LAKE MICHIGAIN MARCH 2012

I admired Lake Michigan on my way to Pen’s Christian Writers Group in March. The wind kicked up clean and strong, its influence unhindered by invisibility.  It actually took my breath away.  The strapping power impossible to see yet especially impossible to ignore. The edge of its pathway could not be measured. Waters and trees moved under its presence.

The photo above this line is my favorite of the bunch. It was so bright, the wind so swift that I squinted and guessed at each shot. I have to give the camera full credit for the images seen here. The moods of Lake Michigan are wonderous and impressive!

Every angle I spied filled me with awe!

Our writers group attendees gathered early that day, all lined up and ready to go before my arrival. They good-naturedly accepted my apology and said ahhhh and oooh  at the right time as they viewed these photos!

Pens of Praise Christian Writer's Meeting

Christian Writers Group

Next meeting…

Saturday, April 14    10:00 am – 12:00 pm

at

Faith Church

2201  42^nd Street, Manitowoc, WI  54220

§   Faith Church is located next to Festival Foods

§   Not far from the Manitowoc exit off Interstate 43

The teaching for April is

“See It Smell It”

By author Gail Sattler

Check out Gail Sattler’s books at-

http://www.mennoniteromancenovel.com/index.cfm/page/authornotes.html

We enjoyed the first half of her teaching from the ACFW Conference in March. We will continue this excellent teaching on how to write the five senses in April.

Bring a short sample of an excellent or poor use of the senses to share with Pens from a writing you have enjoyed recently. All genres welcome.

We may share a book report on a novel or a “how to” for writing!

*WATCH OUT*

These teachings can sharpen and improve the skills needed for many genres.

You are welcome to bring your latest work in progress for a five-minute reading.

This is not required to attend the meeting.

Remember - visit a local shop and bring your coffee or cappuccino with you.

Let us know if you’re attending so we can save a seat just for you.

We look forward to seeing you there! May God bless you richly and always as you write for His glory!

Zoey’s Word *Two Books*Two Verses

Zoey was contemplating her world, the universe, and heaven in general. Her cousin Onyx came for a visit and shook up her world. The world where Zoey is queen. Unfortunately Onyx didn’t know or care….That’s when the book called Conflict FREE Living by Joyce Meyer touched Zoey’s life. The very first scripture in this very relevant book was The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest Exodus 14:14 Amplified version. Zoey keeps thinking about that PROMICE in GOD’S WORD. Amazing, Zoey held her ground when Onyx tried to assert puppy dominance and she appreciated the close calls where she escaped by divine intervention (HE fought for her.) Also she held her peace when she skillfully scooted out of teeth and paw range. She was victorious. Her cousin went home and Zoey resumed her royal status and rule and she took a nap.  She also enjoyed the last meow. This word and promise keeps spinning in her head. Here you can see her opponent. The LORD fought for Zoey, she held her peace, and remained at rest!

Porschea her extremely interesting and irritating sister is still chasing her and playing “stomp the kitty” with relish. But Zoey trusts that GOD will encourage her at the right times and places. She found the book One Perfect Word by Debbie Macomber in her Crossings Book Club mailing. When her paw flipped the page, she found this encouraging word from THE WORD. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7 Zoey can’t wait to sink her teeth into this book and discover the riches inside. Debbie Macomber shares about her group of ladies and how they choose one word from HIS word and the blessings that came from focusing on one word each year! Her body trembles with anticipation….Should she ask….dare she ask that God will shrink Porschea the perfect puppy down to her size? She is waiting, pondering and her hopes are high. Zoey wants to get the right angle on her ‘situations’ and ask GOD for the right requests. After all when you are living under the roof with the perfect puppy and your rule is upset from time to time…you want to make wise decisions. Here is the latest photo of PORSCHEA THE PERFECT PUPPY….at least in Zoey’s mom and dad’s eyes! Zoey seeks the last meow on this situation but she remains at rest and she is seeking her word.

The Perfect Puppy with her favorite blue football!

If you have had your world or universe shaken or stirred up or teased why don’t you pop on down to your local bible book store and pick up these copies of HIGHLY RECOMMENDED books from Zoey’s shelf. Be blessed!

PENS OF PRAISE CHRISTIAN WRITER'S GROUP

Christian Writers Group

Next meeting…

Saturday, March 10^th    10:00 am – 12:00 pm

at

Faith Church

2201  42^nd Street, Manitowoc, WI  54220

§   Faith Church is located next to Festival Foods

§   Not far from the Manitowoc exit off Interstate 43

The teaching for March is “You choose!!”

Goodness again???  We have enjoyed ACFW Conference teachings recently and thought this would be an excellent month to listen again to the sage wisdom of published, experienced writers. September’s 2011 Conference has excellent teachings available. Which one of these choices would be of interest to you? The choice with the most votes wins!

v How to Write a Bestseller

v Sometimes It’s Better to Tell Than Show

v Historical Research: Enrich and Deepen Your Story

v Research: Ins and Outs of Making a Book Come to Life

v Blogging, Branding, Marketing, and Publicity

v Author branding

v Or another of our many choices

Keep in mind these teachings can sharpen and improve the skills needed for many genres. You are welcome to bring your latest work in progress for a five-minute reading but this is not required to attend the meeting.

Remember to visit one of our local shops and bring your coffee or cappuccino with you. Let us know if you’re attending so we can save a seat just for you.

Winter Wonderland in WI

The Christmas tree is a view from my writers room. Winter has finally come to town this week in Wisconsin. Big fluffy flakes dressed up the skies and yards as I was driving home from work yesterday! Porschea, our perfect puppy, is ecstatic. She thinks we special ordered the weather just for her. You keep thinking that baby girl!

Zoey, the perfect cat, needs to get into the word lately. She sits and looks outside whining and fussing in full blown complaint. I will have to remind her to be content in all things!

She actually hissed at the laser beam when we played today...she has never done that before!

Meow...Okay..I'm not translating...actually I don't know how to....

I fell this past Wednesday and suspected a possible broken knee cap. I'm grateful to announce that I was only bruised deeply. Of course I walk around like Igor cause thought it looks like 'nothing' it feels like something else! I'm avoiding steps and packing my leg in ice. If I run out of ice, I can always pack my leg in snow or go outside and make snow angles. My hubby offered for us to do that last night! I turned him down though! I was buried beneath my computer and an ice pack. Porschea was looking for an active play mate so I stayed still and boring! It is safer that way!

I couldn't resist placing this photo here also. I love how snowy evergreens photograph. Plus my camera isn't the best. Oh, if I could have only captured how the trees looked last night, all weighed down with a couple of inches of snow. It seemed like the very night was lit up and sparkling. But you have to use your imagination for that image. Keep warm and safe! Spring is around the corner... I hope!

Porschea's First Birthday!

Vanessa our daughter brought doggy cupcakes and this HUGE bone for Porschea so she could enjoy her birthday. Her actual birthday was yesterday but goodness she is not complaining!

Okay the house is crying to be cleaned and organized... write to you later!!

Enjoy a blessed day!

Pens of Praise Devotion

Pens of Praise Devotion

February 11, 2012

© Susan Marlene Kinney

I have put My words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of My hand –I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say in Zion,

‘You are my people’ Isaiah 51:16

Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? Job 12:11

Dialogue, words, and communication of any sort are exceedingly important. Wars, parleys, and peace cannot be initiated without powerfully written and or spoken communication. Dialogue has the authority to establish deep understanding concerning boundaries between cultures and nations. Even between man and woman.

As writers we have the responsibility to make our words count. What we communicate must be honest. Flowery words without the foundation of His truth will crumble like dry clay baking in the suns light. Nevertheless, if our words agree with His truth, love, and purpose they will remain firm when ears test our words. Will our readers find our words enticing them to hope, laugh, cry or stretch out their hands toward change? If words are powerfully placed it must be because they have the opportunity, because of their relevance, to be powerfully received. Words motivated and pushed into existence onto the page cannot be empowered with trite, unnecessary words, which eat up white space on the page as a greedy child eats chocolates.

Repetitive, redundant dialogue holds the power to lead the reader off track and directly off our pages toward other more interesting ventures. You have the opportunity to state ideals, which matter and could be foundational for someone hurting to heal, or someone lost to be found. Make the most of the opportunities you possess to present words, which lead and inspire others to seek their purpose. And follow His lead.

While we are at it…

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You oh Lord my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:14

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen  Hebrews 13:20 – 21

Write with purpose….Write in His power, covered by the shadow of His hand…

Pens of Praise February 2012

Christian Writers Group

Next meeting…

Saturday, February 10, 2012   10:00 am – 12:00 pm

at

Faith Church

2201  42^nd Street, Manitowoc, WI  54220

§  Faith Church is located next to Festival Foods

§  Not far from the Manitowoc exit off Interstate 43

The teaching for this month is a continuation of a captivating teaching on

“Dialogue”

From the September 2011 ACFW Conference.

February’s Prompt challenge:  Snazzy or emotionally charged dialogue. Also, bring a book with a short dialogue sample in it to share with the group.

You are welcome to bring your latest WIP, or work in progress, for a five-minute reading but this is not required to attend our meetings.

Don’t forget to visit one of our local shops and bring your coffee or cappuccino with you. Let us know if you can attend the February meeting so we can save a special spot for you!

If you have questions or concerns write a message on this blog and I will answer you in a timely fashion.

May God bless you richly and always as you write for His glory!

Writer's Room Photos

My apologies to all of you concerning the tilt of these photos. Somehow I got the tree snapshots from yesterday turned around and they stayed that way to be posted on my blog. But all my most determined efforts to right these photos, taken of my writers room, failed me. Understanding for the technologies at my finger tips  slipped beyond my grasp. I am among the ranks of the technically illiterate!  So just turn your head or your monitor and you can feast your eyes on the large table desk, the lighting, and the bookshelves, which are supported by the file cabinets. The names of Jesus poster at my right hand side, and the adventurous George S. Gaadt posters flanking my left and right…. It is my writer’s room dream come true!

I was unable to locate curtains just yet. Curtain shopping is much like shoe shopping. I’m not a fan! They have to be just right in color, size, and style.  Oh there are so many ugly curtains out there. Everyone with good taste must have gotten to the store before I did. This calls for a trip to Appleton or Green Bay….hopefully soon!

Does this inspire those of you who asked for photos of my writer’s room?  It is important to find the colors you love to work around. The layout of the furniture is especially important. Don’t be afraid to change your mind or be open to arranging your space another way. This style of furniture was completely different then what I had envisioned. Cal traded me up, so to speak, and I’ll be ever grateful to him for his wisdom and generosity! This is a small room but the furniture fits and I don’t feel crowded. I needed file space and there are two large file drawers that will work hard for me.

I love using the extra monitor. Cal fixed me up with that also! Sometimes as I’m rewriting I use the extra monitor so that I can have two files open at once. Then I don’t have to flip back and forth and minimize and enlarge files. This is great for research or moving scenes around! I’m just using an old monitor from a computer that crashed…years ago.  

I did steal my feathers and flower arrangement from the living room for this photo shoot ….I think I will be shopping for living room flowers because now that they are here I can’t bear to part with them!! I still have to being in my files and arrange them. Also I will have plastic drawers in the closet, which will contain office supplies and random stuff that I wish to hide away out of sight. (You don’t see them in these photos.) I will also be moving things from the top shelf of the closet and placing my binders filled with writing class information there instead.  Well there you go. I am a challenged organizer but if you work hard at thinking about how the organized population of the world would do things and you take advantage of great designs available in office furniture you will be well on your way to some happy undisturbed writing times!  Ask the Lord to guide you to discover your working style and give Him the glory and praise for His help and inspiration!!  Blessings All!!

A Matter of POV

When you look at these photos, you see completely different trees. So often in our lives we may experience pain or loss which can cut us off at our knee caps. We may feel as though there is no reason to go on, keep living, or trying. Under closer inspection you will see that these trees are the same tree. The first photo shows that at one point in its life everything green and life giving was cut off, leaving only the trunk.  What possible purpose could this tree serve? But, when you back up you can admire the branches and new life springing forth from the hopelessly maimed trunk. Purpose springing forth with abandon! Green leaves are again reaching forth toward the sunshine! The kiss of rain drops cleanse those leaves making them shine as though nothing happened at all. Life renewed, fresh, and thrilling in the glory of His sunshine. Leaves dance in the wind….once again…

Okay everyone, tomorrow I should have some time that I can empty out my camera so that I can take a photo or two of my new writers room!!  See you tomorrow!!