Best Quotes – #1

Image taken from PocketRubbish.com

This is the third and final installment for my 3 quote challenge. Feel free to check out #3 and #2 if you missed them.

Today’s nominee: Zanthee

Today’s quote:

“Whatever we focus on tends to expand.”

– Author unknown.

Despite my inability to source whoever said this first, this quote has proven true for me time and time again. During bouts of self-pity, when my mind is occupied with all the wrongs done to me, things I’m lacking, or the difficulties of my present circumstances, life seems to get worse. And fast.

Yet, when I spend time thanking God for all the blessings I have in my life, I find I am repeatedly showered with more. To a remarkable extent.

Too many people in this world pride themselves on playing devil’s advocate and searching for reasons to doubt, or arguments that state something cannot be done. I can’t even count the number of times throughout my life I’ve accomplished something that at one point in time seemed damn-near impossible. And whenever I do, I find the skeptics have already dropped their previous assertions, and are eagerly packing new worries to hurl. For me, true faith is realized once it is  properly distinguished from common misinterpretations. Amazing accomplishments don’t occur merely because you believe that they will. Amazing accomplishments occur because you focus on what you must do to allow them to occur.

Thanks again to Jacqueline for nominating me for this award.

• Thomas M. Watt
• Author of Master

Savior

When you’re having trouble and all is blue,

When clear blue skies are filled with gloom,

When all your hope has turned to doubt,

When all your paths are all worn out,

That’s when you turn to God and say,

I need you to erase all of this grey.

I need your Spirit to succeed,

I need your son to come save me.

Then serve Him and you will see,

The King of Kings saves those in need.

So much so that you will know,

God exalts those He chose.

– Thomas M. Watt

Bizarre Setting for “Way of the World”

The entire Way of the World series takes place in two distinct settings – The Island of Paradise and a town called Gnashing.

The Island of Paradise is a metaphor for the garden of Eden, and in later books becomes the kingdom of heaven.

Gnashing is a metaphor for the world – and in the town of Gnashing there is a wilderness that features rattlesnakes, wolves, and bears. There are green ferns from the east coast, and giant redwood trees from the west coast. To one side of the wilderness is a beach, to the other a desert. The extravagant homes in Gnashing are based on early 20th century Edwardian models. Here is a sketch of the Dunlap’s residence:

Across from the luxurious houses are farms, where the lowly class of Loyalists work (they were slaves not long ago).

The setting of Gnashing is meant to be timeless and multicultural. The “Way of the World” series has a Spiritual message at its heart, a theme which each and every generation of man has questioned since the beginning of his existence.

What do you think of this setting? Is it too ridiculous and unbelievable to have a rich wilderness within close proximity of a desert? Should the bizarre setting of Gnashing and non-existent time period be established within the first few pages through direct narration, or should that be left up to the readers to figure out as they go along?

Looking forward to hearing your opinions.

– Thomas M. Watt

Author of “A New Kingdom”

Running Blind

For months and months been on the run,

Had myself a bit of fun.

Tore down all my truths of old,

Replaced them with some sins so bold.

In the flesh I did reside,

The more you sin the more you die.

It eases e-motional pain,

Sin enough you’ll feel no shame.

But go on you’ll find some trouble,

And when then comes your pride will double.

So sure I was of Christ’s untruth,

I laughed at Christians on youtube.

Dumb it seemed that some believed,

One man could replace our primal needs.

Sacrifice, deny yourself, worry not, you won’t see Hell.

Hahaha, haha, hehe, the things he speaks of I won’t take heed.

For I was sure that I knew better, that heavenly things were not too clever.

Dumb it was to live this life thinking one day you’ll see the light.

What light, what proof, what evidence? Where is this God that some still seek?

Nowhere, nowhere, He goes unseen, but this God of light lets blind men see.

For you see I came to truth – that evil exists, and me it used.

Day by day I could not rest, could not stop sin, did not repent.

But when I prayed my heart did open, God returned, covenant He honored.

Showed me to the days of old, when we were close and I wasn’t so cold.

Amazing how when there’s no evil, you find your own evil has doubled.

But after mocking God is through, and your world has fallen through,

And you’re sure you have no chance, that you have tripped on your last dance,

And of good feelings there’s none left, no way this life holds hope; you’re doomed.

That’s when I think it’s time to pray, and if you listen, you’ll know why I say –

That God who lives up high above, that God who you so boldly told –

That with all your heart you don’t believe, who you once deemed a mental disease,

That same God you went against, He will still be there when you’re on the fence,

And it won’t be long before you see, that God so loves you, He’s all you need.

– Thomas M. Watt

God or Aliens?

If aliens visited earth, how would it affect your faith? Would it shatter your religious views, or not change a thing?

What if aliens invaded planet earth, conquered and enslaved the human population, and informed us that God was a myth invented to keep humanity in line?

I want to hear some thoughts on this subject. Go ahead, leave something in the comment section. This question consumed me for a year so much that I finally wrote a book about it.

I’m looking forward to reading your responses… Unless your name is Keith. You know who you are, Keith.

– Thomas M. Watt

God

When the music plays and no one sings,

When sights of beauty come to thee,

When I hear the voice of sounds the songs of singing going ’round.

When my heart beats just too fast and when my head hurts from last task.

When the notes all string together when the grey clouds fill the weather –

How sad it makes me feel it does to know a God that no one trust.

To feel him there and looking down to know his presence his peaceful sound.

How much it hurts my heart it quakes to feel his spirit feed me with grace and yet go trampled by the liars,

Tired of hearing falsifiers.

Tired of listening to bloated speak, tired of trying different things.

I know what’s truth I know what’s not I know my God I know what’s taught.

I know the way the voice the King I know the pain that true faith brings.

I know the art the beauty brushed I know the want of knowing such.

It gets so old so old for me that day by day the world rolls deep.

“Listen here I’ve got it down – A way to make God’s will abound.

A way to make yourself feel good a way to do what gods all should.

I’ve found the answer, it says right here – To mans opinions all should fear.’

Oh pipe down for once you trend, just shut up please you’re not my friend.

I’m tired of seeing with my eyes and hearing songs and knowing cries.

I’m tired of all of what’s been said I’m tired of courting bull-shit with dread.

The thing is one and easy and true,

The truth is this – that God loves you.

All his laws his rules and such, follow them you’ll feel a rush.

For they’re designed to grow his kingdom, to help the lowly and never leave him.

What a big mistake it is, the day that man takes God as myth. 

– Thomas M. Watt

The Crowds

Weary achy tired mood.

Lips of others sound no good.

All this speaking of bull-shit, too much saying your thoughts I quit.

What ever happened to that one kid who said what he said and did what he did?

Where are the people who used to laugh loud because something was funny and they just messed around.

What’s wrong McWatty? Why don’t you laugh? Don’t you know cheese goes to mightiest rats?

I’ll tell you right now because I don’t jive with that. I care little for respecting big bears with big hats. I care nothing for circles who speak this and that. I like to talk about real thoughts and speak. I like to listen and help fill some needs. I like to build to grow and to share. For some tearing down I do not ever dare. 

Hello big crowd I see you’re all laughing. Sorry to say I find mighty rats nasty. As far as the bear with big hats and the claws, as far as the way social groups talk – Not down with it. Not up with it either. I’ve been on the bottom and I’ve met something deeper. You know who He is so I don’t have to say it, but one more last thing I save my laugh for later.  

– Thomas M. Watt

Oh where do we begin? The rubble or our sins? – Bastille, “Pompeii”

And there I was just sitting there,

Watching fire fall from air.

Vesuvius boomed and did explode,

I sat down and prayed in pose.

Oh my Lord what have I done,

This is the end and no more fun.

God what happened why’d we leave you,

Now my city burns to ruin.

I hope to God they see some day,

I died right here, right where I pray.

– Thomas M. Watt

Conversation with an Angel

Jack pulled his hair out. He had lost everything – his house, his car, his job. Boom boom boom. Despite his enormous pain from misfortune, he lowered to his knees everyday and prayed to God almighty that He would help him out of his mess. His prayers weren’t quite Our Fathers, but strings of passionate thought which roped along slews of angry, bitter curse words.

During this time Jack grew closer to God, and could see clearly that God was involved in his life – just not giving him the things he so desired.

One day, as he was praying alone in his room, he heard a chuckle. He turned, and spotted a golden-haired angel.

Falling back at once, Jack gasped loudly and stared blankly at the sweet innocent child. “You’re… you’re… an angel!”

“Oh,” said the angel, “You can see me? I have to go!”

The angel fluttered her wings and started away, but before she could escape Jack caught her by the leg. “No! You’re not going anywhere! You’ve got some explaining to do young lady!”

The angel laughed. “You’re crazy mister. This is gonna piss God off, you know.”

“I don’t care!” Screamed Jack. “I want answers… I need ’em!”

The angel sighed. “Okay, okay. What’s your problem?”

“I lost my job, my house, my car… what’s God doing over there?”

“Well first of all, you lost your job, not God. Second of all, he’s barbecuing hot dogs and hamburgers for the great feast.”

“Don’t mess with me! I demand to know why God’s been ignoring me.”

“Ignoring you! Are you stupid? I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Yeah,” began Jack, “But you aren’t doing anything.”

The angel laughed and shook her head. “So what do you want? Your job? Money? Your house?”

“Yeah!”

“Why?”

“So I can live comfortably.”

The angel smiled and shook her head. “Did you ever stop to think that maybe the road to heaven comes by prayer and devotion, and not by money?”

“So?”

“Blessed are the poor in Spirit. Do you know what that means, Jackie boy?”

“Sure.”

“What?”

“It means we’re poor here so we’re rich up there.”

The angel shook her head. “No. It means that the less you have, the more you must rely on God. The more you rely on God, the richer you become in Spirit. The richer you are in Spirit, the better things are looking for you and the big man.”

“What?”

“Judgment day.” The angel smiled, and flew away.

Jack shrugged, got on his knees, and returned to praying. Only this time, when he thanked God, he finally understood why.

– Thomas M. Watt

Angry Soul

Angry bitter misfit meat,

Raging loner somber geek.

Crying loser feeling shame,

No-good doer knows his pain.

Out of type of both the classes,

Not a friend who asks what happened.

Lift your chin up little one, don’t turn your eyes down from their shun.

I know it hurts to be like you, I know it sucks to feel bad too.

Maybe there’s no one who’s true, maybe really the problem’s you.

Listen child ears on me, I promise you I won’t deceive.

When all hope’s lost and life is Hell, when all your thoughts just sound like yells,

Slow down child, slow a step, don’t try so hard to circumvent.

Take a breath and be at ease, give to God your problems please.

Confess to God your faith does break, and to speak with him makes your heart quake.

Don’t have to tuck your shirt to pants, don’t need to act like your advanced.

These days His name is divided, between believers and good liars.

The reason I push these words on you, is because God’s son was hated too.

– Thomas M. Watt

(Photo courtesy of Dan Watt, freelance astronomer. Visit his website @ http://www.pocketrubbish.com/ap/ for more amazing photos)