—–NEW BLOG ADDRESS—–

OK, I’VE MOVED……  I CAN NOW BE FOUND AT:      http://lynnrush.wordpress.com/

 

COME SEE ME THERE:-)

ARE YOU ANY DIFFERENT?

You probably distinctly remember the events that happened seven years ago today. Where we were. What we were doing. Who we were with. The country, and everyone in it, more than likely changed forever, right? Whether you had direct connections to those who perished or even those who are now serving in the war as a result of the 9/11 attacks, or not.

Sure, we see the overt changes like Patriot Acts and airport security changes; however, how have WE changed, individually because of it?  My pastor did a One Month to Live series recently, and he asked us something very important at the conclusion of the series, “How are you going to be different after this series? What will you do differently?”

Great questions, right? Because if something so profound happens to us, such as 9/11 or getting told we have one month to live, our actions would probably change, right? 

For me, since 9/11 I’ve tried focusing on the positives in people more, being more merciful (like in traffic, or with restaurant servers, or troubled teens), and sharing the joy I’ve found in God with others.  Also, I’ve become more active in learning about politics and listening to the news.  I had once lived in my own little bubble, oblivious to much other than what I needed or wanted from day to day. Praying for the country’s leadership and military to make wise decision has also found its way into my daily prayer since 9/11.  

How have you changed since 9/11? Are you any different?

INTEGRITY

This morning I was reading about Daniel.  You know, the Daniel and the Lion’s Den story? I’ve heard the story before, but this was the first time I really sat down and read it. He refused to quit praying to God despite it being against the law, so the king threw him into a den filled with lions.  The lions did not touch him. I’m doing this whole “read the Bible in a year” book and something popped into my mind after reading the story.

Integrity. My pastor once said that Integrity is integrating what I believe into my daily actions. So, what does that mean? He went on to tell a story about how a woman was in prison in China, they brought her children to the jail and said that if she renounced God, said she did not believe in God she could go home with her kids and live out a full life. If not, if she chose to continue in her belief in God and Jesus, then she would remain in prison. 

What would you do?

Well, this woman, standing firm in her faith, did not renounce God.  She was kept in prison another 26 years.  Can you believe it?  Oh, and John McCain.  When he was a POW, he was given the opportunity to leave the prison camp early because of the status of his father.  He said no, he stuck with the protocol that the POW there the longest got to go home first. He remained in that POW camp another 4 years. 

I call that integrity. What would you do in those situations? I would hope I could do the right thing, but God only knows.

PAY IT FORWARD

Have you guys ever seen that movie?  Pay it Forward? Where the kid does nice things for others, and it goes on and on?  

Have you ever done that?  I mean, just done a random act of kindness for someone, whether you knew the person or not?  My pastor, like, a year ago, told us of a story of a random act of kindness done for him.  He was at a restaurant, eating, talking with whoever he was with.  Well, it came time to pay the bill and the waiter told him his bill had been taken care of already.

My pastor asked by whom but the waiter didn’t say.  It was just a random act of kindness done by someone.  Well, my pastor challenged us all to do that (not the restaurant thing exactly, but just something) so Charlie (that’s my hubby) and I tried it. 

We chose the restaurant thing. We saw a guy eating alone at a restaurant and it was coming time for him to pay, I stole away from our table and pulled the man’s waiter aside and paid for his meal.  I asked him not to say anything.  So, Charlie and I watched from afar and saw the pleasant, yet confused, look on the stranger’s face.  I thought my heart was going to burst out from my chest it was so rewarding.  

But what’s even more rewarding is that the waiter asked why on earth did we do that?  So, we got to share with the waiter a little bit about our faith and the whole random act of kindness thing.  

Have you guys ever done anything like that?  Tell me about it, I’d love to hear it.  If not, I encourage you to try something, whether it’s the restaurant thing, or something else.  

Have a great day everyone!

ONE MONTH TO LIVE

WOW–ever sit and think about that?  I mean really think about that?

My church just finished a month long series on this very topic.  It moved me in a way that was unexpected. They started out with the typical fashion of asking random people on the street what they would do if they had only a month to live.  Many answers were:  Skydive, be with my family more, etc. 

The series challenged me to think about those things, sure, but also, my faith. Would I share my faith more? Tell more people about heaven or hell?  Would there be things I wish I would have done? Like forgive someone I’ve been holding a grudge against?  Contact an old friend that I’ve let slip away? Things like that. 

They also followed the life of someone who was given only a month to live (terminal cancer) and how she viewed it.  She was a single mother of two young children.  It was so very moving.  

ONE MONTH TO LIVE video

So…what would YOU DO if you had only a month to live?

AMAZING RIDE

Hey all you bloggers out there.  Hope your Sunday is going well.  I just returned from a 53 mile ride.  It was amazing.  A nice, cool 80 degree morning.  Met up with a great bunch of guys–yes, guys.  So far, I’ve only met one other chick as crazy as I am (I think she’s even a little more crazy than me to tell ya the honest truth), to ride more than 50 miles.  So, I usually tuck in behind a pack of guys and ride the draft for a few hours.  

Now that the ride is over, I can chill out the rest of the day. Resting, writing, and snoozing. Ahhh, gotta love Sundays, huh?

FIRST CONTEST RESULTS

Yeah!  My first contest results are back.  As expected, I did not final, but the feedback–I’m so encouraged by it.  Sure, I got a couple low scores on some areas, I was expecting that.  The manuscript I had submitted was “pre-critique group” quality, so to say it nicely, it stunk.  Just kidding.  It didn’t stink, just smelled a little.  

Since then I’ve taken courses, been in a crit group, and really have grown in the craft.  It was exciting to see the suggestion the judges made, you know why?  Because most had already been made.  My crit group found them, I took some classes (three ACFW classes) and then sought out some mentorship with a local writing group (English professor, etc).  

So, I was very encouraged, despite a couple low scores (actually, I scored higher in a few categories than I had anticipated), I am ecstatic with the first contest experience.  I was expecting horrid scores in every category because I am, after all, a novice.  New to the industry.  New to writing.  I am regular person who had a few ideas pop into her head, and with a little time, education, and tough critique sessions, the ideas formed into a flowing novel.  By the grace of God, that is.  

Because it’s all for Him anyway.  So, we’ll see where the next contests take me, IF they take me anywhere.

Hope you’re having a great Saturday!

THE GRAND CANYON

So, have you ever been?  To the Grand Canyon, I mean?  I went last spring, check it out.

I had never been there, despite living here in Arizona for about three years now.  Crazy, huh?  Got this fantastic work of art and hadn’t been yet.  Well, when I got there, I almost fell right out of my shoes.   

As I leaned over the railing for the first time, much to my mother’s dismay, to look down and out at the canyon, I felt so small.  Well, yeah, small right?  I mean this thing is gigantic, right?  Well, that’s not the “small” I was thinking.  

Sure, most say the canyon was created over a gazillion years from a river…but really, I just think of it as God made.  Like I am.  Like we all are.  To see that beautiful piece of work, it reminds me what a BIG God we have, and He loves little ‘ol me.  And you.  

Happy Friday everyone.  I hope you have a stellar weekend.

THE SHACK

So, how many of you have read The Shack, by William P Young?  What did you think?  I’d love to hear.  

I just finished it.  I was pleasantly surprised by it, though.  It was direct, to the point, and often very convicting.  I cried, I laughed, and I wondered — sometimes simultaneously.  

So often I feel bound by rules, guilt, and obligation, I like how this was addressed in the book, sometimes I forgot I was reading fiction.   Although I’m not a theologian, it seemed to be, on my first read, biblically sound.

What did you think?  I’m curious.

SUFFICIENT

I’m often inspired by songs, but the most inspirational singer I’ve come across up until now is Adie Camp.  

My hubby and I found out about her on a local Christian radio station.  It’s a funny story, though, because the radio station NEVER EVER EVER said her name after the song.  We were always like, “who is this, we want this song.”  We spent hours on I tunes, google, you name it.  But, we’re just clueless I guess, because we could never find it.  

Well, one night, we had heard the song again, and I was determined to find it.  So, I sat on I tunes for the better part of a Saturday night surfing I tunes.  I found it tucked under ROCK.  I had been searching various words hoping they were the title, etc, etc.  Well, needless to say, I finally found it.  

Check out her site and her little You Tube video.  Sufficient is a great song and Your Way is equally as good. It just inspires me to seek first God’s will in my writing, in my life, and in my marriage.  When I’m discouraged or suffering from a bit of writer’s block, I sit down, listen Adie’s songs a few times, and bam, I’m feeling so much better.

I hope it blesses you as well.  Have a great day!!!