Doors!

Are they open or closed?

As many of you know, the first book I wrote was “returned” (that’s a kinder word than “rejected”) 42 times over a five-year period. Finally, at the St. David’s Christian Writers Conference the 43rd editor expressed interest. A little over two months later, I signed a contract.

But what if I had not persevered? What if I had concluded that God  obviously must not have called me to write? What if I had given up?

• Eight other books would never have been written or published.
• I would have never known the joy of serving on the faculty of over 70 Christian writers conferences or giving my one- and two-day Write His Answer Seminars over 50 times across the United States.
• The Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference that I founded would not be in its 33rd year of ministry.
• I would not have had the opportunity to begin directing the Colorado Christian Writers Conference 20 years ago.

I will always be grateful to my pastor who urged me to go to the St. David’s Christian Writers Conference. He answered my objection that we couldn’t afford it by paying my way. Friends stepped in to  take care of my two children. And the rest, as they say, “is history.”

But this is not about me; it’s about our amazing God who promises:

His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. ~ Ephesians 3:20 TLB

It’s about how He enables me to do what I could never do in my own strength. It’s about how He continues to transform my self-doubts and fear that I won’t measure up (after all, I’m only a high school graduate) into a dependence on Him.

This is my work, and I can do it only because Christ’s mighty energy is at work within me. ~ Colossians 1:29 TLB

So, what about you? If doors appear to be closed, or worse still you feel they have been slammed in your face, will you give Him your discouragement? Will you choose to trust Him? Will you listen to His still, small voice rather than the loud accusations of the evil one that you’re not good enough, smart enough, gifted enough . . . ?

Will you keep on keeping on in His strength for His glory?

Conference Updates

Photos and bios of the 57 faculty members for the May 11-14 Colorado Christian Writers Conference are now online. Thank You, Father, for their willingness to come and invest in the Kingdom work You will accomplish through our conferees. And thank You, Father, for the incredible job Barb Haley has done in compiling charts of their editorial needs, areas of expertise, and genres for paid critiques.

I’m trusting Father will help me finalize the faculty for the August 3-6 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference and to begin posting info on the website that my friends at Celebration Web Design / SKWD Associates have redesigned to display on mobile devices. They will again be offering a discounted price at both conferences. I am so, so grateful for their expertise and ministry heart.

And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up. Galatians 6:9 TLB