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Archive for the ‘Called to write’ Category

So what’s the big deal about writers’ conferences?

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Publishing journey on July 12, 2012| 2 Comments »

 Guest blogger – Margie Vawter

So what’s the big deal about writers’ conferences? They’re a big investment of my time and money. Are they worth it? And aren’t they all the same? What’s in it . . . for me?

Ever asked these questions? I hear them (or some similar) over and over on various writers loops and forums I’m a part of . . . or I get them by e-mail, on my Facebook page, or in person.

I’ve been attending writers’ conferences nearly twenty years now, and I’ve made a few observations during that time.

First, not all conferences are created equal. For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of being a published author. After my daughter was born, I felt the Lord’s nudging to do something about it. I applied for and was accepted into the classes from The Institute of Children’s Literature where I got my first glimpse into the world of writing conferences. But those were secular, and some of the reports of the competitiveness and backbiting that came from those were discouraging.

Then I heard of an ACW (American Christian Writers) conference only three hours from our home in central Illinois. Trusting the Lord, hubby and I cut some more corners on our already tight budget and I was able to go.

At that first conference, God solidified His calling on me to write—something that is reaffirmed every time I attend a conference.  In addition to receiving confirmation of the Lord’s calling, I’ve found great encouragement and support at the conferences I’ve attended. Writers are a unique group of people with unique ways of looking at our world. Even those closest to us—our spouses, children, friends—don’t always “get” us. So I find a great deal of encouragement when I’m around other writers.

It was when we moved to Colorado that the Lord expanded my conference horizons and I attended the first Colorado Christian Writers Conference (CCWC) Marlene directed. And later, when hubby was working on the East Coast, I was able to attend the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference (GPCWC).

For me, I’ve found the spiritual emphasis and encouragement I get at GPCWC is absolutely invaluable. As part of the conference prayer team of over 100 pray-ers, I know this conference is covered in prayer. Writing aside, I could attend this conference for the spiritual value alone.

Many of my best friends today are those I’ve met at writers’ conferences. And with today’s technology none are ever very far away, even though they are spread across the country. Whenever I’m in need of encouragement, I know I can call on them to pray. That connection with other Christian writers means a lot to me as do the connections I’ve made with editors, publishers, and agents.

One of the major strengths of GPCWC is the number of free one-on-one appointments offered to every conferee. In today’s market, these appointments can be the “foot-in-the-door” opportunity we need since many editors and agents no longer accept unsolicited proposals or manuscripts.

Another reason I invest my time with GPCWC is to stay on the growing edge as a writer and freelance editor. The workshops are specifically designed to teach the nuts and bolts of the writing craft as well as keep us up-to-date with what’s happening in the publishing world. It’s changing daily with all the new technology and outlets for the written and spoken word. We need to be aware of those changes and how we can best use them to “write His answer.”

These days it’s my privilege to serve CCWC and GPCWC as a faculty member and Marlene’s assistant. The Lord has brought me a long way from that first ACW conference I attended. The time and money invested in the conferences has been returned to me ten-fold over the years in so many unexpected ways. So whenever someone asks me, “What’s the big deal about writers’ conferences?” I’m more than happy to tell them.

My able assistant and good friend, Margie Vawter, was offered her first book contract this year at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference. Visit her at The Writer’s Tool blog for thoughts on “self-editing, writing, and reviewing Christian fiction . . . with a little bit of life thrown in.” Margie offers proofreading, editing, and critiquing through her Shevet Writing Services.

The price for the August 1-4 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference increases July 13. But if you mention this blog, I’ll be glad to extend that date through July 21. You can still register after July 21 but it will cost you a little more. Walk-ins are welcome, but we’ll need to add on our $15 “procrastinator’s fee.” 🙂

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When Your Best Isn’t Good Enough – Overcoming the Accuser

Posted in Called to write, God's promises, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Overcoming self-doubts, Pondering Biblical Truth, Publishing journey on July 1, 2012| 9 Comments »

Have you ever been ready to give up? Have you tried everything you know but feel like you’re banging your head against a brick wall?  What do you do when the accuser tells you that your best isn’t good enough – that it never has been and never will be?

Perhaps it’s a manuscript you’ve been working on for years. You’ve rewritten it not just once or twice but many times. Still you’ve been unsuccessful in finding anyone interested in publishing it. And it makes no sense because you know it’s something God has called you to write. You’ve studied the craft. You’ve  gone to critique groups and conferences  trying to find that missing something.  And now . . . now you’re not sure you can keep on keeping on.

That was my experience with my first book that some of you know was rejected by 42 publishers over a six year period . If I had given up (and believe me, there were many times I wanted to), it and the six books that followed would never have been published. I would not have founded the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference in 1983 or said yes in 1997 to directing the Colorado Christian Writers Conference.

Yes, there have been many times when I’ve doubted and when, as my writing mentor Lee Roddy said years ago, I’ve “listened to the wrong voices.” For the past five months it’s been the voice of the accuser telling me that my best isn’t good enough as I’ve struggled with the websites for the Colorado & Philly Christian Writers Conference and the transition from FrontPage 2002 to Expression Web. The tapes from my childhood have started to play again. “You’re not smart enough. No matter how hard you try, you’re going to fail.”

Many days I’ve sat in my office and wept. Frustrated and discouraged I’ve told the Lord, “I can’t.” And I know that’s true. Without His help I can’t learn Expression Web or pull together the countless details that go with directing two conferences.  

But what can I do, can you do, when He doesn’t seem to be listening? Has He abandoned us? Or is He using the problem(s) we’re facing to strengthen our faith muscles so that when the stakes are even bigger we won’t get discouraged and give up?

I’m learning that there are lots of lessons I thought I’d learned (that I’ve even written about in my book, Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers) that I need to relearn!

Keep your eyes on the Lord, on how far you’ve come, and on the prize.  It’s easy to allow problems and challenges to consume us and to blind us to the Lord’s presence, to how far we’ve come, and to the prize.  “I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us” (Philippians 3:14 TLB) Paul wrote from prison in Rome. He had reason to be greatly frustrated and discouraged by the loss of his freedom. He could have questioned the Lord and concluded that his ministry was over. Instead he focused on the needs of the churches and wrote letters that continue to encourage Christ-followers almost 2,000 years later.

Cut the tapes from your past. Although Paul never forgot the person he was before he encountered the Lord on the Damascus Road, he did not wallow in the past or dwell on what others thought or said about him. Instead he embraced the truth of Zephaniah 3:17: “He is a mighty Savior. He will give you victory. He will rejoice over you with great gladness; he will love you and not accuse you” (TLB). Paul was able to preach and write about the message of salvation because he had experienced firsthand God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness.

Don’t grieve the Lord by your lack of faith. Although sometimes it does seem that He’s not listening, we need to trust that He will equip us with all we need for doing his will (see Hebrews 13:20). It’s not easy to wait on the Lord and to have Hebrews 11:1 faith in what we can’t yet see, but “God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn; he will never go back on his promises” (Romans 11:29 TLB).

Do your best and trust God for the rest. The fear of failure can paralyze us if we let it, and that’s exactly what our adversary wants. I grieve for the books that have not been published and the ministries that have been abandoned because of the evil one’s accusations that our best will never be good enough.

Sitting beside me are the “pictures” my almost four-year-old granddaughter drew in Sunday school this morning. I have absolutely no idea what she drew, and she can’t tell me because she has apraxia and is unable to speak more than a few words. But, of course, I told her that her pictures are beautiful. She did her best and that’s all that matters. And that’s all the Lord expects. When we give our best to Him, He is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV).

Father, help us to believe You and not the accuser. Thank You for loving us and for being bigger than our perceived failures. Thank You for encouraging us not to give up. We will keep on expecting you to help us. We will praise you more and more. We will walk in the strength of the Lord our God (Psalm 71:14, 16 TLB).

* * *

I’m so grateful for what Father has taught me spiritually through my struggles with Expression Web and for His patience with my learning curve. Although the formatting of the website for the August 1-4 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference is not perfect, I’m not going to give up or to believe the accuser’s lies that I’ve failed. I know that Father knows it is the best I can do. And He is faithful! He has heard my prayers and led me to SKWD Ministries. I’m very excited about the work they are doing on my main website, www.writehisanswer.com, which right now appears to be only one very unprofessional looking page. In the transition to Web Expression I lost the page banner and footer and all the navigation buttons. They are rebuilding it using their EZ-CMS (Content Management System) that will allow me to add, move, and delete web pages from one central screen and to edit them as I would do in a word processor. I won’t have to use HTML and CSS and style sheets! I’ll let you know when it’s uploaded and send you info on a special they are offering GPCWC conferees and those on my mailing list.

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Breaththrough!

Posted in Called to write, God's promises, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Overcoming self-doubts, Publishing journey on June 9, 2012| 1 Comment »

A paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 7:5-6 (TLB):

When we arrived in Macedonia there was no rest for us;

     When I got home at 2:30 am May 23 from directing the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, there was no time to rest.

Outside, trouble was on every hand and all around us;

     Problems with the website for the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference on top of an overwhelming to-do list, bills to pay, and over 1,500 emails pressed in on me.

Within us, our hearts were full of dread and fear

     I was filled with dread and fear that I’d not be able to fix the Philly website and manage everything I needed to get done.

Then God who cheers those who are discouraged

     I was not just discouraged; I was near despair.

Refreshed us by the arrival of Titus.

     The prayers of others and encouraging notes helped me to keep on keeping on to the needed breakthrough:

     Online registration for the Greater Philly Christian Writer Conference is again open!

Father, thank You for helping me not to give up but to persevere. You know it wasn’t easy for me to keep exercising my faith muscles. It would have been so much easier to believe the lies of the evil one and to give up. But You’ve promised that when You call us to do something You also equip us. Especially when I cannot see Your answer or feel Your presence I need to keep trusting You and to press on.

And Father, these hard lessons You’re teaching me are certainly applicable to all those You’ve called to “write Your answer.” Please encourage each one reading this. Thank You that “even when we are too weak to have any faith left, [you remain] faithful to us and will help us” (2 Timothy 2:13 TLB). “Thank You that Your “gifts and [your] call can never be withdrawn; [you] will never go back on [your] promises” (Romans 11:29 TLB).

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Making the impossible – possible!

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Overcoming self-doubts, Publishing journey, Writing Nonfiction Books on April 17, 2012| Leave a Comment »

I knew God had called me to write a book. What I didn’t know was if I could do it. As my friend, Gayle Roper, once said, “There’s a big difference between a book and a magazine article – like 250 pages difference.”

To be honest, there were days the last thing I wanted to do was work on the book. The evil one’s lies grew louder and more insistent. “What makes you think anyone would want to read what you’ve written?” My self-doubts intensified. I wanted to run from what I still knew God was calling me to do.

“He who believes need never run away again,” I read in Isaiah 28:16 (TLB).

Exactly 365 days after I had committed to finish the book in a year, I completed the manuscript. And then the waiting began. Some of you know that the manuscript was rejected by 42 publishers over a five year period. Finally, the 43rd editor to see the manuscript accepted it for publication.

Looking back I’m amazed that I didn’t give up. I certainly wanted to give up. But God wouldn’t let me, and I’m so glad I didn’t. Had I given up, eight other books would never have been published. I wouldn’t have known the joy of serving on the faculty of over 70 Christian writers’ conferences and giving my one and two day writing seminars over 50 times around the nation. The Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference would not have been birthed 30 years ago, and the awesome privilege of directing the Colorado Christian Writers Conference for 17 years would never have happened.

What about you? Is God calling you to write an article or story, a book or even a screenplay? Does it seem impossible? Do you feel you lack the writing skills to make it happen? Are you stuck and the words aren’t flowing? Do you have a completed manuscript that you’ve not been able to sell? Are you discouraged and ready to run from God’s call?

I know the Colorado or Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference can be a turning point for you and your writing ministry. It’s not too late to register for the May 15-18 Colorado conference and to schedule one-on-one appointments with FOUR editors, agents, or authors if you attend Thursday through Saturday. Secure online registration for the July 31 – August 3 Greater Philly conference will open April 15.

Trust Father to make a way –

  •  Logistically – Friends babysat my three children so I could attend the St. Davids Christian Writers Conference for a number of years.
  • Financially – We often “have not because we ask not.” I want to encourage you to approach your church family and your friends if you need help. They may welcome the opportunity to invest in your writing ministry. My pastor paid for my first writers conference and provided the accountability I needed afterwards to not waste what he invested in me. The conferences do not have any full scholarships to offer this year, but partial scholarships up to 50% of the cost of registration are possible. The scholarship application is not yet posted for the Philly conference. For Colorado’s application click here. Time payments can be arranged if necessary.

 Lord, I believe. Please help my unbelief. Help me to have faith in You knowing that You can make all things possible.

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Bear Fruit

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, God's promises, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Publishing journey on March 17, 2012| Leave a Comment »

It’s a beautiful spring day here on the east coast. Okay, I know it’s not yet officially spring, but it sure looks and feels like spring!  My daffodils are in bloom, and the buds on my fruit trees are almost ready to burst.

They’re calling this the winter that wasn’t. I confess I missed the snowstorms we had the past two years. The out-of-doors has looked brown and barren with no snow glistening on the ground and coating my bushes and trees. But even in the dead of winter, faith assured me that spring was coming.

Faith is certainly essential for writers as we wonder if anyone will want to read what we write or if we can even finish what we started. Maybe we have a completed manuscript but so far no agent or editor has shown any interest. Or maybe we already have a book in print but sales have been dismal. We wonder if our work will ever bear fruit.

About fifteen years ago I met Tim Shoemaker at the Write to Publish Conference in Illinois. He had a passion to write fiction for boys but still had a lot to learn. Still, I saw something in him and in his writing. As I talked and prayed with this young man, I knew his dream was going to come true. Since then we’ve kept in touch and I’ve watched his gift with words grow. I rejoiced when he found publishers for his nonfiction devotional books for boys. And then, just this week, I held in my hands Code of Silence, a hardback novel for boys published by Zonderkidz and the first of a trilogy.

Tim’s writing is bearing fruit because he didn’t give up. He’s worked at his craft and then began teaching it to others at the Colorado and Greater Philly Christian Writers conference where he’s served on faculty since 2005. This year Tim is teaching a continuing session at both conferences on “Take Your Fiction to the Gym.” “Consider yourself a beginner or an advanced beginner when it comes to fiction?” Tim asks. “Here’s your chance to take your writing to the gym. You’ll get the tools, tips, and techniques to strengthen your writing to compete in the real world of publishing. We’ll look at Plot, Characterization, Point-of-View, Show-Don’t-Tell, Scenes, Beginnings, Middles, Ends, Conflict, Dialogue, and other areas to help take your fiction writing to the next level. Lace up your gym shoes . . . this is one workout you’ll enjoy!”

I’ve also asked Tim to give the closing keynote, “Finding His Answer,” at both conferences. “Finding His answer in the ups and downs of life is all about realizing He has a plan, that it is good, that we can trust Him, and that there are things we must do,” Tim says. “We must learn our craft and be the real deal as Christians.”

If you’re discouraged, I hope you’ll take heart from Tim’s story and that you’ll make it a priority to attend one or more writers’ conferences this year. The fellowship with other writers, opportunity to show your work to agents and editors, and classes taught by those who know the craft of writing and marketing can make a huge difference in helping you to get your work in print.

Because of the glitches with online registration that, PTL, are now fixed, I’ve extended early registration for the May 16-19 Colorado Christian Writer Conference through March 19.  Online registration for the August  1-4 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference will hopefully open April 15 with the brochure off press by May 1. For info on other conferences I encourage you to check the 2012 Christian Writers Market Guide. It is available through my Write His Answer bookstore at 20% off the $24.99 retail price plus $3.50 shipping. The bookstore has numerous other writing how-to books. Shipping is free for orders $35 and over.

Thank You, Father, for the promise of springtime. Help us to bear fruit for You through the lives we live and the words we write.

P.S. Click here for a free Bible study on “Bearing Fruit.”

 

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Crisis of Confidence?

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, God's promises, Overcoming self-doubts on March 15, 2012| 1 Comment »

Have you experienced a “crisis of confidence” lately? Do you feel overwhelmed and inadequate to accomplish what you know God is calling you to do and to write? Is the evil one no longer whispering, but shouting, that you can’t do it?

Today I needed to re-read the words I wrote over 20 years ago in my book Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers that has been in print since 1990.

“The cure for a crisis of confidence is to reexamine in what or, more importantly, in whom we have placed our confidence. ‘I know the one in whom I trust,’ Paul wrote to Timothy (2 Tim. 1:12 TLB). That’s the key. It’s not self-confidence, but God-confidence.”

The challenges of converting the conference website from FrontPage to Expression Web are daunting. Of course everything is taking much too long and I’m getting farther and farther behind. Time pressures and problems are buddies and last night they invited another “p” word – panic – to join them as an unexplained glitch caused online registration to stop working the day before early registration was supposed to end. (It’s been extended through Saturday, March 17.)

I’m so grateful the Lord wasn’t sleeping and that He nudged a friend to pray and to email needed encouragement.

“Our Father is the mover of mountains and the God of the impossible. All this opposition is proof of what will happen on those Rocky Mountains in May! It will be beyond our wildest expectations. Have faith in what is unseen.”

And so . . . I’m fixing my eyes on the Mountain Mover and pressing on to prepare for this year’s CCWC. I know it’s going to be a life-changing conference. Today, as I worked on the Book Editors, Periodical Editors, and Agents & Others pages I praised God for the faculty He has provided. I hope you’ll check out their bios, what they’ll be doing at the conference, and their editorial needs that are finally posted.  This year’s CCWC offers so many exciting opportunities for beginning as well as advanced writers. Even more important, I KNOW Father is going to meet us on the mountain.

Online registration is working again. If you tried to register within the last 24 hours and couldn’t, be sure to refresh the page. Scholarship applications are also online. In addition to three $100 Vickie Baker Memorial Scholarships and partial scholarships, my dear friend, Cec Murphey, is offering TEN full registration scholarships. Have confidence in God. If He is calling you to this year’s CCWC, no obstacle is too big for Him to enable you to overcome.

Thank You, Father!

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Concerned

Posted in Called to write, Our Christian witness, Praying for our nation on February 24, 2012| 2 Comments »

I’m concerned! Tonight’s news did a powerful “show and tell” of the struggle so many Americans are facing financially. My heart broke as I watched an interview of a sixty-four-year-old man from Philly who is living on food stamps and “barely surviving.” A college graduate, he was laid off from his job and hasn’t been able to find anything else. His unemployment checks will end in March. To save money, he no longer eats breakfast. He choked up when he said he worried he would lose his home.

More than 46.8 million Americans receive food stamps. And that’s just one aspect of the economic crisis in our nation. I think of the families who have lost their home, of those who are homeless right in my own community, and the children . . .

Yes, I’m concerned and especially so as I hear about the millions of dollars being spent on campaign ads. And then I think of the tens of millions more that will be spent before Election Day. This just feels so wrong! Isn’t there something we can do to put an end to political ads? Or what if a law was passed requiring that for every dollar spent on political ads an equal amount would be spent to help the poor? Seems to me that would also level the “playing field” that right now makes it near impossible for anyone who is not wealthy to get elected to public office.

Father, I am concerned. I want to make a difference. Please show me how.

“Give justice to the poor and the orphan;
uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.”
Psalm 82:3 NLT

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Let your light shine!

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Our Christian witness, Persecution of Christians on February 22, 2012| 1 Comment »

“You are the world’s light – a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see.”
Matthew 5:14 TLB

Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission®, is letting his light shine in Hollywood. This Friday, February 24, Hallmark will telecast Movieguide®’s 20th Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, 7 p.m. Central Time, and 5 p.m. Pacific Time. Movieguide® is a family guide to movies and entertainment founded by Ted. Movieguide® (www.movieguide.org), and its sister organization, the Christian Film & Television Commission® (CFTVC), is an international non-profit ministry dedicated to “redeeming the values of the entertainment industry by influencing industry executives and by informing and equipping the public about the influence of the entertainment media.”  

The awards will honor the Best Movies for Families and Best Movies for Mature Audiences. They also include the Faith & Freedom Awards for Promoting Positive American Values, the Grace Awards for Most Inspiring Performances in Movies and TV, and the $100,000 Epiphany Prizes for Most Inspiring Movie and TV Program of 2011.

Ted keynoted at last year’s Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference on “Transforming Our Culture” and taught a continuing session on “Breakthrough Scriptwriting.” He will do the same at this year’s May 16-19 Colorado Christian Writers Conference. You’ll learn how to write a script that is structurally sound, entertaining, morally responsible and very marketable.

Dan Wooding, founder and chief editor of ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net), received the fourth annual “Passion for the Persecuted” plaque from Open Doors USA at the NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) on February 20. Jerry Drystra, Media Relations Director for Open Doors USA, said, “It is a pleasure to give Dan and ASSIST this award. His passionate, professional documenting of persecution around the globe has influenced thousands to pray and support suffering Christians. I just returned from Egypt. The Christians there told me it is important to join them in prayer for their country and to get their story out during the revolution taking place there. And getting the news to Christians in the West is exactly what ASSIST has been doing for more than 20 years.”

In accepting the award, Dan told the media professionals gathered for the presentation that it was Brother Andrew, the founder of Open Doors, who had first given him the “bug” to spend the rest of his life helping persecuted Christians. “It has been my privilege to have worked alongside Open Doors now for many years and I am honored to be able to receive this award on behalf of my wonderful team of writers from around the world, many of whom literally risk their lives to bring their stories to us.”

Dan’s GPCWC keynoteat last year’s GPCWC focused on “Persecuted Christians.” He also taught a workshop on “How to Become a First-Class Journalist.” He will do the same this year at the May 16-19 Colorado Christian Writers Conference. You may subscribe free of charge to ASSIST News. I urge you to do so today.

Ted and Dan are both letting their light shine. If you did not hear them at last year’s GPCWC and are unable to come to Colorado in May, an order form for CDs is online at  www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia. I haven’t yet begun updating the GPCWC website with information on this year’s August 1-4 conference except for a partial list of faculty. I hope to have the website updated and the brochure at the printer early April. The website for the May 16-19 Colorado Christian Writers Conference is in transition from FrontPage to Expression Web.

God bless you and your writing. May He help us all to “Shine out . . . like beacon lights, holding out . . . the Word of Life” (Philippians 2:15-16 TLB).

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To Believe

Posted in Called to write, God's promises on February 8, 2012| 3 Comments »

Do you put off doing things because you don’t believe you can do them? Do you have half-written manuscripts waiting to be finished? What about ideas that you’ve tucked away – somewhere? Has an editor or agent you met at a conference requested your manuscript, but you’ve never gotten around to finishing and submitting it?

Yes, procrastination is a very real foe, but I am convinced the real reason we procrastinate is because we don’t believe we can do something. And actually, that’s true! We need God’s enabling to do the work He calls us to do. The key is knowing what He is calling us to do. The Living Bible paraphrase of Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.”

It comes down to faith – to believing in the One who calls us and choosing to say “yes, Lord, here am I.”

I want to encourage you to read aloud the “Writer’s Statement of Faith” below. You may need to read it aloud several times a day. I know I do! I also want to encourage you to watch this video of pre-teen Jackie Evancho singing “To Believe.” Yes, Father, help us to believe that we really can make a difference and bring peace – Your peace – to our troubled world.

 A Writer’s Statement of Faith

I have strength for all things in Christ Who Empowers me-I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength in me, [that is, I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. Phil. 4:13 amp

Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies, so that God will be glorified. 1 Pet. 4:11 TLB

[Not in my own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in me – energizing and creating in me the power and desire – both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. Phil. 2:13 AMP

My strength must come from the Lord’s mighty power at work within me. Eph. 6:10 TLB

In Him in every respect I am enriched, in full power and readiness of speech (to speak of my faith), and complete knowledge and illumination (to give me full insight into its meaning). 1 Cor. 1:5  AMP

Now I have every grace and blessing; every spiritual gift and power for doing His will are mine during this time of waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 1:7 TLB

I actually do have within me a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ. 1 Cor. 2:16 TLB

I can be a mirror that brightly reflects the glory of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3:18 TLB

I will commit everything I do to the Lord. I will trust Him to help me do it and He will. Ps. 37:5 TLB

I will lean on, trust and be confident in the Lord with all my heart and mind, and choose not to rely on my own insight or understanding. Prov. 3:5 AMP

I will commit my work to the Lord, then it will succeed. Prov. 16:3 TLB

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

I will be strong and courageous and get to work. I will not be frightened by the size of the task, for the Lord my God is with me; He will not forsake me. He will see to it that everything is finished correctly. 1 Chron. 28:20 TLB

I need to keep on patiently doing God’s will if I want Him to do for me all He promised. Heb. 10:36 TLB

I m convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in me will continue until the day of Jesus Christ – right up to the time of His return – developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in me. Phil. 1:6 AMP

His mighty power at work within me is able to do far more than I would every dare to ask or even dream of – infinitely beyond my highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes. Eph. 3:20 TLB

From Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers. For more excerpts, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.

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Give up or look up?

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, God's promises on February 3, 2012| 2 Comments »

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

Have you faced any seemingly impossible tasks lately? Perhaps it was a writing deadline that crept up on you. Or maybe it was yet another returned manuscript – one you felt was the best story or article you’d ever written. Or perhaps someone in your critique group said something that left you questioning whether you are called to write.

The reasons for wanting to give up are countless. For me, yesterday, it was the four times it took to finally upload the corrected (I hope) brochure to the printer. And then there were the features in Expression Web that made absolutely no sense. For years I’ve said, “No way am I going to use HTML.” Right! As someone has said, “never say never.” I thank the Lord for CCWC’s team of pray-ers whose prayers and words of encouragement helped me to keep looking up instead of giving up. I still need to add faculty bios, editorial needs, the list of paid critiquers and genres, and info on the new Lightbox Method Retreat, but the 2012 CCWC brochure is online, and just before midnight last night Father enabled me to open secure online registration.

When problems (best to call them “challenges”) threaten to overwhelm you, do you give up or look up?

I’m convinced that Christians who are called to “write His answer” are on the front lines of an intense spiritual battle for the hearts of men and women, boys and girls. It’s critical that we know He has called us. Then, despite self-doubts and tasks that really are impossible in our own strength, we’ll cling to His promises and look up. “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn; he will never go back on his promises” (Romans 11:29 TLB).

Thank You, Father.

P.S. Do you lack assurance that Father has called you to write? Click here for the first chapter, “Called to Write,” in my book, Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers. And be sure to let me know if I don’t have your USPS address for the brochure that will be off press in a little over a week. Please pray about coming. Father has used CCWC to help thousands of writers to look up rather than give up!

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