Giving Thanks Each Step of the Way by Steph Beth Nickel

 

RESEARCHING

My hubby is the one who loves to do research. I have always thought we would make a good writing duo. While there’s more to the whole “write what you know” adage than appears on the surface, I enjoy writing from my base of knowledge or about the fictional worlds I create. Typically, I find it challenging to research what I need to know, retain that knowledge, and then compile it into something that will benefit readers. I am currently coauthoring Paralympian Deb Willows’s second memoir, tentatively titled Keep Looking Up. I am incredibly thankful for our ongoing back and forth through each stage from our initial chat about the project onward. (We are currently working on revisions.)

OUTLINING

When it comes to nonfiction, I recognize the need for a more detailed outline. However, when it comes to writing fiction, I much prefer the discovery writing process… And then I get to the messy middle. I find it can drag when the blush of getting to know new characters and where they want to take me wears off. At that point, I have a tendency to skip ahead and write the ending. That way, although I know I’ll never be a detailed outliner / plotter, I know where I am and where I’m headed. Even so, there’s still room for some surprises along the way. I am incredibly thankful that there are a plethora of ways to get from the figurative “once upon a time” to “the end.”

DRAFTING

The middle of the novel I’ve been working on for-ev-er is dragging and in need of serious revamping. The main thing that’s keeping me from going back to Square One is the fact that I have been releasing chapters to Substack. I only have a handful of followers, but those who are reading Rule and Reign chapter by chapter keep me pressing on. I’m thankful for them, for every Like, and for every comment.

REVISING

Some people love working their way through the first draft of a new manuscript. Others prefer the revision process. Because I have what has been referred to as an abundance of “starting energy,” I find going back over my work, tweaking, and polishing it doesn’t stir up the same enthusiasm as diving into a new project does. Funny, as an editor, I am more than happy to go through a client’s manuscript time and time again. I am thankful for that and may need to bring the same perspective to my own writing.

PUBLISHING

Which option to choose: The Big Five? Or is that the Big Four? A small royalty press? A hybrid press? Indie publishing? While Deb and I are working with a small royalty press, I intend to independently publish my own work. However, there are challenges no matter which route a writer chooses and much to learn. And for me… See above how I feel about researching. I am thankful for my many connections to both independent and traditionally published authors as well as books, blogs, and courses.

MARKETING

While there is much “conventional wisdom” floating around out there about how to market one’s book, there are also methods that are more approachable for different personality types. Authors are not all the same nor does their approach to marketing have to be one size fits all. I am incredibly thankful for this.

The number one thing I’m thankful for, as a Christian writer, is that I can ask the Lord for wisdom each step of the way and keep moving forward one step at a time.

Steph Beth Nickel is the former Editor of FellowScript and the outgoing 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)

Contentment is My Word of the Year by Steph Beth Nickel

A version of this post first appeared on Janet Sketchley's blog, Tenacity, in December 2019.

Why do you do what you do? Complacency, contentment, or conviction?

An onlooker might not be able to tell the difference. Sometimes even we can’t tell the difference.

It’s what I’ve always done. That’s complacency.

I believe this is right, and it has been confirmed over and over again. That’s conviction.

But what about contentment?

It may look like complacency, but then again, it just may be conviction.

Contentment is my word for 2020.

As you may know, I am eclectically interested and eclectically involved. Too often I’m distracted by the Oo, Shiny! Books, online courses, careers …

Do you think it’s time to stop buying books (or at least slow down) when you have over 1,000 physical and ebooks you haven’t yet read?

Most of mine are accessible on my phone. <sigh>

And what about courses and lifetime access to online conference sessions, some of which were inexpensive, others … not so much?

I’ll buy this healthy living annual subscription and access to this library of workouts, and I’ll be healthier by the end of the year … if I access them and put what I learn into practice that is. (We won’t mention the fact that I was a personal trainer and know what I need to do to get healthier.)

Of course I’ll maintain my doula certification while writing, editing, working as our church admin, and helping my hubby clean the church each week. Sleep? Who needs it? (That would be me.)

To be honest, my whole life might be a case of FOMO, fear of missing out.

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

In 2020, I will seek, with God's help, to live by my conviction that I have been called to contentment.

As it says in 1 Timothy 6:6, "But godliness with contentment is great gain."

I will read 24-36 of the books I already have.

I will complete at least 12 of those online courses I’ve purchased and put into practice those things I learn from my paid subscriptions.

I will devote myself to writing—and publishing—the books I’ve begun.

I will maintain my doula certification because this is something I’m passionate about, but I will pace myself and not leave the requirements of my recertification to the last month or so.

I will stop becoming distracted by the Oo, Shiny! and look for the sparkle in the opportunities and possessions I already have. I will look for the fun. As an Enneagram 7, fun is important to me. (I don't define fun as frivolity but as those things that get my mojo flowing.)

Plus, I will regularly give thanks for my life as it is in the Here and Now.

How can you grow more content in the year ahead? I'd love to hear your suggestions.

Do you have a word of the year? If so, what is it and why did you choose it?

All the very best in 2020!

Thankful for my Heavenly Father by Ruth L. Snyder

"Do you believe God loves you?"

This question from an accountability partner stopped me in my tracks. "Of course I do!"

"Is God enough for you?"

I wanted to say yes, but I had just finished describing how hurt I was by people's actions, and how I needed affirmation from them.

"God loves you, Ruth! He is all you need. People may affirm you. They may not. That doesn't matter. God is enough. Period."

God has continued to use people to ask me these hard questions throughout the week, ending with our pastor's Thanksgiving message: "If You Had No Blessings to Count." He urged us to, "Be happy with God alone."

In case I hadn't heard the message clearly enough yet, God spoke to me again later in the day. I finished packing clothes for Luke, who is going away for a few days and nights. Then I wrote a note and put it on top of his clothes so he will see the note when he unzips his suitcase. I included Isaiah 41:10

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

In my note I said, "Remember that God is always with you, no matter what. Nothing can separate you from God's love! Love & prayers, Mom"

As I walked down the hallway, God whispered to my heart, "Do you believe what you wrote? Do you believe that I love you? That nothing can separate you from my love?"

Tears filled my eyes. "Yes, Father, I believe. I accept your love. Thank you."

The Gospel is simple enough that we can share it with children. When I spoke at Bible camp years ago, this was my outline for five days:
1. God loves me
2. I have sinned
3. Jesus died for me
4. I receive His gift
5. I am saved

It would appear I'm a very slow learner—still working on understanding the first point.

We live in a world where we all fall short of God's plan. In the Church, and even in Christian families, we don't really experience true love. God is love....Completely, without fault. God is the only one who knows me as I really am, and yet He loves me. He cares for me. He provides for me. He shelters me. He prods me to grow. He rebukes and corrects me. He rejoices over me. He has a good plan for my life. He works all things together for good.

This Thanksgiving, although I have many things for which to be thankful, I am focusing on one: God, my Heavenly Father, loves me.

What has God been teaching you lately? I'd love to hear about it.

Find out more about Ruth L. Snyder, her writing and coaching at RuthLSnyder.com or connect with her on Facebook.

Letting Go and Giving Thanks by Karma Pratt

Giving thanks in all circumstances is not something that has come naturally to me. As I've grown as a Christ follower, I've slowly let go of old feelings and beliefs. I've experienced a softening around the edges, and allowed God's grace to sink deep into my bones, transforming me from the inside out. This process of becoming has turned thanksgiving  into a permanent fixture rather than an optional "when I feel like it" approach to life.

Part of God's work in my life has been to guide me in letting go of my need to control outcomes. This has helped tremendously when it comes to giving thanks in all circumstance. I have become a "recovering know-it-all", as Sarah Bessey writes in her book Out of Sorts. In the past I always felt I knew the best way in every circumstance; it was my way after all! Believing that I was in control, and succumbing to stress and anxiety whenever things weren't going according to plan - these were some of my go-to beliefs that got me through my days. Those days seemed more like nightmares at times!

Having children effectively cured me from my know-it-all-ness. No longer could I be certain of anything in life. My tiny humans set their own schedules from the beginning, and, when my expectations and their needs collided, their best interests always took precedence over mine.

God is so good! He knew exactly what motivation I needed to look past myself and grow a heart that desires to put others' needs before my own. In serving others, I am ultimately serving God. He started with lessons learned through family relationships, and has continued to expand and refine my heart to help and serve in other ways. He paved the way so I could see the blessings even when things weren't going "my way". In the words of singer/songwriter, David Bracken, he "scaled me down".

My touchstone Scripture verse is:

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

Trust and thanksgiving go hand in hand. The more we trust God with every part of our lives, the more freely we offer our thanks with joy.

Truth exemplified: I do most of my writing in the evening after the kids are in bed. I value my creative down time, and do my best to protect it from interruptions. Last night, however, I was interrupted by a sick child with a sore throat. He needed comfort and cuddles more than I needed to stay connected to my computer.

So, I let go of my plan, washed it away along with everything else in the day, secure in the knowledge that God had me exactly where He wanted me in that moment. I gave thanks for the opportunity to provide the comfort and reassurance my son needed, and trusted that the writing would happen as it was meant to. Learning to let go has been one of the greatest gifts God has given me. It's one of the ways He's helping shape my life as a writer. It's my prayer that we may all learn to let go, and become truth bearers, not for our benefit, but for the benefit and glory of God.

What have you had to let go of in your writing journey?

Give Thanks in Everything as We Write – by Sandi Somers

“There’ll be times when you wonder how you can possibly thank (God) for something that turns your life upside-down…Let us, then, at times like these, give thanks on faith alone…obedient, trusting, hoping, believing.” So wrote the author Jan Karon.[i]

Prompt: Share an experience in your writing life when you found that to give thanks was especially difficult—but yet you did give thanks. How did you find your way to victory? What did God teach you through this experience?

Transforming Adverse Situations

A number of years ago while taking a course on memoir writing, I tried writing an article about my elementary school years. At first all I could remember was being bullied and ostracized. I was even misunderstood by my teacher.

Writing that article took a lot of time and I wasn’t getting anywhere. I felt as though all my writing energy was being sucked into a black hole—a soul hole. The article had no neat and tidy resolution of someone coming to my rescue or helping me through it. Even God didn’t seem to comfort me (2 Corinthians 1:3b-4), because at that young age, I hadn’t learned how to talk to Him in my troubles.

 I set the article aside and turned my attention to other writing.

However, that unresolved story stayed in my mind, needling me like a pebble in my shoe. I wanted to understand why God had allowed my suffering. Perhaps like Job, I would never know. I just had to trust that He had a reason. Would that be enough for me?

I began journaling my questions, reflections and scriptures.

And all the while God reminded me, “In everything give thanks.”

  

Now thanking God in everything has been one of my life principles. God causes all things to work for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Thanking God clears the clutter of my mind and spirit from frustration, anxiety or disappointment. Then in quiet moments He can freely give me His word and. encouragement

Thanking God opens the door to a more creative attitude.

And thanking God turns my eyes from my viewpoint to what God has to say to me.

God reminded me that I had to work through layers of forgiveness—forgiving those who had hurt me and forgiving myself. As I forgave, God gradually healed me (and is still healing me) of the injuries from what I had missed out on friendships and in my education.

Some time later, I attended a women’s retreat. As the speaker shared her childhood story of abuse, she said, “God wouldn’t have given us those life experiences unless He wanted to use them for His glory.”  

Yes! This was the insight I had been seeking. God wants to touch someone’s life through those experiences.

But God had a further answer for me. I awoke one night with an overwhelming sense of God’s presence. He was filling me with gratitude for those childhood traumas and transforming them into things of beauty.

I may never delve into the details of that story. But the details don’t matter now.  What is more important is that as I surrender my issues to God and thank Him—even where I have been mistreated—He will accomplish His purposes both in my life and in ministry to others.

Challenge:

Now it’s time for your blog.  To develop your thoughts, follow this link to a short sermon on the Apostle Paul’s secrets for giving thanks.

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[i] Jan Karon. In This Mountain.” New York: Viking. 2002. p 312.