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Give the Gift of Words this Christmas

December 16, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

christmas-gifts
Thanks to an unexpected home improvement – we discovered a leak in our bathroom and spent two weeks with contractors coming and going – I’m far from ready for Christmas even though I’ve had 356 days to prepare. What can we do if our doing is way past what needs to be done?

  • In the midst of the rush to get caught up choose not to miss reflecting daily on the miracle of the Word becoming flesh (John 1:14).
  • If you’ve not yet mailed your Christmas cards (I haven’t!), instead of just signing your name to a store-bought Christmas card, why not enclose a letter? Family and friends you rarely see will appreciate an update even though it’s a copy of a mass-produced letter. But more than just the “news,” ask Father how you can encourage them through sharing something He has taught you this year. Choose to be real.
  • Write a Christmas poem or story and post it on your blog.
  • Post Scripture promises to your social media pages.
  • Write a Letter to the Editor to address efforts to take Christ out of Christmas. Write an intelligent, well-informed response and avoid preaching.
  • Give books by your favorite authors to family and friends.
  • Give yourself the gift of Tyndale’s The One Year Study Bible.
  • cwmg-2017Another must-have gift for yourself – the hot-off-the-press Christian Writers MarketGuide 2017. I just received two boxes of the newly designed and much easier to use guide. Thanks, Steve Laube and Lin Johnson for your work on this needed resource. It retails for $22.99 but is available through the Write His Answer Ministries bookstore for only $17.99 plus $4.00 shipping. There is NO charge for shipping if your order for additional titles from the WHAM bookstore is $35 or more. Click here to order.
  • Plan now to make 2017 the year of growing your writing skills by saving May 17-20 for the Colorado Christian Writers Conference or July 26-29 for the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference. I’m praising God for how both conferences are coming together. Be watching for an update on the websites by the end of the year. Why not drop a hint that a conference would make a wonderful Christmas gift?pc-2017-cwcs

Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son. Thank You for the promise that “His life is the light that shines through the darkness – and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1:5 TLB). Help us to be bearers of His light through the words we write and lives we live.

New WHA cover
My gift to you: You’ll find several free chapters from Write His Answer, now in print 25 years, at http://bit.ly/2h1qgs2.

“This book changed the way I write. I plan to read it again.”  ~ Danni Andrew

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Our Christian witness | Leave a Comment »

Exciting Opportunities

December 9, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

dan-wooding-and-brother-andrew

Dan Wooding (right) with Brother Andrew – famous for smuggling Bibles into China.

I just received the following from my good friend Dan Wooding, founder of ASSIST News. I’ve known Dan for many years and deeply appreciate him and his ministry. This is an exciting opportunity to work with him in making a difference.

Dan Wooding, founder of the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net), a worldwide news service which specializes in stories on persecuted Christians, world missions, and believers who are making a difference for Christ in our world today, is looking for a volunteer who can work closely with him on sending out these many stories. That person would be trained by Dan over the phone, Skype or FaceTime, on how to input and format the stories from his team of writers, and also learn how to re-size and input photos and include the captions. Also, that person would need proof them in American English and punctuation. (Dan’s writers come from all over the world.) Although this in an unpaid position – none of Dan’s team receive a salary, but work as “Media Missionaries” — it would be an exciting way for that person to become part of a unique news service that goes out to some 2,000 media outlets each day. Age is no problem, so if you are interested and love news, just contact Dan initially at his e-mail – assistnews@aol.com – with your contact information and also some background on your writing, and he will then he will get back to you to discuss this further. This would be a wonderful opportunity for you to use your talents for the Lord and bring to the attention of many globally important material that they can act upon and prayer for.

I’m working on the May 17-20 Colorado and July 26-29 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference. As always it’s so exciting to see Father’s plans come together.

Open Doors missionary Al Janssen, who with Brother Andrew (pictured above) works to strengthen God’s light in the Middle East, will hopefully keynote at both conferences on “A New Kind of Jihad.” Philly is a definite yes; Colorado still tentative because of a tremendous amount of international travel the first five months of 2017. His message will challenge listeners to join them in a new kind of jihad, leaving vengeance behind in favor of forgiveness, radical love, and unyielding payer. Al has authored or co-authored more than 30 books which have been published in 18 languages.

Literary agent, Leslie Stobbe, introduced me to his client, D.J. Williams, Executive Producer | Director | Author. I’m excited to announce that he will keynote and teach a continuing session at the Colorado conference.

With the DNA of a world traveler, D.J. Williams was born and raised in Hong Kong, has ventured into the jungles of the Amazon, the bush of Africa, and the slums of the Far East. His global travels have engrossed him in a myriad of cultures, and provided him with a unique perspective that has fueled his creativity over the course of a twenty year career in both the entertainment industry and nonprofit sector.

In his latest novel, Waking Lazarus, Williams has written an epic global adventure filled with riveting characters and page turning twists and turns. Think Jason Bourne meets Homeland. It is a brilliant follow up to his previous novel, The Disillusioned, that garnered the praise of Hollywood’s elite, including Judith McCreary, Co-EP, Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Minds, and CSI, who said, “The Disillusioned is a fast-paced mystery…you won’t put it down until you’ve unlocked the secrets and lies to find the truth.”

With the release of Waking Lazarus, Williams is once again capturing the attention of industry veterans including Peter Anderson (Oscar Winner, Cinematographer), who has already endorsed this latest adventure, “Waking Lazarus is a captivating visual story with a colorful narrative. Once I started reading, it was hard to put down.”

Currently based out of Los Angeles, Williams continues to add to his producing and directing credits of more than 350 episodes of broadcast TV syndicated worldwide by developing new projects for television, film and print.

KEYNOTE – Second Act: Storytelling that Inspires Change
Is the story you desire to write moving you toward inspiring change? The second act in any story is where the main character gets in over his head, is pushed to innovate, to move forward in faith, and to act decisively so the story has a greater purpose. When an elephant charged his safari convoy in Africa, Executive Producer and Author D.J. Williams experienced split seconds of pure clarity about God’s calling on his life: to pursue God’s plan to share stories of the forgotten through social issues that inspire true change. D.J.’s story of faith in the jungles of the Amazon, the bush of Africa, and the slums of the Far East will inspire you to seek out God’s plan and purpose for your life, and move you toward becoming a storyteller who inspires others to embrace the pursuit of social causes in a world desperately in need of the Gospel.

CONTINUING SESSION – The Chase
A 5-part interactive workshop that dives into the structure that moves novelists and screenwriters to write stories that make a difference in the world. By the end of the workshop writer’s will have created a roadmap to chase their cause-driven novel.

Session 1: Defining Passion, Shaping Habits, Harnessing Raw Ideas
Session 2: Developing Plot, Timelines for Research, Flexible Outlines
Session 3: Creating a World with Characters that are Believable
Session 4: Building Visual Chapters and Dialogue filled with Mystery & Suspense
Session 5: Going Beyond the Last Page

More conference information coming soon!

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Persecution of Christians, Writing Fiction | Leave a Comment »

Overwhelmed?

December 6, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

Faith rockHave you been feeling overwhelmed lately? I have.

Two weeks ago we discovered mold in our bathroom from a leak hidden behind the shower wall. “How much is this going to cost?” I asked contractors, electricians, and plumbers.

In the midst of all this, I spent a day at the courthouse waiting to hear if I had been selected for a trial they anticipated would last six days. Thank You, Father, that I was not chosen! And thank You our USAA homeowner’s insurance covered $2,464 of the repairs after initially telling us it was doubtful we’d get anything. We’re still out over $2,000 with our deductible and work not covered, but it could have  been much more costly.

Stressful? Yes! Time consuming? You bet! On Friday our home was a scene out of ET with plastic sheeting from floor to ceiling between our bathroom and front door. Today the walls go back up, tomorrow the tile, and Thursday the grouting of the shower walls.

Tomorrow I’ll also spend over an hour in the dentist chair for a root canal of a top front tooth that is abscessing from tripping up one step and falling on a ceramic moose over a month ago. More unexpected expense, but thank You, Father, for helping me find a dental plan that will cover some of the cost.

So, yes, I’m feeling overwhelmed especially with the need to get the May 17-20 Colorado and July 26-29 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conferences planned. I’ve finally got the spreadsheet of prospective faculty updated, but with over 450 names I’m even more overwhelmed.

The bottom line? Despite 33 years directing the Philly conference and 20 years directing the one in Colorado, the evil one is again pulling me down into the quicksand of self-doubt. And I’m feeling especially anxious this week with the need to sign the contract and pay the $2,500 booking fee for the 2019 (yes,  you read that correctly) Colorado conference.

I’m again experiencing a “crisis of confidence.” Perhaps you are too.

If a crisis of confidence is holding you back from the work you know you have been called to do, it’s time to acknowledge that it’s not self-confidence you need (and I need) but God-confidence. It’s time to learn what it means “to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off [our] own power and abilities” (2 Cor. 12:9 TLB). And instead of running from opportunities to serve the Lord, we need to continue to focus on the “firm, tested, precious Cornerstone that is safe to build on. He who believes need never run away again” (Isa. 28:16 TLB).

Fear of failure, rejection, writer’s block, or not measuring up, can all create a paralyzing crisis of confidence. Read and reflect on the following antidotes to fear, noting how God is personally speaking to you.

Psalm 9:10
Psalm 16:8
Psalm 25:3
Psalm 34:4
Isaiah 41:10
Philippians 1:6
1 John 4:18
___________

New WHA coverHow is God speaking to you through these passages?

I’ve devoted a chapter in my book, Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers, to the “Crisis of Confidence.” You’ll find it and several other chapters on my website at http://bit.ly/2h1qgs2.

Posted in God's promises, Overcoming self-doubts, Pondering Biblical Truth | 1 Comment »

Contrasts

November 25, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

turkey

Contrasts

Thanksgiving has ushered in
the Christmas season.
I am sobered
not so much by the calories
I have consumed
or the prices in the mall
(although both are too high),
as by the contrasts I see.

There is plenty and want,
joy and grief,
love and hatred,
hope and despair,
the real and artificial.

Father, help me to see You
and to share Your love.
Move me to give as Your Son gave
when He willingly went
from the manger to the Cross.
Let there be a difference in me
that is visible and credible –
that points others to Jesus Christ,
the only Hope and Savior of mankind.

Posted in Compassion | 1 Comment »

Thankful

November 23, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

tg-bible

We Thank You, O Lord
To the tune “We Gather Together”

We thank You, O Lord, for Your mercy and blessings,
Your love that we never can merit or earn.
Our praises we’re bringing to You on this Thanksgiving.
We worship You, O Lord -, our hearts for You yearn.

We need You, O Lord, in our lives, in our nation.
Forgive us for failing to follow Your way.
Thru darkness please guide us, Your light please shine upon us.
Help hold fast to our faith in these difficult days.

We cling to Your promise, we know You are faithful.
Our land You will heal if Your people will pray.
If humbly we’ll seek You and turn away from evil,
There’s hope that our- nation will see brighter days.

And so, Lord, we give You our praise and thanksgiving,
Our worries and fears we surrender to You.
We choose to rejoice in Your promise, Your provision.
We will trust You, O Lord -, for Your Word is true.

 Marlene Bagnull

Posted in God's promises, Pondering Biblical Truth, Praying for our nation | Leave a Comment »

Words Matter

November 13, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

I confess! I should have changed the headline on the post I shared on my Facebook page Friday, but I didn’t know how to. I did not intend for it to be a political statement. But duh! How else could the headline be interpreted: “This video is the LAST thing Democrats want you to see right now – and it’s going viral.”

The headline did create attention. With 72 “shares” on my Facebook page alone, I can’t help but wonder how many would have read it had I created a more accurate headline like: “He’s not everything the media says he is. Another side of Trump.”

Posted on Allen B. West’s website, the video tells the story of a Puerto Rican boxer whose life was changed because of Donald Trump. I shared it not to rub salt in the very real wounds of those who are grieving over the results of Tuesday’s election. Rather I shared it to show another side of Mr. Trump that we have not seen covered by the media.

Our nation is deeply divided. Yes, I know that’s an understatement. Blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, and other minorities are genuinely fearful for their safety.  So are white evangelicals who are being accused of putting a bigot in office.

A dear black friend in my critique group was run off the road by a white man screaming “Trump.” She shared a link to the must-read blog below that I also posted on my Facebook page. Sadly there have been only two shares.


Let’s Rise to Love Those Left in Fear
Christians bear the distinct responsibility to love and care for our neighbors,
even if we don’t fully understand them or agree with them.
DESIRINGGOD.ORG

The author, Anthony Bushnell, wrote: “One of the central teachings of Christianity is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37–40.) The Bible exhorts us to ‘weep with those who weep’ (Romans 12:15); it doesn’t lead with telling us to ‘judge whether they should be weeping,’ says pastor H.B. Charles, Jr. The same is true for those in fear. We don’t have to agree with the intensity of their fear in order to empathize with them. Compassion doesn’t require us to be convinced another person is entirely correct. It requires us to care about how he is feeling. Even if you think the danger won’t come to pass, the fear is certainly real….”

I witnessed this fear In July when I spoke in an African-American church in Baltimore after a beautiful black man was killed in Minnesota. I said that day, “The battle is not with people made of flesh and blood but with the principalities and powers seeking to divide our nation and the church.”

I have also experienced fear as a white woman when I’ve driven through the black inner-city neighborhood where my son and daughter-in-law used to live. The rioting in Portland and threats calling for the assassination of President-elect Donald Trump cause me much fear that our nation could descend into anarchy.

The shouting and name-calling coming from both sides is deafening our ears to really hear one another. Who is listening? Certainly the world is. No doubt their opinion of Americans has fallen. God is listening and, I’m just as certain that He is not pleased, especially with those who profess to be Christians. Hopefully we are not spitting out hateful and angry words, but our silence can be just as loud and divisive.

Friends, we are called to be reconcilers through and because of His amazing love. Father, let peace begin with me and my decision to listen and to love.

Posted in Our Christian witness, Praying for our nation | Leave a Comment »

A Special Early Christmas Gift

November 12, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

tree-1283772_640Thanksgiving is not yet here, but the stores have already been decorated for Christmas for several weeks. Today I did some early Christmas shopping at Kohl’s to a background of Christmas music. (A 30% off coupon plus Kohl’s cash for my purchases is hard to resist!)

advent-to-epiphanyAs you begin to think about Christmas, I want to encourage you to give yourself and your friends an early gift that will bless your journey to Christmas in life-changing ways.

I had the privilege and joy of editing Liena Apšukrapša & Jacqueline L. Hullaby’s  new book, Advent to Epiphany – Engaging the True Heart of Christmas. Through this interactive devotional you will be drawn closer to the One whose birth we celebrate. I know I was.

Liena writes: “The majority of us will miss this Christmas. It is so easy to get caught up in the swirl of activity and find ourselves physically exhausted and spiritually empty at the end of the season. What if this year is different? What if you end the year rested and start the new year spiritually invigorated and transformed? A new Advent devotional is coming to you this season to make this a reality in your life.”

I met Liena at this year’s Colorado Christian Writers Conference where I sat with her for an hour reading and commenting on her manuscript. As I begin planning the May 17-20, 2017, Colorado conference (and the July 26-29, 2017, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference) I am encouraged by her testimony below. You will be, too.

~ * ~ * ~

God’s Beloved,

Every time I think of my writing journey, tears of deep gratitude and healing stream down my face. Yesterday, October 23rd, my first book was born. As all children do, this too has changed my life.

Giving life to a book was inconceivable just a few years ago. I come from Latvia, Eastern Europe, and all my years of elementary school I struggled deeply with writing, especially with grammar. This vicious struggle and the subsequent critique from teachers stifled and silenced my creative ability to bloom in writing. The writer in me was wrapped in a grave clothes like Lazarus and put away in the grave. Until one day…

I walked into an unknown church while wandering around in Denver on a Sunday morning. During the time of worship, the pastor came over to me, lifted my chin and said, “Sharpen your pencil. God wants you to write!” I swallowed these words with tears that dripped on my lips. There, deep in my heart, they dropped like a seed waiting to be nurtured.

The Holy Spirit, the most patient Person of all, came around several more times in the following years to encourage me to write. I knew to pay attention to these repeated visits containing the same message. I began to ask God what He desired to write through me. I had some ideas, but His answer came in the most unexpected way.

My very good friend Jacqueline came to visit me for Christmas. Every day we used the St. Ignatius method of delving into the Scriptures that lead to profoundly deep prayer experiences. When Jacqueline went back home to Iowa, we continued to pray this way over the phone, sometimes for hours every weekend. This experience was so spiritually nurturing and uplifting. Until another day…

God spoke to me while I was doing chores, “I want you to invite others into your prayer experiences with Jacqueline.”

“How, Lord?” I questioned.

“Write!”

Here it was–the first assignment. So, I began. The first time I sat down to write, I collapsed on my knees and wept because I could write. The healing had begun. The words came naturally and easily, called out by Jesus. “Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go” (John 11:43-44). I have not stopped walking in this call to write since that time. The joy of this wonder is simply uncontainable–compelling me to write the rest of my life.

God has faithfully placed walking companions on my path who have helped me to peel off whatever grave cloth have been still sticking on me. Last year I went to Colorado Christians Writers Conference in Estes Park which did miracles for me. The Holy Spirit taught me constantly through various speakers. I was able to see my writing deficiencies so clearly, but is brought me the greatest joy because I knew “when God is putting His finger on the part of your life that’s not working, He’s pointing to the site of your next miracle.” (Graham Cooke).

The most profound healing came during my book’s critique. I sat down with Marlene and she started to read my manuscript. It was the end of conference and by then I knew how imperfect my writing was. Believe me. I was expecting the same critique I received way back in school. But something unexpected happened. Marlene read my flawed sentences with such deep love that my heart was flooded with streams of divine healing. I went away knowing first hand that this is how God reads our imperfect lives – with upmost adoration and love. This meeting was the greatest motivator for reworking and finishing my book.

Today, I am walking joyfully toward you to extend our first book Advent to Epiphany: Engaging the True Heart of Christmas, written to you.

Lord, set us fully free to share Your creativity and heart in this world!

Liena

_____________
Available on Amazon.com.

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Pondering Biblical Truth, Writer's Life | Leave a Comment »

Praying for Election Day

November 7, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

cross-1448946__180

Father, I grieve
for my nation that I love
and for Your people who are caught up
in the angry rhetoric that is dividing our nation.
I grieve even more for those who choose
to ignore the issues, to remain silent,
and not to exercise their responsibility to vote.

Father, I plead with You
to help us discern what is most important.
Give us the courage to stand
for the sanctity of life,
for marriage between a man and a woman,
for the nation of Israel surrounded by enemies.

Father, help us to recognize
that we are not fighting against people
made of flesh and blood
but against principalities and powers
intent on fueling angry thoughts and words
into explosive actions to destroy our nation.

Regardless of what happens tomorrow,
help us to trust that You are able
to work all things together for good.
Bring our nation back to You.
Help Your scribes to live
and to write Your answer!

Posted in Called to write, Our Christian witness, Praying for our nation, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Praying the Scriptures

September 22, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

cross-1448946__180I can’t believe it’s been over six weeks since I blogged! Please forgive my silence.

The August 3-6 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference was powerful. I’m praising God for all He did and will do.

I’m also thanking the Lord for the ministry of my dear friend, Laura Shaffer. The prayers she emails daily go deep into God’s Word and His answer for the struggles we all face. Today’s prayer especially spoke to my heart. Perhaps to yours, too?

~*~*~*~*~*~

O Father, these are some of the verses that have come to me in the darkest times. Times when I truly thought there was no hope. Times when I was at the end of all I could think to do to save myself from what appeared to be dire and dark circumstances that I believed held no happy ending.

These words are spoken by Your prophet Isaiah who is telling how it will be when the judgment of Israel is over. “You are the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth! You will not grow tired or weary…You give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak…those who hope in You will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint.”

What hope that gave me Father – because I was weary and weak. But because I know You as my Savior, I believed that these verses were true of me. It’s like You were speaking right into my heart then, and since then. You were promising to give me Your strength and power. You promised to renew my strength. When I felt like I could not take one more step, You empowered me to go on, to “walk and not grow faint.”

You told me “Do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my Righteous Right Hand.” And even more than that, You sang it to me. I could hear a melody in Your words. That became a theme that I could sing to myself over and over – Your words of encouragement and empowerment. I still sing them today.

Thank You Father, that Your Word, written down so long ago, has power and influence and still speaks right now. And not just to me, but to any and all who will seek You there.

And these words of Paul – I love them and have prayed them over and over again for myself, my family, and my loved ones. I pray them now, again Father, for everyone reading this prayer. “I give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know [1] the hope to which He has called you, [2] the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people [that’s us], and [3] His incomparably great power for us who believe.”

Father, speak these words of comfort and empowerment to all who need to hear them from You. When the evil one whispers “you’ve failed again, there’s no hope,” let them know what it means to “not fear” and “not be dismayed.” Give us victory! Amen

Isaiah 40:1–41:16; Ephesians 1:1-23

~*~*~*~*~*~

To receive Laura’s prayers in your inbox, email her at davidtshaffer@juno.com. You’ll be blessed and encouraged.

Posted in God's promises, Pondering Biblical Truth | 1 Comment »

More than a writers conference!

July 30, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

Compassion rocks fixedI’ve  been and am so focused on preparations for the August 3-6  Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference that I almost missed the email from Operation Blessing that today is World Day against Trafficking in Persons.  I hope you’ll take a couple of minutes to visit their website. Click here.
Scholarship help and time payments are available. It’s not too late to register and join us for what I know will be a life-changing conference.

Posted in Compassion, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference | Leave a Comment »

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