Heroes, Misdeeds, & Second Chances

I was discussing a buddy-read recently with one of my buddies and we stumbled upon a topic that I believe passionately upon. This is a subject that I’ve been running against a lot and after ranting to my friend I decided to write a post about it.

I have noticed that a prominent problem in our society is constantly shoving people’s past misdeeds and mistakes in their faces. Someone posts about some good thing someone did and someone else comments talking about some stupid or scandalous thing they did three years ago. Or someone digs up the follies someone did in his youth. Or digs up the war crimes of a nation and forevermore bashes the innocent citizens & descendants for it.

Is this right?

Is that what God does to us? Is He constantly rubbing in our faces the sins and mistakes we’ve done? No! He forgot them. He put them aside. He moved on.

Nowadays the trend is to strip all the greatness off a person and expose all the meanness and ugliness and nastiness. 

“[I]t’s written down for all men to read—there have been times in our history when we fought on the side of the powers of darkness, when we did what was cruel, treacherous, mean, lazy, shabby. And now, when we want to be strong to fight for the right, half the world taunts us with the shady places in our past, and our misdeeds rise up like grim spectres, mocking us—”*

*Enemy Brothers, by Constance Savery. 

But what happened to second chances? What happened to redemption? 

There is no redemption without messing up first. 

Accept that there were mistakes and wrong. Don’t deny it. Face it. Condemn it. Learn from it. Appreciate what that which was good. Remember it. Then move on. Make up for it. Change. Press forwards instead of digging up what’s behind you. 

Why make everyone feel negative and depressed? Why make us all feel there is no good in this world? There is good. There is beauty. There is wonder. There is hope. Choose to see it. Acknowledge the bad in the world, and condemn it, but choose to believe in goodness and Hope. Choose to see the Light in the darkness. 

And what makes a true hero? A true hero is one who overcome his flaws. Who moved on despite his flaws. A true hero doesn’t always have it right. A true hero has to sweat and bleed and weep. A true hero is one who fought and didn’t give up. A true hero isn’t perfect—a true hero is a warrior.

So don’t ignore the flaws and misdeeds of the heroes. Admit them, condemn them, and determine not to imitate these. But admire the goodness of the heroes and strive to emulate that. David was an adulterer. Paul was a murderer. Peter denied the Lord. Abraham feared and lied. These men are heroes of the faith—not because they were perfect, but because they were strong in the Lord and they fought on. They didn’t stay where they were. They didn’t wallow in the mud. They stepped out and cleaned up and moved on.

And those that messed up in the past but are now doing good? Don’t shove their misdeeds in their faces. Give them a chance to redeem themselves. Admit they did wrong, and don’t copy it, but see what they do that is great & appreciate that. And know that they’ll always fall. We’re not perfect. We have to ask forgiveness, pick ourselves up, go back to the Lord for cleansing and renewing of strength, and keep going. 

True heroism is moving on despite your past. True redemption is cleansing you of your past. True love is helping you move on from your past. True hope is that there is more than the past. 

And when we all stand there, messed up and dirty and broken, that’s when Jesus shines forth. The Perfect One. The True Hero.

My friend said something that sums the whole thing up and I’m quoting it all here: 

“It's so important and valuable to give people and everything else a second chance to do better and go on in the future, without holding up their mistakes. We are not defined by our past! We are not defined by our mistakes. That's the whole point of the Gospel. We are new, and our identity is in Christ, not in our past failings and sins. We should not dwell on those, except to overcome them. And it's so wrong for everyone else to do that and throw it in people's faces.”

It’s all about second chances. It’s about redemption. It’s about love. It’s about forgiveness. It’s about hope.

Let’s stop tearing each other down. Instead, let’s encourage and build each other up. Let’s show the Hope. Let’s show the Light. Let’s show forgiveness and love. Let’s be like Christ. 

Letters to my Past & Future Writer Self

So once more I am stealing an idea from Jenna Terese, but in my defence she told me to do this, so. ;)

She encouraged us to write letters to our past and future writer selves. This is kinda just journaling, but maybe you'll enjoy it anyways and be encouraged or inspired. <3

Letter to Past Writer Self 

It's not easy. You write stuff you think is great and then come back to it later and realize it's awful. You haven't got anyone to listen to your stories. You have all these big dreams and no way of reaching them. You feel like you're mistreated. You feel like you don't have the opportunities you should have. 

Listen. You are okay. Your awful writing? It's this way that you're gonna grow. Your lack of audience? It'll just make your audience more special when it comes.

You've got the wrong mindset. 

Those opportunities you think you don't have? That's on purpose. That's because your story isn't someone else's. God's crafting YOUR story, not replicating someone else's. 

Those dreams you have and will never reach? Listen, I know it sounds unbelievable, but they just might change. They may not be what is best for you. 

Listen. Trust God. He knows exactly what He's doing and it is all for the best. So stop fretting. 

Concentrate on writing, reading, and learning. It's more useful than you'll ever know.

Yeah, your stories are trash. But there are good ideas hidden within, and more importantly, good experience. Don't give up. Don't lose hope. <3 

I promise this is worth it. 

Be flexible. Willing to change. Willing to surrender. 

It pays. 

Letter to Future Writer Self 

I have big plans right now. I'm flying high. Maybe those ideas won't come to fruition. Maybe I'll never be a published author. Maybe I'll never finish the Kalsyian Chronicles. Maybe. Who knows?

God knows. 

I'm gonna trust His plan. So wherever you are right now, know you're on the right track because God brought you here and He makes no mistakes. He gave me these plans and dreams for a reason, but that doesn't mean they'll always turn out as I want them too.

Don't lose faith. Don't lose hope. It's okay. 

Maybe these dreams haven't come true. Maybe they won't come true. 

But the real desires of your heart, God will answer. At the best time. In the best way. 

Don't regret the past. You learned from it. Now move on. 

And cling to this promise, always: He knows best. 

Deadlines & To-Do Lists

And we have another post written a couple years ago. This one was written on October 23, 2018. I hope this can just be a little encouragement to you all\. :) 

~ * ~

You know when you have a to-do list and you just start adding and adding? Pretty soon you are just adding and barely noticing what you check off—if you even do check it off—and it just weighs on you and stresses you out... I've been struggling with that a lot lately. But I've been seeing... if you break up those huge tasks into small ones, and even check off a few of those small ones... you've still done something.

I've been really trying hard to get ready for NaNo [UPDATE: I NO LONGER STAND WITH NANO] in a little less than a week and a half. I've been stressed by all I have to do, with that + school + driving classes + life. But I just need to be willing to let things go. Not everything will happen. If I even do a little writing... it's still more than I had yesterday. Small can still be success. 

And sometimes... sometimes you just add too much to your plate. Sometimes a to-do list just lures you into writing anything on there... stuff that normally you wouldn't even really think about.

But even if your life is super busy... take time to pause and enjoy. Drop everything for half-and-hour and watch a video on the beauty of creation. It will relax you and you will be able to tackle the next thing better. It'll change your mood, and attitude is often half the struggle. Take time to help a sibling... your writing may not last but the memory that Big Sister was always so helpful will. Take time to laugh with a friend over a silly joke, and create memories you'll love to remember later. Take time to worship and admire the Lord. 

Sometimes you saddle yourself with self-imposed deadlines. 

Sometimes you stress out so much your thinking is skewed and everything seems worse than it is. Attitude is so important... in a bad attitude everything looks useless while in a good one you can find encouragement that things may just work out. Maybe you need to make an effort to change. 

Take time to step back and relax. Approach what stresses you out with a new attitude. See how you can make things better and work on the things you have to do to free up time for what you want to do. 

And remember to count your blessings. <33

~ / / ~ 

Truly Thankful

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever." (Psalm 107:1)

Thanksgiving. What a beautiful holiday. A day where we stop and count up our blessings.

... or that's the idea.

Thanksgiving, especially among Christians, is known as a day for giving thanks. But how often do we just say vaguely, "Oh, yes, I'm thankful for all God did," or 'I'm grateful for ___________"--and leave it at that?

Thanksgiving ought to be a real thing. Every day, we are called to give thanks in everything (1 Thess. 5:18). But on this day which is specifically set aside to be grateful, I think we should really be purposeful about giving thanks.

"Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness." (Psalm 97:12)

Draw up a list. Write out....

• the things that you're grateful you have. 
• The moments you got to experience. 
• The people you're grateful to have in your life.
• The works that God did in your life this year.
• The things you learned.
• The areas you grew in.
• The little pleasures (or big ones) of the year.
• The things that He's brought you through or given you throughout all your life.

Look at your blessings for real! Nothing is too small or too big to write down. Count your blessings and I promise you will see what God has done for you. 

"Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people." (1 Chronicles 16:8)

Then share some of those things with someone. Encourage them in the Lord. Bless them by sharing His works with them. Sing His praises! Let people know what an amazing GOD you have!

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto Thy Name, O most High." (Psalm 92:1)

Take time to speak with God personally in prayer and thank Him for what He's done for you. Praise Him for His wondrous works & ways. Take time to read His word & really meditate on what He's done for us & given us and continues to do for & give to us. Our God is awe-inspiring! Worship Him!

"O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto Thee for ever." (Psalm 30:12)

And remember to keep being grateful & thanking Him & worshipping Him. When you feel like grumbling, thank Him for 3 things. When you feel worried, praise Him for 3 things. When you feel angry, thank Him for 3 things. Keep on seeing what God does for you & find JOY in it! 

Just be truly thankful. 

"The blessings that you take for granted someone else is praying for." 

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed;

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost;

Count your many blessings, name them one by one, 

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. 

Are you ever burdened with a load of care? 

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? 

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, 

And you will be singing as the days go by. 

When you look at others with their lands and gold, 

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold. 

Count your many blessings, money cannot buy 

Your reward in heaven, nor your Lord on high. 

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all; 

Count your many blessings, angels will attend, 

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Count your blessings, name them one by one; 
Count your blessings, see what God hath done; 
Count your blessings, name them one by one,     
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. 

-Johnson Oatman, Jr. 

An Author's Prayer // A Poem

An Author's Prayer

Help me, Lord, to write for You;

To always say and write what's true;

To pray, and use my time for You;

Help me, Lord, to write for You.

Help me, Lord, to write what's true;

To always give the praise to You.

To sing, and use my time for You;

Help me, Lord, to write for You.

Help me, Lord, to aye praise You;

To help another though the slough.

To trust, and use my time for You;

Help me, Lord, to write for You.

Help me, Lord, to aid like You;

To try to be a blessing too.

To work, and use my time for You;

Help me, Lord, to write for You.

written c. 2016-2017

Dear Baby

Dear Baby,

you are precious. 

Dear Baby, 

you are loved.

Dear Baby,

you are wanted. 

Dear Baby, 

you are deserving of life.

Dear Baby, 

you are worth fighting for. 

Dear Baby, 

you are not a choice.

Dear Baby, 

you are a miracle.

Dear Baby, 

you are not a mistake.

Dear Baby, 

you are not a problem.

Dear Baby, 

you are a blessing.

Dear Baby, 

you are not forgotten.

Dear Baby, 

you have not died in vain. 

Dear Baby, 

you are being fought for. 

Dear Baby, 

you are special. 

Dear Baby, 

you are not unseen.

Dear Baby, 

you are not unheard.

Dear Baby, 

you are wept for. 

Dear Baby, 

you are cherished in our hearts. 

Dear Baby, 

we know you are safe in the arms of Jesus.

Dear Baby, 

we stand for your right to live. 

Dear Baby, 

we will not yield.

Dear Baby, 

we will not give up.

Dear Baby, 

your death will not be in vain.

Dear Baby, 

we will choose life. 

Dear Baby, 

we will help the mothers scarred by this horror.

Dear Baby, 

we will not be silent.

Dear Baby, 

we will not be passive. 

Dear Baby, 

we will try to make a difference. 

Dear Baby, 

we will continue to stand for the Right.

Dear Baby, 

we will continue to fight in God's strength. 

Dear Baby, 

you are not forgotten. 

~ // ~ 

Today is Chain Life Sunday. Please think & share about this. Stand for life.

Why I No Longer Do NaNoWriMo + My Alternative

I have been participating in Camp NaNo & @NaNoWriMo for about 7 years now. I was an enthusiastic supporter of the organization, and I was always recommending it and gearing up for November. But on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, I deleted my NaNo account, unsubscribed from all their emails, & quit following their Instagram. 

There are several reasons for this, and I will briefly list them out.

NaNo’s been promoting homosexuality, transgenderism, & other unbiblical things/lifestyles loudly for about two years now—not only to older adults but to young writers (13-18) as well. I kept thinking off and on about getting out of this organization, but the pros always outdid the cons. 

Then on that Tuesday, NaNoWriMo made a blatant & unjust attack upon police officers which shocked & upset me deeply. They sent out a newsletter which essentially called the police racist, which makes the family members of some dear friends of mine—people that NaNo doesn’t even know—racist, simply because they’re LEO. They also supported terrorist groups and promoted anarchy & the destruction of their country. 

I am not American, but I cannot stand by silent at such injustice & wrong. Do not make this out to be a Black Lives Matter affair. I grew up surrounded by blacks and some of my dearest friends are blacks. Black lives matter, emphatically, and no one can say the contrary. But so do blue lives. Every single life matters, and I will not stay silent on the subject. 

I have deleted my NaNoWriMo account and I will no longer promote or recommend an organization that speaks such rampant injustice and does does not honour authority. I am not alone. Many of my writer friends (more than one with LEO family) were also deeply upset by this. My friends are hurting; my friends’ country is being ravaged. The way to fix this is not by attacking the brave officers who place you and your loved ones above them and their loved ones. The way to fix this is by showing grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness, and moving on. The American justice system may have flaws, but it is not the officers’ fault, it is the responsibility of those higher up. There are bad apples in every group, but on a whole, 99% of police officers are good, self-sacrificing people. 

Again, this is not political in any way, nor is it an attack upon anyone, nor is it saying that black lives don’t matter, nor is it saying that every officer is a good officer, nor is it saying that racism doesn’t exist. It is simply a protest against the injustice of calling every single police officer in America racist—an insult to people I love—and a blatant lie—and a protest against the unbiblical agenda that NaNo is pushing.

To be very plain:

I don't like injustice, and this loud pushing of injustice towards so many children really bothered me. And that's what it boils down into. Police or not, no one deserves this type of injustice. No child should be taught such injustice. No child should be taught such unbiblical lifestyles are okay, either. I could no longer support an organization that did this. 

Feel free to email/message me if you want to see screenshots of emails & posts for proof of what I’m saying. 

Now onto the good news! 

As I said, lots of Christian authors rallied around me & my friends and deleted their NaNoWriMo accounts. My friends and I got busy and worked hard to set up a Writing Camp for Christian ladies. It is called the King’s Daughters’ Writing Camp, and it is a free, online camp for Christian ladies of all ages. You can set your own goals; create your own tent or be placed in one of the current tents; there’s a whole Campground to chat & sprint with the other Campers on... it’s really super fun. It is on Slack, so everyone has to create an account, which is free and super quick to do—and really Slack is an extremely useful app; best messaging app I’ve ever used, actually. It's available both online and as an app, too. Here's some extra info direct from the website... 

"This camp is a gathering of Christian ladies from all over to focus on writing stories that honor God. 

It was created by a group of writers who wanted a safe place for Christian ladies of all ages to connect with and encourage each other in our writing journeys without worrying about the offensive or unbiblical messages promoted by secular writing organizations.

The camp is run on Slack. (Each participant must create a simple account.) There are separate channels in which to chat with fellow writers, participate in writing sprints, get help on your story, and encourage each other. All information such as emails are kept private, and participants may use pen names if they so desire.

Every “camper” is divided into “tents” and each “tent” has an older, mature young lady counselor known as an “Auntie” who will be there if anyone needs anything, to encourage, answer questions, and to just be an older mentor for writers of all ages. 

Since this is an all girls camp, there is no need to worry about inappropriate relationships between guys and girls. We also have a statement of faith and a simple set of rules we ask each camper to agree to."

Isn't that awesome?? The camp website is https://kingsdaughterswritingcamp.blogspot.com; be sure to follow it for updates of the next writing camp. We had one Summer Camp from July 1st to July 31st and it was a huge success. We had over 70 ladies from all over the world & of all ages, and we had an absolutely amazing time. We made so many new friends and wrote a ton and just had a lot of fun! I highly recommend it--and here are some more testimonials! ;) I really recommend checking out the whole website, too—there's a lot of useful and fun information. 

We have spent the summer fixing issues and getting ready and we are now starting a new writing camp, which runs from October 15 to November 15th. If you’re interested in joining in with us, head over to the website; there is all the information you need to know, and the information on how to sign up to join! Let me know if you have any questions. ;)

I am super excited for this new Camp and everything we will be able to do; and I feel so much better and cleaner after definitely breaking up with NaNo. 

Whether you do NaNo, KDWC, or anything else, happy writing, everyone!! And those of you who aren't writers, happy October. :) 

A Message to Anyone Who Feels as if They Failed This Year

Hi, guys. Today I have a really short but hopefully an encouraging post. It was written on this day last year. Of course things have changed since then, but the message still applies. <33

~ * ~

This year, I was really hoping to form good habits. Read my Bible every day. Get up early. Exercise. Eat well. Read books. Write a lot. And so forth. 

Well, I failed most of them. But you know what? It’s not too late to start over again. And that’s what I’m going to do. 

This September, I challenged myself to write 100 words a day. I surpassed that goal most days. And I’m determined to keep on. If I miss one day, I’ll catch up the next and keep on. 

This year, I challenged myself to read 365 books. Next year, I’m not going to set myself a reading goal—I’ll be busier—but I will challenge myself to read at least a chapter a day. 

Starting now, I will strive to read my Bible every day—if I fail, I will pick myself up and go on.

I’m going to take another try at losing weight. If I miss one day, I’ll pick myself up and go on.

I’m going to set 10 minutes a day aside to do some stuff I’ve needed to do but don’t have the time to do. If I miss one day, I'll just get back to it the next day. 

Making good habits take effort, but it also takes forgiveness. Have you failed your resolutions for this year? It’s not too late. Pick yourself up, and start working on them. 💕 The Lord forgives us when we fall—let’s forgive ourselves and move on in His strength.

~ / / ~

Dear Broken

Dear Broken:
You, with the tears on your cheeks and in your heart. You, standing alone in the darkness. You, with bowed head and aching soul. You, with your heart in pieces and your confidence in rags. 

You are not alone. 

You are not beyond repair. 

For every broken heart, there is a balm. For every sin-stained soul, there is a cleansing. For every tear-filled eye, there is a comfort. 

You are not alone. Another heart has been broken for you. Another soul has shuddered in the agony of separation for you. Another eye has wept for you. 

His name is Emmanuel--God with us.

He has paid the price for your redemption. See, He stands before you with hands outstretched. Behold the love in His eyes. Hear His voice as He calls.

"Child, you are not unwanted. I suffered measureless agony for you. You are not unloved. I love you with an everlasting love; I loved you before the earth was formed. I have sustained you every day of your life. I have kept your heart beating; I have filled your lungs with air. Child, I have done the ultimate sacrifice for you. I died, that you might live. I shed My blood, that you might be washed clean and made pure. I came to earth, I took upon Myself the form of man, I suffered the infirmities and trials of mankind--for you."

Dear heart, know this. You are not beyond redemption. The wages of sin is death, but Jesus purchased your freedom. You have only to ask. He is eager and willing to wash your sins away, to fill you with His peace and joy. He is waiting patiently, unwilling that you should perish. 

There is redemption in Jesus. It has been proven by countless souls throughout the ages. You are not excepted. Whosoever wills--that is you. He promises to save you, if you will go to Him, repent, and ask for His salvation. 

Dear broken, there is Light in the darkness. There is a Friend who loveth deeper than a brother. There is an assured Hope. There is plenteous Redemption. There is perfect Peace. There is great Joy.

Dear soul, if you have wandered from Him, know this: He is abundant in mercy and rich in love. He will receive you with open arms if you return to Him. Know that He is all you need to repair you. He is the Great Physician, the only one who can stitch back together the ragged pieces of your heart. Bring the bits and pieces of your messy self to Him. Entrust your bleeding heart in His hands. He will never fail you. Trust His promises. 

Dear broken, in Jesus there is all you need and crave. 

Broken does not mean beyond use. Broken does not mean beyond help. Broken does not mean worthlessness. 

Dear soul, Jesus is the only One for you. He is the only One that can help you. He's the only One that can change you. He's the only One that can heal you. He's the only One to get glory. Come to Him and fall down at His feet. He will raise you, free you, bless you. 

Dear broken, do not despair. Do not give up. There is hope for you. There is light. There is help. Over and over God tells you so in His word. And God does not lie. Take Him at His word and go to Him in faith. I challenge you, go read book of Romans, the book of Galatians, and the book of Ephesians. Over and over you will see, there is redemption. Read the whole Bible; over and over you will see the theme: there is redemption. There is hope. In Jesus Christ. 

Dear Christian, if you are struggling in the darkness, know this: He has not forsaken you. Cling tightly to Him and believe His word. He will see you through this. The light is still there. Soon the morning will break, and you will understand. Until then, hold on to Him and claim His grace. It is enough for you, for His grace is measureless. 

Dear heart, I pray that if you have never turned to Jesus for salvation, that you would do so. I pray that if you have wandered, that you would return. I pray that you claim the redemption and grace in Christ Jesus. There is only one thing that can vanquish your darkness, and it is the Light of the World--Christ. I pray that you know that Light and abide in it. 

God bless you, dear one. My heart aches for you. I pray you turn to Jesus, for He is the only way to have peace. 

Please, stay. Please, seek the Light. Please, do not despair. 

There is hope. There is hope. THERE IS HOPE. 

Do not give up. I promise that Jesus is all you need. I promise that if you hang on to Him, you will find the peace you are looking for. 

I promise, because I know it. I have experienced it. 

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." (Rom. 15:13) This is my prayer for you.

Dear heart, choose hope. 

 

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. --John 14:27.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. --John 16:33.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. --Isaiah 26:3.

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. --Lamentations 3:21-26.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. --Romans 15:4.

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; --Hebrews 6:18-19.

It's Okay to Ask for Help

In this world there's a huge pressure to be strong. "You've got this." "You can do it." "Just keep pushing on." "You're strong." And all the other catch-phrases running around.

There's a good side to all this encouragement. But there's also a downside to it. The downside that weakness is made out to be at terrible thing. That everyone expects you to be strong. That you're supposed to do it all on your own. There's a sort of attitude going around that implies that people talking about their problems are just self-centred brats who won't try to help themselves out of their problems.

I struggle a lot with asking for help. I love my friends and I don't want to sadden them. To reach out for sympathy, to admit that I'm hurting and that I need some care, makes me feel guilty. Guilty for bothering them. Guilty for turning the attention to me.

And yet, I need help. That's how I process my pain. I need someone to listen to me pour out my story & my feelings, to sympathize, to let me know they care. I don't need them to fix my problem necessarily--I just need them to listen to me until I've let it all out & processed it all.

I need people to help me.

Is that weakness?

No.

It is strength. It takes strength to pull off the mask and show your mess. It takes strength to admit you can't do it yourself. It takes strength to be real instead of being perfect.

It takes strength to ask for help. 

So reach out and ask for help. I know you wanna be there for your friends and help them through their low points. But you know what? They want to be there for you too. They want to help you too. Friendship works both ways. It's a mutual build-up. To ask each other's help isn't weakness. It's being real and building a real friendship.

There's a fine line between just constantly complaining & being a parasite, and just asking for help because you're struggling, of course. I'm not talking of those false friends who just live off of you. i'm talking of the real people who need help but are afraid to ask for it.

And I'm here to tell you, it's okay to ask for help. 

It's not attention-seeking to admit you're hurting and that you need someone to care for you. It's not unkind to admit you need the kind of help you offered them. It's not weakness to admit you can't do it yourself.

It's okay. It's right. It's wise. Because we weren't made to carry our burdens alone. We were created to help each other. To build each other up. We weren't created to be alone. We were created to be together.

So if your friend is reaching out for help, don't ignore them. Don't walk away on them. Don't duck out of the conversation. Be there and reach your hand out to them. Let them know you care. Let them know you're there for them. Let them know they're doing the right thing in asking for help. Listen to them and try to help. Be there for them. Point them to the Best Friend & Counsellor. Be strong for them. 'Cause someday you'll need to lean on them. And that's how it should be.

And if you are struggling, please, reach out for help. Maybe some folks will shut down the conversation. Maybe some will refuse to notice. But there are people out there who care. It's okay to ask them for help. That's what they're there for. And when they are hurting, it'll be your turn to support them.

And if you feel like you're all alone and no one cares for you, know this. I care. I care for you, whoever you are. You are a person and you ought to live & be loved. I want you to live & be loved. And know this, too: God cares. The One who formed you in the womb, who keeps you breathing every day, who watches over you--He cares. He knows you can't do it alone and He's standing there just waiting for you to kneel at His throne, cast your burdens on Him, and ask for His help. He's waiting with one hand outstretched towards you, waiting for you to take it, pleading with you to accept His help. The Lord Jesus is standing there, with his nail-scarred hands outstretched, saying, "Child, I paid the ultimate price for you. I showed the ultimate love towards you. Will you accept it?"

God is there for you. Because He cares.

It's okay to ask for help.
It's right to ask for help.
It's wise to ask for help.
It's courageous to ask for help.

Please don't try to do it alone. Show true strength and put your hand in the hand of God. Then you will receive all the Help and Strength you need.

My Thoughts on Writing Historical Fiction

A Disclaimer before you start: This might a slightly controversial blog post. These are 100% my opinions and I'm not trying to shove them down anyone's throat or say that you are wholly mistaken for taking the opposite view. I'm just offering my perspective on a subject that I have thought deeply about. I'm also not bashing anyone or trying to make anyone sound/feel bad, or say that anyone's a bad writer for not doing this. It's just my thoughts. :)

Historical Fiction is my favourite genre. I love Historical Fiction. I read a lot of it, both old and modern. 90% of my favourite books are Historical Fiction. It makes up a huge portion of what I read. 

But although I've read a TON of really good Historical Fictions, I've also read some that were really not that great. And often, what makes or breaks a Historical Fiction book for me are these two things disregarded. 

#1: Improper Language.

There is nothing so irritating as picking up a medieval story and finding the characters talk like 21th Century teenagers! I can’t repeat too often that to write believable historical fiction you must read old books. Are you writing a story set in 1400s England? “The Prince & the Pauper” by Mark Twain. Are your characters Scottish? “Rob Roy” and “Kidnapped” are indispensable. Are you writing about a knight and his fair lady? “Ivanhoe” by Sir Walter Scott can be a big help. I could go on and on but I think I’ll save that for another blog post. But you get the point. To write believable historical fiction, your characters must talk like the people of that era! That doesn’t mean you need to drag up exact replicas of their language! But using older, more formal words mixed with their archaic or obsolete language will boost your historical fiction. Don’t go overboard, but better more than not enough, in my opinion. Add a glossary, if you have to! I strongly recommend reading Henty’s medieval stories if you’re writing anything set during the Middle Ages.

Consider also where your story is set. Dutch sailors don’t act or talk like English ones. Frenchmen aren’t Americans. Their language will depend on their roots. It’s extremely annoying to read about Englishmen who sound like Americans living casually in London, or Americans who sound like they were exported from England! This is a very important topic which I may discuss in another blog post as well. 

And the language of the narrator should be dignified. By which I mean, don’t have the narrating voice full of "‘twas" and "nay" and such unless you’re paraphrasing the thoughts of a character. But don’t go along with too many modern expressions and words. The narrator should straddle the middle. I think being formal and dignified is really the key. Study the old books and pattern your writing after theirs. It will make it feel more authentic. 

There are some geniuses who can pull off modern language in an old setting, like Esther Forbes in Johnny Tremain. But unless you known you're a genius, I don't recommend believing you can pull it off. 

#2 Improper Feelings.

The other most annoying thing in historical fiction is improper feelings. Middle Ages people saw nothing shocking in 13-year-olds getting married. Everyone in the 1700s saw nothing wrong with hard drinking. Smoking was everywhere in the 1930s. And so on. What happened in the era was commonplace to them. If it’s a wrong thing (drinking, for example), by every means have your character refuse to do it! But he shouldn’t be shocked. It was normality. For example, I don’t agree with speeding, but it’s not shocking to me to see people doing it. It’s normality in our world, sadly. And so forth. You can doubtless thing of more examples for this one. 

And consider the historical prejudices. In 1770s England, there was nothing unusual with having a higher class and a lower class. No one thought anything of it, or of changing it. It was life. Again, your character can disagree with prejudices & common ideas, but don't make him too avant-garde. 

It all boils down to one word:

Read.

Read about the culture of the place. Read about the happenings of the time. Read about the history around the time. Read about the language of the time. 

Read the old books. Read the research. 

I promise that it’s worth it. Even if for some reason your historical fiction story isn’t liked (although it would be hard for that to happen, in my opinion), you will have grown and learned yourself in your studying. You get much food for thought as you study history. 

And finally, yes, it is possible to write a book that is very un-historical and have people love it. But it's also a sort of cheating. If I pick up a book about 1830 Australia, I expect a book that will make 1830 Australia live for me. A honest, true book, with accurate information. Historical fiction is just teaching history under the guise of a story. Make it true. This is your chance to make an impact. To change history. To remind people of what mistakes or great things were done. It's a chance to make a difference. 

So be worthy of the charge upon you. 

~ / / ~

So there are my thoughts on it. What are yours? I'd love to hear your opinion. 

A Letter to my Book "The Colour Red"

If you’ve been around for a while, you remember when I wrote letters to my two other finished books: Chords, and Broken. I stole this idea from Hailey Rose, who stole this from someone else. Today’s letter is addressed to my latest WIP, The Colour Red.

Dear Colour Red (a.k.a. CR),

I have a history of having sudden flash fiction ideas that snowball into novels. But I really didn’t expect you to. You see, I have a habit of making up random stories and scenes in my head and just writing them out and seeing where they go. They can get rather elaborate and even long-lasting. Originally, that’s what you were. I started a random story about a girl writer who was writing... and as I began to think out the words she was writing, she was forgotten and only her story remained. Looking back now, I see that story was the product of many videos, a contemporary police book I’d just read (Healing Their Hearts by Cleopatra Margot), the current WIP of a friend, and a story-in-my-head that had been going on for a long time. But at the time, the story was utterly new and quite dazzling. 

I soon got off my swing, where I do most of this story-spinning, and went inside to help with supper. But I didn’t forget my story. And that night when I sat down to write with my friends, I told them of my story and how I wished I could write it.

“So why don’t you?” demanded Kassie. 

“I don’t know how. I can’t. It’s all stuff I haven’t experienced,” I answered.

Nevertheless, Kass insisted I write down the scenes anyways before I forgot them. (Thank her for me.) 

So I wrote out my rough outline. And I wrote out the scenes I remembered, bemoaning that I’d forgotten some and also forgotten the best parts. And then I went back to the beginning and started writing the story.

If I remember correctly, I got over 2,000 words written that night. And we were off. I had my message, my plot, and my characters. 

This was on the second-to-last week of May. As social media and the entire U.S. (or so it seemed to me) erupted into chaos, I was burdened with the message that filled my heart: Stop judging people by anything but what they are themselves. And I kept writing. 

I ran into some obstacles. You took place in my made-up country of Kalsyia, but… what was Kalsyia?? I had to figure that out. So I did world-building. I drew a map. It was fun and frustrating. Slowly things began to come together… the people, the history, the geography, the current events… 

And I kept writing. The words just poured out. I had easily over 1,000 words almost every night. But I also hit places where the words wouldn’t come and I didn’t know what to do… and had to brainstorm and look at my outline and ask for ideas. 

I feel like I say this every time, but you were a book of big firsts.

I wrote you during my first and second university courses, and in the midst of a lot of other issues. You were a way God used to help me manage the stress and fear of adulting, university, the whole riots/police defunding, the coronavirus, and more. He used you to bring me a lot of peace as I focused on love and comfort instead of hatred and uncertainty. 

You had my first official Pinterest mood board and I love it so insanely much. 

You made me cry so much while writing you. Even more than Broken did. 

You didn’t hit much further than 50k—only 65,000 or so. But for once I didn’t care. Your size didn’t really matter. Your message mattered. 

You were the WIP I wrote during our first King’s Daughters’ Writing Camp. You had the largest group of fangirls I ever had. You also started an awful lot of conversations and gained me an everlasting reputation as a conversation starter. 

But more importantly: you tackled one of my biggest writing handicaps. The “I don’t rewrite” handicap. For years I told myself that having to rewrite a book meant it was bad. But as I wrote you I realized that I really had to rewrite Chords. And that was okay. I hadn’t had all the puzzle pieces back then. But it had had to be written anyways. It was bad, but God had really used it so mightily in my writing life. It hadn’t been a waste. As I wrote you, I had to keep going back and writing big and small scenes that I had forgotten but were necessary. Over and over and over. You were the book that, more than any other, tackled topics I really had no clue about and had to swallow my pride, backtrack, and rewrite. It was frustrating. But I knew it was okay. It was just part of the writing process.

You were the first book where I got into disagreements with dear friends over the theology. You drove me to the Bible to find answers for myself. You made me pore over Bible verses to figure things out.

You were the first story where I had official beta-readers. That was fantastically exciting. Their critique was a huge blow to my pride, even if it’s barely begun. But that was needed. I had to be reminded that critique was necessary. That’s why last year critique was so hard for me. It was to prepare me. To show me that it’s okay if the first draft is trash. 

You drove me to do actual research, even more than Broken did. (But why do you two insist on making me research that horrible medical stuff?)

You were the book that God used to snap together the puzzle pieces for things that had been really frustrating me. 

You were the first of my stories that didn’t teach me a huge message I’d been needing. Rather, God used you to show me how far He’s taken me. To show me that last year, awful as it was, was really useful to me. That His plans are perfect and no trial is ever wasted. 

You took a trope I adored and finally crafted a story about it. 

You took my silly story in my head that will never be written out and wrote it out in another way. 

You were the first time I wrote out a message that God has really been lying hard on my heart. 

And you fulfilled my lifelong goal of writing about policemen.

You were a story I put both a lot and a very little of myself into. 

You brought me heartbreak towards the end, when something I badly wanted didn’t happen. But God got me through it, and now I have no bitterness.

Again, God used you to show me how far He has brought me since this time a year ago, with my puny 48k novel that needs to be severely rewritten. I can’t even begin to list all the ways I’ve grown since then.

I don’t know who you’ll touch. I don’t even know who’ll read you. I don’t know who will hear and heed your message. I don’t know what other message God will use you to teach. I don’t know if you’ll fulfill my goal and be published or not. I don’t know if you’ll end up having to be totally rewritten. I don’t know anything. 

Except this:

God gave me this story for a reason. My time has not been wasted writing it, no matter what. He’s gonna use you, or has used you, somehow, for me or for somebody else. 

And His plan is perfect. 

I love all my characters. But Jay is my “baby,” now and forever. Officer Randall will forever be special to me… for a very special reason that maybe someday I’ll share. And Orlando will always have a very special corner of my heart… for another special reason that I may never share. 

You, CR, are the first book of many. 

It’s sad to say goodbye.

But I can’t wait to start your sequel.

So, goodbye, CR. I don’t know where you’re heading or what your journey will be. But I know that the Master Storyteller has a perfect plan for this little book I’ve written. 

Lovingly,

Your author