Writing and God: Making the Impossible a Possibility! by Ruth L. Snyder

 This month we are exploring the idea of writing dreams. Some people may scoff, saying we need to be more realistic. I disagree! As Christian writers, we serve the God of the impossible. 

In fact, I would go as far as to say that God delights to do the impossible through us because when that happens He gets all the glory. God, who created the whole universe, made us in His image. One of the ways we imitate our Creator is through expressing ourselves using creativity.

Thoughts on Creativity

Creativity is one of my passions. It makes me sad that too often people believe they are not creative. I believe God made us all creative, that creativity can be cultivated, and that creativity has different angles we need to consider. Creativity can definitely be a challenge. One of the main blocks to creativity is often our own mindset, struggling with imposter syndrome.

Imposter Syndrome

As writers, we often fight imposter syndrome, wondering if we are writers, thinking we don't have anything important to share. I believe part of imposter syndrome is spiritual warfare. If God is calling us to write, we need to be obedient. When we step out in obedience to write, we may be attacked, spiritually. God wants to set people free, and he often uses the written word to help people understand who He is and the salvation He offers. Satan wants to keep people in bondage. When we allow God to share His message through us, we need to be prepared for opposition, and also failure.

Creativity and Failure

We often see children as being creative. Part of this is because children aren't tied down by rules and etiquette like we adults are, and they haven't failed as many times. When I was growing up, I was taught that failure was a bad thing. Now I realize that failure is not permanent—I only fail if I give up. Most of us don't get things right the first time we try. Did you know that Thomas Edison went through thousands of iterations of the light bulb before he found a material that conducted electricity without burning up? When something doesn't work, do we learn from it and keep going? Are we committed to obeying God, no matter what? Are we willing to step out of our comfort zone and dream the impossible?

Impossible Dream #1—Book Coach

If someone had told me, even two years ago, that I would be coaching people through the process of writing and publishing a book, I would have thought it was impossible. However, God opened the doors for me to learn the process myself by taking courses and making my share of mistakes. At the beginning of this year, I prayed and asked God to show me what goals He had for me. He told me to aim to help 20 people write and publish a book this year. I am over halfway there, and have been amazed at how He has brought people to me, most of whom I have never met in person. 

Mentors

InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship has been a huge encouragement for me and stimulated me to grow in many ways as a person, and as a writer. I have found friendship, encouragement, prayer support, and training. Thank you to each of you who has influenced my life! Serving on the executive forced me to learn new skills and take on challenges. I had on-the-job training in how to maintain a Wordpress website, how to plan and run a conference, how to publish and launch a book, and how to deal with complicated issues that had the potential to bring disunity.

I have also had the privilege of learning from many diverse coaches. Last year I worked with Market Like a Nerd, which stretched me both intellectually and financially. I also flexed my creative muscles while working with Murielle Marie. When I looked for business coaching from a Christian perspective, I found Anita Albert-Watson helpful. Shelley Hitz has been a steady influence on me for several years. I started learning from her before she started her first program, and continued following her when she and her husband started Christian Book Academy, which provides incredible training for those who want to learn how to self-publish. Now I am working with Erica Latrice, who gives practical help to those building a Christian business in AmplifyHer.

Impossible Dream #2—Entrepreneurs Write app

If someone had told me a few months ago that I would have my own app, I would have thought they were crazy. Last week I met with my app designer to lay the framework for my app. I have a list of items I am working on. Once I send them to my designer, he will put everything together for me. The goal is to have the first phase of my Entrepreneurs Write app available in September 2020. There are more complicated portions of my app that will be released down the road.

One of my clients told me, "You make the seemingly impossible, seem like a possibility." I'm thankful that God is allowing me to reflect Him in this way. 

What dreams do you have? How is God helping you make them a reality?

Ruth is on a mission, determined not to let people’s powerful stories go to the grave with them.

She guides Christian entrepreneurs along the book writing journey, providing a safe place for them to birth their stories. 

Ruth has shared her expertise on platforms like Thrive Global, Women in Publishing, Authority Magazine, The Write Coach, and Author Audience Academy. She guides people through practical steps that make writing a book an attainable goal.

She is dedicated to making sure her clients are in the 8 percent of people who successfully get their book written, published, and into the hands of eager readers.

Ruth’s clients write their book outline in a day. They go on to write their first draft in 30 days. In six months or less, powerful stories are birthed and authors are holding their published book in their hands.

“Ruth makes the seemingly impossible feel attainable with her easy to follow steps.”

What's Next? by Carol Harrison

 

What’s Next?

 I shelved all dreams of writing, let alone being a published author, decades ago until they lay hidden under layers of dust and debris. I put pen to paper occasionally making journal notations or to keep track of necessary events, appointments, and reports for my children’s health or school activities, but not for public display or reading. But God had other plans and the push out of my comfort zone began a dozen years ago.

I pulled those reports. I read my journal ramblings and attempted to write because my husband and daughter challenged me to write a book about the journey with our youngest daughter and the amazing God-moments along the way. I started and hit delete more times than I can remember. I didn't dare to dream this book might become a reality. I dusted off what had once been the enjoyment of writing. I had hidden it so well for too many years and struggled as I began to listen as God directed me towards others who could help me relearn what I had forgotten. To be honest, I moved forward because of a push, multiple ones, and I am embarrassed to say I went towards that hazy dream with tears flowing and negative monkey voices drowning out God’s still small voice on too many days.

 The first published piece, Amee’s Story went on sale in January 2010. Family members begged me to write more stories to preserve family memories. I accepted these requests, some of which ended up published in anthologies and a larger dream began to take shape. But now that I have been pushed

beyond anything I dreamed or imagined, and my writing has been unleashed beyond the boundaries which kept it hidden from view for decades of time, what's next? I hesitated to dream about more.

Then this blog prompt about our writing dreams appeared in my in-box. It forced me to examine what holds me back from reaching out to embrace them as well as what distractions keep the dreams from becoming reality. I asked myself, “What’s next? What’s left to work on?” and struggled to find an answer. I know I am a storyteller and believe I need to be a good steward of that God-given ability but what should it look like? Do I have any other dreams to achieve, and if so, how can I move towards them? These last years have taken me places I never expected to be. I have accomplished a lot, thanks to grandchildren challenging, encouraging, and keeping me accountable when I want to hide behind, “I can’t do that!”  

They’ve asked for me to attend poetry workshops with them. After attending these workshops together, I ended up with a few published poems. My grandson insisted I could and should write a fiction story. It took years until I allowed the novel to be read by anyone, then edited, and now published. So, what’s next? The second novel in the series is written in rough. More poems are waiting for edits. The grandchildren affirmed what they see in me and I can do no less than try what they suggest.

Questions and negative voices still flit through my mind. “you’re too old to still have dreams  about writing to publish!” and “you don’t have enough training” or “you don’t know enough” so maybe you should shelf everything once again and allow the dust bunnies to gather for a convention.

I allowed excuses of not knowing enough to make me look for training opportunities, gather with others to learn from them, and attempt to emulate my favourite authors. Yet I am not them. My writing voice must be my own. My husband finally told me a few years ago, “You need to use what you already know and not just study more.”

I believe continuing to learn and grow in the craft of writing helps the storytelling become stronger and keeps poor quality writing and published works from hindering the audience’s enjoyment of the piece. This is commendable and encouraged in any creative activity. We don’t want to stagnate. But if all I do is study the craft and never practice it, the stories and lessons remain hidden. No one can enjoy them or be educated and encouraged by them. Balance becomes a key to finding my dreams and implementing them so I can move forward. How do you find the balance between learning the writing craft and putting what you know to use? Sit and write. Learn as you edit and review. Then sit and write some more.

As I thought about that negative voice that told me to give up because of my age, God provided many affirmations, including reading about various authors and their journeys to being published. Laura Ingalls Wilder published the first of her Little House series at the age of sixty-five. As I read the bio of J.A. Jance, a mainstream author my husband enjoys reading, I learned how her love of writing as a child and teen was frustrated in college and then by her husband. For eleven years of married life she wrote for herself. Later, as a single mom, she wrote from 4 -7 a.m. and her first published book appeared in 1985. She would have been around forty. Her prolific writing career since then includes short stories, poems, and about sixty-three full length novels.

As I read about these and other writers whose journeys contained road-blocks from inside themselves and dropped in place by others, I knew that the negative voices helped me voice excuses about why not to dream, write more, or understand the capabilities God gave me. The excuses of not being good enough, young enough, or know enough about marketing the books after publication dim the dream to the point of giving up. So instead of saying “one more class", or procrastinating, or comparing myself to other writers and feel like I don't measure up, I need to spend time in prayer asking God to guide the steps I must take to tell the story He places in my heart and mind. I need to realize that I am uniquely created to be me and not a copy of anyone else. 

Then comes goal setting. A dream cannot become reality unless I take that step of faith and start working on short and long term goals towards a final project. My actions dictate whether more writing and the marketing of what I write stays a dream or moves into the realm of possibility. It’s time to quiet the negative monkey voices chattering in my mind through prayer, preparation, planning, and preventing procrastination from taking over. No more distracting myself with excuses. Continue to accept those challenges from the grandchildren. How can I tell them to pursue their dreams, use their abilities, and share those with others, if I am unwilling to move out of the comfort zone of “I’ve done enough.” It’s time to dream again. What’s next?

My dream is to tell the stories that will share the good news of the gospel and encourage others. Riches, fame, and comparison never satisfy like being faithful to what God sets before me, even when it pushes me out of my comfort zone is where my dreams need to focus on. I don't know what this might look like but God does and He will do more than I can ever dream of as long as I am willing to be available and obedient.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3: 20,21

 

Carol Harrison writes, dreams, and tells stories from her home in Saskatoon. She credits her family for pushing her into sharing her stories in written form and keeping her accountable to use her storytelling to encourage, entertain, and educate others. She finds stories in everything around her including the antics of her children and grandchildren.

God's Timetable by Lynn J Simpson

“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be open.” Matthew 7:7

What does it mean to “seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened?” A lot of us will find ourselves seeking but after an amount of time, we give up our search. When the door we’ve been knocking on is not opened after an amount of time waiting, we leave. We become frustrated and discouraged when the seeking and knocking does not produce the results we want in a timely fashion. We make the decision to walk-away from our searches and pursuits using our own understanding of how we should spend our time.

 An article deadline is fast approaching when we still have not found the information we need and our sources are not responded. We are ready to let the editor know we cannot follow-through on our commitment. Our novel outline stalls when our writing partner kindly let’s us know of a flaw in our research. We start to loose faith in our writing and are ready to hit delete on the project. After months of  waiting for responses from our queries, we start to box up the pages of our memoir wondering if our children might read it when we are gone. We’ve just written our 200^th blog post to just a handful of readers and wonder if it is time to focus our writings elsewhere. Why seek out a blog audience when the numbers are not rising? Not a word has been written for that devotional we have been thinking about for many, many years as there is always something else to do that closes the door on time to spend writing. 

When Jesus taught about asking, seeking and knocking, He did not advise to give-up after a certain amount of time. Instead, He tells us  to pursue God with our whole heart. This whole-hearted pursuit to know God takes faith, focus and follow-through. We are never to give-up our efforts to seek Him and we are promised we will find Him. During those challenging times of our writing life, instead of falling on our own understanding of time and productivity that can lead us to discouragement and even abandoning our projects, may we remember to place God above all our pursuits. We can ask Him for knowledge, patience, faith, love, wisdom and understanding. 

Take heart! God’s timetable is different than ours! His goodness everlasting!

Your goodness continues forever, and your teachings are true. I have had troubles and misery, but I love your commands. Your rules are always good. Help me to understand so I can live. Psalm 142-144

You can find more of Lynn's writing on faith at Keep It Real. 

Celebrating! by Lynn Dove

"Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands."  Deuteronomy 8:2


On June 2nd of this year, my husband and I celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary.  It was not the celebration we had planned.  Rather than going on a cruise in the Mediteranean, I was preparing for my first round of chemotherapy to happen towards the end of that month.  I was still recovering from surgery, and so our anniversary was, to say the least, low-key. Still, we spent much of the day reminiscing about the last forty years.  The ups, the downs, our hopes and dreams then, and throughout the years together, to contemplating the future with my cancer diagnosis taking center stage in our thoughts and prayers.  We talked about how God had clearly guided us throughout our marriage, and how we trusted He would continue to lead and guide us, as we navigated this new storm of life.  It was tough to see past the turmoil there in June to the calmer waters I'm experiencing today.  It was a tough journey these many months, but I'm on the other side of chemo treatments now.  I'm still going through radiation treatments, but I'm okay, AND I'm cancer-free!


It's good to look back, not just every forty years, but every month, week or even at the end of a challenging day, to remember how God has guided and tested us and then give thanks for all He has done.  Have we been faithful to keep His commands no matter our circumstances? 


This month's InScribe challenge celebrates faith and/or writing, and how has our faith and/or writing changed over time.  In my particular case, it is impossible to separate my writing from my faith journey over time, and particularly over these past many months.  It has been cathartic for me to write about my cancer experience.  God has definitely used my cancer experience to encourage others, and I have been encouraged as well by the countless many who have prayed me through it. 


My writing has always been influenced by my walk with God.  I suppose my blog exemplifies that journey walk.  I started blogging nearly ten years ago, and my blog has gone from a marketing promotional tool, to help sell my books, to a full-fledged ministry that focuses on sharing my faith and my personal faith walk with God.  I don't know how I could have gone through this last experience with cancer without God or my writing.  Writing has been an integral part of my healing process.  Writing about God's provision for me, His watch care over me, the countless ways He has ministered (and continues to minister) to me, has allowed me to give testimony and give thanks for His activity always around me.  I want to look back often, re-read my posts, and be able to recount where I've been, to where I am now, to where I will be a year from now.  Have I been faithful to keep His commands?  Have I remembered to give thanks in all circumstances?  Has my writing progressed not only in style, polish and content, but also continues to be an outward expression of my growing faith walk with the Lord?


I sincerely hope so, and I hope to check back in a year to give account.

 Lynn Dove is the award-winning author, of the YA “Wounded Trilogy”- a contemporary Christian fiction series with coming-of-age themes.  A wife, mom, grandmother, and free-lance writer with articles published in several magazines and anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul books, her blog, “Journey Thoughts” is a Canadian Christian Writing Award winner.  Readers may connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and at lynndove.com   

Keeping it Real - Lynn Dove

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. ⁸ Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered ⁹ and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”  Hebrews 5:7-9

Jesus asked his friends to stand watch with Him, at the Garden of Gethsemane.  While He cried out to His Father to save Him from death, and during this heartfelt prayer He sweat droplets of blood,  His friends slept.  Jesus asked if there was some other way for God’s Plan to be realized other than the Cross.  God the Father said, “No.”  Jesus accepted that, and willingly walked to the Cross.  How precious, how magnificent!  “…He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.” 

Today is my birthday!  Happy Birthday to me! 

If you have been reading my previous posts, you will know that I’m currently going through chemotherapy and have now finished the third of six treatments.  As I celebrate my birthday today, I am already gearing up for the fourth go-round in a little over a week.  It has not been an easy time of it.  I developed a blood clot in my left leg after the second round and I have battled on-going and extremely painful neuropathy in all my joints caused by the chemo since the first round.  I have cried out to God so many times before, during, and after my treatments to just miraculously heal me so I wouldn’t have to endure another round, but God has seen fit to “perfect” me.  He is using this time of struggle, to strengthen my character for His purposes, and so I persevere through this health challenge and fully trust in Him throughout the process.

One of the ways I cope with my current situation is by writing about my personal journey on my blog, Journey Thoughts and right here on IWO.  It is not only therapeutic for me to write about what I’m going through, I have found that so many of my readers are joining me on this journey either by praying for me or they too, are in the middle of great struggle and so they find encouragement in following my blog posts. 

I hadn’t originally thought I would write so openly about my battle with cancer, but I felt a real prompting of the Holy Spirit to not only write about it but “keep it real”.  Readers want authenticity.  I write about the many aspects of this journey with a life-threatening disease.  There have been many days, especially the weekends following a treatment, where I am at my lowest, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  It’s hard to put on a brave front.  I weep, I gnash my teeth, and I pray for the pain to stop.  My poor husband takes the brunt of those outbursts during those very dark days, and he is the one who ministers to me practically as well as keeps me focused on the One Who loves me even when I wonder if that’s true.  Yes, in that chemo fog, I question why God would allow this to happen to me.  I forget He is Good, and Perfect, and Sovereign.  On those miserable days, I only feel pain and I feel sorry for myself.  Thankfully, I have some incredible prayer warriors who petition on my behalf, and when I struggle to pray, they take up the prayer gauntlet for me. 

When I write about my “down” days, some well-meaning readers and friends have responded, “That’s perfectly understandable.  You’re entitled to feel miserable.” 

Am I?

Doesn’t that speak of lack of faith?  Does it say that I don’t trust God?  Absolutely not!  David, Jeremiah, Job, and other great men and women of the Bible cried out to God when they found themselves in circumstances beyond their control.  That’s what I am facing right now, something totally out of my control, and something I know I won’t get through without Him.  I KNOW God is bigger than my circumstances.  He can take my cries of despair, along with my praises, and I KNOW He works all things out for good.  Our IWO verse to ponder this month, Romans 12:12, I have always found to be so challenging and powerful, but even more so during my current time of “affliction”. 

I appreciate all your prayers, IWO writers and readers, as I face three more rounds of chemo in the months ahead.  I will keep writing, and pray that I will continue in keeping it real!

Lynn Dove is the award-winning author, of the YA “Wounded Trilogy”- a contemporary Christian fiction series with coming-of-age themes.  A wife, mom, grandmother, and free-lance writer with articles published in several magazines and anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul books, her blog, “Journey Thoughts” is a Canadian Christian Writing Award winner.  Readers may connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and at lynndove.com   

When God Lifts Me Up by Wendy L. Macdonald

I’ve noticed there’s a particular time when God speaks to me about my writing and lifts me up. The rest of the time I need to show up and trust that my efforts will be used for a Higher Purpose. Being an inspirational writer parallels the faith walk in many ways. We need to trust that during the lean times (when time to write leans near nil), God still multiplies what we offer to feed those He has in mind.

Often, in the process, we—the writers—are the ones who are fed first.

I’m a needy writer. I regularly hunger for affirmation from God. It’s not a daily need. I can write for weeks before the desperation sets in. But when a bottoming out of my writing sprints occur, I sit on the side of the racetrack, stare at my untied running shoes, and wonder if I should bother tying them up again.

 I think things like:

• No one needs what I have to say.
• I’m not worthy to write worthwhile words.
• I might as well go back to my former hobbies and forget about writing for others.
• My journal is enough to satisfy my cravings to write (Insert laughing emoji here.).

Then, I tie my laces up and head down the track because I’ve done enough laps to know that if God thinks I need encouragement, He’ll send it. If He doesn’t send it, then maybe I am supposed to hang up my writing shoes.

The last time my writerly enthusiasm bottomed out, an email arrived with a contract for me to sign regarding something that had previously been shortlisted for an inspirational magazine. Once again, God spoke to me about my writing:

 Keep running.

As I read the devotional that had been contracted, I was ministered to just as I had been when I wrote it. It was about being content with our little corner of the world—being content with where God has planted us to grow (or write).

And this reminds me of something the apostle Paul wrote:

I am not saying this because I am in need,

 for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

 I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,

 whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 

Philippians 4:13 NIV

I'm nosy-to-know:

 
How does God lift you up when your writer’s heart is down? 

Blessings ~ Wendy Mac

Turn the Other Cheek by Lynn Dove

As a writer, called by God to write, there are certainly times when I have allowed the world to discourage me.  It is a lonely venture being a writer.  As a Christian writer I feel a great obligation and responsibility to represent God and not bring discredit to Him or to His Word.  Christian writers face the same struggles and pressures as any other writer, but we also face a spiritual attack from the enemy who does not want us to write our message of Hope to a fallen world.  Understanding your calling as a Christian writer, will help you deal with the criticism aimed at us from time to time from the world.


Every writer has to face the inevitable.  It may come in the form of a scathing review of a book you have published, or a nasty comment left on social media that maligns your character or your writing or both!  Let's face it, it is a trial by fire we must learn to endure when criticized.  I don't like it, I don't want it, but when I get it, it's up to me to deal with it in a God-honouring manner. 


I don't lash out at the "trolls" on social media, who like to argue for argument's sake.  Not responding to hateful comments from faceless people on the internet is the easiest way to deal with that kind of criticism.  I wrote an article on my Journey Thoughts blog that deals with those type of people. 
https://lynndove.com/2018/11/23/do-not-feed-the-trolls/


It's harder to ignore negative comments posted on book sites that criticize my books.  Critical reviews are one thing, but reviews that just hurt and demean are quite disturbing.  Thankfully, I haven't had to deal with many of those kinds of reviews, but still they hurt when I read them.  In one instance, a reader, (a self-proclaimed Satan worshipper), spent her time maligning the Christian content in my book.  To that, I just had to wonder why she was reading a Christian book in the first place.  Then I took heart that she had read the book cover to cover!  Who knows?  Maybe a seed was planted?


I have discovered that, as a writer, you can't please every reader every time.  The way to avoid having your heart hurt by negative criticism is to slough off the comments that are mean-spirited, but learn to embrace those comments given in "love" that you learn from to make you a better writer. 


Writers have tender egos, I certainly have one, but I appreciate those who have read my work and critique it honestly and give practical advice on how to improve my writing.  I especially appreciate other writers who take the time to comment and to encourage me.  Based on their example, I have a basic rule when I write a book review, or comment on someone's blog: if I don't have something nice to say, I don't say anything at all.  I know how hard a writer works to perfect their writing, and I would rather encourage than criticize them.  Certainly, there are times when writers want a critical review, but again, I try to focus on their writing strengths and give helpful suggestions that will improve their writing.  Again, there is a right and a wrong way to criticize.  The goal should be to uplift, not tear down.

Lynn Dove is the award-winning author, of the YA “Wounded Trilogy”- a contemporary Christian fiction series with coming-of-age themes. A wife, mom, grandmother, and free-lance writer with articles published in several magazines and anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul books, her blog, “Journey Thoughts” is a Canadian Christian Writing Award winner. Readers may connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and at lynndove.com