Beth K. Vogt's Blog, page 74

In Others’ Words: Key

The power of a key.

A lost key means things that are locked are left unopened. Puzzles are left unanswered. Things that should start — like a car or a music box — don’t.

Keys mean the difference between success and failure. Maybe even power and impotence.

Now reread today’s quote: Monday is the key to the week.

Is that true? Will something you do or say today open a door? Answer a question? Start something?

In Your Words: How have your past Mondays been a key for you? And how will you hold Monday in your hand today and use it as a key?

“Monday is the key to the week” Gaelic Proverb Click to Tweet

How will you use Monday as a key? Click to Tweet

Embracing Monday as a Powerful Key Click to Tweet

 

 

 

In Others’ Words: Influence

Ah, compliments!

Someone takse the time to say something encouraging. Something positive about you. They start a sentence with the words, “I like you because _____________” and then they fill in the blank with a reason.

And you hug those words to yourself.

In the process of organizing my office recently, I gathered together various notes I’d received — from friends, family, people I met along the writing road. Instead of tossing them in the trash, I consigned them to a special basket on a shelf in my office closet. Why? So that on those days when I’m feeling a bit woe-is-me, I can take a moment and glance through one or two or three of those notes, hear the echo of a friend’s voice, and savor written words of encouragement. A thank you. An “I appreciate you.”

Too often I shrug off a compliment rather than accepting it.

You know what? That’s ungrateful of me.

At the very least, I should say “Thank you” for the verbal hug. At most, I shouldn’t overlook it.

In Your Words: I’m keeping it short and sweet today. I’d love to have you share a compliment you received. Go ahead! You’re not bragging on yourself–you’re retelling what someone else said about you. And, besides, I asked!

“I can live for 2 months on a good compliment.” Click To Tweet

Have you received – or given – a “verbal hug” lately? Click to Tweet 

Read the first chapter of  Catch a Falling Star by Beth K. Vogt! Click to Tweet

In Others’ Words: Discover

Getting past fear?

It’s an amazing feeling.

Pushing past the “I can’t, I can’t, I can’t” — stuffing a sock in all that mental mouthing-off  –  helps me see myself in a whole new, glorious way.

Yes, glorious.

Suddenly I’m not living under the crushing threat of impossible. Instead, I’m inhaling and exhaling all of the possibles.

So what was I afraid I couldn’t do — and then I discovered I could do? Oh, so many things. But I’ll only share one today:

Back when I was all of 20 years old, I found an engagement ring hidden in a handblown Christmas ornament on my Christmas tree. With that ring came a marriage proposal, which I accepted.

But here’s the thing: Even as I said yes, I thought: This isn’t going to work.

Isn’t it funny — in a so unfunny way — how you can be saying yes and thinking no-no-no at the same time?

The engagement lasted five months — and so did my doubts. And finally I spoke up. I didn’t do it perfectly. To be honest, my declaration of independence was a mess. But my message was clear enough to end the relationship — and to ensure that friends told me I was crazy to let such a perfect guy go. (Yeah, well, they were entitled to their opinions. I was the one who had dated the guy.)

What did I discover?

That I could speak up. For myself. For truth. That I didn’t have to pretend everything was okay when it wasn’t.

That was the first time I embraced honesty and valued myself over what others might think about me — but it wasn’t the last.

In Your Words: When did you surprise yourself and discover you could do something you didn’t think you could do? I’d love for you to join the conversation and share your experience!

How have you surprised yourself by conquering a fear? Click to Tweet

A Proposal. A Breakup. And a Discovery. Click to Tweet!

Surprise! You Can Do It! Click to Tweet

In Others’ Words: Torn

And there you have it: Life choice distilled down into one 20-word sentence. Is your life other-focused or you-focused? Or is it a constant arrival at the fork in the road and deciding, once again, which way do you go?

It’s not that I think going one way is wrong (enjoyment) and going the other way is right (living to improve, i.e. help, the world). But it’s the reality of choice and balance. Again.

And can helping to improve the world be its own kind of enjoyment?

In Your Words:  How do you plan your day, balancing between enjoyment and work (helping others)? And yes, we’re continuing the “enjoyment” conversation from Friday!

Improve or Enjoy? — That is the Question! Click to Tweet 

How do you balance between work & fun? Click to Tweet 

Is your life other-focused or you-focused? Click to Tweet

In Others’ Words: In Between

So, how’d the week go for you? Did you accomplish all your goals? Some of them? Did one or two elude you?

But what about the “in between”?

How did you do with living and enjoying life this week?

I admit it: I sometimes get so caught up in the goals — the I wants and the I shoulds and the I musts – that I forget to have fun. To relax. Breathe a little. And ensure that the beats of my life include enjoyment.

 In Your Words: How’d the “in betweens” go for you this week? What did you do to ensure that you lived life and added a dash of en-joy-ment?

Are you focused on the goals & overlooking the “in-betweens”?  Click to Tweet

How do you add a dash of en-joy-ment to your days? Click to Tweet

 

In Others’ Words: Reality (Guest Post by Meagan Williford)

 My novel, Catch a Falling Star, asks the question: What do you do when life doesn’t go according to plan? My heroine, Kendall Haynes, greets her 36th birthday wondering “Just what exactly was she celebrating?” Her life is good — successful — but not all her dreams have come true. Specifically, happily ever after has eluded her.

Today’s post is written by Meagan Williford, a reader-become-friend. We’ve chatted back and forth about Catch a Falling Star and the realities of being single, and I invited Meagan to share her perspective with you. 

I’m Single. Say What?

I am not nor have I ever been married, engaged, or divorced. I am not currently dating anyone. As a single woman in my late twenties, I have been the recipient of numerous comments about my love life (or lack thereof). Being a somewhat older single, I’ve fielded some interesting comments from well-meaning people who really aren’t trying to make me cringe.

Things You Should Never Say to a Single Person

 “Tell me why you’re single again?”
“You must be too picky. That’s why you’re not (dating/engaged/married.)”
“Don’t you think it’s about time you started looking for someone to date?”
“Maybe I should help you find someone.”
“You will find love when you least expect it.”
“Oh, you’re looking so good! You must be engaged.”
 “You are next, right?” (Said at a wedding reception)
“You are looking too hard. Just wait for love and it will come to you.”
“Just remember that it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

Even though these comments are usually not said with the intent of being hurtful, they still are. I am blessed and have awesome people in my life, but I also want to fall in love and get married one day. Sometimes it’s difficult not to take these comments to heart. Is there a reason I’m not married? Maybe I am too picky? Do I care too much? Should I change something about myself?”

Therein lies the danger of these comments: They make me doubt myself.

It’s frustrating to hear people try to rationalize my single status with these surface comments. Just once I would like someone to go beyond the surface and tackle the difficult aspects of relationships. There is no set formula for finding love. Reading relationship books and following steps will not guarantee love. (Actually, if you’re like me, you will just want to throw the self-help book out of the window!) Many times it seems easier for some to find love while others wait – for what feels like forever – to meet someone. And online dating? Despite what the commercials say, it is not successful for everyone.

As a Christian, I believe in the truth of God’s love. I believe God has a plan for my life. (Jeremiah 29:11) I believe that He loves me, and He is in control. (Romans 8:28)

No, I don’t know why I’m not married yet. And on most days, it’s okay that I don’t understand. Maybe being single isn’t something that needs to be rationalized. By accepting this as my season in life, I’m able to learn and grow, embracing the truths that God is teaching me right now, where I am and who I am: a single woman in my late twenties.

In Your Words: What would you add to Meagan’s list of “Things You Should Never Say to a Single Person”? How did life not go according to plan on your way to happily-ever-after?

Meagan Williford, age 27, is an avowed bookworm who loves Christian fiction. Dee Henderson and Janette Oke were two of the first Christian authors that she read, and she’s been hooked ever since! Meagan enjoys traveling, and the top places on her to-visit list are: Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Wyoming, Germany, Australia, Greece, and Italy.

 

Things You Should Never Say to a Single Person Click to Tweet

Let’s Not Be “Rational” About Being Single Click to Tweet

Singleness: Doubting Myself or Trusting God? Click to Tweet

Read the first chapter of Catch a Falling Star by Beth K. Vogt!  Click to Tweet

 

 

In Others’ Words: Miracle

Miracles.

They cause us to stop and wonder: What just happened?

Water into wine? (John 2:1-11)

Blindness into sight? (Mark 8:22-25)

Death into life? (John 11)

More than what … miracles cause us to stop and wonder: How did that happen? 

And we stumble into awestruck silence when we realize there is no answer, no explanation … but God.

My friend, author Wendy Paine Miller, wrestles with the wonder of miracles in her debut novella The Disappearing Key. The story investigates how parents turn heartbreak into dreams-come-true. But have they accomplished the miraculous? Their choice ripples out, affecting so many others’ lives, raising another question: Just because you can, should you? 

And here’s another question for you: Do man-made miracles exclude God?

 

In Your Words: How has your life been touched by the miraculous? 

About The Disappearing Key:

Gabrielle Bivane never expected parenting a teenager would be this hard, but she never expected stillborn Oriana to live to see fourteen, either. The night of Oriana’s birth, Gabrielle and her husband Roy fused their genetic and engineering geniuses to bring back all that was lost to them—at a cost. 

The secret must be kept. 

Oriana Bivane senses she’s not like the other girls her age, but the time has come for her to change all that. She’s tired of secrets, but does she confide in the wrong person? 

The life-giving key, suddenly missing, must be found.

Wendy is a native New Englander who feels most alive when she’s laughing, reading, writing or taking risks. She’s authored nine novels and is currently writing what she hopes will be your future book club pick. Her work has been published in numerous anthologies and online sites. Wendy lives with her husband and their three girls in a home bursting with imagination and hilarity.

Download Wendy Paine Miller’s debut novel The Disappearing Key for $2.99 Click to Tweet

How has your life been touched by the miraculous? Click to Tweet

Man-made miracles: Just because we can, should we? Click to Tweet

In Others’ Words: Habit

It’s been all about copy edits for me the past few weeks.

Today is deadline day — and I’ll be thinking about having some fun once I push SEND.

Well, having fun and cleaning my house.

In Your Words: How’s your fun factor? What do you like to do for fun? Come on, give me some ideas now that I’m off deadline!

Have You Made It a Habit to Have Fun? Click to Tweet

What’s Your Idea of Fun? Join the Conversation & Share Your Ideas Click to Tweet

 

In Others’ Words: Surprise!

Oh, there are so many ways I could go with this blog post.

Has life surprised me? Oh yes, yes indeed. I just went upstairs and kissed goodnight one of the most a-ma-zing surprises in my life: my caboose kiddo. The child who astounded me by showing up when my husband and I were parenting three teenagers. True story: My husband-the-doctor had listened to my litany of odd physical symptoms and said, “Well, we know you’re not pregnant.”

And a few weeks later we were both surprised by the sound and sight of a tiny beating heart on an ultrasound monitor.

To be honest, I didn’t consider my unexpected pregnancy a gift — not right away at least. Nope. Finding myself taken down by morning sickness and confronted by the idea of maternity clothes was an interruption of my plans and my goals. 

Now, years later, I can tell you that God’s fingerprints were all over that life changing late-in-life pregnancy. I was flabbergasted — but God knew all along the gifts he’d hidden in the surprise:

the chance to experience motherhood in a way I never had
the joy of seeing my three older children love their much-younger sister
the freedom found in releasing my plans so that I could embrace God’s plans

In Your Words: When has a surprise turned out to be an unexpected gift or blessing in your life? 

Discovering the Gifts Hidden Inside the Unexpected Click to Tweet

Do You See Life’s Surprises as a Gift? Click to Tweet

Congratulations to Wilani Wahl, who won a copy of one of my novels through the “Something for Every Reader” blog tour hosted by author Joanne Bischof, as well as a copy of Joanne’s novel, Be Still My Soul.

In Others’ Words: If …

Sometimes it’s good to go back to the anchor truths that hold me steady. The faith-realities — no contradiction there — that I turn to over and over again when doubt whispers in my ear or failure taunts me or an invisible someone insists I’m not good enough.

God is with me. His very name is Immanuel, God with us — with me. (Matthew 1:23 NAS)
I don’t have to be afraid of anyone or anything — because God is with me. (Isaiah 41:10 NAS)
God watches over me. Amazing to think that El Roi, the God who sees, watches me. My rising up and my lying down. All my ways. (Psalm 121:5 NIV)
God holds onto me. There was a time when I turned my back on God, but God never let me go. (Isaiah 41:13 NIV)
God listens to me. One of my favorite promises: He hears when I call to him and asks for his help. (Psalm 34:15 NLT)
God’s grace is sufficient for me. I don’t have to be perfect. I can “stand in the wide open spaces of God’s grace.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV; Romans 5:1-2 The Message)
If God promises it — yesterday, today, or tomorrow — it stays true forever and ever amen. God is trustworthy — and I don’t ever have to doubt him. (Psalm 18:30 NLT)

Am I doubting myself? No. Am I fending off failure? No. Am I allowing someone, other than God, to evaluate my worth? No.

Today I’m just testing the anchors. And they’re holding steady.

In Your Words: What are your anchor truths — the faith-realities that hold you steady when times are tough? I’d love for you to join the conversation today!

7 Anchor Truths to Hold You Steady Click to Tweet

What Anchor Truths Hold You Steady? Click to tweet

Read the first chapter of Catch a Falling Star by Beth K. Vogt!  Click to Tweet