One of the things that "Elk's Resolve" speaks of is depression. I am interested in what you have to say about it. You don't have to use your actual name.
1. In what way have you been impacted by depression?
2. What things helped you overcome it?
3. Are there indications that a person feels when a bout is coming on?4. Do you have any other information or thoughts on this subject?
Friday, August 29, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
So Near
Driving the ten miles into town to get to work, I found myself in prayer. Okay, it was whining. I said, "Lord, why is it that sometimes I don't think you are anywhere near me?"
Just then I checked my rear-view mirror and the words etched in the mirror stood out to me. "Objects are closer than they appear" or something similar to that.
My mind raced. God is closer than He seems most of the time. When the Lord is near you can touch Him and feel His closeness. You can speak in delicious whispers. You can hear the heartbeat of God at these times.
I especially love the times when I can almost feel His breath on my face. Those times remind me of days gone by when my sons were little and we lay in bed talking and dreaming about the future. They had big dreams and I had big dreams for them. Terry and I also love to talk quietly before we go to sleep. It is a precious closeness that is so dear. I enjoy whispering into God's ear and feeling Him so very near to me.
Near
Far
Near is much better!
Just then I checked my rear-view mirror and the words etched in the mirror stood out to me. "Objects are closer than they appear" or something similar to that.
My mind raced. God is closer than He seems most of the time. When the Lord is near you can touch Him and feel His closeness. You can speak in delicious whispers. You can hear the heartbeat of God at these times.
I especially love the times when I can almost feel His breath on my face. Those times remind me of days gone by when my sons were little and we lay in bed talking and dreaming about the future. They had big dreams and I had big dreams for them. Terry and I also love to talk quietly before we go to sleep. It is a precious closeness that is so dear. I enjoy whispering into God's ear and feeling Him so very near to me.
Near
Far
Near is much better!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Wheatheart of the Nation Celebration and Pioneer Fun at the Museum of the Plains
August 23, 2008 was a great day for me. (It did get very hot, even in the shade, but it was great!) After the annual parade honoring the birthday of Perryton, TX, The Museum of the Plains on highway 83 had a great day of fun for families and friends.
I am impressed with the size of our museum. There are a number of buildings and exhibit halls. My book table was in front of the "General Store" building. Thankfully, it had an ample porch that provided shade all day. I truly enjoyed visiting with the people who stopped by to look over the general store exhibit and my book, "Nan's Journey". I had a drawing for a free book at the end of the day.
The winner of the drawing/free copy of "Nan's Journey" is Vanessa Lester. I will be mailing it on Tuesday of this week. Congratulations Vanessa!
I gave away a ton of toy compasses with the "Nan's Journey" logo on them to the children. They seemed to really enjoy getting something for free! Another freebie I gave away was a folder with the first chapter of "Elk's Resolve", the second book in the Heritage Series. I gave around 60 of those away. There is an order form for "Nan's Journey" and the first batch of pre-released copies of "Elk's Resolve" in the folder. If you are reading this and wish to order either of these books, leave a private message in the guestbook.
I could hardly believe that after living here all my life, there were so many people I didn't know. We are a small town... Oh well, I did get the opportunity to meet a number of them and everyone was very kind. That is one of the perks to living in a small town, right!
The museum had a hamburger feed, local singers and a great band. There were a dozen or so vendors selling jewelry, metal work, balloons, face painting, etc. Bouncing games for the children were a hit as well as a cow milking contest. My personal favorite was the team of large work horses and wagon rides for everyone. If you missed it this year, make plans to come next year.
I am impressed with the size of our museum. There are a number of buildings and exhibit halls. My book table was in front of the "General Store" building. Thankfully, it had an ample porch that provided shade all day. I truly enjoyed visiting with the people who stopped by to look over the general store exhibit and my book, "Nan's Journey". I had a drawing for a free book at the end of the day.
The winner of the drawing/free copy of "Nan's Journey" is Vanessa Lester. I will be mailing it on Tuesday of this week. Congratulations Vanessa!
I gave away a ton of toy compasses with the "Nan's Journey" logo on them to the children. They seemed to really enjoy getting something for free! Another freebie I gave away was a folder with the first chapter of "Elk's Resolve", the second book in the Heritage Series. I gave around 60 of those away. There is an order form for "Nan's Journey" and the first batch of pre-released copies of "Elk's Resolve" in the folder. If you are reading this and wish to order either of these books, leave a private message in the guestbook.
I could hardly believe that after living here all my life, there were so many people I didn't know. We are a small town... Oh well, I did get the opportunity to meet a number of them and everyone was very kind. That is one of the perks to living in a small town, right!
The museum had a hamburger feed, local singers and a great band. There were a dozen or so vendors selling jewelry, metal work, balloons, face painting, etc. Bouncing games for the children were a hit as well as a cow milking contest. My personal favorite was the team of large work horses and wagon rides for everyone. If you missed it this year, make plans to come next year.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Small Potatoes
Despise not small beginnings....potatoes! I know that "Nan's Journey" is not a best seller...yet. (One can dream) You all have been so sweet to me that I want you to know how the sales are going.
Since I got the books in my hands we have sold 865 copies! Now, you say, that is really small potatoes! ....yes, but that is over 1000 people who have read it. People pass books around and that makes me happy! Yes, happy... If they like the book, they will look for the next and maybe in the future they will buy one.
I am counting down to 1000 copies sold.
We lack 135 for this short-term goal.
It is possible! One month we sold 120 copies!!! yea! Thank you!!!
Keep a watch on this blog and see how we are doing. You can buy copies from this site or amazon, or tate publishing. Send me a comment on this page and I will send you a signed copy at a discounted price. Mark the comment private and give me email address.
I am excited about this!
The next book will be out in the spring of 2009!!!!
Since I got the books in my hands we have sold 865 copies! Now, you say, that is really small potatoes! ....yes, but that is over 1000 people who have read it. People pass books around and that makes me happy! Yes, happy... If they like the book, they will look for the next and maybe in the future they will buy one.
I am counting down to 1000 copies sold.
We lack 135 for this short-term goal.
It is possible! One month we sold 120 copies!!! yea! Thank you!!!
Keep a watch on this blog and see how we are doing. You can buy copies from this site or amazon, or tate publishing. Send me a comment on this page and I will send you a signed copy at a discounted price. Mark the comment private and give me email address.
I am excited about this!
The next book will be out in the spring of 2009!!!!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Tearing out part of the original hardwood floor
Today Terry was out of hours for driving his truck so he was home. After these few months, this was his first opportunity to really get into working on the hardwood floor since he patched the hole from the floor heater opening. He studied and studied the condition of the floor and even took out his belt sander and sanded the rougher spots and the spots with large gaps between the boards. He determined that the portion of the dining room that was in the worst condition had to come out.
Yes, come out! He also said, "Boy, this is almost as bad as the can of worms I opened with the bathroom floor."
I responded, "THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE BATHROOM FLOOR!!!"
We had a big laugh over that. He did find a store/dealer for hardwood that is 3/4" thick and 2 1/2" wide. It is either red or white oak. (kind of a bear to find) Anyway, after the dust and sawdust settled, we have a sub floor showing over 1/3 or the dining room floor. Such fun trying to keep the house presentable.
This reminds me of the job of getting a book published. After it is accepted for publication, the work begins. One thing leads to another. First you write the book, then write the synopsis for the back cover. The next step is to get people to write reviews, then write acknowledgements, and dedications. There really are a lot of steps to it. It is a fun process.
You would think that writing a synopsis of a book would be much easier than the book itself. I have to say that it has been a bigger challenge for me than you might think. Also, the author biography is a soul searching experience. "What have I done with my life?" or "Where have I been?" I find that I am so terribly ordinary.
Now, let me tell a goofy story about Terry and I...THAT'S EASY AND FUN!!!
Yes, come out! He also said, "Boy, this is almost as bad as the can of worms I opened with the bathroom floor."
I responded, "THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE BATHROOM FLOOR!!!"
We had a big laugh over that. He did find a store/dealer for hardwood that is 3/4" thick and 2 1/2" wide. It is either red or white oak. (kind of a bear to find) Anyway, after the dust and sawdust settled, we have a sub floor showing over 1/3 or the dining room floor. Such fun trying to keep the house presentable.
This reminds me of the job of getting a book published. After it is accepted for publication, the work begins. One thing leads to another. First you write the book, then write the synopsis for the back cover. The next step is to get people to write reviews, then write acknowledgements, and dedications. There really are a lot of steps to it. It is a fun process.
You would think that writing a synopsis of a book would be much easier than the book itself. I have to say that it has been a bigger challenge for me than you might think. Also, the author biography is a soul searching experience. "What have I done with my life?" or "Where have I been?" I find that I am so terribly ordinary.
Now, let me tell a goofy story about Terry and I...THAT'S EASY AND FUN!!!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tillamook, Oregon
The first Monday of August Terry and I travelled with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law to Tillamook, Oregon. It is a beautiful city next to the lovely Oregon coast. When I set up the book signing at the Cornerstone Bookstore, I thought it was probably a tiny place with a few fishermen and tourists. I was wrong. Tillamook is a busy city with many stores and a cheese factory and air museum.
Since Terry is a restless sort, I sent he and his brother to the air museum to wile away the two hours of the book signing. (Really who needs antsy men around a small bookstore rifling through the books and stuff.) My sis-in-law enjoyed shopping in the nearby stores. I, of course, stayed behind and had a great visit with Alisa, the owner of the store. I am afraid I purchased a few more dollars than I made at the book signing, but it was worth it. I found some great stuff. There was a wide selection of gift items and books. I was able to take care of some shopping that I needed to do for upcoming things.
I enjoyed meeting customers there and visiting and laughing with them.
We were also blessed to meet some very sweet fellow travellers at the Amarillo airport on our way to Portland. Among them were a retired cake decorator from Greeley, Colorado and a couple from Midland, Texas and their daughter. While we were visiting we found that some of them knew people we knew. I am so glad that we had our conversation with them.
Terry and I had to sit in different areas of the plane on the trip home, but each of us decided to make the best of it. While we did not force people to converse with us, we asked a question or two to see if our seat mates were up to visiting. They were! Terry met some very interesting women from Austin, Texas who were going to Amarillo to do a story of people of interest there. He enjoyed visiting with them very much. On one leg of our journey I met a very nice elementary school teacher and on the next, I met a young man who was the age of my sons who is a welder. He had been in the military for a few years and now is working in Texas as a welder. He was very kind and we laughed all the way from Dallas to Amarillo.
While we had a lot of sight seeing activities in Oregon and Washington, a big part of the fun was meeting people on the way. I am glad that I have a husband that joins me in interest in people. If you give a person a moment of time, they open up and you can see a little of the miracle of their original personality. God bless them all!
Since Terry is a restless sort, I sent he and his brother to the air museum to wile away the two hours of the book signing. (Really who needs antsy men around a small bookstore rifling through the books and stuff.) My sis-in-law enjoyed shopping in the nearby stores. I, of course, stayed behind and had a great visit with Alisa, the owner of the store. I am afraid I purchased a few more dollars than I made at the book signing, but it was worth it. I found some great stuff. There was a wide selection of gift items and books. I was able to take care of some shopping that I needed to do for upcoming things.
I enjoyed meeting customers there and visiting and laughing with them.
We were also blessed to meet some very sweet fellow travellers at the Amarillo airport on our way to Portland. Among them were a retired cake decorator from Greeley, Colorado and a couple from Midland, Texas and their daughter. While we were visiting we found that some of them knew people we knew. I am so glad that we had our conversation with them.
Terry and I had to sit in different areas of the plane on the trip home, but each of us decided to make the best of it. While we did not force people to converse with us, we asked a question or two to see if our seat mates were up to visiting. They were! Terry met some very interesting women from Austin, Texas who were going to Amarillo to do a story of people of interest there. He enjoyed visiting with them very much. On one leg of our journey I met a very nice elementary school teacher and on the next, I met a young man who was the age of my sons who is a welder. He had been in the military for a few years and now is working in Texas as a welder. He was very kind and we laughed all the way from Dallas to Amarillo.
While we had a lot of sight seeing activities in Oregon and Washington, a big part of the fun was meeting people on the way. I am glad that I have a husband that joins me in interest in people. If you give a person a moment of time, they open up and you can see a little of the miracle of their original personality. God bless them all!
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Bathtub is PAINTED!!!
When we began the bathtub painting saga, I didn't know it would take us this long to actually get it done, but now it is finished!!! yeah!
It isn't that the process takes so long. No, just the bathtub painters take a long time to do the work. Mind you, we are not talking professionals...Not even semi-pros. Week end warriors is even a stretch. (mostly because most weekends we don't work on the house or even like to) We are do-it-yourselfers-'cause-it's-supposed to be cheapers. (Is that the correct term?)
We were due to be out of the house for a week and Terry figured that it would be a perfect time to put the last coats on the bathtub. (Refer to an earlier post if you don't know the first part of this story.) The curing process takes three days and Terry would rather die than take a bath upstairs where there is no shower. Thus, the perfect timing being while we were away.
I do have to say IT LOOKS GREAT! Oh man, it started out pitted by acid and wear and tear. Now it is smooth and easy to clean. It is so shiny. I picked up a kit from Home Depot for bathtub painting similar to the first one we got only this one was much better. It had the special gloves, cleaner, steel wool, and was premixed! All we had to do was clean the tub as per the directions, tape off the tub surround and fixtures and spray. There were fumes, but it wasn't that bad. I am so proud of my pretty tub. The name of the tub paint kit is:Homax Tough Tile Tub Tile Sink Refinishing Kit.
It isn't that the process takes so long. No, just the bathtub painters take a long time to do the work. Mind you, we are not talking professionals...Not even semi-pros. Week end warriors is even a stretch. (mostly because most weekends we don't work on the house or even like to) We are do-it-yourselfers-'cause-it's-supposed to be cheapers. (Is that the correct term?)
We were due to be out of the house for a week and Terry figured that it would be a perfect time to put the last coats on the bathtub. (Refer to an earlier post if you don't know the first part of this story.) The curing process takes three days and Terry would rather die than take a bath upstairs where there is no shower. Thus, the perfect timing being while we were away.
I do have to say IT LOOKS GREAT! Oh man, it started out pitted by acid and wear and tear. Now it is smooth and easy to clean. It is so shiny. I picked up a kit from Home Depot for bathtub painting similar to the first one we got only this one was much better. It had the special gloves, cleaner, steel wool, and was premixed! All we had to do was clean the tub as per the directions, tape off the tub surround and fixtures and spray. There were fumes, but it wasn't that bad. I am so proud of my pretty tub. The name of the tub paint kit is:Homax Tough Tile Tub Tile Sink Refinishing Kit.
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Today's Wild Card author is:
and the book:
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
Publisher: FaithWords; Lrg edition (November 12, 2008)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
JOYCE MEYER is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, she has written more than seventy inspirational books, including The Confident Woman, Look Great, Feel Great, and the entire Battlefield of the Mindfamily of books. She has also released thousands of audio teachings as well as a complete video library. Joyce's Enjoying Everyday Life® radio and television programs are broadcast around the world, and she travels extensively conducting conferences. Joyce and her husband, Dave, are the parents of four grown children and make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $16.99
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: FaithWords; Lrg edition (November 12, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446509396
ISBN-13: 978-0446509398
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Introduction
Everyone has them: those days where nothing seems to get done, except maybe what you’ve added to your already lengthy to-do list. Are you tired most of the time? Are you spent? Do you find yourself wish- ing for a better day—a simpler day? Too many things compete for your limited resources of attention, energy, and time. You may be suffocat- ing and not even know it. If you feel like this, you’re not alone.
Most people today live complicated lives that leave them frustrated and confused, weary and worn out. But I have good news: your life does not have to be that way. You can choose a life of simplicity, fruitfulness, fulfillment, peace, and joy. I want to warn you, however, unless you are determined not to, you will do what everyone else does. You will get sucked up in the system and spend your life wishing things were different, never realizing you are, in fact, the only one who can change things. Unless we are resolute and remain undaunted in our quest for simplicity, we are destined for complication and frustration.
I recall a time when I was complaining to God about my schedule being absolutely insane. How could anyone be expected to do all I had in front of me? Then the realization hit me that I was the one who made my schedule and nobody could change it but me. You can spend your lives wishing things were different, but wishing won’t change anything. Smart decision making and decisive action is what changes things. If you picked up this book looking for change, are you willing to make a decision and follow it up with action?
I wasted many years hoping life would change and things would calm down until I finally realized life itself doesn’t change; in fact, it has the potential to get worse. I understood my only real option was to change my approach to life. I had to say no to another day of rushing around and feeling frustrated. I didn’t want the doctor giving me another pre- scription to mask another symptom of the real problem—stress.
In my search for simplicity, I have come to believe life can never be simple unless I learn to approach all things simply. It is my attitude toward each event in life that determines how easy or complex each situation will be. Perhaps life is complicated because people are compli- cated. Is it possible that life is not complicated, but rather, individuals complicate life in the way they approach it?
I discovered it wasn’t really life or circumstances or other people as much as it was me that needed to change. My problem wasn’t the problem—I was the problem! When you spend your life in frustration trying to change the world and everyone in it, you fail to realize it could be you just need to change your approach to life. It can be very easy for someone to live an entire lifetime and never entertain the notion that the way they do things is the real problem.
Have you ever attempted to have friends over for what you initially intended to be a simple afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun, but somehow, it turned into a complicated nightmare? I remember those days vividly. I’d be at church on Sunday and, without much forethought, invite three couples over for the following Sunday to a barbecue. My initial thought was hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, baked beans, potato chips, and iced tea. My motive was fellowship and fun, but by the time the guests arrived, I didn’t even want them there. Fun was not going to happen, at least not for me. Why? I turned my simple get- together into a nightmare of preparation, expensive food, and fourteen people instead of the original six. My complicated approach to life and my complicated thought process convinced me hot dogs and hamburg- ers weren’t nice enough so I bought steaks we could not afford. My potato chips turned into a huge bowl of homemade potato salad. The simple baked beans became four side dishes I labored over.
Insecure and wanting to impress everyone, I had to spend the week cleaning and getting everything in the house to the point where I thought it would be impressive. Of course, the lawn chairs were old, so I bought new ones. I got angry at Dave because I thought he wasn’t help- ing me enough, and by the time our friends arrived, I resented them, wished they hadn’t come, and had a miserable day of pretending to be the happy hostess when in reality I was frustrated and miserable.
I could not figure out why I wasn’t able to enjoy much of anything in life until God revealed to me I was killing my joy with complication. For years, I prayed God would change the people and circumstances around me when, in reality, He wanted to change me and my approach to life. He wanted me to simplify so, ultimately, He could be glorified.
Let me share with you 100 ways to approach living that can simplify your life and, in turn, release and increase your joy. I believe they will dramatically improve the quality of your everyday experience if you incorporate them into the way you do things. Jesus said He came so we might have and enjoy our life in abundance (see John 10:10). His prin- ciples are simple. Faith is simple! Trusting God is simple! A childlike approach to Him is simple! The plan of salvation is simple!
Jesus offers us a “new way of living,” and I believe it is a simple, yet powerful way that enables us to enjoy everyday life. Are you ready to simplify your life? Are you ready to say good-bye to the complexities you’ve allowed to take over? Let’s get started.
Do One Thing at a Time
When we do things without truly focusing our minds on them, we immediately decrease our strength to do the work before us and do it well. By putting our hands to one thing and our mind to another, we divide the muscle behind our abilities and we make the task much more difficult. It’s like removing an egg yolk from the egg white—both can be used separately but the result isn’t as effective (or tasty) as it would be if we leave the egg whole. However, by directing all of our faculties to the one thing we are doing on a particular day, at that hour, at that moment, we find it much easier to do. The ability to concentrate and stay focused can only come from discipline.
The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 to be anxious for nothing. Anxious people are always trying to live ahead of where they currently are. They spend today trying to figure out tomorrow and the result is the loss of simplicity. God expects us to trust Him with tomorrow just as He instructed the Israelites to do when they crossed the barren wil- derness, pressing toward the Promised Land.
Practice living one day at a time; give yourself—your thoughts, your conversation, your energies, every part of you—to the day at hand.
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
1. Develop an ability to give yourself to what you are doing. You will sense an awareness enabling you to enjoy the current activity, instead of going through each day in a blur of activity and confusing thoughts which leave you drained and exhausted.
Do you fear you will not accomplish as much if you try to live this way? It’s true you may not do as much, but you will also enjoy what you do a whole lot more. One key to simplicity is realizing that quality is far superior to quantity.
Everyone has them: those days where nothing seems to get done, except maybe what you’ve added to your already lengthy to-do list. Are you tired most of the time? Are you spent? Do you find yourself wish- ing for a better day—a simpler day? Too many things compete for your limited resources of attention, energy, and time. You may be suffocat- ing and not even know it. If you feel like this, you’re not alone.
Most people today live complicated lives that leave them frustrated and confused, weary and worn out. But I have good news: your life does not have to be that way. You can choose a life of simplicity, fruitfulness, fulfillment, peace, and joy. I want to warn you, however, unless you are determined not to, you will do what everyone else does. You will get sucked up in the system and spend your life wishing things were different, never realizing you are, in fact, the only one who can change things. Unless we are resolute and remain undaunted in our quest for simplicity, we are destined for complication and frustration.
I recall a time when I was complaining to God about my schedule being absolutely insane. How could anyone be expected to do all I had in front of me? Then the realization hit me that I was the one who made my schedule and nobody could change it but me. You can spend your lives wishing things were different, but wishing won’t change anything. Smart decision making and decisive action is what changes things. If you picked up this book looking for change, are you willing to make a decision and follow it up with action?
I wasted many years hoping life would change and things would calm down until I finally realized life itself doesn’t change; in fact, it has the potential to get worse. I understood my only real option was to change my approach to life. I had to say no to another day of rushing around and feeling frustrated. I didn’t want the doctor giving me another pre- scription to mask another symptom of the real problem—stress.
In my search for simplicity, I have come to believe life can never be simple unless I learn to approach all things simply. It is my attitude toward each event in life that determines how easy or complex each situation will be. Perhaps life is complicated because people are compli- cated. Is it possible that life is not complicated, but rather, individuals complicate life in the way they approach it?
I discovered it wasn’t really life or circumstances or other people as much as it was me that needed to change. My problem wasn’t the problem—I was the problem! When you spend your life in frustration trying to change the world and everyone in it, you fail to realize it could be you just need to change your approach to life. It can be very easy for someone to live an entire lifetime and never entertain the notion that the way they do things is the real problem.
Have you ever attempted to have friends over for what you initially intended to be a simple afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun, but somehow, it turned into a complicated nightmare? I remember those days vividly. I’d be at church on Sunday and, without much forethought, invite three couples over for the following Sunday to a barbecue. My initial thought was hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, baked beans, potato chips, and iced tea. My motive was fellowship and fun, but by the time the guests arrived, I didn’t even want them there. Fun was not going to happen, at least not for me. Why? I turned my simple get- together into a nightmare of preparation, expensive food, and fourteen people instead of the original six. My complicated approach to life and my complicated thought process convinced me hot dogs and hamburg- ers weren’t nice enough so I bought steaks we could not afford. My potato chips turned into a huge bowl of homemade potato salad. The simple baked beans became four side dishes I labored over.
Insecure and wanting to impress everyone, I had to spend the week cleaning and getting everything in the house to the point where I thought it would be impressive. Of course, the lawn chairs were old, so I bought new ones. I got angry at Dave because I thought he wasn’t help- ing me enough, and by the time our friends arrived, I resented them, wished they hadn’t come, and had a miserable day of pretending to be the happy hostess when in reality I was frustrated and miserable.
I could not figure out why I wasn’t able to enjoy much of anything in life until God revealed to me I was killing my joy with complication. For years, I prayed God would change the people and circumstances around me when, in reality, He wanted to change me and my approach to life. He wanted me to simplify so, ultimately, He could be glorified.
Let me share with you 100 ways to approach living that can simplify your life and, in turn, release and increase your joy. I believe they will dramatically improve the quality of your everyday experience if you incorporate them into the way you do things. Jesus said He came so we might have and enjoy our life in abundance (see John 10:10). His prin- ciples are simple. Faith is simple! Trusting God is simple! A childlike approach to Him is simple! The plan of salvation is simple!
Jesus offers us a “new way of living,” and I believe it is a simple, yet powerful way that enables us to enjoy everyday life. Are you ready to simplify your life? Are you ready to say good-bye to the complexities you’ve allowed to take over? Let’s get started.
Do One Thing at a Time
The feeling of being hurried is not usually the result of living a full life and having no time. It is, on the contrary, born of a vague fear that we are wasting our life. When we do not do the one thing we ought to do, we have no time for anything elseówe are the busiest people in the world.
ÓERIC HOFFER
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].
—Hebrews 12:2
When we do things without truly focusing our minds on them, we immediately decrease our strength to do the work before us and do it well. By putting our hands to one thing and our mind to another, we divide the muscle behind our abilities and we make the task much more difficult. It’s like removing an egg yolk from the egg white—both can be used separately but the result isn’t as effective (or tasty) as it would be if we leave the egg whole. However, by directing all of our faculties to the one thing we are doing on a particular day, at that hour, at that moment, we find it much easier to do. The ability to concentrate and stay focused can only come from discipline.
The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 to be anxious for nothing. Anxious people are always trying to live ahead of where they currently are. They spend today trying to figure out tomorrow and the result is the loss of simplicity. God expects us to trust Him with tomorrow just as He instructed the Israelites to do when they crossed the barren wil- derness, pressing toward the Promised Land.
Practice living one day at a time; give yourself—your thoughts, your conversation, your energies, every part of you—to the day at hand.
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
1. Develop an ability to give yourself to what you are doing. You will sense an awareness enabling you to enjoy the current activity, instead of going through each day in a blur of activity and confusing thoughts which leave you drained and exhausted.
Do you fear you will not accomplish as much if you try to live this way? It’s true you may not do as much, but you will also enjoy what you do a whole lot more. One key to simplicity is realizing that quality is far superior to quantity.
The Blog Tour for "Nan's Journey" Begins July 23
It is time to play a Wild Card! Every now and then, a book that I have chosen to read is going to pop up as a FIRST Wild Card Tour. Get dealt into the game! (Just click the button!) Wild Card Tours feature an author and his/her book's FIRST chapter!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today's Wild Card author is:
and his/her book:
Tate Publishing & Enterprises (January 2, 2008)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Littau is a life-long resident of Perryton, TX. She met husband, Terry at the Apostolic Faith Bible College in Baxter Springs, Kansas in 1974. They married March 1, 1975 and reside on a small acreage near Perryton where they enjoy spending time with their family and friends. They raised three sons and now have three daughters-in-law and four grandchildren added to their family. They also enjoy visiting with their extended family located in Perryton, Clear Lake, Laverne, and Amarillo.
Author Elaine Littau is a busy woman who by profession is the church secretary for Harvest Time First Assembly of God Church in Perryton. Among other things she has led women’s groups and taught preschool, and was a mentor for the M.O.P.S. (Mothers of Preschoolers) group in her community. She has been active in Toastmasters and enjoys painting, crafts, and playing piano and organ. She was recently appointed to the Campus Education Improvement Committee for Wright Elementary in Perryton. She belongs to Christian Storytellers and Faith Writers writing groups.
“Nan’s Journey” was written over the course of several years. “A salvation message is at the core of the book.” Littau says. “If it weren’t for the Lord, I wouldn’t have been able to do this. I truly enjoy meeting new people.”
Littau is currently working on two other books that are continuations of “Nan’s Journey.” Book signings and speaking engagements are currently set up for venues in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Oregon.
Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 188 pages
Publisher: Tate Publishing & Enterprises (January 2, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1602478325
ISBN-13: 978-1602478329
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Chapter One
It was late. The moon had risen and the night symphony was in full force. Crickets chirped at their rivals, the frogs, and dominated the night chorus. Only one sound in the forest was foreign—a whimper from under the ferns. At the base of the largest pine in the woods was a small form crying, moaning, and whimpering. Black hair, matted and dirty, hung in long ropes down the front of the tiny girl. She had been in this spot for hours. At least that is what it felt like to her. Stretching, she cried out in pain. The blood-covered welts burst open to bleed again. Her back was wet with blood, and her dress was torn and useless.
Why had she dared to speak to the woman that she was obliged to call mother in that way? She knew that talking was not allowed from children before chores were finished. The accusations being made by “Ma” were totally false and she could not let Elmer take the blame for something she herself had forgotten to do. She shut her eyes tight against the memory, but it intruded anyway.
She had just gotten up to take the water off the stove to make up dishwater for the supper dishes. Ma had stepped outside the room to turn down her bed and prepare for sleep. When she reappeared in the kitchen, she realized that the wood supply next to the stove was low. Elmer was standing next to the table gathering the plates for washing. “Elmer, where is the wood you were supposed to bring up to the house?” Before he could answer, a hand had slapped him across his face. Getting back onto his feet and standing as tall as a five year old can stand, he looked her in the eye and said, “Ma, I was sick today, ‘member?”
“So, Elmer, you’re going to play up that headache trick again. Nan, didn’t your good for nothing Mama teach you people how to work, or are you just lazy?”
“Our Mama was good! Don’t you say mean things about her!” Nan yelled as her heart raced at the assault against her real Mama’s character.
“What about it, Elmer, are you like your weakling Mama or what?” Elmer’s eyes became very large and filled with tears. He could barely remember his real Mama, but when he did, he remembered soft kisses and sweet singing and a beautiful face. “I’m sorry; I’ll get the wood now.”
“No, Elmer, don’t. I promised you I’d do it today when your head was hurting, but I forgot. I’ll get it after I do these dishes.”
“Listen here, Nan, I’m the boss around here and Elmer will do what I say, when I say, and you will respect me.”
Nan’s eyes widened.
“Don’t look at me like that, little girl.”
Nan held her breath.
“Well, I guess you will be making a trip to the wood shed…with me!” Ma had grabbed her by the arm and jerked her along behind the shed. The strap was hanging there, waiting. Whippings were becoming more and more frequent. After Ma’s husband left, they had taken on a more cruel form. The last whipping was more like a beating. It took days for the marks to scab over and heal. Little Elmer had come in that night and brought some horse medicine from the barn and applied it to the oozing marks.
The next afternoon when the schoolteacher came over, Ma had already formulated a story. “Mrs. Dewey, we missed Nan and Elmer today at school. Are they sick?” Ma lied the first time in her life and said, “Well Miss Sergeant, since Mr. Dewey is going to be gone for another four weeks, I need more help around here to get things done. I’m holding the kids out until he gets back.” Week after week went by, and Mr. Dewey still hadn’t come home. Everyday Ma grew more and more angry. It became more and more impossible to please her. When she began hitting Elmer, it was too much. Nan had to do something— right or wrong; things couldn’t stay the way they were.
The coolness of the earth had settled into Nan’s bones. She stood silently for a minute and carefully crept up to the farmhouse. As she opened the door, she saw that Elmer was in the pallet at the foot of the stove next to her bedroll. Ma was asleep in her room. The door held open with a rock. Slowly she began peeling off the dress and the dried blood stuck to it. She reached for the old shirt she normally wore over her wounds and under her dress. She had washed it today. It had bloodstains on it, but it would keep her from ruining another dress. She retrieved the old work dress that she wore when chores were messier than usual; it was the only one left. She put it on swiftly and shook Elmer awake with her hand over his mouth. “Baby, we must leave. Do you understand? Stay quiet and I will get some stuff to take with us.”
She found large old handkerchief and began looking for food supplies. There was one sourdough biscuit and about a cup of cold brown beans. She located her tin cup and another rag. She would probably need that. Three matches were in the cup on the stove. She would just take two. Suddenly she heard a sound from Ma’s room. A scampering sound… just a rat. Ma turned over. Her breathing became deep and regular. For once Nan wished that Ma snored. She tied the handkerchief in a knot over the meager food supplies, grabbed their bedrolls, and slowly opened the door.
“Come on, Elmer. Can you carry this food? I’ll get your bedding. That’s a good boy. We must hurry!”
The cold air bit at their faces, but they walked bravely on.
“Elmer, we must go tonight so we can get as far away as we can before Ma wakes up and sees that we are gone.”
For the next half hour the pair walked in silence through the familiar woods past the graves on the hill. In one, a mother dearly loved, in another, an infant who had died the same day as his mother, and the third, a father that only Nan had memory of. Elmer was only two years old when Pa died in the logging accident. Nan snapped out of her reverie and urged Elmer on. Molasses, Pa’s good old workhorse, stood in the pasture. He skidded the logs Pa cut with his axe. His legs hadn’t healed quite right, but Mama hadn’t let Mr. Dewey kill him because he was all she had left of the husband of her youth. Molasses was a faithful friend to Nan and Elmer. He stood there and waited for them to mount him.
“Molasses, take us to…” Nan realized then that they had nowhere to go. Mrs. Dewey had said that they were ungrateful little imps who didn’t realize she and Mr. Dewey were taking care of them out of kindness, and they could easily be put into an orphanage. Nan didn’t know anything about orphanages except what Mrs. Dewey…uh, Ma had told her. “Molasses, just take us out of here.”
Why had she dared to speak to the woman that she was obliged to call mother in that way? She knew that talking was not allowed from children before chores were finished. The accusations being made by “Ma” were totally false and she could not let Elmer take the blame for something she herself had forgotten to do. She shut her eyes tight against the memory, but it intruded anyway.
She had just gotten up to take the water off the stove to make up dishwater for the supper dishes. Ma had stepped outside the room to turn down her bed and prepare for sleep. When she reappeared in the kitchen, she realized that the wood supply next to the stove was low. Elmer was standing next to the table gathering the plates for washing. “Elmer, where is the wood you were supposed to bring up to the house?” Before he could answer, a hand had slapped him across his face. Getting back onto his feet and standing as tall as a five year old can stand, he looked her in the eye and said, “Ma, I was sick today, ‘member?”
“So, Elmer, you’re going to play up that headache trick again. Nan, didn’t your good for nothing Mama teach you people how to work, or are you just lazy?”
“Our Mama was good! Don’t you say mean things about her!” Nan yelled as her heart raced at the assault against her real Mama’s character.
“What about it, Elmer, are you like your weakling Mama or what?” Elmer’s eyes became very large and filled with tears. He could barely remember his real Mama, but when he did, he remembered soft kisses and sweet singing and a beautiful face. “I’m sorry; I’ll get the wood now.”
“No, Elmer, don’t. I promised you I’d do it today when your head was hurting, but I forgot. I’ll get it after I do these dishes.”
“Listen here, Nan, I’m the boss around here and Elmer will do what I say, when I say, and you will respect me.”
Nan’s eyes widened.
“Don’t look at me like that, little girl.”
Nan held her breath.
“Well, I guess you will be making a trip to the wood shed…with me!” Ma had grabbed her by the arm and jerked her along behind the shed. The strap was hanging there, waiting. Whippings were becoming more and more frequent. After Ma’s husband left, they had taken on a more cruel form. The last whipping was more like a beating. It took days for the marks to scab over and heal. Little Elmer had come in that night and brought some horse medicine from the barn and applied it to the oozing marks.
The next afternoon when the schoolteacher came over, Ma had already formulated a story. “Mrs. Dewey, we missed Nan and Elmer today at school. Are they sick?” Ma lied the first time in her life and said, “Well Miss Sergeant, since Mr. Dewey is going to be gone for another four weeks, I need more help around here to get things done. I’m holding the kids out until he gets back.” Week after week went by, and Mr. Dewey still hadn’t come home. Everyday Ma grew more and more angry. It became more and more impossible to please her. When she began hitting Elmer, it was too much. Nan had to do something— right or wrong; things couldn’t stay the way they were.
The coolness of the earth had settled into Nan’s bones. She stood silently for a minute and carefully crept up to the farmhouse. As she opened the door, she saw that Elmer was in the pallet at the foot of the stove next to her bedroll. Ma was asleep in her room. The door held open with a rock. Slowly she began peeling off the dress and the dried blood stuck to it. She reached for the old shirt she normally wore over her wounds and under her dress. She had washed it today. It had bloodstains on it, but it would keep her from ruining another dress. She retrieved the old work dress that she wore when chores were messier than usual; it was the only one left. She put it on swiftly and shook Elmer awake with her hand over his mouth. “Baby, we must leave. Do you understand? Stay quiet and I will get some stuff to take with us.”
She found large old handkerchief and began looking for food supplies. There was one sourdough biscuit and about a cup of cold brown beans. She located her tin cup and another rag. She would probably need that. Three matches were in the cup on the stove. She would just take two. Suddenly she heard a sound from Ma’s room. A scampering sound… just a rat. Ma turned over. Her breathing became deep and regular. For once Nan wished that Ma snored. She tied the handkerchief in a knot over the meager food supplies, grabbed their bedrolls, and slowly opened the door.
“Come on, Elmer. Can you carry this food? I’ll get your bedding. That’s a good boy. We must hurry!”
The cold air bit at their faces, but they walked bravely on.
“Elmer, we must go tonight so we can get as far away as we can before Ma wakes up and sees that we are gone.”
For the next half hour the pair walked in silence through the familiar woods past the graves on the hill. In one, a mother dearly loved, in another, an infant who had died the same day as his mother, and the third, a father that only Nan had memory of. Elmer was only two years old when Pa died in the logging accident. Nan snapped out of her reverie and urged Elmer on. Molasses, Pa’s good old workhorse, stood in the pasture. He skidded the logs Pa cut with his axe. His legs hadn’t healed quite right, but Mama hadn’t let Mr. Dewey kill him because he was all she had left of the husband of her youth. Molasses was a faithful friend to Nan and Elmer. He stood there and waited for them to mount him.
“Molasses, take us to…” Nan realized then that they had nowhere to go. Mrs. Dewey had said that they were ungrateful little imps who didn’t realize she and Mr. Dewey were taking care of them out of kindness, and they could easily be put into an orphanage. Nan didn’t know anything about orphanages except what Mrs. Dewey…uh, Ma had told her. “Molasses, just take us out of here.”
Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Westminster CO
Great book signing in Colorado!
Mardel Bookstore in Littleton, CO
Booksigning - Elaine