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June 8, 2023

Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?

It was the first book that I read all the way through when I was a teenager and because of that experience, I realized that I could read. And that experience, ignited of love for reading despite having challenges with dyslexia.

The story taught me how to be brave on life’s journey and that life is filled with good and bad people. And it was OK to be frightened at times on life’s journey, but the important thing was to continue walking on the road.

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Sunday Talk with Alexandra Mars (June 4, 2023)

This week I will be discussing, how I need to create a routine for my kitchen, and dyslexia burnout too. Here’s my link below.

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Sunday-Talk-with-Alexandra-Mars–June-4–2023-e2590lt

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June 5, 2023

What fears have you overcome and how?

That’s a very good question. My answer is battling the fear of perfection because we live in a society where everything has to be perfect according to the culture. Here are some examples: the perfect home, the perfect relationship, the perfect family, the perfect pet, and the perfect career.

I believe the fear comes from realizing that you cannot meet that expectation of having the perfect life. Homes will be messy, relationships, require work, careers, have up and downs, and pets, grow old and start having health issues.

Once I realized that perfection is a lie created to sell products or pushing a narrative about issues. I started seeing my life in a different perspective and realized I don’t have to be perfect. I just need to do things to the best of my ability.

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May 7, 2023

List the people you admire and look to for advice…

The people that I go to for advice are my family and close friends whom I trust.

When we are in the middle of storms of life, it is always good to get other people’s perspectives before making a decision.

I also pray about my decisions and other matters too.

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Sunday Talk with Alexandra Mars (May 7, 2023)

I will be discussing my recovery from my surgery, and how iron deficiency anemia, is affecting my life. In the second segment, I will be discussing organizational skills. And how ADHD affects those skills, and the impacts on my life.

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Sunday-Talk-with-Alexandra-Mars-May-7–2023-e23jhsh

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Jan 18, 2023

I HAD A DREAM LAST NIGHT

Written by: Ginger Banks ©January 1, 2023

I HAD A DREAM LAST NIGHT

Written by: Ginger Banks ©January 1, 2023

 

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” Philemon 6 NIV

It’s no surprise God made us to be fulfilled by outward-focused Kingdom work rather than selfish ‘me’ focused activities.  Our Creator God, through His wisdom and understanding, sees our heart and that it is naturally self-centered and our motives self-serving.  We don’t need help with feeling good about accomplishing the types of activities that bring attention and praise to us, however, it’s much harder for us to do those things that gain us no recognition but give all the glory to God.  So, our Heavenly Father made us with a hole, one that is fulfilled by Him alone, a work of art, complete only when we focus on Him and our efforts outside of ourselves.

When was it? A year ago, three, maybe it was ten or even more than sixty years ago that God opened your heart and eyes to see His presence, and to accept the free Gift He offered to you in His son, Jesus Christ? Do you remember the freshness of new faith, the excitement to share with others what you yourself had discovered? When was it? Yesterday, a month ago, perhaps a few years ago, you last lived your faith on your shirtsleeve, on fire to win people to the Kingdom and to intentionally make those around you thirsty for the hope you have in Christ?

The darkness of the Sinner’s life is prevalent and frightful; do you remember what it was like, to live without light and without a glimmer of hope to call one’s own?  Step away from the brightness of your Hope, only for a moment, as I take you on the journey, to fan your faith into the blazing flame of hope God has called you to be in this lost and dying world.

I’m about to share with you one of the scariest, most vivid and horrifying dreams I have ever had, one which came to me in the early morning just before I awoke today. As you read, take heart, have courage, and seek the hope that is in Christ.

It started out like many others. Someone was after me and wanted to kill me, I didn’t know who but I was running until I reached a room with a balcony that overlooked what appeared to be a town square.  As I looked out and around trying to find a way down to hide from the one who was chasing me, I saw people of all ages, genders and nationalities wondering about looking lost and uninterested in what was going on around them.

Some wore business suits or uniforms of all professions, others wore jeans or shorts and a casual top, and still others a full-length robe of different styles and formalities, the variety of dress or lack thereof was astounding. There was the proud and powerful all the way down to the lowly and poor, represented by the blue collar and white collars alike, there were old and young, there were singles and couples, there were homeless, there were families.

Every type of class and genre of people imaginable was there; each individual as far as the eye could see was focused on themselves and their own lives.  Going but going nowhere, seemingly with no intentions of doing more than living for themselves and for the moment. Those who seemed to have direction and purpose followed a path that led to barren emptiness.

To one side and underneath the balcony, from where I could not see, I heard a single voice of one desperately shouting for those in the square to stop and hear what could bring purpose and life to their meaningless wanderings. Of those from the square who stopped to listen, some heard and accepted the Message; others mocked or just walked away only to take up the same path they’d left before. There were some who, though they accepted not the Message, wanted to take part in the life behind the speaker, so they left the square and joined the others.

Then a breath later the scene below changed, the people were no longer wandering aimlessly, and they no longer wore different clothing.  Each one wore a brightly colored T-shirt and a pair of non-descript pants.  Each T-shirt was a different color and the wearer was now a living corpse, screaming and wailing at the top of their lungs.  On each shirt was emblazoned the word for their sin: Liar, Depraved, Thief, Murder, Adulterer, Prideful, God-Hater, Perverse, Compassionless, Manipulator, Dishonest and Rebellious…the list seemed to go on for eternity.

No sin was greater, none was smaller, all sins were viewed the same, and there was every color and shade of each sin represented.  Bold for those that had been open (and perhaps haughty) with their sin, encouraging others to partake as well, and there were the lighter shades for those sins which had been hidden in the deepest regions of the heart and about which only they and God knew.  As I watched, unable to turn from the scene before me, God sent His own beings to force the living corpses into the distance, having judged and sentenced them to their destruction.

I looked up and far into the horizon I saw a chasm open up, fire and sulfurous smoke belched forth staining the sky and great clouds began to tower over those below.  All the living corpses were on their way to the chasm by one form or another.  Although the living corpses saw their own guilt and were shamed, they begged for mercy and cried out promises to change – but to myself and to those behind me who’d already accepted the Message.  “If you save me, I’ll change, I promise!”  We heard the cry over and again, but it was too late, they could no longer be saved from their fate.

Most of the living corpses’ faces bore the same acceptance of a fate which they knew they had earned and now deserved; however their wailing, screaming and cries of regret carried over the balcony on which I stood. I started crying and the desire to speak overcame me but when I opened my mouth nothing came out. I knew I was being kept from speaking for it was no longer within my power to warn them.

I saw some of the living corpses walking proudly towards the chasm, even after having been judged and found guilty – they dared to flout their sin.  Still other corpses, alive but lifeless, overcome by their own guilt, were pushed by or driven in cars, or dragged by God’s beings with chains and dumped into the chasm.  There were flying beings that carried living corpses, and beings that bore whips or any other means required to forcefully drive the living corpses into the chasm.  As I wondered why the Lord’s beings would use cars, it came to me that the cars represented the things of this world by which people are led astray.

Then, all at once those beings who’d been chasing me, caught up to me and tried to make me a living corpse as well, but these beings came from the enemy, the one called Satan, and they had no power over me.  Though these beings tried many times I cried out for help and the Message came quickly to my aid.  Nor could the enemy’s beings harm those people who had previously heard and accepted the Message, so the enemy’s beings rushed off in anger and frustration to find other peoples to turn.

As one, the people of the Message turned back to watch from the balcony as a woman came from somewhere beneath it, accompanied by the enemy’s beings and crying.  We heard her say, “You promised!  You said that if it was only once, it was just trying it, and that it wasn’t bad!  It was only going to be bad if I kept doing it!” and the beings laughed at her, capturing her arms and turning her into a living corpse.

As the now living corpse came before God He judged it accordingly; and the living corpse was clothed in a T-shirt emblazoned with the word “Fool”.  God then sent for two of His own beings that picked up the living corpse flew to the chasm and dropped it therein.

I reached out my arm but I could not span the town square nor stretch across and reach those in the chasm, and I heard the voice of God say, “It is too late for them, they can no longer choose, you cannot help them now.” At that moment I awakened trying to shout out the Message to anyone who would hear… for surely wasn’t too late!

A frightful dream, is it not?  More often than not it is difficult to be a shining light of the Message of Hope, people don’t want to hear it or they’re too busy.  We have, as a believer in Christ, a call by God to lead others to the hope that is in Christ.  We are no longer meant to live a life without purpose, or without sharing the Message.  Although this life may have challenges and the way of Hope sometimes dimmed, overall God’s Holy Spirit within us enables us to bring the light of Hope into the darkness of this world.

 

Lost people don’t know they’re lost.   The lost people with whom you come into contact don’t know or realize they’re going nowhere, without hope, and seeking that for which they know not they’re looking.  It states in Romans 10:13-18 “For, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!  But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?  Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.  But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

Lost people get and stay busy.  The busyness and the activities of life keep them from slowing down long enough to see the reality of their own lost-ness and hopelessness.  Slowing down would mean taking the risk of not being with other people who are just as lost, just as hopeless, and give them that comfortable feeling with their life.  To bring back an old saying, “I’m okay, you’re okay”.  We need to be diligent to set the example, and purpose not to be ‘caught up’ all the time with the busyness of participating in meaningless activities.  It is not by our participation in the lost person’s useless and meaningless life activities – never taking opportunity to share the Truth – which saves them from judgment and hell.  I think this is what Jesus meant when, in Luke 9:25, He said, “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?

Lost people generally don’t ask questions about life.  The questions lost people have are questions they can’t put into words, or don’t want to.  If they put the questions into words they might not want the answer because it would force them to see the hopelessness of the life they now live.  Sometimes we have to help them define their question. John 4:7-10 states “When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

Lost people are hope less. The life without hope looks very much like our own, filled with trials and troubles, except when these come to a lost person, they cannot see the Hope beyond the problem. We as born again Christians are aware; life on this earth along with its problems is temporal. We know real life begins when we get to heaven and will spend eternity with God. We can and are called to share this Message of Hope. John 16:22 and 33 states, “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy…I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The born-again Christian knows that a life worth living is one focused outwardly and with a purpose to serve at least one drop of the life-giving water that is found in Jesus Christ.  He is our Message of Hope, the Light in the darkness of a lost and dying world.  Take the next few hours to observe the world around you, do you see a positive outlook?  Is there a glimmer of Hope?  Who around you needs to hear the Message from you today?

In the coming days, ask yourself the following questions:  Am I living my life like, if others know I’m a Christian, they’ll make fun of you or put you down?  Is my thinking skewed so that my attitude is that as long as those around me don’t know I’m a Christian, I can sin or mess up and it’s okay because nobody around me knows I’m supposed to live a better witness for Christ?

Am I living my life as if I’m terrified someone will see me bow my head or hear me speak the name of my Lord?  Do I live my life as if there’s no hope, even through Christ, here on earth?  Does my attitude say that I can’t wait to be in heaven so I don’t have to deal with the continuous troubles here on earth – thus forgetting those who need my encouragement in this life here on earth?  Is God on the outskirts of my life so that He’s only a part of it on Sundays and Wednesdays?  Do I set my Bible down when I get home and not pick it up again until the next time I go to church?  Has everyone I come into contact with, aware that I am a follower of Christ, how would they know?

A positive outlook and a message of hope are becoming rare commodities, even among Christians. If a lost person cannot look upon the nearest Christian and see the Message of Hope, a Light within the darkness, upon whom should they look? God put us in a dying world so that the world might see the Message of Hope! The Christian must allow their life to reflect the Message of Hope and the new life one has in Christ! Ask God to help you rediscover the ״newness״ of your faith so that your ability to reflect and share that Message of Hope can also be re-born.

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Sunday Talk with Alexandra Mars (Jan 15, 2023)

I will be discussing changes to my Blog and talking about my health.

I will be discussing changes to my Blog and talking about my health.

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Sunday-Talk-with-Alexandra-Mars-Jan-15–2023-e1thadi

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Jan 15, 2023 – Ginger Banks

I want to welcome Ginger Banks to my blog. She will be helping me out while I am dealing with my health issues. Her first article will be released on Wednesday, Jan 18, 2023.

I want to welcome Ginger Banks to my blog. She will be helping me out while I am dealing with my health issues. Her first article will be released on Wednesday, Jan 18, 2023.

Here is her bio below:

Ginger Banks is a Christian-based inspirational and endeavoring writer cum author. Living in Iowa, U.S.A. she attained her CPHT through a local community college.

Her work has primarily focused on theme papers, short stories, essays, and poems of varying genres. She is working on two fictional Christian novels.

A staunch advocate for requiring all medical and dental professionals to accept all forms of health and dental insurance from patients. She writes letters and uses phone calls to urge our elected leaders to improve health care. Requiring insurance companies to cover all prevention-based services 100% so a patient doesn’t have to be sick to receive the coverage that they need.

Her greatest accomplishments in Christ were two short-term mission trips. Leading others to salvation through Jesus Christ.

Ginger’s highest hopes for her life and writing have been to draw others to the same saving knowledge in Christ. To inspire and encourage fellow believers to draw closer to God daily.

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Jan 13, 2023

Two stories are available to listen to, and the links are below.​

Two stories are available to listen to, and the links are below.

Spooky stories series

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/8fGxlXK7ywb

A short story “The Decision”

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/cieThrO8ywb

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Jan 11, 2023 – New Changes

Exciting new changes are coming to my blog​!

Exciting new changes are coming to my blog!

Monday’s article themes will be disability awareness, advocating, health care, and other issues that fall within this category.

Wednesday’s articles will be about faith and inspirational stories.

Friday’s article themes will be focus on fun, book reviews, short stories, and other interesting topics.

This year I have added a new feature Podcast Shorts to my podcast platform. I’m planning on doing longer podcast episodes once my iron levels stabilize.

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Jan 10, 2023 (podcast short)

Here’s my latest podcast short below. It is a short story this week.

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/A-short-story-The-Decision-e1tast1

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Jan 10, 2023

I wrote something new in my writing called Microfiction, meaning a 100 – 300 words short story. Here’s my 99-word story.

I wrote something new in my writing called Microfiction, meaning a 100 – 300 words short story. Here’s my 99-word story.

If you prefer to listen here’s the link below:

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/A-short-story-The-Decision-e1tast1

“The Decision” by Alexandra Mars © 2023.

The black SUV sat there again. At random times throughout the day, the same vehicle always returned. The third time this week, parked across the street from my home, avoiding my security cameras. Why? Should I call the police and become the crazy neighborhood “Karen”?

Sweat dripped from my brow. I didn’t want attention on myself. I couldn’t risk blowing my cover as my fingers squeezed the grip of my pistol. Paranoia. Is a terrible omen. Remembering, underneath my bed, my go-bag and money were ready. Flight or fight flooded my mind.

Taking a deep breath, I would fight.

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Jan 8, 2023

There won’t be a Sunday Talk with Alexandra Mars podcast this week. I’m not feeling well, and it is difficult for me to concentrate. I’m in the process of working on another podcast short for this week. I hope to have it available in a couple of days.

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Jan 5, 2023

My goals for today.

Yesterday, I did some editing, and I worked on one of my writing projects. Today, I want to edit and rewrite my manuscript. My goal is to edit 500 – 1000 words.

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Jan 4, 2023 (Podcast Shorts)

In this Podcast Shorts, I will discuss my New Year’s Resolutions. My podcast is under two minutes, I’m calling it Podcast Shorts. Here’s the link below:

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Jan-2–2023-New-Years-Resolutions-e1t333c

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Jan 2, 2023 (New Year’s Resolutions)

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year. It is that time of year for resolutions. I have been asking myself what I want to accomplish in 2023.

Here’s my link if you prefer to listen.

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Jan-2–2023-New-Years-Resolutions-e1t333c

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year. It is that time of year for resolutions. I have been asking myself what I want to accomplish in 2023. What is important to me? Creating routines, writing, exercising, and creating more content for my social media are on top of my list.

MY SEVEN 2023’s GOALS:

Creating Routines – to help me stay focused on what is a priority and allow me to achieve my other goals by getting my household chores done. Organizing my home to create an inviting and relaxing environment for me and my family.

To schedule time for my writing during the day – 2022 has taught me, that I need to set time aside, during the day for my writing projects and articles. This was an eye-opening revelation for me. If I want to write, I need to make time for my writing.

Exercising – 2022 has also taught me, if I want to keep my mobility and maintain a healthy weight, I must exercise. Whether I like it or not, I must exercise. To be honest, I’m unsure how this will be incorporated into my routines. I’m determined to discover the way.

Keeping my relationship with the Lord healthy – I need to nourish my spiritual life. I must put the Lord first and spend time with Him by reading His Word and praying.

Creating music – composing music is my happy place where my mind can unwind and relax. I need to spend more time working on my compositions.

Reading – I fell short of my goal for 2022. To be honest, I know I can do better.

To create more content for my social media platforms – not sure how I’m going to accomplish this goal. Working on a plan, I’m determined to come up with an idea.

What are your goals for 2023? Please let me know, in the comment section.

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Sunday Talk with Alexandra Mars (Oct 23, 2022)

Here’s my link below:

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Sunday-Talk-with-Alexandra-Mars-Oct-23–2022-e1plo6l

Please note that both of my segments come in two parts. I will be discussing why dyslexic students need to learn how to read. In my second segment, I will be sharing my story of how I learned to read.

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August 15, 2022

I had different things and events to disrupt my daily routine. I have been having a difficult time getting back into my routine, but that is changing because I am starting today. I will be working on editing my chapters and putting back my routine.

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July 13, 2022

Hello, I wanted to give a quick update about what is happening. Right now, I am being treated for H. Pylori, which is a stomach infection. H. Pylori is bacteria left untreated can cause stomach cancer and other issues like anemia for some people.

How is this treated? I’m on two antibiotics and a stomach medicine to reduce my stomach acid. It is tricky to take these additional meds with my regular medication. So, I am spacing out all of my meds, allowing my stomach to absorb my medicine. Drinking a lot of pro antibiotics drinks is helping me with the side effects.

I’m feeling better and seeing improvements in my stomach. I noticed that my appetite has returned. Another thing my concentration is back. My ability to focus has improved, now I am working longer on my writing and editing.

Unfortunately, the side effects are not fun. A lot of food has a weird taste or is just plain yucky. That sticks. Hey! Ice cream tastes great! Being on antibiotics can bring out the ADD and that’s tricky. I am dealing with insomnia, being tired, and taking forever to go to sleep. It will be worth it in the end, I will get my life back.

If you have questions, just ask me in the comments section.

Thank you for reading and have a great day!

Sincerely, Alexandra Mars

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Introduction

This is the post excerpt.

My name is Alexandra Mars. If you guessed it, I am an inspiring author pursuing my goal to become published. My friends, call me, Alex, and welcome to my blog. I write fantasy and science fiction because I find that genre fascinating to me, for there are so many paths a writer can take in his/her world.

I have been creating stories my whole life when I was a child, my Barbie dolls and My Little Ponies all had their own personalities. In middle school I discovered my creative writing skills, and I have remained on this path ever since. The journey to arrive at this point hasn’t been easy for me, and at times been very arduous. Now, I see excellent things in my future, and I hope you and I can take the next stage of this wonderful journey together.

You’re probably wondering what’s the next stage, I’ll tell you, my friend. In 2017 I will release my debut saga here on my site. I am excited!

In the meantime, I will be discussing many topics on writing and my life in my blog.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you continue to follow my blog.

May 30, 2023

Do you remember life before the internet?

Yes, I do. Would I go back? No.

There are so many things that I have because of the internet. That didn’t exist.

Audiobooks, dictation, video calls, and easy access to information these inventions were brought by the internet.

My Internet went out for a few days, and it felt like I went back in time 20 years ago. I was so happy when my internet was restored.

28 May 2023

Where I have been?

I been dealing with flare-ups, it is time for me to change my medications.

My chores are increasing since the warmer weather has arrived. I’m still recovering from surgery, and my body reminds me I’m still healing.

I’m also working on several writing projects that have been taking up my time, and I have been working on my music again. It is nice to sit in my chair for a longer period of time.

Not Flawed (May 8, 2023)

The one piece of advice that I would give my 20-year-old self is to learn to love your space despite your circumstances. As I mentioned in my recent podcast on May 7 of 2023 that I didn’t love my space.

It didn’t help ADHD/ADD was affecting my organizational skills. People made judgments saying I was lazy, and I didn’t care. Dealing with RA (rheumatoid arthritis) flared up that almost crippled me. So, I had a lot of resentment towards my space because I thought there was a major flaw with me.

The never-ending cycle of purging items, which I thought was cleaning. Then in a few weeks, the cluttered would return, adding to my resentment.

I didn’t understand was how the RA was impacting my life during a flare-up. Just doing the necessary chores, that was it. What I needed in those times was help and compassion.

Instead, I blamed myself for circumstances that were out of my control. Resentment continued to build towards my space as hopelessness settled in.

I wasn’t flawed.

I had the wrong ideas about clutter and organization.

Then one day, I realized that people who had organized homes and kept them maintained; actually, loved the space that they lived in and wanted the best for them and their families.

By loving my space that I admitted I deserved a clean, welcoming environment, and a peaceful sanctuary from the rest of the world. And that I needed to create a system that functioned for my lifestyle.