“A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” ~ Thomas Mann

“Writing is a craft, as well as an art, and that craft takes time to develop. Forget genius, forget inspiration. It takes time - measured not in weeks or months, but years.” ~ Dennis Palumbo

“All serious daring starts from within.” ~ Eudora Welty

“I rewrite a good deal to make it clear.” ~ E.B. White

“I don’t wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.”~ Pearl Buck

“When you write, you lay out a line of words. The line of words is a miner’s pick, a woodcarver’s gouge, a surgeon’s probe. You wield it, and it digs a path you follow. Soon you find yourself deep in new territory. Is it a dead end, or have you located the real subject? You will know tomorrow, or this time next year.” ~ Annie Dillard

“God has promised forgiveness to your repentance; but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.” ~ St. Augustine

Are you writing?

“God will teach you more than even the most mature Christian could. He will teach you better than all the books in the world could. Why are you so eager to chase after knowledge? Don’t you realize that all you need is to be poor in spirit, and to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified?” Fenelon

Many years ago, more than I care to count, I clipped a little sidebar entitled, “The Ten CWG Commands.” Can’t remember where it came from. I’d love to credit the author, but the only clues left are the yellowed dog-eared corners, and a couple of dried coffee stains.

Back then, I was dead serious - about life, the written word, my Christian duty. I stressed myself out, trying to “rightly divide the word of truth.” In some ways, these writing commands seem akin to Mosaic Law; they remind me how much I need God to equip and enable me on a daily basis. While others fair enormously well with their gifts and talents, I can do nothing apart from His Holy Spirit.

Take a look at these; see what you think. Next post we’ll discuss which ones I’d change. Can you guess? Praying that God will fulfill His purposes in us as we abide in Him, not just for writing, but all of life.

1. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and let that love precede all you do or say. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Every word you write shall be offered in a spirit of love and respect for your readers. (Matthew 22:37-39

2. Your words shall help make disciples of your readers; you will use Scripture to teach them to obey all that Jesus has commanded. (Matthew 29:18-20)

3. You shall be a perpetual, disciplined student of the Word of God, one who daily immerses himself in the truth, rather than one who merely tastes of it. (Isaiah 50:4)

4. You shall pray regularly and fervently for God’s wisdom and direction, for your readers, and for the editors to whom you write. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

5. You shall remain humble in the knowledge that you are redeemed by Grace and that what you write glorifies the Father, not yourself. (1 Cor. 14:37)

6. You shall “rightly handle the Word of God.” (II Timothy 2:15)

7. You shall not bore your reader; but you shall be intellectually challenging, presenting your writing skillfully and in a timely manner. (Romans 15:15)

8. You shall not preach to your reader; rather, establish common ground, presenting your writing skillfully and in a timely manner. (I Corinthians 9:19-23)

9. You shall avoid divisiveness among Christians; rather, encourage unity among believers of all Christians denominations. (Romans 16:17-18)

10. You shall be well-read, a student of many great writers, both secular and religious. (Proverb 1:5.7)

What new thing is God calling you to do this year that requires creativity? What about this week?

I think about this a lot lately. Your family and certain friends may not understand, but I understand. More importantly, God understands. And no wonder:

“The Spirit moves in us, giving us the mind of Christ that feeds our creative life. This abundance is scary; it is deeper than we can imagine. What would we do if we were epxeriencing God continually, available in every minute to use our abilities fully for him? It is too much for our little selves to handle. So don’t handle it. Do the thing God has put in front of you. Start there and be fully available to the new thing he will acomplish as you do it.” ~

The Creative Life: A Workbook for Unearthing the Christian Imagination

“Faith in small things has repercussions that ripple all the way out. In a huge, dark room a little match can light up a place.” ~ Joni Eareckson Tada

“You will find as you look back upon your life, that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.” ~ Henry Drummond

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love.” ~ Sophia Loren

“Take your needle, my child, and work at your patten; it will come out a rose by and by. Life is like that; one stitch at a time taken patiently, and the pattern will come out all right like embroidery.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

“Live your life while you have it. Life is a splendid gift - there is nothing small about it.” ~Florence Nightingale

“Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher

A busy week at the Gaines cottage, preparing for Christmas Tea with my girls.

Today I leave with you a couple quotes about the artistic temperament. See what you think. The artist is often described as sensitive, analytical, melancholy, and moody on the one hand, but also easily moved by hypocrisy, injustice, and suffering. More on this later; I think the world needs artists:

“Everyone with an artistic temperament has been told at some point in his or her life to develop a thicker skin. That’s nonsense! The world doesn’t need more thick-skinned people. It needs more people who are sensitive and tender.” ~ Rory Noland

“”We learn from the artists, from those who work in paint or words, or musical notes, from those who have eyes that see and ears that hear and hearts that feel deeply and passionately about all that is sacred and dear to God.” ~ Ken Gire

“Search me, O God, and know my heart…” ~ Psalms 139:23

Wondering if our need to simplify is more a spiritual issue than we ever thought. The trap of materialism, even in these economic times, still holds a grip on us - if not our wallets, our hearts. Before we organize the clutter we own, we want more. Why, we’re as susceptible to the lure of “having more” as we are the flu! But it’s possible to travel past the Land of Wants & Wishes to a more remote place called Contentment.

Think I’m too serious? Let me tell you about my teapots. I have several beautiful teapots, given to me by people I love. Practically speaking, a person needs only one, right? Unless you throw a tea party! Just the other day I drove to Home Goods knowing full well that place is a no-no for me; their dishware is hard to resist. Sure enough, the perfect Snowman spoke to me. Teapot, that is. There I stood, admiring his delicate handle, toying with his removable top hat, imagining the smiles he would bring to my Christmas Tea in a couple weeks. I was all about that Snowman until our budget danced through my head. I put him back. It wasn’t even expensive (9.99) but that’s not the point.

Later that evening, I chatted it up with my hubby who, being the dear husband he is, insisted we go back to purchase this curious specimen of a teapot. After all, he said, “your Christmas Tea is coming up soon, you’ll need it.” NEED it? People are without jobs and I’m needing a teapot?

Guilt decided to whop me upside the head (that’s a southern expression, don’t let the violence scare you:-) You see, I’ve so many delightful teapots! Why in the world are we spending money on another one?

Now, I don’t wish to rob anyone of their simple pleasures. This is my confession and mine alone. It’s just that I have a problem with teapots. This seduction is always with me; I can be very creative when explaining a purchase, too. It was on clearance! It was half price! It matches my cups. It was just tooooo cute! But then I bring the thing home and don’t know where to put it.

Oh dear friend, I’ve known something for a long time. There’s a better place to live than this, and it doesn’t require more room. It’s a place without regret or guilt, too. It’s called contentment. That’s where I’m headed this Christmas: a place where I’m happy with what I already have. It’s a place that frees me to look, instead, to the needs of others this season, and share all God’s blessings.

Have you traveled to Contentment lately? Is it a place you just want to visit? Or do you long, as I do, to live there?