Why I Keep a Prayer Journal

I like having things in writing. They're more solid that way, more tangible. Now, I know that's not true for every person. Some prefer other mediums for keeping certain thoughts. I totally understand that. Video, in particular, has an important place in my heart. But writing is my first love.

I've taken notes in church for years, since I was old enough to understand what the pastor was saying. It helps me stay focused and lets me look back on things I've learned. I've also kept a personal journal for a very long time. I'm not always consistent with it, but it is an invaluable part of my life.

Reading Through My Bookshelf: October's Reads

I hope that, on this Veterans' Day, we can remember the sacrifice that so many make and have made to defend our country and realize that this country is built on diversity and unity. This week, our election process occurred, as it does every four years, and now it's time to move forward. I pray that we can reach out to those who think differently from us and let God heal our wounds.

Moving on to today's post, last month I read six books and listened to an audiobook (one of my new favorite things to do). It's not a lot, but they kept me entertained amidst the never-ending slew of schoolwork.

Sunday Psalms: Chapters 46. 48, & 50

Psalm 46:1-3 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."

It seems like I'm hearing about an ever-increasing number of natural disasters around the world. Most terrifying, they seem to be occurring more and more frequently in the United States. Earthquakes, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis. They reap devastation and create fear wherever they go.

Star Wars: Lessons of the Prequels

I've always been frustrated by the vehement hate that people lay upon Star Wars Episodes I-III, sometimes called the prequels. People have deeply polarizing opinions about those three movies that I've never heard expressed about the original trilogy, Episodes IV-VI. As someone who enjoys all six (and now seven, with The Force Awakens) episodes, as well as the saga as a whole, I think that's a little unfair.

Of course, everyone can have an opinion about a movie. We each enjoy (or don't enjoy) things a little differently. I have plenty of unpopular opinions about some stories; why should I be surprised that I have a different opinion on the Star Wars prequels? Regardless, I recently watched Episodes I, II, and III, and I found myself distinctly struck by some deep lessons in the arc.

Writing Multiple Points of View

When I did the One Year Adventure Novel in high school, one of the rules was that my novel must be written in first-person, with one perspective. At first, that felt incredibly limiting. I had never written first-person before; I wasn't sure I would like it. However, as the wonderful Mr. S explained, limits help boost creativity. First-person would help us young writers focus more on the story.

Fast forward, and now I've written two other main stories in first-person: Through Time, my Beauty and the Beast novella, and Truth in Space, my journal-entry project that I posted here a while back. I also find myself favoring it for flash fiction.There's something really satisfying about writing in first-person.

Nonetheless, not all stories are meant to have only one viewpoint.

Happenings of the Month: October 2016

Entertainment of the Month:

• Movies/TV

So, last month I said I couldn't think of anything I'd watched; recently, I realized that I did actually watch something. In fact, October Baby was such a wonderful movie that I must make up for my oversight this month. Besides, it just fits, this being October and all. October Baby is a movie I first saw about three years ago and really enjoyed. Last month I saw it again; I had forgotten just how impactful it is. This movie focuses on a young woman named Hannah (Rachel Hendrix), who has dealt with significant health challenges all her life but doesn't know why. After she collapses during a college play, she learns that she is not only adopted but also the survivor of an abortion attempt. This news throws her world into chaos, and she sets out on an impulsive road trip with her best friend, Jason (Jason Burkey), and several other college students. The movie is gorgeous – beautiful music, framing, and acting – and makes itself deeply felt, telling a story of forgiveness, acceptance, and hope that I know I will return to again.

• Books

The Dark Talent is the fifth and most recent release of Brandon Sanderson's series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. This series… Seriously, I'm not even sure how to describe this series, and that is doubly-true for this book. I don't think I've ever encountered stories like this before, with a save-the-world adventure, a highly self-deprecating hero, a liberal dash of humor, and even a slice of writing advice. Yet these books are so much more than that, amazing and highly entertaining to read. Sometimes I try to imagine writing them, and that just boggles my mind. The series gets progressively darker throughout, coming to a pinnacle in this book, yet it still feels appropriate for its younger audience. I highly recommend this series, but it's going to take me a while to fully wrap my head around it.

• Music

"I Have This Hope" – Tenth Avenue North – This is a song off Tenth Avenue North's newest album, Followers, and, ya'll, I want this album so badly. It's beautiful and this song, in particular, speaks deeply to me, telling of the hope we have in Christ and setting it to a soaring, violin-led melody.

"Okay" – The Piano Guys – This song is just fun. And sometimes you just really need to hear that everything is going to be all right.

"Rage and Serenity" – Henry Jackman – There are a few soundtracks that I just really love, and the score from X-Men: First Class, is one of those. You can argue the merits of the movie, but this particular scene is one of the most poignant, in my personal opinion, and the song, though short, always catches at my heartstrings.

My Life This Month:

I feel so stretched out, unable to quite keep up with everything that's going on. Everything, of course, isn't even multiple things. It's one thing: school. Ugh, just thinking about it is giving me a headache. I've got a group project that's proving to be rather challenging; I have a paper that's due much sooner than I would like; everything's just colliding all at once. Must be midterms… Or getting there, anyway.

Part of it is a control issue. I feel the need to take on a lot with my group project because I'm not convinced anyone else will deal with it. I want to control my grades. I want to maintain my GPA. But my life isn't mine to control. I just thought about this recently, actually. Being organized is fine, but we are not in control of our own lives. We were never meant to be. God is the Author and Sustainer of our lives. Of my life. I've got to learn how to let Him run it. I find that particularly difficult to do with school, though. Yet that's the single biggest consumer of my time right now. (Should that place belong to my relationship with God, though? I realized that as I typed my sentence, and now I'm wondering what's happened…)

I've also gotten really off track with my devotions, and I can feel the effect. It's not a good one. I need that time in the morning with God, and I haven't been putting a priority on it. What is the point of my life if I'm shoving God out of it? I want my life to matter. I want Him to use me. But I keep putting my priorities on other things. I think I've gotten really off base, and I want to be on the right one again.

I did launch my YouTube channel this month! YouTube, as it turns out, is slightly more of a pain to navigate than I expected. Nonetheless, I did successfully post my intro video. You can check it out here. 

Other Web Happenings:

I Have This Hope Video Journal | Mike Donehey – In this video, the lead singer of Tenth Avenue North explains the story behind the song "I Have This Hope." I discovered this slew of video journals when I looked up the YouTube video of the song to share with you. They're really encouraging; I particularly enjoyed this one. And Mike is unexpectedly hilarious.

Respecting the Past: A Philosophy for Historical Fiction | One Year Adventure Novel – This link will take you to all three of the historical fiction posts written by the fabulous Rachel Garner. Each deals with a different aspect of approaching historical fiction, and, as an aspiring hist-fic author myself, I found them extremely helpful.

Pros and Cons of Signing with a Small Press | Tessa Emily Hall – Here author Tessa Emily Hall lays out some of the things to consider when you're looking at publishing with a small publishing house

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How was October for you? Are you drowning in school? Read or watch anything interesting? Let me know in the comments!

Sunday Psalms: Chapters 42-43

Psalm 42:11 "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God."

This is the chapter that begins with "As a deer pants for water."