Planting and Harvesting - Ruth L. Snyder

As I think about the outreach and ministry opportunities God has given me through my writing, the analogy of planting and harvesting comes to mind.

In 2014 and 2015, I had opportunities to have a larger amount of writing published. It seemed like every time I turned around, something new was waiting for me. In 2016, this hasn't been the case. My time and energy have been used up in other pursuits, which are as important as writing, if not more.

I still have many projects on my "to do" list, and I'm working on those projects as I have time. (One project is updating and combining the two Twitter books I wrote and publishing them in one volume in print and e-book format. Another is a gift book on the topic of hope, along with digital recordings of old hymns.)

However, this year seems to be a "planting" rather than a "harvest" time. I don't know about you, but I enjoy celebration more than times of preparation or darkness. However, we can't have the one season without the other.

Although my writing is not being published as much, God encouraged me lately that His words are getting out in other ways:

• My main role at present is that of Mom. Every day I have opportunities to share with my kids and live Jesus before them.
• My husband and I share the role of Sunday School Superintendent at our church. We teach children ages 2-14. It's a challenge to make God's Word practical. However, we have discovered that simple prizes motivate these kids to read the Bible and memorize verses, which we know will not return empty!
• I teach Music for Young Children to kids ages 2-8, and rub shoulders with their parents every week. These families share their challenges very openly and I have the opportunity to encourage them and give them ideas of things that work for me.
• One of my volunteer activities is serving as chair of our public K - grade 12 school council. A new Principal started working at our school in September 2015. One of the first things I did was tell her I was praying for her, even though I had no idea where she stood spiritually. We have built a solid friendship and an open working relationship. She often thanks me for my prayers and gives me specific things to pray about.
• My cell phone provides opportunities to send a quick text message to people who are too busy for a phone call. Many thank me for what I share.
• I enjoy putting pictures and text together (memes) and am able to share these on social media, in e-mails, and text messages. God encouraged me this year by allowing me to see that my memes from last year are still being shared by others.
• Facebook is a tool that enables me to connect with my extended family members and friends. People often comment about how much they appreciate what I post.
• Four times a year, I edit a newsletter for foster, adoptive, and kinship families in northeastern Alberta. Through this work, I have had the opportunity to share my beliefs and what keeps me going through the tough times. When cuts were made, I was told that Child and Family Services was frantically looking for a way to save the newsletter. And they did!
• This year I have offered to help coach other writers. I'm enjoying this more intentional way of helping others get their God-given message out.
• My work as President of InScribe provides opportunities to network with many people. Several of them have expressed amazement at what our organization accomplishes through volunteers.

Writing this post has been a good reminder for me that God's ways are not always our ways. Even though I have felt like I'm not accomplishing much as a writer this year, God is still at work in me and through me. My prayer is that I will be faithful, especially when I don't understand or see what He is accomplishing.

What about you? Has God been leading you down a different path? Let's trust Him to accomplish His purpose in and through us today and in the coming weeks and months. After all, He knows what each one of us needs, and He also knows what will best minister to the audience HE has called us to reach.

Branching Out by Karma Pratt

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5

As I look to this new year, and listen to what God is calling me to do as a writer and as a Christ follower, I am reminded to pray, listen, then act (no deviating from that order!) Without guidance from God first, I will get bogged down in trivial tasks. I already know I am easily distracted by the "oooh, shiny" things of life. I need not let my writing become mired in distraction and lack of focus too.

Knowing my limitations, I look to God to help me understand what my next step will be as a writer. God is always planting seeds in my mind and heart that lead me to the next project. In this season, I feel he is calling me to step out on a limb, and begin using blogging as a tool to consistently share my words and thoughts.

Some of the seeds God planted in me years ago are just now taking root. Little green shoots are beginning to poke through the soil. I feel more like a winter bulb experiencing an early thaw. Bring on the new life of springtime! I'm ready!

Most recently, these seeds have taken the form of a blogging series called The Passionate. Persistent. Vibrant. Life. Project. It's a brand new adventure that has been working within me for a long time, and is now beginning to surface.

It takes a leap of faith to begin something that requires vulnerability and honesty in the public domain. Vulnerability, by the way, is another way of saying "courage". Courage takes shape when we finally step forward, moving through our fear (or, perhaps, in spite of it) toward victory.

I'm excited to see how this blogging project helps shape my writing, and my life. As a non-fiction writer, I feel it's critical to experience life fully if I am ever to be able to write about life convincingly.

Some Practical Advice: 

I know I will be stretched in the days, weeks and months to come. To that end, God has set me up with some amazing teachers and tools that will help me hone the skills I need to follow through on this exciting adventure.

Some practical things I've learned recently include:

• 3 focused hours can do much more for you than 8 scattered ones. I have started planning my "focused" time in 20 minute blocks. I've seen an incredible upswing in productivity in the last week alone! I've also recognized where my personal inefficiencies lie, and will be able to fine-tune them out of my writing process. Three cheers for focus!
• While we're on the topic... Focus on one draft at a time. I have a terrible tendency to want to write a first draft, while simultaneously editing it, and preparing to publish immediately. Breaking down my schedule into smaller, focused time segments has forced me to do only one aspect of writing at a time.
  

I hope these tips will help you become more focused in your writing efforts this year as well. They have definitely helped me! 

I look forward to learning and growing alongside all the InScribe members throughout 2016.

Be blessed,
Karma

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Karma Pratt is a faith-driven mom of twins, a communicator, a writer, and an encourager from way back. She loves words, art, creativity, God, and people, although not necessarily in that order. 

You can find Karma online at redraincoatcreations.com or connect on Twitter, Facebook, & LinkedIn.
Check out the Passionate. Persistent. Vibrant. Life. Project and become a member of the PPVL Thrive Tribe!