Book Review : Outlive Your Life, Max Lucado

Exerpt: In our lifetimes you and I are going to come across some discarded people. Tossed out. Sometimes tossed out by a church. And we get to choose. Neglect or rescue? Label them or love them? we know Jesus' choice. Just look at what he did with us. Outlive Your Life, pg 151.

 Description : These are difficult days in our world's history. 1.75 billion people are desperately poor, natural disasters are gouging entire nations, and economic uncertainty still reigns across the globe. But you and I have been given an opportunity to make a big difference. What if we did? What if we rocked the world with hope? Infiltrated all corners with God's love and life? We are created by a great God to do great works. He invites us to outlive our lives, not just in heaven, but here on earth. Let's live our lives in such a way that the world will be glad we did.

My Review:

Max Lucado’s latest book reaches out further and deeper than before. Speaking straight to the individual, it touches on points that are hard to ignore. It isn’t about giving money or preaching on a sidewalk, it is about being real enough so God can use you. It is about looking into a person instead of just looking through them. It is remembering that even though you may have done fairly well for yourself, that you didn’t get there alone.

This book was amazing to read. One point is stuck in my head about how the success God has given us isn’t just our own. It’s His. Yes. Maybe somewhere, somehow I did do something. But I sure didn’t do it on my own. I couldn’t have done it on my own. I can only do it through and with Him.

Max made this book personal. It isn’t a bunch of numbers and statics, but stories of people and reality. If you read this, then prepare yourself to be challenged. You cannot read this book without something stirring a piece of you. There are so many stories of how a commonplace thing, made all the difference in a life that touched countless others. Be one of those ordinary folk. Do one of those commonplace things. Make a difference.

Booksneeze provided a complimentary copy of this book for review. 

Writing Quote Gallery

A collection of various writer/writing quotes I've stumbled upon throughout the years. Not all of them are happy or inspiring, but they will make you think. Enjoy! Newest ones will always appear at the top. 

"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity." - Edgar Allen Poe

"Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." ~Anton Chekhov

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart." ~William Wordsworth

 "When writing a novel, that's pretty much entirely what life turns into: 'House burned down. Car stolen. Cat exploded. Did 1500 easy words, so all in all it was a pretty good day.'"
-- Neil Gaiman

"It is necessary to write, if the days are not to slip emptily by. How else, indeed, to clap the net over the butterfly of the moment? For the moment passes, it is forgotten; the mood is gone; life itself is gone. That is where the writer scores over his fellows: he catches the changes of his mind on the hop." ~Vita Sackville-West

1000 Dares

The 1000 Dares challenge is definitely a life experience worth trying. While I'm still journeying through mine, I can tell you that I can't wait to see it all the way through to the end.

This was a dare presented to me by a very good friend(and it is with her permission, that I am sharing her idea) and of course, she managed to loop me into it. The idea was incredibly outrageous, but so wonderful at the same time, that I've decided to share it with whoever would love to try it.

Necessary Items:
1000 something
A way to track your numbers
Someone to keep you on track

To begin, pick 1000 anythings. By anythings, I mean, one thing that you want to do one-thousand times. It can be watching a thousand movies, writing a thousand stories, visiting a thousand restaurants, owning a thousand colored pencils, whatever! It just has to be a single thousand of whatever you feel would inspire you the most, then decide on a way to track your progress (one reason I'm announcing this on a blog is to help with accountability--but a good spreadsheet would work wonders in keeping your numbers straight!). I've also added someone to keep you on track, because guilt trips can be good and so is company. It's addictive to have a long term goal doing something you enjoy and knowing that there is someone to cheer you on, increases the chance of you reaching/finishing and provides encouragement when you need it.

My dare is to write 1000 short stories, from scratch. I cannot count any that I've written before July 2010 and I cannot count poetry. It is not a word count challenge, just a personal goal to write 1000 short stories straight from the mindscape of my random life.

I dare you to try this--you won't be disappointed!




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30 Pages, 30 Days

This writing challenge is more of a tool to add to your writer's toolbox. It follows the age-old advice of improving your writing. To write better, you must write every day or keep writing. Don't stop. Don't let yourself be sidetracked by reading or commenting (or blogging!) that you forget the very basic kind of writing there is.

A piece of paper.
A pen (no pencils!)
A snippet of time

These three elements, when combined, yield rather interesting results. There is always a different creative process at work when pen is put to paper. Pen, because it cannot be erased like pencil and paper, because it is more personal than clacking away on a keyboard.

Challenges from creative folks like Julia Cameron's Morning Pages are excellent ideas, with a definite place for those who can use them and spare the time for them. I have found that time is something I rarely have when I want it the most. It is for this reason, I decided to shift things around a bit and instead of trying to pen a thousand pages per day, I'm settling for a page a day in any given month. (Skip February, write thirty pages anyway...)

I don't particularly care how you count your pages, so as long as you do write one full sheet and at the end of the month, have thirty pages to show for it. This is a personal challenge however, so if you cheat--you're cheating yourself.

If you don't know what to write, try emptying your head. Stream of consciousness writing can work wonders for a brain in need of creative release. Do yourself a favor though and don't re-read it until significant time has passed. It doesn't matter how the pages sound, because you're writing them for you.

So go ahead, Write! I dare you...





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Challenges!

I've finished two buttons for two of my writing challenges/projects. I'm testing them out below!

Yay!

Progress!

~S

Button Ideas!

In keeping with one of my notes for transparency and consistency, I'm allowing a few random snippets of construction to slip through as I prep this blog for launch.

This is the button I've crafted so far, at a 125x125 px size. Hmmm

About Sara

Sara is a creative young woman with a passion for writing. She has written nearly 300 poems, over 230 short stories, four complete novel manuscripts-with a fifth one in the works. A four-time National Novel Writing Month winner, and 2009 winner for February Album Writing Month, National Novel Editing Month and ScriptFrenzy.

She enjoys writing fiction in all genres and plans to participate in NaNoWriMo 2010. Sara is also an Apprentice graduate of the Christian Writer's Guild, her mentors were Stephen and Janet Bly. Her talent shines in Christian sci-fi and fantasy epics and short inspirational stories. In her spare time, she enjoys vegetarian cooking, dark chocolate, reading mystery books and working on her latest writing projects. She has one cat named Snowflake, affectionately called her "Mewse". Currently a student in university, Sara balances writing, family and school while studying for her BA in English.

Learn more about her in this Faithwriter's Interview by Lynda Schab!
Sara's FW Interview 2010

On a personal note:

Thanks for reading my official intro! It changes whenever I have the chance to tweak it a bit! I'm a busy, random and very creative individual who loves writing to the point where I simply can't let a day pass without scribbling something. I am a Christian, I could not write what I do without His touch. I am currently a university student (hence the lack of coherence in my personal blog at times!) with a major in English and I'm excited to see what God will do with my life. I love hearing from my fans and readers--so comment, post, email or whatever, I'd love to hear from you.