Does the Juggling Act Bring Objects Crashing Down on your Head?

By Mary Anne Benedetto

I seem to be one of those people who doesn’t know when to pull the plug on embarking on more projects than a reasonable person can hope to handle. Admittedly, if I don’t exercise some degree of discipline, I can easily stay glued to my computer for far too many hours, and before I even realize it, dusk is knocking at my door. I then have to stop and give some serious thought to what might be happening for dinner.

If my husband is working out of town, I have a bit more flexibility and may continue working until 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. because I am researching, adding to my Tweet list for various books, writing a blog post, investigating how to be a better book marketer, writing a book review, catching up with those pesky accounting tasks, seeking potential events for my Beach Author Network group or perhaps I’m on a productive writing roll and can’t bring myself to write just a few more words and call it a night.

MaryprojectsWriters, whether independently or traditionally published, are typically wearing multiple hats. How can we possibly track everything we’re in the process of handling, as well as upcoming deadlines, appointments, follow-ups and obligations? Don’t we live in fear of neglecting to recall an appointment or to follow through on something we have promised?

If I could quote precisely where I read this suggestion, I would be happy to attribute it to that individual and give them a gigantic hug, but several months ago I read an article that recommended the use of a white board for organizational success. You may say, “Why bother? My calendar works just fine.”

In addition to depending on my worn-out calendar for future, as well as historical information, I have discovered that an inexpensive, medium-size white board is going a long distance in keeping me organized in this whirlwind journey on which I travel. My white board entries encompass every obligation–personal and professional for the next four weeks. There is something satisfying about removing completed tasks with one swipe of the Kleenex.

At the bottom of my board, I reserve an area to track the names of works-in-progress, whether they are nearing completion or just beginning. This enables me to view ongoing projects at a glance.

Another suggestion for preventing total burn-out is to walk away for a day or two or more. Pre-schedule your Tweets, Facebook, LinkedIn and blog posts so they can go live without the necessity of your physical presence, and then let them work for you while you take a well-deserved break in the action. It is amazingly therapeutic to clear your mind, take some long walks, spend some quiet time communicating with the Almighty Creator, read a book for sheer pleasure and give it a rest.

Sharing this with you will, hopefully, serve as my own reminder to act accordingly. I make every effort to avoid my computer on Sundays and walk away. We aren’t of any great value to anyone when we are living a frenzied existence.

We know that God intended rest for us, just as He did for Himself in Genesis 2:2–By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done. NIV

Therefore, my friends, please consider my suggestions:

1-Rest in Him

and…

2-Experiment with a white boardwhiteboard photo

Blessings,

Mary Anne Benedetto

 

Speaker, ghostwriter, blogger, Certified Lifewriting Instructor and author of Eyelash, Never Say Perfect, 7 Easy Steps to Memoir Writing and From Italy with Love & Limoncello, Mary Anne Benedetto’s passions include helping people preserve their life stories, creating Christian fiction, world travel and walking the spectacular South Carolina beaches. Please visit her at www.awriterspresence.com, www.maryannebenedetto.blogspot.com, www.abookfeast4u.blogspot.com and www.4womenwholove2travel.blogspot.com.

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by on May 8, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Staci Stallings on May 8, 2013

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Content in All Circumstances

By CJ Hitz

“…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” – Philippians 4:11

In the last month, Shelley & I found our contentment being challenged to the max. It all began with an email near the end of March from the property manager who handles the condo we rent. The email was simple…

“The owner wants to know if you guys plan to keep renting the place for another year?”

Our response was also simple…

“Yes we would like to sign another year extension. If possible, we’d even be interested in signing a longer lease. We’ve really enjoyed the place.”

The property manager said he’d relay the message to the owner and get back with us soon. The next day, we received the following email…

“The owner has a friend that possibly has an interest in purchasing the property and would like to see it. Very preliminary, I believe at this time that owner will extend the lease unless this friend would purchase at a price acceptable to her. I’d like to meet owner and friend there on Thursday at 6 PM according to the owner’s instructions. Won’t take long; will that work for you?”

Whoa, hold your horses here. We go from possibly renewing the lease to now getting the place ready for the owner to show it to a friend? I have to admit that my feathers were now a bit ruffled as I thought about the possible outcomes. They showed the place to the friend and our worst fears were a reality the next day as we received this email from the property manager…

“Unfortunately, the news is not good. The owner isn’t going to sell the place, but wants to lease the place for a couple of years to a good friend/acquaintance. They raised the rent (probably justified) and will also no longer utilize my services. So they asked me to give you 30 days’ notice that the lease will terminate and you will need to vacate by the end of the day, April 30, 2013.”

Wow. Two words summed up my feelings…numbness and shock.

The next two weeks were a mixture of denial and anger. Eventually, I came to the place of acceptance. We had much to be grateful for over the course of the last year, not least of which was simply being blessed with this condo in the first place.

When we arrived in Colorado Springs on April 20, 2012 we hadn’t yet secured a place to live, though we did have a few appointments to see some places that looked interesting to us. Once we saw this condo with its view of Pikes Peak out our front window and an unobstructed view of the city skyline out our back window, we knew this was where we wanted to call home. Amazingly, everything fell into place where we were able to put down a deposit and sign a lease within three days of arriving here from Ohio with a moving truck full of our earthly belongings. We even found a guy on Craigslist who offered to help us move our stuff into the condo the night before the moving truck was due to be returned. Talk about incredible timing!

We really couldn’t have asked for a place more suitable for our needs…and wants. Throughout the course of the year, I found myself gazing out our front window at the grandeur of Pikes Peak and thanking the Lord for giving me this desire of my heart. And now it was about ready to be taken away.

Naturally, I found myself asking “Why?” Why would the Lord bless us with this place for only a year? It just didn’t make sense in my finite mind. I was tempted to have ill thoughts toward the owner for doing this to us. “Why would they do this to good tenants?” Being landlords ourselves, I couldn’t imagine doing this to good tenants-not even for a friend. The enemy was playing my mind like a fiddle with one sad tune after another being written.

Last weekend in church we were singing “Blessed Be Your Name” by Matt Redman. I had sung this song more times than I could count, but on this day the following words in the song had a different meaning…

You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord, blessed be Your name

The Lord had already been doing a divine work in my heart the previous week as I surrendered our condo to Him and accepted whatever was ahead. I even found myself praying for and blessing the owner. What a freedom comes when we surrender! Peace replaces fear and worry. And despite the circumstances we encounter, the Lord’s name is always worthy of being blessed with praise.

So after a month where a few more gray hairs were added to my collection and a lesson in contentment was taught (and hopefully learned), you’ll never believe what’s transpired over the last week. I can hardly believe it myself. Turns out that the friend of the owner who was supposed to rent the place received a job transfer out of state! The owner called us last week to see if we’d like to stay. Needless to say, we just signed the renewed lease for another year.

Lord, blessed be Your name

 

Forgiveness…Learn How to Forgive and Let Go.

Sometimes life doesn’t seem to make sense or “add up” in ourForgiveness Formula math. We have life circumstances that make us question whether we can truly have a full life. Divorce. Death. Sickness. Financial losses.

And life doesn’t seem fair.

Whatever your circumstances, we believe every reader can benefit from what we share in these pages, whether you’ve endured varying levels of pain or struggle in your own life or you know someone who has.

It’s our prayer that God uses this book as a tool to bring healing, hope, forgiveness and a new-found freedom to people from all walks of life. Maybe you’ve been searching for that formula that will help you make sense of your life.

Come join us as we explore the Mathematics of Jesus and His Forgiveness Formula. Find out how Jesus is and always will be the greatest mathematician, in that He knows what truly adds up to a full life.

**2012 Reader’s Favorite Book Award Winner**
**Check out the brand new audiobook version narrated by national Christian radio voice Larry Wayne!**

CJ on South SisterCJ Hitz is an author, speaker and entrepreneur. In his downtime, he enjoys spending time outdoors running, hiking and exploring God’s beautiful creation.  CJ and his wife Shelley have written several best-selling books which can be found at their website – www.BodyAndSoulPublishing.com/books

They reside in Colorado Springs, CO and are grateful for a place to live

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by on May 6, 2013  •  Permalink
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GNF Weekend Read: Changing Zip Codes

By Carol Stratton

If you’ve ever packed up your entire house and seen it shipped off to a strange address, if you’ve ever had to walk into a new church, if you’ve ever had to hold your child’s hand in a new school, you will know why I wrote Changing Zip Codes: Finding Community Wherever You’re Transplanted.

With 22 moves with husband, four kids and a dog under my belt, I share encouraging stories, miracles and hope for newcomers. You can learn to move while keeping your family and humor intact!

If you are well rooted, consider purchasing the book to help understand the struggles a new neighbor or military family may be experiencing or better still, buy them a copy in print or ebook. http://tinyurl.com/cnsbnjb

“After twenty-two moves, Carol Stratton is a relocation expert with a heart for the newcomer. Carol’s warm and witty stories, based on personal experiences, offer hope and encouragement to anyone faced with a move.” — Florence Littauer, International Author and Speaker, Founder of CLASSeminar ministry.

Currently there is a free giveaway
for “Changing Zip Codes”
on Goodreads.com
click on the link to enter.

CarolStrattonSMCarol G. Stratton has written for publications that include InTouch magazine, CBN.com, and Kyria, two anthologies, Writing so Heaven Will be Different and Extraordinary Answers to Prayers (Guideposts) and has been interviewed on Moody Radio Midday Connection After logging 22 moves with her husband, four children and a dog, and hearing every moving joke (“Guess you’re moving cause you hate to clean your house.” or, “Is the IRS is looking for you?”), she developed a website: www.ChangingZipCodes.com. The book is an outgrowth the website and her passion to help people move while keeping their families and humor intact.

Her book, Changing Zip Codes, Finding Community Wherever You’re Transplanted is an outgrowth of the website as her humorous and inspiring stories will motivate anyone face a big transition in their life. This forty-day devotional published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, is available at CBN.com.

Carol has four grown children and two grandchildren. Currently she and her husband, John, live in North Carolina where she speaks to MOPS and other women’s groups while learning to love livermush.

“Having just moved, this was a welcome enouragement to me. It is so easy to become lonely during this time of change, but the words assure you that God is in control of every step.” rgtcates, Amazon.com

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Are You Wealthy?

By Donna Benson

Being rich or wealthy is usually equated with money. However, money is not the greatest wealth we can achieve today. There are many people who are rich in money and poor in relationships, family, morals, and much more that affect our success in life.

In a recent conversation with a friend, he said many think my husband and I are wealthy. I knew he meant in money when I laughed. No, we are not rich in money…far from it. Yet, as I thought about it, I realized we are very wealthy in everything that really matters in life. We have a great marriage of nearly forty years…as best friends and lovers. We have family and extended family who love us and who bring us great joy…children and grandchildren who make life interesting, fulfilling and meaningful. We have friends who hold us accountable for walking the Christian life. We have co-workers who support us, encourage us and hold us to a high standard of excellence.  We have faith in Jesus that brings it all together in new life, love and peace with our creator.

Money is amoral. It is neither good nor bad. What we do with it makes the difference. The choices we make in life are very different. It seems the more we give of ourselves, the richer we become.

I heard once of a Love Bank. It is an imaginary box that is filled as we are kind and loving toward others, helping or listening to them. It is reverse of a regular bank. In a depository, the more you put in the richer you become. In the Love Bank, the more yougive away, the richer you become. Of course, this is not popular in our culture.  The philosophy of today is one of ‘give me’ or ‘what are you going to do for me?’ As a whole this is bankrupting our nation both monetarily and spiritually. It threatening our way of life.

It is time people wake up and open their eyes. As we prepare for the hard times ahead, we must learn to share, support and encourage one another. It is not all about me or you. I do not believe in collective salvation…we individually stand before God to account for our lives. Yet, we must have a community of like-minded people who we can count on and who can count on us in the coming days. I encourage you to establish your own Love Bank and find a circle of family or friends who will stand with you in the coming days.

About Donna Benson

Born in the mid-fifties. Married her high school sweet heart Bob young and has enjoyed nearly forty years of love and life together walking with Jesus.clip_image001

Writing has been an on again off again love. ‘My2Cents’ articles for our church website was her first public writing. Writing short stories came next.

‘Flee to the Mountains’ came out of brainstorming with Bob over the state of our country and what could happen. From those discussions, the story was born. They felt it was a great way to get people thinking about what could happen and prepare.

Flee to the Mountains Sanctuary Ranch Series

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Does the Bible Give Submission Advice? Yes!

By Kimberly Rae

So you’re a writer. When you need advice about sending out submissions, or even about writing in general, you likely look to the internet, to writer blogs, to other writers.

How about the Bible? Does the Bible have anything to say that will help us be better writers and submitters?

 

Sure does!

Here are several verses I was given way back when I first started writing. I wish I could remember who compiled them so I could give them credit, but I don’t, so we’ll just give the credit to God for writing the Book in the first place. =)

These verses helped me direct my efforts; I hope they help you, too!

Should you Brave Sending Out your Work?

Cast your bread upon the waters,
For you will find it after many days.

Ecclesiastes 11:1

Should You Send Simultaneous Submissions?

Give a serving to seven, and also to eight,
For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.

Ecclesiastes 11:2

Should You Give in to Writer’s Block?

He who observes the wind will not sow,
And he who regards the clouds will not reap.

Ecclesiastes 11:4

Submitting and Being Rejected, Should You Keep Trying?

In the morning sow your seed,
And in the evening do not withhold your hand;
For you do not know which will prosper,
Either this or that,
Or whether both alike will be good.

Ecclesiastes 11:6

What Should You Write About?

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

Proverbs 31:26

Should You Market Your Own Work?

That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works.

Psalm 26:7

Should You Believe in What You Do, Feel Confident About Your Writing?

She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.

Proverbs 31:18

How Should You Feel about Your Goals for the Future?

Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.

Proverbs 31:25

A Final Motivation

This will be written for the generation to come,

That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD. 

Psalm 102:18

Have any to add? Share here! And Happy Writing!

Author Photo More Square

Kimberly Rae has lived in Bangladesh, Uganda, Kosovo and Indonesia. Her books on international human trafficking and missions (Stolen Woman, Stolen Child, Stolen Future) are all Amazon bestsellers. Her currents projects include a teen series on human trafficking and her Sick & Tired Series on living with chronic health problems. Find out more at www.kimberlyrae.com. Sign up for Kimberly’s newsletter and get a free download of her award-winning book, From Africa With Love!
Website: www.kimberlyrae.com
Blog: www.kimberlyraeauthor.blogspot.com
Twitter: KimberlyRaeBook
FB Page: Human Trafficking Stolen Woman

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by on May 1, 2013  •  Permalink
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MORE TO LIFE THAN ROMANCE? REALLY?

By Lillian Duncan

There’s more to life than romance.

An odd statement coming from someone who writes romantic suspense novels, but the truth is the truth. We can’t survive on romance alone. We all need connection with other people in all sorts of different relationships—not just romantic relationships.

BETRAYED, the second in my Sisters by Choice series, will be released soon. So, why did I choose the name Sisters by Choice for the series, especially when the books are romantic suspense? As in life, not everything is about the romance!

Friendships are important!

For many people, their friends are more important in their daily lives than their family. With families scattered from one end of the country to the other and even in other countries, the friendships we form often replace the family bonds from past eras.

Sure, we still love our families but if they aren’t nearby, it can make for loneliness and feelings of isolation—if we let it! But we don’t have to let it and that’s what I wanted to show in the Sisters by Choice series. Family isn’t just blood, it’s about the bonds we form, especially with other women.

Those bonds are formed as we go through life together and help each other. We can be there to help others during their crises and as we do emotional bonds will form. Those bonds can take strangers, acquaintances, and even friends, and transform them into family.

That’s what I want to show in my Sisters by Choice series. Women who are willing to help others in their time of crisis. Women who will go the extra mile—take the extra time—use the extra energy to help another woman in need.

BETRAYED, the second in my Sisters by Choice series, will be released soon. The first in the series was DECEPTION, which is about a pair of estranged twins. As Patti searches for her twin, she forges an unlikely bond with the wife of a terrorist.

As they do, they become family to each other.

And we all need family—whether it’s by birth or by choice.

Deception_w4966_680DECEPTION: Twins are supposed to have an unbreakable bond, but Patti and Jamie have serious relationship issues. They haven’t spoken since Jamie ruined Patti’s upcoming nuptials years ago.

When a niece she knows nothing about telephones, Patti must unravel the yarn of Jamie’s life and her mysterious disappearance.

Amazon: http://buff.ly/151nyZM

Barnes and Nobles: http://buff.ly/16M5Wxa

Lillian Duncan…Stories of faith mingled… with murder & mayhem.

Lillian is a multi-published writer who writes the type of books she loves to read—suspense with a touch of Lillianromance. Whether as an educator, a writer, or a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word.

To learn more about Lillian and her books, visit: www.lillianduncan.net. She also has a devotional blog at: www.PowerUpWithGod.com as well as her personal blog, Tiaras & Tennis Shoes at www.lillian-duncan.com

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by on April 29, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Staci Stallings on April 29, 2013

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A Well-crafted Blurb

By Suzanne D. Williams

The first two things a reader sees that causes them to buy your book are the cover and the blurb. I know I have downloaded books because of the cover and in the same vein, I have also downloaded books with bad covers that had a great blurb.

There are a number of key factors that go into writing a well-crafted blurb, but the most important one is SUSPENSE. A blurb shouldn’t tell the story, but make the reader wonder what the story is. It causes the reader to guess ahead of time the scope of the plot.

One way to do this is through questions. Where I want the reader to guess at what happens to the main character, I insert doubt. Take a look at the blurb for my book, Love & Redemption.

Take a trip into the past and fall in love with an Irishman.

 

Michael O’Fallen simply wants to survive. A poor Irish boy living in post-Civil War New York, the events of one horrible night send him running­–far south to unsettled Florida and an unplanned marriage with a girl he doesn’t know.

 

Now, he must protect her from the lust and greed of evil men and figure out how to make their escape. Will the dangers and perils they face tear their marriage apart? Or will he finally find true Love & Redemption?

Notice, first, I introduce the main character, Michael O’Fallen. I have found sticking to one character, even if you have several who carry the story, helps the reader focus. Next, I give a couple key features about Michael; he’s poor, Irish, and from New York. I also give a hint as to the setting for the story, “unsettled Florida.” All of these together paint a general picture for the reader.

Yet what draws the reader in and makes them want to read are the questions about the storyline – He’s forced to marry a girl, but what happens to the marriage? And what happened in New York to send him running? Can he survive it?

Now, they want to know.

A good blurb actually keeps the story a complete secret. With Love & Redemption, you have an idea of the story, but you don’t know who the antagonist is, how he functions, who the girl Michael marries is, how Michael feels about her, or what Michael will have to do to hold his marriage together. Frankly, none of that is necessary.

Which leads me to a pet peeve of mine. Don’t tell me everything, and similarly, don’t make me afraid to read the story. I will explain. In a series of books that I happen to love, the author wrote a blurb that, because I loved the character so much, gave me a hard time picking the book up. I would have rather the blurb left me a little more in the dark, so that I could grab my chest at the moment I realized it and not before I ever read the book.

Here’s another pet peeve. Length. Long blurbs will not be read unless you have a huge fan base waiting on the book’s release. So keep it short and sweet. And here’s something that works well for me. Create a byline. For Love & Redemption, I use, “Take a trip into the past and fall in love with an Irishman.” For Me & Timothy Cooper and I Kissed the Boy Next Door I use, “Fall in love all over again.” In both cases, these bylines sum up the story. The reader knows the one book is about an Irishman who they might grow to love and that the other two stories are romances meant to win your heart.

Bylines can also be series of words. In an upcoming book I will release next year I could use, “A rock star. A church girl. A healing God.” I think you get the picture, and I didn’t have to tell you anything, not even the title.

That leaves me with my final piece of advice, and I’ll phrase it this way: Write a tweet. Write a blurb. I learned to write better blurbs learning to write better tweets. Writing a tweet is saying the most in the shortest amount of space. Forget hashtags for a moment and think of the words themselves. What do you want the reader to see? First, the title. I usually put that in all caps. Second, some catchy line that causes the reader to click on the link. Some of my post popular are:

I stood there, my skin tingling, wanting it to go on forever. CHRISTMAS ANGEL

Skinny Dipping, not the best place to meet a man. LOVE & REDEMPTION

The Good Lord made him beautiful. That’s for sure. ME & TIMOTHY COOPER

I kissed him and I ran. But then they dared me. I KISSED THE BOY NEXT DOOR

 

Now, of course, a blurb is longer, but with each of these, there is something left for the reader to wonder about, and wonder sells books. Because here is the basic fact of marketing. You, the author, know how the book ends. The reader does not. In writing your blurb, keep it that way.

IKissed-3

I KISSED THE BOY NEXT DOOR.

Young Adult / Romance

ONLY 99 CENTS

From the author of ME & TIMOTHY COOPER. Fall in love all over again.

There’s a new boy next door. Then again, not so new. Because to Lucy McKinsey, he’s a face from her past and a childhood memory of summer camp and a dare. Kiss Jackson Phillips. But what a fourteen-year-old would do to impress her friends, changes in three years. Right?

Maybe not.

Yet this time Jackson isn’t the same as he was. He’s taller, more handsome, and far wiser. What is the pain that he carries inside? And can something as simple as a well-meant kiss cure the boy next door?

 

Suzanne-900Suzanne D. Williams is a native Floridian, wife, mother, photographer, and writer. She is the author of both nonfiction and fiction books. She writes a monthly column for Steves-Digicams.com on the subject of digital photography, as well as devotionals and instructional articles for various blogs. She also does graphic design for self-publishing authors.

To learn more about what she’s doing visit http://suzanne-williams-photography.blogspot.com/ or link with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/suzannedwilliamsauthor.

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by on April 26, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Staci Stallings on April 26, 2013

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Day Plan Your Gift

By Laura J. Marshall

It was approaching mid-January when I realized some of my writing goals for the New Year had already taken a backseat to the busyness of life.  I tried to focus and regain my footing, again trying to stick to the 2-hour time block I had allotted.  The time seemed to increasingly become frittered away with the many aspects of writing that had nothing to do with the actual craft.

As I prayed and pondered for a solution, my eyes fell on a Christmas gift I received.  With “For I Know the Plans I Have for You, Psalm 29:11″ emblazoned on the cover of the unopened 2013 leather-bound Day Planner, I took it as a sign.

Each day since, I have used this book to “Plan my Gift”.  It’s not boasting to walk in the gifting God has given you.  Work it out…work it into your life.  It may not pay you anything monetarily, at the moment.  You may still be in the foundation building stage.  Remember, the higher the building, the deeper and wider the foundation needs to be.  What’s your gift?  Plan it into your days.

I’ve noticed general categories as I write in my planner.  They include Service, Heavenly Perspective, Foundation Building, Walking in Gift, and Oh-no’s (things that may not have to do with my gift, but I tend to forget and are important).

A typical day looks like this:

  • Read Word/Prayer/Worship (Heavenly Perspective)
  • Finish writing last chapter of _____ book (Walking in Gift)
  • Read manuscript of so-and-so (Service and Foundation Building)
  • Edit my manuscript (Walking in Gift)
  • Work on Excel list for CrossReads (Service and Foundation Building)
  • Read a few pages of _____ book on writing craft (Foundation Building)
  • Feed and walk neighbors dog (Service and Oh-no)

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I don’t have a 2-hour time span anymore.  I have had days when I’ve listed the same task repeatedly day after day and this gives me reason to wonder.  What is it about this task I am having a hard time with or this project that I don’t want to face?  This teaches me and causes me to reevaluate.

God has increased the productivity of my days and has poured forth His blessings on my creativity as I humbly put all of my time into His hands and He directs my steps.  He has, after all, given me a precious gift.  Who am I to let it lie dormant to the hands of busyness, time, and a distracted mind?

clip_image003

Laura J. Marshall is the full-time mother of five sons and part-time writer and blogger. She operates a popular blog called The Old Stone Wall. Laura writes devotionals and inspirational romantic suspense. A Mom’s Battle Cry to Overcome Fear , the second book in her best-selling Battle Cry Devotional Series, releases this spring. Visit www.LauraJMarshall.com to find out more about Laura’s books.

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Coaxed Back to Life

By Lynn Mosher

Spring always makes me think of my dad. I was thinking about him the other day. Nostalgia set in. Thinking how he would have thoroughly enjoyed his three great-granddaughters. My heart ached that they never got to know him.

I thought how much fun they would have had in his greenhouse. Dad had a green thumb, as they say. Well, no, not really. He had green fingers! All of them! Anything he planted always grew.

He could stick any wilting flower, dying plant, or practically dead twig he picked up off the ground into his special blend, water it, fertilize it, put it in the right spot of the greenhouse for the perfect warmth and healing power of the sun, and otherwise coax it back to a healthy, strong, and flourishing condition.

The secret of his special concoction for nurturing dying plants back to life died with him. I never found out what it was. He left this earth sooner than any of us thought.

I miss my dad. I miss his hugs. I miss seeing him in his jeans and nourishing his fledgling plants.

As I reminisced, I thought about how he and my mom nurtured me as their daughter. I was just like one of Dad’s plants: I was placed into the special blend of people as my family watered me, feed me, protected me, supported me, encouraged me, brought me up in church and to know the Lord, planting the seeds of Christian values with me, and nourished me in every way they knew how, placing me in the right spot for the Son to coax me to a healthy, strong, and flourishing condition.

They believed in “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6 NKJV) I love the way some other versions state it:

* “Teach a child to choose the right path…” The Living Bible

* “Direct your children onto the right path…” New Living Translation

* “Start children off on the way they should go…” The new New International Version

* “Bring up a child by teaching him the way he should go…” New Living Version

* “Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their life.” Good News Translation

They taught; I remembered.

And when circumstances hover over me as a black shroud and I feel them sap my strength, leaving me like the wilted flower or the stick lying on the ground, giving up, my heavenly Father comes along, picks me up, and sticks me in His special blend of love, encouragement, and peace, nurturing this fledgling back to health and strength.

The Lord is our Husbandman, the One who knows His soil and purposes to have a harvest. When circumstances hover over you, beating you down, allow Him to do His nurturing in your life, coaxing you back to a healthy, strong, and flourishing condition.

“You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,

but You will restore me to life again.” (Ps. 71:20 NLT)

 

Lynn Mosher

lynnmosher.com

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by on April 22, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Faith -- Inspirational
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Posted by Staci Stallings on April 22, 2013

http://graceandfaith4u.com/posts/coaxed-back-to-life/

FaithFunder

By Tracy Ruckman

Marketing is one of the most challenging tasks in a writer’s career. Most writers tend to be reclusive, introverted souls who come out of their shells only to promote their books – longing every passing second to retreat to their private, solitary worlds again.

My job as publisher is to get the writer’s books out to as many readers as we possibly can. In today’s world, it’s fairly easy to establish an internet presence, and make our books available through numerous online outlets. In today’s economy, however, it’s getting harder and harder to get our books in front of bookstore owners and book buyers.

This year, we are presented with an incredible opportunity that I did not expect to take advantage of until next year. But through the Christian Small Publisher’s Association, we are being given an opportunity to showcase our books and five of our authors at the International Christian Retail Show in St. Louis this summer. ICRS is the world’s largest trade show for Christian resources and will give us the opportunity to place our books into the hands of people responsible for stocking bookstore shelves. We need to be there. [We just learned this week that one of our featured books won the Book of the Year, so we’re very excited about that!]

Unfortunately, going to ICRS wasn’t in this year’s budget, even at the great rate we’re getting. So we decided to offer some fun rewards in exchange for your help in raising the money. Check out our fun video, then head over to FaithFunder to check out the rewards. You could get book bundles, manuscript critiques, have dinner with all five authors and their publisher (ME!), fun merchandise, or get a Skype session with one of our authors for your book club or writer’s group. I’ll also take you to lunch if you’ll be in St. Louis during ICRS or in Atlanta any time during the summer. We can talk books, publishing, marketing, food, travel, fishing, college football, college, faith, photography, kids, family – your choice. (Just know if you talk fashion or physics, you may end up talking to yourself!)

The fundraiser ends this Sunday, so we DESPERATELY need your help right now to make this happen!

(I just announced a new reward this week – NAME YOUR OWN REWARD. Send me an e-mail (editor [at] writeintegrity [dot] com) with the reward you want and the price you’re willing to pay for it, and we’ll see what we can do!)

THANK YOU for helping put Christian books into stores and into the hands of new readers! It’s a win-win for all of us!

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by on April 19, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Writing & Promotion Tips
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Posted by Staci Stallings on April 19, 2013

http://graceandfaith4u.com/posts/faithfunder/

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