tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38000733854014179562024-02-19T00:54:42.678-05:00Pursuing StoriesBriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-63846407975827307512014-05-19T17:30:00.000-04:002014-05-19T17:30:00.339-04:00I think I'll just post quotes on Mondays from now on...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TRWryhefjoupfW4w4C7J318UQMKjwHd5SK2Lkz7KQghV-oJtgUGJ4qXE7dr6IMR-2JGto8OizUTv_p_dDlUqEm9vqViggLMz-YTNZEQxSW5m40nTqT8OAoQseCECYchzoy2OVyEuoS1J/s1600/Poster-Successful+Nap.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TRWryhefjoupfW4w4C7J318UQMKjwHd5SK2Lkz7KQghV-oJtgUGJ4qXE7dr6IMR-2JGto8OizUTv_p_dDlUqEm9vqViggLMz-YTNZEQxSW5m40nTqT8OAoQseCECYchzoy2OVyEuoS1J/s1600/Poster-Successful+Nap.bmp" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-36250134436058497942014-05-14T17:00:00.000-04:002014-05-15T20:00:02.561-04:00Creative Writing Club: Alphabet Poem<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oHno8gaIdWVkCR7HDeqVO3p6xv6x1AM-SJqHbnaCXOZB4qI9Nc1I0knE5MuknXYt4GUvL60pCVqK-Xc1B5cr8FCOWuPPp0msLd1tOH1yGA4P0mQFK6ovGcAcaDP2oGQr-f28krU_duRX/s1600/Creative+Writing+Club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oHno8gaIdWVkCR7HDeqVO3p6xv6x1AM-SJqHbnaCXOZB4qI9Nc1I0knE5MuknXYt4GUvL60pCVqK-Xc1B5cr8FCOWuPPp0msLd1tOH1yGA4P0mQFK6ovGcAcaDP2oGQr-f28krU_duRX/s1600/Creative+Writing+Club.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hi, welcome (or welcome back) to Creative Writing Club! This series details the activities we have done at my school's Creative Writing Club and gives them to you to serve as inspiration. Feel free to participate and to post what you've written.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-c8fce5d4-0253-e311-9157-60263e20ec8f" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This week Creative Writing Club is coming at you on Wednesday. Sorry about that, but I don't think you can complain too much because 1) nobody actually participates and 2) at least I'm posting! Yeah.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyway, this week we worked on a super cool prompt!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prompt: Create a short story that’s 26 sentences long with each sentence starting with the next letter of the alphabet so that you have A, B, C, D, etc. Also include a one word sentence, a metaphor, a simile, a quote/paraphrase, a question, and a rhyme. If you want an added challenge, write a poem with all of the same requirements.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After today, I am so done. Before, I was content. Content! Dreadful circumstances have now brought me down to size and the world is full of elephants. Elephants the size of my mind and the heights and depths of my love. Floundering, like a fish, I am in this evaporating well of good emotions. Gorging your lumpy stomachs and greedy black eyes on me, are you? How it hurts me. Ice is growing from my fingers up my arms and down to my soul. Just wait and see how bitter I can be. Kites fly high and so once did I. Lacking love and patience though murders the soul. Murder is what this is. Night after night, I wake and can’t breathe for even my dreams of this suffocate me. Obliterate me and be done or let me be! Pray I only that you do one quick. Quick as a viper’s poison may kill one of those elephants. Rain down your poison on me and finish. Slither away then and smother someone else. Then I can live in my blissful state. Usually I love you so much, but lately.… Victim is how I feel. Wow. X-ray my chest now and you will find it still. Years from now maybe my chest will beat its own drum again, free. Zipperless and cageless and just free, free, free.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had a lot of fun getting some emotions out and working on this prompt so you know, you should try this, too! Maybe you could even post what you write! Just maybe.</span></div>
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Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-51370257232974226072014-05-12T17:30:00.000-04:002014-05-12T17:30:00.792-04:00Rain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-38396071044938838802014-05-05T17:00:00.000-04:002014-05-05T17:00:00.063-04:00Imagination<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-49379680702128283572014-05-04T19:29:00.000-04:002014-05-04T19:30:46.032-04:00Who You Are<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Dr. Seuss</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my favorite quote. In tenth grade, it gave me confidence in myself when I felt like dirt. (I'm sure that story will come later.) So find your confidence today. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love, Bria (who will be posting regularly once again. My apologies for a month of inactivity.) </span>Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-51934014200975605162014-04-03T15:30:00.000-04:002014-04-03T15:30:00.273-04:00The Greatest Accomplishment<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To be</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">yourself</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is your greatest accomplishment. </span><span id="docs-internal-guid-a92dc47a-20da-684c-59b8-e7d6984b197e"></span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-a92dc47a-20db-f2b1-4e3a-93ac1ebdfb0f"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-a92dc47a-20db-f2b1-4e3a-93ac1ebdfb0f"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Ralph Waldo Emerson</span></span></span><br />
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Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-45495595230638096252014-04-02T15:14:00.001-04:002014-04-02T15:19:34.102-04:00Creative Writing Club: Living Life Backwards<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oHno8gaIdWVkCR7HDeqVO3p6xv6x1AM-SJqHbnaCXOZB4qI9Nc1I0knE5MuknXYt4GUvL60pCVqK-Xc1B5cr8FCOWuPPp0msLd1tOH1yGA4P0mQFK6ovGcAcaDP2oGQr-f28krU_duRX/s1600/Creative+Writing+Club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oHno8gaIdWVkCR7HDeqVO3p6xv6x1AM-SJqHbnaCXOZB4qI9Nc1I0knE5MuknXYt4GUvL60pCVqK-Xc1B5cr8FCOWuPPp0msLd1tOH1yGA4P0mQFK6ovGcAcaDP2oGQr-f28krU_duRX/s1600/Creative+Writing+Club.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hi, welcome (or welcome back) to Creative Writing Club! This series details the activities we have done at my school's Creative Writing Club and gives them to you to serve as inspiration. Feel free to participate and to post what you've written. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7a4a87a6-23db-6596-38dc-55f0df2fca05" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://pursuingstories.blogspot.com/2014/04/creative-writing-club-character-in.html">Yesterday</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, I gave you all the first part of this week’s Creative Writing Club. Today, I give you the second part: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Write something happening backwards. For instance, a city being unbuilt, a volcano unerupting, or weather erecting a city. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is what I wrote:</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The man slumps out of his grave, unkempt, memoryless. He slips, like a salmon, into the stream of his life, bouncing off of rocks he should’ve seen coming. His scar unwinds and oozes blood anew until he never hit his head on the rock in the first place. He sees his wife grow shallow, distant, until they get married and until they start dating and he never sees her again. But she was from his hometown, wasn’t she? So all through his youth, he searches for the straight, long--was it long when she was young?--hair of his wife. But, didn’t she straighten her hair? Then or now? He searches until he loses control of his own ability, until he cannot keep his eyes open, until he erases back into his mother’s womb. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I tried to play on the concepts of undeath, unlife, unbirth. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, it’s your turn! If you write something, feel free to post it. </span>Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-53250718512625402622014-04-01T16:30:00.000-04:002014-04-02T15:18:19.257-04:00Creative Writing Club: A Character in Action<span id="docs-internal-guid-5bb5819b-1e8b-10d4-80a2-64f5bb57b210"></span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-5bb5819b-1e8b-10d4-80a2-64f5bb57b210"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-fa7084d0-1ea3-00dd-9a40-f3dd3edcbe41"><span style="background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline;">Hi, welcome (or welcome back) to Creative Writing Club! This series details the activities we have done at my school's Creative Writing Club and gives them to you to serve as inspiration. Feel free to participate and to post what you've written. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-5bb5819b-1e8b-10d4-80a2-64f5bb57b210"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-5bb5819b-1e8b-10d4-80a2-64f5bb57b210"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our prompt for Creative Writing Club was to write a story (either about a character or about ourselves) in which he/she was running, swimming, flying, strolling, etc. Basically, we had to write about a character in the middle of some kind of action. Rather than starting a new piece, I decided to write on my Work-In-Progress (WIP). </span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-5bb5819b-1e8b-10d4-80a2-64f5bb57b210"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is what I've got so far:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">London at night had always been beautiful. This night, the stormy clouds swam across the skies and dove into the depths of the horizon. They swamped the Moon and the stars, and the only light emanated from the street lamps, the cars, and the offices open late. The lights reflected off of the roiling clouds so that no light from London stretched into the Heavens and no light from the Heavens touched the humanity of London. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through the layers of clouds, Mara soared with white, angel wings. Her wings pumped the cool air into her face, brushing the hair away from her eyes, like the soft touch of a loved one. She tucked her wings close to her body and popped through a temporary gap in the clouds. The headlights of a car on a hill blinded her for a second as she descended towards London. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She flew to her house, through the open window and unto her mattress, which sped along the floor with the force of her landing. It hit the wall and Mara’s shoulder embraced the rough edge of a brick. She began to</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> bleed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mara left her wound to bleed and sat on the edge of her mattress, tracing her skin with her fingers, feeling its soft, pure, whiteness end in a searing pattern of scars. She traced them as they marched up her skin. They </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hopscotched up her right arm, around and around, like an entangling serpent. They met her shoulder and danced across her chest, around her breasts in a parade of emotions, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sliding their way to her stomach and down, down. They fled, like tears streaming, down both legs and to the tips of her pinkie toe. Across her left arm, too, they</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> skipped</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her back was almost unmarked. One x-shaped scar split her perfection. This scar split her heart, breaking it into fragmented pieces, slices stitched together with the scars. This scar split her heart, slid in between her ribs, and came out the other side. It was x among the o’s.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She remembered each scar and she wept. Her tears flowed from darkness, the heavy bags under her eyes, and into the light, as the shadows roved around the room, shifting with the wind’s movement of the lights in the room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The lights in the room acted as spotlights. As they blew, they highlighted the crying Mara and then highlighted, one by one, the pictures covering much of the wall space in the room.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was a time in her life when Mara could tell the story of each and every picture hanging--the picture of Shakespeare and Anne, of Mary and Joseph, of Mark Antony and Cleopatra--but as time unraveled, her matchings became clumsy and her arrows sometimes missed, and Mara no longer knew who all was on her walls. The two men in front of the altar--had she shot them? King Henry and his one, two, three, four--fourth wife, it was--kissing beside the guillotine. Had she done that? Had she betrayed the name of Love in that way? She couldn’t remember. Perhaps she had. Or perhaps, while she had been languishing in her self-pity, the world had escaped her grasp. Perhaps she was no longer the Cupid of the heavens and the earth. Perhaps the humans were damned to make their curses and graced to make their own blessings. Or perhaps it had always been her doing. Perhaps she was the Medusa and also the Hercules of Love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Either way, Love was her domain, and no one--not Venus, not the Erotes, not humanity--was going to take her passion from her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mara stood, walked to her table, and began to sharpen both her golden and iron arrows. She dipped her golden arrows in Love and climbed the stairs. She perched behind the curtain of her window and waited.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That's all I have right now. The idea for this story didn't come from the writing prompt above, but from the music video below: Ed Sheeran's Give Me Love. So feel free to write using either one of these for inspiration. If you participate, post what you wrote. Pretty please. </span></div>
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</span>Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-5350798216958332892014-03-31T22:30:00.000-04:002014-04-01T11:48:00.897-04:00God's Voice vs. Satan's Voice<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is all that is good. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therefore, God's voice: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Whereas Satan's voice:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stills you<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> Rushes you</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leads you<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> Pushes you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reassures you</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frightens you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enlightens you</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre-wrap;">Confuses you</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Encourages you<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Discourages you</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comforts you<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Worries you</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Calms you <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Obsesses you</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Convicts you<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Condemns you</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Until recently, I was letting Satan push, worry, and confuse me. He was telling me that I was being unreasonable and hateful, while I was trying to follow what God said. I struggled until we read this in my Bible Study:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Ephesians 6:10-18</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Listen only to God; His voice is the only One that matters. </span>Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-54068974512451671022014-03-26T18:00:00.000-04:002014-03-26T18:00:00.879-04:00Creative Writing Club: Clock Taboo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oHno8gaIdWVkCR7HDeqVO3p6xv6x1AM-SJqHbnaCXOZB4qI9Nc1I0knE5MuknXYt4GUvL60pCVqK-Xc1B5cr8FCOWuPPp0msLd1tOH1yGA4P0mQFK6ovGcAcaDP2oGQr-f28krU_duRX/s1600/Creative+Writing+Club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oHno8gaIdWVkCR7HDeqVO3p6xv6x1AM-SJqHbnaCXOZB4qI9Nc1I0knE5MuknXYt4GUvL60pCVqK-Xc1B5cr8FCOWuPPp0msLd1tOH1yGA4P0mQFK6ovGcAcaDP2oGQr-f28krU_duRX/s1600/Creative+Writing+Club.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a><a href="http://pursuingstories.blogspot.com/2014/03/creative-writing-club-im-sorry-but.html">Yesterday</a>, I introduced to you a new series: Creative Writing Club! This series outlines the activities that my high school Creative Writing Club does in order to get inspired.<br />
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<a href="http://pursuingstories.blogspot.com/2014/03/creative-writing-club-im-sorry-but.html">Yesterday</a>, I shared the first activity that we did in this week's meeting. Today, I will share the second (and final) activity that we did in our meeting for this week.<br />
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To start, our club listed several specific topics we could hypothetically write about. These topics included clocks, Stonehenge, Jerry Seinfeld, etc. We chose one topic as a group and then brainstormed a series of words commonly associated with the first word. Our teacher challenged us to write about the first topic without using any of the words we listed.<br />
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So we had to write about a <b>clock </b>without using any of the following words: clock, tick-tock, hand, minute, hour, time, second, face, number, pendulum, antique. Basically, this was like the game <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taboo_(game)">taboo</a>. <br />
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I wrote this:<br />
<br />
Running around, stuck in the eternity that ends only when midnight is struck. There's no need for me to carve hash marks into the walls of my prison, as this round cage already contains them. These hash marks dictate my life. Each hash mark passed is life lost, and every 360 marks, an infernal dinging rings inside my head. Those outside this dome jump with fright at every ding, but I envy them: they are free.<br />
<br />
Now, I'm challenging you to write anything about a clock without mentioning the taboo words (clock, tick-tock, hand, etc. as listed above).<br />
<br />
If you participate, feel free to post below!Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-69309455899436033372014-03-25T20:13:00.002-04:002014-04-02T15:18:29.980-04:00Creative Writing Club: I'm Sorry But...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oHno8gaIdWVkCR7HDeqVO3p6xv6x1AM-SJqHbnaCXOZB4qI9Nc1I0knE5MuknXYt4GUvL60pCVqK-Xc1B5cr8FCOWuPPp0msLd1tOH1yGA4P0mQFK6ovGcAcaDP2oGQr-f28krU_duRX/s1600/Creative+Writing+Club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oHno8gaIdWVkCR7HDeqVO3p6xv6x1AM-SJqHbnaCXOZB4qI9Nc1I0knE5MuknXYt4GUvL60pCVqK-Xc1B5cr8FCOWuPPp0msLd1tOH1yGA4P0mQFK6ovGcAcaDP2oGQr-f28krU_duRX/s1600/Creative+Writing+Club.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a>Hello, random Internet dweller who has stumbled onto my modest and long-abandoned blog! It's been almost a year since I actively blogged, but now I've decided to return to my blogging days, so here I am!<br />
<br />
In my nearly-year-long absence, I helped to create a Creative Writing Club at my high school, which is, unfortunately, named Creative Writing Club still (feel free to throw some ideas out there for a new name!). We meet every Tuesday as a club so I've decided that I will post the club activities to serve as inspiration for anyone who may be reading this.<br />
<br />
This week, we read a poem:<br />
<br />
This is Just to Say<br />
by William Carlos Williams<br />
<br />
I have eaten<br />
the plums<br />
that were in<br />
the icebox<br />
<br />
and which<br />
you were probably<br />
saving<br />
for breakfast<br />
<br />
Forgive me<br />
they were delicious<br />
so sweet<br />
and so cold<br />
<br />
Our teacher then challenged us to mimic Williams in both his style and tone. The resulting poems were hilarious and also slightly morbid. I wrote this:<br />
<br />
I'm Sorry But...<br />
by Bria<br />
<br />
I didn't see<br />
you there<br />
on the sidewalk<br />
in the midday sun<br />
<br />
I'm sure<br />
you were happy<br />
dreaming of<br />
anthills<br />
<br />
You know<br />
until I squashed you<br />
and you lay<br />
crumpled<br />
<br />
Now I challenge anyone reading this to write a quick William Carlos Williams-ish poem, like his "This is Just to Say." Don't shy away if you're not a poet or if you "don't have time." This activity is really quick (it took me five minutes) and really easy even for those who are not particularly skilled in poetry.<br />
<br />
So have fun and if you participate, feel free to post your poem!Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-20117781984363849022014-03-23T15:27:00.000-04:002014-03-23T15:33:03.520-04:00Dear Voices in My Head<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">March 22, 2014</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-f5c851dd-f067-257a-253f-ad1d7dad5fdb" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Voices in My Head, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was as if I hadn’t thought or spoken in my own voice for a really long time. It was like you and your multitude of voices slowly invaded my headspace and merged into my thoughts and made me Bria plus Voices.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a while there, I was slugging it out, dueling you word for word, but you were so many and I was so few; you trampled my voice and mimicked my voice and all but became my voice. You left my voice struggling for breath, whimpering in the sewers of filth and trash in this world. My voice was often silent then, because it couldn’t remember if it was the real me or a copy of a copy of a mimic. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">See, I let too many of you in. I let too many voices get inside my head and tell me what and what not to think. All I could hear were your voices, for you yelled at me to let you have your turns to speak and then you never shut up; you never relinquished control. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had unlocked the door to sheep, but you proved to be wolves. You devoured my voice and murdered my ideas. You scarfed down even my meek protests. You said I was wrong, hateful, ignorant, prideful, judgmental, stupid. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I believed you. My voice was drowning in your sludge.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fashionedwithpurpose.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/warrior1.jpg?w=300&h=180" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Warrior1" border="0" src="https://fashionedwithpurpose.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/warrior1.jpg?w=300&h=180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From https://fashionedwithpurpose.wordpress.com </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But that’s not how it is anymore. I was rescued. I was rescued by the One you fear above all else, for even the demons shudder at the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He washed your dirt off of my body and made me clean. He reminded me that He is strength and truth and that I can do all things through Him. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So now it’s my turn to speak.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s not my time to cower or to sneak or to behave or to apologize or to listen or to nod in what seems like agreement or to diffuse my anger and not let you have it for once or to let my concerns go while I stay mute and silent in your filthy ideas.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No, it’s my time to kick you all out of my headspace. I’ve heard what you have to say. I’ve heard you yell, scream, cry, whine, seduce, persuade, moan, howl. I’ve heard it all. Now, it’s my turn to say that I respectfully disagree. For me and my house will serve the Lord alone.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a time for everything and so now it is time for me to be me again. Not you. Me.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My voice is arising from the ashes and it will conquer with the tongues of fire as Christ lights up my life again. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You will hear my voice and it will speak the truth, for I am armed with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, and my feet are fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sincerely,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bria, </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; text-align: right; white-space: pre-wrap;">the one and only</span></div>
Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-1336917270086815572013-04-02T00:30:00.003-04:002014-03-23T13:45:42.432-04:00I'm Back!!/A Lesson in Trust<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I’m
back!!! Sorry about the absence. As I’ve mentioned before, my absences are not
merely absences from this blog, but absences from God Himself. The abundance of
posts reflects a spiritual strength, while being away from this blog is me
being away from God. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">This
time, this absence of mine was due to tennis and my lack of complete trust in
God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">See,
I played tennis with my school for the first time last year. This year, I
wanted so very much to play again. But the coach decided there would be tryouts;
ten people would be cut from the team. I love tennis, but I’m not good at it,
not really, so I was worried about not making the team. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I
prayed, but continued to worry. I put off blogging and reading my Bible in
order to practice tennis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Tryouts
came and I was failing, gradually moving closer and closer to being booted off
the team. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Desperate,
I skipped tryouts one day (so I wouldn’t lose another tryout game) and went to
a tennis court in a park so that I could practice my serve alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I
prayed. Better, more honest, praying than before. I admitted that I could not
play tennis well and, therefore, could not make the team without His help. I asked
for His help, but I said that ultimately, even if I wasn’t to make the team, I
would realize that’s His will for me. So I practiced my serve while praying
this, and I failed, making only about three out of ten serves. I said, “God, I
can’t make the team without being able to serve. It would be awesome if someone
would help me.” There were plenty of people in the park and I figured one of
them <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">could </i>be a tennis aficionado. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I
served more and more. About half an hour later, I was ready to leave. But as I
was picking up my tennis balls, one of the parents of a girl on the tennis team
(it was already obvious she was going to make the tryouts) came to practice his
serve. He saw me and asked if I wanted help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I
almost started crying. God had answered! He had sent this parent, who happens
to excel at serving, to help me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">So
he helped me with my serve and it got better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">And
when I went to tryouts the next day, my serve was better. But I was still
losing. So I went home- actually not yet. I started to drive home and You Are I
Am by MercyMe came on and it was perfect. I started crying then and I realized
that I had been making conditions (if I get on the tennis team, I will read the
Bible three times a day instead of two, etc.) and hadn’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">truly</i> been trusting God to take care of it. So I settled that. I
went to tryouts again and lost some more. But I went home one night and there
was an email from the coach asking for uniform sizes. I was like, what in the
world, are tryouts over? I emailed him and you know what he said? He had
decided not to do tryouts anymore; EVERYONE WAS MAKING THE TEAM!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I
felt like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">such </i>an idiot! God had it
under control the whole time. Yet I had worried my butt off. He took care of it
– he took care of me – and all is well, better than well even. Because now I realize
once again that when God said, “All things are possible,” He meant ALL THIINGS
ARE POSSIBLE (Matthew 19:26). He meant, “I can do anything. So trust. Pray,
trust, give ME all your worries and doubts.” Just trust that He is all powerful
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> all knowing. He not only knows
what is best, but is best able to make the best happen! How amazing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2JI4CPfuLW0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this
is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” –Matthew 19:26</span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean
not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will
make your paths straight. –Proverbs 3:5</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord
our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand
firm. –Psalm 20:6-8</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In
God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal
man do to me? –Psalm 56:3-4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s
unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. –Psalm 32:10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he
who walks in wisdom is kept safe. –Proverbs 28:26</span></div>
Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-24182861553407075292013-02-06T23:32:00.000-05:002014-03-23T13:45:52.292-04:00The Twenty-First Time<b id="internal-source-marker_0.27863371442072093" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why do we do this so often? </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(In case you're wondering, this song has nothing to do with Winter Jam.) I was listening to it and thinking about how we pretend not to see those in need. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why do we do this so often?</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My youth group leader talks so much about sitting with those people who sit alone at lunch and I’ve always thought of one or two, but not done much. Today, with this song and a very moving story from a girl in my youth group, I realized that kids now don’t sit alone so much as they just tune out of the group they sit with. Kids all over the lunch room sit with headphones on, heads on tables. They are alone. True, maybe they like music a whole ton, but maybe (and I feel more likely) they very simply have </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">no one who will really talk to them. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In spirit, they are alone. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyway, there are people at school - and at work and in the mall - who are alone. I see them. You see them. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why do we not act like Jesus to them? Why do we walk on by for the twenty-first time?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(That’s not rhetorical! I want your opinion!)</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.27863371442072093" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">P.S. It's been such a long time since I've heard this song (The Twenty-First Time by Monk and Neagle) on the radio! </span></b></div>
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Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-17689394851980283762013-02-04T20:17:00.000-05:002014-03-23T13:46:00.946-04:00Get Back Up<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5710555510595441" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tobyMac sang this at Winter Jam and it’s another song that really touched me.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are always scars when you fall that far.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every experience we have ever had will leave some kind of mark on us. Whether that mark will be physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental has yet to be seen. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5710555510595441" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. -Romans 8:28</span></b></div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5710555510595441" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is preparing us for futures greater than we can imagine. He is making us into people who will be able to persevere and people who will have the faith to weather any storm. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s why we have to get back up. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because God is not finished yet. </span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b>Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-74028926183243651172013-02-03T00:01:00.000-05:002014-03-23T13:46:08.932-04:00Forgiveness<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Just got
back from Winter Jam (a group of Christian bands that’s touring now)! This song
really hit me. It was just the perfect timing for a song like this. Actually, the unofficial theme of the whole thing was forgiveness. Thanks, God. :)</span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Enjoy! (Have you heard this song before?)</span></span></div>
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Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-73085865443504852862013-02-02T12:00:00.000-05:002014-03-23T13:46:22.485-04:00Forgiveness = Losing?<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">On Wednesday, I asked my Bible Study leader
to pray for me and a friend of mine. Our relationship has been headed south and
I wanted guidance on what to do. I had been praying and praying for months
without a clear answer. I asked her to pray because I didn’t know anything else
to do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">On Thursday, at a Bible Study at my school,
one of my friends, Jason, taught a lesson. He started it by saying, “I’m going
to teach on forgiveness today.” I immediately scanned through my life and
decided that I didn’t have anything that I needed to forgive. I almost closed
my ears to the lesson, but something, like a whisper through the walls of my
soul, made me listen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He used part of Tenth Avenue North’s song Losing
and he spoke on forgiveness:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I can't believe what she said</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I can't believe what he did<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Oh, don't they know it's wrong, yeah?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Don't they know it's wrong, yeah?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Maybe there's something I missed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">But how could they treat me like this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">It's wearing out my heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The way they disregard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Well it's only the dead that can live<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">But still I wrestle with this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">To lose the pain that's mine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Seventy times seven
times<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">'Cause Lord it doesn't feel right<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">For me to turn a blind eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Though I guess it's
not that much<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">When I think of what
You've done.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Before that, I knew what forgiveness was –receiving
mercy, grace, and having your faults let go of and forgotten – but I realized that
forgiveness didn’t wait for the “I’m sorry.” Forgiveness is given before the other
person is ready to be sorry. They may never be sorry. </span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Forgiveness
means you don’t expect an apology.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I had been expecting an apology.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">For months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I discovered, as Jason was teaching on
forgiveness, that I hadn’t forgiven this other friend for even the things he
had apologized for. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I had been holding on to the anger and the
wrong he had done to me. And because he had continued to do wrong to me, my
feelings were renewed and strengthened. I was angry. Angrier than I thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It didn’t feel right for me to turn a blind
eye. I had been wondering how he would learn to say sorry and how he would
learn what I didn’t like if I always forgave him without him asking. It didn’t
feel right to lose the pain that was mine. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jason also used a Bible verse in his lesson:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the
wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet
strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to
forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave
you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic,
all-purpose garment. Never be without it.</span> –<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Colossians 3:12-14, The Message</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Be content with second place.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He kept saying that. Forgiveness is being in second place. Forgiveness is being happy with–and choosing–second place. Forgiveness is not winning, but losing. Losing, at least, according to the world’s definition. But to God, forgiving puts you at the front of the pack. The world’s last becomes God’s first.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Jason used the
Super Bowl as an example of “losing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“Say the Ravens
lose the Super Bowl. Think about if the Ravens go into their press conference
praising the 49ers and how well they played, you know, “They played really well
today and their teamwork was awesome. They’re a great team.” People will think
they’re crazy. People will be like, ‘You lost.’
That’s like what forgiveness is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Forgiveness is crazy</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">. It’s totally
against our instincts. Our self-preservation tells us not to forgive, but to
make the wrong-doers pay us back. But Jesus practiced forgiveness, even up
until his death and then even after. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for
many for the<span class="apple-converted-space"> forgiveness of sins. </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">–Matthew 26:28</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">
<span class="text"><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and
dearly loved, clothe yourselves</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">with compassion,
kindness, humility,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">gentleness and
patience.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span id="en-NIV-29531"><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></sup></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Bear
with each other</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">and forgive one
another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord
forgave you.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span id="en-NIV-29532"><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></sup></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">And
over all these virtues put on love,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">which binds them all together in perfect unity.</span></span></span> –</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Colossians 3:12-14, NIV</span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Now, my
plan of action with this friend of mine is to forgive. No matter how much more
he hurts me, I will forgive him. I won’t care how many more times; I won’t care
what it is exactly that he says; I will forgive and then I will forget. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">7x70,
baby. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Do you think forgiveness is crazy? How do "normal" people view forgiveness?</span></span></div>
Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-45570884768770508442013-01-31T00:29:00.000-05:002014-03-23T13:46:35.024-04:00On Droughts and Blessings<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9835500344634056" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” This is Elijah the prophet speaking in 1 Kings 17:1. This story is one of my favorites in the Bible. It is so bold and telling of how we need to serve the Lord.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The <a href="http://www.blogger.com/(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20kings%2016&version=NIV">story starts</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in 1 Kings 16:29: Ahab became king of Israel and he “did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him.” Many of the kings before Ahab, like Omri and Jeroboam, had done evil, but Ahab “considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam.” So Ahab committed those sins in addition to other sins, including the worship of idols. Ahab set up places of worship, such as Asherah poles and altars for Baal, and led the Israelites away from the one true God. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Baal is the focus of the story in 1 Kings. This is one of those places that it’s important (MUY IMPORTANTE) to know some of the cultural and historical background that the Bible doesn’t cover. Here you need to know that Baal was the god of weather. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Ahab wanted it to rain, he would pray to Baal. When the Israelites wanted it to rain, they asked Baal to send the rain. </span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from http://nowiknow.com</td></tr>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God, through Elijah, told Ahab, “There will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God withdrew the blessing of rain because the Israelites were worshipping Baal. “Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.” There was a drought. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Israelites would cry to the “god of weather” and no rain would fall. The priests of Baal would cut themselves and no rain would arrive. None. God withdrew that blessing, because He will not bless his main competition. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I realized this again today. I realized that God will not bless me in the things I put before Him. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had been hearing a lot lately that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">whatever you think about most is what/who you worship</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I had been thinking about this boy a lot. I had been steering conversations in order to talk about him; I had been texting him quite a bit; I had been stalking his facebook. I had been putting this boy before God. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had forgotten what God has taught me. Freshman year and part of sophomore year, I was obsessed with a boy and nothing ever came of it. After that, I didn’t seriously like any boy for about 8 months or so. My focus was finally on God. My prayer life was prosperous (my prayers were being answered) and I felt so close to God. In that time (about 4 months), I got asked out twice and a half times. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I wasn’t focusing on boys, I was getting boys. Why? Well, I wasn’t putting boys above God, so I believe God was allowing my “romantic” life to flourish. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I realized that my focus was on this boy. Of course, I only realized this after a drought of three weeks. Three weeks of not seeing him, not talking to him. It was implied recently that he is (and has been) avoiding me. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had been sent a drought. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Israelites had rain taken away because they were worshipping rain, basically. I had the attention of this boy taken away because I was seeking his attention more than I was seeking God. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God will not bless his primary competition. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is a jealous God. (Exodus 34:14). In Deuteronomy 32:21, God said, “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols.” </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God deserves our attention and He </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wants</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> it; therefore, He will not bless everything that you focus on more than Him. Whether your main focus is work, school, grades, image, money, boys, it does not matter. You will not be blessed in that area as long as it is number one on your priority list. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Israelites realize this in 1 Kings 18. In verse 39, after an amazing display of God’s power and the resulting humiliation of Baal, the supposed god of weather, the Israelites cried, “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—he is God! The </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—he is God!” </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then Elijah said, “There is the sound of a heavy rain.” Soon after, in verse 45, “the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on...” </span></b>Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-80541320838693970512013-01-29T21:15:00.000-05:002013-01-29T21:15:00.086-05:00Awesomesauce Words Continued! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Nroy4d9X2-5YX0ZhPwONu0wMsLdCqRG4sTgNqfoqVDZ-kFkFddSAm0hCOG27hk7C9_fucp18rovIysCu1puzFNmT2V-4Vr1murH6JyuIUTTeFFS6l2uEkdRUKW7d0KQYsr6YL4E5NPvr/s1600/Awesomesauce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Nroy4d9X2-5YX0ZhPwONu0wMsLdCqRG4sTgNqfoqVDZ-kFkFddSAm0hCOG27hk7C9_fucp18rovIysCu1puzFNmT2V-4Vr1murH6JyuIUTTeFFS6l2uEkdRUKW7d0KQYsr6YL4E5NPvr/s200/Awesomesauce.jpg" height="200" width="100" /></a><b id="internal-source-marker_0.4008034763392061" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.4008034763392061" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In case you're wondering, Erin and Cassie... Let's just say I'm praying for them a lot. I ask that you keep them in your prayers too. </span></b></span></b><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.4008034763392061" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.4008034763392061" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This post has nothing to do with that. Originally, I had written a different post, but it (and the rewrite and the rewrite for the rewrite) came off horribly, so for now, you're going to have to enjoy some words stuffed with awesomesauce (I feel like that should be a recipe). Bon appetite! </span></b></span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.4008034763392061" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“One superlatively important effect of wide reading is the enlargement of vocabulary which always accompanies it. The average student is gravely impeded by the narrow range of words from which he must choose, and he soon discovers that in long compositions he cannot avoid monotony. In reading, the novice should note the varied mode of expression practiced by good authors, and should keep in his mind for future use the many appropriate synonymes he encounters. Never should an unfamiliar word be passed over without elucidation; for with a little conscientious research we may each day add to our conquests in the realm of philology, and become more and more ready for graceful independent expression.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"But in enlarging the vocabulary, we must beware lest we misuse our new possessions. We must remember that there are fine distinctions betwixt apparently similar words, and that language must ever be selected with intelligent care. As the learned Dr. Blair points out in his Lectures, ‘Hardly in any language are there two words that convey precisely the same idea; a person thoroughly conversant in the propriety of language will always be able to observe something that distinguishes them,’” H.P. Lovecraft, known for writing “weird horror,” said. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I like vocabulary. A lot. Because of this, I’m continuing the Awesomesauce Words series that I <a href="http://pursuingstories.blogspot.com/2012/08/awesomesauce-words.html">started a while ago</a>.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One must be drenched in words, literally soaked in them, to have the right ones form themselves into the proper pattern at the right moment. –Hart Crane</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Obviously Disney’s Pinocchio.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Straight from the movie. :)</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mendacious-adjective-telling lies especially habitually; dishonest; lying; untruthful</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turpitude-noun-shameful wickedness; vile, shameful, or base character; a depraved act</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition, moral turpitude </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is a legal concept that refers to conduct that is considered contrary to community standards of justice, honesty or good morals.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I walked up to my teacher and said, “The fire department had to come to our house last night. Everything was really frantic. Nothing burned down, but I wasn’t able to complete my homework.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She stared at me for a minute. Since I knew she was trying to read my face, I kept it as emotionless as humanly possible. Another minute passed as she stared. I was sure I had her fooled now. I smiled, and in that smile she must have seen just a bit of turpitude, for she said, “Bria! Stop your mendacious behavior or else I will whip you with my displeasure!”</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ha. I like this story because this is what my english teacher really would say. Don’t worry, she wouldn’t literally whip me, but she would literally quote </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">every </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">piece of literature to her advantage. The whipping phrase comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance.” The full quote says, “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For nonconformity the world whips you with its displeasure.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What other literary quotes would you use to discipline me? How would you all use these words? (PLEASE use turpitude. I love how it sounds so much, but I have (thankfully) had very little opportunity to use it. Original ways to use it (so I can use it more!!) would be GREATLY appreciated!) </span></b>Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-57274273937482391112013-01-24T13:35:00.000-05:002014-03-23T14:20:25.149-04:00I Mentioned I Was Afraid<span id="docs-internal-guid-fa7084d0-f02b-3bd8-3df8-6b9403e05b71"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So my friends’ dad died a bit over a week ago. His daughters came back to school on Tuesday. I don’t know how they’re handling it. We’ve talked only a little. Everything has just returned to a very melancholy normal. We are all sadder. And sometimes I am afraid. It’s the selfish kind of afraid. The best way I can describe it is by posting a RECENT Letter to God (most Letters to God that I post are older):</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 15, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cassie and Erin’s* dad died last night.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord. God.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Geez.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Be with them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can’t believe it. Geez. He was just okay. Lord. Be there for them. Please. Be there for us too. Please. Geez.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Later.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus wept. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-John 11:35</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shortest verse in the Bible. (And while writing this I thought of <a href="http://asoulcompletelysaved.tumblr.com/post/28837011430/jesus-wept">this post</a></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from one of my friends)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Zelda kept trying to cheer me up. But, for the most part, I wouldn’t be cheered. I know that their dad is up in heaven now, but I’m so sad for them. I know they’re hurting and I’m hurting because they are. My mood has always reflected and absorbed the moods of others. This is no exception, and it’s so much more extreme. I know Cassie and Erin well and I know how they will be when they come to school, and it hurts me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes my mood rebounds; sometimes my mood sucks up other moods but still has enough joy to remain fairly upbeat. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But this is so different. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know Cassie and Erin. I also </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">know</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> knew their dad. I loved their dad. And it’s not going to be right to go to their house and not see him. God, I already feel his absence.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Death is moving closer. It scares me, Lord. I know that You </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">conquered</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> death and that we have eternal life in and with You, but Lord, I don’t want to lose those I love. This train of thought is </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> selfish, but, oh, Lord. I want them with me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Death is moving closer to me personally. First, the Smith’s dad died. I didn’t really know them, other than name. Then Susie’s dad died. I know her enough to be an acquaintance. Then Grace’s dad died. I know her. Last year, I saw her every day, I talked to her every day. We had creative writing together, so I saw her deal with her relationship with You and her overwhelming, poorly disguised sadness. Then Cassie and Erin’s dad. I know them </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> well and I knew him too. Death has been creeping closer and I’m worried. There’s nothing I can do, but I’m worried.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the same has been happening at church. Amelia’s dad died and I saw the impact. I saw her astonishing faith in You and how she </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">knows</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> beyond a shadow of a doubt that her daddy is with You in heaven. Then Matt, our worship pastor. We saw him every week and then he’s gone. And, I just pray that no one else dies. Lord, I want Death to move no closer. I want You to blow it away, blind it and demolish it. There has been so much death lately and it makes me so gloomy, so sad. And all of those deaths were sudden. None of them were expected. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Worry, worry, worry.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I know You’ve got it all under control, so Lord, let me not worry.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please take the worry, the fear, the sorrow (so it doesn’t overwhelm me or Cassie or Erin or their mom or Clementine or Susie or the Smiths or Grace or any of the church who have been touched by death). Take it and give us love and a peace that comes only from You. Give us also a passion to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">live</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, because we don’t know when we will leave this world too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Touched by death: This reminds me of how some Indians would, rather than kill their enemy, touch him and/or take his spear or something. It showed that they were stronger, smarter, better than their enemy, and also made their enemy fear them more for they realized that they had the capability to kill them </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">at any time</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. And that makes me feel like Satan is using this pattern of sudden deaths to freak us out. Rather than that, Lord give us peace, strength, and courage. Let us not be afraid of death, whether we feel when we will go or not.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank You.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bria</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wrote all that on the bus. When I got off the bus, my dad opened the door and hugged me. It was like a minute-long hug. I’ve never had a longer hug. That’s one of the only hugs I remember actually getting from him. I’ve also almost never seen my dad cry. But there, his voice was all wobbly, and I could feel his jaw clenching and unclenching during the hug; he was trying not to cry. His eyes were red. My eyes are red.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord, there’s too much death. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*As usual, all names have been changed. </span></div>
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</span>Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-55807889895592173832013-01-20T01:15:00.000-05:002014-03-23T13:44:36.049-04:00Seeing the World as It Is<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9921926704701036" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Our world is an old quilt, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tattering</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at the edges, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ripping</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the middle; </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> all of us affected by the moth-eaten mess and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 32px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">broken</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ness of our world.</span></b>Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-192700691319076212013-01-15T16:33:00.000-05:002014-03-23T14:22:03.201-04:00Prayer Request<b id="internal-source-marker_0.06636229855939746" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I found out earlier during school that the dad of one of my really good friends (the dad of two of my really good friends, actually, since they’re twins) died last night. I knew him well, so this is like a double whammy for me: I’m hurting not only because they’re hurting, but because I knew him and I am, therefore, hurting for my own loss too.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I just ask for prayer because that’s about all there is do right now. He was a Christian and the family is a strong Christian family, but I know that a death, and especially a sudden death like this, has the potential to rock your faith in God and His power and love. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please pray for peace, for comfort, and for continued strong faith in God as they grapple with the why’s and the how’s of his death. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please pray that I will not be afraid (more on that later) and that I will have the strength to help them however they may need help. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you! And if you have any prayer requests, comment them below! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus wept. </span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-fa7084d0-f02d-5e9a-4371-e7a1097dced7"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-John 11:35</span></span></div>
Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-41810273215206799432013-01-11T22:46:00.000-05:002014-03-23T13:47:00.931-04:00Meaningless<h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Without God, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">everything is meaningless. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With God, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">everything is meaningful. </span></b></h3>
Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-50155122788720730192013-01-05T10:30:00.000-05:002014-03-23T14:22:58.028-04:00How Writing Reaffirms My Belief in God<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5233069907408208" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don't understand how writers (anyone really, but especially writers) can be atheists. Writers are the god of their worlds. We create the worlds and the characters down to their every trait and physical feature. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Depending on how good we write, there should be no obvious </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">proof</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that we did indeed write and create the characters’ world. The reader’s telltale sign is the fact that they’re holding a book. But to the characters, there shall be little to no evidence that a being outside their little world created their world. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet we did create their worlds. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps for some of our characters merely the fact that their world exists would be enough proof for our existence. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After all, science teaches us that something can't be created from nothing. Right? It's not like specks appeared on the paper without me and then somehow magically created letters and then somehow created words all by themselves without any prior wordmaking or spelling ever before. Oh, and somehow those words got together and BANG! created a whole world with all the characters. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not only that, but we all have a basic concept of good. We all cheer for the same good guy; there is no confusion over who should be the good guy, because we all know what good is. How? Because good comes from its source: GOD. Evil, likewise, comes from its source: Satan.</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can know that both God and Satan exist because both good and evil exist. Evil could not stem from God, just as darkness could not come from the sun; only the lack of the sun and the lack of God create darkness and evil. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is THE goodness in the world. </span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5233069907408208" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ic2SvCaypYXImWizM-cGb4ORgzyUMbk0Za6jurmy1M5TSVcKuflv56myIQg_c7BdvPWtGj3SFpNcxHSEaFw1sIF6_4rRF_2N2zGQEIrS_DHi4DZh3VoS_d_Hs6qH0maoPEf7ZqH_GbtL/s1600/Mother+Teresa+-+Writing+God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><u></u></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.” </span></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Luke 18:19</span></b></div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5233069907408208" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Basically, since we all have the same basic understanding of what good is, we can know that the definer of good was not and is not ourselves; Someone above and beyond us established good and all that falls under it. That Someone was and is the origin of good (because who else would be capable - and have the right to - define good for all of us?). This means there must be a Being who created us, who fixed the definition of good within us. This means there is God. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And yet, atheists argue that God is not real because He would not let all the bad things happen in this world of His creation. Well, writers let bad things happen in their worlds too. </span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We let bad things occur for basically the same reason I believe God does: to strengthen our characters. </span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5233069907408208" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.72132648807019" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. -Romans 5:3-5</span></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></b>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5233069907408208" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.72132648807019" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. -James 1:2-4</span></b></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pain makes us stronger. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It prepares us for future events, events that would be even worse if not for our experience, and it makes us strong. Makes us strong enough so that at the climax, we do not fall, but stand our ground, and after we have done everything to stand, to stand. Stand firm. (part of Ephesians 6:13-14)</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Without the experience of hurt, the pain training, our house of cards would crumble at the first gust of wind. But as it is, our house of cards is given the chance to be fortified with cement. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is God, and He is real. He is not another figment of our imagination. As writers, and creators of our own worlds, I feel that we should be the first to realize that: God is real!</span></b><br />
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Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3800073385401417956.post-86558130120092809722012-12-22T01:15:00.000-05:002013-01-06T00:57:27.959-05:00JealousyAnd the pangs of jealousy leap up. They jump up and down on
my heart like a trampoline, willing me to notice them. <br />
<br />
I shall not. I shall not notice them. I will ignore them as
I try to talk to you, you who makes me jealous, regardless of the fact that we
are good friends. <br />
<br />
I-you-I am good at-you are too? Oh. I am really good at-oh,
of course, you are too. I know! I have a really grade in that one clas-yup. You
too. <br />
<br />
I know you do not do this to spite me. In fact, you have no
idea about any of my jealousy issues. I know you simply happen to be awesome.
And I respect you and I love you, but at the same time I rack my mind for
something I know I am better at. But no, I will ignore the jealousy creeping
up. I will. And I walk away from you so it will not beat me. And my other
friends talk about how awesome your writing is. That was the one thing I
believed myself to be at than you. …yup. Awkward. And I can’t think of anything
else. Surely you are better than me in every way. <br />
<br />
I hear laughter in the background. It’s you. You are happy
and I am sad. You have won. Bravo. Good job. And I hear more laughter in the
background. This isn’t you. It....it’s in my head. <br />
<br />
I let Satan win there. I let the demons of jealousy take
over and control every part of me. I tried to stop it. I failed to stop it. And
I sigh and think of how you wouldn’t have failed. Then I go home dejected and
cry. <br />
This sounds very bad. But God used that moment to speak to
me. In that crying moment (as with most of my crying moments) I am able to fall
to my knees. I am able to go to God. I cry out to Him. <br />
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Why am I not as good? </div>
He answers, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God. <br />
Oh, I forgot about that. …Why isn’t my faith as strong? <br />
I have given you a measure of faith. -Romans 12:3<br />
Of course…. Why is she more faithful, a better light for
You? <br />
I am busy making you someone no one else has ever been.
–Psalm 139. I’m still working on you both. <br />
Oh. Really? <br />
Yes. I love you both. <br />
REALLY? <br />
I sent my son Jesus to die for both of you. <br />
Oh yeah. I love Jesus. <br />
I love you, Bria. <br />
Thanks, God. <br />
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I failed the first time because I was trying to fight on my
own. <br />
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I am not strong. Bria means strong, but I am not strong. I needed God’s
help and I wouldn’t admit it, but instead continued to try on my own. It didn’t
work. It never works. I need God. <br />
<br /></div>
I read her blog. She is a very talented writer and a very
strong witness. That’s when the jealousy began to gnaw on my heart again. And
this is the result. This post right here. <br />
<br />
I ask God for the strength to keep the jealousy away. <br />
<br />
I ask
God for love for her, love that consumes and swallows up the jealousy trying to
get me. <br />
<br />
I ask God for joy at her writing ability and her successful blog. <br />
<br />
I
thank God that she is an amazing friend and I thank God that she can help me
know Him more, because she has awesome faith. <br />
<br />
Finally, I ask God for
forgiveness. I’m sorry that I let Satan get a foothold. I’m sorry that I was
jealous and envious. I know that both jealousy and envy have their root in
fear, the fear that I will not be taken care of, that You have forgotten me or
given me the wrong things and abilities. I know You have plans for me (Jeremiah
29:11) and that you will supply me with what I need. I’m sorry for that lack of
faith that allowed me to be jealous and envious. Replace any further jealousies
or envies with pure joy at her ability to reach and teach so many. <br />
<br />
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<o:p> </o:p>I’m sorry, Hannah, for being jealous of you. Please forgive
me. </div>
<br />
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And now, here is a link to <a href="http://asoulcompletelysaved.tumblr.com/">Hannah’s blog</a>. </div>
Go read it! Away with you! <br />
<br />
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(Wow, I feel so much better. Thank You, Lord.) </div>
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P.S. I wrote this in August. Ever since I wrote this, I
haven’t been jealous. We have become great friends and I can enjoy our
friendship and all that God teaches me through her because I am not jealous!
Thank You, Lord!</div>
Briahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12867474247526314904noreply@blogger.com2