Archive for December, 2007
“You need to get your priorities straight. The church needs to be up here in your life.” As he said this, the pastor pulled my hand up over my head. He was in the midst of a verbal wrist slap over my not coming to a special dinner that was coming up. I was in the midst of shocked silence.
Later that night, I thought about the idea of service. Was the pastor right? Did I have my priorities crooked? It seemed to me that the service was what he had been referring to. After all, the special dinner required my doing lots of cooking. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that most of the leaders I had encountered consider service being at the church whenever the doors were opened. It’s all about church. Otherwise, my priorities are misplaced.
Raising three boys (including a toddler who wants to get into anything and has the cunning and willingness to try), home schooling the older boys, and beginning two new careers takes plenty of time. When I add in all the church services, bible studies, woman’s groups, drama teams, and special services it’s no wonder that my time seems to just get sucked away.
“Be still and know that I am God.” Recently these words began to press on my heart. How long had it been since I was just still with God? I knew it had been at least as long as my oldest son was old. Small boys don’t typically give you time to be still.
A book I was reading at the time suggested I pray and ask God to help me find time to be with Him and then to look for His response. If I had understood what my request was going to require, I might have passed. Oblivious to what it meant, I asked God for time together.
The next morning at promptly 4:45 am, that’s actually in the morning BEFORE the sun rises, my husband began slapping my shoulder – repeatedly. “What are you doing?” I managed to ask without yelling.
“My arm was asleep,” was his muttered reply before falling back to sleep. He wasn’t even aware of what he had done.
Sitting in bed, now wide awake, I suddenly remember my request. I thanked God for the time that we would have, but I requested a different delivery system for the future.
That was the beginning of unique wakeups by my Father. One morning had the cat knocking over a dish before running in to the room to jump on me. Another morning had my oldest son yelling in his sleep. The most unique was the morning, just before sunrise, when a squirrel was dangling from my birdfeeder causing it to bang into my window.
Each time, I recognized the answer to my request. No one in my household is a morning person, so first thing in the morning gives me plenty of opportunities to be alone with God. During these hours, I write in my journal, read scripture, do a bible study, or sometimes I just watch the sunrise and listen.
It is through this quiet time with my Father that I have realized that activities are not the answer or the reason. Now I take a moment to ask “do you want this for my life” before I agree to do things. For me, it’s not about what I do; it’s all about Who I know.
December 17th, 2007
Can I make a confession? I hate dial up. The slow, agonizing pace that I can find information is actually something I have learned to deal with. It’s not unusual for me to click a link and get a chore done while my connection is crawling its way over there. But we are getting to the point of ridiculous and the disconnects and the “problem loading” are getting close to pushing me over the edge.
When AT&T first bought out Bellsouth, I was thrilled because part of the agreement was all of their customers would have high speed internet available by the end of the year. Here we are, closing in fast on the last of December, and AT&T STILL doesn’t service my home – not that I was actually shocked.
Out of desperation, I called the local cable provided. Because of where our home is located, it’s going to cost us a small fortune but something has to be done. As I continue to attempt to expand my online writings and even open a business or two, the dial up is going to be a problem (even more than it currently is).
The guy who called about coming out to give me an estimate did not sound very sympathetic to my plight. He said that even with a rush order, it would probably take a couple of months to push through all the red tape (and just what kind of red tape is there for private cable?).
What about satellite? (I know that’s what you are asking yourself). There are only two companies that provide satellite in my area. The highest download I can get from either of them is 2 megs - granted it is much, much faster that what I’m currently experience, but the upload speed is not. For $150 per month (plus the initial cost of set up), I think I have to say no.
My hope is that by the first of the year I will have high speed internet connection. My reality is that I will probably still be yelling at the computer screen when it pops up “problem loading.” Can you feel my pain?
December 15th, 2007
Writing is a craft, an art form and a skill that must be tweaked and honed. Even if you are born with a natural gift with the written word, you still must take some time to learn. There are hundreds of different ways you can go about it, some free and some for a fee. Most all of them will help you increase your skills in some way or another.
You could probably attend a writer’s conference every month if you wanted. They are held all over the world. Some of them are large and some are intimate. Most any of them will help you make connections with other writers, editors and even publishers. Those connections could be the one thing you need to get your foot in the door.
Shaw Guides is a good place to start looking for the conference that will fit your needs. It offers a Guide to Writer’s Conferences and Workshops. This is where I first discovered the Southern Christian Writer’s Conference.
It was fairly close (hosted at First Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, AL), located near family so I wouldn’t have to pay for a room and wasn’t very expensive – all great incentives for me to sign up. I went for convenience the first time but I keep going back because of the information that I learn and the people that I have a chance to meet. It’s held every June and the sessions and speakers are always a delight (plus they feed you).
There are some dream conferences I have run across (listed in The Writer or online) but I haven’t been able to justify the price tag that goes with them. This year I might just bite the bullet. If I pick the right location, the family could come along – ensuring the safety of the home when I return. We get a vacation and right off the expenses in the mean time.
Location, location, location – it’s not just for real estate. A great location can take a good conference directly over to amazing. If I could travel any where then the Maui Writers Conference would be top on the list. I think the sand and waves would be the perfect muse for my writing - but can I convince the hubby?
Not that I would be a name dropper, but a few conference have caught my eye because of the keynote speakers and the instructors. The ACFW annual conference would be a great place to win friends and influence people, I just wish they’d bring it back to the south!
Many local colleges or universities offer great classes, seminars, or workshops for writers. The internet has made access even easier. Places like Ed2go.com or The Writers Studio give you the information you need on your own schedule.
If you still aren’t sure where to go to learn more about the craft of writing then ask other writers. Join a writer’s group through your local library (or start one if there isn’t one yet) or make some online connections. The most recent addition of the Carnival of Christian Writers has some great thoughts on conferences.
Which every direction you decide to go with your craft just keep learning and growing. When you look back a few years from now you will be shocked at how far you have managed to come, no matter where you started.
December 15th, 2007
Hearing from God is not just for special, select individuals. God desires that each and every one of His children have a personal and intimate relationship that allows them to communicate with Him freely. But hearing from God does require that we take “self” out of the equation.
To open your ears to the words of God, you have to be willing. Pray that the Holy Spirit will open your ears. Spend time in the Word so that you recognize it when you hear it.
Expect an answer. Listen for a response from God in the scripture that you read, in the bible study that you are doing, or in the weekly sermon. Listen to your words with your children or FROM your children. God’s revelation often comes from unexpected places. At least you won’t have to deal with talking shrubbery.
Learn how to make the connection. When you pray and hear a response then ask for wisdom to connect the dots. I was working in my garden one day (a great time for me to talk with God) pulling weeds and working through some other issues. “Lord, I just need you to let me know that I’m going the right way.” Later that day, on three different occasions, I had someone tell me that I had grown spiritual, or that they looked up to my spiritual walk, or just gave me a pat on the back to tell me I was doing a good job. God answered my prayer.
Hearing from God is only the first step. Once you know that part, your part is to respond. God doesn’t show you something or tell you something just for fun. He has a purpose in mind. Noah wasn’t just supposed to build a boat; he was supposed to save the human race. Joseph wasn’t just supposed to interpret a couple of dreams; he was supposed to save two nations from destruction by famine. Responding with obedience to what God has shown you allows Him to accomplish through you what He desires to do.
And it is GOD that will accomplish what He wants to do. Recently, I set out to save a local, historical chapel. Everyone else had given up, but I was moved to do it. I prayed about what I could do. There was no money in our own budget to save the building. I committed to God that I would write fundraising letters and send out news releases, and I would trust Him to do the rest. No one stepped up and offered to pay. Only one newspaper even gave the story print time. I pushed on, speaking to groups and government officials, trying to find a way to save the building.
After a particularly long weekend, I got an email that said the church had been saved. Because of the article that was printed in just one paper, a new church (that had asked for the building four years before and had been turned down) had asked to move the building. We worked with them, they secured the funding, and the building is already on wheels and getting ready to roll.
It wasn’t how I would have done it, but it was exactly how God did it. He doesn’t ask us to understand it all. He just asks us to respond with obedience and to trust Him to do the rest.
Being able to hear from God is a gift that we have all received. If I can get beyond all my predetermined ideals and habits and focus on His word, then I open up the conduit for communication.
Pray. Watch. Listen. Respond. Trust.
God wants to use you. What’s your next step?
December 14th, 2007
My job is the coolest one in the world. Every day is full of new challenges, different projects, and deadlines. The people I work with are always growing and changing. I am MOM.
People who knew me growing up are usually shocked that I have chosen this profession. Others simply can’t understand how any one of sound mind and body would purposely choose to do what I do. Even my husband has flashes of “you are wasting your college degree with this path” but it usually passes pretty fast (especially if he is left alone with the kids and house for a day or two. Sometimes is only takes a few hours).
If the truth be known, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love this job. I do use my degree at least once a day. And the pay I receive is better than anyone around me that I know. Even on those days where chaos rules the roost, MOM is the best job I could ask for.
Most days I’m juggling the house chores, my work, the kids’ school work, the meals and the toddler. Most days I keep all of the balls in the air. There are those days when I drop on (or all) since I’m not Superhuman (just Wonder Woman), but those are getting farther and farther apart. I can see the attitudes and talents blooming in the children and it pushes me to be and do more in my own life.
It’s not that my job is more important than other jobs (although I think it is probably close). It’s just that it is more fun and exciting and ever changing. How many other people get up in the morning bracing for what is to come? You can schedule and plan, but every mom knows that flexibility is all that counts when it comes to triumphing through the day.
Moms are under-appreciated outside the home, and many times in the home as well. Few people outside the profession know, understand, or even care what goes on in a typical day or how much time we devote to the job. That’s why neighbors and family always call on MOM because she has nothing better to do with her time, right?
I think that the tides are starting to turn and more people are allowing themselves to choose the occupation of MOM (even some dads are making the choice). A revolution is on the way. Who knows, maybe we will have MOM in the White House sometime in the future (although there is really no time for such silliness when you have important work to do).
December 14th, 2007
As a writer, I worry about people stealing my work. I’ve heard and read about authors whose work was used by agents or editors without any compensation. If that wasn’t enough to keep me hording my writing in the desk, the internet now adds a whole new dimension to my paranoia.
Copyrights are one of those things I’ve heard about, but never really understood. I’ve always thought it was some intense process that required money. It turns out that copyright is just proof that you produced the work.
Some blog sites will say at the bottom that the work is copyrighted, but no special process was done. You can register something with the US Copyright Office – which will make it easier to prove it is your creative work if you have a need to fight any infringement – but that is not necessary for the work to be protected. The simple fact that you produced the work makes it protected.
The internet is still a difficult place to police copyright infringements. Even big organizations find they need more protection. So instead of worrying so much, I will just save my big ideas for print.
December 14th, 2007
The calculator came out last night. A new client added more work and my monthly earning figures was about to skyrocket. I needed to plan for all that incoming wealth.
Like most of the times I start “planning,” my reality took a quick turn towards fantasy. This is the time when I imagine a big pay off (for my book, from an anonymous donor, from the money tree in the back yard). I have decided that with just One Million Dollars, I can do all that I need to do and still have some money for a vacation. 
The break down is fairly easy. AFTER taxes and tithe I would:
1. Get those mortgage papers and burn them.
2. Put a chunk of the money in savings.
3. Hire a contractor to fix and remodel this house.
4. Build a pond.
5. Build a barn.
My need to write would not diminish because of the new found wealth. If anything, I would be free to truly write what I wanted instead of feeling obligated to write what I was offered.
I did some more calculations. Each day I get about 30 new visitors to this site. So, if each of you would just write me a check for $10 then I could have my million in just 100 days. If you would only up it to $100 dollars, then I would be set in just over a month. Now I see how these pyramid schemes get started 
.
Oh well, I still have my dreams! Today I will probably figure out just home many articles I need to sale each month to make these figures a reality for my life. Numbers are fun.
Your turn: What would you do with ONE MILLION DOLLARS?
December 13th, 2007
The writing business is starting to pick up steam. Like other things in my life, I’m finding that the more I do the more I can do and the more people are willing to let me do – except in my home town.
The town I grew up in is small. Most of the people older than me were delivered by my grandfather (who was a doctor by the way). Either I went to school with the rest of the people or they went to school with one of my brothers. They KNOW me.
It was once frustrating. Today it is mildly humorous.
They don’t know me. If the truth was told, they didn’t know me when we were in school. After four years of college (far, far away) and almost twenty years of spiritual growth and personal reflection, there are days that I don’t exactly know myself.
I’m patient. Situations are presenting themselves that are allowing me to show some of my knowledge and expertise. Because of that, a few “important” individuals are taking notice – and maybe giving me a little credit even.
In the end, what other people think they know doesn’t stop me from being who I am. If they refuse to let me through, then another door will open up. Most of the time it turns out that the detour is the better direction anyway.
For now, I will keep smiling when people look pathetically at me because I “stay home” with the kids and homeschool (remember, it’s a small town and everyone is into everyone else’s business). When they muster up the courage to ask “what are you doing anything NOW” my response is planned.
“I am an international writer and published author who is blessed to have the ability to follow my first choice and stay home with my family. What are you doing?”
December 13th, 2007
Fear should never be the reason you don’t follow your dreams. Walking the normal path is not something I have ever been good at. It’s more fun to take the peculiar path. In college, I changed my major every season. I was determined to find the area that would match my uniqueness in every way. Only one thing came along that I truly felt I would love. Instead of following through and giving it a go, I watched it slip past. My only reason was money – I was worried that my parents’ medical coverage for me would lapse.
What was the dream? I wanted to join the circus. My priest (who had been the priest that traveled with the circus at one time) actually encouraged me to attend clown college – yes, there is such a place. I was so close, but turned away out of fear.
That dream has sat in the back of my mind for many years. Instead of being in the circus, I would take a gaggle of kids to see it every year – front row! The sights and sounds would send a spark through my whole being. An email came today that brought that dream back (thanks Scott). It made me determined to give my children the freedom and boldness to follow their dreams.
Fear of anything (not having something, other’s reactions, or money issues) will cripple the dreamer. It made my life difficult and kept me from doing and trying and being. Not anymore though. Each day I’m working to overcome.
It all really started with “Clean Sweep.” All the stuff I had stacked around the house was there because someone gave it to me at some time. I couldn’t offend them by getting rid of it. I got over that quickly. Now I’m trying to figure out HOW MUCH I can get rid of before my own family cries “Uncle.”
The decision to homeschool the kids also gave me a boost. If you want to face conflict then try bucking the system. People will come out of the wood work to tell you how wrong you are in choosing your path. I’m blessed to have stumbled into a support system (both around me and on line) that makes the stand a little easier.
The greatest thing I have done to be able to follow my dreams is to learn to keep my mouth shut. Although I have become quite talented at saying no to tasks that aren’t in the direction I’m following, I have also learned that silence is golden because no one else knows what you are up to. People can’t kill you dreams if they don’t know you are on the path to follow them.
Dwelling in past dreams is not my style. New dreams have come to life and I will push ahead and reach for them. I’ve gotten over the money thing. Provision will come – if I am willing to do what I am supposed to do and truly give it my all.
Keep your dreamer alive. Step away from fear and follow your heart today.
December 12th, 2007
Things can change so quickly. In September I was planning ways to save the raise that was coming in October. Now I’m just praying that I will make enough money that we won’t have to touch our savings.
It’s not easy to face a new situation. Most of us are settled in our lives and change is the last thing we are looking for. Even good changes can rock the boat. No matter where you are in life, things change – which is why it is important to be prepared for what ever might come.
1. Be prepared to sacrifice. My schedule is completely different from what I expected. I have doing more writing – which is great – but not on my novels and print work – which is not so great.
2. Be flexible. Just when I think that I have it all under control, some body changes the IT factor. The stress can crack me, or I can go with the flow. The flowing is easier and I get a lot more accomplished in the long run.
3. Be willing to make changes. Even the little changes can make a big difference when you are up against a brick wall. The big changes can take a bad situation and make it glorious.
4. Be positive. Keeping your heart, mind, eyes, and mouth focused on the good and the uplifting will go a long ways towards pulling you through. A focus in any other direction can make the change seem bigger, more drastic, and drawn out farther than reality ever will be.
5. Be open to the ones who love you – but don’t wallow in your situation. Friends and family want to support and help in any way they can. Don’t hide your changes, embrace them, and ask for the assistance you need to push on through.
Changes are going to happen, no matter how hard you try to keep them away. You can embrace them or bury you head in the sand and hope they pass on by. Either way, you will eventually have to deal with the changes in life. The quicker you face them, the quicker you will find that you can handle what ever comes your way.
December 11th, 2007
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