Reflections on Planning by Sandi Somers

 

As I moved into the fall season this year, I began to pray in detail over each area that needs to be completed by Christmas. In my recent reading of our pastor’s sermon on Nehemiah, I rediscovered some principles for planning and preparation. 

First priority: we don't do anything until we take it to the Lord in prayer.

God often waits to answer until we ask Him in prayer (James 4:2).

Trust God. God can do what we cannot.

Always give God recognition first—gratitude for what He'll do.

Ask: “In what small way do You want me to accomplish something in Your kingdom?”

Launch yourself in God's direction and do what God calls you to do. 

The important key in light of this blog post is to keep my eyes focused on the Lord and His purpose and plans in what Matt Bell called “art life and lived life.”[i]  

Art Life:

My overall writing goal is to continue building a larger body of work.

Finish draft of my second book.    Continue engagement with InScribe—local writers’ group, write for monthly IWO, quarterly FS. Marketing/advertising for my first book—other authors have been great examples, and I’m receiving prompts from the Lord.

Lived Life:

·       House and garden. Complete fall garden work—planting any spring flowers/bulbs, cleanup by end of October when the ground freezes. Winter—focus on house tasks of sorting, organizing clutter, recycling extras, (continuous throughout winter)—I’ve asked the Lord to confirm the upgrading needs in my house. Work towards order. 

·       Relationships. Spend more time contacting others. Continue relationship with the Lord through continued Bible study, prayer. (The Lord brings so many ideas for writing through my time with Him.) 

·       Ministry areas. Continue volunteering at church. Lead monthly local writers’ group. Participate in our InScribe local group’s November 20 event, “Invitation to Wonder”. 

·       Contingency plans. Allow for unexpected events, emergencies, or health issues that may upend any plans. 

·       Relaxation. Attend monthly Christian Women’s Breakfasts (weather permitting). Enjoy my yard and garden. Walk. Read. Slot in weekly artist’s dates (to engage the senses—drive into the country, take photos, visit a friend, etc). Discover and journal a daily highlight. 

·       Celebrations with gratitude. Honour accomplishments, both small and major. Honour the Lord in all I do.

Some items in this list can look daunting. The Lord knows what plans are feasible and will guide me. This reading from In Touch Ministries challenged me:

“Following God often takes us through unfamiliar territory, but He is faithful to lead us into His good plans…When God challenges us beyond our self-determined limits, He isn’t testing us—He’s inviting us into a higher level of trust…Each new step of surrender is an opportunity to experience His faithfulness in ways we haven’t yet imagined.”[ii]

I conclude with a quote from Ezra which challenges all of us: “I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me” (Ezra 7:28 ESV).

 

Image by Pixabay

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[i] Matt Bell, (Refuse to be Done, NY: Soho Press, 2022), 27-31. 

[ii] https://www.intouchcanada.org/read/daily-devotions#:~:text=Growing%20in%20Trust,September%207%2C%202026 

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.

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.

The Beauty of an "Awe Walk" by Sandi Somers

I awakened early and felt an urge to go for a pre-dawn walk that morning of June 14, 1995, to one of my favourite Calgary nature areas—Weaselhead. It was a thickly-treed area that I so enjoyed hiking every so often. The sky was clouded over and there was a possibility of rain, so I wore my raincoat.

As I began my walk, I breathed in the fresh earthy fragrance and absorbed the idyllic atmosphere of trees whose leaves had recently burst into their green June fullness.

Raindrops began to fall. Softly they landed on tree leaves—music to my ears. I pulled my jacket hood over my head and heard the gentle drops.

Just then a least flycatcher with his characteristic "che-bek" began to sing beside my pathway. He was hidden among the tree leaves and I had to carefully search to spot this tiny brown bird, smaller than even a house wren (photo and song here).

Something about that beautiful moment inspired such great awe that I couldn't express my feelings. Eventually I discovered that the Psalms would give me words for what I could not say. I especially loved Psalm 104, savoring the eloquent word choices and imagery. The beauty and grandeur of God almost took my breath away.

O Lord my God, how great you are!

You are robed with honor and majesty.

You are dressed in a robe of light….

You make springs pour water into the ravines,

So streams gush down from the mountains.

They provide water for all the animals…

The birds nest beside the streams

And sing among the branches of the trees…

My walk that morning has been an example of what Professor Virginia Sterm called an "awe walk", or a beauty excursion, walking in nature with the intention of tapping into something that brings a sense of wonder.

(NOTE: A beauty excursion can also be to other places—an art gallery of majestic paintings, a museum, a bookstore where you find a gem, a Christmas craft sale where you discover beautiful wood carvings…)

The question is: How can we capture beauty in our writing through nature “awe walks” or other beauty excursions? Writing can deepen our experience as we take photos, journal, write a poem, compose a song, or add to an article. Here are several angles:

- Engaging our senses sharpens our attention and “thickens” our writing, to use Carol Shields’ concept. Writing the scene as fully as possible makes a good story that captivates our readers’ attention and imagination.

- Including metaphors and unique verbs improves the variety and quality of our sentences and makes our writing sing.

- Marvelling on the wonder gives us an emotional boost. Psychologists say that wonder, joy, beauty, and awe bring down such things as anxiety, depression, stress, anger, and fatigue while increasing restorative effects such as vitality, vigor, and positive emotions. As we give ourselves a moment to feel joy and calm or excitement and amazement, we can attempt to write our emotional responses in these transcendent moments.

- Giving time to write of our gratitude and worship our Creator God is a necessary component. As we delight in our Lord, the beauty of nature and of our relationship with Jesus flourishes in our lives and writing. Doing so enables us to discover a spiritual meaning, a universal truth that our readers can relate to. William Blake wrote an eloquent poem on discovering the universal truth when he wrote:

To see a World in a Grain of Sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand

And Eternity in an hour.

The author Harold Best advised: “Remember that God makes things beautiful from the inside out…elegant …Join up with the mind of the One in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”[i]

As we write to engage beauty, our lives can have a great impact. I’m reminded of someone who said that the testimony of a survivor of Cambodia’s Killing Fields was “something beautiful for God.”

God is developing us into a beautiful work of art and faith. A faith that fuels trust and hope. Pay attention to how you experience God’s presence and tell how beautifully He is working in your life.

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.

[i] Michael Card, (Scribbling in the Sand, Downers Grove, IL, IVP, 2002), 123-124.

Top Image by Pixabay

A Variety of Writing Spaces by Sandi Somers

 

I once read an article about all the gymnastics the author Vivian Gornick did to set herself up to write her book. She needed the perfect desk, the perfect light, the perfect life. While she busied herself with all these preparations, the time for writing never came.

“Relatable, right?” the article went on to say. “The truth is, you can write anywhere, anyhow, on scraps of paper, while you are bored, miserable, or half dead. So sit down and write your book.” (Thanks also to Lorrie for her delightful poem on how she can write anywhere).

My writing spaces (among others)

I begin in the early mornings at my kitchen table for my quiet time with the Lord. In the coziness of a small space, it feels intimate. My mind is clear and not yet filled with the day’s responsibilities. Often I encounter a new gold nugget from deep in the Lord’s treasure house, and an idea sparks for a devotional or article. I write an outline-of-sorts and then dictate the pre-draft or draft into my cellphone to be later transferred and developed into a Word document.

Then I move to my dining room table where I revise or edit. Why the table? My current home has a small office with a north-facing window. When I first moved here, I wrote in that office. One spring morning, I emerged from my writing to sit in the sunshine on my east-facing porch. “I can’t continue to write in there—it’s too closed in!” I told myself. After experimenting with different rooms, I chose the table in my large living room with a window to the east. Occasionally I look up from my work, and my spirit expands to the world around me—snow, sunshine, and at this season, tree leaves budding out.

From spring to autumn, I walk to a nearby park or pond (that’s the photo above). Walking helps me process prayers, life issues, and gives me writing ideas or solutions.

At night ideas can flow in that in-between sleeping and waking state. I turn on the light and scribble a few notes, or even an outline, in a notepad I keep beside my bed. Very often these ideas are significant, and writing solidifies what might dissipate by morning.

I also write notes during church services and while waiting for my doctor’s or dentist’s appointment.

Why do authors choose their writing spaces?

I love reading about how famous writers designate a specific time and place to give focused attention to their work. Check out Nicole Bianche’s article here.

● To ensure they won’t get distracted.

Maya Angelou needed a sterile space away from home. She rented a hotel room, stripped any artwork from the walls, and wrote.

I couldn’t be like Annie Dillard who wrote in a dark room. She even said the children playing a game outside would distract her, so she pulled down the blinds and drew a picture of the children. My question was: Does she have ADHD? Is she easily distracted? (I shiver to even think of writing in this darkness!)

● To establish routines to heighten motivation

Ernest Hemingway said he sharpened 12 pencils first thing in the morning. As a writer before the computer age, he needed to be prepared for his day’s work.

The prolific Isaac Asimov kept five or six typewriters in his writing room, each for a separate book he was working on. When he began for the day, he would choose a topic, go to that specific typewriter, slide in a blank paper, and type his many words. (We can equal that. With our computers, we can click from one project to another in seconds.).

● To focus, despite spatial limitations.

Jane Austen of Pride and Prejudice wrote from the table in their house, a house with parents, five daughters, and servants. When guests arrived, she’d tuck her draft pages under a book and be sociable.

Authors with small children adapt. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a major influence on freeing slaves in the US, often with a child on her lap. Our Canadians Karen Stiller and Patricia Paddy initially had to clear away someone’s artwork or homework before they could begin. When making a business call, they hoped the little ones would be quiet long enough before yelling, “Mom!”

Conclusion

No matter where we write, we write for the Lord. I’m often reminded of Psalm 45:1: “My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.” And as Dallas Willard said, “you must arrange your days so that you are experiencing deep contentment, joy, and confidence in your everyday life with God.[i]


[i] Dallas Willard, in Patricia Paddy & Karen Stiller, (Craft, Cost & Call, Victoria, BC: Friesen Press, 2019), 97

The Resource of Shimmering Images by Sandi Somers

Writers occasionally talk about where we get ideas and inspiration for our writing, but we don’t usually think of them as being a writing resource. Yet they are!

Inspiring ideas are so important that the writer Lisa Dale Norton called them “shimmering images”. She explains:

“A shimmering image is one of those memory pictures you’ve had for years.” It is “a memory that rises in your consciousness like a photograph pulsing with meaning ….You have thousands of these images inside yourself.” They stay with you. You can’t get them out of your mind. “They have energy….these images flitting into consciousness are stories waiting to happen.”[i]

Let’s unpack “shimmering images” and their implications for our writing.

Shimmering images can spring from all five senses

While the idea of “images” brings to mind the sense of sight, they’re also driven by the other senses. The aroma of baking bread reminds me of coming home from school with the house filled the delicious fragrance of my mom’s baking that day, and I couldn’t wait to bite into a piece and taste it. I love the feel of the sun’s warmth on my face as I step outside on a warm April morning. I can be absorbed in my thoughts, but when a bird sings, my attention is immediately drawn to the sound of its melody. Yet these experiences are almost always accompanied by sight.

Shimmering moments take us back to the context of our experience

We see our younger selves as we were then, where we were, and the mystery that surrounded us. For example, in a spiritually transformative event in Colombia, I was debating: should I go home to Canada and stay? or should I go home for a break and return to Colombia to engage in wider mission work? I remember where I was in the missionary guest house, sitting on a rocking chair, feeling the overhead fan blow cooling breezes onto me, and hearing the parrot announce, “Tobito! To-BI-to!” as Tobito the cat strolled into his line of vision. I recalled the sacred silence that followed, and knew my place was back in Canada. It was a powerful moment.

Shimmering images can even occur in an unexpected thought

I think of Tolkien. As a professor in Oxford University, he was marking student papers, and out of nowhere popped the thought that went something like this—“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” He said he had no idea where the idea came from, nor what a hobbit was, nor what he’d do with it. However, the image went on to become a major driving force for writing The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Shimmering images can arise from all areas of life

Everyday events, from ordinary to breathtaking, become charged with significance. My years growing up in rural Alberta, my hobbies such as reading, gardening, skiing in winter, quilting, and bird watching have all inspired shimmering images.

Farther afield, I lived in Colombia, travelled to other countries, and taught English to immigrants and refugees from 130 countries. Not only have I grown in understanding of many people, their customs, and beliefs, these experiences have given me a wider world view and new shimmering images that energize my writing.

Shimmering images have great emotional impact

It has been said that we remember significant moments because of their emotional impacts. Something startles us, makes us laugh, gives us joy or awe. Or we remember our hurts, a difficult relationship, our rise of anger when we see injustice. All these emotional impacts give shimmering images their power, and according to Norton, are the source of our most potent stories.

Shimmering images can lead to universal themes that touch the hearts of our readers

Our stories can become effective bridges between us and our readers. Readers may not experience the same situations we write about. But larger themes leap off the page and embed themselves into their lives—themes such as hope, forgiveness, healing, growth in our relationship with the Lord, answers to prayer, and more.

And that is why we write. From the heart of shimmering images to the greater themes that touch people’s lives, the Lord asks us to be His co-writers, sharing His greater story. “Go…and tell (others) what great things the Lord has done for you…” Jesus said (Mark 5:19).

In this way we share His love and redemption to a world that so desperately needs Him.

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 in several genres—devotionals, personal essays, and Biblical fiction. Sandi lives in Calgary, Alberta, the delightful city between the Rocky Mountains and the Prairies.

[i] Lisa Dale Norton, (Shimmering Images: A Handy Little Guide to Writing Memoir, New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2008), 28-29.

Image by Yuri_B by Pixabay

Best Writerly Advice by Sandi Somers

I thought long and hard about the question of receiving advice for my writing. I knew there wasn’t one piece that stood out and transformed my thinking. Instead, there have been a number along the way. Here is a selection.


Long before I devoted significant time to writing and publishing, I journaled my experiences in Colombia. Then later when beginning to teach ESL, one teacher recommended I journal; it was the best advice I received at that time. These two cross-cultural experiences were some of the most fulfilling of my life. I have kept my journal from Colombia and have referenced it in writing articles. With my ESL journal, I now have binders full of ideas, experiences, and relationships with my students. Such writing gave me practice in fluency and in capturing many significant details which complement my current memories—or have forgotten.

In 2011, I joined InScribe. One article in the FellowScript magazine, “Running on Empty”, by Loreen Guenther, brought to my attention that our mental, physical, and emotional energies can become depleted as we write. Restoring our creativity can be as simple as going for a walk or doing the laundry. I’ve found that once my mind relaxes, ideas often spring to mind. Also, leaving a work for days, weeks, even months or longer, (when possible), gives me a fresh perspective when I return to the work, viewing it with new eyes. (Thank you, Laureen!)

In one particular writers’ workshop, the speaker recommended planning in 12-week segments. While yearly planning helps with longer range goals, so many things can come in to interrupt the process, for example illness, family emergencies, or an unexpected trip. With a shorter timeline, I notice I focus more on what I can reasonably accomplish. I can more easily plan my work and then work my plan.

Valuable advice came from Grace Fox in an InScribe Fall Conference one year. These days, a lot of emphasis is on marketing, more so as we write for independent publishers. Yet the Lord reminded her—and us—that our writing responsibility is to “Feed my sheep”, as Jesus told Peter to do. I learned that as I concentrate on writing messages the Lord gives me, He will direct me to marketing strategies as my writing expands.

In regards to praying for our writing and our readers, I’m often drawn to what Janette Oke said, that she saturates her writing with prayer. She challenged me to pray for the overall purposes of my works-in-progress, and for my daily needs, such as solving a particular issue in what I’m working on. And to pray for my readers. Just yesterday the Lord asked me to envision and pray for as-yet-unknown readers to respond to specific articles.

This brings me to the best advisor of all: The Lord Himself. He gives me specific ideas, ways to develop my writing, time to write, and even nudges when I’m procrastinating. Then there are Scriptures, such as His advice to me to “Launch out into the deep,” which is my verse for the year. He's encouraging me to be bold and expand my horizons in new ways.

Listening and following advice from significant others and the Lord will guide me in fulfilling His purposes for my life and writing. This is my best advice to you, too. Make it yours.

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 in several genres—devotionals, personal essays, and Biblical fiction. Sandi lives in Calgary, Alberta, the delightful city between the Rocky Mountains and the Prairies.

(My apologies for no photos--after my computer returned from being off-line, many of my other features were scrambled or not available. I've been travelling and so haven't been to Best Buy to get things sorted out.)

A Letter to My Future Self by Gloria Guest

The first questions I have when I think of you: Who are you now? How old you are? How are you feeling? Are you happy?

Happiness is elusive though and your present and past selves have certainly learned that. It comes and goes based on life circumstances, unlike joy that remains deep inside in spite of them. My present and past selves are no expert on joy either though…I’ve had it at times…but I’ve struggled so much to hold onto it.

But let’s stick with you…my future self. You too seem elusive. Why then do I choose to write to you? Maybe because I’ve written a lot about my younger self and some about my present, but never about you, my future. Setting goals has never been my strong suit but if I’m to connect with you, from the place I sit in the present, I sort of need to set some. How else can I even begin to imagine who you might be? Or help you be who you want to be? Sandi Somers's post, writing about how she wrote to her future self, and asking herself some key questions, was a big help to me. I’ve attempted to answer those questions myself. Thanks Sandi.

‘What would I attempt if I were sure the Lord were with me infusing me with wisdom, love courage and strength?’ Big question. Short answer is that I would attempt to finish that memoir that has been hanging around in my life since around 2005.

‘What obstacles seem to be standing in my way?’ Well that’s easy. It’s me. My fear specifically. And the specific things I need for God to give me beyond the courage and wisdom that Sandi mentions to help me, is less of me and more of Him.

The steps I need to take? Oh right. There are steps. This is where I stumble. I look too far ahead. Fear of what others will ‘think’ of me. Fear of how family will respond. Fear is likely my first big step I have stumbled on over and over again. My memoir is a complicated story of family dysfunction and abuse, festering wounds that led to my mother’s early death and a sister's suicide; a lifelong difficult journey of healing for myself. It’s not comfortable but still a story I think needs telling. Some voices do not quiet down until they are told. I had no voice as a child and my sister didn’t either.

Here in my memoir I attempt to blend her voice with mine and God's redeeming love with the painful fact that some things aren’t fixed this side of heaven. Back to the steps though…

-One day at a time….I can write for ‘now’ without thinking about the ‘future’. Someday perhaps the now will meet up the future when I ever get it published. Focus on the now.

-Schedule a writing time for just ‘memoir’ writing preferably once a week. If I can’t write on my memoir I can journal.

-Journal every day. That is where the best ‘stuff’ of memoir comes from; free flowing thought even if it’s from other places and happenings.

-Prayer. This memoir will never happen without prayer, and I have lacked in that department. Perhaps I think that if I don’t pray, I won’t have to do it. But God’s promptings to write are steadfast. I need to pray. And perhaps have others pray with me. Spiritual warfare as our family has found out in the last couple of years is very real.

‘How is the Lord prompting me now to step out in risk?’ This very letter has been the prompt I needed. In the past few years I’ve slipped back into depression and have allowed a lot of my motivation to slide downhill. I’ve read and learned much about depression in my past and understand just how complicated it is, with no easy answers. Yet sometimes I read something that connects with where ‘I’ am at and believe to be true about ‘me’. One thing I read was when we aren’t living true to our self and aligning with the purposes that God has placed on our hearts, depression often then comes in the door. That rings true for me in this time and in this place….

So dear future self; as you’ve stepped forward into the purpose that you believed God has set before you, you were not alone. Every battle you have fought in your past has produced a strength and resilience in you that drew on to write what you were called to. In my present I smile to think of you lowering your pen deep into the ink well of God’s grace and mercy; laying by the green pastures and still waters He has prepared for you as you write the tough stuff that has forged you into who you are. You lean heavily on your Shepherd who you understand now has many times left the one hundred to find you; clinging to the side of a cliff or deep in a hole; but He’s always found you and brought you back. I believe you understand more than you do now how He loves you with a Father’s love. You are His and He alone carries you now, your present, and your past yet.

“His mercies are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:23)

Gloria writes from a small prairie town in southern Saskatchewan; coming full circle back to her husband's home town where they farmed for many years. She refers to herself as a bit of gypsy due to her many moves to various towns, cities, and provinces throughout her lifetime and draws from those varied places and experiences heavily in not only her memoir writing but other genres too. She loves the prairie crocus and sunsets and sunrises, the grandeur of the northern Alberta forest, the charm and quaintness and beautiful rivers of her southern Ontario roots.

Time Capsule: A Letter to My Future Self by Sandi Somers

February 12, 2026

To my future self in December 2026,

I have a special Christmas card and letter for you to open in December, 2026. It’s sealed like a time capsule and is my gift to you—a review of your year.

I’ll give you the background to the letter, as a trailer-of-sorts.

In my yearly plans in January, the Lord gave me a special verse: “Launch out into the deep.” (Luke 5:4). I was also reminded of Paul’s words: “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10).

I began with brainstorming all the things I’d like to accomplish this year. Then with that list, I asked myself:

· What would I attempt if I were sure the Lord were with me infusing wisdom, love, courage, and strength?

· What obstacles seem to be standing in my way?

· What specific things do I need to ask God to give me?

· What are some steps I need to take to get there? (List several)

· Where/how is the Lord prompting me now to step out in faith and risk?

I also included a quote from Lloyd John Ogilvie, one of my favourite authors, who wrote the book, The Lord of the Impossible: “Ask God to help you dare to risk attempting something He’s revealed He wants you to be and do.”

So as you open my card and read my letter, you'll find many questions about my life in 2026. They include such questions as: “What did you risk, and with what results? (Conversely, what risks did you not take, and with what results?) What surprised you? What was your greatest success of the year?” Unexpected events and situations often come up during the year, and my questions included: “What were they and how did you handle them? How did they influence your writing?” “How and where did you most honour the Lord this year?”

Before I get carried away with the questions, just a reminder to note that it will be important to assess what you learned from this process, and what takeaways you can offer for my plans and writing in 2027.

With love from your younger self,
Sandi

PS—I’ve tucked the Christmas card and letter in all my notes for the InScribe Writers’ Online blog. You’ll find it in the “December” notes.

 

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. Sandi lives in Calgary, Alberta, the delightful city between the Rocky Mountains and the Prairies, where she enjoys God’s beauty through walking and driving in nature, gardening in season, reading, and connecting with extended family and friends.

                                                                

The Gift of Journaling by Sandi Somers

 

It is necessary to write, if the days are not to slip emptily by.

Vita Sackville-West

Write the vision.

Habakkuk 2:2

Hello readers and writers!! It seems strange to write near mid-month. Since I began posting in 2014, I’ve been either the lead writer off the top or near the top.

It’s been a delight to read your posts so far. You’ve included so many touching moments of intimate encounters with God through journalling and how He has spoken to you and brought you wisdom, insight, and healing.

Years ago I wrote an IWO post about journals, giving readers an overview of different types of journals and writers’ notebooks. But this time I’ll describe my current journals and what they mean to me now.

Bible Study journal. My day begins early, spending valuable time with the Lord in in-depth Bible studies. As He illuminates my understanding, I journal issues and thoughts from daily questions or issues. Very often I find a spark that jumpstarts a personal story and a devotional slant that I later write to help my future readers recognize the great treasure they can discover in their Christian faith.

A chronological journal, which I’ve kept for years, is a mixture of daily events, sometimes the Lord’s words to me, and working out issues in my life. Right now, like Bob Jones, I often write commentary on what's going on in the world, and including my prayers gives me an opportunity to hear the Lord’s heart for world and national events.

However, I’ve noticed that when I’m sorting out sometimes-crucial personal experiences, I write my tangled thoughts on separate pieces of paper. Somehow, I need extra privacy for this process. Eventually, when the issue has been resolved, I toss out my notes as I place the situation in God’s hands.

Everyday touches. A number of years ago while reading a farming newspaper magazine that my brothers receive, I enjoyed a weekly column by a State Senator and rancher from North Dakota who for a time wrote “Cowboy Logic”. He didn’t focus on his government duties. Instead, he wrote incidents from everyday life around the ranch that involved his family, neighbours, friends—and animals.

His column inspired me to write about my own everyday occurrences. Sometimes my content is factual as I practice writing scenes with a meaningful twist at the end. Other times I become lyrical and poetic as I capture a magical or significant moment, like the time I glanced out my window to see houses in my cul-de-sac reflecting the glow of late afternoon winter sun. Writing these incidents prompts me to pay attention to treasured moments. It also develops a memory bank where I sometimes lift important points for a devotional reading or inclusion in an article.

This year I’ve added another important notebook—a process journal of plans for my writing. Often thoughts and ideas for projects come unexpectedly. It is helping me to gather those ideas into an organized system. So far I’ve included a section on my quarterly/yearly plans, weekly Business Meetings with God, discoveries, and plans for the next week. I also have a section on ideas for both upcoming FellowScript articles and each IWO monthly blog.

Other journals and notebooks. I keep a small notebook in my purse for ideas and takeaways from important conversations or talks at meetings. Another in my car for when I hear a radio comment or sentence relevant to one of my works in progress; I try to retain the memory until the next red light when I can make that notation. Travel journals are significant for new sights, experiences, and relationships.

Each journal entry is a gift to myself and an offering to the Lord: nuggets of resonance and truth. I’m reminded of what Marion Roach Smith, a memoir coach, said: “Write…key moments. They could be reframed and become the content for new works. Capture brief moments before their magic and significance flutter away in the winds of time.”


Image by Pixabay

The COVID Grinch Who Tried to Steal Christmas by Sandi Somers

In 2020, COVID-19 turned our lives upside down. As Christmas approached, there were no live concerts or special events to attend. Shopping was curtailed. Without the usual pre-Christmas activities, I walked around the neighbourhood in the early evenings to enjoy bright Christmas lights. All white at one house, multicoloured at another, red and green at still another.

By mid-December, with COVID cases rising in Alberta, our premier limited Christmas dinners to only one or two persons outside the household. This meant that our extended family dinner of up to 22 people would be cancelled. I stayed home alone.

I had been thinking about doing something special for my neighbours in our cul-de-sac. The COVID lockdown in the spring had brought us together out on the street, chatting and getting to know each other better. So as Christmas neared, I thought of extending good-will by baking cookies for each family. My first reaction was – would people be afraid of home cooked food carrying COVID germs? But the more I turned it over in my mind, the more I received prompts which I know came from the Lord—a message at church, online lists of unique Christmas gifts, and even a suggestion in a magazine.

The Sunday before Christmas, our cul-de-sac was torn by grief. We received news that my next-door neighbour Darrell had died in a freak accident. He had been kite surfing at the family cottage when a gust of wind blew him up, and then when the wind died, he fell. Hard. On his stomach. He was airlifted to an Edmonton hospital but passed away. It was a dark time for his wife, Stacey, and her three children, and by extension, all of us in our cul-de-sac. We showered the family with love and food, letting them know we cared.

Could this be the way the Grinch of COVID Christmas would steal meaning to our darkest time of the year?

A day later, snow began falling just before dusk. And falling. And falling. Early next morning while it was still dark, I went out to clear off my driveway. Oh! My! Goodness! The snow was heavy and deep. Several neighbours across the street banded together to shovel and push a car that was parked along the street—someone would be late for work! People brought out their shovels and snow blowers and began clearing their driveways. The owners surrounding the widest circle of the cul-de-sac piled the snow into one huge snowbank in the middle—a perfect playground for the children.

I kept watching the activity as I shovelled, throwing the snow up to the ever-increasing ridges beside my driveway. I tired out when I was only half finished, so I came inside for breakfast. When I returned, my next-door neighbour Don volunteered to finish with his snowblower.

It was a delightful morning. Neighbours helping neighbours.

Meanwhile, I had been baking Christmas cookies. Then the day before Christmas, I gift-wrapped them and wrote Christmas notes, especially thanking each household that had decorated their houses and yards with lights. I was surprised as so many thanked me. Before I was finished, Liana across the street texted that her children were already eating and loving the cookies. No fear of COVID germs there! The Italian family wished me a "Buon Natale." Janice said that I made her day.

On Christmas Eve, Karen next door brought over a Ukrainian dinner—her husband Don has Ukrainian heritage--cabbage soup, buns, pierogies, cabbage rolls, haddock, Kucha, wheat dessert, turtle brownies and two peanut butter cups. What a sweetheart! While eating, I watched online the replay of my usual Christmas Eve service—but this time attended by only a few people.

On Christmas day, our cul-de-sac was unusually quiet, with almost no traffic and smaller than usual dinners. Kids and neighbours dropped off thank you gifts, saying how much they appreciated my hospitality.

The next evening, Karen brought over a traditional Christmas dinner—lovely turkey and ham with all the accoutrements—enough for two meals. I did have a moment of emotion to know I wouldn't be with family this year, even though I had arranged a Zoom meeting with everyone the next day, our usual 26th family dinner.

For the rest of the evening, I listened to The Messiah and other Christmas CDs and knew that Christmas was not cancelled, just delightfully different.

What the Grinch of COVID didn’t understand was that our isolated world needed love, kindness, and neighbourliness. He did not understand that God was still with us. Nor did he understand that the darker the time, the brighter the light shines.

He could not steal our Christmas.

Sandi Somers writes personal essays and inspirational articles on how God reveals Himself to us in both small and strategic events. When winter approaches, she enjoys writing Christmas-related stories to send to her loved ones. Sandi writes from her home in Calgary, Alberta.

Stronger Together: A Community of Writers by Sandi Somers

 

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NIV)

As you sit at your desk typing your next paragraph or page, do you ever think that this solitary activity is only part your writing life?

What’s another part?

It’s your involvement in community. It’s one of the greatest values in a writer’s life.

All of us need to surround ourselves with a network of writing friends, other Christians who give each other caring support, stability and strength—and friendship.

"Without constant communion with other believers to refresh their eternal perspectives," wrote Jordan Raynor in a blog post, "Tolkien may have never completed The Lord of the Rings and Lewis may have never finished The Chronicles of Narnia. Like these creators before us, we need regular communion with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to renew our minds and refresh the lenses through which we view the world as we work."

My beginnings with InScribe

I realized how important community was when I joined InScribe in 2012. My first conference was spiritually refreshing, as the speaker and workshop leaders helped me to learn the craft of writing. It also opened up my life to new friendships and opportunities.

I gradually became more involved, entering fall contests and serving as secretary. Then I was asked to be lead writer for this IWO blog, coming up with new prompts and writing the first post every month. The prompts stretched my imagination and writing skills and helped me look at new ways of thinking about my faith and writing. All through the nearly 12 years I’ve been posting here, I’ve been encouraged by others who write supportive comments and reflect on how something I’ve said relates to their own situations and stimulates their own growth.

Developing community

About nine years ago, another opportunity for community opened up. I began leading an InScribe local writers’ group. I had made a couple of attempts earlier, but now the Lord prompted me to begin again. In our first meetings, we all didn’t know each other and we felt tentative. Gradually as our comfort level improved, we began critiquing each other’s writing, sharing successes, and praying for each other.

During the COVID-19 shutdown, we met via Zoom meetings—a more challenging and limiting endeavour. When restrictions were lifted, it was so refreshing to meet in person, and we spent most of the first meeting catching up with each other!

How community has made a difference

Since that time we’ve grown, and I’m amazed at how we’ve become friends, have helped each other with writing. As we critique each other’s work—fiction, nonfiction, and poetry—we’ve gained ability to give insights and suggest strategies in the different genres. Each writer brings special skills in areas such as editing, coaching, sharing spiritual insights, and providing encouragement when we have questions about the writing process.

At our last monthly meeting, I looked around at our writers and was surprised at how much we’ve expanded our repertoire. For each other, we’ve been beta readers, editors, layout and cover designers. We’ve become almost a complete publishing industry in ourselves.

We’ve also begun a three-times-a-year group writers’ retreat, where we meet for a day at a designated location. We’re freed from home responsibilities and distractions so that we can give concentrated time to our writing projects.

Our lives, too, have strengthened each other as we’ve progressed through personal obstacles, challenges, and opportunities. Recently we’ve all had critical family or personal health issues or family complexities. In our time together and at home, we’ve devoted more thought in praying for each other.

Our connections have become more strategic as we’ve become encouragers who help each other find courage to become the people and writers God intends us to be.

Conclusion

All writers need a positive community to flourish, where our writing is respected and nourished. Such a community is crucial to our success as writers and growth as persons.

What about you? How have your writing communities helped you to become stronger together?

 

Sandi Somers is always challenged by new topics and ways to approach writing. She also explores ways to encourage others as she writes about seasonal activities, prayer, God's marvels in the world and in writers, and ways to grow our spiritual lives. She writes from her home in Calgary.

Accomplish More, Work Less! by Sandi Somers

 

Have you ever wished you could accomplish so much more with your writing? The Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci gave us a clue in the above quote. How can we do that?

I was first introduced to this idea as a young writer with an article entitled, “One Idea, Seven Articles”. It suggested that you can send the same item to seven different sources, possibly revising content to match the focus of the magazines. The writer added that in the process, you’ll find different readers and expand your influence. (Now with technology, we have greater possibilities—an audiobook, podcast, e-book, speaking engagements, a course, a coaching.)

Here are several ways I’ve reduced, reused, and recycled articles for a greater purpose.

Reorganize. One of the highlights of the Covid season was going birding on Sunday mornings when our church was closed and when we were restricted from many activities. In the short time following, It was delightful to write three different items on my birding experiences —two articles and one devotion (all published).

Re-enlarge an article/idea. For example, I’ve written short devotions that were published in The Upper Room or other devotional booklets. Later I added more content for our IWO blog posts. I’m now in the process of expanding the stories into book chapters to delve deeper into details.  I could even incorporate parts in a podcast or speaking engagement.

Recover nuggets from oldies. In an article published long ago, I imaginatively recounted Robert Louis Stevenson’s childhood experiences of writing the poem, “The Land of Storybooks”. With almost no changes, it much later became a perfect lead-in to an article on reading.

Remain on hold. It’s always a good idea to set aside an article or book to germinate. When I’ve done this, returning to it months (and even years) later, I could see it with a different perspective and knew how to complete it successfully.

Retread or reject? Car tires can be retreaded (not that I’d choose to retread mine), or at some stage they need to be discarded. In writing, I’ve sometimes considered whether to bring an old idea to life or let it die. Wisdom is needed to know the difference.

Reduce clutter. Although this strategy doesn’t reuse material in a new way, it improves efficiency. I knew I needed to become more efficient in what I call “pre-drafts” and first drafts. Previously, I had a habit of over-researching some backgrounds, writing several first attempts and then letting them sit in my computer files.  With time, I’ve become more competent in writing drafts so that I don’t have as much clutter in my folders.

Rethink for efficiency. Years ago I entered a contest that required 800 words maximum. But my good draft was 1150 words (without an introduction or conclusion!!). My goodness! How could I reduce it? First, I deleted chunks—repeated ideas, a paragraph or two, or an unnecessary sentence. This process enabled me to see more clearly the main points I was trying to emphasize. I still wasn’t down to 800 words. So next I focused on the smaller points: deleting individual words or changing phrasing. Finally, I reached 800 words—and won the contest! This process has stood me in good stead in my writing and in coaching others.

Research and brainstorm for new possibilities. I’ve asked myself, “How can I reorganize or slant an item to bring new life? How can I stretch beyond my comfort zone to attempt something new?” I’m so thankful the Lord injects new ideas, new ways of writing.

Reveal?  Now over to you. You’ve poured yourself into works of art/writing. What does accomplishing more and working less reveal? It means you can:

·       Save your energy for new ideas

·       Reach a wider audience and influence more people

·       Increase your skills as you revise or adapt your work

·       Expand your horizons 

Reflect. In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. The wise servants increased the earnings their master initially gave them. With the talent and ability the Lord gives us, we can faithfully aim to use our “R” concepts to work less and accomplish more of His purposes, and to reach a wider world that needs our words. 

Image by Colter Reed