Creative Writing Ideas 

Over the next few weeks I plan to post some of my favorite creative writing ideas. Whether you’re a writer, a creative writing teacher, or just want to have fun, these ideas will stir your creativity!

How does God about creativity?

         To discover the answer to this question, we must ask another… “Do we serve a creative God?”   The answer is an undeniable “Yes!”

How creative?  For a closer look, carefully examine the book of Genesis.  It will knock your socks off! (We’ll talk more about this amazing book over the next few weeks.)

We are All Creatives!

While it may not seem to be the case, everyone has a creative side.  Christians must come to grips with the fact that they are created in the image of God – and He is creative.  Therefore, it stands to reason that we all have the capability to create within us.

What makes some people appear to be more creative than others is one thing, and one thing alone:  They act on their ideas!  Many Christians think creatively, and never do anything with their ideas.

Ah, but one who acts… the one who allows the Spirit of God to move across the creation… he will begin to move out into the things of God, unstoppable in his quest to conquer with words!

#1:  Impacting Your World As a Writer  

Lesson Idea:  Time the students (5 minutes).  Have them write the names of every famous author they know, from any time period.

Objective: To determine the impact of one person on the world – positive impact or negative impact

Corresponding Activity:  Choose a particular author ahead of time, and discuss how that        person changed their world (for better or worse).  Read a story by that author.

Scripture Reference:  Present your bodies a living sacrifice… (Romans 12:1b)

#2:  Thinking Like a Writer  

Lesson Idea: A Day in the Life of an Author  Students each choose a famous author (their favorite) and try to imagine what a typical day would have been like (or is like) in that author’s life.

Objective: To study the lifestyle and habits of writers.  To develop the desire to write about daily events.

Corresponding Activity:  Diary entry from the POV of that author

Scripture Reference:  My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long. (Psalm 35:28)

#3:  Writing What I Believe  

Lesson Idea:  Have the students write a one – two page essay describing their personal beliefs and/or experience with the Lord.  This paper should focus on their own experience, not that of their family members.

Objective: To bring the gospel message very close to home.

Corresponding Activity:  Ask the student to chronicle a specific event that led them to the Lord.  If the student isn’t yet a Christian, then encourage him to begin to consider the things of God in his writings.

Scripture Reference: I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16)

That’s it for now! I’ll be back in a few days with even more creative writing exercises! Until then, check out my latest recipe at my baking blog (Out of the Box Baking). It’s a Coconut Pecan Pound cake, y’all!

Have a blessed week, everyone!

I have a saying, and it’s one I use quite often: “You can’t blame a blind man for being blind. You can only pray that the shackles will fall from his eyes.”

What is Spiritual Blindness?

Spiritual blindness is the inability to see truth, even when it’s staring you in the face.

Sometimes I look at the things going on in the world and wonder how people can’t see the schemes that the enemy is using. Are they choosing not to, or are there more sinister forces at work?

You have to admit, it’s kind of crazy how two people can look at the exact same situation and draw two polar opposite conclusions, especially when it’s an issue that the Word of God speaks to.

I’m particularly concerned that people have an upside-down view of good and evil. It’s almost as if they have gone completely blind to truth.

Only a blind man would willingly trade the truth for a lie. Yet, it seems to be happening all around us.

Discernment: A Tool Worth Using

“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”  (Hebrews 5:14)

Practice makes perfect, my friends.

There is a tool that believers have, one that is more critical than ever. With so many lies swirling around us these days, we’ve got to lean heavily on discernment.

What Does it Mean to Discern?

To “discern” something simply means to figure it out. Someone with discernment has Holy Spirit-infused insight and wisdom that a spiritually blind person simply doesn’t have.

According to Hebrews 5:14, the ability to discern good from evil comes from constant practice. And let’s face it. . .we’re getting a lot of practice right now.

We don’t always get it right, even those of us who are walking closely with the Lord. We get confused at times, too.

I’m constantly praying, “Lord, if I’m wrong about this, please re-direct me.” And He does.

Imagine where we would be if the didn’t have the internal compass of the Holy Spirit to guide us.

Discernment. . .a Spiritual Gift

In 1 Corinthians 12 we find a list of the gifts of the spirit that believers can enjoy. Here’s the full list:

⁷ A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. ⁸ To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice^[b]; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.^{[c] 9} The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. ¹⁰ He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages,^[d] while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. ¹¹ It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

Take a closer look at the second half of verse 10: He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. 

How will we know which ones are right and which ones are wrong? How do we discern which narratives bring life and which lead to destruction?

Only through spiritual discernment. And it’s available to anyone who dares to ask for it.

You Can’t Blame a Blind Man for Being Blind

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (I Corinthians 2:14 ESV)

Well-meaning people are often swayed by the chatter going on around them. They get swept away by passion instead of relying on godly wisdom. Instead of genuinely tuning in to that still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, they give themselves over to false narratives and lies without even realizing it.

They think they are safe, but they’re on a slippery slope.

Others haven’t come to faith yet. They don’t know what it means to walk in discernment. They’re doing the best they can as the voices shouting at them from every direction bring chaos and confusion to their souls.

And that’s why we’ve got to be so careful not to bring further division and damage by insisting the blind see things the way we see them.

They can’t. Not yet.

But. . .Shackles Can Fall

Is this not the fast that I choose: To release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the ropes of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? (Isaiah 58:6 NASB)

And this, my friends, is how we should be praying. Instead of arguing about the things you disagree on, take the time to pray–really pray–for those who seem lost and confused.

Think back to what you were like, before you came to the Lord. Was your belief system skewed? Were your actions always honorable?

Without Christ, we simply can’t discern. We can try, but we’ll never really have the Helper on our side to guide us to truth.

So, don’t blame the blind for not seeing. Instead, pray for shackles to fall.

How to Become More Discerning

1). Give your heart to Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to take total control of your thought life.

2). Be pliable in His hands. Say, “God, take my former beliefs and change them to bring joy to your heart.” It’s remarkable how painless this process is once you’ve entered into a relationship with HIm.

3). Study the Word of God. The Spirit gives discernment, but remember. . .it comes by practice, too. Do all you can to know and understand His Word, then incline your ear and heart to do the things you find written there. If you’re struggling to know the answer to a tough question, search out the scriptures. You will find what you need there.

4). Practice listening prayer. Prayer is a two-way street. Pour out your heart to God, but then pause and listen. More often than not, He wants to speak to you, too. His words might come as a still, small voice to your heart. Or, they might come through the Bible, as He highlights a scripture. They might even come through a conversation with a mentor or godly friend. God can speak in any way He chooses! Just be listening.

5). Specifically pray for the gift of discernment. Many years ago I was in a particularly volatile relationship. I was the victim of many lies and falsehoods. One day I prayed, “Lord, please give me the ability to tell the truth from a lie.” Remarkably, God answered that prayer. From that point on I could always tell when I was being lied to. It stung, but I was so grateful for that ability. As the relationship deteriorated, I was fully able to discern what was happening and ultimately walk away from the one speaking the lies.

6). Remember, you are a new creation. When you walk with Christ, you are made new. Those old beliefs and ideologies don’t match the new you. So, let them go, my friend. On to bigger and better things!

7). You will still face opposition at every turn. The world is hostile to the truth of God’s Word. Christianity isn’t an easy gig, which is why you’ve got to be armed and ready with the Word of God settled deep in your heart. “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16 ESV)

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
Whoever is discerning, let him know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right,
And the righteous will walk in them,
But wrongdoers will stumble in them.

Hosea 14:9 ESV

 

Who Were These Men Mentioned in 2nd Timothy, Chapter Three?

Over the past several months I have found myself gravitating to a familiar passage of scripture found in 2nd Timothy, chapter three. When a friend mentioned it again last night, I read it once more, as I have so many other times. This time, however, several new things jumped out at me.

Let’s look at it together:

1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone. (2 Timothy 3:1-9)

I may come back to the first seven verses in another post, but I want to do a deep dive into verses 8 and 9.

Who Were Jannes and Jambres?

I couldn’t help but wonder as I read verse 8: Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.

Who were these men who opposed Moses? Is there more to their story? Why do they hold last days significance?

I scoured several Bible commentaries and all of them agreed that the only time these two men are mentioned in scriptures is in the book of Timothy.

However, they are definitely mentioned in other Jewish historical writings.

According to GotQuestions.Org (a Biblical Site):

Jewish tradition says that Jannes and Jambres were the two chief magicians who withstood Moses and Aaron in Exodus 7. “Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs” (verses 10-12). Later, these same sorcerers duplicated the changing of water into blood (Exodus 7:22) and the production of frogs (8:7). However, the sorcerers were powerless to duplicate the other plagues (8:19).

The site goes on to explain that Jannes and Jambres also appear in the Talmud, where their story offers other details. According to these writings, Jannes and Jambres were instrumental in encouraging the Israelites to worship the golden calf.

Clearly, these were not good dudes. They had a role to play in deluding the people and trying to bluff them. And they were good at what they did, (in a twisted way, of course).

The second half of verse eight makes it clear how God felt about them: They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.

We also see that their powers only went so far. There were some rabbits they couldn’t pull out of their proverbial hats.

So, Why Does Paul Mention Them When Talking about Last Days?

I pondered this at length, but finally reasoned it out.

We are living in a time when the enemy does all he can to bluff us. Biblical truths are ridiculed by our upside-down society. The things we know to be sin are often celebrated. It’s getting harder and harder to tell the truth from a lie.

This inside-out, upside-down culture we’re living in has many people deluded. They can’t seem to see truth, even after plainly reading it in the Word. But, why?

Secret Arts and Incantations

When Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh to demand the release of the Jewish slaves, supernatural things occurred. Aaron threw down his staff and it became a snake.

Not to be outdone, the sorcerers, Jannes and Jambres, did the same. Only, their power didn’t come from God. It came from someplace else. The Bible calls their powers “secret arts.”

We all know that anything done in secret. . .well, it isn’t good.

In short, these two men performed demonic incantations. . .copycatting a real miracle with a counterfeit.

Sound familiar? In our day and age we often see the enemy passing off lies as truth and truth as lies to those who don’t seem to have eyes to see.

The Enemy of our Souls Excels at Counterfeits

He’s still doing the same thing today. And I believe we’re seeing it in what I’ll call “the Jannes and Jambres” effect. If you wonder why the world (and even some believers) can’t seem to see truth, it’s because they’ve been put under a spell, if you will, an enchantment.

Modern-day sorcerers have lulled them into an odd state of semi-consciousness where they believe whatever they’re told.

It’s hard to blame them, since these lies are flying in from every conceivable angle–movies, TV shows, universities, school books, and even from well-meaning pastors and churches.

These folks have been drawn into a Jannes and Jambres incantation, and it has convinced them that it’s better to remain enslaved than to be set free. They’re trading the Promised Land for a golden calf. . .and they don’t even realize it.

Why? Because they’ve bought the lie–hook, line, and sinker. And now, convinced they have a “better version of truth” they plow forward, eyes blinded by the spirit of Jannes and Jambres.

What is an Incantation?

According to Wikipedia:

An incantation, a spell, a charm, an enchantment or a bewitchery, is a magical formula intended to trigger a magical effect on a person or objects. The formula can be spoken, sung or chanted. An incantation can also be performed during ceremonial rituals or prayers. In the world of magic, wizards, witches, and fairies allegedly perform incantations.

Jannes and Jambres were skilled at bewitchery, making people think they were seeing one thing when they were really seeing something else. And that’s exactly what many people are doing today.  People are giving themselves over to false narratives.

Scripture predicted this, of course. We read in Matthew 24:24 that: . . .false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 

In short, the Jannes and Jambres spirit is alive and well on planet earth today.

But take Heart!

Check out Verse 9: But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

This is excellent news. This upside-down world has to answer to our all-powerful, all-knowing Creator. And he sees the folly of the bewitchers. He know the tricks they are up to.

He’s bigger. He’s better. He’s more powerful. He’s more trustworthy.

And remember, He has given us His Spirit so that we can discern the truth from a lie. If we ever needed that discernment, it’s now.

What the World Calls Truth. . .

. . .won’t set you free. I said this in a Facebook post recently. Worldy “truth” won’t keep people from driving off of cliffs. Worldy “truth” changes from day to day, year to year, narrative to narrative, culture shift to culture shift.

Only the Word of God provides absolute truth and it never changes. . .under any circumstances. Under any level of pressure.

Eyes wide open, church. Don’t let the Jannes and Jambres effect blind you to the greatest truth of all: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Action Points

Have you been deluded by the spirit of Jannes and Jambres? Have you gotten caught up in believing the world’s false narratives? You can repent and turn back to God. Give your heart fully to Him and ask for the Spirit of God to empower you to see the real truth found in scriptures. The Bible is truly the only thing that will set you free. Anything else will continue to enslave you, no matter how many false promises it makes.

Do you have loved ones who are blinded by the incantations of modern-day Jannes and Jambres? Instead of arguing or fighting, begin to pray in the Spirit to break strongholds off of their lives. Remember, we’re not battling flesh and blood. Ephesians 6:12 says: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Begin to see Hollywood and the media for what they are. They are bewitchers, intent on forcing false and deadly narratives to draw mankind away from God. They are particularly interested in your children and grandchildren. Picture them as Jannes and Jambres in the wilderness, trying to get your children to worship the golden calf. The sooner you acknowledge the damage they are trying to inflict, the sooner you can back away from it. Find godly sources for news and choose movies and TV shows that uplift your spirit. Guard what your children watch and what they’re seeing on the Internet. As much as you are able, keep their little hearts pure. Make sure they are getting good Bible teaching and you’re in a great Bible-believing church that stands for the truth of the Word of God.

Don’t hide away, frightened by the condition of the world. Like Ruth, God has placed you here “for such a time as this.” Shed a light on the modern-day Jannes and Jambres. . .and watch them fall.

They will, you know. In the end, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Romans 14:11)

Even the very ones who oppose Him now.

Let’s Pray

Father, we come to you in the precious and holy name of your Son, Jesus. In that name, miracles take place. Shackles fall from eyes. Vision is restored. Hope returns.

Lord, we come against any work of the enemy. We speak life to our children, life to our grandchildren, life to our friends, neighbors, and coworkers. You are the Great Restorer, the only true Hope-Giver, eternal Truth. 

We come against the modern-day spirit of Jannes and Jambres and acknowledge that we have often fallen prey to their lies and schemes. Please forgive us for the times we’ve chosen the world’s version of truth over Yours. Give us discernment so that we can see the kind of Truth that sets us free, not just in this life, but for all eternity. 

You are our ever-present help in time of trouble. There is no power–no force–stronger or mightier than You. We will not be afraid as we traverse these troubled times. We will not cower in fear. Instead, we will rise up and become the light that You have called us to be, so that all will know the real truth, so that we will (truly!) be set free! 

Amen. 

 

Book News

This has been a remarkable month for me, writing-wise. I have some great announcements! 

First, let me start by announcing a new book release! My novella, Puzzle me This, (part of the Missing Pieces Collection from Barbour Publishing) is about to release! The whole collection is jigsaw puzzle-themed. I absolutely love my quirky story. It was so much fun to write in first-person again! (This is how my Bella novels were written, and I love that style!) 

Second announcement: If you’re interested in dog-themed books you’ll definitely want to check out the first book in the Gone to the Dogs series from Barbour Publishing. It’s about to release and I couldn’t be more excited! You can pre-order your copy of Off the Chain and receive it as soon as it releases in a few weeks. Here’s the blurb: Marigold Evans’ first attempt at rescuing an abandoned pooch lands her in a drainage pipe in Brenham Texas. . .and almost in jail, until Parker Jenson comes to her rescue. Then a bad day only gets worse as the Lone Star Vet Clinic, where they both work, is vandalized and the list of suspects starts to climb. With the help of her fellow employees, Marigold sets out to simultaneously solve the crime, rehab the rescued dog, and help more dogs in crisis. But why would anyone continue to work against all their good efforts? 

Announcement #3: I’ve been hard at work on my next book in the dog series. It’s titled Barking up the Wrong Tree and involves a MIA agility course winner named Remington. Stay tuned for more on that story. (Kathleen Y’Barbo wrote the second book in the series titled Dog Days of Summer. . .and it’s amazing! More on that later!) 

Final book-related announcement: Remember that Cut and Shoot novella I mentioned last month? I just completed edits on that book, O Little Town of Cut and Shoot, which will release in a few months from Guideposts. It’s part of a two-book collection titled Love’s a Mystery in Cut and Shoot. The other author in the collection is my good friend Ruth Logan Herne. I’ll be sharing more about that collection as the release date draws near.

In the meantime, thanks for always lifting me up in prayer as I write the books that God places on my heart! I did a count of my books today (which you will find listed on my “All Published Works” page) and I’m currently working on books #157 and 158 simultaneously. Whew!

Baking News

To say this has been a crazy month would be putting it mildly! I’ve baked more new sweet treats than ever, and all in an effort to get my Out of the Box Baking blog up and running. The goal? To draw enough traffic to the blog to eventually get it monetized. That’s more than a pipe dream, friends! I’m on the track to see this happen by fall, and you can help! Please sign up to receive the RSS feed. When you do that, you’ll see the recipes as they post. (You won’t have to go looking for them…you’ll be notified automatically.) This will be of benefit to you, sweet bakers, and to me! It really helps me out because the more time you spend perusing my posts, the quicker I build my views, which is critical at this stage of the game! So, what are you waiting for? Sign up for my RSS feed today. 

Here are some of my latest recipes that I’m particularly proud of: 

Chocolate Mayonnaise cake: I’ve been on a roll, making things with mayonnaise. Yes, you read that right! Mayo adds depth of flavor and it really, really works in this rich chocolate cake! You can learn more about baking with mayo in this comprehensive post titled How to Bake with Mayonnaise: 7 Terrific Recipes. 

Old Fashioned Pound Cake with Whipping Cream: If you’re looking for a classic pound cake to serve at your next get-together, you can stop looking! I’ve got a luscious butter pound cake recipe for you that’s going to thrill and delight your guests and make you proud to serve it!

20 Amazing Recipes that Start with a White Cake Mix: Don’t have the mix you need? Don’t worry! You can make 20 different cakes using a simple white cake mix! 

Easy Bananas Foster Cinnamon Rolls (made with crescent rolls): This luscious, gooey cinnamon roll has a warm, nutty bananas foster taste and feel. And best of all. . .it’s made with crescent rolls! It comes together so quickly and easily!

Common Baking Substitutions: Out of the ingredient you need? No worries! This comprehensive list of baking substitutions will be a huge help! 

I’ve added some new categories to my blog: 
Recipes Grandma Made
Baking as a Business

I truly hope to grow this blog into a thing of beauty that bakers across the globe can enjoy! (Speaking of which, it’s kind of fun to track the stats on this blog! I can see people from countries all over the world viewing my posts!) 

Mischief Making!

Before Easter, I purchased some melting chocolate and molds to make chocolate covered Oreos with the grandkids. There was no time, sadly, but we made up for it a couple of weeks back.  I met with a couple of my local granddaughters and we pretty much covered everything we could find in chocolate, including their mother’s beautiful wooden table. Oops. it was a great afternoon and we had a lot of fun. They learned some new skills and I learned that not all chocolates are created equal. I also learned that the kids are pretty good at learning by example and have some serious potential as decorators! We had a blast. (Sorry about your table, Megan!)