Hooray! Working with the publishing group, JLB Creatives. Excited to be working on my second book:"Icing, Locusts & Life." I will be posting excerpts of the book, and other writings, as I go along.
I thank God for His grace and awareness of my desire to write. May it always be His time and not Mine.

Thanks and talk with you again soon.

Rhonda

Learning more about my brain, and yours, too

Last week, I was asked to complete four posts on the brain related to children's learning.  Now, I have a rather deep interest in matters of the brain, so I happily began my research.

The first book I dragged off my shelf was "The Brain That Changes Itself.: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science" by Norman Doidge, M.D.  A neurologist recommended the book to me last year, and I've referred to it several times.  It is a fascinating journey into why humans act and react as they do.  Most of you probably learned along the way that the left brain performs specific logical, technical functions and the right brain is the base of emotion-related experiences.  This books goes far beyond that, in an interesting and logical manner, easily understood by the "common man."  You do not have to have a science degree to learn about your fascinating brain and why you learn and react as you do.

As the New York Times stated:  "The power of positive thinking finally gains scientific credibility. . .Straddles the gap between science and self-help."

I am getting ready for my third reading of the book.  Each reading provides me with greater understanding of why I am the way I am, and gives me much greater insight into why others act/react the way they do.

I highly recommend this book.  It's actually a fun read, and you can take it a chapter at a time and not lose a thing.

I began work on my newest book a couple of weeks ago.  Hopefully, I will write that which uplifts God and enriches the readers' hearts. The work is slow, because I need to balance telling a story, while carefully respecting each person's reality, as they experienced the events in our common lives. The intent is to show how God's grace and mercy deals with everyone, regardless of background, religious beliefs or biases. I will include a few of the stories from my first book, "Beyond the Shadows is Tomorrow," because there is so much wisdom and peace to come from their experiences.

As the writing goes forward, I will be putting slices of the book in blogs and on Facebook. Probably will insert a line or two in my Tweets also. Hopefully, each piece will bring at least one person a sense of peace, or tug on that person's heart to help him or her examine their life to find God's purpose in that life.

The book is entitled "Icing, Locusts and Love." I look forward to sharing bits of it along the way, and completing a book that is pleasing in God's sight. It is only by His grace that I can today share my small measure of ability. Not for myself, but for God's glory.

Be blessed in 2015.

rhonda

New Year, New Hope, same person trying to do better

It may be raining outside your window, as it is mine, but what a beautiful day God has given us to begin a new year. We all still have the same old habits, look at the same person in the mirror each morning, and will still make New Year's resolutions we won't keep.

That is a given.  The one thing that can truly change this year for me is my attitude and service to God and others. I have the gift of yet one more day, and am promised no more.  However, how I approach each day in this year is entirely up to me. It can be a day covered with white icing when it is dark and stormy outside. Or, I can allow myself to be covered with a coat of dark icing, which blocks the possibilities and sunshine given to me for enrichment by God.

This year, it is important for me to improve my attitude toward myself and others; to give each day over to the Lord for handling; to love those who sometimes appear unlovable; to believe in myself more deeply so that I may utilize the gifts with which He has favored me; and to pray more deeply and diligently each day than I have in the past.   These are not new year's resolutions. They are simple expectations of God for me, as His child.

Each day is icing on the cake of my life. Today it is white. Tomorrow it is whatever I choose it to be.

What color is your icing?

Be blessed     Rhonda