Happy New Year's Eve! I haven't posted about writing in a while but have been trying to actually write more. Now is the time to pour a glass of wine and send some of send those new creations out into the world.
As my kids have started to look towards their futures, I have been reminding one artistically-inclined teen to test the waters by sending his work out or entering contests. It's been easy for me to SAY, while my novels and novels-in-progress sit safely in their Scrivener folders because they just "aren't ready."
So as 2016 winds down, I'm submitting the first page of the latest novel to this contest!
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/29th-free-dear-lucky-agent-contest-historical-fiction
Any other historical writers out there, you still have time to do the same! It's open until the end of December 31st Pacific Time! Proofread once more, if you must, take a deep breath and hit "send!" Then pour a glass for yourself and trust that I'm toasting you, from here!
Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Sunday, November 06, 2016
God does not care who wins this election
He exists outside of time. He already knows how Tuesday will turn out. He isn't worried about this election.
He cares about you. He created you. He wants to know that you care about Him, your neighbor, your enemy, your family and the stranger you haven't met yet.
He created and cares about Hillary. He created and cares about Donald.
Pray.
A few months ago, I posted a similar thought on Facebook. I mentioned that as I sat in Adoration, flipped through the Bible and prayed, I asked God about this election. What I heard in response was to "tell everyone to pray."
Keep it up.
If you haven't yet cast your ballot, pray. Even if you've known for months or all along who you will vote for, ask for His guidance, anyway. Not to justify your choice but to make His will known to you. I believe one particular candidate will destroy this nation. Some of you believe another candidate will do the same. We have the same hopes and fears, have the same access to information and we both believe we're right. But this isn't about me and it isn't about you. This is about us.
Listen to what your religious leaders say but don't follow blindly. Listen and pray.
Look at what your government has done but don't react reflexively. Think and pray.
And then have faith. God is forgiving and can bring something good, if not great, out of every situation.
A couple thousand years ago, religious leaders were fearful and took their concerns to the government. Political leaders saw no legal wrongdoing but were concerned about popular opinion and allowed the people to decide. The people chose Barabbas.
As much as I'd like to end with that, I prefer to go with hopeful endings. To do that, you need to remember what happened next. Jesus, nailed to a cross, asked God to forgive his tormentors. If the people who put nails in Jesus's body were forgiven, I feel a little less stress about this one election. Don't let it keep you up at night--we're almost done with this. If you've already voted, pray. If you've not yet voted, pray. This is a little blip compared to eternity. This matters but really, this isn't what really matters. Breathe. Pray.
He cares about you. He created you. He wants to know that you care about Him, your neighbor, your enemy, your family and the stranger you haven't met yet.
He created and cares about Hillary. He created and cares about Donald.
Pray.
A few months ago, I posted a similar thought on Facebook. I mentioned that as I sat in Adoration, flipped through the Bible and prayed, I asked God about this election. What I heard in response was to "tell everyone to pray."
Keep it up.
If you haven't yet cast your ballot, pray. Even if you've known for months or all along who you will vote for, ask for His guidance, anyway. Not to justify your choice but to make His will known to you. I believe one particular candidate will destroy this nation. Some of you believe another candidate will do the same. We have the same hopes and fears, have the same access to information and we both believe we're right. But this isn't about me and it isn't about you. This is about us.
Listen to what your religious leaders say but don't follow blindly. Listen and pray.
Look at what your government has done but don't react reflexively. Think and pray.
And then have faith. God is forgiving and can bring something good, if not great, out of every situation.
A couple thousand years ago, religious leaders were fearful and took their concerns to the government. Political leaders saw no legal wrongdoing but were concerned about popular opinion and allowed the people to decide. The people chose Barabbas.
As much as I'd like to end with that, I prefer to go with hopeful endings. To do that, you need to remember what happened next. Jesus, nailed to a cross, asked God to forgive his tormentors. If the people who put nails in Jesus's body were forgiven, I feel a little less stress about this one election. Don't let it keep you up at night--we're almost done with this. If you've already voted, pray. If you've not yet voted, pray. This is a little blip compared to eternity. This matters but really, this isn't what really matters. Breathe. Pray.
Monday, July 04, 2016
“Independence forever.” --John Adams
Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826. In memory of two great men who worked to obtain our Independence as a nation and ensure our continued freedom, I thought I’d share some of their wise words, today!
“Independence forever.”
John Adams, last public words as a toast for the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1826.
“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.”
John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776
“The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. If `Thou shalt not covet' and `Thou shalt not steal' were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society before it can be civilized or made free.”
John Adams, A Defense of the American Constitutions, 1787
“Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom.”
John Adams, Defense of the Constitutions, 1787
A morsel of genuine history is a thing so rare as to be always valuable.
Thomas Jefferson, September 8, 1817
A rigid economy of the public contributions and absolute interdiction of all useless expenses will go far towards keeping the government honest and unoppressive.
Thomas Jefferson, letter to Lafayette, 1823
But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19 years.
Thomas Jefferson, September 6, 1789
Cherish, therefore, the spirit of our people, and keep alive their attention. Do not be too severe upon their errors, but reclaim them by enlightening them. If once they become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress, and Assemblies, Judges, and Governors, shall all become wolves.
Thomas Jefferson, letter to Edward Carrington, January 16, 1787
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