Category Archives: Writer’s Journey

A Writer’s Prayer: Because God IS, I Will Trust Him

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Cancun Aug 2012 258“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV

 

 

 

Almighty God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, we worship You.

 

You determine the boundaries for the land and the sea. You control each rolling wave and paint the skies with vibrant reflections of Your complete love for us.

 

Your mercies radiate through every sunrise.

 

“In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” (Psalm 5:3, NIV)

 

Nothing is hidden from You.

Nothing is impossible with You.

Nothing surprises You.

 

Help us reflect on Who You are as You reveal Yourself through the treasure of Your Word.

 

Through Abraham, You showed Yourself faithful.

Through Moses, You showed Yourself mighty.

Through Joshua, You showed Yourself sovereign.

Through David, You showed Yourself merciful.

And through us, You show Yourself still constant, unchanging, loving and always in control.

 

Remind us that writing is an expression of worship, a tool for ministry, a gift to be used for Your glory. Purify our motives, ignite our creativity, and help us trust You in our waiting seasons.

 

“For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:4, NIV)

 

We acknowledge You, Lord. You are Who You are.

 

You will make our paths straight.

 

You are always right on time.

 

Hallelujah!

 

In Jesus’ name, Amen

In what aspect or season of your writing journey has it been difficult to trust God? How did the Lord help you through that tough time?

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Previously Published on the Inspire  Christian Writers blog on April 22, 2012

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My Great Summer Reading Adventure: The Heart Stone by Sherry Kyle

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Sherry Kyle - TheHeartStone - Book Cover 2013The day after taking my final, I skimmed the back cover blurb of The Heart Stone, by Sherry Kyle:

 

“TWO WOMEN. TWO JOURNEYS. A SEASON THAT MAY CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER.

 

When the alcoholic father of Jessica MacAllister’s son reappears in their lives, Jessica and her son go to her Uncle George for advice and refuge.

 

Following a year of grief, Evelyn Sweeney is finally ready to move on. As she ponders her new path in life, her mind drifts to her first love, George MacAllister.

 

When the lives of these two women cross, they discover that one heart-shaped ring binds their stories together. But will the results be a rekindled faith and new hope? Or will it lead them both back into the darkness they’ve fought for so long?”

 

I couldn’t wait to dig in!

 

With a hint of mystery and heartwarming romance, The Heart Stone is an inspiring story of courage, faith, hope and the complex process of forgiveness.

 

The novel starts with an unexpected phone call that threatens to destroy everything Jessica MacAllister has tried to protect. As she attempts to continue running from her past, Jessica and her adorable six year old son, Jacob, travel to Santa Cruz, California.

 

Their adventure thrusts them into a series of events that reveal Jessica’s true fears and start her on a powerful healing journey.

 

Kyle’s genuine voice, well-developed characters, and intriguing sub-plots kept me turning the pages, cheering for the characters, and asking God to reveal the stone chips of fear and unforgiveness that I may have hidden in my own heart.

 

This book would make a great book club or a girlfriend-to-girlfriend read!

 

Sherry Kyle - Author Head Shot - 2013I was blessed with the privilege of interviewing Sherry Kyle for the Inspire Christian Writers blog. Please also join us for a Tweet Chat, scheduled for Tuesday, May 28, 2013, to learn more about Sherry, her writing journey, and to discuss her latest novel, The Heart Stone.

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A Writer’s Prayer: Clinging to You, Lord!

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Shadows holding hands by Lindsie Nicole West - adobe edited“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4, NIV

 

 

 

Thank You, Lord, for inspiring our dreams and igniting our passion to honor You with every word we write.

 

Help us delight in Your goodness, rejoicing as we acknowledge Your sovereignty.

 

Help us delight in Your faithfulness, praising You for revealing Your love to us in times of tears and times of laughter.

 

Help us delight in Who You are, and what You’ve done for us, as we place every moment of our lives on the altar as an offering of our devotion.

 

Help us follow in courage as we worship in joy that does not depend on our circumstances.

 

Help us cling to You alone, knowing You will bring to fruition the beautiful plan You’ve written for our lives.

 

May knowing You intimately be the ultimate desire of our hearts, Abba.

 

Align our desires with Yours, Lord.

 

Please, do what You will, loving Shepherd.

 

And help us trust You.

 

In Jesus’ name, Amen

 

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Portions of this prayer were previously published on the Inspire Christian Writer’s blog  on April 1, 2012

 

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A Writer’s Prayer: Let Your Mercy Flow

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Rushing Water through the woods by LEP edited 2012“It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.” Deuteronomy 13:4, NIV

 

 

 

Thank You for welcoming us into Your presence, Lord.

 

You are transcendent and immanent. You are our faithful Shepherd and our Wise Counselor.

 

You call us to serve You and equip us for the work You have planned for us. Please give us discerning and obedient hearts as we seek Your will for us.

 

Identify anything we are placing above You in our lives and purge us of impure motives. Fill us with courage to follow You, even when the path looks impossible or doesn’t make sense.

 

Help us not to limit You by setting expectations or measuring our success by worldly standards.

 

No matter what we are facing or how we are feeling, empower us with Your truth.

 

Let Your mercy flow like a gushing river, through the moments that feel shadowed by our circumstances and the moments showered in Your Light.

 

Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10, NIV)

 

Yes, Lord, it is You we are committed to serve with every breath we take and every word we write.

 

In Jesus’ name, Amen

 

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Previously Published on Inspire Christian Writers Website on March 25, 2012

Photo by Lauren Pfahlert

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A Writer’s Prayer: Writing with a Worry-Free Heart

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Lilies and Roses Feb 2013

 

 

 

 

 

“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothed the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!” (Matthew 6:27-30, NASB )

 

Thank You, Lord, for blessing us with the power of the Holy Spirit Who opens our eyes with understanding and strengthens our resolve with the peace of knowing You’re in control.

 

Help us to remember You, our Provider, know and care about our deepest needs.

 

Align our will and our heart’s desires with Yours.

 

Keep our eyes steadfast on You.

 

Empty us of self so that we can experience the peace of trusting Your plan, Your provision, and Your timing.

 

Pluck worry from our minds and hearts so that we can serve You through writing, pursuing You above any form of publication.

 

Help us not to concern ourselves with the possibilities of rejections or acceptances, as we work toward excellence of craft and write for Your glory in obedience and faith.

 

May our main goals be to please You, to serve Your people, and to honor You through the ministry of love You’ve placed in our hearts.

 

In Jesus name, amen

 

What verse or verses does the Lord use to help you place your worries in the palm of His loving hand?

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A Writer’s Prayer: Empowered by the Vine

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5, NIV

 

 

 

Thank You, Lord, for nurturing us with Your truth, dwelling within us, and empowering us to enjoy a life of fruitfulness.

 

Cultivate grace and courage in our hearts.

 

Prune us with gentle hands so we will bloom, as we obey Your Word.

 

Help us praise You with reckless abandon, with every word we write.

 

Like a row of lush grapevines, intertwine our lives as we support, encourage, and offer accountability to one another in love and truth.

 

Saturate us with Your presence as we stand firm against the storms that come our way.

 

When we can’t see the fruit of our labor bursting forth, help us continue to plant and water the seeds faithfully, trusting You are working to grow from the root.

 

Give us peace and rest as we draw near to You.

 

While it can be tempting to focus on results and pursue publication more than we pursue You, please give us an eternal perspective and keep our hearts devoted to You above all else.

 

Help us write in obedience and faith, developing and using our gifts for Your purpose, not our own.

 

Strengthen our resolve, Abba. We want to be nestled in the center of Your will.

 

In Jesus’ name, Amen

 

 

How can serving in faithfulness grow our faith when the fruit of our labor seems scarce?

 

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Portions of this prayer were previously published on the Inspire Christian Writers Blog on March 18, 2012.

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Photo by X. E. Dixon

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How God Used the Christian Writers Seminar to Advance My Writing Career

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Cancun Aug 2012 201Years ago, I learned that mother Eagles place thorns on the rim of their nests before sending their chicks on their final training flight into the big blue yonder.

 

 

 

 

At first, I thought that was cruel. Then one day, I realized that the mother Eagles knew their babies were ready to fly.

The mother Eagle faithfully feeds each chick and teaches them how to fly as God strengthens their wings.

The Christian Writers Seminar was like a mother Eagle to me.

I never expected God would use a local writer’s seminar, priced at under $100.00, to give me courage to test my wings and fly into the next season of my writing career.

The critiques and the workshops equipped me to sharpen my writing and taught me more about the publishing industry.

Each facilitator shared their insight and inspired me to continue honing my craft.

This local conference helped me gain confidence as I applied what I learned in the workshops.

I was encouraged to believe in my work.

I was inspired by the fellowship and equipped by the teaching.

God used The Christian Writers Seminar to strengthen my wings, nudge me out of my safety nest, and prepare me to soar into the Redwoods (the setting of the Mount Hermon conference).

With the tips I learned at The Christian Writers Seminar, I was able to rewrite and sell my first short story to an editor I met at the Mount Hermon conference, only one month later.

After receiving encouragement from a facilitator at the Christian Writers Seminar, God gave me the courage to pitch my book idea to an editor at Mount Hermon in 2011.

That proposal is currently being reviewed by an agent. And I’ve already received an endorsement from a best-selling author for the book, an author who I met through The Christian Writers Seminar.

This will be my third year attending The Christian Writers Seminar. I look forward to seeing what God is going to teach me as I fellowship with local Christian writers.

Are you ready to test out your wings as a writer and soar for the glory of God?

If so, I invite you to join me at the 2013 Christian Writers Seminar, in Castro Valley, California on February 22-23.

Register today, for only $99.00, and please share this link. You never know if God’s been stirring up a story in the heart of a friend who’s always dreamed of using writing as a tool for ministry.

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Photo taken in Cancun (2012) by X. E. Dixon

(The bird featured is not an Eagle.)

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A Writer’s Prayer: Blooming in the Desert

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Blooming Flower in a Barren Land May 2010“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” (Jeremiah 31:25, NIV)

Lord, Your Word promises that You “will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

Your Truth nourishes the root of our hearts, helping us bloom in the desert.

Your love revitalizes us when circumstances threaten to dehydrate our faith.

 

 

When we’re surrounded by the dryness of uncertainties, fears, or change, please saturate us with Your presence, Father.

 

Pour Your peace into every fiber of our being until we radiate with resilience.

 

No matter where You have us planted, for this moment, please accept every word we write as a fragrant offering of love and worship to You.

 

Help us plant seeds of truth in the hearts of our readers and water those seeds with encouragement and hope, for Your glory alone.

 

We love You. We need You. We praise You, Lord.

 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

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What verse can you share with our fellow writers that the Lord uses to strengthen your resolve?

 

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Portions of this prayer were previously posted on Inspire Christian Writers Blog, March 11, 2012

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Photo, Bloom in the Dessert, by X. E. Dixon

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Christian Writers Seminar: Priceless Rewards for a Minimal Cost

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Inspire - Jon Drury Interview - Jan 2012 - 3 with BethI’ve been attending the Christian Writers Seminar (CWS) for the last two years and have experienced priceless rewards. Here is a photo taken at the 2012 CWS, featuring Beth Thompson and John Vonhof, with this year’s keynote speaker, Jan Coleman.

 

 

 

And here are the top five reasons that keep me coming back to this amazing local and affordable conference:

 

1. My platform increased by over 300% after I incorporated tips I learned in a CWS workshop.

 

2. I’ve been inspired and blessed with a prayerful network of writing friends.

 

3. The facilitators encouraged me to continue honing my craft and to believe in my writing.

 

4. I am reminded that writing is a valuable tool for ministry within the kingdom of God.

 

5. I’ve witnessed God’s working in and through the conference staff, volunteers, and conferees.

 

With more than 35 workshops to choose from, the Christian Writers Seminar is a wonderful place for new writers to get started, for seasoned writers to get refreshed and reconnected, and for struggling writers to be revitalized and supported.

 

My heart grieved when I was forced to accept that I couldn’t afford attending this year’s weekend event. By the grace of God, two very special people, who I met at the 2011 Christian Writers Seminar, offered to sponsor my participation in this year’s event.

 

Once again, God allowed me to see Him working through His people. Praise the Lord!

 

He made a way for me to attend this year. And He can make a way for you to attend!

 

He obviously has something for me to learn at this year’s conference. So, I’m excited and ready to learn. And I hope you’ll join me.

 

The 2013 Christian Writers Seminar in Castro Valley, California is scheduled for February 22-23, featuring Jan Coleman as our keynote speaker.

 

Registration is only $99, if you register before February 15th.

 

The reward for this investment will be priceless as God develops your skills as a writer and opens doors to use those skills to minister to His people.

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2012 Write to Inspire Book Giveaway – “Unleash the Writer Within” by Cec Murphey

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“After Cec sold at least 20 articles, he made a double commitment to God and to himself: to never stop learning and improving as a writer, and to do whatever he could to help other writers. Thus began a lifetime commitment and passion to share with other writers what he’s learned along the way. Unleash the Writer Within is his passion and legacy to all writers in the trenches.”

 

 

 

 

This is not your ordinary book on writing. Unleash the Writer Within by Cec Murphey helps writers develop their voice and writing style as they learn to write from the depths of their hearts.

 

“New York Times’ bestselling author and international speaker Cecil (Cec) Murphey has written or co-written more than 125 books, including the runaway bestseller 90 Minutes in Heaven (with Don Piper) and Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (with Dr. Ben Carson). His books have sold millions of copies, have been translated into more than 40 languages, and have brought hope and encouragement to countless people around the world.

 

 

Prior to launching his career as a full-time writer and speaker, Cecil served as pastor of Riverdale Presbyterian Church in Metro Atlanta, as a volunteer hospital chaplain for ten years, and was a missionary in Kenya for six. He holds bachelor’s degrees in education and religious education, as well as master’s degrees in education and theology. Cecil was awarded an honorary Doctor of Literature from The Richmond Virginia Seminary for his contributions to the writing field.”

 

Living as a testimony of God’s power and grace, Cec is an inspiration and an example of blessed obedience.

 

Connect with Cecil Murphey through his website.

 

Visit his blog for writers to find great writing tips.

 

And see how God is working in and through his life to help men who have been sexually abused on the Men Shattering the Silence blog.

 

For a chance to win a copy of Cec Murphey’s Unleash the Writer Within, all you have to do is join us at the 2012 Write to Inspire conference in Elk Grove, CA on July 20-21.

 

I’m counting down the days!

 

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