Beth K. Vogt's Blog, page 19

In Others’ Words: Look and Find

How good are you at looking at yourself and liking yourself?

Me? For years, I struggled with looking at myself and liking what I saw. I couldn’t see anything positive because it was blocked by a whole lot of negative self-talk.

How we see ourselves is often affected by what we’ve heard others say about us.

Finding positives about ourselves? Nearly impossible to do if we’ve been beaten down by a lot of negative input.

Sometimes to see the stars shining in the night sky, you have to get away from it all — away from all the lights and noise of the city. Drive out to the country. Or up to a mountain top, where it’s quiet and you can look up and see the beauty that was there all along but it was obscured by all the racket we’re used to, day in and day out. It’s our normal.

You know what? Sometimes negative self-talk is our normal noise, too. 

Take a moment and step away to a place of quiet. Look at yourself. Think of one thing you like about yourself. One thing. Go ahead, find the positive. It’s there, even if you’ve forgotten to look for it, like we forget to look up at the stars at night — or we can’t see them because they’re obscured by streetlights. Or maybe you no longer believe anything positive about yourself because the negative self-talk is too loud.

Tune it out.

Find the positive.

In Others’ Words: What’s one thing you like about yourself? A personality trait … a talent … a physical characteristic … an accomplishment. Come on, I’d love to hear what positive you see when you look at yourself.

 

In Others' Words: Look and Find http://bit.ly/2NesF52 #quotes #identity
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'Look at yourself, like yourself, and find the positive.' Quote by Dana Buchman http://bit.ly/2NesF52 #encouragement #identity
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In Others’ Words: Measure Up

I weigh myself every morning. 

And yes, it matters to me if the scale goes up or down. Right now, the number on the scale matters even more than it does at other times because I’m focused on losing weight. Not a lot of weight — just the 10 pounds that keep sticking around and annoying me.

But here’s the thing: I am not going to let the up and down of my scale make or break my day. I’m not going to let a thing be the Voice of Authority in my life and tell me if it’s going to be a good day — because I lost a pound — or a bad day — because my weight stayed the same or (GASP) went up a pound.

My worth is not measured in pounds or inches.

It’s been a hard fought battle to believe that I’m not defined by my weight or my looks or how I compare to someone else. But I’ve anchored my value, my worth, my significance to Truth that is steeped in something more than what others say about me. I’ve learned that yes, beauty is only skin deep — and God looks at the heart anyway, so why spend so much time focusing on the externals? 

In Your Words: When you weigh yourself, how are you measuring yourself? Are you limiting yourself to a man-made scale or something more eternal?

In Others' Words: Measure Up http://bit.ly/2wwrnYK #quotes #perspective
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'Scales always lie. They don't make a scale that ever told the truth about value, about worth, about significance.' http://bit.ly/2wwrnYK Quote by @AnnVoskamp #worth #truth
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In Others’ Words: Gone Fishing … Sort of

I haven’t gone fishing … I’m on deadline.

I send copyedits for Moments We Forget, book 2 in the Thatcher Sisters Series,  to my editor on Wednesday. Right now it’s all about the edits.

I’ll be back blogging on Thursday. See y’all then!

In Others’ Words: Filling Voids

Some truths are more harsh than others.

Some people avoid the word “sin.” They consider it outdated. Old-fashioned. We don’t sin anymore. We make mistakes. Get tripped up. Commit an error.

But I prefer to call a sin a sin because it reminds me that my wrong action has wounded my soul — and possibly someone else’s soul, too.

I want to remember that I’m a spiritual being having a human experience. (With a nod to French Philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin for that thought.) The ongoing battle? To not let my wants and desires rule the day — rule me — and to acknowledge who I am and Whose I am.  To choose strength, not weakness. To step away from the void and onto the firm ground of truth.

In Your Words: What one thing helps you walk away from voids, resist sin, and remember that you are a spiritual person having a human experience?

In Others' Words: Filling Voids http://bit.ly/2w73LL4 #perspective #sin
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'All sins are attempts to fill voids.' Quote by Simone Weil http://bit.ly/2w73LL4 #perspective #choices
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In Others’ Words: Live Out Loud

 

Whatever an artist creates, it is an echo of their life.

When a reader turns the pages of one of my novels, if she listens closely, she’ll hear whispers of my life escaping from between the lines. Yes, I’ve plotted fictional characters facing obstacles that I placed in a specific order leading to “the end” of my design. But often, the catalyst for a story is from an experience in my life. Or the story’s rhythm matches the beat of my heart because the characters are struggling with emotional questions I’m trying to answer, too.

I live life a little louder on this blog because there are no fictional characters positioned between me and you. The words are mine and mine alone, not miked through my imagination into a hero’s or heroine’s point of view. And I’m not just talking to myself about courage or brokenness or faith or family or stress or success — I’m thinking of each one of you, hoping you’ll join the conversation and “live out loud,” too.

Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, everyone needs to live life out loud. A life of silence means living overlooked — and we were meant to be seen. To be heard. 

Is it risky to live out loud? Absolutely. But just like reading a book helps it become a “real” book, when we live out loud, we are living real lives, in relationship with one another.

In Your Words: How do you live life out loud?

 

In Others' Words: Live Life Out Loud http://bit.ly/2BAAsp4 #quotes #creativity
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'I am an artist ... I am here to live out loud.' http://bit.ly/2BAAsp4 Quote by Emile Zola #creativity #life
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In Others’ Words: When the Clock Strikes Three

Time is a funny thing, isn’t it?

There are times when it’s too early in the day to get things done.

Then there are times when it’s too late in the day to do something.

But that three o’clock time frame? It’s a killer.

Lunch is several hours past, but you can’t quite see dinner yet … and the afternoon slump, not to mention the effect of too many interruptions, can sap your energy and creativity.

Three o’clock can be symbolic, too. Think of all those times you find yourself struggling with being too late or too early — asking yourself. “What do I do now?” 

If you find yourself figuratively at three o’clock, it means you’re waiting. And waiting doesn’t have to equal stagnating. You can rest — and sometimes that’s the absolute best choice.. You can pray. You can prepare for the upcoming season of action by studying whatever skill you need to achieve your dream.

You don’t have to quit when the clock strikes three — be it for real or symbolically. Choose how you’re going to manage that in-between time so it’s not wasted.

In Your Words: How do you make three o’clock work for you?

In Others' Words: When the Clock Strikes Three http://bit.ly/2MgCAHy #time #quotes
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'Three o'clock is always too late or too early for anything you want to do.' quote by Jean-Paul Sartre http://bit.ly/2MgCAHy #time #persevere
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In Others’ Words: Seeing the Invisible

Growing up can limit our vision.

When we’re young, we imagine just about anything is possible. And what is imagination but seeing with our mind’s eye?

We see the faraway lands in fairy tales … we envision all sorts of creatures and quests … and yes, we even see how our lives would be different, given the chance.

But then time changes us. We face reality. We “know better.” And our vision focuses on what we can see. Why waste our time daydreaming, dwelling in the moments of the unseen where we wish upon stars and dare to look past the here and the now and see more?

Why?

Because dreams are birthed just past the reach of reality. Passion burns brightest just outside the limits of “knowing better.” I’m not advocating recklessness or abandoning yourself with no consideration of others. But vision demands you remember your childhood, when anything was possible … when you were possible. When you looked up and saw the stars. When you looked out and saw others as potential friends, not enemies. When your vision was wide, encompassing things invisible.

In Your Words:  How has growing up limited your vision — or has it? How have you mastered the art of seeing the invisible?

 

In Others' Words: Seeing the Invisible http://bit.ly/2MeHDZa #quotes #perspective
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'Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.' quote by Jonathan Swift http://bit.ly/2MeHDZa #vision #imagination
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Both of these opportunities end tonight! The e-book version of my women’s fiction novel, Things I Never Told, is on sale until August 14. And don’t miss the Tyndale Author Scavenger Hunt for the chance to win multiple prizes, including a Grand Prize valued at more than $400!

The #ebookdeal for Things I Never Told You by award-winning author @bethvogt ends today! Get it for only $2.99! buff.ly/2JeGprA #Crazy4Fiction
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Join me and 12 other Tyndale authors for our Summer Road Trip Scavenger Hunt! 13 stops! 13 giveaways! 1 $400 GRAND PRIZE #giveaway! Join the fun on the Tyndale Fiction’s Scavenger Hunt! Head over to FrancineRivers blog to start road-trippin’! https://buff.ly/2AnCHf7 #Crazy4Fiction

The Tyndale Fiction's Scavenger Hunt ends today! Last chance to head over to @FrancineRivers blog to start the road trip! https://buff.ly/2AnCHf7 #Crazy4Fiction #giveaway
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In Others’ Words: The Best Season

Summer vacation is over for some families.

Others of us are counting down the few remaining days before kids head back to school.

The joy of “It’s summertime!” is fading into school days and the realization that the next season is just around the calendar corner.

Summer is a grand time isn’t it? Vacations, family visits, the 4th of July, cookouts, campouts, going to the pool, going to the beach, staying up late, and sleeping in even later …

Harper Lee’s words evoke memories of summers gone by … and yes, this summer, too. Everything good to eat? That’s summertime, too, with fresh fruit and s’mores and homemade ice cream. My family has indulged in all of those during the weeks of summer!

In Your Words: What’s been the best thing about this summer for you? 

 

In Others' Words: The Best Season http://bit.ly/2vPk4Ll #summer #memories
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'Summer was our best season ... it was a thousand colors in a parched landscape.' quote by Harper Lee http://bit.ly/2vPk4Ll #summer #perspective
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DON’T MISS THESE TWO OPPORTUNITIES: The e-book version of my women’s fiction novel, Things I Never Told, is on sale until August 14. And don’t miss the Tyndale Author Scavenger Hunt for the chance to win multiple prizes, including a Grand Prize valued at more than $400!

Things I Never Told You by award-winning author @bethvogt is only $2.99 via all e-tailers for a limited time! https://buff.ly/2JeGprA #ebookdeal #christianfiction
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Join me and 12 other Tyndale authors for our Summer Road Trip Scavenger Hunt! 13 stops! 13 giveaways! 1 $400 GRAND PRIZE #giveaway! Join the fun on the Tyndale Fiction’s Scavenger Hunt! Head over to FrancineRivers blog to start road-trippin’! https://buff.ly/2AnCHf7 #Crazy4Fiction

Join the fun on the Tyndale Fiction’s Scavenger Hunt! Head over to @FrancineRivers blog to start road-trippin’! https://buff.ly/2AnCHf7 #Crazy4Fiction #giveaway
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In Others’ Words: Messy Moments

I used to avoid messy moments.

Hide my messy moments.

Now I write about messy moments. And some of the messy moments in my novels aren’t imaginary — they’re just fictionalized.

I understand that life is messy. I accept that life — my life — is messy. Acceptance doesn’t mean I always like life’s rough edges and unsettled seasons. And yes, I can still be surprised by them.

But messy moments? That’s life.

And for me, those are the moments God redeems. He’s not surprised by mistakes and missteps and fractured relationships and our own brokenness. No, he’s all about stepping into our messiness and healing it.

And yes, I like writing about that, too.

In Your Words: How were you taught to handle your messy moments? Have you changed how you handle them now?

In Others' Words: Messy Moments http://bit.ly/2vGQkjZ #quotes #brokenness
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'I have so many messy moments.' quote by Angela Kinsey http://bit.ly/2vGQkjZ #life #perspective
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DON’T MISS THESE TWO OPPORTUNITIES: The e-book version of my women’s fiction novel, Things I Never Told, is on sale until August 14. And don’t miss the Tyndale Author Scavenger Hunt for the chance to win multiple prizes, including a Grand Prize valued at more than $400!

Things I Never Told You by award-winning author @bethvogt is only $2.99 via all e-tailers for a limited time! https://buff.ly/2JeGprA #ebookdeal #christianfiction
Click To Tweet

 

Join me and 12 other Tyndale authors for our Summer Road Trip Scavenger Hunt! 13 stops! 13 giveaways! 1 $400 GRAND PRIZE #giveaway! Join the fun on the Tyndale Fiction’s Scavenger Hunt! Head over to FrancineRivers blog to start road-trippin’! https://buff.ly/2AnCHf7 #Crazy4Fiction

Join the fun on the Tyndale Fiction’s Scavenger Hunt! Head over to @FrancineRivers blog to start road-trippin’! https://buff.ly/2AnCHf7 #Crazy4Fiction #giveaway
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In Others’ Words: Rekindling the Inner Spirit

Life can be hard. Perplexing. Frustrating.

Things happen that discourage us. Maybe someone’s words wilts our spirit. Or maybe someone’s actions — their decision to mock us or to ignore us — wounds our hearts.

And our belief in ourself — our inner fire — is snuffed out.

But then we connect with someone who rekindles our inner spirit because they believe in us when we don’t. They see us when we’ve forgotten our beauty. They take the time to speak words of healing and hope and, even more importantly, words of recognition.

I know you. 

Our interaction sparks encouragement. We remember who we are. The truth of our identity is fanned into a flame again, and lies are snuffed out.

Such is the power of a life-giving relationship with another person.

It’s as simple … and as significant … as that.

In Your Words: When you encounter someone whose inner fire has gone out, how do you rekindle their spirit?

In Others' Words: Rekindling the Inner Spirit http://bit.ly/2vwjlP0 #quotes #identity
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' ... We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.' quote by Albert Schweitzer http://bit.ly/2vwjlP0 #identity #relationships
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Join me and 12 other Tyndale authors for our Summer Road Trip Scavenger Hunt! 13 stops! 13 giveaways! 1 $400 GRAND PRIZE #giveaway! Join the fun on the Tyndale Fiction’s Scavenger Hunt! Head over to FrancineRivers blog to start road-trippin’! https://buff.ly/2AnCHf7 #Crazy4Fiction

Join the fun on the Tyndale Fiction’s Scavenger Hunt! Head over to @FrancineRivers blog to start road-trippin’! https://buff.ly/2AnCHf7 #Crazy4Fiction #giveaway
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