Monday, March 30, 2015
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Words to Write By Wednesday: Know Your Audience!
Words to Write By Wednesday: Know Your Audience!:
via Tumblr http://ift.tt/1HHzSxN
I routinely ask students in my writing workshops who theyare writing their book for. Invariably the answer is “Everyone will enjoy my book!” This is a true statement most of the time. Certainly, we write with the intention that one and all will enjoy our work. However, it is important that we are…
via Tumblr http://ift.tt/1HHzSxN
Words to Write Wednesday: Know Your Audience!
I routinely ask students in my writing workshops who they are writing their book for. Invariably the answer is “Everyone will enjoy my book!” This is a true statement most of the time. Certainly, we write with the intention that one and all will enjoy our work. However, it is important that we are authentic when we write.
One way in which we can be authentic is to narrow our focus to the reader who will be most affected by our words. You can’t write to high schoolers without knowing about high school. Drive by one, observe the kids – how they congregate; how they socialize.
If you’re writing a fictional account of a fireman, you should know what a firehouse looks like. If you’re writing a book about marriage and you leave out the part where “the two shall become one” means she wears your favorite t-shirt as a nightgown, your book might end up sitting on the dresser.
Determining who you’re writing the book to and for will go a long way in capturing the mind of the reader because you include them in the scenario when you are authentic. Don’t assume you know your audience. Do your due diligence and get to know them!
via Tumblr http://ift.tt/18YcqRD
Monday, March 16, 2015
Sunday, March 2, 2014
He said "You're Beautiful to ME!"
Another Sunday morning and I find myself doing the same thing I do every Sunday morning. The bed has 3 or 4 different outfits on it, each unsuitable; for whatever reason. The clock is ticking and I’m determined not to be late – not another Sunday. If only I had done this last night, but I had to do my nails.
It bugged me that I was having this same experience again. So, I began having a conversation in my head with myself “What is your problem? You go to church every Sunday. Service is at the same time every week. Get yourself together. You’re going to worship and serve the Lord, not enter a fashion contest.”
My other self responds “I know that and I’m not trying to win a fashion contest – obviously, but I’m old school and we dress up for church.” Now I try to engage Him in this tirade. “Lord, I just like to look nice when I come to worship in your house – I can dress up to go to other events in the world, why can’t I dress up to go to church?”
And when He answered me it was totally unexpected and I was blown away. He said “You’re beautiful to me!”
“What God, You’re saying I’m beautiful to You? Okay Darlene, you need to stop talking to yourself and get moving.” But I began moving slower and slower as I approached the shower. Did He just tell me I was beautiful? Is this my imagination or a trick of the enemy trying to slow me down? He answered me right away.
“You are fearfully and wonderfully made.”
“I know I am, but I’m talking about looking nice to celebrate You at church.”
“No, you’re talking about looking nice for man – for the people you are there with. Do you need their approval?”
The shower is therapeutic now as my mind hesitates to continue this conversation, but my spirit man engages. “God, you know I am not overly moved by what others think of me, I kinda know who I am and don’t need anyone to approve this message. I know I am Your child, I know I am a…”
“You think you know, but do you? Because you’re single, you’re not sure if your aesthetics are intact. So you wait for someone to tell you.”
I ponder this revelation. Is that true? Am I looking to be affirmed – really? I knew when I bought this blouse or that skirt or those shoes they were – uh…um, perfect for me. Even if I didn’t have anything to go with it, I knew it would be a piece I would enjoy wearing. And I wasn’t thinking about what anyone else would think about it. Wait a minute! “God, I am NOT trying to have a conversation about fashion with you! I just wanna…”
“Oh, you think this conversation is about fashion? Do you think I care about your favorite color or that you like to look this way or that? Do you think that’s what makes you beautiful?”
Uh oh. This is getting deep, I think I’d better pay attention to what the Spirit is saying to me. “Well, I was just trying to get out of here on time and getting frustrated because I did not properly plan for it. But I AM glad to know I am beautiful to you.”
“Really?”
“Well, true confession, I am glad you said it but I’m not at all sure I know what you mean by it. I feel as if I’m not really getting something, that you’re telling me something that I don’t get. You said I am beautiful to You! What does that mean? I know it’s special and I value it but what does it mean?”
“You – and all of you, my beloveds - equate beauty with the right look. The right hair, make-up, clothing, SHOES…”
“Now you know - the right shoes - I’m sorry God, please continue.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. You think your aesthetics make you beautiful. If shoes give you pleasure, then enjoy your shoes for I have given you all things to enjoy. But they mean nothing to me unless you begin to worship them. My creations worship all kinds of things that are measurements of themselves but are not measurements of my joy.”
As I hopped out of the shower I thought – yeah, this is real beautiful, half a leg from amputation surgery, half a breast from breast cancer surgery and 45 lbs overweight. Immediately I remind myself not to let my flesh enter this conversation that the Most High God has called me to because this – surely – is not what God was revealing to me. I get back to our conversation; as if He doesn’t know the thoughts I had anyway. He confirms it.
“You think because the enemy has altered you, you are no longer beautiful.”
“Well, I’m certainly have been altered and I have the scars to prove it.”
“Scars are beautiful to me, some scars are visible; some are not. They show your real beauty – you had a battle and you won it! This is my joy, your victory is my triumph, it glorifies me. Do you really think the enemy can ruin my masterpiece? Remember you are fearfully and wonderfully made.”
“Yes but Picasso created abstracts that are considered masterpieces.” Don’t you just love it when you have to prove your point to God? Who does that? We all do, we’re children and we try to justify ourselves all the time.
“Again, the abstracts may be considered beautiful by man, and well they should for you were created in my image and just as I created this world and all that is within it you have the ability to create things, beautiful things. But a Picasso is a manmade creation, a manmade masterpiece. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever I had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, I am God.”
>"Amen. Amen, You created it all Lord God and I know you as my Creator.”
“I know, so let me be clear. You were created for a purpose. Do you not know that I have plans for you? Do you not know that I have GOOD plans for you? I have plans that will exceed your expectations at every turn. I have plans that are exceeding abundantly above what your mind can conceive as long as you hear me and heed my words."
“Wow God, that’s beautiful!”
“Yes, it is my word! Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you, I sanctified you and I ordained you for my purpose. And as long as you are on the destiny path I created for you – you are beautiful to me!” Then He started preaching. “It doesn’t matter what scars you have – they are battle scars. They remind you that I am the Lord Your God and I will always be there for you. How beautiful it is to me that my enemy has on multiple times tried to kill you. And you overcame him – not because I was there but because you refused to give up and you obeyed me. It’s because your faith grew stronger and stronger and you stopped trying to cram me into that little box you all think your God should fit in. Do you know how beautiful it was when you said ‘I’ll go Lord, even when you pull me out of my comfort zone. It may take me a minute, but I will go – whatever you want of me God, whatever you want me to do, I’ll do. I only want to please you.’ Yes, when you let my glory and my light and my power work in you and through you, it is indeed most beautiful to Me.”
“Thank you God. Thank you for this communion – you are the beautiful one and I love you so. I will never forget this conversation or your words. Truly I have embedded them in my heart. And now you made me ruin my little eye makeup – but I don’t even care because it is all about you today. Souls cometh!”
“Remember, whenever you are walking on your destiny path in the lane I have directed you – I don’t care if it is red or green or short or long and as long as you do not look like the strange woman – you are beautiful to me!”
I’m now convinced that, although I have been getting ready during this conversation, I am going to be late. Looking at the clock I realize that I still have time to get there on time if I keep it moving. Funny how the presence of the Lord transcends time, I could swear it was 30-45 minutes; but it was only 20. I didn’t worry about the snow or whether the walk would be cleared or anything else. On with the boots and out the door.
While driving in I replayed the exchange and I realized that our definitions for beauty were not the same. The enemy wanted to chide me into calling God a fashionista but the enemy doesn’t scare me. I know his character and his weakness. I know my God to be strong and mighty yet loving to the point it makes you cry. I thought about all the times I asked Him how He wanted me to look since I was representing Him. Sometimes I was drawn to something different than I was thinking about and sometimes not. Now I believe He was just glad that I asked. But revelation hits - beauty is not skin deep; it is eternal because the Eternal One said so. And His vision of us, His Creation is eternal!
When I got to church, it was right on time because I went into the Ladies Room to change into my cute shoes and when I got back to my spot at the altar, the praise & worship ministry was just getting it started. I heard the music “daduh-da-duh...Send up Judah...Send up Praise”. And when one of my sisters said “OOH, you look so pretty today”, I knew she saw a beauty that came from being in the presence of the Lord. She saw me as He saw me, and I'm good with that. But what was even better was knowing that the Lord God Himself told me I'm walking in the right direction, on the right path! Look out world, truly the Lord is on my side!“Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord!”
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The Value of a Good Stretch
My eyes had barely opened when I realized I was having a moment with God. My normal morning ritual begins as I roll over to look at the clock. This is an extremely important step for one who has issues with sleep…can I go back to sleep for 17 more minutes? Ok, I can get up now so let’s open the blinds behind my bed and see what kind of day we have. There is snow on the ground, not much, but the sun is shining. I smile, “Good morning Holy Spirit! What a gorgeous day today ~ thank you!”
Even on days when the sun is not visible down here on the ground, looking out of that window and realizing that God’s mercies are new each morning; well, only my gratitude is an appropriate way to start the day. And having greeted our Creator I roll over and give myself a big ole long S-T-R-E-T-C-H! You know how you stretch so, um – completely - that you must let out that grunt or groan or whatever you call that sound at the end of it. I’m not sure why, but it seems like that stretch is not complete without a satisfying sound at the end.
So on this particular day I do all the steps above as I normally do and after letting out that squeal of delight at the end of the stretch, He starts a conversation with me. “Isn’t it interesting that the stretch always seems to give you energy?” And it does, I thought about it, after the 1st morning stretch I bound out of bed – well, sort of. I can’t bound until I put my leg on. But I certainly have a – readiness. He said “Even when you get ready to work out, cardio or weight training, the first thing you do is stretch.” That is so true!
I flashed back to the days spent in the Better Life Fitness Center with Elder Randy Woody and his beautiful, no-nonsense about health, no fat on her body, body building winner at age 35, wife Brenda. The warm up always included stretching. The explanation came too ~ you have to prepare your muscles to support you during your vigorous workout. When you go walking or running, stretch, to avoid getting a Charlie horse or pulling a hamstring. Whether you’re using the weights at the gym or some other type of weight training, stretching the muscles is imperative to maintain a healthy exercise routine. Weight training is the process of tearing down muscle so that once it repairs, it is better than before. If those muscles are all bunched in a knot you’re sure to experience painful muscle spasms or worse yet, torn ligaments. Yes, a good stretch is definitely preparation for success.
Then I remembered the first time I went to Amputee Walking School. It was an amazing experience. I saw an amputee run for the first time, I saw 2 teams of amputees playing basketball – on prosthetic legs. And very importantly I got stretched. The physical therapists were always on hand to learn more about amputees and how they could help them. They were always agreeable to stretch us out. If you think it feels good after you have a good stretch, you really need to have a trainer stretch you out! It feels wonderful – once it’s done. In the middle of it, not so good. But, you learn to breathe through the stretch.
Now, I’m laying there in bed pondering these things when He says “Now that you remember how important stretching is, why is it that when I stretch you, you refuse to participate. Even when I do the work - you try to pull back. It’s not like I want to hurt you – you know that. And you know that after the stretch you feel invigorated, energized; you know that stretching prepares you for the next level. How can we get you to the next level when you don’t want to be stretched? And haven’t you been asking me to help you with some necessary changes? Why won’t you let me stretch you?”
Well, that was an Ephesians 3:20 moment for me because I had to face the fact that changes in my life that make me uncomfortable are the ones that change me for the better. They tend to get me off the bench and out of my comfort zone or slothful routine. In the middle of the stretch I learn to breathe through it and commit to it; submit to it. After it’s over and I let out a euphoric sound; it’s because I’ve learned exactly what I need to know to make it to the next level.
That was a good lesson! The stretch loosens up muscles (often unused); makes you temporarily uncomfortable while teaching you to breathe through those moments; prepares you for the next level on your destiny walk and, somehow encourages you to let out a sound of victory. C’mon, stretch with me and let it out! AARRGGGHHHHHOOOEEEEummmoohhh – ah!
Even on days when the sun is not visible down here on the ground, looking out of that window and realizing that God’s mercies are new each morning; well, only my gratitude is an appropriate way to start the day. And having greeted our Creator I roll over and give myself a big ole long S-T-R-E-T-C-H! You know how you stretch so, um – completely - that you must let out that grunt or groan or whatever you call that sound at the end of it. I’m not sure why, but it seems like that stretch is not complete without a satisfying sound at the end.
So on this particular day I do all the steps above as I normally do and after letting out that squeal of delight at the end of the stretch, He starts a conversation with me. “Isn’t it interesting that the stretch always seems to give you energy?” And it does, I thought about it, after the 1st morning stretch I bound out of bed – well, sort of. I can’t bound until I put my leg on. But I certainly have a – readiness. He said “Even when you get ready to work out, cardio or weight training, the first thing you do is stretch.” That is so true!
I flashed back to the days spent in the Better Life Fitness Center with Elder Randy Woody and his beautiful, no-nonsense about health, no fat on her body, body building winner at age 35, wife Brenda. The warm up always included stretching. The explanation came too ~ you have to prepare your muscles to support you during your vigorous workout. When you go walking or running, stretch, to avoid getting a Charlie horse or pulling a hamstring. Whether you’re using the weights at the gym or some other type of weight training, stretching the muscles is imperative to maintain a healthy exercise routine. Weight training is the process of tearing down muscle so that once it repairs, it is better than before. If those muscles are all bunched in a knot you’re sure to experience painful muscle spasms or worse yet, torn ligaments. Yes, a good stretch is definitely preparation for success.
Then I remembered the first time I went to Amputee Walking School. It was an amazing experience. I saw an amputee run for the first time, I saw 2 teams of amputees playing basketball – on prosthetic legs. And very importantly I got stretched. The physical therapists were always on hand to learn more about amputees and how they could help them. They were always agreeable to stretch us out. If you think it feels good after you have a good stretch, you really need to have a trainer stretch you out! It feels wonderful – once it’s done. In the middle of it, not so good. But, you learn to breathe through the stretch.
Now, I’m laying there in bed pondering these things when He says “Now that you remember how important stretching is, why is it that when I stretch you, you refuse to participate. Even when I do the work - you try to pull back. It’s not like I want to hurt you – you know that. And you know that after the stretch you feel invigorated, energized; you know that stretching prepares you for the next level. How can we get you to the next level when you don’t want to be stretched? And haven’t you been asking me to help you with some necessary changes? Why won’t you let me stretch you?”
Well, that was an Ephesians 3:20 moment for me because I had to face the fact that changes in my life that make me uncomfortable are the ones that change me for the better. They tend to get me off the bench and out of my comfort zone or slothful routine. In the middle of the stretch I learn to breathe through it and commit to it; submit to it. After it’s over and I let out a euphoric sound; it’s because I’ve learned exactly what I need to know to make it to the next level.
That was a good lesson! The stretch loosens up muscles (often unused); makes you temporarily uncomfortable while teaching you to breathe through those moments; prepares you for the next level on your destiny walk and, somehow encourages you to let out a sound of victory. C’mon, stretch with me and let it out! AARRGGGHHHHHOOOEEEEummmoohhh – ah!
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Calling of "The Call"
11-11-11
If you don’t believe we are experiencing a miraculous move of God, then you obviously have not yet registered for ‘The Call’; a 24 hr. prayer gathering at Ford Field on 11-11-11! The few of the prayer points for this event are racial, denominational, gender and age reconciliation in the city of Detroit. It has been said “As Detroit goes, so goes the nation!” Well, Detroit is going into prayer – take heed nation! Detroit is praying for unity in the body of Christ, and oh, how we need that.
"If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually."
2 Chronicles 7:13-16
One could say that locusts have been devouring Detroit; that pestilence is widespread among us and we’ve been waiting for heaven’s rain. God goes on to promise in this scripture that He will hear our prayers, forgive our sin, heal our land if His people who are called by His name humble themselves, pray, seek his face and turn from their wicked ways! He says, if we do this then His eyes and ears and heart open to us, to our prayers and that He shall be here perpetually. This alone should be a mandate for the body of Christ. How awesome that Lou Engle has, by the Spirit of God, engineered this amazing opportunity for the body of Christ to fast, pray, humble ourselves, seek God’s face – turn from our wicked ways; together in unity!
Racism is a wicked way! The Call disintegrates racial wickedness, joining hands across racial lines to seek the face of God – oh how beautiful! Detroiters are accustomed to knights on white horses coming in to rescue the city, we’ve learned to discount those voices. But this time Lou Engle has said the body of Christ cannot have a call to prayer without the entire body present. Every black church in the city of Detroit should attend The Call or at least send a representative. Every white church in the metropolitan Detroit area should attend or send representatives to The Call. Every Bible-believing body in this area, including Hispanic, Asian – everybody, should make sure they are represented. The last prayer Jesus prayed before going back to the Father was that we learn to be one as He is one with the Father. The prayer was for unity among believers.
(John 17:11, 21-23)
So not only was Jesus’ last prayer for unity in the body, (“those who are mine”) but the Psalms say there is a commanded blessing when brethren dwell together in unity. (Psalms 133) The Call is a WIN!WIN! opportunity. An opportunity for the body of Christ to shed denominational, racial, social and any other type of bias that just does not belong to those who are called. Remember the redeemed of the Lord must say so!
Pre-register for The Call (it’s free to get in but you must register) at thecall.com and join in with thousands of your brothers and sisters in prayer, praise and worship of our Father! Calling all Saints! Watch and see what happens when God hears the unified prayers of His people!
If you don’t believe we are experiencing a miraculous move of God, then you obviously have not yet registered for ‘The Call’; a 24 hr. prayer gathering at Ford Field on 11-11-11! The few of the prayer points for this event are racial, denominational, gender and age reconciliation in the city of Detroit. It has been said “As Detroit goes, so goes the nation!” Well, Detroit is going into prayer – take heed nation! Detroit is praying for unity in the body of Christ, and oh, how we need that.
"If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually."
2 Chronicles 7:13-16
One could say that locusts have been devouring Detroit; that pestilence is widespread among us and we’ve been waiting for heaven’s rain. God goes on to promise in this scripture that He will hear our prayers, forgive our sin, heal our land if His people who are called by His name humble themselves, pray, seek his face and turn from their wicked ways! He says, if we do this then His eyes and ears and heart open to us, to our prayers and that He shall be here perpetually. This alone should be a mandate for the body of Christ. How awesome that Lou Engle has, by the Spirit of God, engineered this amazing opportunity for the body of Christ to fast, pray, humble ourselves, seek God’s face – turn from our wicked ways; together in unity!
Racism is a wicked way! The Call disintegrates racial wickedness, joining hands across racial lines to seek the face of God – oh how beautiful! Detroiters are accustomed to knights on white horses coming in to rescue the city, we’ve learned to discount those voices. But this time Lou Engle has said the body of Christ cannot have a call to prayer without the entire body present. Every black church in the city of Detroit should attend The Call or at least send a representative. Every white church in the metropolitan Detroit area should attend or send representatives to The Call. Every Bible-believing body in this area, including Hispanic, Asian – everybody, should make sure they are represented. The last prayer Jesus prayed before going back to the Father was that we learn to be one as He is one with the Father. The prayer was for unity among believers.
(John 17:11, 21-23)
So not only was Jesus’ last prayer for unity in the body, (“those who are mine”) but the Psalms say there is a commanded blessing when brethren dwell together in unity. (Psalms 133) The Call is a WIN!WIN! opportunity. An opportunity for the body of Christ to shed denominational, racial, social and any other type of bias that just does not belong to those who are called. Remember the redeemed of the Lord must say so!
Pre-register for The Call (it’s free to get in but you must register) at thecall.com and join in with thousands of your brothers and sisters in prayer, praise and worship of our Father! Calling all Saints! Watch and see what happens when God hears the unified prayers of His people!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)