Facing our Fears by Sandi Somers

We all have fears associated with writing. We may be afraid our ideas will never materialize or that our writing isn’t good enough. We may be afraid of the publishing process. We may be afraid that nobody will read our work. We may fear rejection or failure. On it can go.

This month’s prompt asks: What strategies do you use to get past your fears?

DARE to Be an Artist

 

At one time I began writing about living on a mission station in Colombia. As I wrote about interpersonal difficulties, I was afraid of exposing all that weakness in myself and others.

I even wondered if I should continue. How could I write about that discouraging time?

I journaled and I prayed.

Through journaling, God brought some insights that I never would have discovered had I clung to my fears. I gained a deeper understanding of the real issues. Many of our difficulties arose out of our confined location on the mission station. Others came about because of unhealed areas in people’s lives. I was also much younger, without the maturity of my perspectives today.

Through these insights, God brought to mind: “Let your conversation (writing) be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Col 4:6.

God transformed my writing into words of grace and forgiveness.

This was one example of how God taught me to face fears, not just in writing, but in other areas of life.

I faced my fears square on. Fear can also hide below the surface, masquerading as worry, anxiety, nervousness or timidity.

I asked strategic questions:

• What exactly am I afraid of?
• What does God want to say to me through this fear?
• What does God want me to do?
• What would I attempt if I were sure the Holy Spirit would fill and enable me?

God word gave me encouragement “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline,” 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

There will always be challenges in overcoming fear. But as we wade into the river of fear and take one step at a time, God will part the water and we’ll find secure soil under our feet. And God will strengthen us as we dare to be an artist.

DARE to be honest about the world that is around you and within you.

DARE to go as far as the stars—and even farther.

DARE to go as deep as your own heart and the deeper heart of God.

~ Murray Pura at InScribe Fall Conference (2013)

Now over to you. What has God taught you about facing your fears?

InScribers Review: An Amish Family Christmas (Murray Pura)

 

 

Book Review by Vivia Oliver

An Amish Family Christmas

Author: Murry Pura
Publisher: Harvest House, 2013

Murry writes very good Christian fiction, true in detail and Biblical truth. The Amish belief that people should not participate in war time efforts can be very troublesome for some church leaders. Micah has felt a pull of God's spirit and done a good deed by going to the battlefield to save the injured as a medic. Would you follow a pull of the spirit that was against your minister's advice?

This explanation of the controversy in the rules of churches could lead a reader into the story. Many have interest in subjects of this kind.

But the church is tied to rules, so they shun him for his good deed. When he is gone to war his wife of a short time, Naomi, suffers the loss of her sister and parents in an accident at home. Her brother survives the wreck but can’t talk afterwards.

When Micah returns after his year of service, he is not allowed to talk to anyone because of his involvement in a war effort. He can live at the same house as his wife and sister but cannot communicate unless it is an emergency.

This shun continues until the ministers son has a serious accident near the home of Micah and Naomi. Micah rushes to the scene and saves the boy by his medical knowledge. The minister gets the message that this medic involvement in the war was a good thing, and finally removes the shun from Micah and allows the married couple to enjoy their marriage after all.

Removing the shun could cause division in the church, but all ends well, the Lord blesses Micah in the end.

Does your local congregation hold fast to rules that could discourage people from attending your church?

Crying Over Wants by Pamela Mytroen

There is a scene near the opening of Love Comes Softly (based on the best-selling novel by Janette Oke) where Marty can’t face marrying a man she has just met. She says, “I can’t do this. I just wanna go home.” Ben’s wife holds her shoulders and says, “Now listen to me. There is no place in this part of the country to waste your time crying over wants. Your life is about needs now.” Marty needed a roof over her head and safety throughout the winter. She was desperate. Now was not the time to give in to her wants.

As writers we also have dire needs. If we don’t write, we may not have a roof over our heads, either! Or perhaps there are other, less tangible, but vitally important needs. If we don’t write our Lord’s nurturing words, how will our hungry world be fed? If we give in to our wants instead of our needs, what kind of characters will we become?

I want to relax, I want to read a book, or call my daughters, or bake a pie! Really, I want to do anything but write. However, our world is in a season of deep need more than ever before. As a privileged Canadian I feel that my thankfulness demands a response, and that would be to practice self-control. To obey need rather than desire.

And so I must plant myself in the office chair and do what I need to do, not what I want to do. It is difficult at first and the words don’t come. A pathetic drivel of words starts to trickle, but I persevere. Little by little the routine turns into joy, and the love for writing steals over me again, softly.

Murray Pura had wise words for me when he signed this in the copy of his book: “It’s time to write now. Bake pies later.”

by Pamela Mytroen

My Takeaways from the 2013 ICWF Fall Conference - Ruth L. Snyder

This weekend I had the privilege of attending the InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship Fall Conference in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. I especially appreciated our keynote speaker, Murray Pura.

"Don't let anything be greater than the fact that you are a child of God!" (Advice given to Murray when he signed his first book contract.)

In his opening session, Murray gave us two personal examples of why it's important to persevere as a writer.

Mizzly Fitch
-This was Murray's first novel
-He sent queries out and received 3 rejection letters
-He wanted to quit sending queries, but his wife wouldn't let him
-The manuscript was accepted for publication, but Murray didn't like the cover
-The publisher was sold
-After waiting, he was told the new company would not be republishing the book
-After many years, Regent College offered to republish the book
-When they sent the cover art to Murray, he was startled to see they chose his favourite painting as the cover picture
-The book is still in print today

Zo
-Murray's second novel, based on two of his aunts
-Submitted manuscript
-Publisher rejected the book because the writing was "too good"
-Agent gave manuscript to 4 large publishers who all rejected it
-Another publisher liked the manuscript, but two experts had a problem with the Christian content
-Became a finalist in the Paraclete Contest
-Publisher offered to publish, but declined after 2 weeks
-20 years later, the book was finally published! and was shortlisted for a $25,000 prize
-The sequel was published two years later and won The Word Guild Award for best historical novel

Sunrise near Wetaskiwin on Saturday, September 29, 2013

Here are some of my favourite quotes from the weekend:

"You have to go for 'the long bomb'."

"God embodies everything he wants to teach us in story."

 "Treat your stories with respect and honour - you don't know where your stories will end up."

 "Take any decent opportunity that comes your way."

"Say, 'Yes I can' and do it 'afraid'."

 "Remember the cloud the size of a fist, which became a storm and filled the land with water."

"Remember that whenever you write a story, you're always writing for Christ."