A Journey of Dreams...

Writers Block...
Isn't it a beautiful thing?

I thought this was wonderful advice from author, Erin Healy.
About Writing in General
Feb. 11, 2010 • Posted in FAQ

Q: What are the “thin places” you like to explore in your novels?

A: If you’ve read C. S. Lewis or anything about Irish history, you’ll know that “thin places” is a Celtic idea. It describes locations in the world where the veil between physical and spiritual realities is so thin that a person can see through it—or perhaps even step between the worlds. Figuratively speaking, thin places represent moments of spiritual revelation, a connection between the seen and unseen elements of our lives.

The Irish girl in me has long been fascinated by this concept. My married name, my maiden name, and my given name are all Irish, so perhaps it was inevitable. As a young adult I spent half my waking hours in the Pentecostal church, and I came away from that tradition with an unshakable belief in the existence of an active spiritual world. I was a high-school sophomore when my mother gave me a copy of the new book This Present Darkness, and the imagery of the spiritual world invading this one stayed with me.

Early in my editorial career Dean Merrill challenged me with a critique of books published in the Christian marketplace. The weaker ones, he said, cause readers to say, “Amen, I agree with you!” The stronger ones, on the other hand, cause readers to say, “I never thought of it that way before.” I hope my exploration of fictional thin places will cause readers to think of their spiritual and physical lives in new, desegregated ways.
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The thin places-- that is totally the style that i loooove! :)

I thought that was amazing!! :) It is so true though... I guess my name is a Celtic name as well! :) Devin-- which, actually means "Poet". I find that amazing! :)

So, I thought I would just open this up for discussion! What do you do to deal with Writer's Blocks or Creativity Blocks? and how do you get over them?

" In a world of black, grey, and white... my words are in piles. Chains... tying them to that desolate place. Nothing can free them unless I break through Delila's secrets and sinister lies (my writer's block! I gave the evil master mind a name.) Her wall can be broken down with energy, light, and Truth... freeing the creativeness from the other side... so it can return to where it should be. Breakthrough!" -Facebook Status of mine from last night concerning my writer's block!

Hello Everyone!

"Stop trusting in man,who has but a breath in his nostrils.Of what account is he?" Isaiah 2:22

"And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else." Acts 17:25

So, it's amazing how short life is. I was in Jamaica over spring break! IT was amazing! God taught me a lot of stuff though... stuff that should never be overlooked!

"and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me." Psalm 50:15

I learned to Scuba Dive and it was an amazing experience! Although one day we did 3 dives and I was getting rather fatigued i believe. We were on our last dive and it was 55feet deep in the Caribbean. I removed my mask and breathed water in through my nose (which, is a major NO-NO!) but, I did and it was scary! I felt like i was drowning. I couldn't get air. I don't know if you have ever experienced the feeling of trying to bring in air but instead you meet the sting of salt water. Plus, the feeling of no air. Suffocation. I was blown away by the fact of how much we need air... but also the fact of how much we need Jesus because even when air is limited or not there-- Jesus is. He is always there.


"Reach down your hand from on high;
deliver me and rescue me
from the mighty waters,
from the hands of foreigners" Psalm 144:7

All I remember about the whole experience that happened under water during that moment was "Oh, my gosh I am drowning." and then a while later I felt like i fell asleep and i do remember saying over and over again, "Jesus, help me! Help me Jesus!" and then I saw light. Which then I thought... man! I am dying! The relaxation came over me though to the point that i didn't care because of the bright light. All of a sudden i heard something that must have waken me up or felt something that awoke me. I soon realized that I was floating on top of the waves. my instructor was there patting me saying, "Keep your eyes open!" and a bunch of water and air came out of my stomach. I was floating there and saw the boat while I was thinking, man I want out of the water and onto that boat.

It was crazy because after i thought more and more about it i was amazed. I hadn't told anyone about the feeling like I was sleeping or the whole light that i saw. But, I can now say that I am not afraid to die. I came close, but Jesus saved me! :)
So even when air is not present for you to breath, Jesus was there. And he allowed me to be alright! :)

You guys, I am so thankful that He was there for me and that he had allowed me to have a good instructor because it would have been soooo easy for something to go wrong with my whole drowning incident. With the pressure bar/atmosphere of 55feet and the fact i breathed in water-- a few things could have happened.

I am just amazed that it felt like I fell asleep! Peaceful like... after I couldn't breath. I Kept saying over and over Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!

"Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[d] 20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Philippians 1:18-26

So, I pray that this finds you all well! :) and that Jesus BLESSES you all! :)
He has a plan for your lives so ask him about it and he will show you! :) I really thought about these verses and thought what if I hadn't known Jesus and had died? Would have I felt peace? Would i have seen light? Would I have lived?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11-12

So other than that God also taught me something through what the Jamaicans said! They would say,"No Problem, Mon!" or "No Worries, Mon!"
I always had issues with anxiety or worry and through this whole Jamaican Experience He showed me that i shouldn't worry. Why should a person worry when the next moment their life could be taken a way soo FAST! "Don't worry! Be Happy, Mon!"

Even after experiencing a drowning feeling... I went back out and went down under water again... sure I was scared... haha! Ask my Mom or Dad! :) But, I conquered that fear and just relaxed.

So these things are the top things!

1. Don't take life for-granted. It could be taken away so fast!
2. Make sure you are right with God, plus- when you are right with Him... he will teach ya things you never thought you would ever know!
3. No Problems, No Worries... Mon! Don't worry... Be Happy, Mon!
4. Don't let fear stop you from having an adventure!

Love ya all!

Devin Berglund!!<><

Literally and Figuratively... It's been way tooooooo LOOOOONG!


I am currently on spring break and am very much happy about that. I haven't left for my families destination yet though. We will be leaving on Wednesday (The 17th). We will be going to Jamaica, Negril!

I am amazed that the Red River has risen faster than it had last year at this time. I remember it was the next day that I got back from Spring Break last year- on which Mother Earth wanted to flood the Valley with her precious Ruby- The Red River. I got back to my place with my hair in cornrows and beads...wishing i was anywhere else but FARGO! lol... But, now it's been rising before Spring Break. I actually got a text from someone today, saying that someone needed to have help sandbagging already! It's crazy!!! So, I am hoping and PRAYING that it isn't nearly as bad as it was last year!

OTHERWISE:

My life has been full of writing and reading. As an English major, you are probably thinking, "Ah...Duh, Devin. You picked to be an English major- what do you think you were going to be doing for homework all the time? Going outside and daydreaming for assignments??" hahaha! lol...

I went shopping today and got some fun stuff for the sunshiney land. A pink sundress and a white cover up for my swimsuit. Just give me a sun hat and a pair of big sunglasses and i am ready! Oh, and some suntan lotion- Don't want to burn. A GLOW would be nice BUT PLEASE not a RADIANT RED Loook! lol...

I am going to be writing the whole way to Jamaica... So, It will be crazy! I really hope i don't have to sit by a weird person on the plane. I always hate when that happens! Because, sadly , I can say that I have had to sit next to some pretty interesting characters. lol...

So, it will be in 2 days! :) Yay! I will keep you all updated of course and will take many pictures as well!

If I could, I would pack you all along in my carry on suitcase- the flight attendant might catch on though!! Oh, well- they wouldn't need to know! lol...

Question...

What was the oddest person that you had to sit next to on an airplane?

Much Love,

Devin Berglund

Isn't life full of adventure... and trials and fun things?
I am in the process of writing a full manuscript, studying for 2 finals, and designing/laying out a literary magazine. It has been overly busy on this side of the journey!

I have also been filling out final stuff for my Study Abroad Journey. It's overwhelming with all the stuff due right now. All I know is I want more of Jesus and less of everything else... right now. And I guess that is how it should be for everything!

In 9 days I will be in Jamaica. It will be so nice to get away from melting Fargo! I hope and pray that it isn't flooding here when we get back although the school is already planning on canceling school- so that always sounds promising!

I have a countdown on facebook for England and Australia. I can't believe how close they both are.
I will be on a plane to England in 70 days! And in 129 days I will be on a journey to a country for a semester. It amazes me that it'll be just me and not my whole family! Although, I am really excited... I am still a bit nervous!

I need to figure out what classes I want to take. I am going to order my tickets this week and reserve my place to stay. :)

So, on top of everything and if your semester has been quite busy I really hope that you all stay a float! Jesus Bless Ya All!


Devin Berglund

Hello Everyone,
I hope Monday is treating you all beautifully! :)


" 20Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."
22Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment." Matthew 9:20-22

It amazes me that the Lord cares so much even to take away issues that are rubbing against us in our life.

Has your past ever jumped up, trying to pull you back- saying that you are the same as you were before you met Jesus? I know it happens to me before!

But, this is a nice reminder- "17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

Other than those thoughts... Life has been great! :) I have been filling out papers and sheets for my study abroad journeys... I am really excited! I need to reserve my apartment place there (http://www.varsityapartments.com.au/)and my courses! :) So, I have been busy with that fun stuff and then next week will be the beginning of Mid Terms and Papers! I am majorly awaiting March 17th though... I will be finally in the sunshine for about a week. I promise I will take a lot of pictures! :) Really excited!

I have decided that i need to start finishing my story that I am writing. There has been a small dull moment in getting at least 500-800 words out a day! ahh... lol...

Okay,well I am out... i have British Literature! :)

Love in Him,

Devin Berglund