The Destiny of One: January 2011

Just for fun

7:04 AM

I have a weakness. Okay, I have many but I’m just going to focus on one. It is that I love to play computer games. Not just any games mind you, they have to be games that get me to think or are a challenge. Just for fun, I thought I would share with you some of my favorites.

I really like most of the Nancy Drew games (there are a few that look a little weird).

This game is complicated but very fun.

A couple of other fun games

faith

Please Pray

12:44 PM

A dear friend and neighbor, Arlee Roland, went home to be with his Lord yesterday. Mary, his wife of over 60 years, is lost without him. Rose and Michael (my brother and one of my sisters) have ministered to this couple for almost five years and feel the loss keenly. Please pray for the family especially how to help Mary live on her own.

encouragement

I Will Lift My Eyes

2:40 PM

God, my God, I cry out:

Your beloved needs You now

God, be near; calm my fear

... And take my doubt

Your kindness is what pulls me up

Your love is all that draws me in

[Chorus]

I will lift my eyes to the Maker

Of the mountains I can't climb

I will lift my eyes to the Calmer

Of the oceans raging wild

I will lift my eyes to the Healer

Of the hurt I hold inside

I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

God, my God, let mercy sing

Her melody over me

And God, right here all I bring

Is all of me

Your kindness is what pulls me up

Your love is all that draws me in

[Chorus]

I will lift my eyes to the Maker

Of the mountains I can't climb

I will lift my eyes to the Calmer

Of the oceans raging wild

I will lift my eyes to the Healer

Of the hurt I hold inside

I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

[Bridge]

'Cause You are and You were and You will be forever

The Lover I need to save me

'Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together, God

So hold me now

[Chorus]

I will lift my eyes to the Maker

Of the mountains I can't climb

I will lift my eyes to the Calmer

Of the oceans raging wild

I will lift my eyes to the Healer

Of the hurt I hold inside

I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

God, my God, I cry out:

Your beloved needs You now...

It doesn’t seem that long ago that I heard this song for the very first time. I was seventeen and going through a very hard time in my life. I seemed to be having constant health issues, life wasn’t going the way I wanted it, and life in general was just hard.

I was home alone that day, getting some work done when the first strains of music for this song caught my attention. The intro was so pretty that I stopped what I was doing and listened. The first words of the song pulled me in, echoing my heart's cry. When it finished, I was on the verge of tears it made my heart feel so good.

Even though there were still some hard times ahead, and more health issues to face, that song really encouraged me. The nice thing was, it seemed to be everywhere over the next month or so. I heard it often. So many times when I was down, I would sing that song and it would lift my spirits.

Fast forward to the present, and life is going good; I haven’t had any major heath problems in a long time; I have a new job; and many other blessings. So, life is great, but when listening to this song again, I was reminded of something very important; I need God just as much on my good days as on my bad ones.

Too often when things are going good, I rely on myself and my own strength. However, I was reminded by this song that even when things are going well, I should still look to my maker for help for each new day.

Will you lift your eyes?

10 things

Writing Saturday (On Sunday); 10 Things to Remember when Writing… Science Fiction

7:04 AM

1. Remember that the genre is science fiction not fantasy fiction

2. Go to the NASA and other technology hubs websites to find out what they are working on. You will get some great ideas on the up-and-coming technology.

3. Although watching things such as Star Wars and other science fiction movies can be helpful, make sure that your ideas are unique and not a mosaic of great Si-Fi books and movies.

4. Clothing will be different, what do you think it will look like?

5. What will people name their children after in the years to come?

6. What if? Those two words are the basis for most science fiction. What if we could reach the far side of our own galaxy? What if we could travel faster than light? What if everyone had to leave earth? What if everyone was forced to wear red? Yes, the possibilities are endless.

7. Not everything has to be explained. If you want to tell you readers that scientists reinvented an atmosphere so people could breathe on a planet, great, but if people are breathing without oxygen tanks and aren't keeling over, most readers will assume that there is a breathable atmosphere.

8. Warning; writing in this genre increases your risk of spaceship related dreams.

9. Cause and effect. Just about everything has its good sides and its bad sides. Keep this in mind as you write.

10. Take the time to stare up at the stars; it helps you get into the right mood.

A Legislative View

A Legislative View; My first few days

9:45 AM

As it turned out, even though my official days to work at the capitol are Mondays and Thursdays, I worked Tuesday through Thursday of this week. It wasn’t that there was a lot to do (there never is the first few days of a session); it was that there were a lot of things that our office had to get organized. I am happy to say I’m now set up and ready to go when I go back next Thursday. The reason I’m not going Monday being that it is MLK day, the only holiday celebrated by the Texas legislature.

The following is a list of things that I have learned in my first few days on the job.

1. Everything, and I do mean everything, is decided on seniority. From the offices a Representative gets to the committees he serves on, to the parking place he is given, almost everything is decided on seniority.

2. Because a freshman has no seniority, they draw for it.

3. Have trouble finding gentlemen in this world? Work at the capitol. It is amazing how many doors I have had opened for me, things carried and all the people willing to help me find directions. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that no one wants to risk looking rude to the wrong people.

4. Politics is one of those professions that seem to attract either the best kind of people or the worst kind. I’m happy to say that my boss falls into the best kind category.

5. You have to be willing to ask questions of people if you don’t know the answer.

6. Enjoy yourself, this can be such a fun job.

That sums up my first week on the job, how was yours?

P.S. My ‘Writing Saturday’ post will appear tomorrow

A Legislative View

A Legislative View; First day at the Texas Capitol

8:04 PM

Wow! What an amazing first day of work. It was freezing when I arrived at the capitol and had to walk in the wind to get inside. That was the worst part of my day, and that wasn't too bad.

When I reached the office of my representative, the chief-of-staff, a neat guy I worked with on the campaign, was the only one there. He took me on a tour and showed me some of the places I need to go then took me to pick up my badge. Badges are funny things; they make you feel so official and important. I definitely felt like a real employee once I clipped my badge on.

The first day was all fun and smiles. People were excited to see their legislators sworn in, no battles have started yet, and everything is new and exciting. I met some great people, started to learn how to navigate through the huge building, and was reminded how blessed I was to work in a place full of history makers.

Tomorrow, I will be returning for staff meetings and to learn more about what I will be doing. I am excited as well as a little nervous. I just hope that I will do my boss, and my father in heaven, proud.

10 things

Writing Saturday; 10 Things to Remember when Writing…. Non-Fiction

7:35 AM

1. Know your subject.

2. Do a lot of research.

3. Do a search of similar books and figure out how to make your book unique.

4. Write from the heart. Don’t write what you think people want to hear or what someone else thinks.

5. Make sure you get permission for any quotes you use and include a bibliography.

6. If you want to tell a story, but don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings change the names and/or location. If that still doesn’t seem to be enough, you probably shouldn’t tell the story.

7. Get input from your friends. Whatever your are writing on, ask you friends about it, set up a survey, do interviews.

8. Go into the book with the attitude that even if only one person reads the book, but is changed by it, it was worth all the work.

9. Pray over your book, and listen to God. He has a lot of great ideas if only we would listen.

10. Make sure you have an enthusiasm for your subject. Non-fiction can take a long time, even years. If you don’t have a passion for it, you might never see your book to completion.

links

Link Up

7:04 AM

My latest MOHL post ~ The Beginning of a New Year; What Does God have planned for me?

A great giveaway ~ Our Gift to our Readers

A very encouraging post by Rachel ~ God’s Plan for Your Year

Do you like art? God see some of my dad’s amazing work ~ Rick Holman Art

I so want this series of books ~ Then and Now Series

Want some good reading material? Check out this new magazine coming in April ~ Inspired Magazine

blog of the month

Blog of the Month; Rose's Daring Adventure

8:07 AM

In a time when so much of the world in negative, there is a need for things that will be a positive influence in our lives. In a day when tearing others down is the norm, we need to be built up and help others do the same.

Written by my dear friend and fellow Meditations of His Love author, Rachelle (pronounced like Michelle), this blog is full of inspiring, encouraging, and thought-provoking posts. Every post seems designed to lift you up and make your day better. How much better can a blog get?

So this month I pick Rose's Daring Adventure to be my blog of the month. What do you think the next blog should be?

encouragement

Take the Time

9:02 AM

It is cold outside my window after all; we did have a hard freeze last night (well as hard of a freeze as you get in Texas). The sky is bright blue with only a few little white clouds drifting along to paint a pretty picture. The sun is just rising as I sit here at the table in my room, sipping teas, having just finished almost an hour of Bible reading. What a wonderful morning.

Some of the best things in life are the simple pleasures that we are often too busy to enjoy. Even I sometimes get so caught up in writer's deadlines, blogs posts, outlines and daily goals to stop for a few minutes and enjoy the stillness and beauty of a morning, a breezy and balmy afternoon, or a star-filled and quiet night.

Take the time today just to be still and enjoy the moment.

“Be still, and know that I am God….” Psalms 46:10 NIV

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Psalms 37:7 NIV

10 things

Writing Saturday; 10 Things to Remember when Writing… Modern Fiction

6:34 PM

1. Try to pull things in that people will recognize such as movies, books and electronics.

2. When writing a book in modern times that has fake historical events like Mary-Joe becoming president – avoid dates. Saying that it is the 2012 election may lose you readers after that date has passed.

3. Remember, there are still places where cell phones do not get service.

4. Still do your research. I hate to tell you that your favorite TV show on the F. B. I. or a C. S. I. unit may not be true to life. Get on your computer, check out those books and do the research.

5. Don’t, like, over play the, you know, slang and street talk, dude.

6. Make sure you get permission before using a name that is a registered trademark or anything that might be copy righted. Even if you are talking about greatest-Christian-camp-I’ve-ever-been-too, make sure it is okay with them for you to use their name.

7. If you mention real people, make sure you quote them right. You don’t want to make a mistake that will haunt you for a long time.

8. If it’s possible visit the place you are writing about. If it isn’t, look up pictures and use those for reference material.

9. What is your biggest struggle in these modern times? I’m sure there are others out struggling with the same thing, so write it into the book.

10. You have a unique opportunity when writing modern fiction; You’re living in modern times. Get out and observe people.