Writing and more…

I have finally managed to print out my whole book (yes I found that elusive spare cartridge) but as I have been reading through my story I became dissatisfied with how abruptly and how boringly I ended the story. I think I just got tired of writing it and so I quickly finished it. There is no point to a story that is hopefully exciting and interesting ending on such a weak note. So I have gone back to my netbook and I am reworking the ending. The exciting thing for me is not just my book, but the fact that I have been asked by someone in the media world to read and edit a screenplay. This person is in our church and has been working on this screenplay for three years ( and I thought I took long to write my book). When he prayed and asked God who he should give it to to read, God told him to give it to me. This is exciting because it gives me someone to give my book to when it is ready to be read and critiqued. He has asked me to be brutally honest (I’m really praying it will be good) so that it helps him in the long run. The reason for this post is because just a few days ago I blogged about being unsure where to now and that my first love is writing and would be to be involved in this somehow. Isn’t God amazing how He hears our desires. The other exciting thing for me is that it is affirmation from God himself that my writing opinion and ability is pleasing to Him as He recommended me – wow that is awesome – recommended by God himself!! So not only does this maybe open doors for me and give me some experience but I get affirmed at the same time – Our God is so good all the time!!

Here it is….

Well here it is at last – a hard copy of the book I am writing. Yep I have finished – well sort of. I needed to put it into print so that I can edit it and scribble on it to finalise it – much easier than trying to do it on the computer. I am missing 17 pages from this book as my printer ran out of ink (grrr) and I can’t find the spare cartridge (don’t you hate it when you put something away safely and then forget where it was – or is it only me who does such ridiculous things!!). I am very proud of my perseverance to finish this story. It has taken me all of 14 months although I haven’t written consistently. Nevertheless I am pleased that I finished this as sometimes I tend to start things and not complete them. (I can picture hubby nodding his head vigorously – remember that chaise I bought – say no more!!) I will keep you posted to my progress with this and if any of you have any ideas how to go about getting some copies published or self-published, please feel free to comment and help me out.

Writing update…

I have been writing again after a very sporadic season of putting pen to paper (sorry that’s the old-fashioned way) or rather fingers to keyboard. I have found it has been a bit difficult to motivate myself, but that seems to be over. I am determined to persevere with my book and complete it. I wrote another short children’s rhyme story the other day and I was quite pleased with the results. That takes my writing up to 3 complete stories and one that is nearing completion of the basic story. Then it will require some editing and descriptive language added. So far I have written 37 843 words in this book, which is about 170 – 180 pages of story and there is still a bit to go. This blog is not to blow my trumpet, but more to keep me accountable for finishing it no matter what, so when I get too silent on the writing front, please ask me what is happening with my book!! That way I will get it done. I am looking forward to getting some people to read it eventually, but also terrified of that prospect!!

Books, books and more books…

In the little village of Berwick that we live in, we have a gorgeous little library that is the Mechanical Institute of Berwick Library. It is very small but is crammed full of books that are old and new. It is like one of those old bookshops you see in movies with shelves of old books and ladders to climb to reach them. There are comfortable chairs to sit on while you read magazines or books and yet there is also modern facilties like free internet access. The system of borrowing books is like the good old days where they stamp the books and you have an old cardboard library pocket. Brings back memories. All they need now is a little coffee shop attached!!

Branching Out

I am branching out and have started another blog called Fresh Encounters. This will be a blog that I, and hopefully Hubby, (if I can convince him that blogging is really cool!!) will contribute. It is dedicated solely to the manifest Glory of God and will focus on what God is doing in our lives as a family. I hope it will encourage you to believe God for greater things in your life and to be more expectant as a believer. We have just completed the Xtreme Prophetic Glory School this weekend and it was lifechanging – I will never be the same again!!! That is all I am going to say about it on this blog. I will slowly start posting on the other blog some testimonies of the weekend. If you are interested the link is http://manifestglory.wordpress.com  Hope you enjoy!!!

Our weekend was crazily busy with us doing this course. We rushed in and out of home for a half hour at a time between sessions checking on the kids and getting them to birthday parties, friends etc. It was well worth it though . In between all this I am writing my first fiction novel (It may be long or short depending on how it goes!!). I have been captured by this task and the words are flowing when I sit down at the laptop. Having a good brewed coffee on hand really helps as well as my MP3 player with my favourite worship music. I have found my creativity has been awakened since I have seen God’s Glory revealed to me, but again I will post about that sometime on the other blog. I haven’t given up on my short children’s story. That is complete but I am working on the illustrations still so it is in progress. This book is aimed at my older children and those adults even, who like reading fantasy, with truth woven into it.  I wonder whether a real writer’s life is calm and serene and quiet as they tap away on their computers or whether the noisy, child interrupted scenario that happens in my home works for them. Somehow through God’s graciousness I have been able to write with family chaos going on around me!! Oh well – time will tell.

I missed my first blogging birthday on the weekend so Happy Birthday to my blog. I have had so much fun blogging and connecting with different people through this. It has been inspirational to me. Thanks to my friend embejo at  

embejoetc.wordpress.com

 who inspired me to start blogging – thanks friend – this has been a wonderful outlet for my sanity!!!

Great Reads

There is nothing better than sitting in a sunny spot and reading a good book. I have been reading a few books on different subject matters, and I have found myself learning a number of things, so here are some of my reads and my thoughts on them….

I have just finished reading an amazing fiction book  – it is called “The Shack” written by William P. Young.

Now I know that there are people out there who don’t believe it is theologically correct and all that, but that is what I find so refreshing about it. It is so unreligious and challenges all our mindsets about who God is and even how He looks. It is a story of one man’s encounter with God at a shack and how his life is changed forever as a result. It inspires me to think bigger and really challenges me not to put God in a box because of my limited imagination or preconceived pictures I have of Him. It also humbles me to see others with more grace and to be less judgmental of others, but mostly how forgiveness is vital to walk in freedom.

I found myself weeping and at times laughing as I read parts of this book, as I could so identify with the character. This story hits home if you have ever suffered broken relationships, pain or tragedy in your life. It left me hungry for more of God’s presence in my life and less of religion and man’s ideas of serving Him. The fact that God is depicted  in this story as a motherly Afro-American woman did not bother me in the least – in fact I think it was brilliant of the author to do this as so many people have poor father role models and poor father images and this really helped me to see God with a tender really loving side. Definitely one of the best books I have read this year. For more info go to http://www.theshackbook.com

The other book I am busy reading is The Supernatural ways of Royalty by Kris Vallotton and Bill Johnson. This has given me a new insight into who I am in God’s kingdom – my true value as a daughter and my position in Him. I realize as I read this book that I have been brought up in a culture that has put a poverty mentality into me and this has been evident in the way I perceive myself and have related to God and how my faith has at times wavered based on my feelings of worth. A great book that inspires believers to see themselves as Christ sees us and to operate as kings and not paupers.

 

I have read a book called “Fit Not Fat At 40+” and this has helped me to understand my body and all the changes that happen as you get older. I have learned that stress releases cortisol and that this can cause hunger pangs which can lead to overeating and weight gain. I have also discovered that lack of sleep causes weight gain (Hello can relate to that one with a toddler who does not sleep well!!!). I also learned about a number of conditions and things that cause our bodies metabolism to slow down. It was all very interesting and helpful. It also gave solutions to eating and kickstarting your metabolism as well as exercise plans and solutions – a great book.

 

I also bought a magazine recommended to me by my friend mrspoz called “Super Food Ideas”. It was so inspiring and full of economical and very tasty dishes which I will try out and post as I go along. So thanks mrspoz – check out her blog. http://mrspoz.wordpress.com

 

 

And lastly, I have watched my first three Harry Potter movies (I can hear some of you gasping in shock and horror!!) and thoroughly enjoyed them I might add. Sorry if I have lost you at this point, but I am convinced that God is restoring supernatural signs and wonders to His church at this time and we have been so scared of the supernatural and worried about it influencing us when actually this movie has inspired me to step out more for God in the area of the supernatural and pray for miracles, as what we see in these movies is just the counterfeit of the power that we have in Christ. We can do greater things than these, but we have been lulled into unbelief and comatose church behaviour that is powerless and ineffective. Well no more of that for me!! I want to see more of God’s power in my life and I want to see more lives transformed and changed.

So that is my reading for the moment – I love that God can speak to me in so many ways and that creativity is just being awakened in me as freedom comes to me in greater revelation. What great books have you been reading?

An Author in the Making

For quite a while I have been wanting to write a children’s story in rhyme targeting children from the ages of 3 years to about 6 years of age. Somehow I have never managed to get it right, but today that all changed. I have discovered that since I have had a revelation of God’s Kingdom being in and through me that many of my meagre talents have actually improved. I am having amazing prophetic dreams (but that is another story!!), my pathetic keyboard playing has actually improved and the writing creativity is flowing. Today I sat down and began to write a story – God must have anointed me because it just came and I  wrote the whole story in about an hour – I kid you not!!! I was thrilled with the result and my kids loved the story too. Now I am going to keep you in suspense I am afraid, as I am planning to illustrate my story and even get it printed if possible. I would so love to have something one day for my grandkids to read. So hopefully my art skills have improved too – I haven’t done any paintings recently so we will see. Looking forward to the challenge. This is so exciting to me just how God’s creative DNA has been breathed into each one of us – we are able to create the most amazing things because we are made in His image – how exciting is that!!