A Step in the Write Direction

December 31, 2012

Update:

December 31! It can’t be! Where has this year gone? I remember when I was younger, my mother told me that the older you get, the faster time goes. But, you know, when you’re young, time goes slow as you wait for Christmas, the next birthday, graduation, marriage, etc. I’m ready for a new year, and have my goals written down. Do you? I tell those in my workshops that it’s better to shoot at a rabbit and miss it then to shoot at a skunk and hit it. Make your goals high enough so you’ll need God’s help to reach them!

Thought for Today:

“We sometimes miss the great opportunities of life because we get sidetracked. I
once heard the tale of a talented and gifted bloodhound in England that started
a hunt by chasing a full-grown male deer. During the chase a fox crossed his path,
so he began to chase the fox. A rabbit crossed his hunting path, so he began
to chase the rabbit. After chasing the rabbit for a while, a tiny field mouse crossed
his path, and he chased the mouse to the corner of a farmer's barn. The bloodhound
had begun the hunt chasing a prized male deer for his master and wound up barking
at a tiny mouse. It is a rare human being who can do three or four different things
at a time—moving in different directions.” (Eric S. Ritz, The Ritz Collection, www.Sermons.com)

Laugh for Today:

Turkey Poem (Can go for Christmas as well)
(Author Unknown)
I ate too much turkey, I ate too much corn,
I ate too much pudding and pie.
I'm stuffed up with muffins and much too much stuffin'
I'm probably going to die.

I piled up my plate and I ate and I ate.
But I wish I had known when to stop,
For I'm so crammed with yams, sauces, gravies, and jams
That my buttons are starting to pop!

I'm full of tomatoes and French fried potatoes
My stomach is swollen and sore,

But there's still some dessert so I guess it won't hurt if
I eat just a little bit more!

Prayer Request:

Some of you may know Reg Forder, director of American Christian Writers. If you’ve been to any of his conferences across the U.S., you’ve met Eleanore, who is the heart and soul of the conferences—taking registrations, handling the book table, etc. Just last week she was diagnosed with cervical cancer which has spread to other areas. Reg writes that “without a miracle, she’ll soon be graduating.” Please pray for this special couple. I’ve known them for 30 years (he took over the Arizona conference that I started and ran for 7 years), so this is sad news to me. If you’d like to email them or send them a card, addresses are below:

 Email: ACWriters@aol.com

Snail: American Christian Writers
PO Box 110390
Nashville, TN 37222

 My Last Advent Devotion

 Day 30

The Star Doesn’t Leave at Christmas

 Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?

For we have seen his star in the East

and have come to worship Him (Matthew 2:2).

For weeks we’ve shopped, brought home overflowing sacks of gifts, wrapped them, and hid them around our house. We decorated the house, and attended church and school programs and parties. Christmas carols have rung out in the malls, and salespeople smiled and wished customers “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.”

Now it’s over. Children and grandchildren have gone to their separate homes. We’ve taken trash bags to the Dumpster. Gifts are stacked on the table ready to be put away in drawers and closets, and receipts are dug out for those that have to be exchanged. In the stores, Christmas cards are replaced with Valentines, and salespeople don’t seem as friendly.

How I wish the spirit of Christmas could go on all year. Then I remember the children’s Christmas program at church every year which shows the shepherds and the three wise men making their way to the manger. And I remember that the Magi didn’t actually visit the Infant in the stable. Bible scholars have written that they may have come when Jesus was about two years old. But the star was still shining!

Lord, Christmas is over, but may Your spirit of love and giving continue in my heart all year.

A Step in the Write Direction

December 31, 2012

Update:

December 31! It can’t be! Where has this year gone? I remember when I was younger, my mother told me that the older you get, the faster time goes. But, you know, when you’re young, time goes slow as you wait for Christmas, the next birthday, graduation, marriage, etc. I’m ready for a new year, and have my goals written down. Do you? I tell those in my workshops that it’s better to shoot at a rabbit and miss it then to shoot at a skunk and hit it. Make your goals high enough so you’ll need God’s help to reach them!

Thought for Today:

“We sometimes miss the great opportunities of life because we get sidetracked. I
once heard the tale of a talented and gifted bloodhound in England that started
a hunt by chasing a full-grown male deer. During the chase a fox crossed his path,
so he began to chase the fox. A rabbit crossed his hunting path, so he began
to chase the rabbit. After chasing the rabbit for a while, a tiny field mouse crossed
his path, and he chased the mouse to the corner of a farmer's barn. The bloodhound
had begun the hunt chasing a prized male deer for his master and wound up barking
at a tiny mouse. It is a rare human being who can do three or four different things
at a time—moving in different directions.” (Eric S. Ritz, The Ritz Collection, www.Sermons.com)

Laugh for Today:

Turkey Poem (Can go for Christmas as well)
(Author Unknown)
I ate too much turkey, I ate too much corn,
I ate too much pudding and pie.
I'm stuffed up with muffins and much too much stuffin'
I'm probably going to die.

I piled up my plate and I ate and I ate.
But I wish I had known when to stop,
For I'm so crammed with yams, sauces, gravies, and jams
That my buttons are starting to pop!

I'm full of tomatoes and French fried potatoes
My stomach is swollen and sore,

But there's still some dessert so I guess it won't hurt if
I eat just a little bit more!

Prayer Request:

Some of you may know Reg Forder, director of American Christian Writers. If you’ve been to any of his conferences across the U.S., you’ve met Eleanore, who is the heart and soul of the conferences—taking registrations, handling the book table, etc. Just last week she was diagnosed with cervical cancer which has spread to other areas. Reg writes that “without a miracle, she’ll soon be graduating.” Please pray for this special couple. I’ve known them for 30 years (he took over the Arizona conference that I started and ran for 7 years), so this is sad news to me. If you’d like to email them or send them a card, addresses are below:

Email: ACWriters@aol.com

Snail: American Christian Writers
PO Box 110390
Nashville, TN 37222

My Last Advent Devotion

Day 30

The Star Doesn’t Leave at Christmas

Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?

For we have seen his star in the East

and have come to worship Him (Matthew 2:2).

For weeks we’ve shopped, brought home overflowing sacks of gifts, wrapped them, and hid them around our house. We decorated the house, and attended church and school programs and parties. Christmas carols have rung out in the malls, and salespeople smiled and wished customers “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.”

Now it’s over. Children and grandchildren have gone to their separate homes. We’ve taken trash bags to the Dumpster. Gifts are stacked on the table ready to be put away in drawers and closets, and receipts are dug out for those that have to be exchanged. In the stores, Christmas cards are replaced with Valentines, and salespeople don’t seem as friendly.

How I wish the spirit of Christmas could go on all year. Then I remember the children’s Christmas program at church every year which shows the shepherds and the three wise men making their way to the manger. And I remember that the Magi didn’t actually visit the Infant in the stable. Bible scholars have written that they may have come when Jesus was about two years old. But the star was still shining!

Lord, Christmas is over, but may Your spirit of love and giving continue in my heart all year.

A Happy New Year to you all!

Donna Goodrich

www.thewritersfriend.net
"A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers"