Arden's Garden

Sometimes, we have all the motivation we need, the perfect plot, fascinating characters, and a story near and dear to our hearts...but no time to write. It's understandable. As much as it irritates the determined writer, this is a good sign. It shows that you have everything it takes to write your story except for the mere time to sit down and write .  If you've wisely prioritized your life, then, naturally, you will find yourself in this predicament eventually. For me, an important upcoming test has stolen all my free time, my writing time, for the sake of studying. Am I irritated by this? Of course. Yet, I understand the importance of prudent prioritizing.  After nearly three months of forcing myself away from writing in order to devote myself fully to my studies, I have gained an important lesson. The "lost writing time" and not necessarily lost at all. True, I have temporarily quit writing, but I still frequently think about my books. Normally, this would drive me...

Though this story of God's reminder of his promise to Abraham is familiar to many people, to such a degree that it is frequently quoted, there is a deeper aspect that is often overlooked.  Firstly, to give some background on this story: Abraham, formerly named Abram (his name was changed when he began to follow the Lord, similarly to how we are given a new identity in Christ), had been following God for a long time. The Lord had promised to make him into a great nation. In other words, the Lord promised that Abraham and his wife, Sarah, would have a child, and that their offspring would become great in number. However, by Genesis 15, Abraham and Sarah are growing old and doubting the Lord's promise. Therefore, the Lord reminds them.  Here is the verse in which the Lord reiterates His promise, quoted from the NIV version: The Lord took Abraham outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars - if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offs...

 I see my life reflected in the pages of Your book In every chapter, every line, and everywhere I look From the Israelites' rejection of Your almighty love  To manna You still sent them from Your storehouses above Like me, they strayed from the narrow path time and time again  Your faithfulness remained and You did not give up on them  Even genealogy shows Your calculated hand  Peace is knowing my future is what You've already planned  You proved Your love when You inscribed stone tablets with Your laws And in the darkest times You'll save me from the lions' jaws When I think the battle's lost, You'll add hours to the day  No force of evil can harm me when You stand in the way  The smallest army You choose wins Your mighty victories  Fulfilling prophesies to write Your hand in history Every passage, every verse has been written for my sake  So I can always find You in the midst of my heartbreak  Even at my lowest, I know you won't g...

 ******SPOILERS INCLUDED****** https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45431240-100-days-of-sunlight  "100 Days of Sunlight" is a cute, feel-good story that reminds readers of what truly matters in a relationship - something far greater than appearances or physical abilities. I've followed Abbie on YouTube for a long time (WritersLife Wednesdays!) and I loved recognizing the unique touches in her writing from her (extremely helpful!) videos. Abbie is a very talented writer, and this book shows her understanding of not only writing composition, but also of complicated and important issues in a world where we often put too much emphasis on the seen and not enough on the unseen. That being said, I will now explain a few things I loved about this book.  1. The family dynamics. Too often in romantic books/movies/shows/etc., I become frustrated because the characters seem to have no real relationships outside of the love interest. This was not the case in "100 Days of Sunlight...