Enjoy your holiday.
Have fun.
Love your family and friends.
Live your life to the fullest.
Be thankful.
Thank God for your blessings.
Don’t forget to turn your bathroom scales back 10-pounds!
Tag: Seeing
Help in Planning
Proverbs 16:9
“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” – Proverbs 16:9
Our Dreams and God’s Guidance
Life is a beautiful blend of our dreams and God’s guidance. We may map out our journey, but it’s God who shapes the path and adds purpose to every twist and turn.
His Perfect Plan
Trust the process, lean on Him, and know that even detours and delays are part of His perfect plan.
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Ideas for Writing
Feral Cats
A slick, treacherous pool deck glistened underfoot as I delivered the morning room service—a ritual our feral cats expected, perhaps even demand.
The overcast skies hung low, draped with a suffocating fog that twisted the air into something sinister. The black cats with their piercing yellow eyes prowled like an army of dark sentinels, their gazes cutting through the mist. They moved as one, a shadowy legion conjuring whispers of forgotten rituals and unspoken curses.
Children of the Corn
Children of the Corn had nothing on these creatures; their presence was a macabre warning etched into the morning’s gloom, each pawstep a silent herald of something unspeakable.
Note:
In 1988, I was at a writer’s conference with the late Dr. Calvin Miller. He shared with me that writer fail to take advantage of the opportunities they have to work on their craft.
He said, “You might write a regular column for your church newsletter or book club. Why not give them your best writing and develop your craft simultaneously?”
I thought of him this morning as I wrote a caption for a picture I took as I began my morning cat feeding.
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Where Do You Write?
A Cool Morning
A crisp 55 degrees and a gentle breeze whisper through the morning air as the shaded patio of my favorite Starbucks becomes my open-air office.
Hot Coffee
My steaming coffee sits beside me, inviting and warm, as I let go of life’s challenges and let the narrative nonfiction piece I’m working on flow from my mind to the page.
If you’re a writer, where do you write?
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Election Reflections
Election Reflections
If you were in favor of the reelection of the former president, I know you’re happy.
If you were hoping the vice-president would ascend to office, well … it didn’t happen. And so goes life. Ups and downs. Thrills and disappointments.
God Still Reigns
Remember, our God reigns and is ultimately in charge. Even if someone doesn’t believe in God, that doesn’t change the fact that He’s still there, still in charge, and His will be done. That’s how I can accept any election results.
Remember, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. Genesis 1:1.
The stock market seems very happy with the election results.
What The Bible Says
While these verses are from the Bible, I borrowed the verses from an excellent article by my writing friend Dr. Katherine Passour. All other content in the post is my original content.
Here article can be found at https://www.katherinepasour.com/blog/submit-to-who/.
Here are a few versers that help me through each day as I reflect on the government and our leaders.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1
Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:13-15
Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it. Luke 11:28
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:10-11
And so goes the week and must trust in God.
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What I Learned From Time Change Sunday
Time Change Sunday
It’s “time change” Sunday. Last night we moved the clocks back one hour. For most people, that’s a big deal.
Moving clocks forward and back for time changes have become routine because of my travel. On my trip to the British Isles, France, Portugal, and then returning to the United States via a transatlantic cruise, I changed time zones eight times.
Last fall when I did a transpacific cruise I crossed sixteen time zones. The trip was from Dallas, Texas, USA to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Yes, I’m fortunate to travel. An interesting lesson learned was God was always with me. I could read His word and pray to Him in Scotland or Paris as easily as I could in Tahiti or New Zealand. I could be still wherever I was and know He is God.
A Lesson From the Bible
In the Bible, we read in Psalms 124:1 King James Version, “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” It reminds me that my God is all powerful. He keeps watch over His chosen nation of Israel. And, He never sleeps or slumbers. He’s always there for them and He is always available anywhere for me, regardless of which time zone I’m in.
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J.K. Rowling on Writing
“Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic,” says J.K. Rowling.
With just a few words, we can create entire worlds, inspire dreams, and connect deeply with one another.
Words hold a transformative power that knows no bounds. Each sentence, each carefully chosen phrase, has the ability to transport readers to far-off places, stir their emotions, and leave a lasting impact.
Whether you’re crafting a novel, writing poetry, or sharing a heartfelt message, remember that your words carry immense magic within them. Words can be magical.
Embrace the endless possibilities of language. Let your words work their magic, touching lives, sparking imagination, and shaping the world around you.
Words are a gift—use them wisely and powerfully.
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Nolan Bushnell On Creativity
“Everyone who’s ever taken a shower has had an idea,” says Nolan Bushnell.
But it’s not just about having ideas—it’s about acting on them.
The difference lies in what happens next: the person who steps out, dries off, and takes action turns those ideas into reality. It’s easy to dream, but the real impact comes from doing. Whether it’s starting a project, writing that first line, or taking the first step, action is what transforms ideas into something meaningful.
Embrace your ideas, and then act on them. Make a difference by turning your thoughts into reality, one step at a time.
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Monet on Art
“Colour is my day-long obsession, joy, and torment,” said Claude Monet.
For Monet, the pursuit of capturing the perfect hues consumed his every moment, bringing both profound joy and intense challenge.
Color was more than just a visual element; it was the heart of his art, the essence that breathed life into his masterpieces. Every shade, every tone was a reflection of his passion and dedication, driving him to explore the depths of beauty and emotion.
Embrace the power of color in your own creative journey. Let it be your inspiration, your challenge, and your joy. Through color, express the full spectrum of your artistic vision.
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W.S. Merwin on Creativity
“I learned from my own work that the poem is a way of seeing and feeling both at once,” said W.S. Merwin, a poet whose influence resonates deeply.
Merwin’s poetry invites us to experience the world through a lens that merges vision and emotion, offering a profound connection to both the inner and outer landscapes.
As a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and U.S. Poet Laureate, Merwin’s words transcend mere language. His work embodies a rare spiritual presence, much like Thoreau’s, capturing the essence of human experience and the natural world.
Embrace poetry as a means of seeing and feeling simultaneously. Through your own writing, discover the power to reveal truths that touch the soul and awaken the senses.
