Dear Readers,

Now is the time when we all begin to set up our routines for the year ahead. We’re back to work after having Christmas and New Year holidays, and for those of you with children, they are back at school now. I am looking forward to what the year holds for my husband and me!

As you no doubt would have noticed, I had a holiday myself in January and didn’t write you a letter. Please forgive me, as I am now back, revived and energised by writing to you tonight.

I am very keen, this year to finish writing my second novel. It has been finished, (the first draft) for quite some time now and I keep starting and restarting the editing process. It may seem weird that I restart the editing, but because there is generally a substantial amount of time between initially working on it to the second time I have another go at it, I get out of the flow. This is where I find restarting helpful.

This does come with its frustrations though. I find it’s hard to read the same scenes over and over again, knowing what’s to come in the book and desperately wanting to get to those new and exciting parts that I haven’t read over as much.

So, it’s with great determination that I setup my routine this year to include one, hopefully two, nights a week to writing. I will then have the consistency I need to edit my work, making sure that I keep in the flow of my writing style.

In my choice of songs this month I have included Dean Lewis’ song ‘Waves’ (which I included in December’s choice also 🙂 ). The lyrics really seem to resonate with me, especially in relation to my writing. The inspiration to write really does, “come and go in waves.” However, the key is to keep pushing through those low/flat times, to keep paddling towards the next wave that is on the horizon. This continued motion then gives me the momentum I need to ride that next wave to its full potential.

I’m no surfer and I don’t even like putting my head under water, but, I hope I have given justice to this analogy. I also hope you are able to adopt this to what you’re striving to achieve. That you are able to keep a forward motion towards the goals you have set for yourself, be it small or large. You can make the finish line, just one step at a time.

Here are some scripture verses that have helped me to hold on while I have sort after different things over the years. I pray that they help you also.

Psalm 16:11, ‘You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forever.’

Psalm 37:23-24, ‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.’

Psalm 55:22, ‘Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.’

Proverbs 16:3, ‘Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.’

Mark 11:24, ‘Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.’

Romans 5:5, ‘Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.’

1 Corinthians 15:58, ‘Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.’

2 Corinthians 9:8, ‘And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.’

Philippians 4:6-7, ‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’

Philippians 4:13, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’

Hebrews 10:23, ‘Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.’

James 5:16, ‘Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.’

Many Blessings,

Jane Bishop