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Connecting the Dots

June 27, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

 

If you want to know what God wants you to do,
ask him, and he will gladly tell you . . .
James 1:5 TLB

As my friend, Laura Shaffer, shares in the prayer below, all we need to do is to “connect the dots” of what God has already told us in His Word.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Father, how amazing that You sent Your Word through prophets to the kings of Israel to give them direction, instruction, correction, even advice on successful battle plans!  You sent specific word to Ahab to determine that he should fight against the thirty-three kings and their armies and chariots assembled.  You told him who should lead the attack, when, and who would win!

I often wish there were such easily discernible ways I could hear from You.  If only You would send me an email, or write across the sky to inform me about decisions or concerns I face.

And then I realize – You have written me a letter!  It’s Your Holy Word.  If I take the time to read it, often, things become clear.  If I had never read the Bible, I wouldn’t know that in it, You have already included instructions for godly, moral living.  You have already made Yourself very clear on many topics that relate to me today.  Instead of hearing of and memorizing only scattered verses, I need to feed myself, and know the entirety of what You have to say to me.

So, reading Your word is a start.  Studying it for a deeper understanding is also important.  Then connecting the dots to how what You have said impacts my life, is crucial.  Some Bible study methods have big words for this: observation, interpretation, application.  Very simply, it is asking: What are You saying?  What does it mean?  What does it mean to me?

A big part of the burden to hear from You, then, is on me to listen to what You have already said.  But to help me even more, You have given me, and every believer, the Holy Spirit.  Part of the Holy Spirit’s job is to help me understand, apply, and live by what Your Word says to me.  I need to pay attention to what it is telling me, and be obedient, not ignore, discard, or drown out what I hear.

Thank You that I can hear from You just as specifically as those who heard the prophets speak.  You have given me so much more to help me in knowing You and understanding You.  Thank You for Your Word.  Thank You for the Holy Spirit.  Help me to make reading and studying Your Word a priority for my time and energy.  Do not let me quench the Holy Spirit.  And thank You that I can even talk to You personally in prayer.  And know that You hear me.  And trust that You’ll answer.  What an awesome God!  Amen

1 Kings 20:1-22

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Laura volunteered to help at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, and what a tremendous help she was. But more than the work she did, what endeared her to me and the rest of the team were the on target prayers she emailed each morning.

For the past two years, Laura has been sending daily prayers to about 80 people from her reading in the One Year Bible. If you’d like to receive them, email her at davidtshaffer@juno.com. You will be blessed!

Father, thank You for Laura. Thank You for her example of faithfully studying and responding to Your Word. Keep us, keep me, mindful that the only way we can “write Your answer” is through (as my pastor once said) “getting into Your Word and letting Your Word get into us.”

Upcoming Events

 

July 9, Baltimore – Christian Writers Seminar 

From 10 am to 4:30 pm I’ll be teaching 5 workshops at Restoration Temple Apostolic Center. Click here for more info and to register.

Idea to Published Manuscript – How to find, capture, organize, evaluate, and sharpen your ideas. Using a Writer’s Check-off List. Making a good impression on an editor, including proper manuscript format and effective query and cover letters.

Going Indie? – “For such a time as this” God has provided the technology to independently publish books and ebooks as well as ways to reach potential readers through the Internet. We’ll look at the advantages and disadvantages, cautions and costs, as well as the how-to.

The Power of Story: Turning Personal Experiences Into Print – Learn how to pass on to your readers the help and comfort God has given you. Seven essential elements of a personal experience story and pitfalls to avoid.

Writing Manuscripts that Sell and Touch Lives – An overview of the needs of the Christian market and the best opportunities. How to get your devotionals, articles, fiction, profiles, fillers, humor, and poetry in print. Alternatives to outlining and how to pass the “So what?” test.

Making It Happen – How to overcome procrastination, deal with the D’s (disappointment, doubt, discouragement), rise above rejection, and prayerfully set goals.

 

July 15-16, Denver
E=D3 Fishers of Men Power Conference – FREE!
A City Wide Evangelism & Discipleship Conference

From my friend, Mike Wolff – Hey all, wanted to make you aware of a transformational FREE evangelism/discipleship/community building conference coming up here in Denver on July 15-16 at His Love Fellowship at 9th & Kalamath. It will kick off with a great time of fellowship and food on Friday night, and then a bevy of gifted speakers inspiring you to think outside the box when it comes to what church, and our role in the kingdom, could look like in the coming times. Click here for more info.

 

August 3-6, Langhorne, PA – Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference

Faculty of 56 agents, editors, and authors teaching 42 workshops (plus 19 Wednesday afternoon early bird workshops), 8 continuing sessions, 3 clinics, 7 keynotes and more. Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity. Click here

August 3, 7:30 pm
Marty Goetz in Concert – FREE!

Posted in Called to write, Pondering Biblical Truth, Writer's Life | Leave a Comment »

There Is Still Time . . .

June 25, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

clock

Thirty-one  years ago I sat in a workshop with Lee Roddy at the St. David’s Christian Writers Conference. I remember how my heart pounded the last morning of his workshop when he challenged us to put a commitment in writing to complete our book in a year. And then he prayed that heaven would be different because of the words we would write and publish.

I knew God had called me to write this book. I never questioned that, but I did question my ability to write it during the next year as I struggled to finish it. One friend reminded me that a year in the Lord’s sight was like a thousand years, but I knew the Lord knew that I had promised to complete it in 365 days.

And I did. I wasn’t a day late or a day early! I took “my baby” to the post office and mailed it to a publisher that had requested the entire manuscript. And then the waiting began. That editor kept it one year before finally returning it.

Over the next five years I queried 40 other publishers. Some asked to see the entire manuscript. All of them returned it, too. Frustrated, discouraged, and consumed by self-doubts I came so close so many times to giving up. Only the promises in God’s Word kept me keeping on.

“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

Friends babysat my kids so that I could go to the conference each year on a working scholarship. I commuted to save money, and after five years even ended up on faculty teaching a continuing session on writing for Christian periodicals. Even more amazing, several months after that fifth conference an editor I’d met with called and offered me a contract.

Of course I can’t promise that you’ll land a contract if you come to the August 3-6 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference. His plan for you may be independent publishing – an exciting and affordable opportunity to get your book in print within months instead of years. Amy Deardon’s “Indie Publishing” continuing session of almost 6 hours will give you the tools you need to do-it-yourself. And our marketing track of six workshops will show you how to reach potential readers.

There is still time to register and to beat the July 2 price increase.

There is still time to request your free 15-minute one-on-one appointments with faculty.

There is still time to “write His answer” to men and women, boys and girls, who desperately need to know that God loves them.

The urgent question is, “How much longer will we have the freedom to print and distribute Christian literature in a nation that is becoming increasingly antagonistic to the Gospel?”

I urge you not to allow discouragement to keep you from this once-a-year opportunity to be equipped to write about a God who is real, who is reachable, and who changes lives.

Trust Him to work out the logistics and provide the finances. Partial scholarships are still available and time payments can be arranged. You can also receive a $25 credit for anyone not on our mailing list who registers mentioning your name. Why not request some extra brochures, flyers, and even a poster to hang in your church? I am convinced there are “closet” writers in every congregation. You may find a new writing friend!

Is God calling you to “write so that heaven will be different?” Then now is the time…

Posted in Called to write, Get your book in print, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference | Leave a Comment »

A Word of Advice

June 18, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

Hi friends –

How times have changed since I wrote my first manuscript on a typewriter.

Underwood tpewriterWell I’m not as old as this antique, but I did love my IBM Selectric! I could make that little ball spin over 120 WPM. The thought of replacing my beloved Selectric with some kind of new technology intimidated me despite the promise that I could so much more by correcting my mistakes on a screen.Selectric type ball

A screen? I had no idea what they were talking about, although I admit the thought of throwing away my bottle of white-out was appealing. But really . . . it seemed too good to be true. Besides, even in my twenties I found change threatening and questioned my ability to learn something new.

I’m now 71, and I’m still intimidated by technology. Seems I just get comfortable with the software I’m using when, to keep up with the times, I need to upgrade. I seldom find the “user friendly” promise to be true. But thank You, Father, that You are faithful to help me do things I never would have imagined I could figure out how to do. And thank You for Celebration Web Design’s EZ-CMS (Easy Content Management System) that really is easy – even for me!

And so here I am managing not one but THREE websites, designing brochures and flyers in QuarkXPress, and typesetting books. I haven’t yet mastered the mystery of HTML, and I really don’t like the changes Microsoft made in Word 2015. And then there’s Access. I’m forced to use it for my mailing list, but I much prefer Excel.

Hopefully I haven’t lost you by now, for there really is a point I want to make.

Friends, we need to keep on learning!

I’m convinced one of the best places for a writer to learn is at a writer’s conference. And even after 33 years of serving as a conference director, I never cease to be amazed at what Father does each year at the Colorado and Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.

The bios and editorial needs for the 19 editors and 20 Agents & Other Professionals on faculty at the August 3-6 Philly conference are now online. I’m still working on the page for our 19 authors. New this year I’m adding a thumbprint of  their books – well, one of their books or I’d never get done since many of our editors, agents, and other professionals are also authors with numerous published books. Thank You, Father, for giving us such an outstanding faculty of men and women who are committed to You and to “writing Your answer.”

Whether or not you are planning to come to the August 3-6 conference, you’ll find lots of helpful info and freebies on the conference website as well as my main website, www.writehisanswer.com.

I hope you’ll visit, and I pray you’ll choose to keep learning!

Marty poster for web

 

 

Posted in Called to write, Craft of writing, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Tempted to Give Up?

June 14, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull


I will commit everything I do to the Lord.
I will trust Him to help me do it, and He will.

Psalm 37:5 TLB

 

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 eight 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 friend and writing mentor Lee Roddy admonished me years ago, I’ve “listened to the wrong voices.” The accuser still taunts me. “You’re not smart enough. You can’t do this.” And that’s true. What the Lord asks me to do is so far beyond my abilities. I can easily become overwhelmed and stressed. Like dangling my little toe in quicksand, I can get sucked down into that dark place of doubt and fear. It happened again just yesterday.

“Worship Me,” I felt the Lord say. “Put on a CD and worship Me.” To be honest, it would have been easier to continue wallowing in the quicksand. But I obeyed. The darkness began to lift. Lessons I thought I’d learned and even written about in my book,  Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers), came to mind.

I need, we need to …

Keep our eyes on the Lord, on how far we’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. Paul 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 our 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 of his firsthand experience of God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness.

Don’t grieve the Lord by our lack of faith. Although sometimes it may 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 our 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 for ministries that have been abandoned because of the evil one’s accusations. I pray for those who are frustrated and discouraged by the need to build their platform and questioning their call to “write His answer.” Friends, we must not leave God out of the equation. Instead we need to affirm His promise that 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 fears. 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).

What promise do you claim when you are tempted to give up?


I keep an excerpt from Write His Answer
taped to the cabinet next to my desk.
When discouragement sets in,
when the loneliness of writing and the
enormity of the task threatens to overwhelm me,
Write His Answer spurs me on. I can think
of no better resource for helping a writer
maintain a biblical perspective than this book. 

Linda J. White
Christian Author & Speaker
www.lindajwhite.com

 

For 25 years Write His Answer has encouraged writers.

Autographed copy available for only $10.
Click here for excerpts and to order.
E-book available through Amazon.com.

 

GP banner 2016

I’ve worked all day yesterday adding bios, editorial needs, and what they are teaching for the 19 editors serving on this year’s faculty. Wow! Thank You, Father, for their willingness to come. The page isn’t live – yet! It needs proofreading, and I still need to add the pages for our authors, agents, and other professionals – a total of 57 faculty members. I’ll let you know when everything is live. Meanwhile, check out our 8 continuing sessions, 61 workshops, 3 clinics, and keynotes at www.philadelphia.writehisanswer.com. I’m extending the opportunity for an additional free one-on-one appointment (a total of FIVE for those who attend Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) to an additional 25 more conferees. Don’t miss out!

Posted in Called to write, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Overcoming self-doubts, Writer's Life | 2 Comments »

Spread the Word

June 6, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

It used to be the biggest challenge writers faced was getting words down on paper and finding someone willing to publish them. That still is a challenge, but today it’s just the beginning of what a writer is expected to do.

 

Writing not facebookingNow we daily face the overwhelming task of building a platform. The time needed to write words worth reading is infringed upon by the need to have a growing presence on social media. We are driven to develop our “brand” along with a memorable tagline that will resonate with our “audience.”

I confess it’s all too easy for me to get caught up in this not so merry, merry-go-round.

 

Last week I spent a day and a half preparing a new flyer for the August 3-6 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference. One side is an overview of the conference and highlights the concert my friend, Marty Goetz, is giving on Wednesday night.

Marty poster for web

 

The other side describes our exciting Teens Write on Thursday and Pastors Write on Friday.

 

TW & PW flyer GP 2016 for web

 

I am excited about all this year’s conference offers. And I do work really hard to present the opportunities in the most professional and best way possible. I even added a new Spread the Word page to the conference website. But sadly, in my effort to “market” the conference, I am convicted that I forgot the most important thing.

 

The 3-1/2 day conference in August does provide many opportunities to learn about the craft of writing and marketing, but it is the message – “His answer” – that is the most important Word that needs to be spread.

 

As Michael Gantt said in his keynote at last year’s conference and this year’s  Colorado Christian Writers Conference, “The Cross is the Main Thing.” I urge you to watch the video of his keynote and/or read the transcript.  I also urge you to subscribe to his blog at http://growinggodlyseed.com.

 

Yes, I’d really appreciate your help spreading the word about the August 3-6 conference, but the most important thing each one of us can and must do is to spread His Word, His answer.

 

Again, quoting Michael Gantt from the blog he posted today:

We are called to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven. We are called to magnify and glorify the matchless Name of Jesus. We are called to declare deliverance to the captives, healing to the broken, and to declare that forgiveness of sin is found in none other than Jesus Christ. We are called to bring the light of the gospel to our cities; to bind up the broken, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and to declare even in the face of Caesar the eternal decrees of God – That’s what we are called to do!

Yes, indeed, that is the Word we are called to spread. God help us to be found faithful.

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Marketing, Platform building, Praying for our nation, Promotion, Writer's Life | Leave a Comment »

You Can Conquer the Deadly Ds

May 6, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

Faith rocks2Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Some of you know that it took five years and rejection slips from 42 editors before the first book I wrote was accepted for publication. Before that I struggled for several years to finish the manuscript. Self-doubts, and to be honest, God-doubts had me close to giving up many, many times.

The “deadly Ds” – disappointment, doubt, discouragement, even despair – were my frequent companions. What kept me keeping on?

  • Promises such as Galatians 6:9: “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” (TLB).
  • The very first words I ever felt the Lord speak to my heart: “Child, I never said it would be easy to follow Me, but I have promised always to be with you.”
  • My husband who has never told me to go get a “real” job even during times when things were really rough financially.
  • My pastor who paid my way to my first writers’ conference and held me accountable afterwards to use what I learned.
  • Friends who year after year babysat my three children so I could go to the St. Davids Christian Writers Conference.
  • The network of writing friends who encouraged me, and Gayle Roper and Anne Sirna who mentored me.

Yes, it took many long, discouraging years but that first book did get in print. The rest – eight other books, the Greater Philly and Colorado Christian Writers Conferences that I direct, the 70 conference faculties I’ve been honored to serve on, and my day-long writing seminars that I’ve given around the country over 50 times – are the fruit of abiding in Him and trusting Him to do what I could never do in my own strength.

The key really is trust, especially when the deadly Ds threaten to derail me. I’m learning that I am free to trust or to doubt, but when I do not trust, I grieve the Lord.

I want to encourage you not to give up and to make registering for a Christian Writers Conference a priority. Google these upcoming conferences: Write to Publish, Montrose, St. Davids. I’ve served on the faculty of all three and highly recommend them. Of course, I hope you’ll also prayerfully consider the conferences I direct.

It’s not too late to register for the May 11-14 Colorado Christian Writers Conference. The price increases tomorrow, May 7, but please do not let the cost stop you from coming. Remember, God can make a way when there seems to be no way. You can register with a $50 deposit and make monthly payments for the balance. And scholarship help is available. If making time to come in an already crammed schedule is the issue, then come just for a day. Walk-ins are welcome, and I’ll waive the additional $15 walk-in fee if you mention this email.

I urge you not to miss this once-a-year opportunity to

grow as a writer,

connect with agents and editors who can open doors,

make forever friendships with other writers,

and most important of all be spiritually renewed
to write about a God who is real, who is reachable,
and who changes lives.

Registration is also open for the August 3-6 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference. The 16-page brochure will be off press today. If you’re on our mailing list, you should receive it  by May 16. Can’t wait? It’s posted online. The first 75 to register receive an additional FREE 15-minute appointment with an editor, agent, or author – a total of FIVE appointments of your choice. And we have 59 on faculty for you to choose from. The earlier you register, the more likely you’ll get your top picks.

If the evil one (the “defeated one” as Yolanda Powell called him in a keynote she gave a few years ago) is bombarding you with the deadly Ds, trust the Lord. Realize that you are obviously a threat or he would leave you alone. So, again, trust the Lord!

Father, thank You that You know the plans You have for us and our writing – and that they are good plans. Help us to trust You when we face the deadly Ds. Thank You for all the incredible people You have brought into my life these past 20 years of directing the Colorado Christian Writers Conference and 33 years directing the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference. Thank You for all You have done and all You will do as I trust You.

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, God's promises, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Overcoming self-doubts | Leave a Comment »

Just Nine Days Away

May 2, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

2016 CCWC mtn banner

  • Do you ever doubt your abilities as a writer?
  • Have you almost given up on getting published in today’s competitive market?
  • Do you hate the “slush pile” and wish you could talk to an editor one-on-one?
  • Are you secretly terrified of the idea of building a “platform”?
  • Do you feel like you’re all alone in your writing adventure/struggle?
  • Is it really worth hanging in there for the long haul?
  • Is there a desire burning in your heart to write words that will potentially lead others to Christ?

7 Top Reasons You Need to Come
to the May 11-14 CCWC

7.  Master the craft of writing. Okay, no one will ever achieve that lofty goal. There’s always more to learn. But as one conferee said, the Colorado Christian Writers Conference is equivalent to a semester college course in writing. A faculty of 56 editors, agents, and authors will provide instruction for wannabe and advanced writers of fiction from Christian speculative to historical, point of view and voice to making a scene. Nonfiction writers will find help for writing Bible studies, memoirs, articles, and much more. With 59 workshops and 8 continuing sessions to choose from, there really is something for everyone.

6.  Learn how to sell your work to potential publishers or explore the how-to of indie publishing. Whether you’ve received more than your share of rejection slips or have yet to get your first, two of CCWC’s eight continuing sessions that will provide the answers you need are: “Indie Publishing Boot Camp” and “Writing a Winning Book Proposal.”

5.  Face to face opportunities to pitch your work to editors and agents. In today’s publishing world the only way to connect with many agents and editors is through meeting them at a conference. Those who register for Thursday through Saturday are entitled to FOUR 15-minute one-on-one appointments with the faculty of their choice. You’ll find lots of helpful info on how to prepare and make the best choices by clicking on One-on-One at http://colorado.writehisanswer.com.

4.  Learn the craft of marketing/promoting your published work. Yes, it’s a craft, and not one that comes naturally to most writers. I’ve often said that the reason I quit Girl Scouts was the stress of trying to sell cookies. Whether or not you enjoy marketing, though, you hold the key to the sales of your book. And the good news is that marketing can be learned. We have a track of six hour-long marketing workshops and a continuing session on “Thriving in Today’s Publishing World.”

3.  Friendships with other writers. Writers connect deeply with one another faster than I ever have in the chit-chat before and after Sunday-morning worship services. A key verse that I’ve sought to follow is 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Encourage each other to build each other up” (TLB). It happens every year at CCWC!

2.  Inspiration and encouragement to keep on keeping on. Louise Looney is well qualified to teach the workshop, “Still Climbing – Not Over the Hill.” Since turning 75, she has written four books. Allen Arnold’s continuing session, “From Overwhelmed to Creative Breakthrough,” will provide a refreshing journey for anyone who feels disheartened. And, of course, we also offer eight inspiring keynote addresses and times of worship.

And the Number 1 Reason to come to the Colorado Christian Writers Conference:

1.  Renew your faith and passion to “write His answer.” Each year Father meets us on the mountain and challenges and equips us to write about a God who is real, who is reachable, and who changes lives.

There’s still time to register and to request appointments. Housing is still available at the YMCA – Estes Park Center. Thanks to the Y’s spacious classrooms, none of the workshops or continuing sessions are filled. For much more info and secure online registration go to http://colorado.writehisanswer.com. The price increases May 7, so don’t delay, but if you need time payments or scholarship help, please ask. Email me at mbagnull@aol.com or call 484-991-8581.

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference | 1 Comment »

It Comes Down to Faith

April 27, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

Faith rockDo 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?

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 wantDream%20With%20Me_album%20cover 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 am 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.

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Compassion, Writer's Life | Leave a Comment »

Writing Saved My Life

April 25, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

Barb Haley Apr 2016Guest Blogger
Barbara Haley
Registrar & Appointment Coordinator
Colorado & Greater Philly
Christian Writers Conference

 

I was ten years old when I asked God to show me if He was real. The next day my sixteen-year-old sister was killed in an automobile accident. God was real. I shouldn’t have asked.

Of course, I didn’t tell anyone. Instead, I stuffed the guilt and the excruciating pain when my parents said things to me like, “You may look like her, but you’ll never be as good as her.” Or, “Comb your hair a different way; I can’t stand to look at you.”

Thirty-five years later, I finally opened up to a therapist. He sent me home to write a letter to my big sister from the point of view of a ten-year-old child.

After just a few sentences, my heart connected with the hurting little girl inside, and she began to voice her pain. Begging forgiveness from her precious older sister for causing her death. Suggesting that everyone would have been better off if only she could have died in her sister’s place that day. And finally, admitting how very much she hated God for what He’d done.

My next letter was to that sweet child—explaining to her that she didn’t cause her sister’s death and that God was not angry with her for her honest feelings and reactions. I released that child to be exactly that. A broken and confused child who desperately needed to know she was loved by God and family.

That writing changed my life and instilled in me a desire to learn how to use my life experiences to minister to others through the written word.

But I needed to learn how to write tight. To eliminate wordiness. To organize my thoughts. To connect emotionally with the reader. To stick to one point of view. To create a setting that captures the reader’s imagination and transfers them from their everyday life to an exciting new story world.

Writing conferences. This is where I’m learning the craft. Where I connect with other writers to encourage and be encouraged. Where I receive one-on-one feedback with paid critiques. And where God speaks clearly to my heart through inspiring worship and keynote speakers, informative workshops and continuing sessions, life-changing editor appointments, and most of all—the day to day rapport with fellow writers while sharing meals, waiting in line at the book table, or joining together for intimate prayer and Bible study.

Sure, you can buy books about the craft of writing. My shelves are loaded with them. But only when I began to consistently attend conferences did I really improve as a writer. I needed the immediate feedback and the hands-on practice provided in small groups led by experienced teachers. I grew in leaps and bounds as I jotted down strategies mentioned by other writers and began implementing them in my own writing. And, as I stood amazed, listening to big-name authors share their overwhelmingly deep love for God and His people, I realized just how sacred the ministry of writing is.

Let me encourage you to come and grow in your ministry as a writer at the May 11-14 Colorado or August 3-6 Greater Philly Christian Writers’ Conference. The friendships you’ll form will develop into a network of love and support in all areas of your life, and your writing friends will truly become your family. I promise.

______________

Thanks, Barbie, for sharing your heart and for serving as the registrar and appointments coordinator as well as the book table manager at both conferences.  You are a blessing!

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Writer's Life | 1 Comment »

Writers Conference Prepares Christians to Write His Answer

April 22, 2016 by Marlene Bagnull

eagle (2)Many Christians believe this is a pivotal year for the United States of America, and it is not just because it is an election year.

As Franklin Graham proclaimed in his Decision America Tour, America has a sickness and that sickness is sin. Has idolized reason led to despair? Has despair evolved into apathy, and has apathy produced hopelessness? Have foundations for lawlessness been laid? Do we live in a culture where illegal acts go unpunished and evildoers prosper? Is institutionalized sin – personal and national – the new normal even for believers?

During the May 11-14, 2016, Colorado Christian Writers’ Conference (CCWC) held at the YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park Center, seven faculty members will collaborate to present a 5-3/4 hour continuing session on “Addressing the Issues.” Their objective is to prepare Christians to write biblical solutions to the many problems surrounding us. It is not enough to complain about issues; it is time to present His answer with clarity, conviction, and courage. Topics they will cover include:

  • America at the Crossroads – Advance the American Dream or the Kingdom of God?
  • Stand for Truth – Even with Often-Controversial Subjects
  • Answering Christianity’s Critics – Face Antagonism & Win Respect
  • Grace, Race & Forgiveness – Remedies are First Spiritual: Prayer, Forgiveness, Love, Hope & Mercy
  • Know What You Believe – Write Based on Well-Grounded Faith
  • Write His Question – So people will know Jesus as the Answer
  • How Then Should We Live? – Part 1, What Can I Do?
    Part 2, Trust in God Alone

Go to http://colorado.writehisanswer.com/continuingsessions2016 for information on the presenters and times. There is no charge for any of the above sessions or the conference closing session and keynote, “Live and Write Dangerously,” Saturday, May 14, 4:00 – 5:30pm.

Other continuing sessions will provide encouragement and practical help for wannabe writers (there are some in every congregation) and those who are already published.

Allen Arnold, founding fiction publisher for one of the world’s largest Christian publishing houses, will teach “From Overwhelmed to Creative Breakthrough.” Other continuing sessions at this year’s CCWC include:

  • Indie Publishing Boot Camp
  • Write a Winning Book Proposal
  • Christian Speculative Fiction
  • Reaching Youth through Fiction
  • Thriving in Today’s Publishing World
  • First Chapter Boot Camp (nonfiction)

CCWC also offers 8 inspiring keynotes, 18 early bird workshops on Wednesday and 42 workshops Thursday through Saturday; panels; one-on-one appointments with the faculty of 57 authors, editors, and literary agents; and the popular Teens Write program Saturday, May 14, from 9:30am – 3:45pm.

Pastors, seniors 65 and over, full-time students, and alumni receive a 10% discount. Teens are welcome to attend the entire conference at a 60% discount. Partial scholarships and time payments are still available as is lodging on the YMCA Estes Park Center campus.

For those unable to come CDs can be ordered through CCWC’s website after the conference – http://colorado.writehisanswer.com.

 

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Praying for our nation | Leave a Comment »

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