Preparation for our monthly Writer’s Group meeting is completed, and as always the Lord’s guidance was needed. I am constantly aware of our need to commit our all to Him, and the choice for our devotional confirmed this.
I am completely discouraged – I lie in the dust. Revive me by your Word. I told you my plans and you replied. Now give me your instructions. Make me understand what you want; for then I shall see your miracles. I weep with grief; my heart is heavy with sorrow; encourage and cheer me with your words. Keep me far from every wrong; help me, undeserving as I am, to obey your laws, for I have chosen to do right. I cling to your commands and follow them as closely as I can. Lord, don’t let me make a mess of things. If you will only help me to want your will, then I will follow your laws even more closely. Psalm 119:25.32 TLB.
Sometimes we are bound to be discouraged by our writing problems. They creep up on us unawares, and no matter how keen we are, the days arrive when either the tide or the time is against us. The tide washes flotsam and jetsam our way, and frustrations arise; doubts in our abilities, questions about being in God’s will, criticisms that make us stumble, and, you name it, you know the sorts of things that happens. And of course time is always a piece of popular procrastination reasoning. It is not there for our convenience, it is there to use conveniently, and that means fitting our priorities into our time.
Having gone through the ‘nanowrimo’ project, I can speak with a little more authority on the need for personal accountability, so this passage will be a constant prayer.
Having got the Writer’s Group going, I am wondering about taking on another challenge – one more Writers Blog! Anyone else interested in joining in, to connect with each other and share news and views? Come, Glorify the Lord with Me!
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NIV)
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Perseverance Towards a Goal
Isn’t it great when the end is in sight? Having just completed an experience that will be repeated, I am looking back with relief, forward in anticipation and watching my husband consider the whole ordeal with dread!
The month of November was introduced to me as National Novel Writing Month, and participants from all over the world join in for a ‘writeathon; 50 000 words in 30 days. The result is the first draft of a novel, options covering many genres. So I embarked on the 8th of the month, already way behind the optimum average of 1666 words per day. By the end of the first week I had a gratifying 10 000 words, and it felt so good. The average short story contains 3 – 5000 words, and that had been fine up until now. The only problem was that the other participants were mostly hitting the half way mark.
Paul said, “Press on towards the goal - ” and I look at that passage again and I see the goal is to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)
Now I know that many people have to persevere in trying circumstances, but I think of a son preparing for a triathlon, and I know he will be asking the Lord’s help for the keeping on when the going gets tough, just as I did in my less physically active effort.
Trusting in the Lord is an essential in any endeavour, and my desire is to awaken the knowledge of the glory of God in young hearts, yet feeling so often unable. “Who am I?” I thought, “that You should give me such a challenge/” I received the words of the Psalmist, "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him. You made him a little lower than the angels, (heavenly beings) and crowned him with glory and honour.” (Psalm 8:4,5)
That is awesome – He cares for us, and we are valuable to Him!
I don’t know whether He wants to use my efforts only to encourage me, to show that I can achieve a dream, or does He intend to use my efforts to encourage others? He knows – He is God – and I continue, one step at a time into a long stretch of editing, cutting, adding, pasting, tweaking, and whatever else that needs to be done.
I press on, and praise my Lord for his Presence, His whispering, “Keep on, for I am with you, I will never leave you, ‘nor forsake you …
The month of November was introduced to me as National Novel Writing Month, and participants from all over the world join in for a ‘writeathon; 50 000 words in 30 days. The result is the first draft of a novel, options covering many genres. So I embarked on the 8th of the month, already way behind the optimum average of 1666 words per day. By the end of the first week I had a gratifying 10 000 words, and it felt so good. The average short story contains 3 – 5000 words, and that had been fine up until now. The only problem was that the other participants were mostly hitting the half way mark.
Paul said, “Press on towards the goal - ” and I look at that passage again and I see the goal is to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)
Now I know that many people have to persevere in trying circumstances, but I think of a son preparing for a triathlon, and I know he will be asking the Lord’s help for the keeping on when the going gets tough, just as I did in my less physically active effort.
Trusting in the Lord is an essential in any endeavour, and my desire is to awaken the knowledge of the glory of God in young hearts, yet feeling so often unable. “Who am I?” I thought, “that You should give me such a challenge/” I received the words of the Psalmist, "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him. You made him a little lower than the angels, (heavenly beings) and crowned him with glory and honour.” (Psalm 8:4,5)
That is awesome – He cares for us, and we are valuable to Him!
I don’t know whether He wants to use my efforts only to encourage me, to show that I can achieve a dream, or does He intend to use my efforts to encourage others? He knows – He is God – and I continue, one step at a time into a long stretch of editing, cutting, adding, pasting, tweaking, and whatever else that needs to be done.
I press on, and praise my Lord for his Presence, His whispering, “Keep on, for I am with you, I will never leave you, ‘nor forsake you …
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