The Finish Line

I posted this on The Last Draft blog, but I am so excited I had to post it here as well.

I just finished writing a novel in 30 days - and I had a one week break where I didn't write at all. Talk about a marathon! The bulk of the novel was written in the last 5 days! And, last night when I went to bed, my creative energy felt bone dry. But, I prayed for an infilling. I prayed that my brain would be like the jars that the woman rounded up for the oil that Elijah miraculously multiplied for her. I prayed and this morning, I felt like the story was writing itself!

I know the whole thing will now need some major editing. There are quite a few loose threads hanging, but overall, I'm pleased! The Dad Wars is a complete work.

Thank you, Beth and Christine!!!! And, NANOWRIMO, someday, I want to give you buckets of money!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone in this country sits down to count their blessings today. We have so much to be thankful for!

"Then on that day David first entrusted to Asaph and his brethren the singing of thanks to the Lord [as their chief task]:

O give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known His doings among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; meditate on and talk of all His wondrous works and devoutly praise them! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek His face and to be in His presence continually![Earnestly] remember the marvelous deeds which He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He uttered [as in Egypt], O you offspring of [Abraham and] of Israel His servants, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones! He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.



Be mindful of His covenant forever, the promise which He commanded and established to a thousand generations, The covenant which He made with Abraham, and His sworn promise to Isaac He confirmed it as a statute to Jacob, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, Saying, To you I will give the land of Canaan, the measured portion of your possession and inheritance. When they were but few, even a very few, and only temporary residents and strangers in it, When they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people, He allowed no man to do them wrong; yes, He reproved kings for their sakes, Saying, Touch not My anointed, and do My prophets no harm. Sing to the Lord, all the earth; show forth from day to day His salvation. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all peoples. For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He also is to be [reverently] feared above all so-called gods. For all the gods of the people are [lifeless] idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Honor and majesty are [found] in His presence; strength and joy are [found] in His sanctuary.




Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before Him; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness and in holy array. Tremble and reverently fear before Him, all the earth's peoples; the world also shall be established, so it cannot be moved. Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice; and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigns! Let the sea roar, and all the things that fill it; let the fields rejoice, and all that is in them. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out for joy before the Lord, for He comes to judge and govern the earth.

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! And say, Save us, O God of our salvation; gather us together and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, forever and ever! And all the people said Amen! and praised the Lord....

Then all the people departed, each man to his house, and David returned home to bless his household." 1 Chronicles 16:7-36, 43

The Dad Wars

Working on a novel for NANOWRIMO inspired by both the attacks against fatherhood in our society and my husband's battles, but also a modern re-telling of the King David and Absalom story.

It will definitely not be a work for the faint of heart.

Water and Weddings

The ocean humbles me. It’s relentless power, unending waves, massive size, and strange beauty captivate me. I love it’s sound and the spray of the waves. A morning sunrise over the ocean shows me God’s endless supply of newness and his methodical ways. Our God is the God of order as well as the God of the universe and the God of Angel Armies.

My husband once physically experienced waves of God’s love as tangible as the waves of the sea. He said it was so overwhelming and amazing that he could only endure it physically for a short time.

I envy my husband that powerful experience, but I have experienced God’s love in other tangible ways – the peaceful love that filled my heart when sitting on the sand surveying the pounding surf, the peaceful love that calmed my mind when a baby slept all afternoon in my arms, and the peaceful love inspired by watching two passionate lovers exchange wedding vows.

How is it that God knows exactly what you need at every moment? The God who created and sustains the oceans and the universe, cares for me, personally. Why? I still can’t fathom that one. But, He does care for me and provides for my every need. His Word is sufficient, but He also speaks to me in the still small voice and through his creation – so that I can’t possibly miss his messages.

Jesus, the bridegroom, is coming soon for his bride, the church, and our father in heaven is preparing each one of us for the day. He has already paid the dowry. He will never leave us or forsake us, but with patience, groom us for himself and that great marriage feast day.

Isaiah 54:1 (Message) For your Maker is your bridegroom, his name, God-of-the-Angel-Armies! Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel, known as God of the whole earth. You were like an abandoned wife, devastated with grief, and God welcomed you back, Like a woman married young and then left," says your God.

Matt. 25:6 (New American Standard Bible) "But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'