Thankful Heart

I recently began to use a couple of new journaling styles making each of my journals a little more focused on one particular subject. I have been writing in journals for as long as I can remember, so I jumped at the suggestion to keep a prayer journal. The suggestion came from my pastor’s wife. I also thought it was brilliant that she keeps a table of contents at the beginning of each of her journals, so she will know just how to reference and use them at a later date.

 

My Maxjournal Collection on the Ipad

Along with my prayer journal and day to day journal, I also decided to keep a gratitude journal. This is the journal of subject today. I titled mine “Thankful Heart”. I truly believe that a thankful heart breeds joy in our lives, and when you are joyful, the action of love naturally comes into play. We all know that love is the glue that holds us together or at least love is what holds me together. I am not talking about the warm and fuzzy emotion of love, I am talking big love. I am talking about action love. I am talking about Jesus love. The kind of love that: never fails, forgives quickly, that’s not self seeking, and speaks the truth (Corinthians 13). So, why not keep a recorded of what makes your heart thankful? Why not let that thanksgiving turn into an overflowing amount of joy. Why not turn our focus away from the negatives, the trials, the tribulations that we face in our lives, and lift our hearts up by focusing on our blessings and joy.

In my own journal, “Thankful Heart”, Everyday I choose to write down five things for which I am thankful. They range anywhere from a nurse making my son's shot day a little less painful, to a beautiful rose that has bloomed in my garden. Nothing is too small or too big to be thankful for. Blessings are all around us everyday. They come in so many shapes and sizes. What is your heart thankful for today?

 

Inside the Maxjournal App for the ipad

 

Meet The Easton Brothers{Merlin's Kin}

I have recently had the great privilege of reading the first drafts of two books written by aspiring author M.G. Stover. M. Stover has been a friend of mine for as long as I can remember, and a loyal, trustworthy friend at that. So, to see him complete not only one, but two really great works of fiction (with a third installment in the works) has been truly exhilarating. I feel genuinely honored that he has allowed me to be part of the selected few to read the books in their early stages. Might I say, after reading them, I have only gained more proof of M. Stover's creative ability to make stories come to life. He has made me love characters, dislike characters, feel sorry for them and relate to them. He has even made me start out disliking them and somehow twisted that dislike into loving them without really changing the personality of the character. It’s a very unique ability that you will find only great authors possess. He has formed unlikely heroes out of the bonds of friendship and brotherhood. He has taken me on a journey filled with magic, wonder, love, struggles and the desire to live, all without overwhelming the reader.

The collection of books titled “Merlin's Kin Series” is a journey where you will meet the Easton brothers. A couple of brothers not unlike many others who fight, stick their nose in one another’s business, look out for each other and simply drive each other insane, just for a giggle. However, Jon & Renny Easton, upon further examination, aren’t your typical brothers. They are descendants of the legendary wizard Merlin, and while this leaves the eldest brother with great and powerful magical abilities, it leaves the youngest brother cursed with a transformation that is the responsibility of the older brother to eliminate. This genetic curse has burdened the Easton family tree for generations and Jon and Renny are no exception to the curse of Merlin’s kin.

That my friends is the back drop for these creatively and well written books. I have enjoyed every page and every character, and my hope is that someday very soon you will be able to pick up your own copies from the shelves of your favorite bookstore, and allow the story of Merlin’s Kin to come to life in your imagination!

Hello Again Blogging World

Writing again…after a small, unintended break from the blogging world I am writing again. I must say, it feels good to put pen to paper once again. Yes, I am terribly old fashioned and write everything down in notebooks before it ever reaches cyberworld. Anyways, it’s good to be back and I have many new ideas bouncing around inside my head for this blog and for my newer blog Lyrics & Love. I also have a few guest writers lined up that you aren’t going to want to miss. All in all it’s great to be back, and I hope you stayed tuned to see what comes up next here on Inside My Head!