of adrenaline and terrified.

It is not hard to kill off a character, it's actually very simple. But just remember these things:

- Someone needs to be acknowledged as dead,

- Someone needs to stay dead,

- Someone needs to be mourned or celebrated,

- Someone's death scene can be edited and perfected in December.

Lastly...remember, "bad guys" die, but also "good guys" die too...maybe you could pull off a fantastical way of bringing back your main character's nemesis or your main character.

John 11:1-3, 7, 11-17, 21-27, 39-44

""Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” After saying these things, he said to them,“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly,“Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”"

(For complete story, click here)

NaNoWriMo Day 7 - Plot Twists

Hey NaNo Night Owls,


It's now a week in to this challenge, it's time for a plot twist!

In reality, we get these on a daily basis. We may have a schedule, and something comes up and the days events all get altered due to that one something. This can (and should!) happen to your characters, because remember, they need to be believable.

Is Frank out driving, dealing with the mundane daily commute...fender bender, late for work, boss is upset...

Is Simon fishing, bored out of his mind...then a man tells him to leave his family and follow him...

Is Tasha out hiking through beautiful Yellowstone, enjoying the peaceful view...and startles a bear, with cubs...

Is Ron a thief who just stole 1.8 million dollars in diamonds, because his family is held hostage...only they are fake diamonds...

Plot twists don't need to be horrific, or ruining, or a turn for the worse, but they do need to alter the story in some way.

I can think of no better plot twist in all of history as when Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

If He had remained dead, the Bible would have just been moral stories, but by His resurrection, He solidified His claim of deity. Because if He really did rise from death, thus accomplishing something impossible, and thus something only God can do, then He truly is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.


It was a series of plot twists.

A God who needed nothing, no one, and lacked nothing, created the world and mankind. (Genesis 1)

Then man sins, and brings death into the world. (Genesis 3)

God preserves Noah and his family when He floods the entire world. (Genesis 6-8)

God calls Abram to be a nation for His own. (Genesis 12)

Joseph is sold into bondage (by his very own brothers!) in Egypt. (Genesis 37)

The Hebrew people, God's people, are slaves in Egypt, but God raises up Moses (a Hebrew) in Pharaoh's own house, to deliver His people. (Exodus 1-14)

Moses, chosen by God, gives the Ten Commandments, the Law, to the Hebrews. (Exodus 20)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is born of a Virgin. (Matthew 1)

Jesus Christ claims to be God. (Matt 7:2; John 5:17-47, 6:35-51, 8:12-30, 10:29-30)

Jesus is crucified. (Luke 23)

Jesus resurrects Himself. (Luke 24)

oh, there are so many, many epic plot twists in Scripture, such a beautiful reality that God has woven.

Now, go, in the last few hours of the day, go, write in your plot twists!

John 10:30

"I and the Father are one."

NaNoWriMo Day 6 - Keep Writing!!!

Good afternoon NaNos,

It's not quite a week into the month and all you need to do is...KEEP WRITING!!!

Go, Go, Go!!!

Maybe you are tempted to scrap your work thus far, think first.

Why do you want to scrap it?

If you are just going through writers block, you can make it though! Keep your work.

If you no longer believe that your work reflects your purpose, you can still make it, just change the direction of where it is going, that way you might accomplish your goal! Keep your work.

If everything has gone wrong, and you do not want to continue that story line. Scrap it now, and move on. You are now 6 days behind, that is about 10,000 words behind. Don't fret, you can make this up! Instead of the typically needed, 1,667 words a day you now need to write about 2,084 words. You can do this!!

If you have your plot line, and you are plugging along, I suggest that you take it to the next level, get ahead, because life is always giving us plot twists, and maybe something comes up and you are unable to write on 4 of the days this month...are you able to make it up, or were you ahead? Being ahead is always better than playing catch up.

Go, keep writing!

Tell us details, is the sun shining? Is the wind hot? Are the leaves rustling? Is your character sweating? Is the car engine loud?

Enjoy your writing, have fun, don't stress out, you can do this!

Colossians 2:23-24

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

NaNoWriMo Day 5 - Building a Character

Building a Character


Depending on your writing style, you may know every detail of your character's personality, appearance, tastes, and life story, or you maybe the author who has no idea what will happen next or why it happens.


When I write, I intimately know my characters, I understand them, and 'care' about them. I care, inasmuch as one can care about fictional characters fabricated with imagination and produced with black squiggles on a screen. But as to my novel, I'll view my characters, and their story spins in my mind, then I write out what happened! Occasionally, what I write is a surprise to me too! It is always so amazing to watch the story unfold.


Maybe you are the same, and you don't know what happens till it's written down.


Or, maybe you are the type that has a storyline, plot, and characters all set up in a neat and tidy outline. (Go you!!)


Either way, there are a few things about building a character that may help you to create a more realistic, personable, and influential character.


Fredericka is our character today. She only has a first name right now.


How old is she?
Where is she from?
How does she think?
Is she friendly or cold?
What is her last name?
What does she look like?
Does she have an accent?
What are her likes/dislikes?
What are her persnickety tendencies?
What does she believe about the things around her?
What is her nationality, how does that impact her character?
Is she a messy person or highly organized, or a happy medium?


If we answer all these questions about Fredericka, you would know her a lot better. If you are a slightly (or highly) visual person, you could see her in your mind's eye. If you are a more kinesthetic person, maybe you can believe it more, because you can feel how real her persona is.


Either way, build your character with this in mind:
- what you need to get across,
- what your readers want to know,


But not, too many irrelevant details, or too many details to side track the story.

Think about it this way. You need to know your character, and your readers needs to know your character, so tell your readers what they need to know.

Now, you don't need to write all a character's details out as a single description of the person, you can use eye witnesses of that person to solidify the characteristics. Eye witnesses make a character undeniable.

I John 1:1-3

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us - that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."

NaNoWriMo Day 4 - Time Management

Caffeinated NaNos,

If you are currently (already?!) running on caffeine, snacks, candy, less than 7 hours of sleep, or any one of those, this post is for you.

My first NaNo, I failed horribly, because I neglected to manage my time effectively.

First, know that it IS possible to do this if you can schedule it into your day. Second, know that if it doesn't fit, you cannot make it fit...and it's okay!! The point is to have fun writing, the 50k goal is just that....a goal. So, if you need to, make a new goal!

My second NaNo, I won! Praise God, through it all, I won! It was awesome! I scheduled my time much more that time.

How to do this:

- List priorities.

This is where you write out everything you need to do for each day. Mark down how much time each thing takes. Maybe getting ready for work takes you 45 minutes, mark that down! Maybe you work 8 hours, mark that down! You might want to mark out 2 hours in the evening for dinner and family time, great!

- Sort priorities.

This might be geeky, but it worked really well for me. Get a time line down for your day, mark down when you get up, add getting ready for work, working, and mark when you get home. Then maybe right then is when you take your 2 hours to relax and have dinner. For the sake of an example lets say that ends up being 1930 (7:30pm), and you want to go to bed at a better hour than 0300 (3:00am) so you go to bed at 2200 (10:00pm). This gives you a block of under 2.5 hours to write.

- What if 2.5 hours is not enough time?

There are a few ideas for you! You have all Saturday to write, after chores of course. You also have Sunday after church, you may need to give up that nap....it'll be sanctifying to learn the discipline.

Also, while at lunch or on breaks at work, take a note pad, or writing device (I often text myself) and take note of ideas for later. This gets them out of your head while they are freshest, as well as off your mind so that you are a more effective worker.

- Still need more time?

This is when you need to decide one of two things. Either realize that you need to get a new goal, or be prepared to pony up and become a more disciplined person. Too often you will be tempted to opt for a third and unhelpful option, that of rushed panic. That will not give you worthwhile results, it's just not worth it. Resetting your goals is not admitting defeat, nor is it lowering your standards. Rather it is saying that you are mature enough to know your limits and to behave responsibly in those limits. On the chance that you want to learn more discipline through this November, here are a few suggestions for you.

Set a strick sleep cycle, go to bed a bit earlier, and wake up with time to write before going to work, this will also engage your mind to be more creative all day. (take notes through your day!)

Get rid of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Movies, G+, and all social media during the times you set aside for writing.

Find accountability!! Having a writing buddy will GREATLY encourage you. I have a group where I go for inspiration, encouragement, word games, and prayer.

- Making the most use of short periods of time.

Enjoy your story, and have fun with word games. Maybe each day, give yourself a challenge word, that you have to work into your story sometime in that day, or that hour. Word wars are my group's favorite game. We set a time limit, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes (usually the time we have before rushing out the door for work, or school, or going to bed.) and then we write furiously until the time is up.

This could be the time you spend on the bus, train, carpooling, waiting in line, or eating lunch. Just write as much as you can! Mistakes are fine, forget them, you can deal with them in December!

I hope some of these will give you ideas, please comment with things that helped you to manage your time!

Luke 14:28

"For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?"

NaNoWriMo Day 3 - Save your work!

Rise and Shine NaNos!


Today is the Lord's day!...just like EVERY day is His.

Some thoughts for you today!

Colossians 1:15-23

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

And he is the head of the body, the church.

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister."

The "He" the verses are speaking of, is Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God (Luke 1:35; John 1:18, 3:16,18; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:6, 5:5; I John 4:9) is the Creator of all the universe, that is everything everywhere. But He did not simply create it, He commands it all, and it is all FOR Him.

He holds all the cosmos together, and it testifies of His mighty work.

You see, He is God, and He takes first place in everything, from existing, living, and resurrecting from the dead, He is first, and we follow His example, but Jesus Christ is the King. Christ is head of the Church, not a pope. Jesus is the Head.

He was 100% human, and 100% God. He was tempted in every way you and I are tempted, but where we fall and sin, He remained pure and holy and blameless. Because of this, Jesus was the perfect sacrifice to satisfy the wrath of God against our sin.

Our sins held us apart from God, utterly. We were as dead men, and dead men tell no tales. A rotting body can not ask for mercy or plead a case against holiness. But Jesus came and lived a perfect life, and died and took our sin upon Himself, submitted to the crushing wrath of God, and Love as powerful as death, overcame the grave! Jesus could not be held by death, it had no sting any longer. He satisfied God's wrath once and for ALL eternity. He paid our debt in full.

Now, He did this before I was born, and when I was born, I didn't know Him. I was alive in the flesh but spiritually dead. I couldn't help but walk in my own evilness, and continual sin against Him.

But this is the GOOD NEWS, this is the Gospel, that it's about God, it's about Jesus, it's about the Cross, it's about His Grace, not me.

He delivered me and redeemed me and justified me and sanctifies me because it gives HIM glory. His blood covers me, so that I will be blameless in the sight of God. But it wasn't me who did it, it was Christ! He did it! He dresses me in His righteousness and purity and lavishes His love on me.

The Good News is about what Christ did for His own glory, that God might be both the Just and the Justifier.

He is mighty to save!

(pst, NaNo, go save you work, back it up in a few places, so that you don't lose it!)

NaNoWriMo Day 2 - Tie up the inner editor.

Mornin' Nano's,

I hope you got some sleep, it is important that you do get enough sleep. Your family and/or boss want you to get sleep, so that you are not grumpy.

So, good morning everyone!

Grammar Nazis and CDO (OCD put in its proper alphabetical order), this post is for you!! :D

I did NaNo in 2011 and was horribly unsuccessful. One of my problems was that I couldn't just keep writing; I had to keep going back and fix all the mistakes and problems.

NaNos, don't make that mistake, here is a short list of things you SHOULD fix as you write:

Typos,

Here is a short list of things that you SHOULD not fix as you write:

Unexpected plot twists,

Bloopers,

Timeline mistakes,

Contradictory events,

Killing a character by accident (don't worry, it happens to us all),

There are a lot of things you could do, but remember, you are under a tight time limit. So, if you make a very small mistake, fix it, but if it is large, skip it and wait for December.

WRITE in November....EDIT in December.

Here are some things for a smile...

 Because you needed reminded how words worked...

Yeah, be sure to exterminate your inner editor...

GUIDELINES....remember, it's okay to make mistakes, you will have plenty of time to fix them later!

Proverbs 17:28

"Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent."

NaNoWriMo Day 1 - Start writing!

Dear NaNos,


Today is DAY 1!!!!!

Today you start your efforts to write 50,000 words!!!!

Today begins a 30 day series of caffeine IVs, over eating snacks, and late hours of writers block inspired insomnia!!!

Today words come relatively simply and you sit wide-eyed at your keyboard as a plot takes form!!

Today music is searched for to put you in a typing mode!

Well...to kick it all off, here is a song for you.

This is The Typewriter by Leroy Anderson.

Enjoy, and remember to take heart, breath, pray, and keep working steadily.

I am praying for you!

(Leave a comment on your progress, I'd love to know how you are doing!)

John 16:33

""I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.""

I got Baptized!

My story of baptism:

I was converted when I was 16/17 years old, and was never baptized. I've always known that after you are converted that you are to be baptized, but I didn't do it. I had begun to be convicted of this last fall, but put it off and put it off and then something remarkable happened.

God put into my life, the Raimundo family, and they posed a question and challenge to me.

"Do you want to know if a person wants to obey the word of God? Simple. Give him a commandment."

This started to chafe my soul, I knew I had to obey but I had something stopping me.

I wanted to be in control, I wanted to control that people thought I had things together, I wanted to control and pretend that nothing was wrong.

But my issue was that I was afraid that people would think poorly of me, think I was childish, think I were a fool.

I wanted control. I was proud. I wanted to be my own god.

But Jesus Christ is my LORD! I am not God! God is God, and I am only His beloved servant.

The words from the Raimundos echoed through my thoughts constantly. Then a verse was brought to my attention.

John 14:15

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

Those were Jesus' words...and I was saddened because I had not obeyed.

The rich young ruler had been given commands and was also saddened, but he then turned away from Jesus, I knew that I must follow my Jesus, anywhere and everywhere He would lead me.

I began to ask friends to pray for me.
You see, my fear of men and of ridicule was not founded on the idea that getting baptized would look or be odd, but rather...it would not be the first time I would do this, it wasn't even the second, truly it would be both the third time...yet the only time I would be baptized.

I had gone through baptism as a very small child, when I did not understand the gospel. Then when I was about 12 I had an "emotional" experience, and it seemed good to me to get baptized as that was expected and it went with the flow. It was the result of bad judgment from poor character. Both times the only thing that happened...I got wet. That's it.

Thankfully God didn't give up on me.

Christ faithfully pursued me until I was converted, then He now constantly woos my soul to be conformed to His image.

As I was saying, those two previous dunkings held me back in fear, as I did not want to be called a fool or thought less of. Then slowly it was brought to me, by Christ's sweet mercy, I'm complete in HIM! It doesn't matter what the public thinks, or even what you, or my family, or the President, or any human being thinks. I must obey Jesus Christ, no matter the cost.

So, for weeks and weeks I prayed and finally told my parents that I wanted to talk of being baptized.

Thankfully, both my parents asked questions and we went over some things. I then talked with my last pastor (a dear friend) and my new pastor. Then I was baptized.

I was baptized into Christ's death and burial...

...and resurrection to walk in the newness of life!

September 29th, in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ 2013

After that I enjoyed the company for a bit with the other 16 people who were baptized with me, then my family went to lunch to celebrate my baptism and our joining this new church.




So, some technical stuffs:

 ~ What is a baptism? ~

It is an act of obedience.
It is telling the world who secures my identity. Who I belong to, who I live for, who I honor, who is my Master in life.

Baptism is an outward sign of an inward change. That Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour of this person's life.
Baptism is a commandment given to Christians.
- Matthew 28:19
- Acts 2:38

I followed my Jesus' example of death, burial, and resurrection to a new life and a new hope in Him.
- Matthew 28:19
- Romans 6:1-11
- Colossians 2:12

Romans 6:1-11

"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!

How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.

For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus."

~ Who gets baptized? ~

Christians, and only Christians.

The Bible teaches that those who repent of their sin are to be baptized. Baptism is a symbol, it is not what saves a person, nor what makes that person righteous.
- Mark 1:4
- Luke 3:3