Brave

It's time to link up with Gypsy Mama and other writers to write for 5 minutes flat - unedited, unscripted, purely for the joy of the craft. And, I need to get my creative juices flowing. So, here we go. Today's word?

BRAVE

I stepped to the ledge. A pebble skittered beneath my feet and down the rocky cliff. Red rock ensconced me. Heat waves danced off the majestic stones.

The Grand Canyon.

I made myself step to the ledge. My foot slipped and a friend grabbed my waist and yanked me backwards. Away from the edge. Away from danger.

Bravery is a trait held by few and craved by most. I would like to count myself brave, but I'm not. I force myself to place a toe to the edge, scared to pear over. Yet curious.

We miss out when we refuse to embrace the risk with the reward. I saw the river, the canyon where God's finger traced the dirt. I saw colors and shades I never dreamed possible, patterns in the rock only designed by the hand of a mighty Creator.

Bravery is stepping up to the ledge, acknowledging the possibility of defeat, but knowing life is too short not to embrace the full picture of what God desires to show us. Abundant life. Freedom. Beauty. His masterpiece.

Maybe bravery will define me. One day. For now, it is a daily choice to stand on the ledge and peer over.

Your turn! What does bravery mean to you? Leave a comment below.

Dream Big - Impact

"All those who have achieved great things have been great dreamers."

My manuscript sits in front of him, ready to bleed red at the slice of his poised pen. My heart races, pounding through my wool sweater, and I study the snowy mountain peaks through the window behind him. Deep breaths. I can do this. I can do this.

The pen rattled to the desk. I could hear him thinking. And, I will never forget his words. "This story fascinated me. You know, the mindset is so different between my generation and yours. My generation throws money at trips. We send the missionaries. Your generation? You don't want to sit still. You want to go."

Jerry B. Jenkins nailed it on the head. And, he's right. While different desires may exist between generations, the heart is the same. When dreaming big, we desire to make an impact.

The greatest artists, musicians, and writers of our time desire to leave a memento behind that will change the world. Athletes and public figures want to leave a legacy, be remembered. Civil servants, the military, and the rare few sincere politicians desire to leave an impact for generations to come. Business men build an empire. You fill in the blank.

As a writer, my job is to influence and persuade. If I focus on building my own platform, then my influence will be skewed. If I realize my platform is just another tool to promote what the Lord has placed on my heart to say, then I'm no longer promoting myself but the message.

Impact. By definition, the word is loaded with implications and possibilities. It isn't a question of whether or not your dream will make an impact. The litmus test comes when asking the direction your impact will have.

Even the worst individual, aka Hitler, left an impact. He had a goal, a dream, albeit, extremely misguided. He made a name for himself. But, few recognize him for greatness. His agenda was selfish, unconcerned with the lives of others. His legacy is ugly.

Mother Theresa made a mighty impact. She is known around the globe for focusing on those with great needs. Her impact is raised awareness, a spirit of sacrifice, and a mission to those who cannot provide for themselves. She changed the world. Hers is a legacy that is eternal. She influenced lives for the Lord. She fulfilled the call of aiding the poor, the orphan, the widow. Her dream was others-focused, and thus her legacy is beautiful.

We all have a dream. Some of us have more than one. Are we pursuing a dream that will make an eternal impact or a temporal change? Make no mistake, you WILL effect others. Will your impact be positive or negative? I truly believe some of you reading this have the ability to be the next Mother Theresa, the next Jerry B. Jenkins. I truly believe you have the ability to impact the world for Christ. Will you be the catalyst? Will you brave the critics to pursue a Christ-centered calling? If you are faithful, the Lord will make your impact greater than you can imagine.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, your dreams should align with His commands. Our call is to make disciples. To impact culture, not abdicate it. To influence rather than be influenced. To instigate rather than follow.

Do you see the greatness of your opportunity to impact? Seize it with me!

As you pursue your dreams, how can you change from temporal pursuits to dreams of eternal significance? How can you change your mentality? Will your dream be better or worse for it? Leave a comment below, and journey with me!

"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." John 14:12-14

Empty

Every Friday, I link up with the Gypsy Mama and other bloggers to write for five minutes flat - unedited, unplanned, purely for the joy of the craft. And, now that I work in a writing position, it serves as a great warm up for me.

Today's word...

EMPTY

I live in a concrete jungle. Busy paces, empty gazes, cold faces. And I long for the college life of west Texas where everything is slower, simpler, beautiful.

But this is where I am meant to be. My mission field. We are called to GO, but I also know the call to stay, for this is my Jerusalem. The girl behind the counter, the man on the street, the young adult at the Porch searching for answers - they are just as lost as those in Africa or India.

Maybe more so. Many know the truth. They just can't move past their own knowledge or experience to accept it. Empty.

I want to shout, "Hope is over here!" I have the solution to the ache. I know One who fills the emptiness, heals what's broken, binds up the hurting, and loves what everyone else has stamped unloveable.

I'm more conscious now. I pray for His eyes, that I see what He sees and love what He loves. I pray they know the peace and hope I know. For my God fills the emptiness with His heart.

His loving hands never leave scars.

 “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3

Dream Big - Celebrate Milestones

Mrs. Baird's Bread was my favorite place once every six weeks as a kid. We didn't have sugar in our house so trips to this sweet smelling haven highlighted every report card day. We each picked a treat, barely waiting to tear into it until it was paid for. Each bite was its own reward.

At the time, each grade was a celebration of hard work and a job well done. Much like the smallest accomplishments were rewarded as children, every milestone on the way to our dreams should be celebrated, as well. Last week, I talked about setting goals to achieve our dreams. This week, it's time to party!

For all the writers/readers out there, you know that every chapter must begin with a great hook and end with a bang that makes you want to keep reading and see what's next. Tomorrow, I will celebrate the ending of a chapter in my life and the beginning of another.

For those who follow me on Facebook or have kept up with me the last couple of years on my blog, my journey has consisted of one part time job after another. Each was a blessing from the Lord for that particular season. Each provided me with the ability to write my book and spend a year in a class that trained and equipped me.

I have enjoyed the flexibility of acting when creativity strikes me. But, all that is about to change. On Leap Day, I signed the acceptance for a full time job with First Baptist Dallas as the new writer for the Communications team. I will end my last day as a nanny tomorrow and begin a new adventure on Wednesday. Those who have journeyed with me celebrated the answer to prayer after several years of uncertain direction. But never for a second was the Lord not in control.

My dreams haven't changed. This job will allow me to pursue them in a greater and more effective fashion than I can currently accomplish. I celebrated the completion of my book. I celebrated the interest of agents and editors at my Colorado conference. My life is about to change in a big way, and I celebrate what the Lord will do. I'm excited about the ability to expand the gift the Lord has given me, as well as minister and hopefully make an impact in the lives of a different audience. Goals that go unrecognized rarely bring motivation or a sense of a job well done. Monotony and pushing through without the acknowledgement of success or change stifles a dream rather than breathing new life into it. Don't get so caught up in achieving your dream that you overlook the victories along the way.

I can't wait to get started. Welcome to my new chapter! I can't wait to see what the Lord has up His sleeve. He clearly writes a better story than I could ever hope to pen. I pray you will journey with me. And, I pray you will stop to celebrate the answers to prayer and the successes along the red carpet to your dreams.

How can you celebrate a recent event in your life? What do you need to do to spur you on to the next step in pursuing your dreams?

My Achy Breaky Heart

Linking up with the Gypsy Mama for 5 Minute Friday. We write because we love words and the relief it is to just write them without worrying if they’re just right or not. So we take five minutes on Friday and write like we used to finger paint. For joy in the process. No matter how messy the result. Today's word:

ACHE

They come and go. Faces flashes across my screen, names across my phone, words across my heart. There are days I physically hurt from missing them, ache for the short time allowed with them.

Some share my DNA, others should. They are those who have left footprints on my heart and fingerprints on my life. Some relationships run thicker than blood. Some blood surpasses simple DNA.

And I ache that life changes, ache when it doesn't. Love when new relationships enter my life and ache when time seperates us again.

I thank the Lord that so many of these dear ones are eternal friendships. The ache is temporary. The joy is forever, ever grateful, ever craving the presence

...of the childhood friends spread across the country. We are linked by shared nursery toys and the idelible memories that only come from sharing the journey of a lifetime, every stage.

...of those who walked in during childhood, sharing victories, defeat, and the life-altering decisions of boyfriends and college and all in between.

...of those in college. My fellow Red Raiders. Linked by loyalty and by love, now spread out all over Texas. All in different life stages. Changed but we still bleed red and black.

...of those who shared a life-changing summer. Who laughed and cried and traveled. Getting lost, finding ourselves was all part of the journey.

...of those who have entered since the west Texas sunsets. The community, teammates, colleagues. Those who made the choice to share their lives, every piece for the sake of loving others.

...of those who have always been there. Blood thicker than water, who share my DNA and my history. They are my past, present, and future.

And I ache that they will always be part of me but not always with me. Their memories, their imprints continue to shape my life.

Dream Big - Set Goals

"You cannot always wait for the perfect time. Sometimes you must dare to jump."

In high school, I was a proud member of the Poteet Pirate Band. State Champions. But we weren't handed that title. We had to earn it. My band director always challenged us to beat one adversary above all others: Poteet High School. If we could beat our own record, our own previous best, then we would truly succeed.

Before we marched at the state competition, we had to advance through several other competitions. Second best wouldn't cut it. We had to do our best at each successive competition. We won state that year by tackling one goal at a time.

No dream is achieved over night. The past few weeks, I've explored the path to making a dream a reality:

1. Identify your inspiration
2. Believe in yourself.
3. Build a team to encourage and challenge you in your pursuit.
4. Set a succession of goals.

Currently, I am working toward publishing my first book. I used to think it would be an easy process. Boy, was I WRONG. I've realized there are a series of steps I have to take before I will get from unpublished manuscript to finished masterpiece. So, I've set goals for myself to hopefully get from A to B:

Write daily.
Read a variety of books from classics to contemporaries in my genre.
Establish a network of others in my field.
Seek advise and direction from those already established.
Commit this path daily to the Lord.
Polish, polish, polish.

All these goals are within my power to accomplish. They not only get me from A to B but help me improve for the next book and the next. When I focus on a published book, I lose sight of the steps I need to take to get there. When I look at all of the goals at once, I grow overwhelmed. When I focus on what I can do today to be better, I take another step closer toward my dreams.

I can't control the end result, but I can do everything in my power to be prepared when that final step is presented. There is never a perfect time to change your life. Sometimes you must dare to jump. What daily goals can you set to place you one step closer to your dreams? What patterns need to be established? Start today!

Dream Big - Write For the Soul

This past week, I attended the Write for the Soul conference in Denver, Colorado, orchestrated by the Christian Writers Guild. After several days of workshops, appointments, classes, and meal sessions, I am officially brain dead. And ready to get to work.

This was my second time at this conference, but this year, I had a network of familiar faces and a completed manuscript. My mentor, DiAnn Mills, and several of my classmates constantly challenged and encouraged me.

My mentor, DiAnn Mill

These two qualities go hand-in-hand. Without constructive criticism, I won't improve. Without encouragement, I won't continue. I'm thankful for these people the Lord has placed in my life. A "no" to grad school became a "yes" to a path I never knew existed.

Every dream requires training. Training comes from those who have already traveled the path you are now trekking. Quality friends and mentors are defined by their authenticity and honesty when it could hurt the most. Without these character qualities, we get multitudes of auditions on American Idol of those who have been falsely complimented their entire lives in regards to their perceived talent. Sadly, I enjoy this spectacle of reality TV.

So, here are a few take aways from the conference. Training for me to put into action...

• All my failures, God saw as stepping stones. - Don't quit. Keep learning, and be persistent.
• A burden to pursue a calling precedes the command but must be followed by surrender. Only then can I make an impact.
• Never pray for a way out of the challenges for it is the challenges that make us strong.
• There are 2 kinds of people in the world: artists and those who are supposed to put up with artists. - Ha, I loved this! Which one are you?
• A good story gives the reader something to learn about, think about, feel about, and dream about. - That's what I want my writing to be.
• Inspiration with manifestation leads to destination.
• It is not the degree of success that matters but the application. I must maintain a clear idea of my destination.
• Hollywood has created a lesser image of the hero. I want to remind others of what heroism truly means. "Nurture your mind with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes." Disraeli
• Don't let your ministry outgrow your character.

Some of my classmates

For inquiring minds, I met with several agents and editors to pitch my book. Interest was expressed and portions of my manuscript will reach them by the end of the week. I have no idea where this will lead, but the Lord knows my steps. I'll keep you updated with this process! Click "join this site" on the sidebar to get the latest!

I also found out that I am a finalist in the Women of Faith novel contest. My novel reached the top 30 contestants out of 660 manuscripts. Whether or not my novel proceeds further, this gave me an incredible boost. See the value of the smallest bit of encouragement?

Do you have a team of friends and mentors around you, supporting your dream? How do they make you better? Leave a comment below!