Edie Melson's Blog, page 332

God's Shadow

by Sarah Van Diest @SarahVanDiest

“While those who are frightened by the primal energy of dark emotions try to avoid them, those who are willing to wrestle with angels break out of their isolation by dirtying their hands with the emotions that rattle them most,” Barbara Brown Taylor, Learning to Walk in the Dark.
There is profound beauty hidden in the dark. It awaits light’s touch to honor it with freedom; to launch it into the air; to explode it into life and thrust it into liberty. It is the earth groaning under the curse. It is the body longing to be untethered from death. It is the heart of man separated from whole and complete communion with the Father.
And though that day and its light will come, I wonder if today we are missing something good; if there is another way to understand the dark and light landscape of our lives. Is there a paradigm different from the one we have? A better one? A more complete one?
The rods and cones in our eyes, along with other intricately God-designed nerves, receptors and more, allow us to see the world around us, but they can only see what they are capable of seeing. The rods cannot detect color, but can pick up light with only one singular photon sent out from the light source. The cones can see color, but need a greater number of photons to even register that light is present. The center of the retina contains only cones, so when we look directly at a faint, distant star, we can’t see it. But if we look slightly to the side of it, suddenly it appears, because the rods around the center of the retina are able to pick up the faint light. What was invisible becomes visible. It was always there, we just couldn’t see it. Changing our view only slightly brought that faint star into view.
Transferring that model to our concept of the dark we may ask: What in our understanding of the dark are we blind to? How can we shift our perspective, even just slightly, so we can see more clearly? What information is there we haven’t yet seen?
God is LightGod does not need cones nor rods to see the light. He is the Light. All things are exposed to Him. After all, what is darkness to Him? Night is as day. Dark is as light (Ps. 139:12). All things are seen by Him. And He is there, in the dark. There is no place He is not (Ps. 139:8).
We run from the dark because we cannot see and are frightened, but He is there. He is there.
In the quote from Taylor’s book she talks about dark emotions and how they frighten us; how those emotions “rattle” us. I think it’s interesting that an emotion can cause another emotion (fear, for example: we can be afraid of being afraid). But if we have the understanding that God is in all places and that the night is as day to Him, we do not have to fear any emotion. We are not subject to our feelings; we get to choose how to respond to them. We don’t have to obey them. The purpose of our emotions is to inform us, even the dark ones. They bring information. Running from them, stuffing them, ignoring them, and not allowing them entrance into our realm of understanding is like ignoring the rods in our eyes and missing out on seeing the faint stars completely, as if they didn’t exist. If we don’t try to look at things a little differently, we may miss what our emotions are trying to tell us altogether. I believe God uses emotions to bring our attention to things.
The cord that runs between who God is and our understanding contains within it Truth. Encompassed in Him, not defining Him but defined by Him, Truth is held in His hands. We do what we are able to grasp it; holding tightly to it like a rope pulling us to shore. The truth the Father allows us to see and know is enough to draw us to Him (Acts 17:27). We do not need to see it all or understand it all to find Him.
So even if we can’t bring ourselves to peer into the darkness or wrestle with our dark emotions, the great hope of the Father is that we trust Him. Psalm 91 tells us to find shelter in the Almighty as we abide in His shadow and take refuge under His wings. Shadows are dark, are they not? Shadows are the place where light is blocked, where it doesn’t penetrate. God tells us to seek comfort in this dark place; it is a place of protection and safety. The darkness need not be wholly bad, then. We need not fear the terrors of night because of Whose shadow we sit in (vs.5).
We cannot understand all things, and we can see only what our eyes are able to see, but we can look at our landscape with the knowledge of His faithfulness. We can choose to see the dark as a place where He is, maybe even engage the darkness with our hand in His, abiding in His shadow. 
Educated as a teacher, Sarah taught school for nearly 20 years. As a young woman, she lived in China amid the rice paddies and water buffalo near Changsha, and then later taught English in Costa Rica for four years and raised her two sons. 
Sarah is married for the second time, the mother of 2 boys and the step-mother to 3 more. She and her husband, David, work together in their agency The Van Diest Literary Agency. Her full name is Sarah Ruth Gerke Van Diest. She’s 5’5” and cuts her hair when stress overtakes her. She is a freelance editor (including a New York Times and USA Today bestseller), blogger (The Write Conversation) and writer for hire. Her first book releases with NavPress in 2018. 
http://christianliteraryagency.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sarah.gerkevandiest https://twitter.com/SarahVanDiest http://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/   

What Patience Brings

by Beth Vogt @BethVogt

Sometimes the situations we are in don’t change. We look and we look, and there’s no door marked EXIT.
Okay, yes, I’ll make this blog post personal.
I’m dealing with several ongoing situations that, by definition — ongoing, right? — haven’t changed. Circumstances haven’t budged for months.
Chronic health issues? Still here.
Strained relationships? Still here.
Some things I can’t fix. I can’t demand an end date. I’m on hold … waiting … learning patience, yes. Or, as Henri Nouwen said: I’m learning to be willing to stay where I am and live these situations out to the full believing that something hidden here will be revealed. 
Willingness is an odd combination of faith in God’s presence in the midst of these difficulties and releasing my preconceived ideas about my life. Holding on to trust and letting go of expectations. An uneasy balance, that.
One of the things I’ve learned in all this waiting is to stop being so quick to take the blame for everything … and to stop being just as quick to cast blame. Shouldering blame or expecting someone else to bear the burden of blame are equal sins. I’ve taken far too much credit for far too many problems, which has separated me from God, from others, and from a true estimation of myself.
Yes, I need to own up to my wrong actions. But guilt is not a mandatory and I do not need to carry that weight every time someone offers it to me.
And the waiting times? That’s often when God does His best work in my life — if I let Him.

In Your Words: What hidden things have been revealed to you during times of waiting? 
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Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” 

A nonfiction writer and editor who said she’d never write fiction, Beth is now a novelist with Howard Books. She enjoys writing inspirational contemporary romance because she believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. Connect with Beth on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or check out her blog on quotes, In Others’ Words.

My Favorite Online Writing Resources & Hangouts

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

In days gone by, writers looking for others of their ilk were relegated to out-of-the-way coffee shops, pubs, and sidewalk cafes. Not so anymore. Now we have cool blogs and websites on which to congregate. It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted a list of online sites for writers, so today I thought I’d remedy that.
I’m posing my list below, but I’m certain I’m forgetting some or might just not know them all. So I’m really hoping you’ll add places that you’ve found in the comments section below.
My Favorite Online Writing Resources(in no particular order)Jane FriedmanWriter UnboxedWrite to DoneBlogging BistroThe Kill ZoneSeekervilleElizabeth Spann CraigProbloggerNovel RocketLearn How to Write a NovelThe Write EditingPositive WriterThe Write PracticeWriters in the StormSeriously WritePublishing PerspectivesHelping Writers Become AuthorsAva Jae WriteabilitySteve Laube AgencyAlton GanksyChip MacGregorAaron Gansky Firsts in FictionWriters DigestSouthern Writers Magazine, Sweet T for WritersGo Teen WritersLive Write BreathThe Writers AlleyJeff GoinsThe Book DesignerStandout BooksJeff BullasDIY MFACreative IndieZoe M McCarthyAlmost An AuthorThe Creative PennWriters Helping WritersRoz MorrisBriana Mae MorganAliventuresLiveWriteThriveBlueRidgeConferenceThe Write Conversation (you know I had to add these last two! LOL!)As I said, this is just my list. And this list is made up of the sites I can think of  and/or already have written down. I'm certain I'm missing some valuable sites. Finally, these sites are here because I've found valuable info on them over a significant length of time—but it doesn't mean I agree with everything you'll find on these sites. 
Now it's your turn, what sites would you add to this list?
Don't forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
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Our Writing Contains the Fingerprints of God

Lynette Eason @LynetteEason


Hi all, Happy Thursday. Hope everyone is doing well and making progress on whatever you’re working on this week. 
When I was wondering what in the world I might blog about today, I thought about God’s fingerprints.
I’ve been writing pretty steady since about 1999. I was published in 2007. Since then I’ve written thirty some odd books. That’s a lot of writing if you stop to think about it. LOL.
Sure I’ve gotten some crummy reviews and they can be soul crushing. But then I get an email and I see that no matter how many lousy reviews may get posted on Amazon, God is still in control. And he’s got his fingerprints all over my books. And that makes me smile.
For example: From Reader #1:
Reader emails can be a glimpse of God at work.“Hi Lynette,

First, I love your books. They keep me on the edge of my seat. I wanted to share this with your.

I am in the process of reading No One To Trust. I am enjoying it, but it has been difficult to read. This past February I was a victim of a scammer I met on a dating site. Sadly I fell hard for him. His name was David Hackett and he was in the Army. When I first started reading the book, I had to stop when I read his name. I finally decided to try again and I have been enjoying the book even tho it brings up some tough memories. The character in the book is similar to the "David" I met online. I have found some healing in reading the book. Thank you for that.

I just wanted to share that with you as crazy as it sounds.

Blessing!
Name”
Wow, can you imagine? The character in my book is David Hackett, he tricked his wife into marrying him and he wasn’t who she thought he was. He was also in the army at one time. Crazy, huh? The funny thing is that when I was writing the book, I started out with naming the character Hatchett. But then kept typing Hackett. I finally gave up and told him,  “Fine. Be David Hackett then. What difference does it make?” But it did make a difference to that one reader.  I responded to her and this was her second email back to me.
Thank you!“I truly believe it was God's hand. I finished the book on Saturday night and I have felt such a peace since then. I know it was reading about the forgiveness that Summer gave to both David and her sister. I was a great reminder that I needed to forgive the man that hurt me. I was holding on to that hurt and it was holding me back.  I cannot express how much your book has helped. I am so thankful God has used you and your words.  Thank you for sharing your words.”
Yeah. God’s fingerprints.
One other one I’ll share with you. From Reader #2:
“I feel like I know the people in your books. It really intrigues me how you have developed the characters and their relationships so completely. I about swallowed my tongue when I read about Summer almost deciding not to get down a coffee cup for her husband. Then realizing how petty that was, even though she was furious with him.  Wow! Caught me!!”
LOL. I have absolutely NO recollection of writing that scene. But God knew it was there and he knew someone who needed to see it.  God’s fingerprints. 
So, all that to say, I love it when I see God using my stories to touch lives. It’s amazing, crazy and humbling. And exhilarating.
What’s a story that touched you? Made you think or possibly give you peace about something?
Just wondering. Have a blessed day!
Lynette

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Lynette Eason is the award-winning, bestselling author of over thirty books. Lynette writes for Revell and Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. Her books have finaled or won awards in contests such as The Maggies, Inspirational Readers Choice Award, The Carol, ECPA Book of the Year, The Selah, and others. Her most recent wins are the Carol Award in 2013 and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award in 2014. She began her teaching career in the public school classroom and has since moved to teaching at conferences all over the country. Lynette often speaks at women’s conference and retreats, but finds her first love is teaching writing. In her spare time she can be found hanging out with her family, loving on her nieces and nephews, traveling, and…um…writing. Lynette and her husband Jack live in South Carolina with their two teenagers. Life is never boring, that’s for sure! Lynette can often be found online at www.facebook.com/lynette.eason @lynetteeason on Twitter, and www.lynetteeason.com.

Loose Your Words & Let God's Creativity Reign

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson 

In the beginning God created… Genesis 1:1
My mother is an artist, and I’ve always admired the sure confidence she exudes as she applies color to her creations. The finished pieces don't come together because of the tools she uses or the circumstances surrounding the process. They are created by the vision she holds so firmly in her mind. 
In her mind’s eye, the picture is already finished before she even begins. But to me, watching the process, it so often looks more like chaos than art. In our own lives, God is the artist. And even if what is happening right now looks like chaos, we can be certain that He has the end result clearly in mind. The colors He uses to paint our lives may not be the blues and greens an artist uses. Instead, the colors He uses are experiences, emotions, and people. They infuse our lives with a vibrancy that makes our lives so vivid.
And He's imparted that creativity to us. Never underestimate the power of words to illustrate the world around us. 
God is the Master Artist, wielding His soft brush with masterful strokes, allowing just enough shadow and darkness to bring out the brilliance of the light. From up close, the colors may look muddy and the shapes indistinct, but viewed from a distance, each life is a masterpiece. As writers, we are also part of God's palette and His plan. We use black and white to illustrate the brilliant colors of life. 

Never underestimate your part in the process. God has invited us to join Him. So loose your words and let God's creativity reign as He uses your pen to illustrate His creation.
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14 Ways to Guarantee Failure as a Writer

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I’ve never met a writer who didn’t SAY they wanted to be successful. And while everyone’s definition of success is different, there are a lot of writers out there who are working hard to avoid success.
The one thing I’ve discovered on my own writing journey is that I’m often my own worst enemy. I’m the person who has—most often—stood between me and achieving my dreams. But if you really don’t want to find success, here are 14 things you can do to guarantee writing failure!14 Ways to Guarantee Writing Failure1. Spend too much time watching TV. There are some great television shows out there right now (Castle, Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D, Bones, are some of my favorites). And while they can provide inspiration, they can also stand between me and writing time. I have to decide which is more important, writing or watching TV.
Spend the majority of your time reading about
writing instead of writing.2. Spend the majority of your time reading about writing instead of writing. You’ve seen this one a lot on my blog lately. But the reason is that I’m running into this a lot with wannabe writers.
3. Don’t track the time spent online.It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re surfing the web. Social media (can anyone say Facebook?) is a big sinkhole for time. Because of this, I pay very close attention to the clock when I’m online.
4. Don’t EVER follow a schedule. I get a lot done during my writing day, and the primary reason is that I follow a schedule. I’ve learned that it’s the best way for me to stay productive with my ADD tendencies.
5. Avoid setting goals. It’s really hard to get somewhere if you don’t know where you’re going.
6.  Don’t come up with a plan or track writing progress. Just like #5 above. If you don’t have a plan, it’s hard to tell if you’re actually making progress. Beyond that, if you’re not tracking your progress, it’s much easier to get discouraged and give up.
Always rely primarily on inspiration and
feeling motivated.7. Always rely primarily on inspiration and feeling motivated. Inspiration is great, but perspiration is gold. The transition from writing as a hobby to serious writing comes right here. It’s when a writer can and will put words on paper even when he doesn’t feel like it.
8. Make unsubstantiated assumptions. Making assumptions is rarely a good idea, and that’s especially true in the publishing industry.
9. Don’t be willing to wait. Waiting is never fun. And patience isn’t in my arsenal of super powers. But I’ve learned how this business works and waiting is part of it. If you’re willing to wait, good things will come.
Never listen to the experts.10. Never listen to the experts. I can’t tell you how many times someone has come to me as a freelance editor and paid me to edit a manuscript. Then, completely ignored my advice. I get that it’s our work and we’re in charge, but don’t ask my advice if you’re just going to argue with my expertise. That’s a waste of my time and your money.
11. Try to apply the advice of EVERYONE who offers it. No this isn’t contradicting #10. Choose the people you take advice from and realize that not every piece of advice is the right thing for you.
12. Only read passively. Words are our business. Don’t waste an opportunity to learn. Look at the book or article or blog you’re reading as an opportunity to improve. Why do you like it? Why did you choose that book? Don’t pass up what amounts to a free workshop when you read.
13. Don’t believe in yourself. Ultimately my success and my failure rests with me. If I don’t believe in myself, in the calling and gift that God has given me, then no one else can help me.
14. Give up too early. This one is related to #9. When I started writing seriously, I was part of a group of women and we were all about the same level. Today, I’m one of the few left. I’m not more talented than the others, I just refused to give up. Talent will only take you so far. Success comes from pig-headed diligence.
This is my list of things to avoid. When have you been your own worst enemy?
Don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
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7 Book Marketing Secrets You May Not Know

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

This year I will launch three books. Two have been with a big publisher and the third will set sail in November with a smaller, traditional press. Of course there are differences between what support a big and small publisher provides. But—and we all need to wrap our brains around this one truth—our responsibility as the author is fairly consistent. Today I’m going to share 7 book marketing secrets I’ve learned from experience, and some I’ve learned by watching other authors.Book Marketing Secrets1. Your audience of readers is interested in connecting with YOU, not your publisher. Readers don’t care if you’ve landed a big deal with a big publisher or a small deal with a small one. What they want is good content and a place to connect with you. Part two of this is the fact that y our readers want genuine and authentic interaction. If your readers follow you on social media and then discover that it’s not really you—only an assistant or lackey—interacting with them, they’ll feel betrayed. For newer writers who aren’t starting with huge audiences, this means you’re going to have to be on social media consistently four to five days a week. For those who are already big names, you may have to cut back on the amount of interaction so you have time to keep it genuine.
Don't use the wrong URL for your book on Amazon!2. Don’t use the wrong URL for your book on Amazon. Most of you have probably read about the fact that Amazon sometimes deletes legitimate reviews. Part of that problem is the long URL many authors include in their promo and social media information.
This is the WRONG link:https://www.amazon.com/While-My-Child-Away-Prayers/dp/1617957313/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472943303&sr=8-1&keywords=Edie+Melson
This is the RIGHT link:https://www.amazon.com/While-My-Child-Away-Prayers/dp/1617957313/
You see, everything from ref on is a special code that allows Amazon to track when this link was shared. If I post the wrong link, it looks like all my reviews came from the same source and could have been paid for. There are other things coded into the longer part of the link, but trust me when I say it will cut way back on number of reviews Amazon lets you keep.
3. A small group of readers dedicated to helping you is an author’s secret weapon. For the first time, I assembled a launch team. (Here are the links to two posts I shared – Street Teams for a Book Launch and How a Launch Team Helped Promote MyBook) In seven weeks, this team of twenty-eight helped my book visibility by giving me over 200,000 social media impressions. I did my best to make the launch not about me, but about what God was doing. I stayed in weekly contact with them, and provided a mini-study on praying for our children. The keys to a group like this are:Regular—genuine—contactValue for themEasily shareable content (my publisher generated memes and tweetables to take the work out of sharing for them)
4. Your readers don’t know the publishing biz so you have to let them know how to help you. Readers aren’t writers. They aren’t aware of how important reviews are. As a matter of fact, most of them think only professionals write reviews. If you want your readers to write reviews, you’re going to have to ask for them and then provide instruction on how to do it. NOTE: keep it simple. Don’t haunt them with requests that make it seem like they’re back in school and being asked to write a book report.
Giveaways make a difference.5. Giveaways make a difference. A gift basket with swag that you can share on social media, a drawing at a book signing, and extra downloads when they share or order your book will provide extra incentive. These don’t have to break the bank. I made a bunch of hand-beaded bookmarks for my book launch at our local Barnes & Noble and they were a huge hit—and helped sell a lot of extra books.
6. For better numbers, keep your interviews relevant to what’s going on. For instance, at the end of July my book, While My Child is Away, released. I had great response when I sent out interview requests when I tied it to the time of year. I used this hook: When I was growing up, back-to-school was a time of excitement. In today’s climate, it can be a time of anxiety—for parents and children. I have a book that addresses how prayer can bring peace in times of stress.
7. Don’t forget the pictures. We’ve all heard the saying, A picture is worth a thousand words. There’s a reason—it’s true. Take pictures of yourself signing the contract, celebrating when you turn in your manuscript, getting a copy of your ARC, and especially that box of author copies. These things build momentum and enthusiasm. Your readers begin to anticipate what’s coming and cheer you on as a heroine. After the book arrives, keep the pics coming. Take shots of book signings, book tables at conference, where ever you happen to be. Always share these on social media.
And especially take pictures when your book is in stores and libraries. Then go one step further—TAG THE STORE IN THE PICTURE AND SOCIAL MEDIA POST. This is free advertising for them and they remember the authors who do this.
These are the things that I’ve learned about promoting and launching a book. I’d love to know what you’ve learned. We’re always better together!
Don’t forget to join the conversation,Blessings,Edie
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Left With Nothing But Words

by Danetta Kellar @DanettaKellar

For the ear assesses words as the mouth tastes food. Job 34:3
I have had the unpleasant task of listening to the entire book of Job this month on my audio Bible. Unpleasant because I only like words that are encouraging, make me feel good, and don’t challenge me to think about the God I do not understand. It is one thing to have faith in the God I can reasonably understand, or at least think I can. It is another matter entirely to trust and have faith in God when circumstances swirl around me that I just do not understand and cannot explain.No, I was not looking forward to listening to Job this month. But because every personality test I take tells me I am a Completer/Finisher, there was no way I would skip it.
The book of Job is a long exposition of destruction and the depression that follows. Its raw honesty stirs a fearful place deep inside me, and makes me wonder if Job’s experience may just be a picture of my own. If not now, maybe soon.
The truth is that Job demands we be honest in our suffering. And maybe that is the real reason we find it uncomfortable.
After the death of all his children and the loss of everything he owned, all Job had left was words. Words in the form of questions, declarations, complaints. His own words and the words of friends. And eventually, the words of God.
The book of Job is a book about the power of words. When one is suffering, the ear is attuned to their power with an excruciating acuteness. A thoughtless word can crush a spirit that is already barely breathing. A word of wisdom can gleam like the blade of a King’s sword during the blow that decides the victory. A word of encouragement can saturate a soul like rain on the hard-cracked plains of Africa after a year of drought.
Yes, it is a certainty that the hurting, broken heart is exquisitely attuned to the power of words.
Job’s patience is shocking as he listens to others’ advice and reasoning, their attempts to comfort as he sits in ashes. Their presumption to understand God’s mind and purpose is equally amazing. On and on they speak, words piling up like rubble.
We wait wondering when God will speak to Job and his friends. Up until now, like observers of a stage act, we have only heard God’s words exchanged with His enemy, Satan. Think about that for a moment. As Job and his friends agonized over God’s silence, God was speaking. But He was speaking to the enemy who sought to destroy Job. He was engaged with Satan himself, restricting him and forbidding him to take Job’s life.
How often do we wonder
at God's silence while the world
crumbles around us?How often do we wonder at God’s silence while the world seems to be crumbling around us? Have we considered He may be engaging our enemy and His, commanding the enemy’s boundaries and restrictions in our lives? Our God fights for us when we are hurting. He is skillfully navigating the plans of the destroyer to actually build our character and faith.
Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. (38:1)
He did not wait until the storm stilled. Instead, God spoke out of the storm.
We sat recently in a mighty thunderstorm, lightening striking all around us while we huddled under a shelter by the soccer field. We could not even hear one another speaking. But God, who commands the thunder and lightening, spoke to Job above the din of the storm that destroyed all he loved, above the thunderous crash of Job’s anger, the flashing heat of his despair. When He is done, all Job can say is, “My ears have heard of You but now my eyes have seen You. (42:5)
After God’s words, Job saw his smallness in the shadow of God’s greatness and was smitten to repentance. He was restored. Job’s heart was so completely restored that he prayed for his friends, the misguided ones who had tried but failed to comfort him in his deep sorrow. That is surely evidence of a heart healed by the words of God himself. Remarkably, we read that the latter part of Job’s life was twice as blessed as the first. Job’s journey brought him to a place no one can even imagine exists after loss. Words were Job’s stepping stones through that morass of pain.
I finished Job this time with a new perspective. I am thinking deeply about the words I say, especially to the broken ones I meet along life’s path. I am considering my own suffering and its interpretation of the well-meaning words of loving friends as they try to help and comfort. The truth is, we really do not know what to say when others are sitting in ashes. We do not have the power to explain suffering. It is simply painful and terrible. Sometimes it is better to sit in weeping silence together and wait for God to speak out of the storm. His words restore.
Lord, may the words of my mouth be like comfort food to the hurting  May they satisfy the soul like a stomach filled with contentment and fullness. Amen.

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Danetta Kellar is a writer, blogger, and speaker. Her interesting life has taken her around the globe, where she has had the privilege to witness firsthand the transformation of women from all walks of life and culture as they exchange lies for the Truth found in Christ. 

Her writing flows out of this rich experience and her own continual search for treasures in life’s darkness. Connect with Danetta online through her blog, Riches Out of Darkness, and on Facebook, or Twitter. 

Teaching Through Writing—Writing Against the Grain

by Bruce Brady @BDBrady007

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 29:18-20 NLT).The command to go and make disciples isn’t restricted to church-related activities. It should be evident in everything we say and do. And though our words may not always specifically direct our audiences to the Lord, they would   do well to reflect His truth and desire for each of us. The words we write and the way we use them should always honor God.
“There are enough people around already who can verbalize orthodoxy on paper. What we haven’t got is writers who can join truth and wisdom about God from the Scriptures with personal communication that hits the heart, that makes you realize that this writer is a person talking to other persons. That this writer is trying to search me in order to help me and I must let him do it. There is a certain art and craft in writing in such a way that it gets to the reader’s heart... and I would say to my budding writer, ‘now this is a craft you must learn.” —J. I. Packer
The challenge to write for God above all else demands our attention to honing our craft until we express ourselves without leaning on the crutch of appealing to our readers’ lusts. It’s a never ending quest to produce stories that reach their hearts and point them in the direction of lasting, positive change.
“A divine calling to write is a calling from God, through God, and for God. Until the writing is for God, it is not a calling from God. So we move from truth discovery through writing to creative expression — through writing to the role of a servant in writing — which I described earlier like this: the impulse to instruct and awaken and delight and transform people into obedient worshipers of Christ. Instruct in the infinite expanse of truth, awaken to the glory of God radiant through all that he has made, delight with craftsmanship of poetry and diction and style and story, transform people into those who enjoy God with us and walk in a way that pleases God.” —Desiring God by John Piper
Writing scenes of explicit sex, graphic violence, and profanity can only serve to continue society’s downward spiral toward ever-greater hatred and hostility. We’re called to rise above and show people there’s hope for a better world.
Let’s also remember that while our words may be intended only for adults, there are few things children can’t get their hands on. When the bad guys cuss, children will pick up the language and use it. Plus, villains can better express their intimidating messages through carefully chosen words with greater emotional depth.
I’m not saying the agents, editors and publishers who encourage writing the way people speak are wrong. Their business acumen is borne of experience in a sales-driven world. What I amsaying is we need to credit our readers with intelligence and offer them great writing without using words that slap the face of God.
As my friend and fellow writer, Charles Huff said, “Of all who have lived, a miniscule number have their fame and approval last hundreds of years after they have died. But we have been offered the ability to have our acceptance last an eternity. It will happen if we follow Jesus’ example to seek God the Father’s seal of approval instead of men’s.”
What are your thoughts? Please share them in the comments. Let’s keep the conversation going.

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Writing Against the Grain—Teaching Through #Writing - @BDBrady007 (Click to Tweet)

Bruce Brady is an author, writer and playwright. His work has appeared in Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family, www.ChristianDevotions.us, and on stage. Currently, Bruce is working on a Young Adult Novel about a boy who must deal with the death of his dad, being bullied, and helping his mom through her grief. His first five pages took third place in the ACFW South Carolina Chapter’s “First Five Pages” contest.

When he’s not writing, Bruce spends time learning from and helping other writers. He serves as Mentor of Word Weavers International’s Online Chapter, and as a member of Cross ‘N’ Pens, The Writer’s Plot, ACFW’s National and South Carolina Chapters.

“My dream is to entertain my readers and give them hope as they travel the rocky road of life.”

One Writer's First Experience at the ACFW Conference

by Lynn H Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I attended my very first ACFW(American Christian Fiction Writers) Conference last week. 
I know many of you may be thinking about attending ACFW at some point in the future so I thought I’d share my thoughts and impressions with you.
Here’s my day-by-day guide to ACFW. Day 1 - ThursdayThis year the conference was held at the Omni in Nashville. The Omni was lovely. Nice rooms. Excellent service. It’s a very large hotel, and it has to be because there were close to 600 people in attendance. I’ve attended quite a few conferences, so when people warned me about how big ACFW was . . . well, it’s not that I didn’t believe them, but I wasn’t worried about it.
I probably should have been just a little worried. My introverted self wasn’t quite prepared for the sheer mass of people. SO. MANY. PEOPLE.
Fortunately, I know myself well enough to know the feeling of “I need to get away from all these people” will subside once I get my bearings, which really didn’t take very long. Thursday afternoon and evening were packed with worship, keynote, genre dinner, and publisher spotlights. All of which were fabulous and not to be missed.
Day 2 - FridayFriday was an interesting day. The morning started off with a zone breakfast where I had a chance to get to know other writers from my zone. Then there was a worship time and then it was off to continuing classes, appointments, and drop-ins with publishers. It’s a full day and looks different for everyone depending on their schedule. Friday evening is open. In my case, I joined other Love Inspired authors for a meal with our editors and it was a wonderful opportunity to finally meet many of my online friends.
Day 3 - SaturdaySaturday began with worship and then went straight into classes. I had a blast volunteering to be a hostess for a couple of the classes I attended and I highly recommend signing up to volunteer. It’s a great way to feel like you’re a part of the event. Saturday evening ends with the Gala and awards ceremony. It’s a lot of fun to dress up, but if you’re worried about it, know that you don’t have to go with a tuxedo or a floor length gown. Regular Sunday clothes will work just fine. 
Overall Impressions ACFW is big. It’s intense. The schedule is packed. But people are friendly, helpful, and kind.
ACFW is filled with opportunity. There’s more opportunity than you can take advantage of in three days. There are more classes than you can take and more people than you can meet. But God is in control and time after time the “right” person sits down beside you or winds up on the elevator with you.
ACFW is absolutely about helping you in your career. But it’s even more about helping you write for the One who called you. I wish I could fully convey to you how even in the cacophony, God’s Spirit was evident to me. The worship times were precious, and I would argue that they are critical. When everything is swirling around you and you feel like you have to be “on” every moment, it’s vital to spend time each day refocusing on what matters and why you’re doing this in the first place. The classes also pointed me back to the Creator. I attended several classes so full of Scripture and Truth that my seat felt like holy ground.
I have a few regrets. I was in the same room with a few authors that I just couldn’t work up the nerve to talk to, and I wish I had. I also wish I’d taken more pictures of the authors I DID get up the nerve to talk to. I tried to be friendly, but sometimes I just sat quietly by myself (particularly in classes). It’s my coping mechanism in large groups, but I wish I’d pushed through some of that and been more intentional about meeting people.
I mostly have joys. I got to hang out with lots of writing friends, and that’s always a good thing. I got to meet many of my virtual friends and discovered that they are absolutely delightful in real life. I laughed a lot and more than once I heard the still, small voice of God and that confirmation will resound in my mind and heart for a long time.I left ACFW exhausted but enthusiastic about my writing and my career, and looking forward to the next time.
So how about you? Did you attend ACFW? Did you have any huge moments while you were there? Or maybe ACFW is on your wish list? Let’s talk about it in the comments.
Don’t forget to join the conversation!

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A writer looks back on the #ACFW Conference - @LynnHBlackburn (Click to Tweet)


Lynn Huggins Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She’s passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don’t make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in South Carolina with her true love, Brian, and their three children. Her first book, Covert Justice , won the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel. You can follow her real life happily ever after on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and at lynnhugginsblackburn.com.