Tabitha Caplinger's Blog: TabithaCaplinger.com, page 9
December 29, 2016
End of 2016 Ramblings
I realized I didn't write a blog post for this month and I thought I should fix that. So, here I am, writing a blog post but I don't really have a topic.
I thought I could do another TCO3 post and talk about what our little band of demon slayers would be doing for the New Year or what their resolutions would be but they'd only have one resolution and that would be to defeat evil and save the world. (Or would that be two? You get the point, no one is worried about drinking more water and watching less tv, and let's be honest would I really be a part of anything that means less tv? I don't think so.) As far as their midnight countdown celebrations you can find out in book three of the trilogy.I thought I could give my year in review of 2016. I could tell you what was the best of times and what was the worst of times and wax philosophical about how it all makes us who we are and we are better and stronger for the lessons learned. That's all probably true. It would make me sound wise. My holiday brain has me all sideways though so I can't focus on pearls of wisdom. I need sass and sarcasm right now.I thought about a take on pesky resolutions. You know the things we make at the end of the year so we can say, "New year, New me!" But they usually only last for two weeks and then we slide right back into our old, comfortable ways. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for resolutions but I think we should set small specific goals that are attainable rather than make big statements without any sort of plan. Joining a gym when you have never ever worked out consistently is probably not a good plan. You can tell yourself that by paying for that membership you will be more likely to actually go and workout but then it will be cold, or rain, or snow, or you'll have plans or whatever and you'll miss a day and your routine will get wonky and then you will stop going. (That was a really long sentence but its truth I know from experience.) I'm not gonna talk about resolutions though.So... I am left with very little options as to what to talk about to end this year and ring in the next. That isn't out of character for me. I have never really been in to the New Year's hype so to speak. I don't want to live from one year to the next. I like to live from one day to the next. I think we get too focused on the year, or the next five years or ten or twenty and we forget about today. There's nothing wrong with a five-year plan, but our daily choices will determine the success of that plan. The habits I walk out 24 hours at a time will help me flourish or not. Instead of deciding what will be different about 2017 I prefer to ask myself what needs to be different about tomorrow. Where can I be better than I was today?Where did I waste time? (Procrastination fairies are real and they infest my head.)Where could I have shown more kindness, or patience, or grace, or love, or compassion?Where could I have cut some sugar, or fit in some yoga?Where should I have made more time for Jesus?When I take inventory of my day I may find that I was far from perfect (shocker) and that is ok. I can do better tomorrow. Maybe just by a little, itty-bitty, tiny bit, but I can be better. If I do that every day I will find that I have created habits that will lead me where I wanted to go, better yet, where God wanted me to be.Where does God want you to go in 2017? Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually? What small step can you take today to start walking in that direction? Because whether you like or not, you are going to get there one day at a time so you might as well just take it one day, one choice, one step at a time.End 2016 by praying for the New Year and asking God to help you each day see where you could do better and to help give you the motivation and means to actually do better, even if it's just the tiniest little step. It still counts, you are still making progress. I'm going to end 2016, my year on purpose, by intentionally taking this coming year 24 hours at a time. Some days it'll probably be an hour at a time because I get cranky and need more coffee. Join me?Happy New Year and Happy New Day!!PS: I said it wasn't gonna be about resolutions but then it ended up feeling a little resolutiony so, yeah...Yes, I know resolutiony isn't a word but it sounds good. Maggie would go with it. ;)
I thought I could do another TCO3 post and talk about what our little band of demon slayers would be doing for the New Year or what their resolutions would be but they'd only have one resolution and that would be to defeat evil and save the world. (Or would that be two? You get the point, no one is worried about drinking more water and watching less tv, and let's be honest would I really be a part of anything that means less tv? I don't think so.) As far as their midnight countdown celebrations you can find out in book three of the trilogy.I thought I could give my year in review of 2016. I could tell you what was the best of times and what was the worst of times and wax philosophical about how it all makes us who we are and we are better and stronger for the lessons learned. That's all probably true. It would make me sound wise. My holiday brain has me all sideways though so I can't focus on pearls of wisdom. I need sass and sarcasm right now.I thought about a take on pesky resolutions. You know the things we make at the end of the year so we can say, "New year, New me!" But they usually only last for two weeks and then we slide right back into our old, comfortable ways. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for resolutions but I think we should set small specific goals that are attainable rather than make big statements without any sort of plan. Joining a gym when you have never ever worked out consistently is probably not a good plan. You can tell yourself that by paying for that membership you will be more likely to actually go and workout but then it will be cold, or rain, or snow, or you'll have plans or whatever and you'll miss a day and your routine will get wonky and then you will stop going. (That was a really long sentence but its truth I know from experience.) I'm not gonna talk about resolutions though.So... I am left with very little options as to what to talk about to end this year and ring in the next. That isn't out of character for me. I have never really been in to the New Year's hype so to speak. I don't want to live from one year to the next. I like to live from one day to the next. I think we get too focused on the year, or the next five years or ten or twenty and we forget about today. There's nothing wrong with a five-year plan, but our daily choices will determine the success of that plan. The habits I walk out 24 hours at a time will help me flourish or not. Instead of deciding what will be different about 2017 I prefer to ask myself what needs to be different about tomorrow. Where can I be better than I was today?Where did I waste time? (Procrastination fairies are real and they infest my head.)Where could I have shown more kindness, or patience, or grace, or love, or compassion?Where could I have cut some sugar, or fit in some yoga?Where should I have made more time for Jesus?When I take inventory of my day I may find that I was far from perfect (shocker) and that is ok. I can do better tomorrow. Maybe just by a little, itty-bitty, tiny bit, but I can be better. If I do that every day I will find that I have created habits that will lead me where I wanted to go, better yet, where God wanted me to be.Where does God want you to go in 2017? Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually? What small step can you take today to start walking in that direction? Because whether you like or not, you are going to get there one day at a time so you might as well just take it one day, one choice, one step at a time.End 2016 by praying for the New Year and asking God to help you each day see where you could do better and to help give you the motivation and means to actually do better, even if it's just the tiniest little step. It still counts, you are still making progress. I'm going to end 2016, my year on purpose, by intentionally taking this coming year 24 hours at a time. Some days it'll probably be an hour at a time because I get cranky and need more coffee. Join me?Happy New Year and Happy New Day!!PS: I said it wasn't gonna be about resolutions but then it ended up feeling a little resolutiony so, yeah...Yes, I know resolutiony isn't a word but it sounds good. Maggie would go with it. ;)
November 28, 2016
I've Been Gilmored!
I've been GIlmored! I have the tightness in the chest, the anger mixed with paralyzing weakness...that last part could be because of the junk food I ate while binge watching Gilmore Girls: A Year in the life... but my point is I am not okay with how this ended.
I have given a lot of time to the Gilmores. I love them. I consider myself an honorary Gilmore. I drink too much coffee, rarely eat anything healthy, and binge watch like a pro so you can see my connection to this witty duo. It began when the show originally aired, before DVR and Netflix so I had to even watch the commercials. (Actually, DVR had been invented but I didn't have it yet.) I never missed an episode. If you doubt my love for the Gilmores you need to know my youngest daughter is named Lorelai and we call her Rory. That's commitment, thats a fan!!
Then I heard the revival was coming, so, like any good mom, I made my daughters binge watch the entire series with me. All 153 episodes.
Then came November 25th, 2016...the day after Thanksgiving...the day the revival debuted on Netflix. We put up our Christmas tree, got some tacos and I curled up in my cozy chair for the next 6.8 (yes I did the math for real) hours to watch the whole Year in the Life of my dear friends Lorelai and Rory.[image error]It had good and bad moments. I laughed at Emily in jeans talking about Kondo-ing. (Mostly because I recently Kondo-ed my own closet and three bags of clothes no longer gave me joy.) I cried at Richard's funeral. I waited for Sookie to show up.
I thought the Stars Hollow musical was weird and a little much. I liked "A Second Film by Kirk." I wondered if Taylor had been frozen since 2007 and only recently thawed because he hadn't aged a bit. I thought some of the pacing and chemistry was a little off but I could chalk it up to 10 years apart and trying to do this four seasons thing so I forgave it.I stressed out over Lorelai maybe or maybe not breaking up with or marrying Luke. And I was frustrated with Rory who always seems to panic when her life plan isn't going according to plan. I had friends who were saddened by this but I expected it because that is Rory (remember the pool house season?) and Lorelai (she is never satisfied with her life or relationships).I waited and waited to see who Rory would end up with. Because I know you want to know I am totally #TeamJess and I'm pretty sure if they do this again that's where this thing will go.
(For those of you upset that it wasn't all tied up you should have read theinterviewwith the show's creator and your expectations might have been lowered like mine were on that note.)But that is the show...it has always been about this, about these two women dealing with life and love and happiness together and if it was all rainbows and unicorns and sarcasm with no conflict or question or searching then it wouldn't be the Gilmore Girls. If love lives had all been figured out at the end it wouldn't be Gilmore Girls either. I say that, but let me tell you I wanted the neat little bow. I wanted Rory to determine the love of her life, and hoped to God it wasn't going to be that Paul guy in some weird twist. I wanted them both to get their thousand yellow daisy happily-ever-afters.
But I didn't get that. You didn't get that. What did we get? We got a little cliffhanger of sorts. I mean really it isn't a cliffhanger, but it kind of is because it left you wanting more...way more. I was prepared for this to not meet all of my high and glorious expectations. I was prepared to not be 100% happy with everything. But I assumed I would get closure. That if this is the very end, I would feel satisfied with it. I. AM. Not. Satisfied.
I want more! In the words of my seven year old when the credits rolled on Fall..."you've got to be freaking kidding me! Tell me there is another season!"Tell me there is another season coming Amy Sherman-Palladino! Another something! Anything!! I can't live like this!
(PS: If you want to know how it ended you have to watch because I am morally opposed to major spoilers. Really just giving any little details like the Kondo-ing and Taylor's agelessness makes me a little queasy. So watch! But be prepared to get Gilmored.)
I have given a lot of time to the Gilmores. I love them. I consider myself an honorary Gilmore. I drink too much coffee, rarely eat anything healthy, and binge watch like a pro so you can see my connection to this witty duo. It began when the show originally aired, before DVR and Netflix so I had to even watch the commercials. (Actually, DVR had been invented but I didn't have it yet.) I never missed an episode. If you doubt my love for the Gilmores you need to know my youngest daughter is named Lorelai and we call her Rory. That's commitment, thats a fan!!Then I heard the revival was coming, so, like any good mom, I made my daughters binge watch the entire series with me. All 153 episodes.Then came November 25th, 2016...the day after Thanksgiving...the day the revival debuted on Netflix. We put up our Christmas tree, got some tacos and I curled up in my cozy chair for the next 6.8 (yes I did the math for real) hours to watch the whole Year in the Life of my dear friends Lorelai and Rory.[image error]It had good and bad moments. I laughed at Emily in jeans talking about Kondo-ing. (Mostly because I recently Kondo-ed my own closet and three bags of clothes no longer gave me joy.) I cried at Richard's funeral. I waited for Sookie to show up.I thought the Stars Hollow musical was weird and a little much. I liked "A Second Film by Kirk." I wondered if Taylor had been frozen since 2007 and only recently thawed because he hadn't aged a bit. I thought some of the pacing and chemistry was a little off but I could chalk it up to 10 years apart and trying to do this four seasons thing so I forgave it.I stressed out over Lorelai maybe or maybe not breaking up with or marrying Luke. And I was frustrated with Rory who always seems to panic when her life plan isn't going according to plan. I had friends who were saddened by this but I expected it because that is Rory (remember the pool house season?) and Lorelai (she is never satisfied with her life or relationships).I waited and waited to see who Rory would end up with. Because I know you want to know I am totally #TeamJess and I'm pretty sure if they do this again that's where this thing will go.(For those of you upset that it wasn't all tied up you should have read theinterviewwith the show's creator and your expectations might have been lowered like mine were on that note.)But that is the show...it has always been about this, about these two women dealing with life and love and happiness together and if it was all rainbows and unicorns and sarcasm with no conflict or question or searching then it wouldn't be the Gilmore Girls. If love lives had all been figured out at the end it wouldn't be Gilmore Girls either. I say that, but let me tell you I wanted the neat little bow. I wanted Rory to determine the love of her life, and hoped to God it wasn't going to be that Paul guy in some weird twist. I wanted them both to get their thousand yellow daisy happily-ever-afters.But I didn't get that. You didn't get that. What did we get? We got a little cliffhanger of sorts. I mean really it isn't a cliffhanger, but it kind of is because it left you wanting more...way more. I was prepared for this to not meet all of my high and glorious expectations. I was prepared to not be 100% happy with everything. But I assumed I would get closure. That if this is the very end, I would feel satisfied with it. I. AM. Not. Satisfied.I want more! In the words of my seven year old when the credits rolled on Fall..."you've got to be freaking kidding me! Tell me there is another season!"Tell me there is another season coming Amy Sherman-Palladino! Another something! Anything!! I can't live like this!(PS: If you want to know how it ended you have to watch because I am morally opposed to major spoilers. Really just giving any little details like the Kondo-ing and Taylor's agelessness makes me a little queasy. So watch! But be prepared to get Gilmored.)
November 21, 2016
A Very TCO3 Thanksgiving!
So, I wanted to write a delightful post about holidays and family traditions with cute anecdotes or helpful tips. I can't think of any. I mean none. The best I have is a cry for help because my giant wolf dog (actually husky mix but wolf dog sounds cooler) is suddenly in to shredding paper wrapping and pulling things out of boxes. You get how this could be problematic this time of year right? I've never had to worry about this sort of thing with him before, but apparently he thinks his job has become package inspector. I'm sure he's just worried for our safety.
But back to the topic at hand, the holidays. Can we talk fictional holidays? Pretty please? I'm in a writing mode, trying to get the first draft of my third TCO3 book done. My head is consumed by my characters. While they will be celebrating Christmas in book 3 (sorry for the mild spoiler), we totally skipped Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving and wondered what it would be like in the Andrews' home.
There will be food. The squad is always eating. I think the food would be traditional too. But maybe not, maybe they are the sort that don't cook a big meal with turkey and the normal sides but they order Chinese. Would they just order Chinese? Does it matter as long as there is a lot of food?
There would be fun. Like Gilmore Girls' style running commentary while watching the parade, or playing touch football in the back yard, or jokes about consecrated butter knives. (And I think we would all totally believe that Maggie would sing into a drumstick, or chopstick.)
No matter what the day holds, I know that to Claire and Zoe family is important...so is pie! There would be lots of pie. All of the pie!
(Pie needs more than one GIF)
(I want some pie now.)
After the pie, the second slice, the ranks of the Chosen would probably end the day by killing some demons because that's how they roll.
Turkey and fun and pie and demons and then more pie. That's my version of TCO3 thanksgiving. What's yours? Comment what you think the crew would be doing to celebrate Thanksgiving or what kind of pie they would eat before and after the shadow hunt. Then go enjoy all your family traditions and have a very Happy Thanksgiving. AND PIE!! (I don't know why I shouted that. I'm just super excited about pie.)
But back to the topic at hand, the holidays. Can we talk fictional holidays? Pretty please? I'm in a writing mode, trying to get the first draft of my third TCO3 book done. My head is consumed by my characters. While they will be celebrating Christmas in book 3 (sorry for the mild spoiler), we totally skipped Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving and wondered what it would be like in the Andrews' home.There will be food. The squad is always eating. I think the food would be traditional too. But maybe not, maybe they are the sort that don't cook a big meal with turkey and the normal sides but they order Chinese. Would they just order Chinese? Does it matter as long as there is a lot of food?There would be fun. Like Gilmore Girls' style running commentary while watching the parade, or playing touch football in the back yard, or jokes about consecrated butter knives. (And I think we would all totally believe that Maggie would sing into a drumstick, or chopstick.)No matter what the day holds, I know that to Claire and Zoe family is important...so is pie! There would be lots of pie. All of the pie!(Pie needs more than one GIF)(I want some pie now.)After the pie, the second slice, the ranks of the Chosen would probably end the day by killing some demons because that's how they roll.Turkey and fun and pie and demons and then more pie. That's my version of TCO3 thanksgiving. What's yours? Comment what you think the crew would be doing to celebrate Thanksgiving or what kind of pie they would eat before and after the shadow hunt. Then go enjoy all your family traditions and have a very Happy Thanksgiving. AND PIE!! (I don't know why I shouted that. I'm just super excited about pie.)
November 1, 2016
The Great Cover Reveal of 2016!!
It's here! It's finally here!!Well, it's one step closer to being here. My second book that is. We had to take some detours along the way but the closer we get the more I know they were worth it, those turns in the journey have made this moment all the sweeter.I won't keep gushing. Instead I will get to the matter at hand and that is getting to reveal to you the cover for book two in the The Chronicle of the Three trilogy...insert drum roll here...
Isn't it pretty? But what is it about you say? Where is the story heading in this second book you ask?Well, there's still angels and demons and Zoe and Claire and our little band of heroes fighting to keep back the darkness. And the Destroyer is coming closer along with the reaping. And surprise visitors pop up. And they are looking for how to defeat the Destroyer. And Michael is somewhere. Where is Michael? And who's the old guy in the driveway? And what about pie? And bacon puns and lollipops make life better. Does that peak your interest?Are you as excited as I am? Because I am REALLY excited. Like really really excited. I may be dancing. You people know me, of course I'm dancing. EEK!!!But that isn't the end of the fun and the exciting and the happy dancing. No, there is more!!To celebrate the reveal and the upcoming release of #TCO3ArmorBearer I am hosting a giveaway!!!You can check out all the ways to enter and the fabulous prizeshere. There are gift cards and signed books and swag and even an advanced copy of this beauty on the line so enter and then enter again and again before the deadline on Saturday.But I haven't read #TCO3Bloodline yet, what do I do? You are in luck, for this week only (11/1-11/5) you can get the digital version of The Chronicle of the Three: Bloodline for just $0.99. You read that right. So clickhereand get your copy now, then share the wonderful news of all the cover reveal day goodness with your friends!!!And don't forget to comment what you think of the Armor-Bearer cover and blurb because I would love to hear from you!
Isn't it pretty? But what is it about you say? Where is the story heading in this second book you ask?Well, there's still angels and demons and Zoe and Claire and our little band of heroes fighting to keep back the darkness. And the Destroyer is coming closer along with the reaping. And surprise visitors pop up. And they are looking for how to defeat the Destroyer. And Michael is somewhere. Where is Michael? And who's the old guy in the driveway? And what about pie? And bacon puns and lollipops make life better. Does that peak your interest?Are you as excited as I am? Because I am REALLY excited. Like really really excited. I may be dancing. You people know me, of course I'm dancing. EEK!!!But that isn't the end of the fun and the exciting and the happy dancing. No, there is more!!To celebrate the reveal and the upcoming release of #TCO3ArmorBearer I am hosting a giveaway!!!You can check out all the ways to enter and the fabulous prizeshere. There are gift cards and signed books and swag and even an advanced copy of this beauty on the line so enter and then enter again and again before the deadline on Saturday.But I haven't read #TCO3Bloodline yet, what do I do? You are in luck, for this week only (11/1-11/5) you can get the digital version of The Chronicle of the Three: Bloodline for just $0.99. You read that right. So clickhereand get your copy now, then share the wonderful news of all the cover reveal day goodness with your friends!!!And don't forget to comment what you think of the Armor-Bearer cover and blurb because I would love to hear from you!
October 17, 2016
Make Jesus Happy.
Make Jesus happy.If I had a life motto that would probably be it. That is what I want to do more than anything. I am sure I fall short of it a million times a day. I am sure there are a lot of times where God is shaking His head at me and my pitiful attempts. I am sure He gets a little disappointed when I fail by screaming at my kids in frustration or worrying more about those two hours of TV time than I am about the ten minutes of Bible reading I didn't do that day.Pass or fail it's still my goal. Every day. Not because I'm trying to earn something from God.I can't earn anything from God. This 'making Jesus happy thing' isn't about my salvation or God's love. He can't possibly love me anymore than He already does and He proved it by taking care of the salvation bit on the cross.No, making Jesus happy isn't about earning more love or brownie points or cool points or blessings. It's just about Jesus. He loves me. I love Him. I want to make Him happy.It's the same as any relationship, like with my husband or my children, I love them so I want them to be happy. I want to be a part of that happiness.This also isn't about holiness. Again, I can't earn anymore love or anymore salvation from God than He already has given me. But I can bless Him in return for His blessings. And the coolest thing that happens when I try to live in a way that makes Jesus happy is that people who don't yet know Jesus get to have an introduction. I don't do it to earn more love for myself but to share His love with others. It's just how it works.Living to make Jesus happy with me is really me living out the two greatest commandments. No, the 10 big ones haven't been specially prioritized. Jesus just summed them up, simplified them really, into two.1. Love God2. Love peopleI told you it was simple. But if we are honest the how is a little more complicated isn't it? Acting out these two love rules isn't so cut and dry.It's hard to always make the choice that Jesus would want us to make, or give up the things He would want us to give up. It's hard to love God sometimes because it doesn't alwaysfeelgood.It's also hard to love people because some people are hard to love. They don't react the way we want them to, or respond the way we want them to and so we don'tfeellike loving them either.But I can't control other people. I certainly can't control God. Icancontrol myself. I can take responsibility for my own thoughts, attitudes and actions. I can choose to please God even if it doesn't please people. I can choose to make Jesus happy even when it means, for the moment, that I don'tfeelhappy.Making Jesus happy isn't about my feelings after all. It's not about my wants or rights. It's about obedience to His Lordship in my life...in the big things and the small.It's about asking the question...God, does this make you happy withme? ( I emphasized that me part because I am trying to enforce the point that it's between you and Jesus and not other people, it's not about them, it's not contingent on them and how they behave. I just want to be clear because that part is hard.)God, are you happy with what I'm posting on social media?(Not, do I have the right to post it or I think it's from the best place in my heart but does it make you happy?)God, are you happy with the way I spoke to that person, or about them?(How they spoke to me isn't an excuse. The fact that they are in the spotlight or have a public platform also isn't an excuse. They are still a person after all, one Jesus loves and died for just like me, I think making Jesus happy means remembering that.)God, are you happy with how I spent my time today?(Was Jesus a priority? And this is less about quantity than it is about quality. God's math here isn't like ours. The minutes don't have to be even for God to come first.)God, are you happy with the way I treated my husband, my kids?(Man, this one can be really hard because it's the people we love the most who we tend to treat as the most common.)I could go on. The way I acted at the Walmart, the things I yelled at the car who cut me off in traffic, the impatience I showed, the bad attitude I'm carrying, the fear I'm letting overshadow my faith, the excuses I'm making to justify when I fail.Making Jesus happy can be complicated. It requires intentionality. It requires thinking before we speak and act. It requires self assessment. But the benefits far outweigh the cost.When we live to make Jesus happy we open ourselves up wide for God to work in awesome ways in and through our lives. I want to be wide open for God to use. I want Him to have plenty of room to move in my life. I want Him to be able to shout His love through me. I want to make Jesus happy. The end.
September 27, 2016
Grace is a Person
I feel like given the timing of this post, especially coming the day after the presidential debate, that I should be talking about politics and patriotism or some such thing. That I should share my opinion on National Anthem protests and police shootings. I'm not going to. Don't get me wrong, I have opinions, big ones, sassy ones. But at the end of the day my opinions won't change anything...grace will.
I'm not talking about kindness or patience with each other, though those would be welcome, I am talking about the unmerited favor, the undeserved forgiveness and mercy of God. All of the broken pieces of our world can be summed up in a need for God. The contempt and division and hate and fear are all just symptoms of a sin issue in our hearts, of the chasm between us and Him.Politics will never be able to heal the hearts of man...Grace will.For those whose feathers are already getting ruffled because your in the "we have too much grace talk" camp, calm down. First of all we can never have too much grace. We need it. We are sinners and we can not earn salvation on our own. Not possible. No amount of good we do will bridge the chasm sin created. Worrying that grace talk will somehow mean forgetting the truth of our need for holiness comes from a wrong view of grace. We see grace as a concept but it's really a person. Grace is Jesus. Jesus is grace. And Jesus is also truth (meaning the two go together, check John 1:14). But you don't get to the truth part without the grace part.I have been readingJesus Isby Judah Smith. (If you have read it then you know I am totally piggybacking on themes in that book here. But its good stuff and in case you haven't read it I'm writing this post.) He talks about how when we realize that grace is a person we are less likely to abuse it. He speaks of his wife and how much she loves him. He would never say that because she loves him so much he can cheat on her, because she will forgive him. Not that some wouldn't say it but you get the point, that sounds ridiculous when talking of one's spouse. It's equally ridiculous when speaking of Jesus. When grace is a person who loves us and leads through His love for us we are less likely to abuse that love relationship.We can't earn brownie points with God that get us a better spot in heaven. We can't be good enough on our own to keep our salvation. Salvation is the gift of God so no man can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) When I do good it isn't because I'm trying to earn something, or because I'm afraid of losing something, but because God loves me and I love Him and I want to show that love and respect that love.Second of all, we need to understand grace not fear it. When we understand grace then we understand how to extend it to others. No, we are not Jesus, we don't save anyone. Our rules and politics won't save anyone either. Grace will. We need to learn to see people as they are, not by our warped standard of goodness or rightness but as people, like us, who need grace. Until they experience, I mean really experience (not just know about) grace in the person of Jesus then soul transformation, the kind that heals hearts won't happen. And until hearts get healed contempt and fear and division and hate will continue to occupy our country and world.Rather than shouting our opinions perhaps we should shout the message of Grace. For those now getting your feathers ruffled because you "have a right to freedom of speech and that means sharing your views and opinions" I also say...calm down. You're right, you have the right to share your opinions but if you are a Christ-follower you have the responsibility to share the Gospel. It trumps everything (pun not intended). If my opinions can't be shared in a way that won't sacrifice the Gospel message then they need to be kept to myself. I am a follower of Christ before I am an American or a Republican or a Democrat.If I believe God is who He says He is and that He is in control and that He loves this world, including me, then I don't need to rant out of fear of election results. How that must wound the heart of Father God when we react out of fear rather than living in faith and speaking hope. We have hope. We should be the ones filled with peace at the prospect of the future because God is already there. When you speak your opinions they should always be filled with that peace, with the hope of a God who is in control. Of a God that loves no matter political affiliation or past mistakes. We need not fear but we should lead the way to the solution.We have the answer to all the world's problems...we need to share it...we need to live it...it is grace...it is Jesus.
I'm not talking about kindness or patience with each other, though those would be welcome, I am talking about the unmerited favor, the undeserved forgiveness and mercy of God. All of the broken pieces of our world can be summed up in a need for God. The contempt and division and hate and fear are all just symptoms of a sin issue in our hearts, of the chasm between us and Him.Politics will never be able to heal the hearts of man...Grace will.For those whose feathers are already getting ruffled because your in the "we have too much grace talk" camp, calm down. First of all we can never have too much grace. We need it. We are sinners and we can not earn salvation on our own. Not possible. No amount of good we do will bridge the chasm sin created. Worrying that grace talk will somehow mean forgetting the truth of our need for holiness comes from a wrong view of grace. We see grace as a concept but it's really a person. Grace is Jesus. Jesus is grace. And Jesus is also truth (meaning the two go together, check John 1:14). But you don't get to the truth part without the grace part.I have been readingJesus Isby Judah Smith. (If you have read it then you know I am totally piggybacking on themes in that book here. But its good stuff and in case you haven't read it I'm writing this post.) He talks about how when we realize that grace is a person we are less likely to abuse it. He speaks of his wife and how much she loves him. He would never say that because she loves him so much he can cheat on her, because she will forgive him. Not that some wouldn't say it but you get the point, that sounds ridiculous when talking of one's spouse. It's equally ridiculous when speaking of Jesus. When grace is a person who loves us and leads through His love for us we are less likely to abuse that love relationship.We can't earn brownie points with God that get us a better spot in heaven. We can't be good enough on our own to keep our salvation. Salvation is the gift of God so no man can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) When I do good it isn't because I'm trying to earn something, or because I'm afraid of losing something, but because God loves me and I love Him and I want to show that love and respect that love.Second of all, we need to understand grace not fear it. When we understand grace then we understand how to extend it to others. No, we are not Jesus, we don't save anyone. Our rules and politics won't save anyone either. Grace will. We need to learn to see people as they are, not by our warped standard of goodness or rightness but as people, like us, who need grace. Until they experience, I mean really experience (not just know about) grace in the person of Jesus then soul transformation, the kind that heals hearts won't happen. And until hearts get healed contempt and fear and division and hate will continue to occupy our country and world.Rather than shouting our opinions perhaps we should shout the message of Grace. For those now getting your feathers ruffled because you "have a right to freedom of speech and that means sharing your views and opinions" I also say...calm down. You're right, you have the right to share your opinions but if you are a Christ-follower you have the responsibility to share the Gospel. It trumps everything (pun not intended). If my opinions can't be shared in a way that won't sacrifice the Gospel message then they need to be kept to myself. I am a follower of Christ before I am an American or a Republican or a Democrat.If I believe God is who He says He is and that He is in control and that He loves this world, including me, then I don't need to rant out of fear of election results. How that must wound the heart of Father God when we react out of fear rather than living in faith and speaking hope. We have hope. We should be the ones filled with peace at the prospect of the future because God is already there. When you speak your opinions they should always be filled with that peace, with the hope of a God who is in control. Of a God that loves no matter political affiliation or past mistakes. We need not fear but we should lead the way to the solution.We have the answer to all the world's problems...we need to share it...we need to live it...it is grace...it is Jesus.
September 12, 2016
#TCO3 Soundtrack
Music has been a huge part of keeping my inner muse going on The Chronicle of the Three Trilogy.
Certain songs have consistently been playing while writing from the time I started Bloodline all the way through the final book which I am writing right now. (Plus a couple that my squad added.)
I thought it was time to share those pieces of musical inspiration with you. (And offer a huge shout out to all the artists who's creativity has inspired mine, you rock socks!!)
So let's get on to the music! (Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with the videos linked to these songs, I just linked them. And watched/listened to them. That is all. Proceed.)Demons-Imagine DragonsDon’t Stop Believing- JourneyRadioactive- Imagine DragonsWhat I’ve Overcome- FireflightFirst- Lauren DaigleRenegades- X AmbassadorsPhotograph-Ed SheerhanWasteland- NeedtoBreatheRise up- Andra DayBest Day of My Life- American AuthorsUnsteady- X ambassadorsI Bet My Life- Imagine DragonsSay Something- Great Big WorldKingdom Come- Civil WarsBe Still- The FrayUnbreakable- Jamie ScottLandslide- Fleetwood MacCenturies- Fall Out BoyBe Here Long- NeedtoBreatheAll I Need To Be- FireflightLord I’m Ready Now- PlumbHard Love- NeedtoBreatheIf you've read Bloodline I'd love to hear which songs you think should make the soundtrack, so leave me a comment!
Certain songs have consistently been playing while writing from the time I started Bloodline all the way through the final book which I am writing right now. (Plus a couple that my squad added.)I thought it was time to share those pieces of musical inspiration with you. (And offer a huge shout out to all the artists who's creativity has inspired mine, you rock socks!!)So let's get on to the music! (Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with the videos linked to these songs, I just linked them. And watched/listened to them. That is all. Proceed.)Demons-Imagine DragonsDon’t Stop Believing- JourneyRadioactive- Imagine DragonsWhat I’ve Overcome- FireflightFirst- Lauren DaigleRenegades- X AmbassadorsPhotograph-Ed SheerhanWasteland- NeedtoBreatheRise up- Andra DayBest Day of My Life- American AuthorsUnsteady- X ambassadorsI Bet My Life- Imagine DragonsSay Something- Great Big WorldKingdom Come- Civil WarsBe Still- The FrayUnbreakable- Jamie ScottLandslide- Fleetwood MacCenturies- Fall Out BoyBe Here Long- NeedtoBreatheAll I Need To Be- FireflightLord I’m Ready Now- PlumbHard Love- NeedtoBreatheIf you've read Bloodline I'd love to hear which songs you think should make the soundtrack, so leave me a comment!
August 26, 2016
How To Make Friends
Actually I don't really know how to make friends. Like, I don't know the five or ten or twelve steps a person should take to locate a potential friend and get them to be your friend. Really I don't think there are specific steps involved at all. The process is either much simpler or much more complex than that.What I do know is...1. We all need friends. We are built for human interaction and relationship. We need people in our lives who see us, love us, accept us, encourage us, motivate us, challenge us, and support us. If they also obsess about the same TV shows and chocolate with us its a bonus. (That's a shout out to you my bestie. You know who you are.) We are not meant to do life alone. God has friends in mind for you, good friends, friends that will be there for you and help you become the person He wants you to be and do all the great and wonderful things He wants you to do.2. Our friends influence our futures. The people we spend our time with, seek advice from, rant to, cry to...they hold sway in our lives. That power can either bring us to a better place or a worse one. Our friends can either be the people that draw us closer to God and our dreams or pull us further away. They can plant seeds of encouragement and empowerment or doubt and negativity. So we need to be wise in choosing our friends.That seems a little weird right, the idea of choosing our friends. I mean its logical, we didn't create them with a chemistry set in our basement...hopefully. But too often our closest friendships aren't intentional, there wasn't a choosing but rather a happening that brought us together. We didn't take resumes and hold interviews to make sure we were compatible. One day we were just friends. Most friendships are happy accidents.In the third grade there was a girl in my class that I didn't get along with, from day one we were at odds with one another. I can't for the life of me tell you why. But she didn't like me and that meant I didn't like her. About the third day of third grade she made me cry on the playground and then I'm sure I said something back that made her cry. Again, I don't know why, what happened, what she said, what I said. In the end it doesn't matter. I cried and then she cried and then our teacher pulled us aside and made us apologize to each other. Every day thereafter (for at least 3rd and 4th grade until I moved to a new school) we were best friends. That makes absolutely no sense. But really that's how a lot of our friendships are. We weren't friends and then we were and we don't really know why. But we liked them and they liked us and we like some of the same things so it made sense. Its a wonderful anomaly.But sometimes its not.Sometimes that illogical friendship is also not a healthy friendship. I don't mean abusive or controlling. Though that is very bad. What I mean is sometimes we become friends, best friends even, with someone who isn't bad but they aren't good for us. They pull us off our course. They don't mean to, they aren't trying to but they do. And we let them because they are our friend. But maybe they shouldn't be. Not like that anyway. Maybe they can be someone we chat with in the halls or over a lunch table. Maybe on occasion we go to a movie. But they aren't who we rant to or cry to or seek advice from. They are in our outer circle of acquaintance but not our inner circle of influence.We should be intentional with our friendships.No matter how the relationship started we need to ask ourselves if its good, if its the kind of friendship that is going to get us where God wants us to go, if its good for us. If the answer is no we need to set boundaries. How strict those boundaries will depend on how far off track we might get pulled. This is hard because we don't want to hurt people but keeping someone from influencing you negatively doesn't mean you can't allow yourself to influence them positively, to be there when they need a shoulder or a hand.For those who are saying well thats all well and good but if I do that I won't have any friends left. My friends aren't perfect and they might not be helping me grow but they are all I have. I submit that they don't have to be all you have. Be intentional about finding a new friend, a good friend, the kind of friend who's influence will get you to new and better places. Pray for God to bring you that friend and then open yourself up to seeing them because they may look different then the picture in your mind. And most importantly, to have good friends you have to be a good friend. Be the kind of friend you want.Some of the best friendships may start as happy accidents but with a little intentionality they can become the stuff of legend. Like they will write songs about you and books and Lifetime movies. Okay, that's a little far, but they will become the friends you have for a lifetime, no matter the distance between you, they will be the people you can count on...not just for bingewatching and chocolate obsessions.
August 7, 2016
New YA Dystopian Idea
The world has never truly been at peace. War has always been somewhere in the backdrop, rearing its ugly head to remind us that life is fragile. But it was never like this. Even in the midst of turmoil there was a thread of hope, a common interest in helping others, a desire for the greater good. We wanted to be at peace, to be unified under some common banner, it was deep in our bones, the want to be one.I think that's how this all started, as a tool to bring us together, to create something that would give us all common ground. The obsession turned dark. The method of our unification became our undoing.
Fifty years, that's how long it took. Fifty short years to segregate the world in a constant state of war. Not like we had known before, not seasons and skirmishes across far borders. No, this was war that ravaged, war that built walls, war that found its way into every corner of the world and left no one untouched. A singular society ripped into factions, separated by walls, both physical, mental, and emotional. The decades drawing those together who had pledged their allegiance to a certain ideal.To the north were the instinctual. They are the underdogs, the unrefined. But they are tenacious, fearsome as they fight from some primal place, driven by the electric energy of timeless wisdom that courses in their veins.To the west were the brave. They are warriors that live for battle. They eat, sleep and breath it. Young and old spend their days training or fighting, like there is a fire inside them that can't be satiated.To the east are the largest faction, the mystical. They do not surrender to magic though, but rather study it. A faction bent on analysis and science. They are calm, almost icy in their demeanor and in their endeavor to discover all that the well of knowledge has to offer.These three factions fight constantly, each trying to take control. In the early years the conflicts were small but everywhere. Members of each faction fighting for a street corner, or town square. They grew. The battles getting bigger with the spoils until all combat became centered in one location, the gymnasium. Members from each sector gathering in a large arena to wage their war for supremacy. The monsters at their disposal wreaking havoc on one another until one stands victorious. But it never lasts. Another day means another battle and no one ever really wins. Peace shrinks further on the horizon.But there are some who refused to take sides, to surrender to this new world. They are the outliers. They have become outcasts forced to meander about, living in the wastelands to the south. They are nomads without a true home but they have hope. They have a grasp on what the world can look like without the lines that pull us apart. From them will come one to show the others, one who will stand against the divisions and renew peace. One that will capture all of the monsters, master them and finally stand in lasting victory.(PS: in case you couldn't tell, this was me playing off of Pokemon Go because I was bored and started rambling and then this happened. But if someone wants to jump on the craze and turn this thing into a movie I would totally be all for that so call me. and special thanks to one of my awesome students for creating the map pictured. She rocks socks!!)
Fifty years, that's how long it took. Fifty short years to segregate the world in a constant state of war. Not like we had known before, not seasons and skirmishes across far borders. No, this was war that ravaged, war that built walls, war that found its way into every corner of the world and left no one untouched. A singular society ripped into factions, separated by walls, both physical, mental, and emotional. The decades drawing those together who had pledged their allegiance to a certain ideal.To the north were the instinctual. They are the underdogs, the unrefined. But they are tenacious, fearsome as they fight from some primal place, driven by the electric energy of timeless wisdom that courses in their veins.To the west were the brave. They are warriors that live for battle. They eat, sleep and breath it. Young and old spend their days training or fighting, like there is a fire inside them that can't be satiated.To the east are the largest faction, the mystical. They do not surrender to magic though, but rather study it. A faction bent on analysis and science. They are calm, almost icy in their demeanor and in their endeavor to discover all that the well of knowledge has to offer.These three factions fight constantly, each trying to take control. In the early years the conflicts were small but everywhere. Members of each faction fighting for a street corner, or town square. They grew. The battles getting bigger with the spoils until all combat became centered in one location, the gymnasium. Members from each sector gathering in a large arena to wage their war for supremacy. The monsters at their disposal wreaking havoc on one another until one stands victorious. But it never lasts. Another day means another battle and no one ever really wins. Peace shrinks further on the horizon.But there are some who refused to take sides, to surrender to this new world. They are the outliers. They have become outcasts forced to meander about, living in the wastelands to the south. They are nomads without a true home but they have hope. They have a grasp on what the world can look like without the lines that pull us apart. From them will come one to show the others, one who will stand against the divisions and renew peace. One that will capture all of the monsters, master them and finally stand in lasting victory.(PS: in case you couldn't tell, this was me playing off of Pokemon Go because I was bored and started rambling and then this happened. But if someone wants to jump on the craze and turn this thing into a movie I would totally be all for that so call me. and special thanks to one of my awesome students for creating the map pictured. She rocks socks!!)
July 18, 2016
Hulu Betrayed Me
Okay, so maybe betrayal is a little dramatic. But that is how deep my television addiction goes. Here's what happened...
I got home from vacation, a time where I didn't watch much tv, if you can even imagine such a thing, and was ready to sit down and relax with one of my shows. I turn on the Apple TV and click on my favorite app, Hulu. I mean they got me. They understood what I needed for optimum television viewing. All my favorite shows were organized, new episodes ready in my queue. After a week of lake time and kids and driving and cleaning up vomit in a gas station bathroom (I'll save that for another post) I was ready for some quiet time.But Hulu changed while I was gone. My beloved queue, the work of years of television obsession and OCD, was now replaced by the Watchlist. I proceeded with caution thinking it was just a name change, but no, my carefully plotted queue was now a mess of shows and little red icon badges. It was pure chaos and I DIDN'T LIKE IT!Yes, I'm yelling and I'm sorry but I was caught off guard and I'm still processing the treachery of it all.What's the problem you ask? Well, here is the problem. I have shows I love. I have shows I never want to miss an episode of. Those were worthy of the queue. They were the ones I wanted to see lined up in a pretty little ABC ordered row telling me, 'Hi, we love you and we have a new episode!'Then there are shows I just like. I watch them when nothing else is available. When I'm bored. When it's summer and my beloveds are on hiatus. I don't want them in my queue. They have not earned it. Now suddenly they are all over this, this watchlist shouting at me with those red badges and shoving my precious ones to the bottom of the list.To make matters worse there are shows I don't even like, shows I tried and they didn't pass mustard or shows that have been canceled and can no longer love me in return and these are also filling up mywatchlist(please note I am saying this word in my head with disdain). They don't even have the manners to show up in alphabetic order, or to let me prioritize them based on my level of emotional investment. They are just there.I DON'T LIKE IT!!!!And, yes, I can remove a show from the evil watchlist. But I shouldn't have to. I should get to control my own television preferences, not you HULU! Here's why, because I know you are wondering. Hulu can't be trusted to tell me which shows I will like. I know this because they already suggest shows to me. They say they picked them just for me but they only prove that they don't know me at all. What shows up in their little "top picks for you"?1. Korean Soap Operas. I have never watched a Korean Soap Opera. I don't watch regular soap operas since they changed Jason on General Hospital, and I DON"T SPEAK KOREAN!2. Everything Anime. I HAVE NEVER WATCHED ANYTHING ANIME IN MY WHOLE LIFE AND I"M NOT GOING TO START NOW! ( I don't know why I shouted that but I'm upset.)3. Jimmy Fallon Clips. Okay I'll give them that one because who doesn't love some Jimmy Fallon.4. Anything Real Housewives, Kardashian, or Teen Mom. Just because I bingewatched every episode of Hoarders during a lost period after the Originals season finale doesn't mean I'm up for anything reality TV. No Hulu, NO!I now find myself wondering why I am telling you all any of this. I guess I needed to get my frustration out. I feel better now. For the moment anyway. September is coming, the most wonderful time of the year when premiere week is upon us. (Except the CW, they don't premiere until October but it's usually my birthday week so I like to think they wait just for me. The CW gets me too.) We will see how things with the watchlist(still saying it with disdain) go when my beautiful darlings are back and my casual summer attitude is no more. We shall see Hulu, we shall see. And if I don't like it their will be wrath. (Probably not, but I will tweet them again and with a mad face emoji.)
I got home from vacation, a time where I didn't watch much tv, if you can even imagine such a thing, and was ready to sit down and relax with one of my shows. I turn on the Apple TV and click on my favorite app, Hulu. I mean they got me. They understood what I needed for optimum television viewing. All my favorite shows were organized, new episodes ready in my queue. After a week of lake time and kids and driving and cleaning up vomit in a gas station bathroom (I'll save that for another post) I was ready for some quiet time.But Hulu changed while I was gone. My beloved queue, the work of years of television obsession and OCD, was now replaced by the Watchlist. I proceeded with caution thinking it was just a name change, but no, my carefully plotted queue was now a mess of shows and little red icon badges. It was pure chaos and I DIDN'T LIKE IT!Yes, I'm yelling and I'm sorry but I was caught off guard and I'm still processing the treachery of it all.What's the problem you ask? Well, here is the problem. I have shows I love. I have shows I never want to miss an episode of. Those were worthy of the queue. They were the ones I wanted to see lined up in a pretty little ABC ordered row telling me, 'Hi, we love you and we have a new episode!'Then there are shows I just like. I watch them when nothing else is available. When I'm bored. When it's summer and my beloveds are on hiatus. I don't want them in my queue. They have not earned it. Now suddenly they are all over this, this watchlist shouting at me with those red badges and shoving my precious ones to the bottom of the list.To make matters worse there are shows I don't even like, shows I tried and they didn't pass mustard or shows that have been canceled and can no longer love me in return and these are also filling up mywatchlist(please note I am saying this word in my head with disdain). They don't even have the manners to show up in alphabetic order, or to let me prioritize them based on my level of emotional investment. They are just there.I DON'T LIKE IT!!!!And, yes, I can remove a show from the evil watchlist. But I shouldn't have to. I should get to control my own television preferences, not you HULU! Here's why, because I know you are wondering. Hulu can't be trusted to tell me which shows I will like. I know this because they already suggest shows to me. They say they picked them just for me but they only prove that they don't know me at all. What shows up in their little "top picks for you"?1. Korean Soap Operas. I have never watched a Korean Soap Opera. I don't watch regular soap operas since they changed Jason on General Hospital, and I DON"T SPEAK KOREAN!2. Everything Anime. I HAVE NEVER WATCHED ANYTHING ANIME IN MY WHOLE LIFE AND I"M NOT GOING TO START NOW! ( I don't know why I shouted that but I'm upset.)3. Jimmy Fallon Clips. Okay I'll give them that one because who doesn't love some Jimmy Fallon.4. Anything Real Housewives, Kardashian, or Teen Mom. Just because I bingewatched every episode of Hoarders during a lost period after the Originals season finale doesn't mean I'm up for anything reality TV. No Hulu, NO!I now find myself wondering why I am telling you all any of this. I guess I needed to get my frustration out. I feel better now. For the moment anyway. September is coming, the most wonderful time of the year when premiere week is upon us. (Except the CW, they don't premiere until October but it's usually my birthday week so I like to think they wait just for me. The CW gets me too.) We will see how things with the watchlist(still saying it with disdain) go when my beautiful darlings are back and my casual summer attitude is no more. We shall see Hulu, we shall see. And if I don't like it their will be wrath. (Probably not, but I will tweet them again and with a mad face emoji.)
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