"LET US COME BEFORE HIM WITH THANKSGIVING." Ps.95:2

I love the smell and feel of Autumn
I love the subtle crispness in the air as August announces the coming of Fall
I love the glorious array of color splashed over our streets that renders me
speechless ( and that's quite a feat in itself).
I love the majestic splendor of each and every tree as they display their own
shape and form and personality
I love the rustle of leaves beneath my feet
I love trying to find a golf ball landing in a bundle of leaves
I love the scurrying of animals as they gather nuts for the winter
I love the squirrels trying to get seed from my birdfeeder
I love football--high school; college; and NFL
I love the bands and the fans
I love the commentators
I love the excitement of the crowds and the cheering for their teams
I love the smell of bonfires and the roasting of marshmellows and smores
I love prayers whispered under the stars
I love the beginning of school after the summer break
I love seeing parents stand with their children as they wait for the school bus
I love our women's bible study getting back together
I love harvest celebrations and collecting for food pantries
I love putting on my warm colored jacket given to me by my husband
I love walking under a shower of falling leaves with my 2 dogs
I love the anticipation of Thanksgiving
I love Hallmark movies
I love being with my family on Thanksgiving Day
I love the parade
I love turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie
I love everything and more about Autumn
I love most of all --GIVING THANKS TO GOD
FOR HIS BLESSING AND FAVOR
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR...


How about you?
What do you love about Autumn?
What will you thank God for this year?
What traditions do you most cherish?


"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 2 Thess.5:16-18

You are His Delight

"The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord.
He delights in every detail of their lives." Ps. 37:23


So many times, more than I'd like to admit, I encounter women who walk around with a smile plastered on their face but secretly wearing a cloak of shame and worthlessness. It makes me want to reach out and hug them and tell them the good news again...yes, again. God loves you above and beyond anything you could ask or imagine........He is a forgiving God and doesn't hold you at arms length because of something you've done in your past. He calls you to draw near ...to seek Him with all your heart. From childhood you've heard that God loves you but do you really believe it? For many of us it's just head knowledge and hasn't penetrated to the heart. Perhaps you haven't experienced that unconditional love from your family, friends, or even church and so you continue to bear that shame and negative self-esteem. I often wonder if we know how much power we've been given by the Holy Spirit living within us? We can unleash it and free someone from their state of captivity. Love shows itself in action--isn't that what we've been told? So what's stopping me from giving a word of affirmation or encouragement to someone? What's stopping me from offering help to someone in need? What's stopping me from offering forgiveness to someone who's hurt me? What's stopping me from listening with compassion rather than judgment? What's stopping me from speaking words of life and hope into the heart of another woman? The answer is--NOTHING! So will you accept the challenge to choose to make a difference in someone's life today? Will you make that postponed phone call; will you write that note of encouragement; will you say "I forgive you", will you speak words of hope to someone who needs it? Will you help someone take off the mantle of shame and put on the robe of righteousness in Christ? I hope today will be a day of Grace...received and given away to another.
I'm eager, hopeful, expectant at what God will reveal to me and to you.
Get ready......take up your position.........move forward in Jesus name!

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zeph.3:17

GOING SOMEWHERE

"Barricade the road that goes NOWHERE.
Grace me with your clear revelation.
I choose the road to SOMEWHERE.
I post your road signs at every curve and corner.
I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me.
God, don't let me down.
I'll run the course you lay out for me
If you'll just show me how....

Ps.119:29-32 Message translation

I seem to always gravitate toward things
that talk about the road, the path, the journey,
the way, the footprints, the walk.
That's why I love this translation of psalm 119.
I would really want the Lord to barricade the road
that would take me nowhere or to a place that is
not in his plan for me. I implore him to show me
the road to SOMEWHERE...to where He is leading
me to walk with Him and to serve him on this earthly
journey. I do believe He has roads for all of us and
sometimes the road changes........I just want the grace
to read the signs and the obedience to start out and
then to finish the race. Perhaps some of you are
searching for the road to somewhere...or maybe
you are on the road to nowhere and don't know
how to get yourself turned around.
Well......there's one fail safe way and that is to
simply go to the Father and ask Him for a clear
road sign to lead you back. Believe me, He will
see your heart and he will lead you back. Just
like the Father in the story of the prodigal son...
He is waiting patiently for our return. It's never
too late to turn around.............

"All you have to do is look straight
and see the road and when you
see it, don't sit looking at it-
Walk." Ayn Rand

Let's walk together on the road marked
out for us.........Amen and Hallelujah!

Writing Essays

"Many people succeed when others do not believe in them.
But rarely does a person succeed when he does not believe in himself."
--Herb True

This past weekend, I had the privilege of attending Skyline Writer's Conference in Peninsula, Ohio. Once again they presented an amazing variety of speakers who addressed a potpourri of topics in the field of writing. It's also a great source of encouragement and motivation to meet and speak with other writers from different backgrounds and levels of experience.

My one big take away was a sentence from John Ettore:
"Don't FIND time to write. MAKE time to write."

One of my favorite sessions was Essay Writing by Nancy Christie, author of the inspirational book, "The Gifts of Change."
Now one might think this topic would be boring, reminiscing on high school composition classes, but on the contrary this talk was stimulating and motivating. Allow me to relay just a few points she shared that might help you get started in writing a vibrant essay.

The most important thing is to choose a topic or theme. This can come from a variety of sources such as life experiences, movies, newspapers, emotions, beliefs and values, anecdotes, or life experiences. Then be sure there is a universal truth......not one that you will outright tell them but that they will discover for themselves as they read and reflect on your article.

Remember 3 parts of the structure for a good essay:

#1 Introduction........this is the lead or hook to bring the reader in. It could be a story, dialog, universal truth, joke, video from youtube etc.


#2 Body......this includes what the essay is about. What is it you realize? What is the universal truth? What are the connections? What is the take away? This is where you develop and flesh out your message.


#3 Conclusion.........come back around again. Tie things up nicely.


Now, you begin! Don't worry about perfection because part of a writer's life is rewriting and editing. Just write and learn to enjoy the experience. I believe writing is like piano practice....the more you write, the better you become. It's the old axiom: "Practice makes perfect."

Suggestions:

• Write about a recent vacation that changed your life
• Write about a struggle that taught you an amazing lesson
• Write about a funny incident from your childhood
• Write about a job that you desperately wanted but didn't get
• Write about the value of friendships
  
• Write about a snowy night
• Write about a new career path
• Write about the birth of your first child
• Write about something that is your passion

"Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending."
-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

MOVING ON

" The possibilities are numerous once we decide to act and not to react."
-- Gloria Anzaldua

Previously I shared some writing tools and prompts to help you get into a daily writing routine. I know it was a challenge and I hope that many of you were able to stick with it and move through it. Accepting a challenge and reaching a goal gives one a sense of wonder and accomplishment. How great is it to say to yourself, " I did it!" Wow!

Today I'd like to encourage you to write about Moving On...
Think about your life and your present circumstances:

• Where are you stuck?
  
• Where do you need to go?
• What do you need to leave behind?
• How will you move on?

This is a wonderful exercise for free flow writing.
Set a timer for 10 min. for each question.
Pick up your pen and start writing.
Do not stop or lift up your pen.
Don't worry about grammar.
Don't even think about what you are writing...just write.

When you are finished with all four questions, read your writing out loud.
Celebrate what you have written.
At another time you can rewrite this exercise in a clear organized fashion using good grammar, punctuation, and creativity.

This exercise will prove to be enlightening, motivating, and energizing.
This may be a catalyst to help you make some major or minor changes in your life or to help you move forward to reach your dreams and goals.

GOD'S BLESSING ON YOUR HEART, MIND AND PEN!

"It is good to have an end to journey forward;
but it is the JOURNEY that matters in the end."
--Ursula K Leguin

TOOLS FOR WRITING PRACTICE

" I'm one of those people that believes you should start writing
before you think you're ready."-- Joseph Ellis

Well, here we are at the Writer's Corner again--Welcome in!
I hope you've had time to experiment with a few of the ideas I've passed on to you so far. They were simple, straightforward and very do-able. Today, I want to look at some writer's tools, environment, and space.

BASIC TOOLS
Writing is a blessing to your pocket book because you don't need a lot of expensive things to get started.......Look at this list:
Several pencils or pens
A simple spiral notebook or pad of notebook paper
A small notebook for purse or pocket
A desire to write

WHERE TO WRITE
Some people like to write in bed upon awakening
Some people have a comfortable chair or sofa that suits them just fine
Others need to be upright in a chair at their desk or computer
Others may like to sit by a tree, on a porch swing, by the water
Find what feels right for you and gives you the most incentive to write

WHEN TO WRITE
Some writers pick up the pen first thing in their morning before the day begins
Some writers set a time during their day
Others set blocks of time during their week where they can be undisturbed
Some write in the evening when all is quiet and serene
Some write on the spot-- anytime, anywhere, anyway

This all sounds and looks easy, doesn't it?
The biggest challenge for the writer is to JUST WRITE.....PERIOD!!!!
No excuses, no procrastinating, no negotiating............JUST DO IT!

WEEKLY CHALLENGE FOR YOU!
Every day this week (7 days) I challenge you to write for at least 15 minutes.
Just write.............set your timer and don't stop till it dings
Find the right notebook and pen or pencil and give it a GO
What do you have to lose? You may be surprised to discover you want to keep on going............but if you're serious about writing....you can find 15 min. to get started

There's nothing more exciting for a writer than to find YOUR VOICE--
It's your turn! Begin your session by saying: My name is ______________and I'm a writer. Be relaxed and enjoy it!

WRITING PROMPTS

• Write about a ceremony
• Write about a present
• Write about a person who had great impact on your life
• Write about a day on the beach
• Write about a childhood memory
• Write about your favorite sport
  
• Write about graduation
• Write about a time of tears
• Write about a time of fun and abandon
• Write about a friendship
• Write about your passion
• Write about a dream or longing
• Write about a time of testing
• 
  

"IF WE HAD TO SAY WHAT WRITING IS, WE WOULD DEFINE IT ESSENTIALLY
AS AN ACT OF COURAGE." -- Cynthia Ozick

Writers and Poets from Ireland

"There is none to tell the rich to go on striving, for a rich man makes the law that hallows and hollows his own life." -- Sean O'Casey

I've just returned from a graced journey through the beautiful Emerald Isle of Ireland!
This is the place where I can trace all my family roots on both sides with names like Dunn, Gorman, Roche, Cronin, Gallagher, Reidy and more. This was a milestone journey for me and a gift of immeasurable worth from our good God. I was amazed at how many writers and poets hail from this great land. To name a few: James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Patrick Kavanagh, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, Jonathan Swift, and William Butler Yeats. As I was browsing through a book store one day, I came upon a poetry book of Patrick Kavanagh's that caught my attention. There was one particular poem in there that stirred my soul and I got out my notebook and copied it then and there. Let me share this beautiful poem with you now.

TO A CHILD

Child, do not go
into the dark places of soul.
For there the gray wolves whine,
the lean gray wolves.

I have been down
among the unholy ones who tear
beauty's white robe and clothe her
in rags of prayer

Child, there is light somewhere
under a star
Sometime it will be for you
a window that looks
inward to God.

--Patrick Kavanagh

There is so much pause for reflection and meditation in this poem.
It speaks of real life with darkness and light, struggles and triumphs,
and encouraging words that we can speak into another's life. Here
are a few thoughts you might want to consider for some journaling.

Journal exercise:

Have you ever been in a dark place of the soul?
What were you feeling and experiencing in that place?
Where did you find your light?
Where was your window that looked inward to God?
If you are in that place now.............
Be still.........write out your thoughts and feelings in simple words from your heart!
Believe that God is there with you and will lead you to the light.