Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine?. Hey everyone out there! Give this a try!
This looks like fun
The Legends Undying “There Be Dragons Here” Writing Contest Has Officially Begun!!
It’s Finally Here!!
Writers to your Quills! Typewriters! Pens! Pencils! Laptops! Desktops! IPads Etc! Etc! Etc.!
The Official Rules;
1) Writing Contest Begins today, February 7th, and Runs Through February 17th
2) The Theme of Submissions is Dragons
3) The Maximum Length of the Piece, is 1,200 Words.
4) The Judges are not allowed to Enter The Contest
5) All Entries Will Be Posted On The Site, During the February 7th-17th Period
6) There shall be Awards Given in Several Categories, including A) Most Imaginative B) Most Magical C) Most Scary. There shall also be a Reader’s Choice Award.*
*Keep in mind, Entries do not need to be Scary
7) Judges shall Vote on Pieces From February 18th-21st
8) Winners Shall be Announced February, 22nd
9) Awards Consist of, Glory, Glory, Glory, and some Lovely Badges to…
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And Moving On…
Hello there my WordPress friends,
When I started writing Reinventing the We’ll three years ago I was a very different man. So much has changed and that was the point of the blog really…change.
R.T.W. and the people who read it have been used by God as a great source of strength through some very difficult times…again times of change. I certainly didn’t see what was coming: My kids went off to school and now two are graduating and planning to go off to Master’s programs; Pastor Wrinkles was born out of a youth group joke. Then I promptly retired from youth ministry turning Pastor Wrinkles into a nomme de plume here on RTW; I started the chapter charts and Heaven posts and rediscovered my love for in-depth Bible study… and photography (thanks Cee!); C.cada artist’s community was born; My sister moved to the Netherlands and I moved back to my childhood home; Certain things in my life died and though I miss them I realize dwelling on the past only helps if it informs the future against more idiotic mistakes… so I have said to myself , “Grieve…and move on…change!”
I come to the end of this chapter suddenly, it seems. I find myself never alone and alone all at once in the presence of an extremely gracious God who has ridden the rapids with me and kept me in the boat! I won’t be stupid enough to suggest that all my changes are done or that the rapids are far- gone up river; But I know that “R.T.W.” has taken me as far as it can go.
So I am unloading this boat called “Reinventing the We’ll” onto the shores of a new land (…err blog that is) called “Lillie-Put”
(yes my middle name is Elon stop laughing). I am taking some of the most precious things from “RTW” along with me including: Jesus (I go nowhere without Him), Pastor Wrinkles, C.cada, photography, Heaven, and hopefully you!
We have whole new world to discover together. So won’t you come along for the walk? Here, grab a lantern and let’s go!
“May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Midday Musical Devotional Pt. 4
I am back! I should be putting up some pictures of my Second foray in 2013, to Idaho, sometime today; But just in case it takes me a little longer to get back into the swing of things than I anticipated here is another musical devotional. I can’t wait to respond to all your comments!
Midday Question: What do you sense God is telling you to do?
Midday Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5 :1-21 NIV
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Midday Prayer: Lord I am listening for the voice of the Spirit today. I am going to follow Your promptings, Oh God. Speak to me! Lead me and help me to walk in the way everlasting! Grant me Your guidance and the faith to follow it! In Jesus name A-men!
Morning Musical Devotional Pt. 4
I am back! I should be putting up some pictures of my Second foray in 2013, to Idaho, sometime today; But just in case it takes me a little longer to get back into the swing of things than I anticipated here is another musical devotional. I can’t wait to respond to all your comments!
Morning Question: What are you passionate about?
Morning Scripture: Isaiah 26 1-12 NLT
In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song:
Our city is strong!
We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation.
2 Open the gates to all who are righteous;
allow the faithful to enter.
3 You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
4 Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
5 He humbles the proud
and brings down the arrogant city.
He brings it down to the dust.
6 The poor and oppressed trample it underfoot,
and the needy walk all over it.
7 But for those who are righteous,
the way is not steep and rough.
You are a God who does what is right,
and you smooth out the path ahead of them.
8 Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws;
our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.
9 All night long I search for you;
in the morning I earnestly seek for God.
For only when you come to judge the earth
will people learn what is right.
10 Your kindness to the wicked
does not make them do good.
Although others do right, the wicked keep doing wrong
and take no notice of the Lord’s majesty.
11 O Lord, they pay no attention to your upraised fist.
Show them your eagerness to defend your people.
Then they will be ashamed.
Let your fire consume your enemies.
12 Lord, you will grant us peace;
all we have accomplished is really from you.
Morning Prayer: Lord I am passionate about many things but I realize You are the Giver of Dreams. You have put passions inside of me and they need to be directed and led. You have to be allowed to rule my passions. So I allow that. Today I make You king of my passions. Rule them. Guide them. Develop them and cause me to realize my dreams. For you are the God who is able to do beyond all that I could ever ask or imagine. Thank You Jesus A-men.
Midday Musical Devotional Pt. 3
I am flying back from Idaho today where I was able to share in the Word and worship. My flight’s not in until 7 P.M. EST; So I will catch up with all my comments when things get back to “normal” on Tuesday. Enjoy today’s questions and musical devotionals.
Midday Question: What are you willing to endure to see your goal become a reality?
Midday Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Midday Prayer: Lord some of the mountains that stand between and Your goals for me are daunting. I call on Your power. Help me to overcome. Help me to endure until I see my faith made sight. Give me faith to move my mountains! In Jesus name A-men.
Morning Musical Devotional Pt. 3
I am flying back from Idaho today where I was able to share in the Word and worship. My flight’s not in until 7 P.M. EST; So I will catch up with all my comments when things get back to “normal” on Tuesday. Enjoy today’s questions and musical devotionals.
Morning Question: What is the legacy that you want to leave?
Morning Scripture: Philippians 2:1-17 NIV
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Morning Prayer: Lord I thank You that Your are enlarging my dreams. Father show me the legacy that You want me to leave behind. let it be a legacy that builds Your kingdom and that brings glory to your name. Let Your power and Your mindset be in me. Change me to make me more like You. In Jesus name A-men!
Midday Musical Devotional Pt. 2
I am in Idaho this weekend sharing in the Word and worship. My internet may be a little sketchy; So I will catch up with all my comments when I return on Tuesday. For the weekend I have left you all some musical devotions and questions I hope bless you.
Midday Question: Where is your life out of balance?
Midday Scripture: Psalm 139 NIV
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Midday Prayer: Lord Your plans for me are good. I don’t want anything to hold them up. I especially don’t want anything inside of me or in my life to hold up Your plans. Lord I ask you to help me. Reveal to me any area of my life that is not pleasing to You. Show me any area of imbalance that may be making me ineffective or unproductive. Change me Oh God! In Jesus name A-men
Morning Musical Devotional Pt. 2
I am on my way to Idaho this weekend to share in the Word and worship. My internet may be a little sketchy; So I will catch up with all my comments when I return on Tuesday. For the weekend I have left you all some musical devotions and questions I hope bless you.
Morning Question: What’s your ideal future?
Morning Scripture: Jeremiah 29: 4-14 NIV
4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.
10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Morning Prayer: Lord I know You love me and want the best for me. I trust You. I have my ideas, my goals, my dreams, but I only want them if they are Your best for me. So I give ,my ideas, my goals, my dreams into Your hands and ask that You would take charge of them again. Open the doors You want me to go through and close the doors that are not Your best choice for me. Help me to move with Your Spirit. In Jesus name A-men
Midday Musical Devotional Pt.1
I am on my way to Idaho this weekend to share in the Word and worship. My internet may be a little sketchy; So I will catch up with all my comments when I return on Tuesday. For the weekend I have left you all some musical devotions and questions I hope bless you.
Midday question: What challenges are you struggling with at the moment?
Midday Scripture: Romans 8:31-39 NIV
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Midday Prayer: Lord Jesus I acknowledge the challenges openly this afternoon. I also admit I don’t have all the answers. I know, though, that You do know the way…You have the answers. Show me the way. Give me your strategies to victory and come and work the win in me! Give me strength to stand until you have completed Your work! In Jesus name A-men
Reinventing the We'll 