Our Christian Walk

A Future to Be Sure Of

deborahanndykeman

Future Self

Wow…think about that for a moment. “Our actions and decisions today will shape the way we will be living in the future.” 

A pastor of a church I attended when I was a teenager, really impacted my life. One of the many things he said was that, “bad decisions close down your options for future good decisions.” Now that is not to say that you no longer have an opportunity to make a good decision, just that your options are different than they would have been, and maybe you don’t have so many to choose from any longer.

For example, if you are a ballet dancer and you choose to go sky-diving and you don’t land correctly, causing you to lose the use of your legs…your ballet future is impacted. The scenarios are endless. That ballet dancer may go on to do just as fantastic in some other area…but dancing probably won’t be the option it use to be.

This is a lesson I tried to teach our children…and I think it is a lesson that almost always has to be learned, ‘hands on’. Going through something, reaping the discipline or rewards helps that experience solidify in your brain. It begins when we are very young. A parent tells a child, “Don’t touch the stove, the burner is hot.” Very rarely will that child process in their mind, “Oh, Mommy spoke and I will obey.” They usually have to give it a try. Hopefully, as that child racks up some experiences, they will learn to listen when spoken to. When they hit the age of thirteen…it begins again…only on a different level.

It boils down to being very cautious about the decisions you make in your life. No, we shouldn’t tread in fear, always wondering if we are going to mess up our future. But we should learn from our past mistakes…touching the stove when told not to and getting burned. It you want to be a prima ballerina, maybe jumping out of airplanes isn’t such a great idea for you.

There is a second stage to this process of thinking. It is why I use Psalm 118:24 on this blog and why I think about it each and every day. We ALL make bad decisions. We have ALL touched the stove when told not to. Most of us have had another opportunity to try again. I very firmly believe, that as long as you are on this earth…you have another chance. If you jumped out of that plane, you may not be a prima ballerina, but you could be something else just as grand…an inspiration to others.

And no, I don’t believe this is all just by chance. There is a plan. God has designed it…and it works extremely well. He is far more forgiving, offering many more chances than I would ever allow if I was in charge! He guides and directs our lives, if we care to listen. Yes, sometimes discipline is in order and many times there are rewards. Almost always, that discipline is far less than what I would have handed out if it would have been up to me! God is gracious, merciful and loving…just as we should be as parents. He is also just and righteous, disciplining when needed…just as we should as parents. The difference is that He is far more fair…He is God.

“Our actions and decisions today will shape the way we will be living in the future.”  Have you accepted Christ as your Savior? Do you know where you will go when your physical body dies? These are the two most important questions of all…and they will most definitely shape your future.

 

Just For Fun!

Summer Songs

deborahanndykeman

I don’t know if it’s because I’m a writer…but my senses are usually in overdrive. With every change of season, my eyes, ears and nose go into full swing. No, not with allergies, but just the enjoyment of that new, precious time. I am very thankful for this.

It is now summer, not officially on the calendar, but in our everyday lives. School is out in some places…and it is hot and getting hotter. Childhood memories of going to bed in the daylight and sweating until the wee hours of the morning knock on my brain. Afternoons at the swimming pool, mowing lawn, riding bikes, and the ice cream truck. The smell of that fresh grass and a newly cut field of hay. A summer day downpour…cooling the air in Colorado where I grew up…making it steamier here in Kansas…usually.

So music also plays a big part in my brain…setting the scene for summer. Of course the Beach Boys always comes to mind…probably for most people. They are the quintessential summer group, in my humble opinion! There are other songs as well, but today this one came to mind…and as always…I can’t shut if off in my head! So, I’ll share it with you.

The very first time I heard this, was with my husband, no children, (and they were all at home then), on a gravel road heading to our little town from Manhattan, Kansas. And yes, summer was coming! It just set the tone for that day and gives me pleasant memories each time I hear it again. Enjoy! Summer is here!

 

Writing

Why Readers Stop Reading a Book.

deborahanndykeman

Another fantastic post to share for you writers and editors. I’ve learned so much from reading these! Hopefully I will put them into practice as well! 😉

 

Recently, we here at LitWorldInterviews.com conducted a survey, “Why do you put a book down?” and through the assistance of the writing community we had a very nice response. Now it’s time to share…

Source: Why Readers Stop Reading a Book.

Writing

What Exactly is Poor Writing?

deborahanndykeman

Attention all writers and editors! This is an excellent post…and I wanted to share it with you. A lot of great pointers to keep in mind…scrapbook-1345381__180

 

 

 

 

Any of you who have editing experience can back me up when I say that it is a very tiring process, especially when the piece you are reviewing is poorly written. And while the perceived quality of …

Source: What Exactly is Poor Writing?

Just For Fun!

Tiny Topics

deborahanndykeman

I’ve always been enthralled with anything miniature. I think it’s amazing that you can make something out of itsy-bitsy items and it’s looks real.

So, as you can imagine…I love doll houses. I could get lost in studying a room like the two pictured above…each little detail.

I love the train displays…not because of the trains, but because of the little villages the track weaves through. I find it fascinating to see the wee towns and the ‘houses’ on the hillside.

After many years, I finally have a fairy village. No, I don’t really believe little people come and visit and night, (although I tell my grandchildren they do! ;)) I spent hours a couple springs ago, repainting my fairy village houses. What fun! Now that’s something I could do for a living! I received so much enjoyment looking up all the options for houses and accessories online. The possibilities are limitless!

I also have a Christmas village that has grown too big for my upright piano top. I originally set it there to keep away from little, exploring fingers. Someone would always lift them up and point out the ice-skaters on the little ‘pond’ made from tin-foil, the children sledding on the ‘hill’.

Tiny to me…is tremendous! Check out my Facebook post for today and you will find another petite puppy to make you smile.

Baby mice, hummingbirds, tiny table settings, white picket fences two inches tall, stone cottages for a tree frog, teacup chihuahuas, bistro for baby…and of course babies in general. These are some of my favorite things! Happy Friday to you!

A Day to Remember

Begins!

deborahanndykeman

It has finally arrived! Today is the last day of school here in our little town. Graduations have finished and now it’s…summer. For children, anyway. Can’t you just feel it? That sense of excitement and anticipation…no school for a couple of months. No getting up early in the morning, for school anyway. Going to bed later. Long, hot days that seemed as though they would never end…and that was a fantastic feeling!

Follow along for just a bit…relishing that period of time that was like no other. For me, as a child, every summer consisted of swimming lessons…early in the morning. Roll out of bed, put on a damp swimsuit from the day before and have a bite of yogurt and granola, (yes, my mother was very much into us eating healthy!) You would get to the pool, yawning and freezing, your towel wrapped around your shoulders. You would stand there shivering, dreading that moment when you would have to jump or dive in, knowing it was going to take your breath away for a second. Then the water would become liquid warm, gliding over your body.

Then we would head home, do our chores and have a sandwich. As soon as the pool opened in the afternoon, we were back again and stayed until the pool closed. Those days weren’t about the tanning for me, but practicing all that we had learned that morning. If we were very lucky, my parents or friend’s parents would pick us up and we wouldn’t have to make that trek back home. Although it was pretty fun to stop by the little building that sold candy and stock up for the walk. (And no, my mother would not have been happy about that!)

We managed to fit so much into our summer days! Bike riding, lemonade stands, and playing cards on rainy days.

My husband’s summer days included camp every year. When I became a teenager, we had moved to the east. The finish of school for the summer was just as filled with anticipation and excitement. But now the swimming was accomplished on pristine lakes with extremely cold water. Those shivering mornings were nothing compared to jumping in that lake in the Adirondack mountains on a sunny afternoon! After a few minutes, the water warmed and it just felt…delicious.

My teenage summers also included staying with a cousin at her parent’s cabin in New Hampshire. Those were the summers I learned to row a boat, making sure to stay clear of the lily-pad end. Having an oar tangled in that is no fun! Rainy days still included playing cards on the enclosed porch, listening to the rain beat on the roof. Sunsets were gorgeous, of course! Oh, the memories!

Sometimes I wonder about the youth of today. My childhood was filled with activity, special days, friends to play with and a sense of just…belonging. You knew your place in the world and what was expected. There was a time for work and then a time for play. You interacted with others.

So today…summer begins. Have a beautiful day with lots of sunshiny memories!pink-lemonade-795030__180

Writing

An Early Start

deborahanndykeman

I’m a creature of habit. Each day, I sit down in front of my computer and I have a list of ‘chores’ I do before  I allow myself the privilege to write. Some days, these ‘chores’ take so long that the writing never materializes. Maybe not a great way to go about my day…but I do have a sense of accomplishment when I have these ‘chores’ done. Throw in a bit of household chores like laundry, dishes, and cleaning…and yes, some days I even cook…and writing starts to take a seat on the back burner.retro-1291608__180

Every now and again, I have something that I have floating around in my head and I have to get it down on my computer. It drives me crazy until I do…and I love this kind of writing…those kind of days. The words come fast and furious and need very little editing, (in my humble opinion) and it’s usually pretty good. These days usually start fairly early in the morning because I can’t sleep until I get all those thoughts out of my head and through my fingers. If you are a writer, you understand what I’m saying. keyboard-621830__180

So now what do I do? The last few chapters came to me while I was waiting for my husband and daughter in the local grocery store. I love to sit in the parking lot and people watch. I’ve mentioned this before. So, the ending chapters were there…and my computer was not. For two days now those visions have been running through my mind…and I haven’t had a chance to put them to use. So, this morning I was up at 3:30 am. Do I have my list of ‘chores’ finished? You bet I do! Now it’s just before 7:00 am…those visions are pounding to get out. I think it’s going to be a great day! I pray your’s is as well! Happy Monday!

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Writing

Spring Rain…Again!

deborahanndykeman

It’s raining…again! I love the cool breeze and the birds are singing happily…but I miss the sun! Everything is so green and the flowers are lovely, but some sunshine would brighten my soul.

I also need tech help! I actually made a video of my yard, and I took some pictures to share on here. But I guess it was too green for the camera as well. It won’t send the file to my e-mail. It says it’s too big.

Help!

I was able to send it to my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216963165342784/ so I guess you will have to watch it on there if you are interested.

So, I just wanted to say ‘hi’ before I started ‘working’ today. I’m nearing the end of my third book in my Rubyville series. My goal is to finish it next week…early next week to start the editing process. Have a wonderful Friday everyone!