Two Sites to See

Today I came across some interesting web sites and blogs. Take some time and check them out:

Ashley Weis ~ Bringing Life to Words
Ashley is a writer and has writing resources and contests listed on her web site. I also have her link under "Links worth noting" here on RS.

So, You Wanna Be Published
This is a blog is by Mary DeMuth, a published author. She also has tons of great articles and encourages the writer as well. Mary's link is on RS too.

Check out these ladies! I am still working my way through their sites and am very inspired by their work and spirit.

Grace & peace on the creative journey ~ deAnn

Reflective Souls is "GROWING"

God is moving through the ministries of LWCC. One place His sweet breath is felt is in this writing group, Reflective Souls. As a gathering facilitator, I've been so blessed and encouraged by the ladies openness and energy. I'm excited to announce that Reflective Souls will begin meeting two times each month starting in August:

• the second Tuesday
• the fourth Thursday

I hope that will be easy to remember. I went with this because Tuesday is the second day of the week and Thursday is the fourth day of the week...get it? :0)

The two monthly gatherings will not offer the same material or experience. So, if you like, attend both or just one of the gatherings.

NEW LOCATION: We will meet in the Worship Arts office (which is behind the stage). If you come in the Chapel Entrance, go straight passing the hallway on the left and right. You will see a door on the left side and that is the WA office (we'll have a sign there for you.)

NEW TIME: We know how tough it is to rush around after work, grabbing dinner and connecting quickly with the family, so we've moved the time to 7:00-9:00pm. We hope that will relieve some pressure. You may feel you don't "have time" to squeeze this in. But that is all the more reason why you need too...come, be still, quiet yourself and write from the heart ~ it's medicine for the soul. Come, join us!

Contact deAnn (info to the right) if you have questions. Grace & peace ~ deAnn

reflection

Below is a post I wrote in July 2007. With blogs sites, I rarely go WAY back to read old posts, so I thought I'd cheat and bring this one into July 2008. It ties in directly with our gathering last night - as we took time to interact with art in the gallery followed by sitting quietly with God and listened to how He may be speaking to us. Then we responded through writing. Here is the post...

What does it mean to have a reflective soul?
(Go ahead, think for a moment and quietly answer it in your mind).

I have a digital SLR camera which I love more than chocolate. The lens, where it attaches to the camera, is small and sensitive. The other end of the lens has a filter protecting the delicate rounded glass. Many fancy filters are available that can be used for creative shots, such as a star filter, colored filters or a polarizer. These all affect the way light is captured for a particular artistic effect.

When you look through the eye piece of the camera, you see the world through a series of glass disks. With just a little pressure on the shutter button, the image comes into focus. When you're ready, snap the shot. As you do so light enters the lens, reflects off the mirror and lands on a sensor that in turn creates the image of your desire. You hope for the best. So you upload your pictures to your computer and anxiously wait to see if it has the beauty you tried to capture. Sometimes you are amazed at your nearly professional ability to create fantastic shots. Other times you can't hit the "delete" button fast enough, forever erasing that terrible image.

I see this same scenario in my life. My eyes capture a "scene" and in seconds it passes through my "filter" of beliefs, moods, hormones. Then it enters my soul and reflection begins. An "image" forms. Sometimes it's positive, other times it's one that I never wish existed.

Seeing, thinking and processing life's scenes is living out of a reflective soul. We don't let the moment pass without deep consideration and asking for God's wisdom in the midst of it. Through the Holy Spirit's guidance and the experience of our individual lives, we reflect more than what the human eye can see. We take in and then we project an "image" through our perspective which is unique and interesting. Doing this through the art of writing allows others to see the "image" also. From that, they start the process over again with their set of filters and lenses leading to their own active reflective soul.

We can't help but read someones writing or absorb a painting only to be lead on a journey into the interior of our soul. God longs to meet us in an intimate way and He often uses forms of artistic work to do so. Take time and sit with a "scene" - how can you express the reflection of your soul so that others can experience it as well?

God speaks to us through our work of reflection and He speaks to us through other people's work of reflection. How awesome is that...

See Ya Thursday

I know it's summer and we are all so busy! But I sure hope you make time for yourself, two hours - that's all, to spread your creative wings and take flight over paper and ink though the vastness of your mind.

We'll meet in the coffee bar of Living Word. Bring paper and your favorite writing instrument. We'll provide the rest (and I mean rest.)

If you believe you'll be there - please send me a quick email so I know how many to prepare for. My email is droe@lwccyork.com. Thank you!

See you Thursday,
deAnn

Give Voice

The heart of Reflective Souls is to discover your voice and courageously allow it to speak. But many things keep our voice hidden deep within the caverns of our soul. Fear is one of the biggest silencers of our voice.

What actually is our voice? It is our truest self and she lives deep inside us. However, we have another less appreciated voice, the inner critical voice, that often speaks louder. This voice tells us lies and does everything it can to keep us afraid of finding our own voice. The inner critical voice tells us we have no talent and leads us to believe something bad will happen if we express our creativity. Fear keeps our creative voice silently hidden away.

The only remedy for our fear is love: perfect Love casts out all fear. Listening to the voice of God who is Love helps us to defeat our fears. We recognize God's voice because it tells us we are loved, worthy, and talented. As we listen to the Holy Spirit, who urges us to love ourselves as God loves us, we learn to love even the frightened part of ourselves. "Like a sculptor, we will have chipped away at the frozen fear to reveal the beautiful creation inside."

Allow not fear to determine your voice, allow God.

grace & peace on the written journey ~ deAnn

(this post is inspired by and includes lines from a fabulous book I'm eating up, "Creativity and Divine Surprise by Karla M. Kincannon)