Listen to your body signals

People get headaches all the time. But what do you do when you get one?

Normally, I admit, I just take some over the counter medicine and cope.

But today, I did not have that luxury. The acetamenophin did not work. My body needed more than that to deal with the stresses and other issues causing the headache. The sharp, vice grip not only throbbed, but also burned. So I chose to lay down and try to sleep it off.

An hour and a half later . . . my hubby came in to wake me up.

Holy cow! An hour and a half had passed. It felt like five minutes, but I felt better albeit a little groggy.

Sometimes, what our bodies need is not a "band-aide" fix. We really need to let them take the time to heal. We need to just plain stop. But that idleness seems somehow wrong. Why is that? Habit? I've found that I keep moving because that's what I'm used to doing. I actually have to be intentional about being still.

Have you been listening to your body's needs?

Or have you been ignoring them?

Angie
PS Remember to visit me over at God Uses Broken Vessels, my daily blog.

Take Correction

Tuesdays with Tiffany
By. Tiffany Colter

Proverbs 9:8-9 (New International Version)

8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

This morning as I sat down for my daily Bible reading and "Board Meeting" with God this verse jumped out. I knew I had to blog about it with you.

This week is ACFW's National Conference. Hundreds of writers will be in Minneapolis meeting with Editors and Agents hoping to make an impression, land a deal and learn that "One Thing" that will change their writing forever.

But how many will use what they learn?

This year I am NOT attending ACFW. I've blogged before how God told me that until I use what He's already given me. I accepted His instructions and, as I look at this weeks calendar, am again overwhelmed by God's wisdom.

I am working on a few different writing projects and three of the 'converge' this week. That means I have major finishing work on 3 projects for this week. There is NO way I could have enjoyed conference under that pressure.

But what about all of you? Those of you who are going...and those who aren't. This blog is for everyone.

One thing I DID learn last year that applies to many writers is their unwillingness to receive wisdom. All of us think that first Manuscript is BRILLIANT. But are we able to lay it on the altar of God and let it go? Do you know that I've written 3 1/2 full Manuscripts and I'm still not published in book length fiction. In 2006 I wrote over 100,000 first draft words [that means I didn't count the revisions, additions, etc. so that number is at least double.]

In 2007-2008 it was all about correction, perfection and reflection. [Be impressed!! I worked really hard to get three rhyming words :-)

During that 18 month time it was all about God correcting me in spirit, mind and body. I had to eliminate some bad attitudes, I had to listen to people wiser than I am and I had to trust God through the process. It was very humbling...VERY HUMBLING.

However, as I look at what God is now doing through me I am even more humbled. That the God of the Universe took the time to correct me and make me in to this.

Oh, I haven't arrived by any means, but even as I share my heart with you, tears are in my eyes. The Bible tells us that "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

So whether you're told by an agent "You need to work on dialog" by an editor "Work on your character arc" or in a conference class "manage your time better" or even in your time alone when God says "Not now."

Take correction...you'll grow as a person AND a writer.

Your Coach for the Journey, Tiffany Colter


*** Scriptures complements of NIV and Bible Gateway [www.BibleGateway.com]

Using imagery and symbolism in your writing

Tuesdays with Tiffany
by Tiffany Colter

Today I'm going to talk a bit about using symbolism in our writing. Whether you write women's fiction or mystery/suspense, you want to sprinkle symbolism in your writing to reach your reader on a deeper level and also to give them a sense of discovery.

It is difficult to give a lesson on symbolism in a blog because it is usually sprinkled throughout the entire book. Unless we all read the same book we couldn't really talk about it. BUT I can talk about a music video by Barlow Girl. It is called "Never Alone" and I'm going to paste it below for you dsl/high speed people. I've only been high speed for a year so I'm REALLY sorry dial-up...if you'd like to see it check at the library.

Now, what I want you to notice is the man who is tied up [you'll see flashes of him throughout the video]. Also listen to the lyrics.



Now, considering the lyrics what could the symbolism of the man be?

I've watched the video 3 times [at least] over the last few days and each time I see something different. Consider what scripture says:

The man is struggling against the ropes "We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' Acts 26:14

The man is in the middle of a dry place "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Psalm 63:1

When the man let his arms down [surrendered his will] the ropes fell off of him and he walked away, relieved. When we are finally willing to stop doing it OUR way and allow God to do it HIS way we not only experience the best outcome, but we have joy in our journey.

Notice, God didn't turn the terrain a lush green but rather he LED the man out of the Dry place. He still had to walk through it but he was no longer bound there.

So look at the symbolism you can put in your writing and allow this symbolism to minister to your heart.

And the refrain of this song:

I cry out with no reply and
I can't feel you by my side
so I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here and I'm never alone

See you Later this week on my blog or next week right here.

Your Coach for the Journey, Tiffany Colter

Whew! A needed day of rest!

After months of planning, my oldest son was the second wedding this year...after the 3 graduations and the December wedding of my second son.

Our family is kicked back this afternoon- resting a much needed down day!

I'm so glad we don't have celebrations, holidays, and ceremonies every day- like the little kids who wish every day was Christmas. It really helps to have the hills and the valleys. I don't think people can appreciate the days of rest more than when they've been rushing through the busy preparations. And as weird as it sounds, I can look back on this crazy year and understand that watching the joy on my son's face was worth the rough patches we had to live through over the years.

Those high moments are worth the hard times I watched him go through on his way to adulthood. Every mother knows that she cannot do for her child all those moments when they have to learn the hard way. But she wishes she could. Every mother knows her time is limited and that one day, she must let go.

It's an awesome bittersweet moment to hand a son over to his wife. It's an awesome moment to gain a daughter.

It's an intense split-second when a mother realizes she is looking at the future mother of her grandchildren-and that the next breath is a breath of that closer future. That this new young woman will experience the enormity of how I felt as she bears my lineage and nurtures the next generation.

All that wonder and amazement. All that emotion for so many years of nurture. All tied up in a ceremony celebrating the culmination of childhood and the beginning of a new branch in the family tree.

Yes, today is a day to rest. It's a day to lay down that emotion and absorb the anticipation of the future.

How long has it been since you've allowed yourself to simply absorb your busy life changes?

Angie
Please visit me over at God uses broken vessels

Coffee, Tea, & Me

You know, there's a lovely prayer I once read. It's the Tea Cup Prayer. I lent the book out years ago and don't remember where it went. Sad really. But the good writing that stuck with me over all this time still influences my thoughts.

The gist of the Tea Cup Prayer is that you put your thoughts visually into the steam that rises up toward heaven.

I love that idea because it meshes really well with one of my favorite verses, Romans 8:26.

How?

So glad you asked ;-)

Sometimes we mistakenly believe that our prayers can only be heard if they are spoken. But Romans 8:26 says that the Holy Spirit searches our hearts and minds and takes our needs directly to God. (Angie's paraphrased version.)

One day, 16 or 17 years ago, I hit bottom. I couldn't even voice the pain in my soul. I didn't think God could hear me anymore. Then I read that verse. I was surprised, but I needed so badly to be able to pray in images rather than words. The grief, pain, need was too great for words.

Then later, I read the Tea Cup Prayer and more fully understood the concept of silent prayer. I'm sure there are many ways to pray silently. It just so happened that this idea struck a chord.

Now whenever I can take a moment with that first hot drink, I watch the steam rise and curl toward heaven. I picture the faces of people I want to pray for, I place my fears and needs into the aroma, and I release the pent up feelings as the aroma lifts to the nostrils of God.

I ask him to see, hear, and accept my prayers. I ask him to breathe them in. I picture the curling mist streaming into the throne room. Then I imagine God's eyes closing as he inhales. His chest lifts with the breath. And his eyes open.

They glow love and compassion.

They look directly into my soul.

He lifts his hand toward me.

The answer is already on the way.

I thank him.

I rest, waiting for the answer to arrive.

Enjoy your coffee or tea in a new way today,
Angie
PS Please visit me over at God Uses Broken Vessels for my daily posts :-D

Mission Impossible Monday: Standing still

One of my favorite Old Testament stories is about Moses and the Israelites when they’ve just left Egypt. They’d only been gone a short time when God directed Moses to turn back and camp by the Red Sea. God planned to harden Pharaoh’s heart and have him send armies to pursue the Israelites – not so the Israelites could be destroyed, but so they could see God perform a miracle and so the Egyptians would see that He was Lord.

Moses did as he was told, and God took the plan from there. Pharaoh sent all his horses, horsemen and troops to overtake the Israelites. The Israelites were stuck between Pharaoh’s army and the sea – and neither option looked good. They immediately began to whine at Moses, demanding to know why he’d brought them out into the desert to die and claiming they had wanted to stay in Egypt as slaves. “It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” they cried (Exodus 14:12b).

Then Moses gave an incredible answer: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14).

What happened next? God told Moses to hold his staff out over the sea, so Moses did. The Lord drove the sea back with a mighty wind and dried the ground so the Israelites could cross in safety.

Not exactly the answer the people had expected, but it sure did work! And God definitely showed everyone exactly Who He was and what kind of power He had.

I wonder how hard it was for the Israelites to stand there, watching Pharaoh’s army bear down upon them and wondering what in the world was going to happen next. Did they have enough trust in Moses yet to believe the message he passed on, or did they still tremble in their sandals? Then when the wind came and the sea parted, did they nearly collapse in shock, or did they jump for joy? And how did it feel to walk through two tremendous walls of water that you knew were only being held in place because of God’s hand?

Lots of questions, and lots of lessons to be learned. But how does it all relate to writing? In quite a few ways, when I’m honest with myself.

I write because I believe God has called me to, just as He called the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. It looks like a grand thing and I’m excited about doing it, but sometimes my excitement can get in the way. I want to plot and plan and whip out things to submit. I love an idea and can hardly wait to put in on paper and share it with someone. I hope and pray for acceptance instead of rejection, and do whatever I can to “help” the process along.

But maybe that’s not my job sometimes. Maybe my job is to listen for God’s voice and just stand still. Stop worrying about plot points or character bios or how to write for a particular publisher. Stop wondering if I’ll ever need an agent and who that person might be. Stop trying to plan it all myself. Wait for God to take over.

Of course, sometimes I fall to the other extreme, and want to stop when God wants me to go on. I get discouraged when someone rejects an article or query, or when a reader gives me comments that aren’t what I’d hoped for. I let writer’s block get the best of me or let other things take away my writing time.

For whatever reason I find myself there, I need to turn away from the army that’s bearing down and look at the open, dry ground instead. I need to remember that if God has called me to this, then it is my job to follow His direction and do the best I can with the gifts He has given me. No matter how many rejections or disappointments I might face, God has laid out a path for me to follow – straight through the seemingly impossible obstacles and on to the version of the Promised Land He has for me.

I don’t know exactly what’s there or when I’ll arrive, other than it will be just the way God wants it. The God who has the power to move heaven and earth is the same God who will see me through. I just have to be still – and then follow.

What kinds of writing obstacles are in your way this week? Are you stuck between the army and the sea, wondering what to do or which way God wants you to go? We’re here to encourage and uplift each other, and consider it a privilege to pray for each other. Share your requests with us in the comments section, and know you’ll be in our prayers this week.