Author: Sally Ferguson

Caught in the Candy Jar

“Gra’ma, can I have some candy?”

“Not yet,” I said. “We’re getting ready to eat supper.”

Eyes focused on me, his little hand reached into the container and grabbed several morsels. Before I could reach out, his full mouth smirked at me. Knowing there was more at stake than a spoiled meal, I marched my grandson to the waste basket and ordered him to spit out the candy.

Oh yes, I have acted just like my grandson. I, too, have a streak of stubborn independence. How many times have I asked the Lord about something, then gone ahead with it when I sensed a “no” or a “not now?” Many times, it’s not about bad choices but poor timing—like staying up late to work on a project then getting up for an 8:00 zoom meeting. Or, working through lunch, then raiding the snack drawer. Maybe it’s working on social media content instead of seeking insight for my work on deadline.

What makes us think we can get away with things when the Lord has said no to them? Are we so confident in His benevolence we believe we are exempt from the consequences?

Just like a grandmother knows a better meal is coming, God can see the bigger picture for the range and outreach of the words we write.

Exercise:

What does it mean to “have zeal without knowledge?” Proverbs 19:2 (NIV)
How can research help your WIP?
How does knowledge reflect self-love? Proverbs 19:8
Why is it wise to seek better understanding for your WIP?
Patience is a by-product of what trait? Proverbs 19:11
How could patience be applied to your writing?
Do you need to administer grace to yourself in your writing projects?
What does it look like to be a “prudent” writer? Proverbs 19:14 (NIV)
How does laziness creep into our work habits? Proverbs 19:15
What has God been asking you to give up, in order to pursue the better thing?
How do instructions offer life to our words? Proverbs 19:16
How is the Lord nudging your writing focus?
How does discipline bring hope to our writing? Proverbs 19:18
What are the plans you’re asking the Lord to bless? Proverbs 19:21
How is your walk with God giving life to your writing? Proverbs 19:23

What would Solomon say to us today? Be teachable! Proverbs 19:20

Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net

Tags Devotion, devotions, devotions for writers, God's guidance, patience, the LORD says no or not yet, understanding, zeal, zeal without knowledge

Venture into the Water

Swoosh. Flip. Swoosh. Flip. The oars alternately dipped into the cool waters of Lake Erie. I
relaxed into the seat and felt anxiety swirl away with the drifting current. It had been a year since
our last outing on a kayak, so my hubby and I jumped at the chance to join friends at Presque
Isle. Even the lily pads welcomed our arrival with their flowers of yellow and white.

Alone in my boat, I compared the writing life to our water adventure:

When I stopped rowing, I lagged behind my companions.
When we stayed together, we laughed and enjoyed the ride.
When my muscles rebelled against the work, it took just an ounce more of “umph” to
keep going.
When it felt like I was making no progress, I looked at the shoreline to see where I’d
been.
When we passed some yachts anchored for swimming, I realized we all have unique
experiences.
When we stopped at a sandbar, the swim was a great reward.
Exercise: look up Scripture and compare translations.
The writing life creates a momentum that carries your work forward. Don’t stop rowing!
Hebrews 10:35-36.
Writing companions make the ride more enjoyable. Ecclesiastes 4:12.
Hang in there. Persevere and gain insight. Revelation 2:17.
Don’t compare yourself to others. Be confident in what you have to say. Galatians 6:4.
Instead of craving someone else’s gift, excel at what you’ve been given. 1 Corinthians
12:4-7.
Your effort will pay off. 2 Timothy 4:7-8.

When Peter walked on water (Matthew 14:22-34), he tried something for the first time. He had
never walked on water, nor did he know anyone who had. Was Peter afraid? Absolutely. Did he
do it anyway? Yes!

When we jump into the waters of publishing, we will face many unknowns and feel the waves
wash over us. But we learn an important lesson from Peter, and that’s to keep our eyes on Jesus.

He will help us to

Be persistent,
Find joy in our stories,
Give a boost when we need it,
Measure success by His standards,
Celebrate our unique gifts,
Fight for the prize.

All praise to the One who is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-3). He is the
captain of our boat and partner in the words we write.

Come, walk on water and do the impossible with Jesus!

Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotions have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net

Tags devotions for writers, hang in there, keep your eyes on Jesus, unique experiences

Devotions for Writers

Let’s Talk About It Later

Post author By Sally Ferguson
Post date August 3, 2022
No Comments on Let’s Talk About It Later

Procrastination squeezes its fingers around my neck, choking me. I feel panic rising like bile in the back of my throat.

Have you heard this one? You know you’re a writer on deadline when you decide to clean the house rather than sit at your desk.

I can make jokes and fictionalize about my tendency to procrastinate, yet the question remains. Why did I wait until the last minute to work on my project?

I like to think I work best under pressure, but do I really put out my best when I feel pressured? It’s not a new thing—this delayed response has been a lifetime in the making. Maybe I could blame it on a personality bent or a childhood trait carried over into midlife crisis. Maybe I could transfer guilt to a faulty belief system that thinks it will go away if I ignore it.

At some point, sooner than later, I need to take responsibility for my delay tactics and buckle down to write.

A man named Jonah tried to avoid the inevitable and ended up in deep water. (Jonah 1:10,15)

Saul hid from responsibility and was left holding the bags. (1 Samuel 10:22)

Am I so different that I think my consequences won’t be as dire? Isaiah 14:27 says I can’t thwart, or oppose, God’s plan. It’s time to talk about it!

Exercise:

What is the difference between procrastination and self-sabotage? Use your dictionary to support your answer.
What limiting beliefs keep you from persevering with your writing? For instance, “I’ll never be good enough,” or, “Nobody reads what I write.”
Is procrastination a case of “I can’t” or “I won’t”? If “I can’t,” then why not? What tools can help you get to the next level?
What steps can you take to turn “I won’t” into “I want to”? Will you ask the Lord for help? Philippians 2:13.
Is a fear of failure keeping you from using your God-given gifts? Or, does a fear of success and its thirst for more leave your knees shaking?
What helps you pursue that which you would rather put off? Does an accountability partner keep you on target with deadlines?
Write out Philippians 4:13 and ask God to give you strength for the task.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NIV

What holds you back from your best self?

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net

Tags Avoiding procrastination, devotions for writers, procrastination, What holds you back?

Devotions for Writers

Embrace the Night

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

I have fought with sleep patterns my whole life and still end up being more alert when the lights are out. Maybe I should embrace the way I’m made—could everyone else just adapt?

As much as I want to rest with sunset…

I’ve wondered if the night hours are when the Lord best speaks to my quieted mind.

Electronics are stilled, the dishes won’t go anywhere, and all distractions are muted.

When do you find you’re most receptive to God’s voice?

Is it early morning, during your lunch break, or after the kids go to bed?

The boy, Samuel, heard God speak to him at night. At first, he thought it was his mentor, Eli, but after running in response to Eli three times, they both realized Someone bigger had called. (1 Samuel 3:1-10) What did Eli instruct the child to say?

“Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.”
1 Samuel 3:9 NIV

What if I responded the same way when God knocks at my writer’s door? “Speak Lord, Your servant is listening.”

Wouldn’t the written words carry more impact because of the authority imparted? Yes, speak Lord, I’m listening.

Exercise:

Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 AMP

Make a study of your work habits.

What time of day are you most alert?
What foods make you feel sluggish?
What meals boost your energies?
What kind of exercise do you enjoy?
What topics fuel your passion for writing?
What lessons have you learned from your experiences?

Let self-awareness equip you to be more alert to nudges from the Lord and to write at His leading.

Maybe your “night” is a dark time in your life? How can it bring new vulnerability into your prose? Our times of seeking God equip us to speak into the lives of others. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 says we can impart the comfort, encouragement and endurance we have received from the Lord.

“Comfort means to lessen someone’s grief or distress by giving strength and hope.”
Roget’s Desk Thesaurus

What comfort has the Lord brought to you in your darkness?

May your night bring light to others through the words you impart.

What would it mean for you to “embrace the night?”

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net

Tags best time to hear God, Devotions for authors, embrace the night, listen to God, work habits

Devotions for Writers

Will I Ever Learn

They praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote.
Daniel 5:4-5 (NIV)

“I’ll do it tomorrow,” I said. The next day, I spent the day with a sick grandchild, and never got back to my writing assignment.

“That’ll never happen to me,” I said.

Three months ago, my computer crashed, taking all my files and addresses with it.

“I’ll think about it tomorrow,” King Belshazzar said while he took another sip of his banquet wine. That night, he was assassinated and his throne given to another.

What does it take to read the handwriting on the wall?

Belshazzar was called to account for his actions (Daniel 4:28-37). Had he forgotten his dad’s demise into the cow fields when Nebuchadnezzar was humbled for his pride? Surely Belshazzar was privy to his father’s stories of insanity and restoration?

I fear I am more like Belshazzar than I care to admit. I, too, forget what God has done in my life and how He has redeemed my writing. I’ve also had a check in my spirit about disobedience, then gone on as if nothing happened. But, at some point, discipline occurs and I learn my lesson (again).

It’s at the intersection of ordinary life and the miraculous that a choice has to be made.

It may not be life and death, like Belshazzar, but it can change the course of events unfolding before us.

Praise God for the gift of grace.

Exercise:

Read Daniel 5:1-4 and cross reference it with Revelation 9:20-21. Why is repentance so hard?
Read Daniel 5:5-12. Daniel was brought to the palace for wisdom. We all need solid counsel to guide our submissions. Whom do you seek?
Read Daniel 5:13-28. The king tried a bribe to sway the message. Daniel didn’t let it blind him to truth. Maybe Belshazzar felt his power and wealth made him exempt to consequences? Do we delay obedience to God’s call to write His words?
Read Daniel 5:29-31. It seems the king went back to his party, but the party went on without him. Why does obedience require a swift response? How do our actions affect others?
Learn from my mistake and back up your computer files!

How will you interpret signs along your path?

Tags devotions for writers, read the handwriting on the wall

Devotions for Writers

Will You STep into Your Bethlehem?

Post author By Sally Ferguson
Post date May 3, 2022
No Comments on Will You STep into Your Bethlehem?

Do you realize you have something in common with Ruth the Moabitess?

We’ll explore that in the exercise. First, let’s refresh our memories about her story.

Ruth was married to Naomi’s son. They had a sweet life together and Ruth was drawn to Naomi’s simple faith. Then, tragedy struck the family and left the women as widows.

Ruth decided to go with her mom-in-love back to Naomi’s homeland. There, Ruth labored behind the barley and wheat harvesters and caught the attention of the owner of the field. He became her link for protection and provision.

There is so much more to this story, so stop now and read all four chapters in the book of Ruth.

Exercise:

Ruth left her homeland and culture. She ventured into unchartered waters and endeavored to get acquainted with her new community. Ruth 1:16-17

Writers must leave their comfort zone to unite with readers, writers and editors.

Writers who work with writers become better equipped to navigate the marketplace of words.

How will you stretch yourself? Will you join a writers group or attend a writers conference? Will you send in a new submission every month or every week? Make a note of your intent and post it as a daily reminder.

Ruth was known for her loyalty. Ruth 2:11. She was dedicated to Naomi and worked hard to provide for them both.

Writers require a stick-to-itiveness to tackle the words they’re seeking.

What steps can you take to guard your writing time? How will you solidify your commitment to the hard work of the writing life?

Naomi told Ruth that Boaz had a special connection to their family. Ruth 2:20. He became her link to the line of King David and later the Messiah. Matthew 1:1-16

Who you know is often a catalyst in the writing business.

We’re told to build our social media and meet agents and editors. We may never guess who will be in our family lineage of writing kinsmen, but it will be a great reunion of minds later!

Brainstorm ways you can join and support other writers. Research writers conferences and faculty members. What can you learn from these contacts?

Take a lesson from Ruth and leave your comfort zone. Be loyal to your time with words. Develop connections with people who may later introduce you to your manuscript-redeemer. You will be blessed to be a part of the writing family.

Are you ready to venture out like Ruth?

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net

Tags Bethlehem, devotions, devotions for writers, Ruth the Moabitess

Devotions for Writers

What Makes You Thirsty?

Have you ever noticed how thirsty you are the day after eating an Easter ham? Matthew 5:13 tells us we’re like that salt as we create a thirst for God.

Or, how about the way dry skin soaks up lotion? You can almost hear the pores say, “thhhwop,” as the moisture refreshens.

My husband has commented after trips to Uganda, “The Ugandan people are like sponges soaking up God’s Word. They take copious notes and lean into the discussion.”

I’ve also heard many authors attribute their writing success to staying close to the Lord and seeking His direction.

All these things point back to our need for a deep hunger for the Lord. What makes you lean into God’s Word? Are you fully invested in what He has to say? I notice my own thirst wanes and complacency sets in when I get settled into my own routine. I am unaware and unconcerned about what happens outside of my own sphere. I become content to just drift through life, but am not really living.

How can we kick the complacent mindset and learn how to thrive?

Exercise:

Four Ways to Develop a Thirst for Go

1. Pray

Ask God to nurture your tastebuds for His food. He says in Matthew 7:7 to ask, seek and knock in order to open your heart to Him. Psalm 34:8.

2. Dig into Scripture

Use your Concordance and footnotes. Where does it talk about thirst? Hunger? Seeking? Let passages take you on a rabbit trail to discover new delights. Psalm 25:14.

3. Meet with God’s Family

Proverbs 27:17 says iron sharpens iron. We wet each other’s appetites when we meet across the table to talk about passages of the Bible. We ask questions that dig into deeper truth, and hold each other accountable to the discipline of study. Author Rick Warren says, “We’re better together.” Ecclesiastes 4:12.

4. Serve

Something clicks in the brain when we meet a need for another. Service takes the focus off of our own issues to concentrate on giving selflessly. When we serve, we find freedom from what consumes us and renewal for what nourishes. The Lord blesses those who serve. Ephesians 6:7-8.

Are you thirsty? James 1:5 reminds us to ask for what we need. Let the Lord restore your zest for more of Him and your abundance will overflow to others.

Don’t get dehydrated. Reach for The Living Water!

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net

Tags Are you thirsty?, salt of the earth, thirst for God

Devotions for Writers

Articulate with Authority

Post author By Sally Ferguson
Post date March 3, 2022
No Comments on Articulate with Authority

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Crist, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:31 NIV

How important is a word? A search in Webster’s Dictionary unveils deeper meaning behind the everyday use of what we say. Let’s take a look at “write” as our example.

Writ

A document that carries the authority of the author. Whether that authority is a monarch or a mason, it makes no difference—it is legally binding.

Write

“to compose, to communicate, to make a permanent impression of.” An author’s heart is wrapped up in the effort to convey thoughts.

Write in

“to insert in a document or text.” Possibly changing the outcome, a write in becomes part of the document.

Write-off

“a reduction in book value of an item.”

Write-up

“a deliberate increase in the book value of an asset.” If something written can affect the value of an item then doesn’t it reflect the authority of the one who assessed it?

In the Gospel of John, he says his book was written as a hinge to belief in Jesus as the Christ. (John 20:31) John’s words documented a life observed and he placed his full trust in knowing eternal life banked on that message.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:3 the result of his ministry was hearts written in the authority of the Spirit of the living God. Not in pencil, not in chalk, but a life-impacting transformational encounter with the very Spirit of God.

Could research transform our words to make an impact as well? Once upon a time, back in high school, I had a notebook of Latin words we studied in class. The content has long since eluded me, but I do remember feeling connected to generations of communicators. Language has evolved, but its beauty remains. We have a responsibility to convey the meaning to our readers in the clearest manner possible.

Exercise:

Write out 2 Timothy 2:6-17.
Look up each word in the dictionary and jot down synonyms.
Did you learn anything new?
Use your new definitions to write out 2 Timothy 2:16-17 again.
How does the new rendering grant insight? (This exercise isn’t meant to manipulate Scripture, but to shed light on ways we gloss over the meaning.)

What words do you use flippantly? Verbalize competently!

Language has evolved, but its beauty remains.

How can your words add value to your reader?

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net

Tags Devotions for authors, devotions for writers, looking at the word "write"

Devotions for Writers

what’s your great big idea?

Post author By Sally Ferguson
Post date February 3, 2022
No Comments on what’s your great big idea?

Once upon a time, there was a writer with a Great Idea. That Great Idea was so big, she worked and worked to develop it. She did market research, built a proposal and invested in her Great Big Idea by taking it to several writing retreats. She told people about it, even crafting her bio to announce the forthcoming Great Idea project. Friends encouraged her and celebrated her bravado. Many shared stories to help the Great Idea move along. The future looked bright for the Great Big Idea.

However, the further the writer plugged away at Big Idea, the harder it got. She got discouraged. She got overwhelmed. And Big Idea languished. The writer stopped pursuing the Great Big Idea.

Consider this story:

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.” Matthew 25:14-18 NIV (Read the full story in Matthew 25:14-30)

Exercise:

Thoughts to ponder—feel free to comment below.

How is the writer like the first two servants in the passage?
How is the writer like the man who hid his master’s money?
Can you relate to our writer? Why or why not?
What should a writer do to get motivated again?
How would you help another who is stuck?
How do you reevaluate the writing projects you pursue?
If knowledge is the writer’s currency, how does one expand its reach?

My NIV Footnotes for Matthew 25:14-30 says…

What we have is like a trust fund from God. The wise stewardship of that trust fund will be measured by faithfulness, not success.

If you redefined your standard of success to reflect your faithfulness to the task, what would that look like for your WIP?

Reflect on Mark 13:34-36, then gather up your Great Big Idea and give it a boost!

What will you do with that which you’ve been entrusted?

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net

Tags Big Ideas, devotions, devotions for writers, Great ideas. Work and develop great ideas

Devotions for Writers

Will This Be The Year?

A young girl cradled her doll—scraps of cloth stitched together by her mother. She followed her mommy throughout the day with an adoring heart. Happy to help knead the dough and fold the clothes, Liz wanted to be just like her mom when she grew up.

As a young teen, Liz caught the eye of a handsome kinsman. Her father was happy with the match and made the arrangements according to their custom. The nuptials consumed Liz and the days passed like a dream.

Years went by. Baby showers were a frequent meeting place for the women in her town. Liz quickly changed the conversation when asked, “When will you and Zech start your family?”

Will this be the year she feels the stab of tiny feet against her womb?

Maybe your heart’s desire is to birth a book baby. Maybe you’ve completed portions and envision illustrations. Maybe you’ve pitched your query and felt the sting of rejection.

Will this be the year your vision becomes a reality?

What does it look like to keep plugging away at a project that doesn’t seem like it will ever happen? Research the following verses to bolster your resolve.

Exercise:

Steps to remain faithful in waiting:

Keep writing articles. “Let us not become _____ in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if ___________.” Galatians 6:9 NIV
Keep submitting queries. “There was a widow in that town who kept _____ to him.” Luke 18:1-5 NIV
Build up a resume of words. “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were ________ the Lord rather than for people. Remember… that the Master you are ______ is Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24 NLT
Participate in a writers group. “Plans go wrong for lack of ______; many advisers bring ______.” Proverbs 15:22 NLT
Build relationships with industry pros. “What you ____ from me, keep as the _____ of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:13 NIV
Celebrate other authors. “Therefore _____ and ______ each other up.” 1Timothy 5:11 NIV
Keep learning the craft. “The wise accumulate _______—a true _____.” Proverbs 10:14 MSG

Read the rest of Elizabeth and Zechariah’s story in Luke 1. Consider the outcome of their faith. Are you waiting for your writing to make a mark? Will you praise God before God reveals an answer?

What helps you remain faithful to your call to write?

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net

Tags devotions, devotions for writers, faithful in writing, will this be the year

Devotions for Writers

The Holiday Backseat Driver

Post author By Sally Ferguson
Post date December 3, 2021
No Comments on The Holiday Backseat Driver

“At your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.” Numbers 10:10 (NIV)

Holiday festivals and feasts are not a new tradition. No, the Lord established special times in the lives of the Israelites so they would commemorate His faithfulness. Gifts were even given when Purim was established in Esther 9:18-22. But holiday customs have escalated in our time, leaving us little margin to escape the tyranny of the urgent.

Does writing take a backseat during your holidays? If Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day becomes an excuse to put off the written word, do the remaining months of the year make up for word output? What about Fourth of July, Easter and Valentine’s? Don’t forget Veteran’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Mother’s/Father’s Days. Of course, Memorial Day and Labor Day actually involve entire weekends, and Daylight Savings Time affects our ability to focus for the following week. What’s a writer to do?

Exercise:

Let the season you’re in provide fodder for the next. Journal about the Christmas tree lights. Reflect about the gathering around your Thanksgiving table. Write down what you see at the first snowfall. Your words will evoke emotions to add to later articles.
Look ahead three to six months on your calendar. What holidays can you pitch to a publication? Research magazines in your Christian Writers Market Guide. Make an outline according to their guidelines. Fill in the words, edit, polish and send.
Create an ebook to send to your mailing list or upload to your website. Topics to brainstorm: favorite holiday recipes or a humorous piece about your burnt offerings, wrapping tips and gift-buying clues, hacks for less time in the kitchen, ideas for family fun in the kitchen, and 5,10 or 30 days of devotionals.

Give yourself grace in a time of holiday bustle. Take a sleigh ride. Put on the tea kettle and savor the season. It will put you in a reflective mood and balance out your heart rate. Let your holiday writing be a gift to the One who was our gift in Bethlehem. No more pushing your muse to the back seat!

Where is your favorite writing nook during Christmastime?

You’ll find me under the tree!

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon. Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad. Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

Tags Devotion, holidays, writing, writing takes a backseat

Devotions for Writers

use it or lose it

Thanks be to God who leads us, wherever we are, on his own triumphant way and makes our knowledge of him spread throughout the world like a lovely perfume! We Christians have the unmistakable “scent” of Christ, discernible alike to those who are being saved and to those who are heading for death. To the latter it seems like the very smell of doom, to the former it has the fresh fragrance of life itself. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 (PHILLIPS)

My favorite perfume has a beautiful design on the bottle. A lovely floral pattern contrasts against the white cylinder. A bold silver strip encircles the vase. But there’s a problem—what’s inside has gone flat. You see, I thought I should save the aromatic liquid for special occasions. I thought it would always be there for me, ready for just a touch of the fine mist.

But perfume gathering dust on a shelf loses its purpose. It was meant to flavor the world with a fine aroma and heighten the olfactory senses. Unused, perfume becomes a sour token of its former glory.

What about writing? When I keep putting off the work of writing in order to tackle the tyranny of the urgent, my words get shelved and buried like the papers on my overflowing desk. Writing loses its luster and languishes in obscure places. Words are meant to encourage, enlighten and exhort, but expire when left unexpressed.

What causes words to become stale? Could the use of passive voice, lack of passion, or prideful statements take away the delivery punch?

What enables words to be sweet-smelling? Could hope, humor, and heartfelt fragrance enliven a manuscript?

Let’s prime the pump in the following exercise.

Exercise:

Ponder this:

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:1-3 (NIV)

Why was Mary’s gesture so unusual?

In what way does it relate to your writing?

May Mary’s extravagance inspire a generous overflow of love to those around us!

Where can you fill the air with a pleasing aroma?

Words are meant to encourage, enlighten and exhort, but expire when left unexpressed.
Let your words encourage, enlighten and exhort!

Sally Ferguson loves to dive into God’s Word and splash his refreshing water onto others. She speaks and writes with a look at snapshots of life in the sunshine and in the storms.

Sally plans women’s retreats and she’s working on a Bible study for caregivers. She lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net

Tags devotions, devotions for writers, gift of writing, responsibility

Devotions for Writers

The Gift

Writing is a gift given by God to us, but it is also a present we offer back to God. The Creator of words creates words in us, His creation! He bestows the charge and the honor on us to pen His words responsibly.

Sometimes I take that talent for granted. And, sometimes I plead with the Lord to renew His word in me. Take, for instance, the time last week when I sat down to write a devotional. All I could think about was an argument that had caused a rift. I tossed the scene back and forth in my mind. But the words I wanted to write would not come to the page. The harder I tried to compose, the less I had to say.

Matthew 5:23-24 says, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” (NIV)

I wanted to offer my devotional at the altar to the Lord, yet something else had to be settled first.

Exercise:

Read Matthew 5:21-26

What does murder have to do with anger?
How does anger affect your creativity?
How does showing mercy change your heart attitude?
Do you anger easily? Why does Ecclesiastes 7:9 call anger foolish?
When does anger turn into sin? Ephesians 4:25-27, 29-32.
Are there times when anger can be used for good?
Has anger ever fueled your writing for a worthy cause? Maybe when you wrote about abortion (Proverbs 31:8) or bullying (Proverbs 31:9)?
How is forgiveness a compassionate response?
How do you find compassion to forgive when you are hurt by another?
In what way could you develop the habit of listening more? James 1:19-20
How could you become more teachable? James 1:21
How does hate strangle us? 1 John 3:15
What kind of debt does anger create? Matthew 5:26
What are the benefits of reconciliation? 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

If, like me, your words are stuck, take time to clear the air. Ask God to reveal any sin that is hindering your creativity, and pay the debt of love so that you will again be free to offer your gift! 1 John 1:9

Would you share a story in the comments of a time your words were blocked because of trouble in a relationship? How did you resolve it?

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

Tags devotions, devotions for writers, gift of writing, responsibility

Devotions for Writers

Brain Twister

What’s black and white and red all over? No, it’s not a newspaper; it’s a picture of Dalmatians in front of a fire station!

My sister and I knew we were in for a jigsaw challenge when the opened box revealed a mess of black, white and red. We began with the border, and then tackled sections of wording, window frames and buildings. The shading changed when we got to the various reds, some in sunlight and some in shadows. Dog collars came next, and at last spots. Oh, the spots!

Maybe you’re not a puzzle fan like me, but I think there’s a writing lesson waiting to be revealed. Here’s what we’ll tackle in the exercise:

Stand to see a different angle.
Change tactics.
Pull out the red pieces.
Seeing spots?
Get a buddy.

Exercise:

Is your WIP stuck? Look at it from a different angle. Take one scene and read it by itself. Does it make sense?
Have you been looking at it too long? Try another tactic. Read from the end of the paragraph, one sentence at a time. Does it connect?
When we separated the red pieces from the rest of the puzzle, we were able to find patterns. What patterns can you discern in your writing?
Is the work getting blurry? Switch writing tasks, then come back with fresh eyes.
When you work on a project with someone else, collaboration brings out the best in both of you.

Sometimes writing feels like a puzzle. But when you rearrange the pieces it fits together into a beautiful picture. Ask the Lord to help you see His nudge of creativity in your words.

I’m not saying that I have this all together…But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me… By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.
Philippians 3:12-16 (MSG)

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

Tags devotions for writers

Devotions for Writers

Investing in Prayer Power

Post author By Sally Ferguson
Post date August 3, 2021
No Comments on Investing in Prayer Power

A man from the crowd answered, “Master, I brought my son to you because he has a dumb spirit. Wherever he is, it gets hold of him, throws him down on the ground and there he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth. It’s simply wearing him out. I did speak to your disciples to get them to drive it out, but they hadn’t the power to do it.”
Mark 9:17-18 (PHILLIPS)

In desperation, a man brought his convulsing son to the disciples for healing. The boy suffered from seizures and was unable to speak. But, the disciples were unable to heal him. Mark chapter 9 tells us Peter, James and John were with Jesus at the time, and had just witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountaintop. When they arrived on the scene, the teachers of the law were arguing with the disciples.

Have you ever had a mountaintop experience (maybe a writers conference or an article accepted), and then hit the valley of disbelief? Have you desperately scrambled to finish an assignment, while your brain argued about your ability to do so?

The boy’s father pleaded with Jesus to do what the disciples couldn’t. Jesus said, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” (1)

The boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (2)

Have you moaned in frustration at the blank page in front of you, saying, “I am a writer, Lord, help me believe!”?

Later, when the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t heal the boy, He said, “Prayer is the path to power.” (3)

I’ve heard many Christian writers affirm that statement. They credited their prayer path with ideas for works in progress and new projects launched. I admit, at times I’ve felt my words were too trivial to bother God. But, I’ve learned the hard way to stop being self-sufficient in my writing and instead ask the Lord for help.

How has prayer powered your writing life?

Exercise:

Make a list of your idea bank.
Make a deposit into that bank by praying over each idea.
Jot down notes while you’re praying.
Does one gain your “interest?”
Look in The Christian Writer’s Market Guide for a potential investor.
Make a withdrawal by shaping it into an article and sending it to that editor.

But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you.
James 1:5 (NCV)

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

References:

1. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23

2. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24

3. “Prayer is the path to power.” NIV Disciples Study Bible, footnotes, p. 1244

Tags devotions for writers, inspiration, prayer, prayers for writers

Devotions for Writers

How Do You Define Success?

Post author By Sally Ferguson
Post date July 3, 2021
No Comments on How Do You Define Success?

Have you ever noticed how elusive success can be? I can receive a check in the mail for a devotional and feel elated one minute, then in the next moment, be on pins and needles about the status of another article.

Take a look at some guys in the Biblical narrative:

Elisha’s family might have been more than peeved at him, when he destroyed his plow.
Saul switched sides in the middle of the battle against Christians.
Samson became a prisoner of war.

All three of these men might be seen as failures, depending on the way you view their circumstances.

Elisha broke down his tools for success.
Saul broke the rules of engagement.
Samson’s spirit broke when he became a slave.

But, God. (Two words that make all the difference in a life.)

But, God changed the outcome of their stories and called them victorious.

Read more about these heroes of the faith:

Elisha. 1 Kings 19:19-21
Paul. Acts 8:3; 25:1-29
Samson. Judges 16:23-30
Also note: Hebrews 11

What does success mean to you?

To climb the corporate ladder? (Is there ever a top rung?)
Publish six books? Or, ten? (When will it be enough?)
Submit hundreds of articles? (What is the magic number?)

If success means one thing in your job, and something different in another work environment, could it also be upside down in God’s economy? What if the Lord has a different perspective on success and failure?

Exercise:

1. Look up the definition of success in the dictionary.

2. What does success mean to you?

3. Look up the following verses and jot down a summary of each.

Numbers 8:11
Ecclesiastes 5:19
Jeremiah 48:10a
John 6:27-29
John 9:4
1 Corinthians 3:12-13
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Hebrews 6:10
1 Samuel 15:22
Joshua 1:7
2 Kings 18:7
2 Chronicles 20:20
1 Chronicles 4:10
Isaiah 54
Isaiah 26:15
2 Corinthians 9:8-15
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

4. What do you think success means to God?

5. If you could do one thing today to take the next step in your writing, what would it be?

6. What do you need to overcome, in order for that to happen?

7. Will you?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

Tags depend on God, devotions for writers, success, writing success

Devotions for Writers

Memorial

These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.
Joshua 4:7 NIV

The book of Joshua opens with a death announcement. The great leader, Moses, was no longer in charge of Israelite travels. That young nation now had a choice to make. Would they follow Moses’ aide into unfamiliar territory?

God had a job for Joshua to do, but He wanted the community to take note of how it would happen. So He told them to build a memorial.

What is a memorial?

Webster’s Dictionary says it is “something that keeps remembrance alive.” (1)

In the United States, we celebrate the last Monday of May “in remembrance of war dead.”

A memorial can be verbal, written, pictorial, or sung. It can be stories passed on from one generation to the next. But, in this case, the memorial was made up of stones. These were no ordinary stones, nor were they pebbles, but the rocks were to be shouldered from the riverbed of the Jordan.

When God says it’s time to move, get ready for a miracle!

This new generation, who did not remember the miracle at the Red Sea, witnessed God’s power at work on their behalf, when the Jordan River stopped flowing so they could cross over.

Have you witnessed God’s power at work on your behalf? Whom have you told? Take time today to write down your story. Let it be a written memorial and testimony of your personal experience.

Exercise:

Choose one of the following prompts to do as a memorial:

Write to a former teacher and tell how they made an impact on your life.
Write to your pastor and tell him/her what changed as a result of the way they live and speak.
Write to a cousin and take a trip down memory lane.
Write to your children and tell them about the expectation you experienced during your pregnancy.
Write to your grandchildren and tell them what you love about them.
Write to your spouse and highlight the years you share together.
Write to the Lord and thank Him for what He has done. Tuck it in your Bible for safe keeping.

When your children ask, “What do these stones mean?”
Tell them, “God dried up the Jordan River, just like He dried up the Red Sea, so that all may know He is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”
Joshua 4:21-24 paraphrased

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

Tags devotions for writers, encouragement for writers, memorials

Devotions for Writers

Fertile Words

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ… just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NIV

Julia sighed. Her novel sat untouched and her motivation waned.

“Did I hear you right, Lord?” she asked. Character development, plot twists and distant memories all intertwined in her mind. Her desire to use fiction to reach families with infertility had seemed inspired, but the work became drudgery as she struggled with the story arc.

Can you relate? Have you been nudged to share your story, but struggled with how to do it?

Julia decided to ask God for confirmation. That night, as a friend helped her husband unload firewood, he shared difficult news – his wife wanted a divorce. Was there another man? No; their unfulfilled quest to have children left her with a barren heart.

Julia said, “It pierced me through, because I knew exactly how she felt. And I knew God was telling me to write my story!”

What difficulty can you turn into a hand-up for someone else? Have you ignored it because of the pain? Could that pain be redeemed by helping another in their turmoil?

Exercise:

Go back through your journals to see where God answered prayer. Ask:

How did God comfort me? 2 Corinthians 1:4
How can that personal experience be opened up to include others?
How did you suffer? 2 Corinthians 1:5
How can God’s response to your suffering equip you to reach out to others who are in pain?
How were you stressed? 2 Corinthians 1:6
How can you bring comfort and reassurance?
How can you exude hope when life looks bleak? 2 Corinthians 1:7

We need writers who will impact their sphere of influence with comfort, endurance and hope. The medium does not matter; it can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry or prose. But the foundation is crucial. Let the Lord use His Word to inspire you, and get busy for the Kingdom. We’ve got a job to do!

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

Tags devotions for writers, encouragement for writers, inspiration in writing, writing for God's glory

Devotions for Writers

Has Fear Stopped You From Writing?

Post author By Sally Ferguson
Post date April 3, 2021
No Comments on Has Fear Stopped You From Writing?

A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span (That is, about 9 feet 9 inches or about 3 meters).
1 Samuel 17:4 NIV

A giant sized man named Goliath taunted Israel’s army for forty days. His bullying tactics got worse by the hour, as he heaped insults on their abilities, their manhood and their God. It was so bad, warriors trembled in their sandals and the king hid in his tent. They were dismayed, terrified, and paralyzed by fear.

In a way, I can relate. I run from the blank page, hide from looming deadlines, and feel paralyzed by the word count. I worry others will not connect with my thought process, and the bully editor in my head taunts my feeble pecks at the keyboard. Who will come to my aid?

Fortunately, Goliath’s story has a protagonist named David. Goliath is the villain who messed with the wrong shepherd boy and found out self-sufficiency is no match for relying on God’s power. David came confidently in God’s strength, proclaiming God’s presence and fighting for God’s honor. (See 1 Samuel 17:45-47)

When I rely on my own ideas for inspiration, I miss the power of a God-sized illustration and deplete my self-sufficiency. But when I seek the Lord’s direction, even the smallest stone (words) can pack a punch and bring home my point.

How about you? Are you trying to write an article your own way? You also have a protagonist who comes to your aid. When you ask God for wisdom, the Holy Spirit helps you turn that page into prose. He comes to your rescue! (James 1:5)

Exercise:

Look up the following verses and journal your prayer asking the Lord for the words you need. Remember, the battle is the Lord’s! (1 Samuel 17:47)

A Prayer for Today

Lord, enable us to write with great boldness today. Acts 4:29
Equip us with good words for our projects. Hebrews 13:20-21
Shake us out of our sleepwalking to travel in Your splendor. Acts 4:31
Make us bold and courageous! Psalm 138:3
Confirm Your message of grace by enabling us to write for You. Acts 14:3
Grant words that we may fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. Ephesians 6:19

We love You, Lord!

Amen.

Share your prayer in the comments!

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

Tags devotions for writers, encouragement for writers, fear

Devotions for Writers

Drawing a Blank?

Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.
Revelation 1:19 NIV

So, you’ve come to your deadline and stare at a blank page. Your palms sweat and a headache seeps across your forehead. At the moment, writing your will sounds more appealing than the article in front of you. What’s a writer to do?

I’ve heard many writers say the best antidote for writer’s block is spending time with the Lord. We may come to the table empty, but when we feast on God’s Word, we never leave hungry.

Scripture prods us to:

Pursue justice, mercy and humility. Micah 6:8
Love our neighbor. Matthew 19:19
Look after orphans and widows. James 1:27
Be generous. Matthew 25:31-46
Be teachable, learn from mistakes and make corrections, and train in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

What do these verses have to do with writing? We need writers to:

Write about justice, mercy and humility.
Show us what it means to love others.
Share the plight of orphans and widows.
Tell us about those in need.
Rightly divide the Word of Truth.

Even our theme verse provides a template. Revelation 1:19 says to write!

Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.

Tell your story. What have you seen?
Report on current events or struggles you’re facing. What are you learning?
Talk about the future. What gives you hope?

Let your time with the Lord guide your words to reflect His heart.

Exercise:

A great way to boost your own morale is to encourage another. Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to encourage someone else. Write a letter or send a card to one or more of the following:

A mentor. In what way did she encourage you?
An acquaintance. What character trait do you admire about him?
A family member. Say, “I’m proud of you!”
A co-worker. What have you taken for granted?
Someone younger than you. What do you wish would have been said to your younger self?

Recently, a publication ceased outsourcing to its regular list of contributors. I mourned the loss of that assignment, thinking I would get lost in obscurity. Within a week, I received a phone call and a message from regular readers. My words were appreciated! Yours are, too; your words make a difference. Write!

Have you noticed it lifts your mood when you lift another? Whom will you encourage today?

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

Tags devotions for writers, encourage others, inspiration in writing, writer's block

Devotions for Writers

Beginnings and Endings

In the beginning.
Genesis 1:1

Aren’t those delicious words? “In the beginning God…” Wouldn’t you have loved to be there when He crafted the rays of the sun and the dips in the moon? Wouldn’t you have chuckled with Him when God stretched the giraffe’s neck and the elephant’s nose? How about when Adam catalogued creation? How did he think of rhinoceros and chimpanzee?

God’s creativity knew no limits as He spoke the world into existence and molded a human out of the dust of the earth. But it was not a scattered plan. No, 1 Corinthians 14:33 says God is a God of order, and I like to think that means He has an organized plan (Jeremiah 29:11). Take for instance the order of creation. He didn’t form plants first, no, He provided the boundaries of time (Genesis 1:5), space (Genesis 1:8), and land (Genesis 1:10).

What does that have to do with our words?

When we have a system for writing, it also becomes a work of art.

Exercise:

What do you do to prepare to write? Some options might include

Hang a sign on your door to notify family it’s a work zone.
Read a writing devotional to prime the pump.
Prepare your favorite beverage to sip while pondering words.
Review the Writers’ Guidelines for the article you’ll write.
Sketch out an outline to guide your progression of thoughts.
Write a goal for your story, to propel the direction taken.
Visualize your intended readers, to speak to their needs.

What do you do to prime the pump?

The story is told of a desert wanderer who stumbled upon a well. A note was posted on a bucket of water with instructions to pour it out on the handle and to pump water into the empty bucket for an endless supply. Can you imagine the dilemma of parched lips and a full bucket of water? However, overcoming the impulse to satisfy a craving results in a bucket overflowing for the next weary traveler. Prime the pump by

Reading the works of other writers.
Doing a mind-dump to clear your brain of other projects.
Journaling a daily writing prompt.

When you create a solid beginning for your works in progress, your words will sing with a satisfying ending and wrap up your thoughts and organize your plan. Invite the Author of words to the process and you’ll stand in awe of His creativity!

What helps you prepare to write?

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

Tags devotions for writers, preparation, writing process

Devotions for Writers

Completion

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”
Revelation 21:6 (NIV)

Do you finish what you start? Are you a New Year’s Resolutions kind of writer, or do you prefer to wait and see what will happen? After years of goal setting, I decided to revisit some of my forgotten projects and consider why I lost interest in follow-through. It turns out, I’m not the only one to have unfinished works. Yep, only 8% of those who set goals actually achieve them.*

As we turn our thoughts to a new year, we wonder what it will look like post-pandemic. Will schedules become insane again, or will we hang on to lessons learned in the bliss of solitude? Will writing time be squeezed out or sheltered? What would it look like if you created a writing routine that refused to be squelched?

After a writing group challenge, my friends Robin and Lori turned 15 minutes a day into a 870 day habit, and counting. My friend Tracy learned she could set aside time she didn’t think she had. And I turned a writing fling into a word frenzy.

Have you begun something that seems impossible to finish? How will you resolve to tackle it?

Exercise:

Unfinished articles will never make it to print. How can you turn “to do” into “totally done?”

Brainstorm a list of articles you can submit this year.
Research places to query your list with The Christian Writers Market Guide.
Start with the first idea and study the writers’ guidelines.
Adjust your words and send it out.
Move on to the next one and repeat.

Does this exercise seem too simplistic? If it were simple, we would all be prolific writers.

Do perfectionistic expectations sideline your goals? Author Jon Acuff says the way to beat perfectionism is to “cut your goal in half or double the timeline.” Make your goal attainable and watch the momentum build on your resume, when you complete what you start and commemorate each success.

The Author of words equips us with power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7), but He also expects us to do our part to complete the task before us. Ask Him to guide your work in progress and then set goals to measure your growth with word count and queries. You’ll have a partner all the way to the finish!

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon. She lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

References:

* Finish, by Jon Acuff https://www.amazon.com/Finish-Give-Yourself-Gift-Done/dp/0525537317/

Tags devotions for writers, Finish the work, goals, persistence

Devotions for Writers

Confidence in Your Call

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
Luke 1:26-27 NIV

I’ve often wondered at the disparity between Mary’s response to the angel, Gabriel, and Zechariah’s (husband of Mary’s relative, Elizabeth). Both were approached by Gabriel, both seemingly gave the same answer, yet they experienced vastly different results. Let’s take a closer look.

Mary was troubled. (Luke 1:26-38)

The angel said, “Do not be afraid. Give Him the name Jesus.”
Mary said, “How will this be?”
Gabriel confirmed it by announcing Elizabeth’s pregnancy (which was also a miracle).
Mary said, “I am willing.”

Zechariah was gripped with fear. (Luke 1:5-25)

The angel said, “Do not be afraid. Name him John. Give him no wine or fermented drink.”
Zechariah said, “How can I be sure of this?”
Gabriel said, “You didn’t believe and so will be silent.”

Same angel. Two distinct outcomes.

Have you ever noticed a lack of faith in your calling also steals your words? You stare at the blank page and doubt every positive feedback you ever received. However, when you have confidence in your call, the words flow onto the page. Maybe the discrepancy between Mary and Zechariah wasn’t in the words they used, but in their attitude:

Mary believed. Luke 1:45

Zechariah doubted. Luke 1:20

How can you take stock in your call to write?

Exercise:

Remember Who is doing the calling. If it’s a whim, it will fall by the wayside. If it’s the Lord, it won’t leave you alone.
Remember why you were called. Do you have a burden for a special group of people? Do you have life experiences and passion that affirm it?
Remember the nudge. Did a passage of scripture, a poem or an article confirm it? Write it down. Keep it handy for reference.

Look back at the stories of Mary and Zechariah. They both are noted for prophesying, but the metamorphosis surrounds when it happened. For Mary, it was before The Babe was born, and for Zechariah, it was after. Let’s choose to step out in faith that the Lord will deliver on His promise and birth a new work in our lives. Find your confidence in the One who calls you.

Will you believe or will you doubt?

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

Tags calling, calling to write, Confidence, devotions for writers

Devotions for Writers

The Dastardly D of Distraction

Post author By Sally Ferguson
Post date November 3, 2020
No Comments on The Dastardly D of Distraction

The squirrel ran across the patio steps.
The phone rang.
The dishwasher beeped.

How can you focus on words when the world keeps interrupting?

Do you ever feel like everyone wants a piece of you? Jesus did. In Mark 1:37 the disciples said, “Everyone is looking for You!”

Parents of toddlers can relate to the constant barrage of questions. Who can think when you’re in such demand? But, is there a distinction between different kinds of disruptions?

Some distractions are good:

A water break rehydrates.

A bathroom break gets a stiff back into motion.

Some distractions are bad:

A phone conversation can go longer than expected.

A grocery run can interrupt the flow of words.

Some advocate switching up tasks to give left brain/right brain stimulus.

Some declare, “Stick to the same activity to prolong concentration.”

So, what’s a person to do, when combating the Dastardly D of Distraction?

Group similar activities together to save time.

Save a trip away from your desk by grouping errands together.

Do a brain dump of your week’s schedule.

Can you listen to podcasts while in commute, or read a book while waiting for an oil change?

Could you swap after-school carpool with another parent?

Find ways to condense tasks to save time and energy.

Most of all, find what works for you.

Exercise:

Make a Ben Franklin List. On the left, write: Good Distractions. On the right: Bad Distractions. List ways you get distracted daily, then note how they can be turned into a positive. i.e. The dog needs to go outside. This could be a positive when you take a walk together and get the blood circulating!

Look up the following verses and jot down how Jesus responded. How would you respond?

Matthew 19:13-14 The disciples thought children were an interruption.
Mark 6:30-44 How did Jesus turn an interruption into an opportunity?
Mark 10:46-52 Who created the distraction?
Luke 9:1-6 What extra stuff hinders your progress?
John 4:34 What was Jesus’ purpose?
John 11:54 Why did Jesus avoid publicity?
Luke 10:40 Martha was distracted and almost missed the blessing.

Jesus knew His Father’s work meant something different than what others expected of Him. (Mark 1:35-39) He healed people out of compassion, but He had a greater purpose.

What is your greater purpose and how will it change your response to distractions? Will “some” commandeer your time, or will you take command of the Dastardly D of Distractions?

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

Tags devotions for writers, distractions, distractions in writing, focus, time management

Devotions for Writers

Oversize Armor

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

The Israelites were trembling in their sandals. Goliath terrorized them by day and haunted their dreams at night. A teenage shepherd told the king he would fight the giant, with God’s help, and, lo and behold, the king agreed. King Saul brought out his personal arsenal for battle, but he stood a head taller than other people (1 Samuel 10:23), and the armor was too big for David. For the full account, read 1 Samuel 17.

How would the narrative have been different, had David done things Saul’s way?

How are our stories constrained by doing things like everyone else?

Just like God equipped a shepherd boy to fight a giant, and one day become king, He has equipped each of us with the tools to write His story.

Exercise:

Don’t compare yourself to others. Do look at what God is doing in your life. (Galatians 6:4-5) Make a list of places you have placed articles and celebrate your accomplishments!
What has God called you to do, that only you can do (Ephesians 2:10)? Write it down.
What specific gifts are in your wheelhouse? 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
Is your armor the wrong size? (1 Samuel 17:38-39) What are you trying to imitate instead of adding your personal spin?
So many of us suffer with “self issues.” Either we’re too big for our britches or we think the pants are too big for us to fill. (Exodus 4:13)
Are you trying to keep up appearances or are you working to obey God’s prompts? (“To obey is better than sacrifice.” 1 Samuel 15:22)
How’s your faith? Write out 2 Corinthians 9:8. Do you believe the Lord can do this?
Write out Ephesians 3:20-21. What about God makes us think He can’t accomplish what He’s asked us to do?
Believe in your calling and persevere. Galatians 6:9-10
What do you need to ask God for, today? (James 1:5)

God had the prophet anoint David to be the next king, not because he was a perfect leader, but David was chosen for his heart for God. Is the Lord looking for someone like you?

What gave David confidence? He didn’t place faith in himself, but in God (1 Samuel 17:36-37). So, trust God’s calling and character, and lean in to the job He’s given you. The battle is the Lord’s! (1 Samuel 17:47)

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

Tags Confidence, devotions for writers, originality, self-image, unique voice