Write His Answer

“Be strong and courageous and get to work. Don’t be frightened by the size of the task, for the Lord my God is with you; he will not forsake you. He will see to it that everything is finished correctly” (1 Chron. 28:20 TLB).

These words that King David spoke to his son, Solomon, when he commissioned him to build the Temple have again convicted and encouraged me. Even though I’ve been directing the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference since I founded it in 1983 and the Colorado Christian Writers Conference since 1997, I still struggle with feeling fearful and overwhelmed when it’s time to begin work on the conference websites. I admit it’s easier to procrastinate than to “get to work,” especially this year as I face the daunting task of learning Expression Web 4.

I am praising God for reminding me that He is with me and for the progress He enabled me to make today. Although I’ve still got tons to learn, I am trusting “He will see to it that everything is finished correctly.”

The continuing sessions, clinics, markets, cost, and lodging pages now have 2012 info. I’ve added four more editors to the faculty:

Robyn Burwell – Editor, Leafwood Publishing

Catherine Lawton – Publisher/Editor, Cladach Publishing

Nicola Martinez – Editor-in-Chief, Pelican Book Group (White Rose, Harbourlight)

Ginger Kolbaba – Editor, Kyria.com, Christianity Today

I’m also praising God for the exciting line-up of continuing sessions:

Surviving in the New Publishing World – Dave Lambert

Take Your Fiction to the Gym – Tim Shoemaker

Breakthrough Scriptwriting – Dr. Ted Baehr

Gift Books and Devotional Writing – Karen Moore

Narrative Nonfiction: Changing Culture Through the Power of True Stories – Craig von Buseck

Please, NO Pat Answers! – Lissa Halls Johnson, Sue Cameron, Liz Babbs

Marketing for the Promotionally-Challenged Author – Rob Eagar

Writing Suspense/Thrillers – Robert Liparulo

There’s still a huge amount of work to be done in order to open online registration February 1, but I’m trusting His promise that He will not forsake me.

Have you claimed a promise for your writing this year? Do you believe that He can use the words you will write to make a difference in the lives of your readers? Are you making it a priority to “get to work” or are you procrastinating?

Michael Hyatt, the former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, posted a helpful blog this week on 10 Practical Ways to Boost Your Energy Level.  His number one point was “Connect with God.” He wrote: “You were not created to function without a connection to God. He is the ultimate energy source. Trying to navigate life without Him is like trying to ride a motorcycle without starting the engine. You can do it, but it only works downhill. Unfortunately, a lot of life is uphill. The way I connect is by reading several passages from the Bible . . .”

James Duncan, a pastor who has attended the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, is challenging his congregation to read the Bible through more than once this year. His blog entry, “Reading the Bible – It Doesn’t Take Long” has some thought-provoking  facts I encourage you to consider and act on.

Father, thank You that I can choose to wallow in my self-doubts or to look to You and trust You to help me do what I could never do in my own strength. Thank You that the very best place to be is dependent on You.