Heather Holleman's Blog, page 171

Special Moments with Readers

Last weekend, I met a reader of Seated with Christ. Our encounter brought such delight to my soul, and I’ll let you know why through her words. She’s Kirstin Nave–a wonderful blogger over at Workout in the Word.

Kristen writes this:

I am so blown away by God’s intentionality, and the way He pursues us and uses His people to speak into our lives! A few weeks ago a publisher let me choose out a book from a pile they had brought to a conference. There were 10 I hadn’t heard of yet, and I randomly chose, “Seated With Christ: Living Freely in a Culture of Comparison”, by Heather Holleman.
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I put this book on my nightstand at home (along with a couple others I’ve been wanting to read), thinking, I have zero time for pleasure reading right now. . .
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Turns out this book was more than pleasure reading. . .it was life-changing, God-ordained reading. . .
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I was having a rough day a week ago and walked in my room, glanced at the book, and a quiet thought came in my mind, “Maybe I should just pick that book up”. I found myself sitting on my bed, weeping, devouring the book and wondering, “HOW DID THIS AUTHOR GET IN MY HEAD?”
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My husband interrupted my reading so we could talk about a conference we were going to that weekend. We realized we had no idea who was speaking so I flipped open my phone to see the list of speakers and HEATHER HOLLEMAN’S FACE POPS UP FIRST. She was coming all the way from the East Coast to CA to host the very conference we were going to 

Your Smallest Contribution

This morning I remember something I wrote in March 2012 about a miniature weeping cherry that blooms on the sidewalk. It’s so small it’s almost comical. Back then, I wrote this:

On the walk to school, we notice the tiniest weeping cherry.  Amid the oldest and the tallest, the brightest and the best, this little tree–-so humble and no bigger than a chair–-makes her contribution. In the shadow of the tall oaks on either side of her, she seems so very small.  Stand tall, Little Tree!  The whole world might not see you, and you don’t stand nearly as tall as the rest, but for this one walk to school, this one street, and this one patch of grass, you bring joy. I want to be the kind of woman who brings pleasure and joy, even if I’m not the best or the most important.  Maybe my assignment from God is to bloom small for just one street.  

I wrote this, of course, before publishing novels or speaking to crowds. I wrote this with a settled feeling in my heart that my neighborhood was my place to shine. I wrote this with a content heart.

I remember that little tree on that one little street to announce to my heart that God ordains the scope of our ministry. If it’s small and never stands out, if it never gets any mentions on social media, if it never gets the attention of the world, it stands as a beautiful blessing to the few.

Top 3: My Best Advice For New Authors and Speakers

Often people reach out for advice on starting their writing and speaking career. Now that I’m so seasoned (old!), I find myself in wonderful conversations with younger women just starting on the author and speaker path. Since someone recently asked me for my top three bits of wisdom, I’ll share them below:

1. Write and speak as an act of worship. As my acquisitions editor, Judy Dunagan, always teaches: writing is an act of worship. In my own life, I find that I write and speak because it helps me connect with Jesus. I’m doing it with Him. This focus keeps my eyes off myself and the crowds’ approval or criticism.

2. You can only give yourself. Anything else won’t ring true. The closer you become to the authentic you, the more your words will resonate with others. Share the stories that you alone can share, in your way, because of who you are and what you’ve lived. You’re not for everyone, and that’s OK. Not everyone will love you. Not everyone will get you. But you’re not for them. You’re for the ones who need your message.

3. Vigilantly protect your heart from greed, the desire for fame, and self-exultation. These will rot you. They will ensnare you in a web that shimmers at first. Instead, invite the Holy Spirit to keep your heart humble. Surround yourself with godly people who will tell you when you are making too much of yourself. Regularly confess to the Lord anything in your life that doesn’t please Him. Writing and speaking position you in public, with people who will want to adore and celebrate you. As long as you remember that you’re worshiping Jesus–that He’s given you this task and ordained the fruit of your life–you will remember that it’s only His grace allowing you to speak the message in your heart. Think often that you might do these tasks for free and anonymously. Do you love Him that much that you would? Would you even let others receive credit? When I ask these questions, I learn my heart’s position before the Lord.

On the technical side of writing and speaking, don’t worry. You’ll learn as you go. Keep going. Keep writing. Keep speaking. But remember that no advice I could give would matter if the top three above weren’t in place.

Seasons of Hard Work

My more intense season of speaking and traveling has officially ended (with the exception of a trip to visit my home church in May) until September. In fact, I’m writing this on the flight home from California.

At the same time, I’m about to post my final grades for my Penn State writing classes. For these past few months, I have learned to trust God through a season of simply working hard. My friend calls it a season of being a hardworking farmer who works for a season and then enjoys a harvest later.

Some seasons bring the hard work of whatever task God ordains. At other times, we embrace long stretches of rest, waiting, or prayer. These too represent a version of work, but it’s a more inward, peaceful kind of season. I feel this about writing manuscripts. It’s a different, quieter kind of work.

In any season, we trust the Lord, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and do what the season requires. He is with us and gives us all we need. And as I fly back to the East Coast, I’m so grateful that God sustained me and will continue to sustain me. I never have to worry when He ushers in a new season; instead, I learn more about depending on God, developing my spiritual life, and loving those in my path–no matter what kind of season I’m in.

You Won’t Always Know

Today I consider what it means to step forward in faith even when I’m uncertain. We simply don’t always know exactly what the Lord is doing. Our emotions waver. Our human understanding fails. So we return to the most wonderful truth from Proverbs 3:5-6.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

The Bible Verse that’s Still Changing Me

Today I’m over at Proverbs 31 Ministries to share how a single passage of scripture changed my life. You can guess! It’s still Ephesians 2:6, and you can read my devotion here.

I apply the truth of being seated with Christ every new morning. When jealousy and comparison strikes, I know that I’m seated with Christ. He is working out my life for me, and it’s perfect just as it is. I’m already at the Greatest Table with the Greatest King, so I don’t need to fight for a seat at any table any longer.

Let It Break You

I read in Jeremiah 23:29 the words of the Lord. He says, “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”

I think of the power at work when we read the Bible. I think of how is blazes within us to consume error and invite truth. It breaks apart the rocks of sin, of bitterness, stubbornness, and any idol.

It blazes and breaks. I read it and allow its powerful, precise work.

An Exciting Opportunity! The COMPEL Online Book Club

I’m thrilled to share some great news! Proverbs 31 Ministries and their COMPEL training book club selected Seated with Christ for their online Spring 2019 book club! For four weeks beginning May 6, my acquisitions editor, Judy Dunagan, and I will lead the online book club through a series of lessons designed to improve participants’ writing.

COMPEL is and online membership to equip writers with all kind of lessons and resources. As part of the membership, you connect with authors and their editors through the COMPEL book club. You can find out more here: https://compeltraining.com/. 

Meanwhile, would you pray for this book club and for all of those reading Seated with Christ? I’m so excited!

Spring Walk

Finishing Strong

When there’s a few days left of class, I feel myself descending into that feeling of wanting to coast. I’m lulled into the relaxation of summer just over the horizon. I’m already transitioning to the book writing and travel that summer brings. I drive by college seniors posing for graduation photos. I note the mowers and planters and pruners and all that comes together to make campus beautiful for graduation next week.

But not yet. We’re not finished yet. It’s not over yet. I tell my friend who feels the same way that we must finish strong. Finish strong! Give it your best! Don’t quit now! We’ve got this!

We cannot slow down now. We’ve classes yet to teach, papers left to grade, and final lessons to prepare. We resist the urge to coast. We gather our strength and move forward with fresh zeal.

We’re almost finished, but not yet.