Quote for the Week

There are some truly amazing writers out there. Not just in their work, but just in who they are. Rachel Hauck is one of those people. I've learned a lot from her, especially when it comes to being surrendered to God in your writing and in your life. Here's a great quote from her:

"You can't write about what you don't have in yourself. The spiritual journey of a character is often the fragrance of God in and on the author. If you aren't going deep in God, spending time at His feet, praying, worshipping, fellowshipping with others, your spiritual message will be flat. Always. Your message will feel forced and tacked on."

She was referring to writing, but it relates to how we live, as well. If you don't have your own growing relationship with God, how can you tell others about Him? It'll be forced. Unbelievable. Forgettable.

I want my life and my writing to have that fragrance of God. But that's not going to happen unless I'm continually in touch with Him. Something to think about...

If You Had To Choose...

Obviously, reading is something I think about maybe a little too much. Sometimes my husband catches me gazing at my bookshelf and likes to make fun of me. Usually I have a reason--I'm trying to decide which books to take to someone who's asking for something to read, or I'm trying to decide what I want to read next. Plus, they're just so beautiful... :-)

Anyway, if you had to choose your top five favorite books--of all time, or over the last year or two--which ones would make your list? I'll narrow it down for you--they have to be fiction, and they can't be Double Take because I'll know you're just trying to win a prize if I give one out. :-)

I honestly don't know if I can do this. Just five? So if you have more than five, feel free to go a little overboard. :-) Maybe you guys will add to my must-read list.

The CushTop

I'm not much of a SkyMall shopper, but I was on my way home from a writers' conference a couple years ago when I saw this lapdesk in one of the magazines on the plane. As a writer (and an email addict--yes, I'll admit it), I use my laptop. A lot. In fact, my computers are members of my family. I've even named them--Iggor and Hyacinth. Anyway, I put this on my Christmas list and my husband very kindly obliged and found it at Best Buy.

So this is Belkin's CushTop Notebook Stand. I had my old laptop at the time, and it had a tendency to run hot. Now, my husband does usually freeze me out, so a personal heater is appreciated, but not when it scorches my legs. Using this really helped. It's lightweight, and since the bottom isn't cushioned like the last lapdesk I had, it stays cool. I don't use it much since getting a different laptop, but it's nice to have on hand.

Scared

Today's pick of the week is the novel Scared, by Tom Davis.

This is a story about a photojournalist who travels to Africa to save his career. It ends up changing his life. And the book might change yours. Now, this is not a light read, and not one you will want to loan to your 10-year-old. It's not going to make you laugh, and you probably won't smile, either. It deals with poverty and AIDS and disaster and violence...but it also deals with hope. It felt so realistic I had to keep telling myself it was fiction. The thing is, though, much of it is based on fact. And it's going to leave you longing to make a difference in the world around you. It's a truly powerful book. Don't miss it.

So...have you read a novel that's changed you?

My Man Godfrey

I'm such a bad blogger, but I can almost always talk about the books or movies I love. So...in order to get myself to blog more regularly, I'm going to start doing a pick of the week: books, movies, blogs, cleaning supplies, whatever. :-) Hopefully this will also get my sister-in-law to stop harrassing me to send her a new reading list. (Just kidding, Holly.)

Anyway, I recently watched the 1936 version of My Man Godfrey, starring William Powell and Carole Lombard.

It's a wacky romantic comedy that's just good, clean fun. Here's a quick summary of the story: "A scatterbrained socialite hires a vagrant as a family butler...but there's more to Godfrey than meets the eye."

So, if you get a chance, watch it and tell me what you think. :-) Meanwhile, have a great week!