"You Must Choose to See God's Greater Plan..."

A 31-Day Writing Challenge

We have a choice

"We can choose to go with the flow--to live predictable, safe, comfortable lives or we can choose to believe that God has a greater plan for us." Jeremiah 29:11 also says that, "For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

To really understand this, one must have wisdom and discernment from God because our human understanding always fall short but never His. Anything God reveals to us will always align to His Word. And the only way that anointing, that power to know His will for our lives is obedience to His Word. Not just obeying out of  fear but because you're committed to the calling He wants you to do for His glory. That you are willing to go to the fire and be refined by His Hand...

Many of us if not all of us always infuse our personal agenda whether we want to admit it or not. We may even pull the infamous excuse that we're just human and bound for a downfall. We don't want to realize that we can't really do it on our own and still think and act like our prosperity is credited to our intellect or something. When can we ever get that everything we have; our jobs, our material possessions, and our sanity and the air we breathe are all blessings given to us. You might argue that you've worked for all you've got and that's a legitimate reason to credit yourself. However; humility, gratitude and kindness are attitudes we should exude instead of pride. A good choice to draw ourselves closer to Him.

Today, I was thinking of the new things I already started since the New Year. I have the choice to continue blogging for 26 more days or just write whenever. But I chose discipline & order. If I keep doing the same pace I was doing with my writing last year, there is no challenge and no growth at all. And what do you call that? Just staying afloat. I believe I could do a significant change to where I would be more productive. But the operative word here and the mission is : Will my writing be always align with what God is in store for me in 2014? I should  check my heart to that, regularly.

I also did commit myself to do Daniel's fasting for 21 days. It started today. It is privilege doing it corporately with my church family and my own family. There are no "ifs and "don'ts" for this. I hope never to give myself excuses to fail. I'm sharing this to hold myself accountable and will strengthen to run this race at my best. I also promised myself not to listen to secular music except K-love and Air one radio stations. They only play Christian music and share people's spiritual testimonies. I know it's a lot to take but I'm not doing this on my own. I know that the Lord's hand is upon me.

Isn't it more rewarding to achieve something beyond your capacity? I have and you have a choice to challenge yourself; to go through life with almost a complete overhaul? Don't you get tired dreaming and pretending that's it? In my heart, I know it's that time to replenish and forget those who's not running with you...absolutely my choice.

Thanks for reading and till tomorrow!

"That Redeeming Joy..."

"The Moment that Redeems our Joy"
  
  For some inexplicable reason, Saturday is my favorite day of the week to pause, reflect and  eat without an apology... Kind of unpopular to many people because of what it indulges and compels them to do on Saturdays. I can dig that, that after working from 9am-5pm or 7am-3pm from Monday to Friday, comes Saturday--you're exhausted.

You don't feel like mopping the floor, cleaning the kitchen counters, cabinets and organizing what's lurking under your kitchen sink, & bathrooms. You might schedule cleaning that up the next day which is Sunday. But there are household tasks that just need to be done. One of them may be stacking up your pantry and your fridge food & drinks. Doing your laundry is another chore that a mom never misses to do. Or going to the post office to mail that package on time so you don't have to express-mail it if you postpone it indefinitely.

And if you're still raising schoolchildren, your roles as a mom just quadrupled. If you're a single mom and you're always present in every soccer game, baseball or football or musical rehearsals--truly you are a supermom. What about checking and helping out with their homework; their doctor's appointments and parent-teacher conferences? Overwhelming.

I've been there. So, I guess I could call myself a supermom even Today that both of my sons  are grown and have their own busy life, too. I didn't even mention pets at home; large breed dogs. Evidently, this life is swamped with appointments, schedules; routines. Where and when do you find time to vent and still stay grounded. Sometimes, you don't even have that choice. You just have to keep going until you're still senile and remember how to really breathe and keep that sense of humor and God.

So, what has kept me sane and healthy all these years are my Saturday routines; also includes on my knees praying for God's grace. That's why I pick Saturday as the best day for me. I have my own ways of doing chores according to their sense of immediacy & order. As a single parent, I had to and I think and believe that what really sustained me was my purpose--be a good mother and although I could never execute the role of a father to my children, they have a Heavenly Father. That may had been too big for them to understand but I know His Sovereign Hand in my life. And they see that I am a living testimony of His unfailing love.

I've always had joy doing things for my boys. I was committed and dedicated myself serving them. I made that decision. That specific moment that redeems my joy is whenever God brings  me to a place where He is the only one who can protect me from harm; who can love me in my deepest grief & weaknesses.  I didn't have time wrestling and chasing my own personal dreams. More like relegated to the background; took a backseat until then... because I know there is no greater dream than journeying and going through with life's notorious ups and downs with God.
That's my pitch for that redeeming moment. It may not be groundbreaking to some but for me it is transcending and celebratory.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1 says "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

And I'm waiting and expecting for that glorious day.

Thanks for reading.

Till tomorrow

"True Inspiration Must Be Earned by Writing"

"True Inspiration Must Be Earned By Writing"
  
  This is actually Steven Taylor Goldsberry's rule # 4 for mastering your craft. He wrote that, " if you wait to be inspired before you start writing, if you wait to experience that bolt of soul-clarifying insight, you're a fool and have no business being a writer."

And Mr. Steven Taylor Goldsberry is absolutely right.

Ouch...So, when I'm having those "occasional mental lapses" because I couldn't force myself to write that I might as well forget that I'm a writer. That I don't really have the knack for writing, that I don't have what it takes for my words to be heard. And that I'm a fool if I wait to be inspired before I write.

I get it. Just write whatever words flow into my brain to my fingertips, to my keyboard. Who knows,  comes in mid-paragraph, my inspiration starts to sing with my words. What is important is my present engagement with what draws me in. I hope I'm not committing a  redundancy, here. That is something I am very meticulous--redundancies. I'm not talking about alliteration as a figure of speech but words that don't need to be said the same thing twice.

Check this sentence for wordiness: Josh is employed at an electronics company working as a lead sales consultant.  The meaning of employed is suggested by the other word working in the sentence. Therefore, cross out is employed with works and eliminate working. With that, your correct sentence is: Josh works at an electronic company as a lead sales consultant. That's clear and simple.

"Redundancies such as cooperate together, basic essentials, true fact and close proximity are just some common source of wordiness." When reading, I spot on them like crazy. And when I do, I just pause and just delete those words on my mind. I can also tell myself that it was probably topographic error. However, if you're reading a post or an article and you've missed your mark thrice or more, I may not finish reading the whole thing. I guess this is where you lay your content standing out more than some technicality in writing. But aren't they dependent of each other? I would like to think so.

Do you still remember and pay tribute to that beloved English teacher of yours in High School or your English instructor in college? For me, their legacy of teaching me well lives on. I still remember their names and their stature in my mind; how they transform my psyche to love words and continue to be affected by them. I knew then, that writing would be my greatest ally to myself and my sole refuge to inner triumph.

As Jeff Goins said in his book, "Writer's Manifesto," Start declaring yourself as a writer. After reading it, I claimed it and proclaimed it to myself...as often as I needed to hear it. Now I have to find time how to hone my craft. I might take up some classes for copy editing this summer. I could even take some classes offered by Jeff Goins, Michael Hyatt & Joseph Lalonde; Max Lucado; writers I follow "religiously" and many more this year as good mentors. Thank you for their contributions.

I know the rewards are as tangible as I would like them to be. It could be sooner, later; yet I know the breakthrough is coming. That's enough for me to stay true to my belief & faith. May I never cease to follow my heart's desire. And may this year is my year of jubilee. I can't think of anything more productive to do other than fall in love again with writing. I owe this to myself. Many have failed my expectations last year including my expectations to what "I should and would have done; the many ifs"  that I entertained. 

Well, God is the Lord of many chances. I hope I won't blow it again. Chances are, I will cling to the power of making the right Choice. I know the hand of God is upon me and may I won't let His hand slipped off my grasp.

Thank you for reading.

It's that time again...Good night!

"The Gift of Words ...Undefiled

It's just the second day for writing ardently...Anybody who reads my first line of thought thinks I'm starting to waver for what I signed on for. May be just a tingling flinch that will go away but still an inkling to force me to pause and reflect for a moment: a sign of trite or weakness, or both? Not sure.

I couldn't decide for a specific topic to write. I wish I could just lean to my own understanding on matters of the heart and just nullify whatever the rest of the world is thinking and doing out loud or in their closet. I wish that I could just bask on words just for my glory & pride and not use them outside myself. Does that make sense?

As a writer, eccentricity lurks in my writing. Unapologetic, unrestrained  and unorthodox. Following strict guidelines deters my flow.  But like other writers, I write because words dig me deeper. I would like to think that without words spoken, written or imagined, my life would be so barren; sullen, I can't function.

Think about a song devoid of lyrics. It may have a good musical arrangement, melody or rhythm; the crescendo weakens and the voice is no longer required. And a song can't be one without words to complete it. Everything that my heart is drawn to-- implores, begs for  words; a poem, a movie, a love letter, a book, a joke, a parable and even euphemisms.

What about the Word of God? The Holy Bible. It is the divine Revelation of what God wants mankind to know about Eternal salvation and His plan. There it is...God even said in His own words, "Let us make a human in our own image, by our likeness, to hold sway over the fish of the sea and the fowl of the heavens and the cattle and the wild beasts and all the crawling things that crawl upon the earth." And God created the human in his image, in the image of God He created him, male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)

What about love. It needs to be expressed. Words coupled with loving actions will define it. But without words, we might as well be mute & deaf. I consider it a transgression for not ever expressing your heart & mind, the gift of words.  
Just imagine a teacher explaining her topic sentence and explaining it to her students by simply using the American sign language. Would that be catchy, enough or deplorable?

I could only think of three things for now when words are insignificant: when you're sleeping; when you're cussing out words and when you're about to tell your spouse, your significant other or to the one you love that you want a divorce. You hush...Time to bridle your tongue.
I'm kind of unsettled with that. I won't elucidate any further.
Just don't use words lightly. They may be your best link or connection to yourself and to others but you can be still uncouth with your words. Be of some kind of refinement. Not be disdainful blurting them out or writing disparaging remarks. Although that is sometimes needed, reflect on your true intentions.
                                                                
I still remember the song, "Words" by Bee Gees. That one remarkable line that says, it's only words and words are all I have to take your heart away has sold me out to this date. Yup, the power of words. They either edify you or tear you down. "Life and death is in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof ." (Prov. 18:21) Be not merciless in uttering them.  Take time to pause to consider before you speak angry words. This could be a good one on your resolution list.

Press on to love with the love that endures the test of time...

Till tomorrow. Good night. And Take Care.

"A 31-Day Writing Challenge..."

My 500 Words...

Jeff Goins launched this 31-day challenge designed to help writers/bloggers develop a daily writing habit and become better writers.

And so I joined to kick off my writing to a good start. Mind you, I couldn't believe how many signed up. The last time I scrolled down to check how many signed up, it was non-stop. What does that tell you? Or equate to?

That many of us want to make pivotal changes; to others, some major adjustments. For one thing I know, we're on this for one obvious reason: writing is still very much alive in our psyches.. We all want to be a part of something that would make our words to steam, to soar and be received as a propeller, a lifeline and a distinct vessel to others.

I am of utmost respect to writers who keep writing even after experiencing rejection of their work in which they put their "sweat & blood" on it. Many days we think our craft is not going anywhere. It's just too many of us trying to break in the business and no breakthroughs. Hope gets dimmer, darker...yet profound.

I can only speak for me; how writing can become your nemesis when you want your words to flow. I do "space out" or what they call, "mental block where you're just numb like your brain cells stop functioning. Not even a single word is formed in my head. And whenever that happens, I just let myself be. Now, do you find something beautiful and precious in between nothingness and back to creating words again? Right there, the realization that you could be out of this world and fully unaware of it. Isn't that fascinating or mind-boggling?

Imagine yourself sitting on your swiveled computer chair with your feet resting on the bed; eyes closed and you're waiting for mighty words that could connect you to your readers. They never come as crystals. At times, you're typing words devoid of meaning and the main ingredient...you, your writing prowess is masked with malleability. The fervor has gone out. Then you wait and try one more time before the "wee hours" in the morning hits you like a stumbling block.

With this collaboration with other writers and seeing them wanting what you want could be a great impact to awaken your knack for putting words together. This launch can be really what it is--to make us better writers; better "us" as one mind , one heart and one goal.

What ushered me to join was that this will prompt me discipline. This is fun and noteworthy. It's free-writing. You don't have to worry about editing and proofreading your work. If we miss a day, we just continue where we left off. If your topic went waywardly within the next paragraph, I guess we'll catch up and gear it up before we're  totally lost.

Oh, the ever effervescent of writing...there's always that daunting; dawning element of surprise. That beguiling element that never ends and seem infinite in nature. Capturing it fully is never forgiving. The depth and width of writing is immense, yet unquenchable in its essence. Has anybody really arrived in his or her writing? I doubt anybody ever does...because you have to resonate passionately with your readers. You can't really put out your thoughts as raw as when they first touch your soul. They're solely yours...transform them as you see them fit--your words, your thoughts onto the page.

My affirmation: I am a writer in awe of the enormity of God's creation with so much to see; observe and fall in love to...and with you.

Till tomorrow.

"Getting My Eyes Fixed Inside My Heart..." for 2014

I was a bummer last year for not following through my resolutions. Inconsistency is the operative word. I had major emotional excuses. Surely, I flopped even with my blogging. I just post whenever and my platform for writing was ambiguous even to myself. There's that writing constraint that is always there to remind me. I thought that I was more concern of my personal grit and not really connecting to my viewers. Certainly, I would like to make amends by posting more relatable topics with substance for 2014.

I plan to post three times a week. That would be Sunday, Wednesday & Friday. I'm not also trying to insinuate anybody into subscribing to my Christian faith. I just want to always share with you that our journey with life here on earth is all about our longings to be loved, validated and be sought and freed by the truth of our existence. When you come to realize it, there's really more that we can do inwardly to exude breakthroughs.

As you all know walking & jogging in the park by myself or with my Lab Cocoa is a regiment for me. Three times a week is my capacity accruing 13 miles altogether per week. Doing it is an acclamation. It does boosts my resistance to the common cold; regulates my blood pressure accordingly and prevents me from adding another unwanted layer in my belly..lol. Most of all, I feel rejuvenated and thankful that my feet are still swift to follow my lead. I'll do better in 2014. I'll see if I can join some walkathon or marathon for special projects this year. That would be really interesting and a bliss.

Networking with other bloggers or writers by attending live podcasts and even seminars are also my prospects in the making. I think that anybody who would give anything to reach out to people successfully should do something about it. That's every writer's creed. We're all artists on our own ways. Keep that in mind.

We should never be contented of where we are because each day is an opportunity to make your life count and productive...or full of regrets and suppositions. I chose the first premise. The second premise is lifeless. I'm tired with hovered regrets and suppositions. And you can be an "ironclad" by becoming the best possible way to be the beautiful &worthy You; no phony maneuvers and no self-absorb infusion to your craft or to anything that you love doing. No apologies and excuses either for mediocre results. It's time you own your mistakes and go above them. Build a ladder for hierarchy out of them. I know I will this time. You are, too. Have a little faith even just a "mustard seed."

I really hope also that 2014 will propel me to the fields of missionary work and that whatever I envision doing will be God's will for my life. One thing I know is that there is no guarantee that our plans will be processed the way we want them to be manifested. Our anchor must be always that our "winning the war inside our hearts" is only through God's divine grace. I know this faithfully because I wrestled with my heart's desire for a long time. After being in the pit, in the hole, and in my own cell with my own making, finally I made a decision not to wrestle but now learning how to surrender fully to God... Drawing closer to my Savior in 2014 is a specific decision I would have to work through diligently--deep inside my heart. There is no "falling out" with Jesus; only triumphs &victories.

I have decided that  this year's primal goals include the joy of writing words of pure intention. The Genesis of a new day.

Hope all your gifts and talents be of service to the Lord, to yourself and to others. Be of courage and always be loving and thoughtful to your words and actions. You only have Today to be where you want to be; not yesterday or tomorrow. Look up. There is a" silver lining" in everything.

Please celebrate with me the joys & prosperity of 2014!

Talk to you, soon.

"When October Goes..."

Two Days After Christmas

This song came on the radio as I was washing the dishes @ mid-afternoon... I told myself, "
that melody and the way it stirred me must be the one and only
Barry Manilow. His  signature is never missed: tender, sincere, thoughtful and just so nice to listen to...
It doesn't really matter how old you are... or how old you've gotten to be; there's that memory in your
past that you can never reconciled or recovered. Only a song like this can for a moment. So just let it be.