Finding a 'Write' Balance - Susan Barclay

I met author Bonnie Grove at a conference a few years ago, shortly after the publication of her amazing book, Talking to the Dead. I was impressed when she mentioned that she wrote while raising her children. I know there are authors who do it, of course, but one of the challenges I face as a writer is balancing writing with all of the other responsibilities I have as a wife, mother, daughter, part-time employee, and volunteer. I asked Bonnie how she managed to do it.

‘You’ve got to treat your writing as your job,’ she told me. ‘Make sure your family knows it’s your job, and that you need their help in order to do it. Get them to do some of the things you’re currently doing so you don’t have to carry the chore load alone.’

I have to admit that this has been easier said than done for me. Maybe I don’t have sufficient backbone; maybe I find it less stressful to do the jobs myself than to have to cajole others into getting the work done. My husband was already helpful and supportive, though I’m sure he gritted his teeth often when he’d come home and find ‘nothing’ done. My kids, now teens, support me more in word than in deed. They think my writing is great and they love that I’m published, but they don’t ‘get’ how important their practical help is to me. And they think they have enough work of their own to do, with high school assignments and tests, necessary extra-curricular activities, and community service hours to earn before they can graduate. They do have a lot on their plate, I admit, and they’d like to get part-time jobs to earn money for post-secondary education as well.

Still, my daughter will be in grade 12 this fall. She’s doing a summer co-op from the end of June to the end of July. Soon she’ll be applying to universities. Her study habits are excellent, and she’s giving her co-op %100 effort, but she’s aware that she wrestles with a spirit of laziness when it comes to helping out at home. I understand her struggle, but I don’t help her by doing for her what she can do for herself. And so I am finally nudging her toward greater independence. She is capable of making her own lunches; she can prepare her own breakfast. She can put things away after herself.

My son will help more readily when asked, but lacks endurance. Recently he asked me to pray that he would ‘ace’ his math exam. This after months of neglecting to hand in assignments or study for tests. I could not pray as he asked, but willingly prayed that God would help him to remember what he had learned and that he would have peace and a clear-thinking mind.

I heard it said recently – Charles Stanley, I think – that God doesn’t do for us what He has equipped us to do for ourselves. This is true. As someone who pursues the call to write, I must do what God has equipped me for, and encourage others to do what He’s equipped them for as well. It may not always be easy, but as I remember to look to Him, He will enable me. In my weakness, may He make me strong (paraphrase 2 Corinthians 12:10).

Please visit my website at www.susan-barclay.ca 

We Are Works in Progress - Bruce Atchison

When I worked for Transport Canada's Airports Branch two decades ago, my friend Cliff put up a sign behind his desk. It read, "WORK IN PROGRESS. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE." I laughed aloud when I read it. This sign, innocuous on a construction site, became so hilarious when placed in a government office. I couldn't help but admire the clever sense of humour Cliff had.

Sometimes I believe I should have a T shirt with that sign printed on it. I don't mean to cause people "inconvenience" but the Lord is at work in my life, as well as in the lives of the rest of us.

Writing How I Was Razed has shown me that I'm far from perfect. Yet Christ is continually sanctifying me. As with any renovation project, it's a messy process.

Various teaching ministries have shown me that there are no instant cures when it comes to character flaws and personality problems. The Bible shows this in the life of the apostle Peter. Even he became caught up in the movement to impose the commandments of the law on the new Greek believers and sat apart from the gentiles at dinner. Paul corrected his notion and pointed out his hypocrisy in public.

Likewise, Paul and Barnabas parted company when they couldn't agree on taking John Mark with them. Since such men of God had their problems, why shouldn't we less-experienced Christians deal likewise with the ones we have?

I hope my upcoming memoir blesses its readers in some small way. It contains the lessons I learned about who God really is after being misled in a cultic church. My hope is that it will prevent others from making the same mistakes. I'll doubtless continue to blunder in future until either I die or Christ comes. The best thing for all of us to do is to repent of our sins and try again.

There's Always Room at the Writer's Retreat - Denise M. Ford

For every writer who from time to time needs some extra nurturing...  I imagined a letter sent directly from our Lord:

My friend, you need a little rest, take some time and enjoy a writer's retreat.

I've noticed that day by day you remain ever faithful, ever resilient, ever courageous, ever mindful of my spirit cherishing you.

As we have wandered together, I have held you in my loving arms of consolation, promising that you will continue to find comfort, peace, and love.

Dear friend, I celebrate your offering of words with my unconditional presence, my loving gentleness, my endless grace, and my boundless joy.

Remember I am always with you, so whenever you need to picture a peaceful visit in my company, come, and relax in my love, rejoice while we dance together through this life.

I hope you know that every day you can come and spend some time with me at the “Lord’s Laughter Retreat.” Pause for a while, pray with me, listen to my heartfelt words…

Welcome to my little cottage, come inside, shrug your coat, you'll feel cozy here… at home.

Oh, the door, well it may rattle a bit, the latch is gone you see, oh and be careful of that step, yes it is quite uneven with wear.

But do come in, feel free to collapse in a corner, unpack your packages, and pull off your boots.

I've got a fire blazing just in there; grab a chair, a pillow, or that little stool.  There, your chills will soon be gone!

Shake the dust from those boxes of games and play a few rounds with me.  Let's laugh at stories, cry over worries, offer up hopes and lay down fears.

Upstairs the bed is turned down for you, your favorite quilt and pillows are fluffed; I even found a few of those old books you like so well.

The candles have all been trimmed and stocked, burn them all night if you wish; I'll put them out if you nod off while reading.

There's a bell scattered here or there from room to room, use them when you need to call me for anything-- a cup of tea, a glass of wine, a box of chocolates.

Down the hall you see my desk scattered with pens and paper; use what you will, remember or anticipate, procrastinate or organize, the paper's the same!

Wander into my garden, the birds will greet you there; amongst the fragrant blossoms they'll guide you through the maze.

And if you like, at the garden's edge, choose a path you wish to explore.

Oh no, you can't possibly get lost; each path may seem a bit aimless, but they all end up back here sooner or later.

Besides, I've made the time to put together this survival kit, which you may take wherever you go.

Believe me, I double-checked the contents.

I would not send you without the appropriate gear.

Trust me, the maps are accurate, the compass exact.

Oh, in case you're still wondering,

I have walked each path; I know what lies ahead.

Believe me,

I would not send you without your

Trust in me.

But you know, don't you?

You can always come home!!

To read Denise's personal blog and writing website go to:   http://www.walkingwithdustyanddee.com/

Facing the Giant - Karen Toews

I Samuel 17: a thrilling face-off between David and Goliath with the "underdog" winning, a captivating story for Sunday school kids and adults alike.

Who doesn't want to see the good guy win?
What isn't there to like about being a conqueror?

What about the background prior to this scenario?

- discipline and work: vs. 34a "...your servant used to keep sheep for his father..."

- courage and strength: vs 34b, 35 "...And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him."

- faith and trust from past experience when nobody was watching: vs. 37 "...the Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

- refusing fear in the face of intimidation: vs. 44 "...I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field."

- acknowledging source of strength: vs. 45 "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."

- declaring the victory before the fight: vs. 46, 47a "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth...."

- giving honor and glory to God: vs. 47b "...that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel...For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand."

And that's what happened. vs. 50 "...David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him."

Who of us doesn't have a giant to face-down? Maybe yours is related to one of these:

A book manuscript that you just can't wrap up.
The unknowns of a new work/business opportunity?
Personality-communication challenges with family, work, family relationships?
Health issues?

Draw courage and confidence from God's power and the experience of doing your homework.
....and conquer your giant.

From Chaos To Clarity -- Sharon Espeseth

A bundle of excitement, overactive nerves, and questions about postcard stories, I slid into class on Monday morning. Our first exercise involved choosing a word or phrase from the cards in front of us. I chose the word “finally” to introduce myself.

After a nine-year hiatus from Women’s Words, I finally made it back to this writing program offered by the Extension Department of the University of Alberta. For several years back when, the courses I took in this program had been valuable to my writing development and good for my soul. Life gets complicated, and I omitted this option from my already-full retirement agenda.

Looking at Jannie Edward’s course, “Crafting the Postcard Story,” I first questioned how it would help me in my devotional and other Christian writing I like to do. A few months back I met Jannie when she, in the role of Writer-in-Residence for Alberta Authors, visited us at a Women Word Weaver’s meeting. I accepted her offer to critique a sample of my work. Her comments were to the point, encouraging, and supportive—something I needed for motivation.

Impressed with Ms. Edward’s teaching, I wanted to take her course and learn more. Then it dawned on me that devotionals are compressed writing that require a wide range of writing techniques. I registered.

I stayed with my niece. Keeping pace with this 39-year-old single working mother and her seven-year-old daughter was no small feat. Billie is also caregiver and only child to her single mother who has recently moved into a care facility. Joan, Billie’s mother, is my sister. Together Billie-Jo and I did final cleaning in Joan’s condo. We moved furniture and fed the moving crew with goodies I had brought from home. We watched Soraya swim and heard friends play flute at a concert.

Leaving the house at 7:00 a.m., we swooped South Edmonton to drop my great-niece at her day home. We said our morning prayers and I read devotions aloud on the way. We parked on the north side by Billie’s work, and I walked to the LRT. Using Jannie’s technique, I wrote on 4 by 6 cards on the LRT, at Edmonton Centre, in Enterprise Square. Evenings were too busy for much writing, but I now have a trunk full of ideas, starts, energy, and enthusiasm for my writing.

During the last day of class, we compiled a potluck anthology of our writing, titled Summer Sisters of the Pen.  Since none of my writings was finished to my satisfaction, I submitted two ready devotionals. No, this wasn’t a Christian writer’s conference, but many of us are Christian from various backgrounds and we are kindred spirits who write. Three of us belong to the Women Word Weavers, an Inscribe Inspiration Group. We twelve women easily formed a cohesive group.

From a hectic, somewhat chaotic week, I managed to regain my clarity, my focus. This short course again lifted my writing out of the doldrums.

A Life without Faith--Sulo Moorthy

Recently, my husband and I went out for supper with some of my husband's friends. It was then I met Steve, who professed to be an atheist. I imagined an atheist to be an arrogant, argumentative and annoying person to come across. But Steve was none of that. Even though he was well educated and knowledgeable on many subjects, he was humble and pleasant to talk to.

In the course of our conversation, when Steve learned that I'm a writer, he was curious to know what kind of writing I do. When I mentioned I do mostly Christian writing, he didn't try to switch onto another topic as I expected. Instead, he showed interest in reading my work, and asked me whether I could send him the link to my blog site. Thrilled by his interest,I e-mailed him the link to my personal blog Precious Moments as soon I returned home from the restaurant that night.


A few days later, I received an e-mail from Steve. He wrote to say, he had read many of my postings, and that he was impressed with my non-judgemental approach. He went on to say that,except for one thing, he agreed with most I had written. He pointed out that,we,theists,rely on Bible teaching or some religious doctrines for motivation to do anything good and right. Why need a God to motivate you, when you've got the conscience to do what's right. That's the one thing we both differ, Steve wrote.


I cannot deny the fact, how convincing Steve was in his reasoning. What if, he had hoped to convert me to his way of thinking? What if, I've allowed his thoughts to take root,and begin to doubt whatever I've believed so far. Having lived all my life believing in an awesome,but an invisible God,I had no clue how to face life as an atheist. What would I do, and not do?

I allowed my imagination to run in that direction and have some fun. If I believe there's no God, there's no need for prayer. So, I'd stop praying. Next I'd stop reading the Bible, thinking that it's full of made up stories, written mainly to convince and control people. Because there's no scientific proof or reliable evidence for any of these stories, I wouldn't want to waste my time in reading the so called Holy Book. I'd soon stop going to church.

My writing would soon come to a halt. Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I'd be like a blind person groping in the dark, not knowing which way to go and what lays ahead of me. If I don't consider writing as my calling, it would be easy for me to give up on writing, when payment or recognition fail to come my way.


When faith walks out of my life in want of evidence, fear will wheel in, dragging along worry and skepticism with it. Without the security of eternal life and heavenly abode, my life would be wasted in hoarding unnecessary stuff here on earth. I may look cool and sound genius in airing my atheistic views, but I'd be considered a fool in the eyes of those up in heaven.

Stop! Something within me shouted. I felt like being choked, gasping for air. I couldn't allow my imagination go any further. Prayer is like breathing for me,a believer. If breathing is stopped, and my life support is removed, I'd be nothing but a spiritual corpse.


By putting myself outside the box, I did have some fun with my imagination. By doing so,I came to realize how easily I could take my God given privileges for granted. I may not have all the answers to convince my friend to view God as I do. But one day, we'll have all the evidences to convince even the most skeptic person on earth.


"I am squinting in a fog, peering through a mist.But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! I'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees me, knowing Him directly just as He knows me!"
1 Corinthians 13:12 (THE MESSAGE)

Sensitive Topic? - Linda Aleta Tame

It's the writing-about-sex question that seems to be an obstacle for many writers who are Christian, and I'm no exception.  Sometimes my character is tempted in a sensual way and my thoughts say, "Wait a minute.  You can't write about that if you're a believer in Christ."  I've never had need to describe a sexual encounter in graphic detail, nor do I expect I will, but I have had occasion to grapple with writing about situations that are, well, the "facts of life."

So, what do you think?  How do you, my fellow believers, handle this challenge in a wholesome way?  I want my stories to be real, but tasteful.  Some writing is sensually cautious to the point of losing adult readers.  It could be an adult story, but the shallow content lacks strength, and makes it read more like a fairy tale.

The Bible is not silent when it comes to sexuality.  One can become quite lost in the intimacies expressed in the Song of Songs, for example.  Even recognizing that this love song is prophetic of Christ and His bride, one must appreciate the word imagery as it relates to very human instincts.

Maybe, the best approach is to simply pray about each scenario.  If I yield my conscience to the Word and the Holy Spirit's leading, I can trust what I write will be appropriate, and meaningful.  I still appreciate the help of my Christian siblings though.  I welcome your thoughts on the topic.

Proverbs 11:14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

Five Questions that Need an Answer, by Bryan Norford

A young friend asked me recently whether a certain profession was good or evil. Obviously some are clearly evil: prostitution for one. But most jobs are neutral, that is, they are neither good or bad in themselves, but we can use them for good or evil.

Television was regarded by many to be the evil eye, but it has no moral virtue one way or the other; how it’s used makes it good or bad. Similarly money. Money is not the root of evil, love of it is; our attitude to it and what we do with it.

At the recent Write! Vancouver writers’ conference, one of the speakers was Iwan Russel-Jones (a Welshman!) recently recruited by Regent College, after serving twenty years in the religious broadcast department of the BBC in England.

Well, there’s a den of liberalism, you might think. There would be some truth to that, but it included members of other religions, as well as atheists! Was this outfit good or evil? As a committed evangelical, should he be there, and if so, how could he cope?

Not only did he cope, but served faithfully over two decades of producing radio and TV programs including documentaries and discussions on various religious topics. As long as the program was unbiased, he could be sure the Christian voice was heard.

His biggest problem when starting the job was not coming to grips with people and material from other points of view, but following some simple guidelines for every piece he produced. He listed these out for us at the conference, and I found they applied to every written or spoken creative concept—fiction and non-fiction.

1.    What’s the story?

“This is a discussion group, there’s no story!” he would argue. But the question came back: what’s the story? Even in a round table discussion, there was a story.

2.    Who’s the cast?

Who are the people involved in this story, and why are they involved? Unless they have a specific role in the story, they shouldn’t be there.

3.    Where’s the jeopardy?

There is conflict to be resolved in every story, or there is no story. What is the nature of this conflict, and how will it be resolved? Sometimes it can’t.

4.    What’s the golden thread?

What is going to keep you on message? How are you going to avoid the conversation wandering from your goal. Because finally . . .

5.    What are you trying to say?

This is your gig, your picture of the subject at hand. Is there a specific point to you want to make?

These questions are all about ownership, and a rigorous response to these questions is critical if your work is to have meaning and impact. Perhaps these are old hat to you, but they helped to answer the young friend’s question. A trade or profession is neither good or bad until you make the impact.

Careful answers to these questions can ensure a robust response for virtue in a fallen world.

Who Are You Writing For Anyway? Tracy Krauss

We are told to write with our audience in mind. The more specific we can be in our our minds about who that audience is, the better our chances of reaching them - or so we're told. In today's publishing world where marketing is KING, this makes sense.

But what about that more important audience. The audience of ONE. (And I don't mean 'oneself'.) We are admonished in the Word to do all things for the glory of God... to do everything knowing that HE is the ultimate critic.

It's a sobering thought, whether you write fiction, devotionals, poetry, or articles for the local paper. It's a question I ask myself every time I re-read something I've written. Will God be pleased with my efforts? In the end, this is the only question that matters. He's the real King, after all.

When Life Throws a Curve -- T. L. Wiens

This last month has gone by in a blur filled with filling out police reports and talking to school officials. I was assaulted in the school by a teacher and everything in my life changed.
Funny how one thing can change so much. I found myself re-evaluating many things including my writing. I remember watching an interview of the author of "The Perfect Storm." He'd gone into a war zone and came back feeling he no longer had the right to write about horror--he didn't feel he had adequate experience. I found myself asking the same question.

How do we know we're capturing truth if we never experience any of the things we write about or at least done a bit of living? And suddenly being assaulted is a gift in a strange way although I wouldn't ever want to experience something like this again.

See you at the top! - Violet Nesdoly

Mount Baker - driving east on the No. 1 toward Abbotsford, B.C.

Mountain Climbing

Story idea is like Mount Baker
tantalizing in all lights
glowing in the distance

Conferences, other writers, books
reveal that I will need
plot, characters, complications
climax, resolution–
the pack, boots, ice axe
screws and ropes of my ascent.

Nearing the mountain
obstacles enlarge and clarify.
In the shadow of its flanks
and face to face, I face
the need to breathe life into characters
create sub-plots, plant red herrings
write true-talk dialogue
then tie all neatly …
I all but lose
my nerve to begin.

The ascent displays
the writer-stuff I’m made of
as day after challenging day
I do what it takes
to make some progress to the top
get up early, stay up late
retrace steps in desperate rewrites
belay into plot ravines
scramble over boulders and up ice fields
toward epiphany and resolution.

And then one day I write the final word
plant first-draft flag
with grateful calloused hands
upon the pinnacle.


I wrote the above in February of 2009, even before I started writing the book I will soon be holding in my hands. (It appears I was rehearsing, in my mind, what the process would feel like.)

But, like any book-writer has discovered, what felt like a pinnacle flag-plant when I had completed my first draft, turned out to be only my arrival at Camp 2. For the ascent has since then continued with many more rock faces scaled, crevices avoided, and nights spent questioning 'what am I doing here?'

I have tried to prepare for the next leg of climbing that faces me now—the publicizing, marketing, and selling of my book. I have read how-to books and articles, watched fellow-climbers, and listened to their advice. Still, I feel nervous, apprehensive, and excited all at once as I anticipate the weeks ahead. Stories of mishaps on Mount Everest, that remind me of how many things can go wrong on a climb, don't help.

More than ever I need a personal Sherpa—a guide who knows the way and will accompany me, no, lead me to my goal. (Personally my goal now is to sell the copies which I contracted to buy. Doesn't sound terribly spiritual, does it? But God and I wrestled out the spiritual aspects of this project ages ago. Now we're down to the physical /monetary realities of the business.)

 As I review the verses handwritten on file cards and tucked into a little folder called "Writing Career"  my faith in God's ability to direct, guide, and give me a hand-up when I need it grows strong.

"Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days" - Ecclesiastes 11:1 (NKJV).

"A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps" - Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV).  

"Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say" -  Exodus 4:12 (NIV).

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight" - Proverbs 3:5,6 (NIV).

"Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left" - Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV). 

"And let the beauty and delightfulness and favour of the Lord our God be upon us: confirm and establish the work of our hands, yes the work of our hands, confirm and establish it" - Psalm 90:17 (Amp).

Again I feel like an adventurer. Courage fellow writers. Keep climbing.  See you all at the top!

*************

Find out about my soon-to-be-released novel here.

"Like" my Author Violet Nesdoly page on Facebook to keep up with my latest writing news. 

From Chaos To Clarity -- Sharon Espeseth

A bundle of excitement, overactive nerves, and questions about postcard stories, I slid into class on Monday morning. Our first exercise involved choosing a word or phrase from the cards in front of us. I chose the word “finally” to introduce myself.

After a nine-year hiatus from Women’s Words, I finally made it back to this writing program offered by the Extension Department of the University of Alberta. For several years back when, the courses I took in this program had been valuable to my writing development and good for my soul. Life gets complicated, and I omitted this option from my already-full retirement agenda.

Looking at Jannie Edward’s course, “Crafting the Postcard Story,” I first questioned how it would help me in my devotional and other Christian writing I like to do. A few months back I met Jannie when she, in the role of Writer-in-Residence for Alberta Authors, visited us at a Women Word Weaver’s meeting. I accepted her offer to critique a sample of my work. Her comments were to the point, encouraging, and supportive—something I needed for motivation.

Impressed with Ms. Edward’s teaching, I wanted to take her course and learn more. Then it dawned on me that devotionals are compressed writing that require a wide range of writing techniques. I registered.

I stayed with my niece. Keeping pace with this 39-year-old single working mother and her seven-year-old daughter was no small feat. Billie is also caregiver and only child to her single mother who has recently moved into a care facility. Joan, Billie’s mother, is my sister. Together Billie-Jo and I did final cleaning in Joan’s condo. We moved furniture and fed the moving crew with goodies I had brought from home. We watched Soraya swim and heard friends play flute at a concert.

Leaving the house at 7:00 a.m., we swooped South Edmonton to drop my great-niece at her day home. We said our morning prayers and I read devotions aloud on the way. We parked on the north side by Billie’s work, and I walked to the LRT. Using Jannie’s technique, I wrote on 4 by 6 cards on the LRT, at Edmonton Centre, in Enterprise Square. Evenings were too busy for much writing, but I now have a trunk full of ideas, starts, energy, and enthusiasm for my writing.

During the last day of class, we compiled a potluck anthology of our writing, titled Summer Sisters of the Pen.  Since none of my writings was finished to my satisfaction, I submitted two ready devotionals. No, this wasn’t a Christian writer’s conference, but many of us are Christian from various backgrounds and we are kindred spirits who write. Three of us belong to the Women Word Weavers, an Inscribe Inspiration Group. We twelve women easily formed a cohesive group.

From a hectic, somewhat chaotic week, I managed to regain my clarity, my focus. This short course again lifted my writing out of the doldrums.

           

Making Our Calling Sure - Ramona Heikel

Lately I’ve noticed that my reading and devotions have been focusing on my “calling”, but thinking about that often makes me nervous.  It gives me performance anxiety, because I’ve been given an assignment, but what if I fail?  I believe God wants me to write, but I’m not sure if I have the ability to consistently glorify him, or be a good witness through my words.

Well, I need not wonder any more.  The fact is, I don’t have the ability.  That’s one of the freeing things about being 54 years old.  I’ve had most of my life to try as hard as I can to accomplish what I felt was important, and have become painfully aware of my limitations.

I not only fear that I will fail at my most important responsibilities, I fear making a fool of myself publicly by publishing what I write and having people chuckle to themselves about this newbie who should have revised a few more times, or roll their eyes at my silly ideas about life.

It occurred to me while I was listening to a sermon how much of a risk Noah and Moses took by obeying God’s call on their lives.  They could have made such fools of themselves if they’d misunderstood God.  And if the embarrassment wasn’t bad enough, they could have even gotten themselves thrown in jail or killed.  It took a lot of faith to do what they did. 

Or, I should say, it took a lot of faith in God to obey what he told them to do.  That’s different from having faith in themselves.

Lately, I am realizing that it is God’s responsibility to make something of my efforts.  He is the one that had the brilliant idea of working through humans to love and serve mankind, instead of taking the safe route of just doing it himself through supernatural methods (which would have taken a lot of pressure off of us!).  But I believe that this plan of his is perfect, because he is the one who thought of it.

Notice that in Acts 1:8 Jesus does NOT say, “After you ask for the Holy Spirit, you’ve got to try your hardest to demonstrate my power, and hopefully you won’t be too chicken to be my witnesses in your neighbourhood or overseas.”  (This is actually how I’ve been reading it for the past thirty years.)

No, he says, “You WILL RECEIVE power…and you WILL BE my witnesses.”  As in, “It’s going to be amazing what God’s power will do through you.  I can hardly wait!”

In Exodus 31, when God chose (called!) Bezalel to take responsibility for the designs of the Tent of Meeting and its furnishings, he “filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, knowledge and craftsmanship” so that he could make beautiful things.  God puts his Spirit in us, too, giving us writing ability, intelligence, knowledge and craftsmanship to make beautiful words.

I believe that this is what makes our calling sure: our awareness of God’s power and our willingness for him to use us for his own purposes.

Posted by Ramona

www.happilywriting.com

[Clipart courtesy of ChristianClipArts.net]

Writing What I Know... by Glynis M. Belec

The sun is like a cheery friend this morning. As I drive west, it's almost like my life is temporarily on count down. I don't sweat this because it is not the first time that I have made the long trek to the London Cancer Clinic. My last few check-ups were AOK so my assumption is that all is well once again and I remind myself that if it keeps up for another year and a half, I will be dancing my five year survivor jig.

I can't ignore these headaches, though, and am anticipating the 24 hour blood pressure monitoring that is scheduled to begin next week. My brain tells me to stop trying to make everything connect. I have no other signs and symptoms so how can it be a brain tumour? Okay. Stop...that's my writer brain shifting into overdrive connecting and imagining. Drama Queen. That's what they call me. I have a sign on my shelf to prove it.

When I write, I find it easy to follow the directives of the writing gurus who advise to 'write what you know.' Today I know about ovarian cancer. So I write about it. I also realize how blessed I was to be caught in the early stages. So I write about that, too; praying the words that I write will encourage, assure, inspire or help even one woman to be diagnosed early.  Some days I think I must sound obsessive in my thoughts about this so-called disease that whispers, yet I recall telling God that I wanted to not waste my cancer. I felt Him respond. The prod from God happened somewhere deep in my soul and from then on I needed to write about 'what I know.'

I recall reading an article written by John Piper in 2006. I particularly liked the part where he wrote:  


You will waste your cancer if you think that “beating” cancer means staying alive rather than cherishing Christ.

Satan’s and God’s designs in your cancer are not the same. Satan designs to destroy your love for Christ. God designs to deepen your love for Christ. Cancer does not win if you die. It wins if you fail to cherish Christ. God’s design is to wean you off the breast of the world and feast you on the sufficiency of Christ. It is meant to help you say and feel, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” And to know that therefore, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 3:8; 1:21).

It motivated me to lean on Jesus and to devote whatever and whenever I could by showing gratitude and raising awareness. I vowed to write about and to share how my cancer journey became my faith journey and I was determined to help women in the process.

So as I sit here today at the cancer clinic, waiting, waiting, waiting once again, I will do so in the power of Christ alone. When my oncologist reads the verdict, I will accept and comply, completely trusting.

Nope. I don't intend to waste my cancer any time soon. I will continue to write about it as long as I can and as long as people are interested! 

[An extra special blessing: I recently found out that my story in A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider (which contains a snippet of my cancer/faith journey) has been short-listed three times.  I am honoured that someone thought my words worthy. For that I am thankful and to God be the glory...] 

My Inbox - Janis Cox

My Inbox

I am learning more and more to trust in God. I have written many posts this year on the "me" factor and how it inhibits my growth with God. Relying on "me" can be frustrating and exhausting.

Relying on God is freeing.

If I look at my Inbox, I see too much. I panic and say "I can't do all that!"

But if I look to God, He says, "I am here. Look to me and not to your Inbox."

Then I can focus on Him. He helps me calmly DO one task at a time. And they all get done - miraculously.

Oswald Chambers says:

"It is much easier to Do something than to trust God. We mistake panic for inspiration. That is why there are so few fellow workers WITH God and so many workers FOR Him" (June 1). (emphasis mine)

Oswald asks:

"Am I quite sure that God will do what I cannot do?" (June 1).

Here is what Scripture says:

"I can do ALL things in Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).

This all ties in with a Bible study I am leading with a group of women. Grace Fox has written a study called, Moving From Fear to Freedom: A Woman to Woman Conversation. We are learning strategies to push past our fears and blocks. One strategy stressed is:

FOCUS ON GOD

As I spend more time with God, praying and studying His Word, He is teaching me that:

"Yes, I am quite sure that God will do what I cannot do."

Oswald Chambers says:

"The degree of panic is the degree of lack of personal spiritual experience" (June 1).

Tough statements. I will panic... and when I do, I remind myself, "STOP! Look to God."

Panic cannot live in the same place as God. "Go to the right place. Choose God."

Prayer:
May all of us, Lord, look to You - You alone. You can do ALL things because Christ can give us the strength. Help me to continue marching towards complete and utter trust in You. In Jesus' name. AMEN.

A Lesson from Pompeii - M. Laycock

The television screen flashed with images of human forms frozen forever in the throes of death. A man slumped and curled forward, his knees pulled to his chest, his face buried in his hands. Two skeletons obviously entangled in a lover’s embrace. A mother, clutching her child. The people of Pompeii.

The documentary on PBS then gave a dramatic rendition of what the last days and hours of that city may have been like, as the volcano rumbled and then erupted. The program was fascinating and chilling. I was especially struck by a scene in which a family prayed fervently before the shrines of their Roman gods – gods that could neither hear nor help them.

It’s perhaps tempting for us to think we would never do such a thing – never depend on that which was powerless to truly help us. Yet we do it all the time.

Writers are especially guilty I fear, as we get wrapped up in marketing hype and the advice of well-meaning experts who tell us we must bow down at the altars of ‘the platform’ and ‘social networking.’ All of us know such things are of use, and even necessary to a successful career. But what do they really give us for all our effort? They may result in more book sales - or not. They may make our name known in wider circles - or not. And in the end, what does all of that really mean? More books sold is an empty end if lives are not changed. The fame of our name is pointless if it is not connected to the only Name that matters.

I like to think of my work is terms of sowing the seeds that God can use to change lives. In order for that to happen I need to be bowing before God’s altar, worshiping in spirit and in truth. I need to ensure that His Spirit is flowing through me, into the words typed into my computer. I need to be relying on Him, and Him alone to accomplish all that He ordains for my work.

And I need to mean it. Mean it with all my heart and soul, mean it to the point of weeping for my readers. This idea hit me recently when I read a scripture I’ve read many times before. Psalm 126:5-6 – “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (NKJ)

I confess I’m not there yet. I haven’t wept for the salvation of my readers, nor for the healing of their emotional hurts and scars. But I want to be there. I want to care as much as Jesus does. But it’s hard. A lot of distractions get in the way. Things like platforms and social networks. So I keep praying for those moments, moments when tears do fall as I write, and the groanings of my heart have to be translated by His spirit. Then I take heart with scriptures like Galatians 6:9 – “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (KJV)


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This post is an excerpt from Abundant Rain, my devotional ebook for writers of faith. Find it at www.smashwords.com/books/view/58017

The Joy Of Writing -- Jack Popjes

 I’ve written a weekly blog since 1995, many years before the term “blog” was invented. I sent them out as emails to a list of friends. When I publicly committed myself to write weekly I had no idea of the benefits I would reap. I learned some self- discipline. I enjoyed turning the steady flow of ideas into columns that provoked positive responses from readers. And I wrote well over half a million words, a third of which are now enjoyed by a much wider readership through my three books of collected columns.

I’m one of those writers who blogged his way into print, like Charles Dickens, the patron saint of committed bloggers. 

Dickens’ weekly output was prodigious! He wrote sections of five novels as serials for weekly magazines and ten novels in monthly magazines. He often worked on two monthly serial novels at once. Pickwick Papers overlapped Oliver Twist, which overlapped Nicholas Nickleby which overlapped the weekly serial The Old Curiosity Shop! In his spare time, he also wrote five short novels and fifty plays, poems and short stories.

Few of us reader/writers can match that kind of production! I certainly can’t. But when we commit to writing much more both we and our readers benefit.

Here’s how I start myself thinking about things worth writing about. I ask myself, “Jack, you are sitting at your computer knowing you have only 15 minutes left to live. What important things in your life do you feel deeply about? Write about these for your family and friends to read.”

Try it. You’ll be amazed at how the ideas and words flow when you begin to write. Then commit to write again next week, and the next.

If Francis Bacon were here today, I would expect to read this on his blog, “Read books, periodicals, and blogs to feed your mind. Blog your thoughts and ideas and discuss them with your readers to refine your thinking. Write your memoirs to preserve the details.”

(originally posted on February 15, 2012 at Jack's INsights & OUTbursts)