Encouragement
How to Be Outstanding
“Dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. … to the extent that God has blessed you. … because a door of great opportunity stands wide open for me, but there are many opponents.…
Renewing your Mind and Spirit
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 I’ve been struggling with negative thoughts lately, and I know the only way to combat the ugliness is to fill my mind with God’s thoughts. It’s not easy, but the alternative will never bring about desired change. In fact,…
Big Dreams Walking?
From the archives March 18, 2010: Are you holding on to your BIG dreams! So am I. I wrote this two years ago and my big dream back then was to get published. Nine months after writing this I was offered a contract for a novella. Not my ideal publishing scenario, but I’ve learned not…
Writing is Editing
Writing is editing. You accept that. But do you love it? Well, do you? You’re staring. Am I serious? Love editing? How can I love that? If you want to continue as an author, it’s time you learned. It surprises me how many people only think of editing as a career. Editing isn’t merely grammar and…
St. Patrick: The Man Behind the Holiday!
I don’t think I really started to think about St. Patrick, the man until I got married to an Irish/German/American, and had kids. Growing up, St. Patrick’s Day was all about wearing green and drinking beer. Yet, if St. Patrick was alive today, I think he’d be heartbroken over what his name has come to…
Peace in the Waiting
“I’m confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in me will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6) Sometimes waiting is not about being denied what we want, it’s about molding, and shaping us into who God wants us to be. Doesn’t make it an easier,…
Being Great for God
When we think about being “great” for God, most think about participating in great programs and projects while greatly utilizing our talents, abilities and natural strengths. We think of doing. But I don’t think that’s right. It seems to me WHO we are as individuals is of greater importance than WHAT we try to do.…
Fighting Through Insecurities to Reach Your Dreams
Every since I can remember I’ve dreamed of being a dancer. I remember watching Flashdance, Footloose, Fame, and all the other fun dancing movies and thinking how much fun it would be to do that. But to achieve that goal would take hard work, discipline and talent. We didn’t have a lot of money growing…
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Guest Post “Where do you get your ideas?” Why is this seemingly innocent question so often cited as the most annoying to creative people? As the first question to come to mind, it is over-asked and comes out sounding thoughtless, both of which are enough to make it bothersome. Beyond that, questions about ideas are…
Finding Your Writing Voice
by Mick Silva It may not seem so, but in their early days, all authors were builders. Much as we might like to believe someone could slap down a suitcase of money to buy that beautiful mansion, it doesn’t work that way. No one moves into a house they didn’t build. Of course, everyone tries…