3 in 1

Three-in-one... this is usually a DEAL. A steal. Three things for the price of one? Suh-WEET.

When it comes to retail. Or free coffee. Or the cell phone bill. Or college degrees.

But probably NOT when it comes to livin' three days in one 24 hour chunk of time. That's just too much for my little brain to handle.

I have a class on Wednesdays from 6-8:45pm, in which we are supposed to get a ten minute break halfway through. She warned us that sometimes we will be so heavily involved in discussion on the reading material that we will not even want our break! Last night, she assumed, was one of those nights. She assumed wrong. She looked at her watch around 8:00, after discussing Victorian Literature and Jane Eyre for two hours, and announced that we don't need a break tonight. 

I was so sad.

I mean, I love Jane Eyre and discussing literature as much as the next person, but I felt like I was on my third day by that point. By the time it gets dark outside, I don't even remember the morning. When we finally finished the oh-so-invigorating literary discussion, I hurried off to my car, drove home, brushed my teeth and climbed into bed. 

When my alarm went off, after almost eight hours of sleep, I was so sad again. 
Yes, eight hours. How is a person still so exhausted to the point of sadness after eight stinkin' hours?! Something is not right with this picture....

But then I chose to listen to "Today is the Day," by Lincoln Brewster, as I drove Chan to school... I just love sweet reminders of TRUTH, and I played that song intentionally because I knew I needed this particular reminder:

"This is the day the Lord has made; 

let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it." 

Psalm 118:24

Rejoice!
Not contingent on the contents or circumstances.
Simple acknowledgement that God MADE this day, regardless of how we feel about it and a call to action: REJOICE; be GLAD!

Because we have so much to be thankful for.

Because ultimately, God is in control. 

Because beauty comes from brokenness.

Because we are dust and deserve nothing; but God is full of mercy and grace and invites us to live a life of freedom.

Because our sins - all wrong doings, hurtful intentions, anything that moves us away from God - are washed away. In their place? A clean heart. Restoration.

Because His plans for you and me are GOOD. Not just a little good or sometimes good, but all the time.

Because He knows your heart intimately. He sees your sorrow and joy.

[Vol25, Etsy]

One Step at a Time

I am a huge advocate of TIME.

I would prefer to wake up earlier than necessary in the morning so I don't have to rush.

I need time to make decisions.

I always recommend couples take time in relationships.

But on the other hand... I really like to sleep in. Also, I don't like the actual process of decision making and my heart tends to try to skip to the end result so as to miss the messy middle part. And relationships? Shoot, that's just complicated. I'm the kind of girl who tries to figure out if I could marry him after the first coffee date. So, it's true, sometimes I forget the importance of time. Regardless of how much I may advocate it in counsel and conversation, my natural tendency is still to RUSH. 

I know it sounds like I'm contradicting myself. But let's just be real. I know you've done it, too.

It's kind of like Paul's frustration in the book of Romans, "As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing" (7:17-19)

Sure, I can appreciate the value of time and waiting and preparation.

But when it comes down to it, I don't generally live like I appreciate it.

I live like I want to wish it all away.

"The trick is to enjoy life. Don't wish away your days waiting for better ones ahead." - Marjorie Pay Hinckley

I love how this is worded... "The trick is to ENJOY life." It's a trick. A little known fact. The shortcut to JOY is learning to enjoy each day, rather than wishing them away in anticipation of what lies ahead.

It's somewhat comical that we do that. [anticipate "better" days ahead.]

We don't even know what lies ahead! 

Who am I that I can predict the future and assume that everything I plan and hope for will come to fruition the exact way that I plan and hope for them, too. 

Sure, sometimes that happens.

But probably more often than not we are surprised by what lies ahead... 

new opportunities.

adventures.

I have to remind myself {rather often} to simply take life one step at a time.

Contentment.

There's no need to get ahead of myself. 

Just live with what I have and where I'm at TODAY, and hold tomorrow with open hands and an open heart. 

Enjoy what you have today and get excited about whatever it is that God is preparing you for. 

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." 

-- Hebrews 11:1

Slippin' on the Ice

For those of you who don't know.... or who live in places like California or Texas... Boise has been COLD lately! Possibly the coldest temperatures I've ever experienced, with the added bonus of a few inches of snow on the ground for three and a half weeks. Then on top of all that white fluffy goodness (we all know how much I love the snow!), we had an ice storm yesterday morning. The roads were completely covered again and the snow everywhere else was topped with a thick layer of ice. 

Though we have had very little rain/snow since yesterday, when I opened my front door at 6:45 this morning, everything was especially shimmery, shiny and slick. Wearing my favorite, but not-so-weather-appropriate, winter shoes [moccasins] I made my way down the slope of the driveway to start my car and let it warm up.

Like I said, the snow has been around for so long that I've gotten used to it. Hence, the decision to wear moccasins. No big deal, right? I'm an old pro at this winter weather business.

Wrong, apparently.

I slid around a little bit, which made me smile. (I appreciate a good challenge.)

I made it about five steps farther when I slipped so bad I fell backwards - and luckily caught myself with my hands rather than my bum. That one made me laugh out loud. (I'm not quite sure why I found these things so hilarious this morning.) I kept going, but moved with slower, more sure footsteps and calculated balance. 

Then came the real test: driving. 

The only good thing about my car (besides the fact that it runs, for now), is that a friend let me use her snow tires this winter. Again, I'm pretty used to driving in the snow and such because it has lingered for so long. 

But after sliding down my driveway on my own two feet, I wasn't really sure how the driving attempt would go...

Fine.
It was completely fine.
I barely slid the whole way to work.

When I got to work my boss asked how the roads were. 
"Oh, driving was fine... it was walking I seemed to have trouble with!"

Isn't it maybe slightly humorous that I struggled and stumbled over the most basic task (walking), but the more difficult task (driving) was simple and smooth as can be?

Hmm. I see a correlation to life here. 

How often do we get hung up on the little things? 

To take that concept even a little further, if my legs had slipped out from under me and I lost my balance completely and fell with a smack to the icy pavement... that would have caused a lot more problems. One simple, quick decision to wear moccasins, to walk down the driveway instead of trudging safely through the snow in the yard, and walking a little to quickly and haphazardly for the icy conditions... they could have led to something more serious than a little sliding that only made me laugh.

So many times we allow "little" thoughts to slip into our minds and set up camp or "little" feelings to creep into our hearts and wreak havoc.

They don't start out as huge catastrophes, like crashing a car on the ice... just little, tiny, fleeting thoughts, like slippin' around on the ice in moccasins. 

Maybe it's just a little bit of envy. 
I wish I had a house like that.
I wish I had that car.
I wish I was in a relationship with a man/woman who cherished me.
I wish my bank account was brimming over with extra money for ski trips, school fees, textbooks, dinners out, giving awesome birthday presents, visiting my brother and sister-in-law, etc.
I wish everything I wanted to do in a week actually fit into the seven day period allotted.

[So many wishes, leads to discontentment, which leads to an UN-enjoyed life.]

Those sneaky little thoughts creep in and can reap major consequences.

Maybe it's just a little bit of worry.
How will I pay bills this month?
How will I ever get everything done that I need to do?
If I don't pass this test, then I won't pass this class, then I won't graduate from college.
What if 'they' think I'm just not good enough?

[So much worry, leads to insecurity, which leads to an UN-enjoyed life.]

... I think I see a pattern here.

It's not the UN-enjoyed life that leads to insecurity/worry or discontentment/envy. It's the opposite. It's the little things that we tend to get all tripped up on. Just like the ice on the driveway - no big deal compared to driving the car; but clearly caused greater problems.

There must be something to all those little things. I bet if you look at a life that is un-enjoyed, you will eventually come across something "little" that took root and grew into something big and out of control. We best be on guard and watch for those things.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." 

Hebrews 12:1-2

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 

1 Peter 5:8

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: 

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." 

1 John 1:5-7 

Monday Morning Musings | Messed up sleep + Insecurities

Numero Uno -
Lesson Learned: Refrain *at all costs* from slipping in a two hour nap to recover from a messed up sleep schedule two days before classes start. This will probably result in over compensating for the lost sleep and cause you to be wide eyed and tossy-turny all. night. long. Not to mention the groggy-post nap feeling that might make you crave coffee at dinnertime. This, I assure you, will make matters worse. Then you just may want to cry when your electronic rooster alarm on your phone starts blaring at 5:30am. 

-------------------------------

Numero Dos - That moment of realization...
Not of greater understanding of truth or grace or love. 
Not a moment of peace or vision or direction. 
It's that moment of realizing that you acted in some way out of insecurity... maybe even knowingly at the time. Have you ever thought something like this: 
"I think that maybe the only reason I just said/did that is because I'm insecure. But I don't really know why, so I'm just going to go with it and figure it out later." 
There's just something in your 'gut' that says, "this is not right."
Sometimes I ignore those thoughts.
*cringe*
Gross. Sin is gross. This insecurity that is bubbling to the surface I think is rooted in pride. Yuck. 
It's rooted in pride and is carried out by fear of man... simply caring too much about what other people think. It's making the need for approval from other people in my life BIGGER than my fear, honor & trust in the Lord. Whatever you fear will control you, consume you.

Proverbs 29:25 "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."

Living, Waiting, Learning

Have you ever purposefully not thought about something because you had absolutely no idea what to do about it?

What about that point in the future where your plans end and the unknown begins... what do you do with that?

Or maybe you have experienced begging God for answers, direction, peace, and vision for a long time with little revelation.

Sound familiar?

I'm beginning to understand that all three of those instances are a natural part of life.

Waiting. 

The period of waiting tends to be full of questions.

I asked a few of these questions as I wrote in my journal this morning: 

What should I focus / spend the bulk of my energy on this semester?

Where should I 'pour out'?

Whom should I pour into / invest in?

What is my purpose in this season?

It's probably wise to ask those questions every so often. Sometimes I just write them, pray them, and then wait to see how things unfold. It's a little bit exciting. Like waiting to open a present on my birthday or Christmas that has been identifiable for months... waiting for just the right time to be revealed and enjoyed. That's kind of like waiting for God's plan.

We should be building up eager anticipation, not anxiety. 

Our need to control (a.k.a., sin) leads to anxiety. Why do I have to know what is going to happen tomorrow, or what I'm going to do after I graduate? I'm not even there yet! I can live, wait, and learn today and by the time tomorrow comes, I am confident that I will know where I'm supposed to go and what I'm supposed to do. God's plan seems to unfold in such a way that we always know what we need to know when we need to know it. 

So what about the meantime? 

It's kind of a revolutionary concept to not fill the waiting time with anxiety... so what should we do instead?

How about you ENJOY life. Do what you love. Try out a few new experiences. Invest in relationships, deepen old ones. Get involved. Serve your community. Do something with purpose, even if it's only in the temporary time of waiting. There is always something you can do; it's okay that you don't do it for the rest of your life.

Just do SOMETHING. For goodness' sake.

How about using that time to LEARN. You never know what God may prepare you for in that waiting period when you take 'random' classes, read 'random' books, and listen to 'random' podcasts. Invest in yourself by learning something new. Learn something your passionate about. Learn about yourself. Don't waste away that waiting time by doing nothing. 

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly." 2 Timothy 2:15

Waiting on the Lord is not the time to engage in useless things. 

Keeping taking steps of faith toward the unknown, even in the unknown. Be confident in the Lord's faithfulness that there is a moment coming soon when what was once unknown will become known. 

"I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:13-15

The Goodness of Thankful Thursdays

I have grown to love this day.

There are days that I remember it's Thursday and think, "Yes! I get to write about thankfulness today!"

But there are [many] other days, as you know well, that I grumble [in my head], "Oh great. I have to write about thankfulness today." We all know those are the days we NEED to dwell on a few blessings for a little make over. Not a make over that simply covers up and hides the blemishes of a rotten attitude, but one that eliminates them completely.

I don't write about the things I'm thankful on Thursdays so that everyone can see all of the great things in my life. I don't tell you them to brag. I don't make this list to compare any of my life to yours or to appear overly optimistic. Because really, it is so much more than mere optimism. 

Secular self-help books tell you to be optimistic. The Bible tells you to be realistic: We are  a fallen, depraved people living in a broken world. 

Not very optimistic, right?

But God's Word doesn't stop there; that's not the end of the story.

There's HOPE.
We are redeemed by a Savior who desires an intimate relationship with you.
We are infinitely loved by a Father who cares about the intricate details of your life.

Though this news is out-of-this-world, it is a very REAL part of our story.

This is why I choose to dwell on the blessings and sweetness from the Lord. I am not JUST trying to be optimistic, I am being realistic in recognizing the goodness of God in this broken world and celebrating His constant provision. He is forever Faithful.

When was the last time you moved beyond optimism into a realistic understanding of the blessings He bestows and our great need for His provision in every area of our lives?

A heart so full of gratitude leaves no room for bitterness, discontentment, or hardness. My heart softens at the remembrance of His goodness in my life.

Today I am thankful for...

-- God providing financially for school this semester: I checked my BSU account last weekend and thought I owed over $1000. Apparently I was looking at the information wrong, and turns out I only owed a THIRD of that! What a relief.

-- Health: While it seems practically everyone I know has endured the flu this season, I was only sick with an awful cold for a day and a half and have been fine since. Also - I skied last night and wore a helmet for the first time. I also crashed real hard for the first time. I tumbled, rolled, and hit my head on the icy snow. My first thought: I am SO thankful that I "randomly" was able to borrow a helmet!

-- Fun: Still soaking up the last few days of Christmas break before classes begin next week. Loving the extra rest and downtime. AND the awesome trips to the mountain to ski with friends. Even though I crashed, I was doing probably my best job skiing better! That's probably WHY I crashed; I was getting pretty confident. :-) SO Fun!

-- Sweet friendships all over the country: And the technology to stay in touch easily! I am so blessed by friends everywhere. I am a rich girl with all of these relationships touched by the Lord!

-- Snow: There is STILL snow on the ground! I've lost track of how many days... but I am taking it all in because I absolutely love it. Seriously. Driving in it, playing, taking pictures. It is a White Winter Wonderland out there.

-- God's Plan: I love seeing His plan unfold, jumping into the adventure that lies ahead, and fully expecting that His intentions for me are GOOD and I can rely on His love, no matter what happens. I see confirmation that I am moving in the right direction and that is EXCITING! 

The Perfect Coffee.

What does it take for you to get out of bed in the morning? What is it that helps you wake up and get ready for the day?

What do you absolutely need to make it through the day?

Where do you run to in the midst of Hard times? Good times? Sorrows? Celebrations?

I cringe when I hear phrases like this:

"I just need my coffee."

"I really need a drink."

"I need to watch a movie or read a book and just veg."

And my favorite:
"I just need a MAN in my life."

I cringe, especially when those desires come straight from my own heart and out of my own mouth.

What we really mean when we say things like that is, 
"I just want to escape from reality. 
I need something outside of myself to turn to."

That desire reflects a sincere, God-given need in each of our hearts. He gave us a need for HIM. We do feel restless at times, because our hearts were made for something greater than this world. We do search for Someone outside of ourselves, because we were each made uniquely for an intimate relationship with our Divine Creator.

It's not wrong or weak or shallow. We really DO need something. 
But often times, we put the wrong "thing" in first place.

Exhibit A: My cup of coffee.

I have developed a distinct love for coffee over the past few years. Not necessarily an, "I need coffee to peel my eyelids open in the morning" kind of need. It's mostly just the idea of coffee. The consistency, routine - as long as there's creamer available. The image of sipping on a warm cup of sweet, french vanilla flavored coffee in a fun mug, while watching the snow fall and reading a book. It all encompasses my favorite feeling.

But do I need it? Not at all.

I think we have a strong tendency to rely heavily on things that will not sustain us. 

Even the caffeine and sugar in coffee will only give you energy and keep you awake for so long. It won't last. The sedation caused by alcohol may increase your problems rather than eliminate them, if used poorly. The escape from reality brought on by a good storyline in a book or movie is temporary. You will have to return to the real world eventually and experience your own emotions and hardships, not just live vicariously to fictional characters. And whatever loneliness you feel now will not magically disappear when you enter into a relationship; in fact, relationships tend to bring out a lot of mess in your heart. They're not easy.

None of those things will fully and completely satisfy. 

They are not bad in and of themselves, but when used in such a way so as to fulfill the deepest desires of your heart or become idols, they will most definitely leave your searching heart continuing to search.

Seek FIRST His Kingdom & His righteousness.

These are the thoughts that came to mind as I drank coffee from that mug this morning. I do enjoy it, and many other things, but first and foremost may I seek the King and my place in His Kingdom. 

Life is sweet.

Whitney English -  http://blog.whitneyenglish.com/the-struggle-is-part-of-the-story/

Sometimes a mere seven word phrase can bring to mind a whole myriad of thoughts, memories, emotions, convictions. 

I found this little piece of art on Pinterest last night and it immediately stirred something in my heart.

Hope; yes, hope is what it stirred up.

The struggle is part of the story.

This concept came up in conversation with a sweet friend last week in discussing a book by Donald Miller that I have yet to read, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.

Every story needs some kind of conflict. That's why people read books and watch movies. Something bad happens in hope for some kind of redemption by the end. Lack of closure makes us uneasy. But would you sit at the edge of a sticky movie theater seat watching a story with absolutely no conflict at all? Probably not. You're more likely to fall asleep... and who wants to pay $12.00 for that?! 

We celebrate conflict in story because of this: the greater the struggle, the greater the triumph. 

So why do we avoid conflict in real life? 

We are LIVING God's story of redemption. 

If there was no struggle or tension, then the redemption would seem meaningless. 

This is why we can push through the conflict, 
endure the struggle, 
and embrace tension 
(whether personal or interpersonal) 
because we have a hope in Jesus that expects a glorious redemption in the end.

The struggle is part of the story. It's necessary.

"And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-6

He is FAITHFUL & His promises endure FOREVER!

God is crafting together the story of your life and each intricate detail has significance.

Even the ones we'd rather he revise or leave out all together.

Thankful Thursday {one day at a time}

Hello!

Happy Snow Day!

Well, at least we're having a snow day here! I swear, when I find out that school is canceled due to snow (even though I'm 24 years old AND still on Christmas break from classes; therefore, the excitement and even relevance of snow days should be a thing of the past. One would think...), it triggers something in my brain that causes me to revert back to my 13 year old self. 

The childhood me who would pray earnestly for feet upon feet of snow and then wake early to sit in the dark living room, wrapped up in a blanket, and watch the local news on TV waiting to see if we were blessed with treacherous enough road conditions to scare the district superintendent into closing schools for the day. My mom would wake up to the blue flicker of the television light and know that I was sitting out there awaiting the verdict. Snow days are definitely second in my book to Christmas morning. Always have been and I'm sure always will be.

I remember one particular snow day where as soon as the school closures were announced and celebrated I bounded off to my closet to dig out my snow gear... then spent FOREVER prodding my little brother and pleading with him to PLEASE come outside and play with me! I have no doubt that if we still lived together, the morning of this snow day probably would not have varied much.

Not only did we have a snow day here, but apparently this has not happened since December 1, 2010. Definitely a rarity. Definitely a reason to celebrate. Definitely tried to celebrate and then failed at making a snowman AND eagerly shoveled the driveway too early.... right before another couple inches fell. Pshh.

Thankful Thursday, yes, posting on Friday. Partly because I got interrupted yesterday in writing the first half of this post. Partly because that seems to be the nature of these no-man land two weeks in between going home for Christmas and heading back to school. Two weeks of kind of working (but not a "regular" schedule), weird sleeping patterns (i.e. staying up all night to read a novel in 5 hrs), lots and lots of snow and temperatures down to FOUR degrees (aka - I don't really like leaving my house. Then forget that I actually have to carry on with my life and get things done.), "catch up time" - cleaning, organizing, chatting with long distance friends, reading, sleeping, movie watching... all the things that don't happen much while classes are in session.

All of that to say, I think I've learned to just take one day at a time. It really does feel like no-man's land. I don't really know what I'm supposed to be DOING during this time. I hated it a couple of years ago, but I think I've learned to soak it up and appreciate the random time to get random things done.

I tend to get overwhelmed pretty quickly once the semester starts... so these hours of free time are vitally important. Hopefully all this rest will help me take on the semester with determination and healthy perspective (FREE from perfectionism!). 

All of that is what I'm thankful for... the snow, reading by the fire, so much time to rest & recuperate, sweet conversations with friends, dreaming for the future. 

So thankful!

Anticipation & Expectancy: Swiped by a World of Realism

The beginning of January... the start of a new year. 

The random, awkward space in between the craziness of finals/traveling/Christmas/Cru Conference and the start of the Spring semester.

It sure seems like an ideal time to evaluate the past and look forward toward the future. 

Oh yeah, those are called "New Year's Resolutions", right? It's already the 9th of January; is it too soon to ask how those are going?

New Year's Resolutions are notorious for fading away, sometimes quicker than we'd like to admit. We make a decision about who we want to be and what we want to stand for in the coming year. Before we know it, we've ended up right where we started.

Clearly, change requires more than just good intentions.

We make claims like, "I'm going to lose 10 lbs!" or "I'm going to read my Bible for an hour everyday!" or "I'm actually going to follow the budget that I put in place every month!" Then get psyched for about two and a half weeks and realize why we never stuck with anything in the past.

Reality.

Reality is, if you want to lose ten pounds, late night snacks of chocolate peanut butter ice cream is not going to set you on the right path. Reality is, it will be really hard to read the Bible for an extra hour every single day if you wake up at the same time you did before. Reality is, determination is not the sole factor in following a budget.

"If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done." - Thomas Jefferson

Far too often, people start with good intentions, then quit when the time comes to set realistic goals, incorporate accountability, and institute some actual self-discipline. We quit because we realize that though it was a good idea and seems right, the forces of reality are just too hard to beat. So we settle. 

[Ugh. I don't know about you, but I never want to be known as a person who settles!!!]

I don't want the realist in me (or those around me!) to hinder what GOD is doing. He works in ways that are definitely not always considered realistic.

I want the "new me" in this new year to be dictated by what God is doing in my heart...

"Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

"Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes." Ephesians 4:23

"That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day." 2 Corinthians 4:16

Keep pushing toward the goal. Keep dreaming BIG dreams. Keep moving forward, regardless of what the world deems realistic. 

Being such a ridiculously organized planner and over-preparer, it takes everything in me to just move where God takes me and leave behind my fearful "what-ifs." Praise the Lord, He is much bigger than that.

Don't lose the sense of anticipation and expectancy of something greater, but fully believe that God is MOVING in You. He has plans for your life that you could not even fathom, because they probably don't seem realistic right now. Or maybe they never will. But what He has is far more than reality.

Get excited and join the adventure. 2013, bring it on. 

What To Do When You Don't Know What To Write...

1. Take a walk. This will help clear your head and give you a chance to organize your thoughts without the pressure of getting them out in the open.

2. Think about things you've journaled and/or read lately that will spur on further thought. Think about things that you wanted to think about more when you first heard them. Think about things that inspire you. Just THINK.

3. Allow yourself to dream. For me, dreaming generally precedes writing. Of course, there are no set rules, and they may happen simultaneously, but I have often found that if I try to squeeze something out of nothing, I get frustrated with the mess that ensues. See number four regarding patience. Once I get an idea or vision for my life, whether the near or distant future, I have an urge to write it down to preserve it.

4. Don't force it. Sometimes you just need time. It's like an incubation period. Maybe I don't know what thoughts and ideas are stirring around in my head, but something is, and soon that thought or idea will be born into something beautiful. And for me, beautiful things of that sort simply must be written. As frustrating as it may be, time is an asset. Allow an appropriate amount of time (sometimes shorter, sometimes longer) for these thoughts to really dig deep and take root in your heart. That way, when you begin to write, they are no longer weak and feeble, but have already begun to mature.

5. Broaden your horizons. Everything is worth writing about. Every experience has a lesson; every person, a story. Don't limit yourself to what other people write about, what you've written about before, what you think you are supposed to write about. Drop those preconceived notions, and just write. You may be surprised at what comes out.

6. Sleep. I am a firm believer that this answer will solve more problems than we give it credit for. Feeling a little out of it? Sleep it off. Getting a cold? Better get some sleep. Just finished off a crazy-stressful semester, dove right into Christmas and everything this holiday entails -- all the good and all the ugly, then jumped into Cru Conference and soaked in all the learning and relationships, etc, etc??? Yeah, sleep is good for that, too. ;-)  

Okay. I'm going to go take my own advice now...

[So very, VERY thankful for a couple weeks in between the craziness of Christmas - see #6b - and starting up the Spring semester. I have a loooong to do list of all kinds of fun things to fill the empty space.]