Ahh, It's nice to be missed. Oh look a thought

First, yes Eve, lots of people have hit me over the head with books. I just have that bothersome nature which makes people's hands itch to bonk me on the head with tomes.

Second, I am right here, m'lord, now that I'm not dragged pillar to post to see doctor after doctor and of course, now here I am, mired in retail insanity i.e. the last two weeks before Christmas.

Third, awww, it's nice to be missed.

It's been a banner week for fantasy sales in my little corner of the world. I sold 2 Isle of Swords, 2 The Door Within, 1 Rise of the Dibor, 1 The Lion Vrie and then when someone asked if Wayne had finished the sequel to Isle of Swords and I told him that he hadn't, I sold 1 Legend of the Firefish and followed it all off by selling 1 Restorer's Son. Now, as I've been selling the books, I've prayed brightly and briefly for each author--basically asking Christ to continue to bless them, to keep their families, and to let the message behind their words come out loud and clear to the readers receiving them. I mean this literally, as I'm scanning the bar code on the back of the book I'm praying that neat bright little prayer and sending it flashing up into His heart in the three or four seconds it takes to put the book into the bag and hand it to the customer. These aren't eloquent prayers, I'm not sure they're really even grammatically correct, but they are from my heart to His, for them.

Anyway, today I thought I'd share that, and then put out this challenge. The next time you are reading your favorite fantasy author's book, pray for them. Nothing major, doesn't even have to be more than two or three words, but if the Holy Spirit reminds you of this, then pray.

Results are in :)

After waiting for an hour and a half at the neural ophthalmologists office yesterday with my eyes dilated so wide that there was barely a ribbon of iris left, I was told some of the best news I've had all year.

My depth perception and field of vision haven't changed since this incident.

My optic nerve in the right as well as the left eye are undamaged and look to quote the doctor "beautiful''

My retinas are also undamaged and 'beautiful'

My problem is likely slight trama to the eye in some part resulting in a lingering after image that will resolve itself in time. How much time? That is unknown but seeing as I'm not in danger of losing my sight, I can be patient.

Counting My Blessings

Thought all of this drama with my eyes and my sight I have been struggling to keep fear at bay. Most of the time it's felt like I've managed to keep the roaring lion at arms length (but of course that means the downside of smelly lion breath and spittle all over my face, and score marks over my arms from his claws) on my own but there have been times I have felt my stomach knot up into an Indian rubber ball and I haven't had the strength to pray, or to worship, or to place my trust in Christ. In that time however, when the fear has been at its worst, and my own strength has been at its lowest, I marvel at how other believers have been placed in my path and I've been carried in their prayers. I don't think I can put how grateful I am for that into words. But here's a try.

Thank you.

Quick Update!

I had the MRI on Tuesday of this week and the doctor called me today at work to let me know that there were no irregularities on the film! This means that there are no tumors, no fluids, and no foreign bodies making the headaches or the visual disturbance. Great praises!

Unfortunately I'm still having the headaches and the visual disturbance which means it is likely an 'eye' thing and on this coming Tuesday I will be going to a neural ophthalmologist to have my eyes and the nerves that service them looked at and tested. So, I'm not out of the woods yet, and my stomach still knots from time to time with fears but I'm better than I was, and am very grateful for your prayers.

Here are two more songs that I have been 'living in':

Desperation Band - Rescue

You are the source of the life
I can’t be left behind
No one else will do
I will take hold of You

I need You Jesus
To come to my rescue
Where else can I go
There’s no other name by
Which I am saved
Capture me with grace
I will follow You

This world has nothing for me
I will follow You
This world has nothing for me
I will follow You

Phillips Craig and Dean -You Are God Alone

You are not a god
Created by human hands
You are not a god
Dependant on any mortal man
You are not a god
In need of anything we can give
By Your plan, thats just the way it is

Chorus:
You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
Your are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne

You are God alone

You're the only God
Whose power none can contend
You're the only God
Whose name and praise will never end
You're the only God
Who's worthy of everything we can give
You are God
And thats just the way it is

Repeat Chorus

Bridge:
Unchangeable
Unshakable
Unstoppable
Thats what You are

Repeat Bridge
Repeat Chorus
Repeat Bridge Out

Caught Between the Hammer and the Anvil

I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord


I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

Chorus:
And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen

I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night His joy comes with the morning

Darrell Evans "Trading My Sorrows"

Blessed Be Your Name

In the land that is plentiful

Where your streams of abundance flow

Blessed be your name

Blessed Be Your name

When I’m found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing you pour out

I’ll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name

When the sun’s shining down on me

When the world’s ‘all as it should be’

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name

On the road marked with suffering

Though there’s pain in the offering

Blessed be Your name

Every blessing you pour out

I’ll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

By: Beth & Matt Redman

I would appreciate prayer, something happened to my vision while I was on vacation, hopefully nothing major but there's a lot of fear I can't seem to shake, and these are the two songs that I'm ''living in'' right now. I'm going for the MRI right now, and we should know something in about two days hopefully.
Thanks.
Scribe

Where in the World is Scribe?

Here's a hint, I walked over London Bridge today. Need another? Okay, I'm in the Mojave Desert. Confused? Well I sure was until I looked at a map and went 'oooohhhhhooooo'. You don't need to make that sound, but feel free to do so if you like when I reveal that I am currently in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. London Bridge was originally built 1830, according to the Wikipedia, by John Rennie and perched over the river Thames until it started sinking. If you want the whole story, you can go here and check it out London Bridge is Falling Down For the rest of you who really don't care why London Bridge is in Arizona, I offer this treat instead. That's right, the sun was setting on one horrizon and the moon full and fat with silver light was rising from the other. The whole thing left me without words and that's a hard thing to do to a writer.

Reason #574 it's a good idea to walk after dark

Because sometimes you see something happening in real life that you had come to you as an idea in the world you are currently building.