God bestows so many blessings on me each day. While pondering that, I realized I need to be more conscious of thanking Him for those things I take for granted.
*Thank you, God, for a Christian husband who works hard to support our family.
*Thank you, God, for a daughter who is using her spiritual gifts even as a teenager. Thank you that she has You as her priority when so many other things could be in that spot.
*Thank you, God, for a church family who worships together and strives to fulfull Your mission in our community.
*Thank you, God, for parents who set me on the right road to a faith walk with Christ.
*Thank you, God, for working out Your plan in my life one step at a time.
Have you thanked God today for those things you might have begun to take for granted? The more I thank Him, the more I find to thank Him for.

Happy to host author, Eileen Rife today!

EileenRifeShortBio

An alumna of Christian Writers Guild and member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Eileen has published several non-fiction books, written newsletters, a marriage column, and over ten church dramas. Her byline has appeared in magazines, such as Discipleship Journal, Marriage Partnership, Mature Living, Christian Home & School, Drama Ministry, and ParentLife, as well as other print and online publications. Her fiction works include Journey to Judah, Restored Hearts, and Chosen Ones in the Born for India trilogy, and a stand-alone novel, Second Chance.  She and husband, Chuck, conduct marriage seminars in the States and overseas. Her favorite pastime in this season of life is dancing with hubby, spending time with her daughters and sons-in-law, and playing with her six grandchildren.

www.eileenrife.com

www.eileen-rife.blogspot.com

www.guardyourmarriage.com

www.christianspeaker.com

www.oaktara.com

Second Chance Back Cover Blurb

Eileen Hinkle Rife

Mave Robertson, a recent empty nester, wants the fire back in her marriage, but her husband, Jerry, remains aloof. Is he having an affair? A midlife crisis? When a neighbor suggests she “get a life,” Mave accepts the challenge and volunteers at an inner-city teen ministry where she is thrown into a culture of drugs, gangs, and unwed teen moms. She soon discovers someone she can help, but might he also be the cure for both her stale marriage and her crumbling relationship with her father?

~~

Dareece Jackson, a teen from the projects, wants something in Mave’s purse…and he’ll stop at nothing to get it.

~~

 “Gently unfolds the truth that sometimes, the best is yet to come, from unexpected people, and places, and hearts.”

—Sandra Byrd, author of To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn

“Transcends race and reaches the extremes—from suburbia to the ghetto, from guilt over a loved one’s murder to a marriage gone dull. With a dash of humor for balance, Second Chance will speak to your heart, no matter your station in life.”

—April W. Gardner, author of the Creek Country Saga; Sr. Editor of the literary site, Clash of the Titles

“Refreshing and thought-provoking.”

—Jennifer Slattery of Novel Reviews and Clash of the Titles

“Transports readers into the worlds of two very diverse characters. With laughter, tears, and sighs, you’ll enjoy every turn of the page.”

—Fay Lamb, author of Because of Me, Treble Heart Books

“Lovingly crafted imagery and dialog will carry you into the lives of two very different families and show you what forgiveness really looks like.”

—Lisa Lickel, author of Meander Scar

~~

Second Chance: A poignant story of middle age, surprising friendships, and unexpected places. Inspired by Eileen’s own journey through the empty nest and her daughter’s and son-in-law’s work with inner city teens. 

Have you ever experienced a "God moment?" I did this weekend.
I've been working on writing a novella set in the 1900's. Since I had some interesting ancestral stories at around that time, I was using my paternal grandparents as the two main characters. I had a basic outline in my head of how the story would go but was trying to get into the character's heads a little more. I remembered I had my grandmother's Bible. I began to flip through noticing what verses she had circled. For the story I wanted the characters to realize that their only peace could be through forgiveness. My eyes bulged when I spotted three verses circled in three of the Gospels. The verses referred to forgiving and God will forgive you - if you don't forgive, God won't forgive you. It was like God said: "Yes, I want this story to exhibit forgiveness and here's how."
I kept flipping through noticing other verses she had circled. When I arrived at First John, I teared up. This was the only place she had underlined. The words write and know were often underlined. This might seem insignificant except if you refer to an earlier post when I explained briefly about why I write. God led me over a year ago to this very place in His Word to show me His philosophy for my writing.
Sometimes God does not make His plans very evident, but sometimes He is blatant. I will complete this story of forgiveness, and pray for the one that God intends it to touch.

An interesting subject was being discussed over on the ACFW Loop - education. The comments started by authors revealing their educational backgrounds. Then there were comments that were brought out about education's decline. One person indicated that because of this they pulled their children from public school and homeschooled. I can certainly relate to this dilemma which caused my family to choose homeschooling as well.
I am a former public school English teacher. I had been instructed to teach my students to write in an almost formula- type way. I was to train them to think inside the box to pass tests. There was hardly ever a time for them to write in a creative manner. That confused me, because companies wanted to hire people who could think outside the box - have new ideas. Let's face it, the person who finds a cure for cancer will have to think differently than those who have tried before him/her.
I worry that we have stolen our children's ability to be creative. Playing video or computer games doesn't require creative thought. Who will write the next fiction books if we've only trained them to write essays to pass a test? Personally, when I began to write Christian fiction, I had to retrain myself to get into a creative mode.
God is creative. Have you studied giraffes and elephants? Have you studied people around you? Creativity and uniqueness abounds.
I pray we don't drain our children of all their creativity. Who knows where it could take them or what they could accomplish?
 

Personal Bible study and prayer time is essential to the Christian life. I have shared before that I try to make God and my time with Him a priority by trying to do my quiet time with Him first thing in the morning. I have utilized various resources for this time. There is one I recently discovered that I must share. If you have not yet picked up JESUS CALLING by Sarah Young, you should. It is available in book form or in cds. I decided to try out the cds, and I love it.
Sarah is a missionary who had written for many years in a prayer journal, but one day decided to "listen" to what God would have to say to her. JESUS CALLING is a short daily devotional thought written from Jesus' point of view. Sarah's prayer is that the Savior would bless the readers and hearers with His presence and His peace in an even deeper way.
I have added this to my morning routine. As I prepare breakfast, I listen to that day's devotion. I often find myself rewinding a few times to let the wisdom sink in. Though short, each day has been filled with truth and encouragement to live in Jesus' presence and trust Him for everything. Should you want to locate scripture to support the truths presented, some verse addresses are given at the end of each devotion.

October has been designated as Pastor Appreciation Month. I realize we are way past that, but may I suggest that you remember the people who minister to you everyday?
Let me give you a look from the inside. I'm a pastor's wife who finds myself praying for my husband to have the strength and stamina to make it through his days. Not only physical strength and stamina but emotional and spiritual. On any given day (or night), he may spend several hours at the hospital, stop by the office to conduct counseling, be called back out because someone is being rushed to the hospital, and then return to the church in time to lead Bible study or preach a sermon that he could only study for late at night because of full days. Throw in weddings and funerals, and very little down time is available. Often church members only know a small amount of the time put in by their ministers. Time and lack of sleep put demands on bodies. Love and care for their congregation put demands on emotions. Personal grief must often be suppressed.
If you haven't made it a habit to pray for your minister everyday, why not add that to your prayer list? If you do pray for your minister, try asking if there are specific things you can pray for him.
The best way to show your appreciation for the ministers who serve you is to pray for them personally everyday. Minister's families wouldn't mind if you threw in a little prayer for them either.

Today as I waited for my daughter to complete her physical therapy, right outside the window we witnessed a two-car accident. Both cars were pretty smashed, and there were pieces of the wreckage laying all over the road. Thankfully, everyone emerged from the cars unharmed.
I shivered to think had we left just moments before, we would have been right in the middle of the accident. I thanked God for keeping us safe. Then, I began to wonder how many times God has kept me safe without me even having knowledge of it. The morning I just couldn't seem to leave on time, did God save me from an accident? Has harm been in my path only to be thwarted by a loving God? I know the answer must be yes.
We thank God for the blessings we can see, but maybe we should also make it a habit to thank Him for blessings that aren't as apparent.
I'm trying to remember to thank God for keeping me safe and protected. I'm thanking Him for being on guard by never sleeping or slumbering so that I can.

As Christians - How are we in public?
Yesterday I had the wonderful privilege to have lunch with a good writer-friend. Before meeting, we had a discussion about Christian behavior in such places as restaurants. I have cringed watching a fellow Christian brother or sister treat a server with rudeness and disrespect. In our area, when the servers were asked which day they least enjoyed working, they answered Sundays. They report that the "church crowd" tend to be the rudest and they tip the least.
This type of reputation shames me. Our family has always tried to show respect to our server and tip on grace. We are creatures of habit, so we tend to go to the same restaurant every Sunday after church. This has actually been a good idea. We have built a relationship with the owner and the servers. They know if they have anything they want us to pray for, they can ask. Servers often stop by to tell us what is happening in their family or at their church.
As Christians, we are called to take Christ to everyone and treat all through God's love not our judgmental attitudes. Next time you're in a restaurant try asking your server if he/she has a prayer request you might pray for when you pray over your meal. After they pick themselves up off the floor, you might be surprised how you can encourage them just by that simple request.
Let's strive to show the love of Christ everywhere we go, for "they will know we are Christians by our love."

What kind of legacy are you leaving?
When thinking of leaving a legacy, many people will think about monetary inheritances or even accomplishing something that people will remember. We have the King of Rock and Roll and the King of Pop. Though I've listened to the music of both, neither has truly had a lasting affect on my life.
My grandmother left a legacy to me. It doesn't consist of money or valuables, yet its affect still lives on even though she's been gone for many years. Her legacy was a godly one. I watched as she read her Bible every night. I saw her literally drag herself to church even though her arthritis was so advanced. She set an example of loving other brothers and sisters in Christ when she ministered to them through making a dish of food or sending them a card.
I've seen this godly legacy carried on through my mother, and I strive to carry on the tradition. I'm trying to intentionally pass on the traits of being a godly woman to my own daughter. This is a legacy with lasting affect.
My grandmother never heard cheers from large audiences or accumulated lots of money, but I'm sure when she arrived in heaven she heard: "Well done thy good and faithful servant. Enter into your eternal reward."
Now that's accolades!

People today are often trying to discover who they are or why they're here. Allow me to shed a little light on this subject from Ephesians One (The Message).
"Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love ... It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone."
If we try to find purpose and meaning through the things of this world, we will never be satisfied. Temporary contentment may occur but not lasting.
The scripture above states that we find who we are in Christ - a Christian, a follower of Christ. We also find what we are living for in Christ - to be Christ-like. The Lord knows exactly how we were put together with our gifts and abilities, and He knows how He planned for us to use them. He desires for us to chose His will, so we can experience fulfillment in our lives.
If we're searching for meaning and purpose, we must shift our focus from the world to the Creator of the world. When He created the earth, He thought of us. He loved us from the beginning and wants the best for us now.

Taters. For those not familiar with Southern talk that means potatoes - taters for short. Did you know our churches these days are filled with various taters? 
Here are some common-taters we might find:
Dick Tater - runs everything
Agi Tater - stirs up trouble
Hesi Tater - never does much
Vegi Tater - never does anything
Imi Tater - does it like we always did
Spec Tater - takes but contributes nothing
Debili Tater - discourages excited people
Couch Tater - watches church on TV and that's enough
Whipped Tater - Worked all week and needs sleep on Sunday
Ooo! These smell like rotten taters.
Though harder to locate, these taters are preferred:
New tater - new Christian
Facili Tater - helpful
Felici Tater - friendly
Cogni Tater - thinks through
Sweet Tater - kind
Levi Tater - filled with the Spirit
Medi Tater - prays things through
Implement Tater - puts ideas into action
Orient Tater - helps others find their way
Resussit Tater - brings people back
Rehabili Tater rounds up the lapsed
What kind of tater are you?

Five Things You May Not Know About Me

1. I dated my husband seven years before we married. I've always said - those Tennessee boys are a little slow.
2. I am a sign language interpreter. I sit on a stool at the front of the church and interpret my husband's sermons. Or, do I? I have joked that I could tell jokes through the service and no one would know. Catch me in action at buffalotrailbaptist.org. I'm the one with glasses.
3. I am obsessive about organization and planning. Everything has a place, and it should be there. My husband enjoys testing my salvation by moving objects from their place to see how long it takes me to notice and set it right.
4. Teaching is one of my spiritual gifts. I have written Bible studies and taught them in various settings. I think this is connected with the gift of gab.
5. I recently became a certified fitness instructor. The plan is to once again teach a class at my church like I did in other churches we have served. Church members are surprised that their pastor's wife has pep.

These make up the unique person God made me to be. There is not another person like me now nor has there ever been. My husband would say a hearty "amen!" But, God has a specific plan for me.
How has God put you together? What ablilities, gifts, and experiences has He granted you? He made you that way for a purpose that no one else can accomplish but you.

Valentine's Day - not everyone gets mushy and excited about this particular holiday. If you have no significant other from which to receive red hearts and chocolates, it can feel downright depressing. Allow me to offer an alternative way of looking at this holiday.
We all have access to the ultimate Valentine. This Valentine was lovingly written in red and showed more love than any person past, present or future could hope to show. I'm talking about Jesus.
All through the history recorded in the Bible, God attempted to show people His love. He wished to have a relationship with His people. He created a beautiful world, but Adam and Eve sinned. He parted a sea and allowed His people to cross on dry land, but still His people complained. He sent prophet after prophet, but still His people just couldn't grasp His love for them. The only way He could prove His love was to come in person. Jesus came to earth showing God's love. He healed and taught and was moved with compassion. Then, Jesus proved once and for all God's love for all people. He was crucified on a cross where He wrote His love in red with His own precious blood. "What greater love ... than a man lay down his life for a friend?"
Jesus is the ultimate Valentine. No one else can love like He can. Those red heart cards will fade. The chocolates will all be gone. But, Jesus is a forever friend whose love will never fade, and who will never leave you. Now, that's a Valentine worth getting excited about!

Did you grow up watching Little House on the Prairie or The Waltons? How about Emergency or Remington Steele? I know I just dated myself because some of you are shaking your heads recalling these shows and others are shaking your heads in confusion. My family and I watched these shows together. Not once did my mother have to wince at offensive language. Not once did my father have to explain some off-color remark. Where have the family-safe television shows gone? Even the sitcoms involving families with children of various ages use profanity. In fact recently I viewed a show with very young children thinking maybe the language would be better. The show actually had the youngest child spouting off profanities.
Call me old fashioned, if you will, but I'm trying to raise my daughter to not speak using profanity. Trust me, I know from experience that kids will repeat what they hear from parents and the television. I believe - garbage in, garbage out. That means whatever we feed our minds is what will come out of our mouths. The Bible says it this way: "Out of the heart, the mouth speaks."
In the fallen world we live in, I know there will be unavoidable "garbage." But, I can choose to fill up on what pleases God and teach my daughter to do the same. We have a collection of clean movies, and we devour Christian books. When we do encounter bad language, offensive remarks, or situations in TV viewing, we discuss why we don't speak or act in that manner.
Okay, I'm hopping down from my soapbox. If you encounter some good, wholesome shows, please let me know. Now, excuse me while I go and catch a Little House rerun. The good ol' days ....

Don't be an Eliphaz friend. You may not remember who Eliphaz was. He was supposedly a friend to Job.
My husband has recently begun to preach a series on Sunday evenings focused on the book of Job. Last Sunday night, good ol' Eliphaz came onto the scene. If only he had stuck to his initial actions, he might have been a better friend. At first, he found Job sitting atop an ash heap, and simply joined him in his mourning. Then, he opened his mouth. Bad idea. He begins to tell Job that he has obviously done wrong and needs to repent. His faith must be small. He even uses a sentiment similar to: "If I were in your shoes ..."
Have you been there? Have so-called friends shown up when you experienced a crisis only to make you feel worse? Have you been quilty of adding to another friend's pain instead of helping?
Let's take a lesson from Eliphaz. When a friend is weathering a storm in her life, do go to her. But, don't offer advice unless asked for. I'm not sure if this is common all over the country, but in the South, people often visit the sick and explain about their experience with similar circumstances. My favorite is when a friend visits another in a hospital and states: "I had another friend that had what you have, and she died." Such comfort in those words. What a blessing (blatant sarcasm here). Other friends will say our faith is lacking or there must be some reason for this malevolent turn of events.
To be a true Christian friend, we may only need to sit with our friend - letting her know we're there. We should ask if there is anything we can do or take care of for her. We can tell and show that we love her. This is enough.
The next time you're called upon to be a true Christian friend, don't be an Eliphaz - be Christ.

Exercise - my husband says that's a bad word. However, we need exercise in our lives to maintain good health.
Body
We need physical exercise to obtain optimal use of our bodies. The Bible describes our bodies as the temple of God. Our bodies are the only one we have here on earth. To be able to accomplish everything God would have us to, our bodies must be in shape. We shouldn't ignore taking care of ourselves through eating properly and staying fit.
Mind
We need to exercise our minds as well. Our lives should involve continual learning to keep our brains sharp. Some studies have shown that reading and working puzzles - stimulating the mind - could stave off dementias.
Spirit
The spirit needs exercise as well to stay healthy. Reading the Word of God and memorizing verses and passages boosts our relationship with the Lord and prepares us for situations we might face. Prayer increases the "trust muscle" keeping us in line with God's will for our lives.

Mark 12:30 says: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." With all of our being we prove we love the Lord. To do so, we might need to cut some flab and whip some areas into shape. Have you logged any exercise today?

In writing fiction, I've heard that asking "what if" questions can help the writer to enhance the story.
I wondered if an experiment like that might help to enhance my relationship with God. Think about it. I'm scurrying through my day trying to accomplish 26 hours of tasks in the 24 that are available. The phone rings with bad news. My time gets interrupted and I'm frustrated by any number of happenings. I turn to chocolate for comfort and discover my stretchie jeans don't stretch enough.
What if I started my day with the Lord, in His Word, and asked Him to guide me and do those tasks He would have me do today? What if I trusted Him no matter the circumstances, knowing He has my best interest at heart? What if I looked at interruptions as opportunities He has set up? What if I turn to God in prayer and find solace in Him?
Psalm 34:8-9 says "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing."
Remember your mother before you with a fork full of some new food poised near your mouth. She would say: "Just taste it. How will you know if you like it, if you don't try it?" This verse from Psalms is suggesting a similar notion. It's almost a dare - try the Lord and see for yourself. He is good. Nothing will happen today that can steal the solace and safety found in God. If you're His child, you are to honor Him - stand in awe of Him. In other words, acknowledge that He is God and you are not. If we have this type of relationship with Him, we are supplied with all we need and even some things we want.
Entrusting God with the "what ifs" will help my relationship with Him grow. From God's perspective, there are no "what ifs" because He knows all. Seems like the best way to enhance the story of my life.

Heroine - what does that mean? The dictionary defines it as a woman admired for her achievements and qualities. Going by that definition, I know who qualifies for my heroine. My mother.
She worked outside the home with most of her time devoted to Lifeway Christian Stores. Through her work she taught me what loyalty meant. She put in many extra hours for which she was never compensated, but she never complained.
She faithfully made sure my brother and I were in church. Even now, she still attends the same church and teaches a women's Sunday school class from which the ladies say they graduate straight into Heaven.
She proved her faith through battles with cancer and platelet destroying antibodies. Her motto was the same as Paul - To live is Christ, to die is gain.
After retiring she has filled her time with volunteer organizations and her church. I joke that if I want time with her, I need to make sure she pencils me in on her calendar.
She once joked that she'd had so many surgeries that her body looked like a map. In my mind I thought - she's always been a map for me guiding me by her godly example.
I often find myself praying that God will instill in me the qualities that my mother has always shown. I want others to see me as loyal, diligent, devoted, and faithful, not for my glory but all for the sake of Christ. I want to live in such a way that my daughter would think of me as her heroine.
Do you have a hero or heroine? Are you aware that others look to you for an example? What kind of example are you setting? What kind of hero/heroine are you?

Lately I've been all across the spectrum in my Christian fiction reading. I've read sweet Amish tales and suspenseful stories.
Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas by Janice Hanna Thompson was a twist on the mail-order bride which fleshed out the truth that we shouldn't get ahead of God.
Unexpected Dismounts by Nancy Rue continued the story of a motorcycle prophet who challenged me to examine whether I'm reaching out to the unlovables.
Yeshua's Bridge by Sandi Rog brought out the harsh persecutions endured by early Christians that made me appreciative and thankful I don't have to face such testing.
The Elite of the Weak by Precarious Yates portrays young adults fighting for those in bondage at the beginning of the End Times.
As I've read these books, I've seen the various giftedness of the authors to write with their own unique voices. What a creative God we have! He's called each writer into their writing ministry, giving them a wide variety of stories.
I thank God that He has decided to include me in this writing ministry. At first I doubted myself, thinking I could never be like some of my favorite authors. But, I'm not supposed to be. God has given me stories that only I can tell in the unique voice and style God has granted to me.
Do you have a story to tell? Your tale may be the one to touch someone who was unreachable by others' stories. Use your God-given gifts and talents to weave it for His glory.

Do you ever read something that just knocks you back in your chair?
While reading in my prayer book by Dave Earley, I ran across the following quote:
"Prayer is not a lovely sedan for a sightseeing trip around the city. Prayer is a truck that goes straight to the warehouse, backs up, loads, and comes home with the goods. Too many people rattle their trucks all over town and never back up to the warehouse! They do not go after something when they pray. They do not ask, therefore, they do not receive."
God has told us to be bold in prayer and ask. I'm afraid when I have been timid, it might be a sign of my lack of trust that God will listen or answer. Oh, how I want to come boldly to the throne of grace asking Him for the blessing He is just waiting to bestow. How I want to be led so closely by Him that I know what I ask for in prayer is His will.
Another quote from the same book encourages me.
"I would rather go to my grave being guilty of asking for more than I received than for missing answers because I did not ask."
I have to get it in my head that God wants to bless me. I have to learn to go to the "warehouse" of blessings. I have to pray expecting Him to answer.
Lord, teach us to pray!

Today is soapbox day. I can't seem to get this topic out of my mind, so I'll put it out there and be done.
I worry for our children. These are hard days with false and evil beliefs coming at them from all sides. But, are we parents contributing to our offspring running away from God?
We will drag ourselves off to work dragging an appendage behind us and causing the thermometer to spew red. However, when Sunday arrives - time to show worth to God - we will stay home because we have a slight sniffle or we've just had a long week. What is this teaching our children? One lesson they learn from our actions is that we say God is a priority, but we really don't mean it. I believe that's why we have a generation of parents right now who don't have any committment to the things of God. When they don't attend church, they pronounce that God will understand. He knows my heart. Oh, be careful! God does know our hearts.
My daughter has teenage friends who have yet to come to Christ. Their reasoning is they see their parents and other Christians being so hypocritical in their walk that they don't see the need to be saved. They don't see the difference it makes. If my daughter stumbles, I don't want her to be tripping over me.
As Christians we must make up our minds to live as Christ followers not just occasionally do things like a Christian. Being a Christian is more than doing; it's a lifestyle. Do I always live up to this? No. I do strive to show my daughter the habits of a Christian which leads to God being the top priority. This includes studying my Bible and attending church worship.
Today, I'm saying a specific prayer that Christian parents will be strengthened in their Christian walk. I'm also praying that God will protect our children from satan's lies and use us to lead them to Him. Join me?

Did you notice my ACFW badge? This represents attaining a preset goal of words written for January. I appreciate all of the other participants who encouraged one another throughout the month. Having a goal and people urging me on helped me to make time to write.
Making time to write is a problem for some people. I have been involved in two discussions focusing upon this topic just this week. One was a desperate cry for help in carving out time or setting a schedule or routine so writing got accomplished. The other was a similar quest by my colleagues at our first local writer's meeting. I want to share what advice I gave.
Because I write Christian material exclusively, the first priority is to read my Bible and have my quiet time. Some might be confused realizing this activity doesn't involve writing, and you'd be right. But, if I don't make God number one, the writing won't come together anyway.
Being a homeschool mom and the one who does the household keep-up, my schedule varies day-to-day. If there are tests to give or an overabundance of laundry to wash, I may never write a word. Then, other days, I might have pockets of time that crank out thousands of words. The key is to take advantage of the time I do have. This includes scribbling words when preparing lunch. It also includes keeping a stash of paper in all of the areas in the house that I find myself (yes, the bathroom). I have often written utilizing the paper by my bed because my mind has finally had time to focus and a flood comes.
Being obsessive about organization, I have set a daily routine which is flexible yet a guide for staying on track and productive.
Quiet time/Bible study/Prayer
Check email for info from editor and ACFW news
Check the two chosen blogs I follow
Post to my blog
Write/Revise/Edit
Exercise
Read
The time I can allot to each of the above activities varies, but I strive to do these things each day.
Be encouraged. If you want to write, you can carve it out. If anyone has ideas for creating writing time, please share in the comments. Happy writing - wherever it may be!