I know... I haven't blogged in forever. As usual... I'm disappointed in myself. You have no idea all the potential posts that have flitted through my mind and all the attempts I have even started. Buuuuut, it just hasn't happened.
HOWEVER
I am guest posting today over at Insight for Living's blog "LifeTrac"! I interned at Insight Canada and wrote a few posts for them, the first of which is up today. Head on over there and read it if you are interested; perhaps read a few more and explore their website.
Insight for Living Canada is an awesome ministry of Chuck Swindoll. The staff are an amazing group of people set on reaching people through the truth of God's Word. I encourage you to check them out. They have an American ministry as well for all my friends in the USA.
Tetons
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
The Genius of Ancient Man is here!
Hey all! You will recall, if you have been a long time reader of my blog, that I was in Wyoming for 6 months working on a book with Pastor Don and a team from JHBC. (read posts about the project here, here, here, and here) Well...after over 2 years of research and another year of writing and editing, the book is done! If you would like to see the finished product, look it up at Amazon.com or check out this link from Answers in Genesis! There is a short promo video on the right hand side that is pretty fun.
So blown away by what God is already doing with this book and excited to see it for myself! Thank you for your prayers and support!
So blown away by what God is already doing with this book and excited to see it for myself! Thank you for your prayers and support!
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Too blessed
I am thoroughly enjoying my course! I am learning so much, far more than I really thought I would in just a few days. Truly these professors know how to pack loads of information in just a short period of time.
I get up each day around 6 and I am headed out by 6:40 to the train. My journey continues to the busy Waterfront station. The masses of people the disembark from the transit move like a never-ending, unstoppable force. One little face in the crowd; I feel small and yet part of something bigger. Footsteps from shiny heels, scuffed sneakers, and polished leather soles join together in the muffled cacophony of noise, nearly overwhelmed by the train whistles, cellphone talkers, car engines and horns of the great city.
Up the block to the university I go and then up the escalator to my class where I am met with the smiles and greetings of now familiar faces. I know that God hand-picked my classmates. Each one of them with a unique story. I am intrigued by the truly different people He has brought together. Of course, none of my classmates would give God the credit for our new found acquaintance with one another but I know without a doubt that He has a purpose for each of us in this class together. I don't know what it is but I pray for courage each day to be His light in that place.
Six hours of class and an hour lunch break later I am back on the train and headed home. Exhausted and ready to relax, I instead work on assignments. My excitement to experiment with new knowledge and tools keeps weariness at bay until I can fall into bed.
I've watched with exasperation and yet a smile as my room slowly becomes more and more cluttered with news articles and brochures in addition to the general untidiness that I don't have time to combat. College life I suppose. I'm not too worried about it. How bad can it get in 5 weeks???
Suffice to say, my first week has been a delight - exhausting, stressful at times, but truly an exciting and enjoyable time. I am so very thankful that God lead me here and I cannot wait to see how He continues to work and teach me during this time. He truly has taken care of all the details.
As part of my course I am require to participate quite heavily in multiple social media platforms leaving me very little free time for this blog. I hope to keep it up, posting at least once a week. If you would like to follow my new blog, supposedly "professional," feel free. I'd love to have you stop by there or my new Facebook page. Personally, this blog will probably always be my favourite place to write. For here, I am truly myself.
Thanks for reading and spending a little time with me! Hope your week is filled with God's blessing as well.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Tomorrow...
Well I had grand intentions of writing a few more detailed blog posts about my trip this summer but time, it would appear, has gotten away from me. Perhaps I will yet come back to the topic but for now, I am about to embark on a whole new adventure.
A train.
A big city.
A fast paced intensive course.
New people.
New places.
New challenges.
I've been waiting anxiously for this day to arrive and now it is only hours away. I am taking my first big step towards a career in journalism... I am tempted to dissolve into tears of anxiety; to drown in the dread of the unknown. But...
I know that He has lead me here. I know taking this course is my next step. Now I know I need to give God the little things that have me worrying. Because He is sovereign over them too!
I remember, on our trip this summer, being fascinated by the little things; the tiny details God has designed in creation. I marvel over the work of little caterpillars.
I stare in awe at the intricacy of a flower.
I study the tiny designs in the leaves.
God's glorious fingerprints are everywhere; the evidence of His care and precision and attention is all around me in the inanimate world. How much more will He give His care to the details of my life? Small things like getting a good sleep tonight, arriving at the train on time, finding parking, where I sit in class, who will sit beside me, who my professors are, and what they shall teach me...all this is in His hands and will follow according to His sovereign plan.
And so. Tomorrow is coming. No sense in worrying. I rest in Him. May His will be done, for His glory alone.
Would appreciate your prayers as I embark on this journey.
A train.
A big city.
A fast paced intensive course.
New people.
New places.
New challenges.
I've been waiting anxiously for this day to arrive and now it is only hours away. I am taking my first big step towards a career in journalism... I am tempted to dissolve into tears of anxiety; to drown in the dread of the unknown. But...
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7I believe in God's promises. I can not thank Him enough for His provision and His peace and His protection. I am blessed beyond imagining. He has promised to guard my heart and mind in Christ and I believe He does and will continue to.
I know that He has lead me here. I know taking this course is my next step. Now I know I need to give God the little things that have me worrying. Because He is sovereign over them too!
I remember, on our trip this summer, being fascinated by the little things; the tiny details God has designed in creation. I marvel over the work of little caterpillars.
I stare in awe at the intricacy of a flower.
I study the tiny designs in the leaves.
God's glorious fingerprints are everywhere; the evidence of His care and precision and attention is all around me in the inanimate world. How much more will He give His care to the details of my life? Small things like getting a good sleep tonight, arriving at the train on time, finding parking, where I sit in class, who will sit beside me, who my professors are, and what they shall teach me...all this is in His hands and will follow according to His sovereign plan.
And so. Tomorrow is coming. No sense in worrying. I rest in Him. May His will be done, for His glory alone.
Would appreciate your prayers as I embark on this journey.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
...and now it's over
ya, um, sorry about that. So basically I was WAY too busy on this fantastic trip to have time to blog about the busy happenings. So I shall do my best to give you the highlights without boring you to death or giving my hands cramps from typing.
So, where to begin? Well I guess I already wrote that part...okay so...the rest of the trip..."let me splain...no, there is too much, let me sum up."
Fourteen days
Almost 4000 miles
9 states
4 very different people crammed in one vehicle for hours on end...
And there you have it. Use your imagination :)
Okay, so I have made a decision here. I shall turn this trip into a series of posts written over the next few days, so keep coming back if you want to hear more :)
In this post I would like to share with you one part of our trip that is ironically opposite to the post title: our visit to New Leaf Publishing Group where we met with the editors/publisher of our book! Truly, this project is really just beginning!
We drove out to their quaint location in the middle of the Arkansas countryside. (I didn't even know we were going to Arkansas, I thought New Leaf was in Branson this whole time so that was an interesting surprise.) We were given the grand tour of the offices by Tim Dudley, the publisher, and then had a 2 hour meeting with the editors, marketing people, and graphics people. It was a surreal moment, let me tell you. Put yourself in my shoes if you can:
Nineteen years old, walking into a meeting with a major publishing company, holding in my hands a short manuscript that I've slaved over for 3 months, passionate about what it says but worried to hear the diagnosis on how well I've done. No idea what to expect, smiling, shaking hands, mostly silently listening to Pastor Don present our book, watching people's expressions, trying not to appear like the child I feel like inside, inadequate and foolish for thinking I know what I'm doing. I alternate from nervous, stomach in knots, fiddling insecurity to a calm resting in Jesus, confident that I have been working for Him and He is in control of this book so it doesn't matter what this editor says.
So the moment comes when Laura, the main editor, speaks up. And her words blow us all away: "You have fulfilled your goals and purposes in this manuscript." She goes on to say there are no holes and no glaring errors that she can see right away, just little suggestions she has. She shares excitedly with the whole room how she thinks our book is valuable because it not only brings all different areas of ancient man together as one picture but it has relevancy in today's world. Our book has purpose and it accomplishes what we want it to get across. I am barely comprehending her words as I sit there, looking around the room. We did it? It's good? There aren't any holes? I'm sitting there smiling but I don't really know what I am feeling. Craig, the other editor is smiling his face off and can't say anything bad about it. The marketing people are excited to hear all about what we have to say. Laura wants to hear about our whole experience writing it. Pastor Don is saying that he wants Laura and me to stay in contact, for me to the go-to person between our team and theirs and I'm sitting there trying to remember that I'm only 19 and this is all actually happening. I've just had a meeting with an editor, soon to be OUR editor, who loves our book and hasn't criticized my writing and...I'm ready to jump out of my skin with excitement, bewilderment, awe.
Truly, God has brought me to this place and I am so humbled by how He has used me. I never, in my wildest dreams, thought this would be happening, never mind at this age, without any schooling! This was so not in my plan but God definitely had a different plan and it's only in His power that it was accomplished. That He is using little me and the gifts He gave me to write something, to get this message out to people, is just too much for me to comprehend. I'm doing what I've always dreamed of doing: writing something of value that will be read and will make a difference, Lord willing. I have dreamed of writing for Jesus for so long that I can barely digest the fact that it is actually happening and before I'm even twenty! I am SO blessed by this experience, so honoured to be a tool in His hand, so excited to see what He does with this book, with our team, with the rest of my life.
So, just as an encouragement to you all: Keep dreaming. Keep giving your hopes and dreams to God. Live each day for Him; don't be afraid to follow His leading even if it doesn't seem logical or practical (or financially wise). He will provide for you if you follow His plan for your life. He is in control and can accomplish what He wants to be done. Sometimes I think we have been so ingrained by our culture that we have to do everything a certain way, in a certain order, a sequence of events, a checklist that must be fulfilled before you success can be reached. But God doesn't work that way. He is beyond time and money and the world. Just read His Word, and listen to the testimonies of those around you. He is working.
So, where to begin? Well I guess I already wrote that part...okay so...the rest of the trip..."let me splain...no, there is too much, let me sum up."
Fourteen days
Almost 4000 miles
9 states
4 very different people crammed in one vehicle for hours on end...
And there you have it. Use your imagination :)
 |
| Jess and I still cheery early on in the trip |
 |
| the clan of us who were at the Creation Museum |
 |
| Riding a camel, no big deal :) |
 |
| Front of the Creation Museum |
 |
| Yay for the fantastic four! |
 |
| Always finding new positions to sleep in the car |
Okay, so I have made a decision here. I shall turn this trip into a series of posts written over the next few days, so keep coming back if you want to hear more :)
In this post I would like to share with you one part of our trip that is ironically opposite to the post title: our visit to New Leaf Publishing Group where we met with the editors/publisher of our book! Truly, this project is really just beginning!
We drove out to their quaint location in the middle of the Arkansas countryside. (I didn't even know we were going to Arkansas, I thought New Leaf was in Branson this whole time so that was an interesting surprise.) We were given the grand tour of the offices by Tim Dudley, the publisher, and then had a 2 hour meeting with the editors, marketing people, and graphics people. It was a surreal moment, let me tell you. Put yourself in my shoes if you can:
Nineteen years old, walking into a meeting with a major publishing company, holding in my hands a short manuscript that I've slaved over for 3 months, passionate about what it says but worried to hear the diagnosis on how well I've done. No idea what to expect, smiling, shaking hands, mostly silently listening to Pastor Don present our book, watching people's expressions, trying not to appear like the child I feel like inside, inadequate and foolish for thinking I know what I'm doing. I alternate from nervous, stomach in knots, fiddling insecurity to a calm resting in Jesus, confident that I have been working for Him and He is in control of this book so it doesn't matter what this editor says.
So the moment comes when Laura, the main editor, speaks up. And her words blow us all away: "You have fulfilled your goals and purposes in this manuscript." She goes on to say there are no holes and no glaring errors that she can see right away, just little suggestions she has. She shares excitedly with the whole room how she thinks our book is valuable because it not only brings all different areas of ancient man together as one picture but it has relevancy in today's world. Our book has purpose and it accomplishes what we want it to get across. I am barely comprehending her words as I sit there, looking around the room. We did it? It's good? There aren't any holes? I'm sitting there smiling but I don't really know what I am feeling. Craig, the other editor is smiling his face off and can't say anything bad about it. The marketing people are excited to hear all about what we have to say. Laura wants to hear about our whole experience writing it. Pastor Don is saying that he wants Laura and me to stay in contact, for me to the go-to person between our team and theirs and I'm sitting there trying to remember that I'm only 19 and this is all actually happening. I've just had a meeting with an editor, soon to be OUR editor, who loves our book and hasn't criticized my writing and...I'm ready to jump out of my skin with excitement, bewilderment, awe.
Truly, God has brought me to this place and I am so humbled by how He has used me. I never, in my wildest dreams, thought this would be happening, never mind at this age, without any schooling! This was so not in my plan but God definitely had a different plan and it's only in His power that it was accomplished. That He is using little me and the gifts He gave me to write something, to get this message out to people, is just too much for me to comprehend. I'm doing what I've always dreamed of doing: writing something of value that will be read and will make a difference, Lord willing. I have dreamed of writing for Jesus for so long that I can barely digest the fact that it is actually happening and before I'm even twenty! I am SO blessed by this experience, so honoured to be a tool in His hand, so excited to see what He does with this book, with our team, with the rest of my life.
So, just as an encouragement to you all: Keep dreaming. Keep giving your hopes and dreams to God. Live each day for Him; don't be afraid to follow His leading even if it doesn't seem logical or practical (or financially wise). He will provide for you if you follow His plan for your life. He is in control and can accomplish what He wants to be done. Sometimes I think we have been so ingrained by our culture that we have to do everything a certain way, in a certain order, a sequence of events, a checklist that must be fulfilled before you success can be reached. But God doesn't work that way. He is beyond time and money and the world. Just read His Word, and listen to the testimonies of those around you. He is working.
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" - Isaiah 55:8-9
The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps - Proverbs 16:9
Many plans are in a man's heart, but the counsel of the Lord will stand - Proverbs 19:21
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Drainage
Back to working on the book this week and currently quite exhausted. I haven't felt this mentally drained in awhile. It's getting to that point where I start making odd noises to release pent up brain swirlings...if that makes any sense...
"Brain swirlings" - the confused muddle of shifting thoughts in one's head which comes from intense mental exercise involving many facts and opinions and ideas which all want to escape. As they are released onto paper or a computer screen, the left over fragments build up and need to be expelled verballySo I've stopped working for the day and now just chillin, enjoying the sunlight filtering in the window, the wind in rustling through the trees, the birds singing and waving to the random people walking by. I decided today that I kind of wish we could go back in time and I was doing this project by hand because then I could sit outside in this beautiful weather and work. That would be just fantastic! ...except for the fact that it would take approximately 5312.64 times longer to complete this project and that just wouldn't do...
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