Balance for a Wobbly Writer ~ Valerie Ronald

                                                                          photo credit Valerie Ronald

My season for physical balancing is long past at my age. I can stand on one foot for perhaps five seconds, but that’s it. I grew up near the ocean where, as children my brothers and I would challenge each other to see how far we could walk balancing on beach logs. I recall dancing down the logs, leaping from one to the other, walking heel-to-toe with arms outstretched like a tightrope walker. Back then, balancing was easy.

Balance means something different now. Do I eat a balanced diet? Does my cheque book balance? How do I balance life and writing? This month’s topic prompted me to evaluate how I do both and where I need improvement. Perhaps you will identify with some of my discoveries.

I would rather write than almost anything else. If I’m not in the writing zone at my computer, then I am dreaming up writing ideas and story lines or thinking about how to express a deep topic in a way that readers will understand. But meals don’t get made or errands done if I’m always following my passion. So I need to prioritize and compartmentalize.

Do your chores first, then you can play. That’s what my mother always said. Sitting down to write is easier when the house is tidy and meals planned, so early afternoon is a good time for me to write. It doesn’t always happen, but most days I try to do something writing-focused in the afternoon, even for a short time.

Deadlines stimulate writing, as long as there are not too many. I give prayerful thought to a writing project with a deadline before committing to it. There are so many opportunities I would like to participate in but if I over-commit then it creates stress. In order to maintain balance with writing and life, I need to assess how much I can do.

Be realistic about physical and mental energy. These days it takes much longer for me to do household tasks due to age and physical limitations. I’ve relaxed my cleaning standards, cook simpler meals, and ask my husband for help often. The need for frequent rest provides time for me to think through writing projects. I keep a notebook or my cell phone nearby so I can jot down my ideas.

Serve others first. My husband is in leadership in our home church, so I do as much as I can to help and support him in his ministry. This requires commitment to building into the spiritual lives of our church family, as well as the other roles we fill in our small congregation. As much as I love to write, when a need arises, people come first, whether in family relationships or church connections.

Nurture your relationship with God. Not to be impertinent, but God is my ghost writer. I depend on His Spirit for direction, inspiration, creativity, and more in my writing. Having quiet time with Him in the morning is absolutely essential for all aspects of my life. Often as I’m reading His Word, ideas shine forth or a particular verse sends me on a search that may develop into a full-blown writing project. The writer of Hebrews exhorts, “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest” (Hebrews 3:1 NIV).

If we stop seeing our daily life and writing as enemies, and instead let them blend together, giving ourselves grace to face each aspect of our day as a gift from God, then balance will take care of itself.

Valerie Ronald writes from an old roll top desk in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, with her tortoiseshell cat for a muse. A graduate of Langara College School of Journalism, she writes devotionals, fiction, and inspirational prose. Her purpose in writing is to encourage others to grow in their spiritual walk.

Writing Balance in the Seasons of Life by Carol Harrison

Photo by Carol Harrison

I am in a season of life where it should not be difficult to find balance between time for writing and obligations of daily life. I have no small children. Grandchildren are mostly adults with their own busy lives, so I am not fortunate enough to have to babysit or even get to hang out often with them any more. Amee can do many things for herself and even helps me around the house. I have no spouse to devote time and attention to. I’m not leading a ladies’ Bible study or doing much speaking. Basic daily chores don’t take heaps of time.

So why then, with all the time now available for writing, does it feel like a winter season of dormancy? Now, when juggling many balls is not part of the equation, balance should be easy. But maybe that is part of the problem. I have too much time and it is easy to procrastinate; easy to be lulled into complacency; easy to get lost in the pages of a book; easy to not bother picking up my pen or sitting at my computer. Excuses run rampant through my mind, skittering here and there like a mouse darting from one place to another.

As I look back to other seasons of life where more writing happened, I had great encouragement or even sometimes nagging to go and get writing from my husband. I also realize, for me, deadlines helped me carve out time to write – even self-imposed deadlines. Yet, procrastination still lurked, making me leave things until deadlines loomed larger. Maybe if I set myself some deadlines or booked appointments for my writing time that I honored faithfully, I might find the words and ideas begin to flow again. Maybe then the winter season of writing would give way to spring. Ideas could begin to bloom; words could grow into paragraphs and finished pieces. Spring would be a season of time for writing after the winter of rest and learning. Now to quit procrastinating and follow through on picking up my pen or sitting at my computer. It is a matter of trying to write until ideas begin to germinate. To everything there is a season.

Carol Harrison writes from her home in Saskatoon. She loves stories and often gets lost in the pages of a book instead of writing or even doing daily chores, procrastinating too many things.


Profile photo by Bruce Guenter

Balance or Rhythm by Lorilee Guenter

"By The Book" photo by Bruce Guenter

Balance is a myth created to keep me from embracing the rhythms of life . Ecclesiastes 3:1 opens with "there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens." The list of opposites brings to mind the old playground teeter-totter. If the opposing individuals were similar weight, it was possible to get the teeter-totter to balance as a straight beam. More often the partners couldn't hold the balance due to weight differences. One partner would be pushed up while the other dropped down. The goal of a teeter-totter is to keep it in motion. The achievement of balance halted motion.

Instead of chasing balance, I'm working to create movement, and rhythm. Sometimes the movement is rapid, other times it is a languid motion that takes attention to recognize, like the slow movement through winter. We mark time through seasons, through months, weeks, and days. In some places it may seem like the entire range of weather happens at once. We hear the saying: All four seasons in one week, or one day," yet even during these times we're not experiencing January and July simultaneously. It is either January or it is July.

There's a time and a season for every activity. We are tearing down or we are building up (v.3); we are silent or we are speaking (v.7). If we talk strictly about balance, it lends itself to an absurd reference to ratios. If we speak 50% of the time we should be silent 50% of the time, just like January and July each have 31 days. They hold equal weight within the year. What happens when God calls us to speak up, or write, and we've already used up our 50% of speech for the week? What if a friend, neighbour, or acquaintance needs us to just listen instead of us interjecting our own thoughts. I recognize I've taken these on these to an extreme. No one expects us to count the minutes we speak versus those we are silent. No one tries to live January and July in alternating days. Instead I am learning to lean into a rhythm of seasons. With a rhythm I progress through alternating activity, emotion, responsibility, hopes, and dreams, each in their own time. I learn to give them the space they need. Sometimes I walk through them in a straight line. Sometimes, like with the weather, it seems like they all happen in a day. There is no prescribed timeline. There's movement. If the season of grief is heavy, like the larger teeter-totter partner, it may take extra time to get to the dancing (v.4). The encouragement in these verses is that the dancing will come. Seasons change, in life as with the weather.

As I walk through this life I have been given, I'm learning to recognize my rhythms. They may not be the same rhythm as what God has given you, but he is walking with both of us. Ecclesiastes 3:11a "he has made everything beautiful in its time." Everything is known by God. Everything has a season, even when I can't see it. In the middle of the tears I want laughter because I don't like to cry. I can take courage from the fact the tears won't last. They have their season. I'm thankful that God knows what we need each season, each activity, and each day.

My writing seasons, my organizing seasons, my gardening seasons, and my life seasons all have a rhythm. Sometimes I notice them and sometimes I don't. My life season is in transition. The girls are adults and now need a different type of energy and presence from me than they did while growing up. My writing, my hobbies, and my studies no longer need to occupy the margins of life. Whether in the margins or not, my writing has times of reflection and times of action. Sometimes I want to linger in reflection even when God is calling me to the action of putting words on the page. Sometimes I want to rush ahead. I continue to learn that whether I'm laughing or crying, reflecting or writing, God is in the season with me. He is leading me from shadow to light. No matter the season, I can be confident of His presence and His leading.

Lorilee Guenter enjoys gardening, reading and more. During the summer, her and her husband Bruce often hit the nearby trails. He carries a camera. She carries a sketchbook.

The Rhythm of Prayer by Peggianne Wright

Photo credit: P. Wright 2026

Valleys of darkness and despair, peaks of sunshine and joy, monotonous straight lines of humdrum; our journey through life follows a unique path filled with ever-changing seasons laid out for each of us by God. I've learned over the years that this also applies to our rhythm in the craft of writing. The ebb and flow of inspiration, the interruption that disrupts focus, and the exciting new idea that strikes without warning also subtly steer a writer's life in many directions.

"My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure." (James 1:2-3 GNT)

On an "off" day I will sit here in my study, surrounded by my "four-legged colleagues" all cozily snoozing, my fingers sitting idle on the keyboard. A dozen opening sentences are typed and then deleted. Feeling the symptoms of an oncoming migraine, I'll stare into space in a struggle to concentrate, knowing the looming submission deadline is ticking closer, my inner voice admonishing me for having let the days slide by without completing my task. I pray for encouragement.

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15 NRS)

Yet, another day will find me at my desk excitedly tapping out a new chapter or devotional, the words flowing faster than my 60 wpm fingers can fly. Not a single distraction will interrupt my train of thought; my colleagues snuggled in their regular places, softly snoring a quiet chorus. I pray in thankfulness.

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12 ESV)

And then, there are days that find my study in darkness, my colleagues scattered in all directions with their toys and games, my day dominated by a To Do list or appointment schedule. No writing to be done. I pray in confident anticipation.

When I first committed myself to the craft and dared to call myself a writer out loud, I often stressed and worried about meeting not only hard deadlines for the publications for which I was writing, but also the self-imposed deadlines I believed were necessary to advance to a higher level. After all, to be a writer you have to commit to writing those thousands of words per day, right? I read and followed the experts who pointed out that if any success was to follow, serious focus, routine, and discipline was required. I prayed for direction.

On a day when I'm struggling to get something written in the midst of an excruciating migraine (I suffer from a chronic condition), I stop and pray. I know I need the Lord's guidance and inspiration but also the touch of His healing presence. Sitting in relative darkness, I pray for fortitude.

Ecclesiastes 3 describes how the rhythm of life will move us throughout our earthly lives. As Isaiah 43:2 reminds us, God guides through the good times and hard, the busy times and the idle ones, the difficult circumstances and the celebrations.

Finding balance, in my personal experience, has evolved through the enrichment of my prayer life. As I pass through the ever-changing seasons of my life, recognizing them and then praying over them, brings God into the story and deeper into personal relationship with me. As I pray for healing, encouragement, gratefulness, wisdom, and more, I am also opening doors to my creativity; a precious gift from God.

The ups and downs of life will always follow God's plan. By staying in close relationship with Him through prayer, balance will emerge in all our circumstances.

"So I realized that all we can do is be happy and do the best we can while we are still alive." Ecclesiastes 3:12 GNT

Peggianne Wright is a published author and is the founder of the pet parent ministry Paws To Pray, blending her passion for the Lord and all-things-K9 to form this unique, faith-based community. Peggianne is an ardent Bible study student, devoted dog mom, wife of 44 years, and lover of music. Her blogs Spiritual Scribbles and Fur-Kid Fanatics can be found on her website www.PawsToPray.ca and you can follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PawsToPray/ and on IG @Sister_In_Prayer.

Balancing Life And Writing by Bob Jones

  

Photo by Loic Leray on Unsplash

“Life balance is more about intentional imbalance.”

Brian Moran

Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.

James Clear’s principle in Atomic Habits is like a neon directional sign pointing the way to wholeness.

I wanted to become a writer, and fortunately good advice came my way a quarter century ago. It was simply this:

Writers write.
So, write something every day.
It doesn’t have to be long or profound.
It doesn’t even have to be just right.
It does mean to just write.

Consistency rules.

Everyday I vote for writing.

Writing made me a writer and allowed me to live my life away from the keyboard.

Intentional Imbalance

So, every day, and usually at the start of the day, I write.

There have been seasons in writing a book that it was essential to invest long hours in segments everyday to complete the book on time. But those were short seasons.

Compared to the whole of my day, my writing time is way of out equalized balance with my other activities. I have a full time job at age 72. However, that is where Brian Moran’s quote comes into play. To balance life and writing is to live an intentional imbalance.

I must admit that I have to put a governor on my writing time because I love to write. How about you? I can get lost in writing, especially on Saturdays and realize 2-3 hours have gone by before I know it.

Energy Management

I’ve also learned that what is most profitable to manage is energy, not time. There are lots of books about time management but what created a breakthrough for me was an introduction to energy management.

Do what creates the most important results when you have the highest amount of energy.

I used to run first thing every morning and then work into the late afternoon. But my peak, creative energy is when I wake up. So, now I run or walk after 4:00 pm and start creating at 6:30 am.

Thank you for making time to read and if you will, comment.

Flexibility and Grace by Lorrie Orr

 

The famous lines of times and seasons in Ecclesiastes 3 tell us that “to everything there is a season.” How do you balance life and writing in the seasons of life? We all have lives that require physical presence away from the keyboard. What have you found helpful in maintaining balance? 

 

Photo by Lorrie Orr

I get up early, dress quietly and close the door softly so as not to wake my husband. I go downstairs to make a cup of tea, then climb the same stairs up to my studio. A neat stack of pages sits on my desk, the growing height an indication of the words typed and printed yesterday and the days before. Moments of meditation and prayer are followed by a productive hour or two of writing before I eat breakfast with my husband. I clean up the kitchen and do a few chores before returning to my desk to deal with correspondence, business items, and perhaps some editing.

Oh, if only. It's fun to dream about an ideal writing life, but that's all it is, a dream. In my real life, there is a garden to tend to, grandchildren to entertain, shopping and cooking that must be done, and a plethora of other tasks and delights to distract me from writing. And that’s okay. I like my varied life.

Writers throughout the ages have faced the challenge of their writing lives. In his article The Daily Routines of 12 Famous Writers, James Clear writes of authors who get up early, of others who rent hotel rooms for writing, and others who spend their days teaching and write in slivers of time. The key takeaway for me is that every writer has an individual approach to balancing life and writing. It may take time to discover the balance, and it’s likely to shift throughout life.

Flexibility is a key word for me. When I am engrossed in a project, I find it easy to dedicate more time to it, and I do get up early to work in the hush of early morning. This is easier now that it’s just the two of us at home. When my children were younger, I would use the time they were at school to write my articles or write while they were doing their homework. I fit my writing around the daily routines of meals and teaching. I don't determine to write every day. I try to write four days in a week, usually in the morning, but not always. 

Sometimes I must be intentional about my writing. It’s easy to get out of the habit of sitting down to write regularly and much more difficult to get back into a routine. There, too, however, flexibility comes into play. It’s okay to take time off when life presents challenges or other opportunities. As a teacher, I’ve always found sticking to a schedule in the summer almost impossible. Now that I’m retired, I give myself permission to take summers off.

Grace is another key word when it comes to balancing life and writing. Or life and anything! I can become quite negative about myself when I let things slip and I fail to meet the goals I’ve established. I am learning to give myself grace and to rest in the loving presence of God who loves me whether I write a single word or not. And I realize that sometimes God has other things for me to do.

Some days writing takes the form of words added to the Notes feature on my phone, or capturing a few thoughts on paper while I’m in the kitchen preparing food. These are small steps, but each step forward brings me closer to my writing goals.

The writer of Ecclesiastes also wrote these words: 

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding

it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled 

with rare and beautiful treasures.” 

(Proverbs 24:3-4) 

As I build my life and my body of work, I want to be wise, and am so thankful that God generously gives his wisdom to me, and to anyone who asks him.

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island.

Her first book, Life is Short but Wide, a memoir of 21 years

in Ecuador, was recently published.

More of her writing can be found at

Substack

her slice of life blog

 

 

What Kind of Book Would I Choose First? by Sandra Rafuse

"Perhaps your first book is still a dream. Or maybe you haven't dared to dream—yet." These words from InScribe's July prompt makes up the perfect beginning sentences for my post this month. Write a book? A first book? Prior to joining InScribe Writers Online I had never entertained a single thought of attempting to do that. But sending in a monthly post each month for the past year and a half has changed what I'm thinking and maybe, just maybe, I could dare to dream to do that.

One day, several months ago, I wrote out three titles that I felt I could use for a book should I decide to write one. They were: I Miss My Mom, My Friend Doesn't Like Me Anymore, and I Am Different. The titles popped up into my head without any particular reason for them to be there, but later I realized they each dealt with thoughts I had been thinking and feelings I had been feeling in previous weeks. I also realized I was thinking of them as books to be written for children. Well here I sit, months later, and the titles are still in that list waiting to be used. Will I use them? Definitely not right now and probably not for a long time. But as I write my way out of the amateur status I feel I am in, then perhaps I will start to dream of writing a first book.

As I write, using the prompts we are given each month, I am becoming more and more aware of how much work and time and concentration it takes to get my words down in an order that makes sense. And I have a much greater appreciation of how authors and illustrators have to work to write their stories and draw their pictures for the books they put out. 

In my mind right now, because of July's prompt and because of reading the posts that have come in to InScribe so far, I am thinking of three kinds of children's books that I love to read that perhaps I would choose to write. The first kind of book is a chapter book. Over Sea, Under Stone is a good example of this. In it, the man from the Dark is made out to be so scary, the evil shows in his dark, piercing eyes and his black hair. He is tall and dark, untidy, and at the same time forbidding. I shudder whenever I read about him. The second kind of book I'm thinking of is a children's book that has two or three sentences along with pictures of the story on each page. Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge is a favourite example of this kind of book. In this story, the old woman, who is losing her memory, is dressed in a colourful, flowing dress that hangs loosely on her body, with a few inches of slip showing below the bottom of the dress. She wears a pair of plain socks with comfortable slippers. When the young boy finds out she has lost her memory, he carefully collects objects to show her that he believes will help her get her memory back. The third kind of book is a picture book. A Boy, A Dog and A Frog is a wonderful example. "A picture is worth a thousand words" is so true here. Look at frog's face. See how sad he is that the boy, the dog, and the turtle are leaving him at the pond. Look at how mad they are that they couldn't catch him. The whole story right before you in pictures!

Will I write and publish a book someday? That's something to think about. I like the posts that have been shared this month. They have been so honest and encouraging. Thank you for sharing.

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 thoroughly enjoying having the opportunity to share what God has been teaching her through her life's experiences.

Photo by Sandra Rafuse

My First by Brenda J Wood

 

Image by Donna Naquin from Pixabay

 

I didn’t recognize the signs.

The itch I couldn’t scratch.
The yearning to put pen in hand
My deep self-covered patch.

But then I took an interlude
A thoughtful introspect
Considered all my options
On me, I placed a bet.

Could I write that New York seller?
I confess it mattered not.
I wrote all that was in me.
I gave it all I got.

And thus, the teeny book came out.
It landed. Solid. True.
And so; there’s nothing left in me
But to write another few.

Still, there Is nothing like that first one
That fought for air to breathe
And let me be my real self
Oh what we can achieve

By putting pen to paper
And writing what’s on mind
Carving words from heart and head
To leave for those behind.

Brenda J Wood has authored more than fifty books. She is a seasoned motivational speaker, who declares the Word of God with wisdom, humour, and common sense.

Steady My Gaze: Poetry for the Anxious Soul by Mary Folkerts

 

I did not expect that the first book I would write would be a book of poetry. Though I have written poems since childhood, I never thought it would translate into a book. Lately, though, I’ve come to realize that poetry can plumb the depths of the soul and put emotions into words that sometimes are difficult to voice.

When our fourth child was born with Down syndrome, things within me began to shift. I had been keenly aware of my struggle with anxiety and melancholy previous to her birth, but now it felt like any perceived sense of control I may have possessed was effectively removed, leaving me grasping for footing. The shock of the diagnosis and the struggle that came with learning to navigate this new world of doctors and therapist appointments, health concerns, surgeries, and the unknown sent me spiraling into depression. This began my journey of searching for help and healing from past wounds, shame, and a scarcity mindset, exposing them layer by layer.

I don’t believe that the diagnosis of my daughter’s disability was the basis for my depression, but it widened the cracks of deep need that had been there long before. It revealed my own disabilities and took me on a lifelong journey of healing and revelation.

The book I am writing is part of that healing process. I am learning that joy does not come through circumstances, but from the presence of God with us. His presence is what sustains us even when life is difficult. My prayer for Steady My Gaze; Poetry for the Anxious Soul is that readers sojourn with me from lament to praise of a faithful God who holds us in the palm of His hand no matter how deep the valley.

I did not boast innate yearnings
for horticulturist’s hands—
only that rudbeckia
and cone flower grow,
and that weeds
be shorn shorter
than the wildflower’s
brilliant petals,
hiding the uncomely
beneath.

Content to have a garden
like others,
sufficient beauty
with relative ease.

Truth be told, I demanded
a simple garden,
one that heeded
my lack of patience
and fortitude.
I was not a girl made for
plucking and digging,
nurturing and persevering.
God would duly note
my deficiencies.

But instead,
the Master Gardener
planted an exquisite rose
in my unyielding soil,
when all I desired
were daisies.

My arguments emerged—
defiance, resistance
and indignation at such
lack of consultation,
such disregard
for my insufficiencies—
I with unskilled
hands,
could not tend the tender
flower,
I bore no capacity
for thorns.

My cries of offense
He met,
with gentle reassurance
that mine was to surrender
my paltry plans,
and rely on His qualifications
to do more
with my piece of dirt
than I could have
dreamed.

Unearthing
the hidden dross
beneath wilted wildflowers,
the Gardener cultivated
my skill,
for the flourishing
and rejuvenation of my soil,
tending the rose
with infinite tenderness,
and I, in the process.

So here I plunge the blade
into resistant loam,
excavating a tangle
of tap roots
twisted and deep,
generations old.

I’m learning to plow
the fallow ground,
grasping the gravity
of fertile soil,
not only the perception
thereof.

Sometimes,
the Master Gardener
plants a rose,
when all we wanted
were daisies.

Mary Folkerts is mom to four kids and wife to a farmer, living on the southern prairies of Alberta, where the skies are large and the sunsets stunning. She is a member of Proverbs 31 Ministries' COMPEL Writers Training, involved in church ministries and music. Mary’s blog aims to encourage and inspire women and advocate for those with Down Syndrome, as their youngest child introduced them to this extraordinary new world. For more inspiration, check out Joy in the Small Things https://maryfolkerts.com/ or connect on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/maryfolkerts/

God and the Goldfinch by Sharon Heagy (re-post)

Sometimes life happens and time goes by and your to do list is overwhelming. Then you pray and God says, 'For this month, print the one about the Goldfinches.' First published in July of 2020—the first year I began posting—this post remains dear to my heart, and birds remain a huge part of what brings me joy. May you be encouraged to carry on and know God is always near.

While picking saskatoon berries one morning, a unique birdsong captured my attention. I could hear the bird but was unable to spot it. Its song soothed my senses and blessed away my stress.

Birds have always had a special place in my heart and I watch them with keen interest. How do they fly? How do they sing? How can they eat their own weight each day and not gain an ounce? How can a sparrow stand outside in minus 53C windchill eating seeds and not turn into a ‘sparrowcicle’? They are miraculous. Perhaps it is my fascination with birds that led me to my request of God.

It was at a significant low point in my life. Terrible circumstances surrounded me. The passing of a two-year-old girl, a family friend who died in her mother’s arms, was particularly crushing.

In my own family I was struggling as my kids were making destructive choices despite fervent prayers, leading me to believe I was a lousy mother and an ineffective follower of Christ rather than realizing they had free will. Spiralling down I crashed into a crisis of faith. There was no light. There was no hope. I questioned everything I believed, even to the existence of God himself. Was I just nuts? Had He ever spoken to me?

Sitting on my deck, weeping and crying I called out to God from the depths of despair, not even knowing if I knew Him anymore. “Are you there?” I railed. “Do you care? Please, God, show me. Right or wrong I am asking for a sign. I’m desperate, Lord. Please. Please just send one goldfinch to the yard right now and I will know the truth.”

In the receding wake of shuddering sobs, I waited. Waited as the sky grew dark and the birds went to bed. No goldfinch. No promise. No answer. I went to bed devastated and exhausted, feeling deserted and alone. Sleep was elusive and when it did come it was restless and short.

Dawn greeted me with puffy eyes and a groggy head. Leaden feet padded their way into the kitchen where I leaned weakly on the counter. Blankly my gaze came to rest over the windowsill.

I froze for a moment, then started to melt. There, outside my window, was not one goldfinch but an entire flock! They covered the feeders, the hedges, the guy wire on the power pole. It was an explosion of yellow. Never have I seen so many goldfinches in one place and never have I seen that many since.

In that moment I knew without a doubt that God had answered my prayer. Hope was restored, faith was resurrected and I knew the truth.

Now when circumstances challenge and test my faith I know He is with me. The following verse girds me and gives me hope:

“I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

(Lamentations 3:19-23 NIV)

This is the direction I received to find my way out of the pit. And I want you to know that if you too find yourself looking for a pinpoint of light in the darkness, be encouraged. He is right there beside you and will help you find your way. And if there is any way that I can pray for you, let me know. It would be an honour and a privilege. We are in this journey together.

 

Sharon Heagy writes from the wonderful town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan, where she lives with her husband, a big dog and furry cats. She writes to bring hope and humour to a world that needs both. She can be reached at sharonheagy@gmail.com

Thanks for taking the time to visit today. God bless.

 

Hear the Forgotten Voices by Alan Anderson

 

"[B]ut Jesus said, “Let the little children come

to me and do not hinder them, for to such

belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 19:14 ESV

A Brief Background

Since retiring from my work as a chaplain in healthcare in 2017, God has blessed me as a writer. I had the honour of contributing stories and poems to four books plus a series of articles to FellowScript Magazine. This honour continues as I am privileged to be a monthly contributor to our InScribe Blog.

My intent in stating this is not pride, but thankfulness toward God and the writers who encouraged me. I have yet to publish my first solo-authored book. Lord willing, I will.

I wrote my InScribe blog post of June 22, 2021 with a particular group of people in mind. They are grandparents who grieve the death of their grandchildren. They will also be the focus of my first book, Lord willing. Grandparents who grieve continue to be those whose voices have gained little attention from society. The idea for this book germinated in 2017 when I co-authored the book, Good Grief People, published by Angel Hope Publishing.

A Determined Focus

In June 2008, when my wife and I attended the Scottish Highland Games event in Coquitlam, B.C., our daughter told us devastating news. While bagpipes played in the background and Scottish dancers entertained nearby, our daughter approached us. She said, “Mom and Dad, I lost my baby.” The news stunned us into silence. We hugged her as she cried.

My daughter “lost” four babies altogether. One of my daughters-in-law also suffered a pregnancy loss. Numerous women, both young and mature, have recounted tales of infant loss to me over the years.

A common theme I gleaned from grandparents, especially grandmothers, is that they believe they must be “strong” for their families. Their view is by being strong, they will not give further upset to the grieving parents or other family members. They remain strong, but in reality, suppress their own honest expressions of their grief. Grandparents tell me they grieve in private, and their voices are often silent. People do not hear silent voices.

Regardless of what our grief-fearing or grief-evading culture says, to be “strong” in our grief is to express it in an honest manner. Grandparents possess the right to express sorrow openly. Society and especially other family members must not forget their voices and their utterances of grief.

A Voice Forgotten No More

In my experience of listening to grandparents who grieve over the death of their grandchildren, their words are poetic utterances. They are honest, although few in their expressions of their grief.

The original title of the book was Plant Them a Garden: A Reflective Work of Grief, Faith, and Poetry. A number of InScribe members liked the title, as did I. As time went on, however, and I heard more grief stories, I kept hearing, “We don’t have a voice.” After consulting with a few people, including other writers, I proposed another title. I am calling the book Forgotten Voices: Poetic Utterances of Grandparent Grief. This title is direct and concise.

While scanning through book topics and titles on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca I noticed there is not a lot written about grandparent grief. I pondered this reality, but the words, the voices of grandparents, encouraged me to persevere. Such platforms as Amazon seem to say grandparent grief is not marketable. Regardless, I focus on the voices of grandparents. Society overlooks their mourning and forgets their voices. I don’t.

I pray that the forgotten voices of grieving grandparents will soon reach someone's ears. Someday, only God knows when, I'll see my five grandchildren in heaven. Until then, I hope and pray, in my little way, to be one voice of those too often forgotten.

In Deroche, British Columbia, Alan shares his home with his wife, Terry, and their poodle, Charlie. Alan and Terry are grandparents of six grandchildren plus five grandbabies in heaven. Alan enjoys walking on the dike near his home, with trees all around and where he finds inspiration to write. He has occasionally written articles for FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship blog. Alan’s website and blog are https://scarredjoy.ca. He also writes on Substack.

My First Book by Steph Beth Nickel

 

Not That First Book

When I read the prompt for this month's posts, "tell us about your first book," I, like many writers, thought of my first (and as of yet, only) published book.

But then I thought, "No, the first book that I shared with others goes back many, many, many, many years."

When I was in school... (I can't remember if it was elementary or secondary school.) Way back then, one of our assignments was to write, illustrate, and produce a board book for young children.

I can still remember how I felt when my book was chosen as one to be displayed in our school library. It still brings a smile to my face decades later.

Books & I Go W-a-y Back

My mom loved books. Although my dad didn't read as much, he, too, was a reader.

It's no wonder I can remember many of the books I read as a child and some that my mom read to me.

Each Christmas my mom would read The First Noel and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to me. I'm sure she read many others throughout the year, but I remember those two distinctly.

P. D. Eastman books, such as Go, Dog. Go!, Sam and the Firefly, and Are You My Mother were among my favourites. They were part of the "I Can Read It All By Myself" series, published by Dr. Seuss. I also had several more books in the series.

And like many young girls, I read a plethora of Nancy Drew books. This is where I first learned about including cliffhangers at the end of a chapter. It was also where I picked up the just-one-more-chapter philosophy of reading.

As the Years Went By

Reading (and writing) remained an important part of my life until, ironically, I attended Bible College. Because our Required Reading List was so long, it was over a year and a half after I left college that I picked up a book just for the sheer pleasure of doing so.

Over the years, I've written several articles; dozens of blog posts, poems, and devotionals; a number of unpublished picture book manuscripts; and at least a couple of partially finished fiction manuscripts. Additionally, I coauthored Paralympian Deb Willows' first memoir, Living Beyond My Circumstances. We are currently working on a follow-up volume, tentatively titled Keep Looking Up.

Currently, I post to Substack one to two times per week. On Mondays, I publish a chapter of the YA (young adult) manuscript I'm working on, and on Fridays, I post devotionals based on the gospel of John that I originally wrote for HopeStreamRadio.

From Board Books to...

While some writers "stay in their lane," this isn't in my nature. And that's okay.

Do I plan to publish my YA novel and a selection of the devotionals I've written? I do.

Would I like to publish some children's books? I would.

Will I continue to write blog posts and other short pieces? I would imagine so.

Whatever I end up writing and putting out into the world, it had its foundation in a little purple board book displayed in a country school library way back when.

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 2027, Lord willing. (Headshot Photo Credit: Jaime Mellor Photography)

An Interview about a First Book by Sandi Somers

 

Interviewer: Greetings, everyone. Today we have a special guest, Sandra K. Somers, commonly known as Sandi, to talk about her first published book, Divine Encounters: 21 Stories of God’s Miraculous Ways. 

INT: The title sounds intriguing. Tell us what the book is about.

SKS: These personal stories illustrate how God often comes to us in ways that surprise and inspire us. Then I follow each narrative with a meditation, reflection questions to journal, and a prayer.

INT: The dramatist Jennifer Lee said, "Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire." What set you on fire to write this book?

SKS: While living in Colombia, South America, I read how Paul Freed developed his Trans World Radio in the late 1950s and early 60s—a station I listened to—and how God provided $500,000 in six months to set up a station in Monte Carlo, Europe ($5 million in today’s exchange rate!). Amazing! I realized God could do so much more in my life than small requests that I had made—and I began to seek God’s abundance. From there, I wrote to encourage readers to invite the Lord into their situations and believe He could do more, so much more for them.

INT: People are always fascinated by where authors get their ideas. How did your inspiration come about?

SKS: I was in Edmonton visiting a friend and a cousin, and in between I visited the Conservatories. While enjoying the different plant environments, ideas began bubbling up, and so I listed a number of new stories/devos and some shorter versions which had been published in devotional books.

INT: I’m fascinated to know why you chose 21 stories? Not 31 nor 51…

SKS: I began aiming for 75, but in drafting I ran out of ideas by about #60 and couldn’t discover more. A coach advised me to break down the project into a more manageable size—about 21 stories per book. It was a much better process and enabled me to work within a tighter theme.

INT: Yes, we often have to adapt our plans. What other challenges or difficulties arose while writing this book?

SKS: After the stories and devos were written and edited, I had the more tedious task of reviewing and rereading each story, cross-checking for appropriate and duplicate Scriptures—and I stalled. The Lord had to nudge me to quit procrastinating.

INT: God sometimes has to prompt us to keep us following His plans. Now in contrast, what positive things did you learn about the writing process?

Mostly I was so aware of how God brings people into my life when needs arise. Feedback from my local InScribe writers’ group members was invaluable as they critiqued articles, then became beta readers and editors—and even a formatter and publisher! I gained new appreciation for their own gifts and talents.  

INT: In what ways did writing change you? What surprised you most?

SKS: I had two major “Aha” moments. One was to pay attention to moments where God is active. In one story, I write about how a friend told me she was praying for me at the exact time I needed help. If I hadn’t paid attention to the connection, I might have just said, “Thanks for praying.”

The second major discovery was that we have a creative God. Several stories point to how He sometimes answers our requests in ways we can’t imagine.

INT: Do you have plans for writing another book?

SKS: Actually, I have plans for several more, and I’ve asked the Lord to help me finish what I believe He’s calling me to write.

I’m deep into my second book, The Obstacle Is the Way: 21 Stories of Meeting Life’s Challenges. The writing is going much faster this time.

INT: Tell me more. What is making the difference?

SKS: With Diving Encounters taking so long, I’m learning to give myself a deadline to complete it. Yet I know that in summer months my writing slows down because I’m busier with outside activities, visiting others, and travelling. I also decided to give myself extra breathing room in case health, family issues, or other emergencies demand my time and energy. I’ve had to move my deadline to mid-September.

Another process is to combine the creative work of writing and editing with the more tedious tasks of checking Scriptures that apply, choosing the front and back matter, and developing the introduction as I go along. This synthesis has really helped to speed things up!

INT: There’s such an emphasis on marketing these days. Tell me how you’re getting your work into the public.

I’ll admit it is a challenge. Yet the morning after my book went live on Amazon, the Lord gave me a special verse: "As thou goest, step by step, I will open up the way before thee" (paraphrase of Proverbs 4:12 NKJV). God has given me ideas and opportunities.

INT: This has been an enlightening conversation, Sandra/Sandi. What advice can you give your readers?

SKS: God has great plans for you and gives you a vision of what He wants you to write.  Thank God for that vision and work towards unleashing your dreams.

But more: pray into that vision. Invest deeply in your spiritual life, Scripture reading, and prayer to receive His wisdom and words.

 And finally, I’m reminded of the Lord’s promise: “God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns (Philippians 1:6 NLT).

The Lord knows how many books we can write, and I have confidence that He will complete His purposes for all of us.

INT: Thank you for this interview, Sandra/Sandi. I look forward to reading your second and future books as they are published. 

Sandi Somers’ writing passion is to help readers grow their faith in Jesus, including their vision of what God wants them to be and do. She writes of her love of nature, gardening, travel, and family in several genres—devotionals, personal essays, and Biblical fiction. Sandi lives in Calgary, Alberta, the delightful city between the Rocky Mountains and the Prairies.

Book of a Lifetime ~ Valerie Ronald

 

I remember the smell and feel of the new school scribbler on the desk in my childhood bedroom. Within its blue cover, blank pages waited to receive my first attempt at writing a book. I was eight years old. Now that I could read and print, I was eager to record the story swirling around in my head. Determined to fill the notebook, I laboured with my limited vocabulary to describe scenes of a log cabin and the family living in it, especially a girl just my age. My stubby pencil hardly kept up with her adventures pouring out of my mind. The notebook was never filled as my focus moved on to some other childhood interest, but I remember the excitement of creating a whole world from my imagination. 

Throughout my school years and post secondary education in journalism, writing was my passion. I planned to make it my career and hoped someday to publish a book. I worked for a few years in my chosen field but too soon marriage and a growing family took over. I barely had time or energy to journal occasionally, never mind write a book.

Fast forward fifty years and finally the dream is becoming a reality. My first book will soon be launched. Each Shining Moment is a devotional compilation of my many moments of lingering in God’s light. They comprise a lifetime of experiences and lessons gleaned from my walk with God and time in His Word. But it is not the book I thought I would write when I first dreamed of being published so many years ago. I imagined a work of fiction with exciting characters, vivid settings, and a riveting plot. God was not included in the story then.

It wasn’t until life became hard that I knew I needed to include God. I struggled in a painful marriage, raising my children alone while my husband pursued his own adventures, eventually abandoning his family. Then came a time of clinging to God through the deep valley of a cancer diagnosis and an uncertain future. I am so thankful God renewed my health and brought me to a place of peace and blessing, giving me an opportunity to finally write a book.

Now I realize that the book I was meant to write needed to rise from the ashes of adversity so others could hopefully identify and learn from what God taught me. Looking back over the deep truths God instilled in me in those hard places, I see His perfect timing and wisdom in having me wait until my senior years to write this book.

It is not about me. It is all about Him. 

"Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips."  Hosea 14:2 NIV
 

 Valerie Ronald writes from an old roll top desk in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, with her tortoiseshell cat for a muse. A graduate of Langara College School of Journalism, she writes devotionals, fiction and inspirational prose. Her purpose in writing is to encourage others to grow in their spiritual walk.