Captain’s Log, Stardate 01.04.05
In my quiet time today, I read through Colossians chapters 2 and 3. What stands out is the newness I have in Christ, that enables me to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. It is hard to bring my heart to this place, it can only be God working in me to do it.
He also reminded me to be thankful. And it’s true, things could be so much worse. I’m so ungrateful sometimes. I’m very thankful that I am healthy and not in any pain from the surgery. My husband has a job that’s somewhat steady even if the hours are horrendous, but he’s working with people he likes and he gets paid overtime for those long hours. My dog is healthy and happy. Our house is in decent shape, and so far, we’re able to make the mortgage each month. I have encouraging cyber-friends (even though--ahem, Heather--some of them are a bit cyber-hug-happy. ;-) Just kidding, hun). My car is in good shape and I am able to drive. I have today to enjoy. Yes, Lord, thank You for blessing me with all these things and more. Forgive me for being disgruntled and despairing about what’s to come. Help me to have hope in You and to trust in Your plans for me.
My husband said to just enjoy today, rather than thinking of it as my last day of freedom. He’s right. So I slept in late and I intend to watch at least a little Star Trek Voyager tonight (discs 4 & 5 from season 7 came in today!). I will work on my manuscript but not stress about not getting in enough time on it (although I do hope to get in at least an hour today).
And I will fight every time I feel panic or depression overtake me. That is spiritual warfare. I will bathe today in prayer and resist those emotional moments, knowing that the (supernatural) ability to resist and give it up to God is because I decided (logical decision, not emotional decision) to obey and follow Him.
Surely God will bless me for my desire to obey rather than how successful I am at it during the day? Time and again He shows me that my heart is important to Him rather than my perfection. Today I feel a strange peace over me, and I am sure it’s not from me, so it must be a gift from God, a blanket of His grace. Thank You, Lord.
Do not fret-- it leads only to evil. Psalm 37: 8b
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Matthew 6:34a
Writing: No pages done yesterday, but ran my outline through the first two chapters of Maass’ “Writing the Breakout Novel,” Premise and Stakes. I think it’s shaping nicely. It was interesting to see how I could broaden the public impact of the story and also how to really test the heroine’s principles at each step. It helped me to better establish the overall theme, and I feel very satisfied with how it’s deepening and growing richer as a plot. I’m also very thankful that I didn’t write more than 5 chapters, because just those 5 chapters are going to need major tweaking.
So far, I love Maass’ book. I think it’s especially useful for intermediate writers who have already gone through Swain’s book (or Debra Dixon’s “GMC”, or Sol Stein’s “Stein on Writing”) and Browne/King’s “Self-Editing for Fiction Writers.” Not that a beginning writer couldn’t use his advice, but I think that I appreciate his book much more because I’ve already learned about the basics of plot, characterization, and technique. Just like “Self-Editing for Fiction Writers,” this book takes my writing a step further to that next level.
Diet: Hmm, hard to say because I ate a low-fat lunch but rib roast for dinner. I think it was around 1800 calories. At the very least I’m sure it was less than 2000. Not bad if I were also able to exercise regularly. I really need to nag my husband about setting up that stand we got from our friends, which lifts the back wheel from a regular bike and makes it into a pseudo-exercise bike. I really need to get some cardio.
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Heather