July vol.1 | being faithful, midpoints, lions and writerly thoughts
Is it important to be faithful?
Hello sweet friend!
Happy early 4th of July! 🎉
I feel like this summer is flying by in a blur. The heat is rising over here but even with the heat the shade from the evergreens is delightful. It’s also the month of lemons, lol! Every July I start making all the lemon cookies, cakes and creations (probably because July is my birthday month and there always has to be something lemon on my birthday XD). 🍋 What is something lemony you love to bake or eat?
On the writing side of things, I am officially half way through my novel—The Noble Oath!!! I’m so excited to hit the midpoint. Last week I was able to write the halfway point and write a chapter I’ve been looking forward to writing since outlining this story. It’s a moment when a very important character makes an appearance and though it is a moment that can be seen as a tragedy I know that where it leads will be so good!
I think this can be an interesting thing to do in your stories, to create moments that balance joy and sadness together. To make a moment that is tragic have beauty and light in it and to have a moment of joy have a point of sorrow in it. A friend of mine was talking about this in a podcast episode and said it much better than I did so I'll link that here. This has been something I’ve been feeling and thinking about a lot lately, these dual emotions and feelings happening together. Anyways, I thought I’d share this writing thought with you!
For fun, here is a single line from the middle of my novel:
“There, standing still just a few feet away from her, is a golden lion.”
—Moriyah Cordova, The Noble Oath
Question: what are you reading?
Currently I’m reading a few different books but the two I’m most invested in right now are The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader (I’m reading this with some friends) and Perelandra by C.S. Lewis (I love how he describes otherworldly things and creatures)!
Recent Favorite Things
Waking up at 7:30 and starting my day reading God’s word, opening the windows in my room and then giving myself an hour of uninterrupted writing time
10,000 steps a day! This is still a big goal of mine and I am able to hit it weekdays and sometimes on the weekends (i am trying to let myself rest more on the weekends)
My little sister learning to pull herself up on things (the stage before learning to walk)
Reading while my youngest siblings nap <3
Getting to beta read a story I’m so excited about
Family visiting from out of state
Having iced chai coffees
Scripture Spotlight
If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
—Luke 16:10
This is one of my favorite passages. Recently I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I think I’ve been thinking about it more as I’m working on different projects and there is in the back of my mind the nagging fear that I’ll fail. This verse has been so encouraging to me.
I feel like I’m supposed to try and start this project (the super secret project I’ve been teasing about). But I don’t know what will happen. It’s hard for me to do something where I don’t know where it will end or I know there is a high probability of failure. I tend to avoid things like that at all cost especially if it’s something new and out of my comfort zone. Yet, I think this is going to be a good thing. I pray it will help and encourage people. That is my hope.
So this verse has been a really helpful reminder to trust God and be faithful. So what if I fail? So what if this doesn’t work? I’m going to act like this is what I’m supposed to do and do this to honor God even if I fail because at least I tried and trusted Him even if it doesn’t work. At least I can be faithful in what I feel is the right thing to do. At least I can stick to it and be faithful.
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…
—Zachariah 4:10
So I encourage you to be faithful even now. Be faithful even in the small. Be faithful to what God has called you even if you think you may fail. Be faithful with what you have and with what you have been given. Be faithful.
If you are faithful now with the small you have given then I truly believe that God will bless you with more and with greater things. Maybe what you are doing now will set you up for greater things or for what God has planned for you. Maybe this is just a stepping stone of faith. Even just for that—trusting in God and taking a leap of faith where you can’t see—is worth it.
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
—Matthew 7:7-11
Trust in God and be faithful!
Blog Posts
Revealing Shira’s Story
One of my besties is getting her story published in an anthology! In this post I share what her story is about!
My Summer Bucket List 2024
All the things I want to do this summer
Novelists In November cover reveal
Today I’m sharing the autumn-tastic cover for the Novelists In November anthology!!!
I Want To Help You | getting back to the basics
101 Writing Basics series part 1
I hope you are all having a wonderful day! I’ll see you again soon!
Love,
Moriyah