One-Month Challenges

I know March is only about one-third of the way over, but I have two great one-month challenges to suggest for April. Both may take some prep to get them going, so it's not too early to get started.

First, I want to suggest a fall, 2008 fiction release to you: Stepping Into Sunlight, by Sharon Hinck. Along with reading a great book, you can follow the example of the main character, Penny: One act of kindness for someone new each day. I asked Sharon to give us some background:

Do you ever feel like the needs of the world, or your family and friends, are so huge that nothing you do could make a difference? I'm sure the boy with a few fish and loaves of bread thought that when he saw thousands of hungry people. Yet Jesus took the small gift and multiplied it. I recently wrote a novel about a woman who was at her weakest point and had almost nothing to offer others. Yet she found ways to offer small acts of kindness - which changes the lives of those around her, as well as helping her on the journey toward healing. You can read about her adventures in Stepping Into Sunlight, and also join her interactively at the Penny's Project blog, where folks share their own creative ideas for small kind acts.

Okay, here's another challege. How about a writing frenzy?

If you like to write scripts or have wanted to give it a shot, how about completing one in a month? Script Frenzy begins officially on April 1st, and you need to sign up to participate. If you're age 13 and above, go to Script Frenzy's site for details. 12 and under? No problem. Check out Script Frenzy Young Writers Program.

So to recap, here are the challenges:

Challege #1: Read Stepping Into Sunlight, by Sharon Hinck, and create your own Penny's Project for the month of April--one act of kindness for someone new each day.
OR
Challege #2: Write a script in a month.

Choose your challenge and plan to begin on April 1st. Do it with your family. Do it with friends. Whatever you decide, be creative. Remember, you were made in the image of God. Talk about creativity. So no excuses!

Have fun.

Jan
author of the Live Free series, Standard Publishing

true stories, true hope

for teens, young adults,
and those who care about them.

Watch Out--Surprises Ahead

I’m sure you’ve heard by now about the guy who’s made it big just by fooling around in front of his webcam lip-syncing a song by O-Zone. After uploading, it got a phenomenal number of hits. In his interviews, he admits he never imagined—through that one spontaneous, uninhibited moment just being himself—he’d become so well-known. In fact, bordering on rich and famous.

Or, how about the woman who posted an honest, side-splitting-funny story on eBay about a trip to the grocery store with her six kids. During one of her many distracted moments while shopping, one (or two or three) of her children snuck a pack of Pokemon cards into the grocery cart. She missed seeing them and decided not to reward her children for the act but to sell them on eBay (no, no—the cards, not her children). Not only did she get a fairly decent price, she—due to the wit of her creative post and her equally humorous blog—has publishers and agents begging her to sign on to write a book.

There are those like the eBay mom and the numa-numa guy, and then there are the rest of us. How many times have we worked dog hard at something that no one noticed or appreciated? And I mean, we really, really tried our best.

I’m actually growing kind of fond of those “unappreciated” moments. I’m finding there’s a lot of freedom in letting go of the results, applause, or impact of what I do.

Yes, I fully believe God wants us to celebrate the amazing things that happen. He enjoys celebrating with us.

But the problem is those crazy expectations we all have. You know—“I’ve gotta be that or else,” or “I wish that woulda happened to me,” or even “Why didn’t anyone notice and say something?” Those types of expectations.

You have a new school year ahead. I have a few new directions I’m heading too. If you’re up for the challenge, how ‘bout joining me in a little experiment over the next eight or nine months?

We may not ever experience numa-numa or eBay fame (or fame of any sort), but we can enjoy being who we are, expressing fully who God created us to be. And we can then be surprised and celebrate what God does with it—in even the small ways. Especially those.

I just might check back in with you. I’ll definitely be praying for you.

Have an amazing and surprise-filled year . . . just being yourself.

Jan
www.choose2livefree.com

Creativity--a spiritual gift?

Obviously, as a writer I'm a creative person. Writing is, after all, a form of artistic expression. But writing isn't the only way I like to create. To those closest to me, I'm also known to be quite the scrapbook addict and well intentioned cook. I say well intentioned because my creations don't always come out as planned in the kitchen!


Genesis 1:27 tells us that we are made in the image of God. That verse takes on an entirely different dimension when we view Him as the Creator of the universe. God is creative, and every ounce of creativity that you have attests to the fact that you were made in His image! That may not seem like a big deal at first, but it does give new significance to things like drawing, painting, theatre and other creative expressions.


Normally, we view things like prophecy, giving, teaching, etc...as spiritual gifts but we tend to overlook the spiritual significance of our creativity. This summer, as you have some extra time on your hands try to engage with God in a new way. Instead of having your traditional quiet time, choose to commune with Him by worshipping Him through your creativity for a change. I feel closest to God when I am at my computer writing or in my kitchen whipping something up. And, not surprisingly, I tend to hear His voice loudest in those two places as a result.

I've also discovered that God and chocolate go pretty well together. So, if you're looking to be creative you might want to whip up a batch of my favorite chocolate chip cookies while you're at it.

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups whole-wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup reduced-calorie stick margarine, softened

2/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

1 large egg white

1/2 cup reduced-fat semisweet chocolate chips

Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl; stir well. Set aside. Combine margarine and sugars in a large bowl; beat at medium speed of a mixer until light and fluffy. Add applesauce, vanilla, egg, and egg white; beat well. Add dry ingredients; beat at low speed until well-blended. Stir in chips.

Drop dough by level teaspoons, 1 inch apart, onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes or until almost set. Remove from oven; let stand 2 to 3 minutes or until firm. Remove cookies from pans; let cool on wire racks.

Yield 5 dozen (serving size: 1 cookie)

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 52(35% from fat); FAT 2g (sat 0.8g,mono 1g,poly 0.5g); PROTEIN 0.8g; CHOLESTEROL 4mg; CALCIUM 3mg; SODIUM 65mg; FIBER 0.4g; IRON 0.2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 8.7g
Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 1996