Community of Encouragers by Carol Harrison

 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

We all need encouragement in our daily lives. I have been and am blessed with a community of encouragers. One of my greatest encouragers was my husband, Brian. He believed I could do more than I thought I could possibly accomplish. He continually encouraged me to go and write even when I didn’t feel like it. I miss his encouragement every day more that I can express.

Yet, I am not without others who have and do encourage me even as I walk with grief which seems to put a block on my writing. A number of my grandchildren have encouraged me to branch out and try other genres or have helped design book covers or format for KDP. All of these things are encouragement. I can also encourage the grandchildren in using their talents with book cover design and formatting which I enjoy doing.

For the last two years, I have faced a block with writing and crafting. I don’t know why this has to be a season of waiting for inspiration or the desire to continue on a writing journey. Yet in the midst of this time, I have others who encourage me to try like my oldest daughter, Lorilee. We often discuss writing or my lack thereof lately. She encourages me to take a step forward and then another one. What can I do to discover what is holding me back? Then work through it and try writing something or editing something I’ve written long ago.

Maybe, she suggests, it is because I haven’t begun a project my husband had challenged me to write before he passed away. It will be a difficult project to write about journeying with him through his cancer. But it might also be a healing journey. I have started an outline and a rough first chapter and then put it back away. Maybe she is right and it is time to face it once again.

I also have friends who pray for me and encourage me. These dear friends keep telling me I have the ability to write. I just need to take the time to rest and then step forward one step at a time with the writing and crafting until the excitement returns. They get excited when I write something new or publish a piece. The encouragement makes me feel like someone cares how I am doing.

I have also been encouraged by reading the Inscribe blog posts and the authors' writings. The conference encouraged me as well. There are so many avenues of encouragement opportunities within our organization and that is how it should be.

The saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” flits through my mind, and yet in this case for this prompt, I believe it takes a community of encouragers to help us as writers and believers continue on in the path God has set for us.

May you find a community of encouragers surrounding you.

 

Carol Harrison appreciates each person who has encouraged her on her life and writing journey. They are blessings from God.

Don't 'Dis' Encouragement by Sharon Heagy

Sunset at Pike Lake Saskatchewan

 "Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam,

Where the deer and the antelope play,

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,

And the skies are not cloudy all day."

(B. Higley - lyrics. D. Kelley - Music. Public domain)

Looking at the lyrics of the song above, I wondered, 'Does such a place exist this side of heaven?' I was tempted to point out all the things that may be wrong with the picture of serenity these lyrics create but then I considered the frame of mind of the composer. What a sacred space and a peace filled span of time he must have been experiencing. He had just moved to a cabin near West Beaver Creek and was inspired by his surroundings. My words would have been anything but encouraging.

When I was young I played a few sports including hockey and briefly baseball. My coach was the same for both hockey and baseball and she was quite committed as her daughter played on both teams. Being an average player myself,  any encouragement would give me a confidence boost and keep me going. She was a wonderful hockey coach and spoke words that increased the morale of the whole team, winning or losing. But when it came to baseball the story changed. Any mistake was pointed out and players were berated rather than corrected. Such a different environment than on the ice. We were all trying our best and many of us were just learning how to play.  It got to the point where those who had just joined ended up leaving the team after just a few practices and a couple of games. Please don't misunderstand me, she was a terrific lady who was dedicated to her family and their activities, but her encouraging and discouraging words had differing effects on the teams she coached.

Feedback on my writing has included both positive and negative comments. Negative comments are not necessarily discouraging. Pointed critique and criticism is valuable and improves my writing as long as it is presented in a constructive way with a little splash of grace and kindness. While it may give a little sting to my ego or a pinprick to my pride it is always profitable. It is encouraging! 

When writers of experience give you validation it helps you to continue. At an InScribe event in Saskatoon years ago, I was overwhelmed by the creativity and production of those in attendance and I wondered why on earth I was even there. By the end of the weekend I had learned a great deal and had some uplifting words to tuck in with my scribbled attempts which were asked to read out loud. Lingering a bit as people left I approached a table where a couple of the organizers sat, resting after their long couple of days. My plan was to thank them as I knew what it took to put together an event of that size and to keep it running smoothly. As I thanked them unbidden and surprising tears came to my eyes. They had given so much in time, knowledge and inspiration. They turned my heart from "I don't belong here' to 'Maybe I can write.' As I tried to regain my composure one of the women turned to the other and said, "This is why we do this." Those, like me, beginners floundering around looking for direction were worth their efforts. My heart filled to overflowing with gratitude. 

At a Saskatchewan Writer's Group experimental workshop event that ran once a month for a number of months and ended with a public reading with a payment. As I received my cheque I told the co-ordinator I felt like a real writer. She boldly looked me straight in the eye and said, "You ARE a writer." What a lift and confirmation that gave me.

Though many people have helped me dare to go beyond my comfort zone in InScribe, there is one lady whose continued faith in me has helped me to have faith in myself and I am sure she has done the same with others. 

I read and am grateful for every comment in response to my posts on the InScribe blog. Knowing how much those comments buoy me, I try to leave encouraging comments on the blogs of others and try to be mindful of specific parts that speak to me as Brenda Leyland has encouraged us to do. 

Having been encouraged in multiple and varied ways, there is a need and a duty to pass on uplifting and inspiring word to others. Just as our writing gift comes from God, steadfast encouragement, no matter the source, has the heart of God behind it. Like anything else God gives us, we are not to hoard it to ourselves but we are to share it with others. As I have been encouraged, so I should be encouraging. 

May you know that the words you write make a difference and touch hearts for God. 

"A man has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and how good and delightful is a word spoken at the right moment-how good it is!" Proverbs 15:23 AMP

"Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken at the right time." Proverbs 25:11 AMP

Sharon Heagy writes from the small but vibrant town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan, nestled in the valley near the Burning Hills. She writes to inspire and give hope with a chuckle or two along the way.

Twenty-Six Before Twenty-Six by Steph Beth Nickel

 

It may seem a little early to post about the upcoming year, but I recently came across Karin Nordin PhD on Instagram.

Each year, on November 1, she creates a list of things she wants to accomplish before January 1 of the following year. Note: To silence the perfectionist, this content creator says the purpose of the list is not to accomplish everything on it, and if we complete even one task, she encourages us to consider it a win.

While we are 12 days into November, there is still time to create our "Twenty-Six Before Twenty-Six" list.

I have included my list below. Hopefully, it will encourage and inspire you to make your own. Note: The following list is in no particular order.

1. Create a barebones outline of the rest of the YA novel I'm working on.
2. Write at least 25K additional words of this novel. (I'm participating in NovNov, ProWritingAid's answer to the now-defunct National Novel Writing Month [NaNoWriMo]).
3. As much as possible, clear my calendar of other responsibilities so I can write at least 1K words six days per week in November.
4. Complete the current draft of my novel before the end of the year.
5. If I get the draft completed, recruit at least three beta readers to give me feedback two months after receiving the manuscript.
6. Declutter our main floor. (My hubby will be laying new flooring throughout. So, this is the perfect opportunity to do so.)
7. Seek to sell at least some of the things we don't intend to take with us when we relocate in Saskatchewan.
8. Schedule Substack posts through the end of the year.
9. Schedule social media posts through the end of the year.
10. Prepare at least one manuscript for self-publishing.
11. Complete the revisions of my devotionals based on the gospel of John.
12. Write at least three guest posts for blogs I contribute to.
13. Work on plans for next year's InScribe writing contest.
14. Take my friend out driving at least 4-6 times. (She needs her license to get a job.)
15. Visit with another friend who is housebound.
16. Make significant headway on the book I'm coauthoring. (We are working on suggested revisions from the potential publisher.)
17. Do resistance training or Pilates 3+ times per week.
18. Go for a walk or hike at least twice per week.
19. Eat more fruit and vegetable.
20. Drink more water.
21. Cut back to one sugary drink per day.
22. Send Christmas gifts to kiddos, who live either out of the province or out of the country.
23. Prep and send Christmas cards by December 1.
24. Write a Christmas poem for my church family.
25. Get together with my "church son" and his family, as we do each year in late November or early December.
26. Connect with my sister at least once a week.

And since I wouldn't classify myself as a perfectionist, I will be thrilled if I get those 25K words written in November.

How about you? Are you going to create your own list? If so, what would be your top three priorities?

Steph Beth Nickel is the former Editor of FellowScript and the current InScribe Contest Coordinator. Steph is an editor and author and plans to relocate to Saskatchewan from Ontario to be close to family in 2026. (Headshot Photo Credit: Jaime Mellor Photography)

Photo credit for the graphic: Download New Year's Day, 2026, Greeting Card. Royalty-Free Stock Illustration Image - Pixabay

Finding Encouragement, Being Motivated, and Being Stimulated by Sandra Rafuse

 

Finding Encouragement 

"Therefore encourage each other and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." Thessalonians 5:11

I love this scripture verse. I am so encouraged when I read the kind and uplifting words that people write in the comments. . . they build me up! They reinforce my desire to write, they make me feel "I can do this". I find encouragement in all the blogs I read. The sharing of so many topics, so many feelings, so many experiences is amazing to me. And the humour that comes up. . . what would we do without it?

Being Motivated 

In his July post Alan Anderson wrote, "I think of my parents everyday." Those words had such a startling, powerful impact on me. I immediately sensed the love Alan had for his parents as I read that sentence and I thought to myself, when was the last time I thought of my Dad?  I mean really thought of him; dwelling on a memory or two, recalling what he looked like, hearing his voice in my head. It wasn't that I didn't love my Dad, it was that he had passed away in March of 1963. . .  almost 62 years ago. . .  and thinking of him has pretty much stopped happening. I don't know why but our family did not talk about him much in the years that followed and the memories we once had faded away. Several years ago I asked my three brothers what they remembered about him; it wasn't a lot. 

But Alan's words have motivated me not only to open up this topic with my brothers again but to also  contact the few relatives I have left who would have known him to ask them what they remember.  I'm not expecting much. Any thoughts would be good. And then I want to remind myself to think of him more often, and to start looking forward to seeing him (and Mom) someday in heaven. I want to bring him back into my thoughts; he's been out of them far too long.  (His name was Michael. My mom, Elaine, was buried beside him in July of 2007.)

Being Stimulated

When I finished reading Sandi Somers's blog for this month, "Stronger Together: A Community of Writers", I knew I was going to be reading it over several more times. Her post on the importance of community was a real eye opener for me. One part I found particularly liked was the blog post written by Jordan Raynor, "Without constant communion with other believers to refresh their eternal perspectives, Tolkien may have never completed the Lord of the Rings and Lewis may have never finished The Chronicles of Narnia. Like these creators before us, we need regular communion with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to renew our minds and refresh the lenses through which we view the world as we work." It was inspiring to read how Sandi started to be involved with community and where it led her.  

 

Sandra Rafuse lives in the small town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan, with her husband, Bob, a Gordon Setter named Sadie, and a Peregrine falcon named Peet. She is a retired teacher, an amateur writer, and  is enjoying having the opportunity to share what God has been teaching her through her life experiences.