Edie Melson's Blog, page 335
August 9, 2016
Writing Scam—Don’t You Dare!
by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted
Yep, it happened to me. Scammed. Me, the cynic. The one who is overly cautious. Stingy with information. Me. I was scammed because I let my heart get in the way of my head.
Thank goodness I had the good sense to stop the incident before it could go very far, but the fact remains. . . I got took, as we say in the mountains. I've spent a few days walking the road to recovery. It's the same seven steps that anyone goes through who's experienced a trauma or loss: Shock/denial, pain/guilt, anger, depression/loneliness, the upward turn, rebuilding, acceptance and hope (I think I've hit the anger part). Still it’s a process to heal when you find your vulnerability and realized someone else capitalized on it.
As I began to write on my next chapter, I realized just how much this scam affected me. No matter how I tried to concentrate on the words to write, the negative self-talk overtook it all. Stupid. How could you be so gullible? And then it got worse—What if I've put my family in danger? What if they manage to find their way into our bank accounts? Fear set in.
As writers, it's easy for us to tell one another to just keep writing when we've hit a wall. We know that's what we need to do—push through, power on. It's that way with anything we face in life. Face the music and then move ahead, otherwise we find ourselves wallowing in the mire. Stuck and sinking fast. If we flop around long enough, we'll give up and be sucked under.
1. Whether you've hit a snag in your thought process or failed to receive that contract you'd hoped for—when you experience a rough patch it gets hard to peck at the keyboard. Don't worry.Here are some tips to help you plow through the dark times and reemerge on the other side.2. Decide to take action and then do it. Make a conscious effort to have movement in your writing—be it a blog post, a Facebook post, article or reading. But decide to move and then move.3. Take a walk. Get outside in the sunshine. It's a proven fact that the sunlight helps trigger the brain to produce serotonin and serotonin is the hormone that boosts mood, calmness, and focus. Our bodies need the right balance of light and darkness. So go for a walk soak in some sun.4. Practice good self-talk. Write yourself notes and stick them through the house. Remind yourself of the good things in your life. Decide not to worry about the bad . . . . and good neural pathways will form in the brain. You'll literally wipe away the negative.5. Learn forgiveness. Get your head around the fact we are imperfect people. We all make mistakes and hit hard times, so learn to forgive yourself or the person who's caused you the pain. Move past. What is done is done and no matter what we do, it's can't be undone. Think of Disney's movie Frozen and Let it Go.6. Learn from your mistake and then put steps in place to help you veer the other direction the next time you run upon the temptation.7. Finally, that old writer word-to-the-wise: Just write. Do it. If you learn to throw the emotion you are experiencing into your writing it will be some of the most amazing work you will ever produce—raw, touching, impacting. There is wisdom in those words . . . . JUST WRITE.
It was enough to BE scammed by someone else, but it's worse to scam yourself by believing the lies we tell ourselves. Rise above the scam and write your very best. Remember you are in control of the words you write. So write.
TWEETABLE
Don't let getting scammed derail your #writing - @CindyDevoted (Click to Tweet)
7 Tips to move forward when you've been scammed - @CindyDevoted (Click to Tweet)
Cindy Sproles is an award-winning author and popular speaker. She is the cofounder of Christian Devotions ministries and managing editor of Straight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Cindy is the executive editor of www.christiandevotions.us and www.inspireafire.com. She teaches at writers conferences nationwide and directs The Asheville Christian Writers Conference - Writers Boot Camp.
She is the author of two devotionals, He Said, She Said - Learning to Live a Life of Passion and New Sheets - Thirty Days to Refine You into the Woman You Can Be. Cindy's debut novel, Mercy's Rain, is available at major retailers. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com and book her for your next conference or ladies retreat. Also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
Yep, it happened to me. Scammed. Me, the cynic. The one who is overly cautious. Stingy with information. Me. I was scammed because I let my heart get in the way of my head.Thank goodness I had the good sense to stop the incident before it could go very far, but the fact remains. . . I got took, as we say in the mountains. I've spent a few days walking the road to recovery. It's the same seven steps that anyone goes through who's experienced a trauma or loss: Shock/denial, pain/guilt, anger, depression/loneliness, the upward turn, rebuilding, acceptance and hope (I think I've hit the anger part). Still it’s a process to heal when you find your vulnerability and realized someone else capitalized on it.
As I began to write on my next chapter, I realized just how much this scam affected me. No matter how I tried to concentrate on the words to write, the negative self-talk overtook it all. Stupid. How could you be so gullible? And then it got worse—What if I've put my family in danger? What if they manage to find their way into our bank accounts? Fear set in.
As writers, it's easy for us to tell one another to just keep writing when we've hit a wall. We know that's what we need to do—push through, power on. It's that way with anything we face in life. Face the music and then move ahead, otherwise we find ourselves wallowing in the mire. Stuck and sinking fast. If we flop around long enough, we'll give up and be sucked under.
1. Whether you've hit a snag in your thought process or failed to receive that contract you'd hoped for—when you experience a rough patch it gets hard to peck at the keyboard. Don't worry.Here are some tips to help you plow through the dark times and reemerge on the other side.2. Decide to take action and then do it. Make a conscious effort to have movement in your writing—be it a blog post, a Facebook post, article or reading. But decide to move and then move.3. Take a walk. Get outside in the sunshine. It's a proven fact that the sunlight helps trigger the brain to produce serotonin and serotonin is the hormone that boosts mood, calmness, and focus. Our bodies need the right balance of light and darkness. So go for a walk soak in some sun.4. Practice good self-talk. Write yourself notes and stick them through the house. Remind yourself of the good things in your life. Decide not to worry about the bad . . . . and good neural pathways will form in the brain. You'll literally wipe away the negative.5. Learn forgiveness. Get your head around the fact we are imperfect people. We all make mistakes and hit hard times, so learn to forgive yourself or the person who's caused you the pain. Move past. What is done is done and no matter what we do, it's can't be undone. Think of Disney's movie Frozen and Let it Go.6. Learn from your mistake and then put steps in place to help you veer the other direction the next time you run upon the temptation.7. Finally, that old writer word-to-the-wise: Just write. Do it. If you learn to throw the emotion you are experiencing into your writing it will be some of the most amazing work you will ever produce—raw, touching, impacting. There is wisdom in those words . . . . JUST WRITE.It was enough to BE scammed by someone else, but it's worse to scam yourself by believing the lies we tell ourselves. Rise above the scam and write your very best. Remember you are in control of the words you write. So write.
TWEETABLE
Don't let getting scammed derail your #writing - @CindyDevoted (Click to Tweet)
7 Tips to move forward when you've been scammed - @CindyDevoted (Click to Tweet)
Cindy Sproles is an award-winning author and popular speaker. She is the cofounder of Christian Devotions ministries and managing editor of Straight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Cindy is the executive editor of www.christiandevotions.us and www.inspireafire.com. She teaches at writers conferences nationwide and directs The Asheville Christian Writers Conference - Writers Boot Camp. She is the author of two devotionals, He Said, She Said - Learning to Live a Life of Passion and New Sheets - Thirty Days to Refine You into the Woman You Can Be. Cindy's debut novel, Mercy's Rain, is available at major retailers. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com and book her for your next conference or ladies retreat. Also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
August 8, 2016
The ABCs of Blogging
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
As Easy as ABCToday I’d like to give you 26 tips for success with your blog. I’m calling this my ABCs of Blogging.
A is for Accessibility—Make sure your blog is easy to find, easy to navigate, and easy to read. And don’t forget to make it accessible to those who are visually impaired.
B is for Basics—Whatever you’re doing, make it excellent. That means take time to check for typos and readability, in your posts. Also be sure you’re using giving accurate links. There’s nothing more frustrating than clicking on a link that takes you nowhere.
D is for Discipline—When you begin a blog, you make a commitment to your audience. You want them to show up regularly and they expect the same for you. They won’t expect perfection—after all life happens to all of us—but they will expect discipline from you.
E is for EnergyE is for Energy—Make sure your posts are full of energy. Use active verbs, vibrant descriptions and always end with a call to action. The action could be as simple as joining the conversation or as challenging as changing the world.
F is for Focus—You cannot be everything to everybody. Pick a focus for your site, but don’t be afraid to refine it based on what you hear from your audience.
G is for Google—Do your homework and know what it takes to rank high in the search engines. This means you need to know about SEO (Search Engine Optimization), as well as how to label and tag your blog correctly. And always remember it isn’t content that’s king, it’s GOOD content that rules.
H is for HearingH is for Hearing—Pay close attention to the comments your audience leaves. You’ll find great ideas for future blogs, as well as find out what your audience is interested in. Also keep tabs on your analytics. Knowing which posts are your most popular will go a long way to helping you determine the focus for you blog.
I is for Image—There’s a reason behind the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Use images to illustrate every post and to break up the text so it’s easier to read.
J is for Jump Break—This little tool can help your blog load faster and your email notifications run smoother. Not sure what I’m talking about? Here’s a post I wrote that give you everything you need to know about jump breaks.
K is for Keeping On—Building an audience for your blog takes time . . . and diligence. Don’t give up too soon. Here’s what to reasonably expect for blog growth.
L is for Links— Social Media Links, that is. If someone takes time to visit your blog, make sure they can connect with you on social media as well. Have all your social media links in an easy to see place on your blog header or sidebar.
M is for MobileM is for Mobile—Make sure your blog is easy to read on a mobile device and/or tablet. This isn’t just about how it looks, but also the length of posts, size of the text, etc.
N is for Numbers—Remember your worth—and your blog’s worth— is NOT determined by the number of people who visit.
P is for Passion—You may be able to write about something you’re not passionate about for a month or two. But after that, I guarantee you’ll be miserable. So pick something you’re passionate about as a focus for your site.
Q is for Question—Always end your post with a question to help get the conversation started. (Thanks to Jeanne Takenaka for reminding me to include this tip!)
R is for Reputation—In this business (publishing and blogging) reputation is everything. Develop a reputation for excellence and you’ll never lack for work—or for an audience!
S is for Subscribers—Make sure you have a way for people to subscribe to your blog through email and through RSS. Also, be sure you know the difference between blog followers and blog subscribers.
T is for Titles—Don’t neglect the titles you choose for your blog posts. Social media is a no man’s land without context. A good rule is to look at your title and ask if someone would know what your post was about just by reading the title.
U is for Understand—Take time to understand the culture of the online universe. This includes etiquette, as well as expectations.
V is for ValueV is for Value—Give your audience something of value every single time you post. No one has time to waste and your audience is no exception.
W is for Weight—Don’t overload any part of your blog. Keep your sidebars trim and uncluttered. Don’t have too many links within a blog post. The ideal is no more than two to three per 500 words. If you encourage people to click away more than a couple of times, statistics prove they won’t come back. But most of all, don’t weigh down your posts with unnecessary words. Wordiness is never a good thing for a writer, but it’s absolute death to a blogger.
X is for Examine—I try to evaluate my blog two to three times a year. I take a look at my most popular posts, as well as the ones that garnered the most comments. I also try to look at it like a first-time visitor would. Is it easy to navigate? Do the page tab titles make sense? Are my social media links all working correctly.
Y is for Yellow—Not as in cowardly, but the color yellow. Avoid it when you blog. It’s the most unpopular color for use on a blog. It’s also the hardest to see and has the largest variation over devices.
Z is for Zoom In—When you pick a topic for a blog post, zoom in. Don’t try to cover too much at once. Stay laser-focused. Beyond that, zoom in on your word count. Blog posts are almost always shorter than print articles. It’s the nature of the medium.
These are my top tips. I’d love to hear some of yours!
Don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
TWEETABLESThe ABCs of #Blogging – via #socialmedia expert @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
#Blogging isn't a synonym for lecturing, plus other tips from @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
As Easy as ABCToday I’d like to give you 26 tips for success with your blog. I’m calling this my ABCs of Blogging.A is for Accessibility—Make sure your blog is easy to find, easy to navigate, and easy to read. And don’t forget to make it accessible to those who are visually impaired.
B is for Basics—Whatever you’re doing, make it excellent. That means take time to check for typos and readability, in your posts. Also be sure you’re using giving accurate links. There’s nothing more frustrating than clicking on a link that takes you nowhere.
D is for Discipline—When you begin a blog, you make a commitment to your audience. You want them to show up regularly and they expect the same for you. They won’t expect perfection—after all life happens to all of us—but they will expect discipline from you.
E is for EnergyE is for Energy—Make sure your posts are full of energy. Use active verbs, vibrant descriptions and always end with a call to action. The action could be as simple as joining the conversation or as challenging as changing the world.F is for Focus—You cannot be everything to everybody. Pick a focus for your site, but don’t be afraid to refine it based on what you hear from your audience.
G is for Google—Do your homework and know what it takes to rank high in the search engines. This means you need to know about SEO (Search Engine Optimization), as well as how to label and tag your blog correctly. And always remember it isn’t content that’s king, it’s GOOD content that rules.
H is for HearingH is for Hearing—Pay close attention to the comments your audience leaves. You’ll find great ideas for future blogs, as well as find out what your audience is interested in. Also keep tabs on your analytics. Knowing which posts are your most popular will go a long way to helping you determine the focus for you blog.I is for Image—There’s a reason behind the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Use images to illustrate every post and to break up the text so it’s easier to read.
J is for Jump Break—This little tool can help your blog load faster and your email notifications run smoother. Not sure what I’m talking about? Here’s a post I wrote that give you everything you need to know about jump breaks.
K is for Keeping On—Building an audience for your blog takes time . . . and diligence. Don’t give up too soon. Here’s what to reasonably expect for blog growth.
L is for Links— Social Media Links, that is. If someone takes time to visit your blog, make sure they can connect with you on social media as well. Have all your social media links in an easy to see place on your blog header or sidebar.
M is for MobileM is for Mobile—Make sure your blog is easy to read on a mobile device and/or tablet. This isn’t just about how it looks, but also the length of posts, size of the text, etc. N is for Numbers—Remember your worth—and your blog’s worth— is NOT determined by the number of people who visit.
P is for Passion—You may be able to write about something you’re not passionate about for a month or two. But after that, I guarantee you’ll be miserable. So pick something you’re passionate about as a focus for your site.
Q is for Question—Always end your post with a question to help get the conversation started. (Thanks to Jeanne Takenaka for reminding me to include this tip!)
R is for Reputation—In this business (publishing and blogging) reputation is everything. Develop a reputation for excellence and you’ll never lack for work—or for an audience!
S is for Subscribers—Make sure you have a way for people to subscribe to your blog through email and through RSS. Also, be sure you know the difference between blog followers and blog subscribers.
T is for Titles—Don’t neglect the titles you choose for your blog posts. Social media is a no man’s land without context. A good rule is to look at your title and ask if someone would know what your post was about just by reading the title.
U is for Understand—Take time to understand the culture of the online universe. This includes etiquette, as well as expectations.
V is for ValueV is for Value—Give your audience something of value every single time you post. No one has time to waste and your audience is no exception.W is for Weight—Don’t overload any part of your blog. Keep your sidebars trim and uncluttered. Don’t have too many links within a blog post. The ideal is no more than two to three per 500 words. If you encourage people to click away more than a couple of times, statistics prove they won’t come back. But most of all, don’t weigh down your posts with unnecessary words. Wordiness is never a good thing for a writer, but it’s absolute death to a blogger.
X is for Examine—I try to evaluate my blog two to three times a year. I take a look at my most popular posts, as well as the ones that garnered the most comments. I also try to look at it like a first-time visitor would. Is it easy to navigate? Do the page tab titles make sense? Are my social media links all working correctly.
Y is for Yellow—Not as in cowardly, but the color yellow. Avoid it when you blog. It’s the most unpopular color for use on a blog. It’s also the hardest to see and has the largest variation over devices.
Z is for Zoom In—When you pick a topic for a blog post, zoom in. Don’t try to cover too much at once. Stay laser-focused. Beyond that, zoom in on your word count. Blog posts are almost always shorter than print articles. It’s the nature of the medium.
These are my top tips. I’d love to hear some of yours!
Don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
TWEETABLESThe ABCs of #Blogging – via #socialmedia expert @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
#Blogging isn't a synonym for lecturing, plus other tips from @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
August 7, 2016
The Lord Weighs the Heart
by Danetta Kellar @DanettaKellar
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. -Proverbs 21:2, NIV
The old merchant piled the plums high on the brass scales, carefully adjusting the rusty weights to achieve a perfect balance. With a theatrical flourish, he rearranged the succulent purple fruit like an artist with his brush, adding the finishing touches to his masterpiece. It was now my turn. I nodded and smiled and showered him with the appropriate blessings and expressions of gratitude as I counted my coins carefully in my right hand. With the agility of a magician, he whisked the coins away and placed the plums in a bag. Our transaction was complete.I arrived home and busily began preparing for my afternoon guests. Opening the bag of carefully selected plums, I recoiled as I discovered that just beneath the perfectly formed fruit at the top was a half kilo of rotten plums. I had been deceived. And with such finesse! I was not sure whether to be impressed or angry.
I can be very much like the misleading merchant in the dusty market that day. My actions may appear right to me and to others. But what motives lie beneath my carefully constructed plans? Perfectionism? Fear of failure? Approval of man? Manipulation? The Lord weighs my heart with perfectly just scales. He knows me better than I know myself. I must develop the habit of bringing my right-seeming ways to Him for just measurement upon His own scales. He will set me truly right, sending me forth with unblemished blessing. There are no deceptive surprises waiting for me in His measurement; He gives good gifts to His children. I can trust Him with my heart.
Lord, weigh my heart on Your scales today. Measure the way I take on your just scales and lead me to do Your will.
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.
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. -Proverbs 21:2, NIVThe old merchant piled the plums high on the brass scales, carefully adjusting the rusty weights to achieve a perfect balance. With a theatrical flourish, he rearranged the succulent purple fruit like an artist with his brush, adding the finishing touches to his masterpiece. It was now my turn. I nodded and smiled and showered him with the appropriate blessings and expressions of gratitude as I counted my coins carefully in my right hand. With the agility of a magician, he whisked the coins away and placed the plums in a bag. Our transaction was complete.I arrived home and busily began preparing for my afternoon guests. Opening the bag of carefully selected plums, I recoiled as I discovered that just beneath the perfectly formed fruit at the top was a half kilo of rotten plums. I had been deceived. And with such finesse! I was not sure whether to be impressed or angry.
I can be very much like the misleading merchant in the dusty market that day. My actions may appear right to me and to others. But what motives lie beneath my carefully constructed plans? Perfectionism? Fear of failure? Approval of man? Manipulation? The Lord weighs my heart with perfectly just scales. He knows me better than I know myself. I must develop the habit of bringing my right-seeming ways to Him for just measurement upon His own scales. He will set me truly right, sending me forth with unblemished blessing. There are no deceptive surprises waiting for me in His measurement; He gives good gifts to His children. I can trust Him with my heart.
Lord, weigh my heart on Your scales today. Measure the way I take on your just scales and lead me to do Your will.
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.
August 6, 2016
What Do You See?
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
"It is not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. -Henry David Thoreau
As writers, we have a unique opportunity to focus our reader's attention on something different. Share some of the authors who have done that for you, and inspired you to do that in your own writing.
Leave your answers in the comment section below.
I also invite you to use this image any way you like online. Post it to your blog, share it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, anywhere you'd like. All I ask is that you keep it intact, with my website watermark.
Don't forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
"It is not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. -Henry David ThoreauAs writers, we have a unique opportunity to focus our reader's attention on something different. Share some of the authors who have done that for you, and inspired you to do that in your own writing.
Leave your answers in the comment section below.
I also invite you to use this image any way you like online. Post it to your blog, share it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, anywhere you'd like. All I ask is that you keep it intact, with my website watermark.
Don't forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
August 5, 2016
Writing Success—Writing Against the Grain
by Bruce Brady @BDBrady007
But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy. ”But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the LORD his God and heal me!” (2 Kings 5:10-11)
How many times do we miss God’s miracles on our lives because He doesn't do things the way we expect?Naaman nearly missed God’s healing because of his pride—his expecting God to do things his way. Fortunately, God offered Naaman one more chance at complete healing, and did so while dealing with Naaman’s pride as well. God delivered His second message of hope through Naaman’s servant. The servant encouraged Naaman by pointing out that Naaman had nothing to lose by doing it God’s way. Naaman listened, did as God instructed, and was healed.
All too often, we writers want God to help us get our stories—our messages—out to the public. But we want Him to do it our way. Then we’re confused, frustrated, even angry when it doesn’t work out. We want Him to bless us without our having to yield to His directions. And God doesn’t operate that way.
Throughout Scripture, God makes it very clear that His way is the best way. And His way is only offered to those who completely yield to His lordship. In Proverbs 16:9, He tells us that we can intricately plan everything in our lives, but He determines the process and outcome. We can’t refuse to do things His way and expect ultimate success. However, following His lead will produce the best possible outcome for each of us.
Some level of success can be reached by doing things our own way. But we need to understand that our way is inherently opposed to the Lord’s way. One of the enemy’s greatest tools is convincing us that we can do most everything on our own. We can achieve self-made successes. And some reach echelons of worldly success without God. But they still fall short of what they could accomplish with God.
Even if we manage to hang on to our earthly success until we take our last breath, is it worth losing our souls?
So how do we work with God to reach our greatest potential? He answers that question in the 9th chapter of Luke: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am.” (Luke 9:23 MSG) We don’t accomplish our best by telling God how He can help us. And He’s not open to mixing in our plans and ideas with His. We only reach our full potential when we completely surrender to His lead.
This means we don’t write to appease the worldly. We don’t include foul language, graphic violence, and explicit sex because we’re told that’s what readers want.
It means telling His truth. It means writing stories that show the benefits of fully following Him, and the consequences of following our own paths—Satan’s paths. It means working harder and maybe longer to get our tales just right without offending our Father.
Yes, being obedient to Him may be more difficult. And we may never reach the level of success we hope. But we will reach the levels of achievement that is best for each of us—those planned for us before our birth. And with them, He will bless us with the joy and peace that comes with knowing we are pleasing Him.
What do you say? Are you willing to accept the success God has in store for you? Bless you all. Let’s keep this conversation going in the comments.
TWEETABLEWriting Success - #Writing Against the Grain - @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.”
But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy. ”But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the LORD his God and heal me!” (2 Kings 5:10-11)How many times do we miss God’s miracles on our lives because He doesn't do things the way we expect?Naaman nearly missed God’s healing because of his pride—his expecting God to do things his way. Fortunately, God offered Naaman one more chance at complete healing, and did so while dealing with Naaman’s pride as well. God delivered His second message of hope through Naaman’s servant. The servant encouraged Naaman by pointing out that Naaman had nothing to lose by doing it God’s way. Naaman listened, did as God instructed, and was healed.
All too often, we writers want God to help us get our stories—our messages—out to the public. But we want Him to do it our way. Then we’re confused, frustrated, even angry when it doesn’t work out. We want Him to bless us without our having to yield to His directions. And God doesn’t operate that way.Throughout Scripture, God makes it very clear that His way is the best way. And His way is only offered to those who completely yield to His lordship. In Proverbs 16:9, He tells us that we can intricately plan everything in our lives, but He determines the process and outcome. We can’t refuse to do things His way and expect ultimate success. However, following His lead will produce the best possible outcome for each of us.
Some level of success can be reached by doing things our own way. But we need to understand that our way is inherently opposed to the Lord’s way. One of the enemy’s greatest tools is convincing us that we can do most everything on our own. We can achieve self-made successes. And some reach echelons of worldly success without God. But they still fall short of what they could accomplish with God.
Even if we manage to hang on to our earthly success until we take our last breath, is it worth losing our souls?
So how do we work with God to reach our greatest potential? He answers that question in the 9th chapter of Luke: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am.” (Luke 9:23 MSG) We don’t accomplish our best by telling God how He can help us. And He’s not open to mixing in our plans and ideas with His. We only reach our full potential when we completely surrender to His lead.
This means we don’t write to appease the worldly. We don’t include foul language, graphic violence, and explicit sex because we’re told that’s what readers want.
It means telling His truth. It means writing stories that show the benefits of fully following Him, and the consequences of following our own paths—Satan’s paths. It means working harder and maybe longer to get our tales just right without offending our Father.
Yes, being obedient to Him may be more difficult. And we may never reach the level of success we hope. But we will reach the levels of achievement that is best for each of us—those planned for us before our birth. And with them, He will bless us with the joy and peace that comes with knowing we are pleasing Him.
What do you say? Are you willing to accept the success God has in store for you? Bless you all. Let’s keep this conversation going in the comments.
TWEETABLEWriting Success - #Writing Against the Grain - @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.”
August 4, 2016
The Price of Books—Still the Best Deal Around
by Lynn Huggins Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn
I am a book lover. Always have been.
I realize that not everyone is. (I don't understand these people, but I recognize they exist).
But one thing I do not understand is anyone who complains about how "expensive” books are.
Really?
I went to see Star Trek Beyond (in IMAX and 3D because I’m a nerd). Total cost - $18 and change. I savored every one of the 122 minutes of that movie. I love movies. I don't go to a lot of them, but sometimes they are just so worth it!
Approximate cost/hour of enjoyment? $9
I recently stopped at Starbucks. I bought two coffees. One for me, one for a friend. Total cost. $10 and change. Total time to enjoy those tasty beverages? Fifteen minutes. Tops.
Now don't worry. I'm not going to give you grief over your $5 coffee. I don't drink $5 coffee every day or even every week, but I do enjoy them from time to time. Nothing wrong with that.
Approximate cost/hour of enjoyment? $20
While on vacation a few weeks ago, I read a couple of new releases. These books retail around $15, but can be picked up right now on Amazon for a hair under $10. I'm a fast reader and it took me about 4 hours to read each of these books.
Approximate cost/hour of enjoyment? $2.50
$2.50/hour
Not only is this significantly cheaper than either the coffee or the movie, but when I finish reading . . . I STILL HAVE THE BOOK. Sadly, I will have to pay to see Star Trek Beyond again (which I hope to do). And the iced honey vanilla latte that I'm looking at right now will not regenerate in my cup. Once it's gone, it's gone. But when I buy a book, I can read it for a second (or third or twentieth) time, or share it with a friend, and it won't cost me anything ever again.
Please understand me. I know not everyone can afford movies, coffee, or even many books. I also know that if you are reading this, you probably already agree with me. Writers tend to appreciate books based on the amount of time and effort we know went in to producing them.
But in our homes, in our schools, churches and conversations with our friends, we could begin to shift the conversation from the cost of books to the valueof the written word. We don’t need to argue about whether or not books are better than movies (well, they are, but we don’t have to be snotty about it). We don’t even need to get into a holier than thou debate about whether or not it’s a waste to buy coffee versus making your own.
The real bottom line is that whether you prefer your books in hard copies or electronic versions, books are the best deal around. If you’re on a budget, you can’t get more bang for your buck. (This isn’t a new argument. George Orwell declared that reading is one of the cheapest forms of recreation, second only to listening to the radio).
With e-books frequently going on sale for $.99 or free, with books discounted on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble, with coupons to your local independent book seller, and sales running at Wal-mart and Sam’s Club, books ARE within reach of almost everyone.
(And let’s not forget the library where you can read anything for FREE—unless you’re like me and wind up with late fees so high you would have done just as well to buy the book…)
Who better to remind people of how cost-effective AND valuable books are than the people who write them?
Have you had people give you grief over the cost of your books? What’s your favorite way to shine the light on this subject? Let’s talk about it in the comments.
Don’t forget to join the conversation!
TWEETABLES
The Price of Books—Still the Best Deal Around - @LynnHBlackburn (Click to Tweet)
Who better to remind people of how cost-effective books are than authors? (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. You can follow her real life happily ever after at http://www.lynnhugginsblackburn.com.
I am a book lover. Always have been. I realize that not everyone is. (I don't understand these people, but I recognize they exist).
But one thing I do not understand is anyone who complains about how "expensive” books are.
Really?
I went to see Star Trek Beyond (in IMAX and 3D because I’m a nerd). Total cost - $18 and change. I savored every one of the 122 minutes of that movie. I love movies. I don't go to a lot of them, but sometimes they are just so worth it!
Approximate cost/hour of enjoyment? $9
I recently stopped at Starbucks. I bought two coffees. One for me, one for a friend. Total cost. $10 and change. Total time to enjoy those tasty beverages? Fifteen minutes. Tops.
Now don't worry. I'm not going to give you grief over your $5 coffee. I don't drink $5 coffee every day or even every week, but I do enjoy them from time to time. Nothing wrong with that.
Approximate cost/hour of enjoyment? $20
While on vacation a few weeks ago, I read a couple of new releases. These books retail around $15, but can be picked up right now on Amazon for a hair under $10. I'm a fast reader and it took me about 4 hours to read each of these books.
Approximate cost/hour of enjoyment? $2.50
$2.50/hour
Not only is this significantly cheaper than either the coffee or the movie, but when I finish reading . . . I STILL HAVE THE BOOK. Sadly, I will have to pay to see Star Trek Beyond again (which I hope to do). And the iced honey vanilla latte that I'm looking at right now will not regenerate in my cup. Once it's gone, it's gone. But when I buy a book, I can read it for a second (or third or twentieth) time, or share it with a friend, and it won't cost me anything ever again. Please understand me. I know not everyone can afford movies, coffee, or even many books. I also know that if you are reading this, you probably already agree with me. Writers tend to appreciate books based on the amount of time and effort we know went in to producing them.
But in our homes, in our schools, churches and conversations with our friends, we could begin to shift the conversation from the cost of books to the valueof the written word. We don’t need to argue about whether or not books are better than movies (well, they are, but we don’t have to be snotty about it). We don’t even need to get into a holier than thou debate about whether or not it’s a waste to buy coffee versus making your own.
The real bottom line is that whether you prefer your books in hard copies or electronic versions, books are the best deal around. If you’re on a budget, you can’t get more bang for your buck. (This isn’t a new argument. George Orwell declared that reading is one of the cheapest forms of recreation, second only to listening to the radio).
With e-books frequently going on sale for $.99 or free, with books discounted on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble, with coupons to your local independent book seller, and sales running at Wal-mart and Sam’s Club, books ARE within reach of almost everyone.
(And let’s not forget the library where you can read anything for FREE—unless you’re like me and wind up with late fees so high you would have done just as well to buy the book…)
Who better to remind people of how cost-effective AND valuable books are than the people who write them?
Have you had people give you grief over the cost of your books? What’s your favorite way to shine the light on this subject? Let’s talk about it in the comments.
Don’t forget to join the conversation!
TWEETABLES
The Price of Books—Still the Best Deal Around - @LynnHBlackburn (Click to Tweet)
Who better to remind people of how cost-effective books are than authors? (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. You can follow her real life happily ever after at http://www.lynnhugginsblackburn.com.
August 2, 2016
While My Child is Away—Praying For Our Kids Isn’t Always Easy
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
Today I’m deviating from the norm. I’m not posting specifically about writing, but about what led me to write my latest book, While My Child is Away, Prayers for When We’re Apart.
I've discovered that God uses the things I struggle with to bring comfort to others. It's not always an easy thing—sharing challenges—but I've learned by being transparent I disappear and God's power comes shining through.
Prayer Doesn’t Always Come EasyIn spite of the fact that I now write books of prayers, praying didn’t always come easy to me. Early on my lack of prayer power didn’t bother me. It wasn’t until I began having children that the urgency hit. Then my prayer life became vitally important. I wanted to be the type of mom who prayed powerful prayers that protected her children no matter what happened.
I worried that my prayers weren’t good enough. Maybe I hadn’t spent enough time on thanksgiving or confession. Or perhaps I was saying things in the wrong order. Truthfully I was looking for a formula that would infuse my prayers with power enough to get God’s undivided attention on my child’s behalf.
Turns out that what I believed about my role in prayer was all backwards.
I was looking for power in my words, instead of focusing on the power of God. And I was forgetting that each of us has God’s undivided attention—always. He loves each of us, and more importantly to me, He loves each of my children even more than I do.
Even when I discovered the mistake in my thinking about prayer, I still wasn’t quite sure how to frame my prayers. Then I revisited one of my favorite passages in the Bible. So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matterfor which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11. That was what I needed to redirect my prayer life and get me on the right track.
That journey became While My Child isAway.
As you know, I rarely use this blog for any kind of direct promotion. I want to make sure that almost all the things I post fall under the heading of information.
But today I'm breaking my rule and asking for your help. This Saturday, August 6, I'm having a big book signing at our local Barnes and Noble on Woodruff Road in the Shops at Greenridge. I'll be signing copies of While My Child is Away.
I need your help with sharing this information on social media.
If you're near the Greenville, South Carolina area, I'd love for you to join me! Even if you're not, don't despair, I'm including you in the fun. To all those who comment on this post, telling me they shared this on social media, I'll add you to a drawing. I will cut off the comments on Friday, August 5 at midnight.
To sweeten the pot, I'm giving away a 2 $15 Barnes and Noble e-giftcards and 2 $15 Amazon e-giftcards. So there will be 4 winners in all.
Be sure to share this info through your social media and leave a comment saying you did. You don't have to leave a link or anything, we work on the honor system here!
Thanks & Blessings,Edie
TWEETABLESPraying 4 our kids isn’t a last resort, it’s the most powerful thing we can do - @EdieMelson (Click toTweet)
WhileMy Child is Away, learning the hard lesson of #prayer - @EdieMelson (Click toTweet)
Today I’m deviating from the norm. I’m not posting specifically about writing, but about what led me to write my latest book, While My Child is Away, Prayers for When We’re Apart.
I've discovered that God uses the things I struggle with to bring comfort to others. It's not always an easy thing—sharing challenges—but I've learned by being transparent I disappear and God's power comes shining through.
Prayer Doesn’t Always Come EasyIn spite of the fact that I now write books of prayers, praying didn’t always come easy to me. Early on my lack of prayer power didn’t bother me. It wasn’t until I began having children that the urgency hit. Then my prayer life became vitally important. I wanted to be the type of mom who prayed powerful prayers that protected her children no matter what happened.
I worried that my prayers weren’t good enough. Maybe I hadn’t spent enough time on thanksgiving or confession. Or perhaps I was saying things in the wrong order. Truthfully I was looking for a formula that would infuse my prayers with power enough to get God’s undivided attention on my child’s behalf.
Turns out that what I believed about my role in prayer was all backwards.
I was looking for power in my words, instead of focusing on the power of God. And I was forgetting that each of us has God’s undivided attention—always. He loves each of us, and more importantly to me, He loves each of my children even more than I do.
Even when I discovered the mistake in my thinking about prayer, I still wasn’t quite sure how to frame my prayers. Then I revisited one of my favorite passages in the Bible. So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matterfor which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11. That was what I needed to redirect my prayer life and get me on the right track.
That journey became While My Child isAway.
As you know, I rarely use this blog for any kind of direct promotion. I want to make sure that almost all the things I post fall under the heading of information. But today I'm breaking my rule and asking for your help. This Saturday, August 6, I'm having a big book signing at our local Barnes and Noble on Woodruff Road in the Shops at Greenridge. I'll be signing copies of While My Child is Away.
I need your help with sharing this information on social media.
If you're near the Greenville, South Carolina area, I'd love for you to join me! Even if you're not, don't despair, I'm including you in the fun. To all those who comment on this post, telling me they shared this on social media, I'll add you to a drawing. I will cut off the comments on Friday, August 5 at midnight.
To sweeten the pot, I'm giving away a 2 $15 Barnes and Noble e-giftcards and 2 $15 Amazon e-giftcards. So there will be 4 winners in all.
Be sure to share this info through your social media and leave a comment saying you did. You don't have to leave a link or anything, we work on the honor system here!
Thanks & Blessings,Edie
TWEETABLESPraying 4 our kids isn’t a last resort, it’s the most powerful thing we can do - @EdieMelson (Click toTweet)
WhileMy Child is Away, learning the hard lesson of #prayer - @EdieMelson (Click toTweet)
August 1, 2016
Image Dimensions for Major Social Media Platforms
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
There's not a lot as frustrating as trying to look at an image on Facebook that's the wrong size. By the time I blow it up big enough to see it, it's too blurry. Here are some exact dimensions to help you avoid that trap, and not just for Facebook.
This is the third time I've posted information on Social Media Images, but this isn't just repeated information. Social media is in a constant state of flux, and that pertains to the size and type of images that work best on each network.
So this is my UPDATED Social Media Image Cheat SheetThis list will give you the specific information you need to upload photos to various social media sites.Twitter
Profile Photo: Pixels: 400 x 400 Maximum file size: 700k File Type(s): jpeg, png, gif Cover Image: Pixels: 1500 x 500 Maximum file size: not listed File Type(s): jpeg, png, gif Custom Background: Pixels: 1600 x 1200 Maximum file size: not listed File Type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Stream Photo: optimum is 506 x 253 pixels, but can be up to 1024 x 512 pixels because Twitter will resize the image
Facebook
Cover Photo: Pixels: 851 x 315
Maximum file size: not listed File type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Profile Photo: Pixels: 180 x 180 (will size down to 160 x 160)
Maximum file size: 5mb File type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Timeline Photos: to fit within 1200 x 900 pixel boxes.
Facebook recommends uploading images with widths of 720, 960, or 2048 for optimal quality because they will be resized automatically for fit within the feed.File type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Video: Maximum file size: 1024mb
Maximum length: 20 minutes Optimum file type: mp4
Google+ Cover Photo: Pixels: 1048 x 608Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Profile Photo (also the photo for Blogger account):Pixels: 250 x 250Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Newsfeed Images: The wideth of the columns varies greatly, but images should be a midinmum of 350 pixels wide.Maximum size: 2048 x 2048 pixels
PinterestProfile Photo:Pixels: 200 x 200Maximum file size: Pinterest recommends you upload photos with square dimensions that measure 600 x 600 pixelsFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Pins:Pixels: 236 wide, Pinterest will adjust the height automaticallyThe pins are 600 pixels wide when expanded.Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Cover Image:Pixels: 217 x 147Pixels: 51x 51 (this is they tiny thumbnail found below the cover imageMaximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
InstagramThumbnail: 161 x 161
Image size: maximum 1080 x 1080 pixels.
LinkedInProfile Photo:Pixels: 100 x 60, not to exceed 500 x 500Maximum file size: 2mbFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Horizontal Logo:Pixels: 100 x 60Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Cover Photo:Pixels: 646 x 220Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
YouTubeCover Art:Pixels: Depends on where it’s being viewed from:
Desktop: 2560 x 1440
Tablet: 1855 x 423
Mobile: 1546 x 423For best results everywhere, size to mobile!
Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
If you have a question about posting images to social media, but sure to leave it in the comments section below.
Don't forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
TWEETABLESImage Dimensions for Major #SocialMedia Platforms - via @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Get the right size for #SocialMedia images to ensure more shares - @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
There's not a lot as frustrating as trying to look at an image on Facebook that's the wrong size. By the time I blow it up big enough to see it, it's too blurry. Here are some exact dimensions to help you avoid that trap, and not just for Facebook.This is the third time I've posted information on Social Media Images, but this isn't just repeated information. Social media is in a constant state of flux, and that pertains to the size and type of images that work best on each network.
So this is my UPDATED Social Media Image Cheat SheetThis list will give you the specific information you need to upload photos to various social media sites.Twitter
Profile Photo: Pixels: 400 x 400 Maximum file size: 700k File Type(s): jpeg, png, gif Cover Image: Pixels: 1500 x 500 Maximum file size: not listed File Type(s): jpeg, png, gif Custom Background: Pixels: 1600 x 1200 Maximum file size: not listed File Type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Stream Photo: optimum is 506 x 253 pixels, but can be up to 1024 x 512 pixels because Twitter will resize the image
Facebook Cover Photo: Pixels: 851 x 315
Maximum file size: not listed File type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Profile Photo: Pixels: 180 x 180 (will size down to 160 x 160)
Maximum file size: 5mb File type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Timeline Photos: to fit within 1200 x 900 pixel boxes.
Facebook recommends uploading images with widths of 720, 960, or 2048 for optimal quality because they will be resized automatically for fit within the feed.File type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Video: Maximum file size: 1024mb
Maximum length: 20 minutes Optimum file type: mp4
Google+ Cover Photo: Pixels: 1048 x 608Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Profile Photo (also the photo for Blogger account):Pixels: 250 x 250Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Newsfeed Images: The wideth of the columns varies greatly, but images should be a midinmum of 350 pixels wide.Maximum size: 2048 x 2048 pixels
PinterestProfile Photo:Pixels: 200 x 200Maximum file size: Pinterest recommends you upload photos with square dimensions that measure 600 x 600 pixelsFile type(s): jpeg, png, gifPins:Pixels: 236 wide, Pinterest will adjust the height automaticallyThe pins are 600 pixels wide when expanded.Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Cover Image:Pixels: 217 x 147Pixels: 51x 51 (this is they tiny thumbnail found below the cover imageMaximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
InstagramThumbnail: 161 x 161
Image size: maximum 1080 x 1080 pixels.
LinkedInProfile Photo:Pixels: 100 x 60, not to exceed 500 x 500Maximum file size: 2mbFile type(s): jpeg, png, gifHorizontal Logo:Pixels: 100 x 60Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Cover Photo:Pixels: 646 x 220Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
YouTubeCover Art:Pixels: Depends on where it’s being viewed from:
Desktop: 2560 x 1440
Tablet: 1855 x 423
Mobile: 1546 x 423For best results everywhere, size to mobile!
Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
If you have a question about posting images to social media, but sure to leave it in the comments section below.
Don't forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
TWEETABLESImage Dimensions for Major #SocialMedia Platforms - via @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Get the right size for #SocialMedia images to ensure more shares - @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
July 31, 2016
The Power of Labels
You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 1 Corinthians 7:23Have you ever thought about the power of labels?
What about the power of those we let hang the labels on us?
We’ve all got labels—and people who label us.
Sometimes the labels are good.
“You’re so smart.”
“You’re so beautiful.”
“You’re so organized…
“talented…
“spiritual…
“blessed.”
These are the labels we like to hear—whether they’re true or not. They have a seductive quality, inviting us to congratulate ourselves on what we’ve accomplished.
Sometimes the labels are bad.
“You’re so selfish.”
“You’ll never amount to anything.”
“You’re such a liar…
“a betrayer…
“untalented…
“lazy.”
Unlike the positive ones, these labels can devastate us. The echos of these take residence in our souls, providing a haunting refrain as we try to follow God’s path.
We can’t get away from a world that seeks to define us, hanging labels on us for everyone to see. And although we know we shouldn’t, if we’re not careful, we can begin to view ourselves through the filters of others.
An Interesting ParallelLet’s consider labels from a manufacturing perspective. When goods are manufactured, there are only two sources that have the legal right to label something.
The one who manufactured the goods, and
The one who bought the goods.
What Does That Have to do with Us?
That concept holds just as true for us as believers. Only two people have the authority and the right to label us.
The One who created us, and
The One who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
These Two also have labels for us.
“You are precious.”
“You are loved.”
“You are Mine.”
Today I challenge you to join me as I banish the false labels (and the false labelers) and focus on the only two who have the right to define me.
July 30, 2016
Used By God
God never uses anyone greatly until He tests them deeply - A.W.TozerBeing tested is never easy, but I've found it prepares me for the work God has for me. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Share your answers in the comment section below.
I also invite you to use this image any way you like online. Post it to your blog, share it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, anywhere you'd like. All I ask is that you keep it intact, with my website watermark.
Don't forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
