Help! I’m Writing a Book!

April 21, 2022April 21, 2022Leave a comment

Yes! You read that right. I’m writing a book. I have decidedly to follow the wooing of the spirit and sit down to get my devotions published. It’s going to be a big process, so don’t expect to find my devotional in bookstores any time soon! I’m at the very beginning of this process and after attending a writer’s conference, I realize that I have much more work to do than I thought. 🙂

If you are with me on this same journey, I thought I would share the resources I have already gathered on my shelf. As soon as I made this decision, I received an offer to review a new book about platforms. I saw that as a sign that I am on the right track and accepted the offer. Becky’s book, Reach – Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause is all about platforms.

Create the Biggest Possible Audience

Becky Robinson is in the business of helping people sell books and this book confirms it. Becky has laid out the first steps toward finding your audience, creating your brand, finding resources, and focusing on service which will attract readers. These are things you need to do before you even start to write.

Have You Found Peace With Your Past?

Before writing your book, you need to have dealt with your demons. If you haven’t found peace with the events in your life that have caused trauma, you will not be able to tell your story without spilling your anger out on not only those who have hurt you but every reader along the way. You really do not want to air your dirty laundry when you write. You want to gently tell your story and how you found peace.

Allen will walk you through it with this beautifully written, easy-to-read, insightful allegory. It reminded me much of Hind’s Feet in High Places by Hannah Hubbard. However, between the pages, he includes chapters that discuss the story and help you apply the lessons to your own life.
Regardless of whether you want to tell your story or not, this one is a must-read.

The Chunky Method

Are you trying to “find the time to write”? You will never find time to write. You must make it. Treat it like a job. Tell your family they cannot disturb you during that time and then you will make progress. Allie Plieter will give you some guidance in her book, The Chunky Method.

Writing With Community

Most of us likely do not have friends that also write books. It is important to find a community that encourages and shares information with you. There are several out there that I am aware of:

Hope Writers – This group attracts me the most. It is a Christian group and they have tons of online resources. They offer coaching, online courses, and a large community of writers and editors. Once you have taken a course, it will be in your library forever. I have taken a few courses with this group but have never been able to find them in my budget. They do offer some products to the public but of course, the greatest advantage comes with subscribing.

Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild – author of the Left Behind Series has a great online resource with everything you need to write your novel. He is very interactive with his writers. I believe he may only let so many in at a time. His offer is much like the Hope Writers.

Flourish Writers – Much like the above with many courses offered and two levels of intensity at a subscription or yearly fee. This is the one that I joined this year. I like it, but still learning my way around the website.

Greater Writing Communities

Writers’ conferences are the place to find agents, professional editors, and tons of information about the publishing world. It’s an intensive few days of workshops and speakers who will inform and inspire. In addition, you will meet the most amazing writing friends. Conferences have been prohibitive for me with my disabilities. They cost a bundle and if you are like me and need a caregiver, some will charge them for attendance as well.

The pandemic changed a lot of things and conferences were one of them. Many are now offered online at discounted prices and there is no travel cost. Watch from your favorite recliner. Different levels are offered. You may watch live. Add a bit and you get limited time to re-watch workshops. Add a little more access is forever. You really can’t beat that. This was never available before.

I recently attended the She Writes For Him Conference. Amazing! Cool Thing – They were giving away books and one of them was written by my friend Cam Mulineaux. How exciting is that? She writes American historical fiction based on her ancestors.

Writing Clubs

At the conference, I met editors, coaches, and other writers. One of them started her own free weekly writing group. They sometimes have a zoom class and just silently write together. Other times, she brings in informational speakers. Recently, she brought in a podcaster who talked about the importance of authors having a podcast. Then he gave a few tips on getting started.

Did you know: If you write 540 words a day, in a year you will have a 50,000-word novel? This group is based on that fact. The 540 is a free community for writers. We educate, encourage, and equip writers to clearly communicate. I know you’ll love it! Sign up at 540Club.org.

That’s it for now

I may be adding to this list as time goes by. But I’ve got to go apply what I am learning and get busy writing a book! Sign up for the newsletter so you know when my book is ready! Go here for a taste: Devotions For Seasons

Bye For Now;

Mandy

P.S. If you have other suggestions, feel free to add them in the comments!

Attention Believers: Pray for the Church

January 27, 2022January 18, 2022Leave a comment

PRAY FOR THE CHURCH, CHURCH!

A few weeks ago as I sat down in the early morning with my cup of coffee, my Bible(s), my devotional books, and my notebook, the Lord spoke very loudly to me in the quietness. The scripture for that particular morning was Ephesians 3:14-21. I read it over and over, in two versions: New International and New Living.

Wow!

What a powerful, powerful prayer Paul wrote in this letter to the church at Ephesus!

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Getting Intentional With My Life

January 6, 2022January 1, 20222 Comments

As a teenager, I remember many times saying to my father that I “intended” to do this or that. His response was always the same, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”. It sounds a bit harsh but I believe there is a lot of truth in the statement. All the intentions in the world will not get the work done. There must be something more than intention.

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Confidence in God ~ ONEWORD for 2021

January 12, 2021January 15, 20217 Comments

I remain confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13

When you have a year like 2020, you can lose perspective on everything. I don’t want to continue living in limbo as we have most of the past year. As I prayed about my new One Word, the Lord seemed to indicate that my word should be “confidence”.

Amazingly, when I shared this with my blog partner, Michele, she said confidence was her ONEWORD as well! We are very excited about sharing our confidence with you this year. We hope you will hang around with us by signing up for the newsletter (see blue bar below) or for notifications (see top of page).

Let’s Get Started With Confidence

To start off on the right foot, let’s take a look at a few scriptures that talk about being confident.

This verse encourages me that even when times are tough, God is here with us. He is going to take care of us. He is a good, good Father! I have found this to be true all my life. God is good and He provides for our needs every day. We can look forward into this new year and even if things get worse, God will never leave us alone. He is in control. Look for the goodness of God this year. His goodness is abundant!

He Will Carry It to Completion

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

God never abandons us. When He calls us to Himself, it is forever. What God calls us to, He provides whatever is needed for us to accomplish it. His Holy Spirit will guide and direct us until the day He calls us Home.

We Are Encouraged by Paul

And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
PHilippians 1:14

We can look at the life of Paul and all His struggles and see that God never abandoned him. He always took care of Paul. This gives us confidence that we also can dare to share the Gospel. It’s an important challenge – to share the Gospel. Time is short and we must tell others about Christ so that they too can have eternal life.

We Will Not Be Ashamed

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
1 John 2:28

I do believe that the Lord’s return is very close. We must continue to grow deeper in the Lord and share the faith. This is how we will be confident to stand before Him on judgment day.

We encourage you to find a reading plan and begin to not only read but study God’s Word. Find a good Bible App. There are so many benefits to meditating on the word. Memorize His promises so that you will remain confident in Christ.

We have taken these scriptures and created some lovely bookmarks for your journey this year. Be sure sign up for the newsletter to receive your free bookmarks.

Confident in Him;

Mandy and Michele

P.S. Sign up for our newsletter and receive printable color scripture bookmarks!

Your Turn!

We would love to hear about your ONEWORD or resolutions for 2021.

If you didn’t write a post just leave a comment below.

Choose Old Paths at New Crossroads

December 31, 2019January 13, 20204 Comments

Which Path Leads to Success in 2020?

This is what the LORD says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.
Jeremiah 6:16, NLT

Ask for the old, godly way and walk in it. #ancientpaths Click To Tweet

One Word or One Verse?

Old Paths New Crossroads — image created for free on canva.com

For years now, I have followed the popular idea of choosing one word for the year. It has done me well, amazingly, for many years. But I have noticed a shift in my search for that one word. That is, to select a verse that will lead me through my year.

Last year, I chose to take small steps. I selected a verse from Zechariah 4:10 that reminded me that small steps are not to be despised. It made it easier for me to breathe in and out. I was able to slow down and remove the pressure of life.

At the Crossroads to a New Decade

So now we stand at the crossroads of a new year, a new decade. What does God have for us? I have a strong sense that this year could lead to something big. (that’s relative, of course, due to my health. But who knows?)

In all truthfulness, I have a great desire to draw closer to God; to refresh the commitments I have already made and strengthen them. I have decided to dig out my old studies on the spiritual disciplines and see where I might have veered away from the old paths.

God sees the ONE needful thing and He alone knows the path that will take me there – Elisabeth Elliot #disciplines #ancientpaths Click To Tweet

Areas in which to Consider Old Paths

As I mentioned, I’ll be studying and writing on the spiritual disciplines this year but also want to carry this forward into other areas of my life. A few things, I have been considering to make as goals.

Bible Reading Plan – Chronological reading of the Old Testament Possibly returning to the New King James Version. (Aat times I miss this because I was raised on it and most of my memory work has been done in KJV.
Devotional Reading – Disciplines of The Inner Life by Bob Benson will take me all year. I acquired it years ago when it went out of print, but I noticed it’s back!
Reading – Read biographies, classic works, or books already on my shelves. Starting with Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline 30th Anniversary and Barbara Hughes Disciplines of a Godly Woman. What They Meant for Evil by Rebecca Deng is a biography I am reviewing that will become available later this year. I also just acquired the audiobook for The Pilgrim’s Progress. These will keep me busy for a while.
Movies – Watch some movies based on real-life that I haven’t seen
Travel – I plan to visit my parents in Texas this year which I haven’t been able to do for several years. We seldom leave our own town, but if and when we travel, maybe I can get my hubby to get off the beaten path and take some of the old roads. It would be a way to slow life down.

My Old Paths Make the Difference

These are the thoughts that have been rolling around in my mind. I pray that through these things I can become closer to the God I Love. I truly desire to, as Robert Frost said, take the road less traveled.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference. – Robert Frost #ancientpaths #oneword365 Click To Tweet

You will find be writing several places this year beyond this blog. Maybe you will search me out.

My Own Instagram [@Mandy_holds_u_up]. I’ll be providing Scriptures of the day each month for all subscribers. In January the theme is #ancientpaths How about joining me and writing a mini gram of your own? Subscribe below for your January Calendar.
Gracefully Truthful is a place to connect, it’s a place to be real, it’s a place to share fears, ask questions, and unashamedly seek out the Father who crafted our hearts to love boldly and bravely as we discover together what it means to truly walk in the fullness of grace and truth. My first submission will appear this month in the Theme Treasure. Come study along with us.
Nazarene Connections [Women’s Ministries] I have written here before but they have recently released this new app for your phone. I’ve written a 7-devo series called God’s Preposterous Promise – God With Us. I’m not certain when these will release, but I will certainly let you know.

Keeping the Old Paths

Oh, yes, by the way, you will still get some Spice of Life and recipes from Michele. And, of course, we will both add other Bits of Fun along the way as well.

We have enjoyed reading your additions to our new Legacy Link-ups. This will continue to open ever 2nd & 4th Tuesday featuring guest writers. If you want to be featured this year, click here.

Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter on the blue stripe at the bottom of your screen to receive your free scripture of the day calendar.

Behold My One Word for 2018

January 1, 2018March 10, 2022Leave a comment

He said to me, “Son of man, watch and listen. Pay close attention to everything I show you. You have been brought here so I can show you many things. Then you will return… and tell them everything you have seen.” Ezekial 40:4 (NLT)

Behold! My “One” Word

As a child, I was notoriously unobservant. I believe that my siblings took bets to see how long it would take me to notice major changes on the farm. I remember once, a large fan at the end of the stanchion barn broke. There is no way that a person would not notice it blowing but it took weeks for me to come to the realization that a new fan had been put in. My brothers had a hay day with that one. I was never paying attention because I was often in my own little daydream.

As an adult, I don’t daydream that much but I do tend to get into my own little world studying, writing, reading. Hours can pass by without my ever noticing a thing.

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