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Devotions for Writers

Perseverance in Tough Times

He who knows the way that I take; when he has tested me I shall come forth as gold.                      

Job 23:10 NIV

Job fell in a heap. Did he wish the ground would swallow him up before he received any more bad news?

            Ten children. Dead.

            500 teams of oxen. Stolen.

            7,000 sheep caught in a wildfire. Dead.

            3,000 camels. Stolen.

            “A large number” of servants. Dead.

In the book about his life, Job 1:20-22 says he worshipped God.

I don’t know about you, but my first inclination in difficulty isn’t worship.

            A submission for a book callout. Silence.

            A children’s book trilogy. Rejected.

            A book idea. Stalled.

            Computer crash. Files lost.

How could Job worship the Lord when things looked so bleak? His secret was in refusing entitlement. Job 1:22 says, “I didn’t bring anything into the world when I was born, and I won’t take anything with me when I die.” (My paraphrase.)

When boils covered his body, Job said he found consolation in knowing he had not strayed from God’s Word. (Job 6:10)

Job clung to his integrity when questioned by his friends (Job 6:29) and humbled himself before God for mercy from judgment (Job 9:15). Job acknowledged his Creator and appealed to His kindness (Job 10:8-12). Job had hope for an advocate (Job 16:19-21) and a redeemer who would be victorious over suffering (Job 19:25).

In the end, God blessed Job (Job 42:11-16).

Exercise:

What can we learn from Job? Let’s take a look at what Peter had to say about endurance.

  1. How much does God give us for life and godliness? 2 Peter 1:3
  2. What knowledge aids us? 2 Peter 1:3
  3. What two things do God’s great and precious promises equip us to do? 2 Peter 1:4
  4. What seven things are we to put effort into adding to our faith arsenal? 2 Peter 1:5-7
  5. What will those seven qualities equip you to do? 2 Peter 1:8

I gave you a list of some of my disappointments. Now, here’s a list of blessings.

            Published in eight anthologies.

            A children’s coloring book published.

            Two retreat ebooks published.

            Over 290 devotions and articles published.

            My writing is stronger than ever!

Can we worship God when we get bad news? Absolutely. Peter reminds us we will see the victory when we persevere. (2 Peter 1:10-11)

What’s on your blessings list? Count them and praise God!

His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness.

2 Peter 1:3 NASB

Count your blessings!

Sally Ferguson

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

Categories
Devotions for Writers

What’s in Your suitcase?

“I’m going on a trip and I’m going to take an alarm clock,” Susie said.

“I’m going on a trip and I’m going to take an alarm clock and a blanket,” Paula replied.

We worked our way through the alphabet filling our imaginary suitcase with elephants, pandas and a tricycle. The idea of each one sent us into a fit of giggles. Who could imagine the most outrageous item to take on our journey?

A writer has an idea bag at their disposal. It may be packed on a whim or stored away for a rainy day.

Where do we come up with ideas?

Exercise:

Ideas are generated by nuggets. What may feel like a useless bag of rocks for one project may turn into a treasure chest of gold for another. Try the following brainstorming tips.

  1. Turn a popular song into a series of questions. What ideas come out of seeing the song from a different slant?
  2. Read a poem backward. Start with the last line and move up. What happens to the thought process?
  3. Google a business or hobby. Have you ever looked at life from an entrepreneur’s point of view?
  4. Use a Thesaurus to follow the trail between words. Isn’t language amazing?
  5. Use your Concordance to look up Scripture. What do you learn about the Author of words?
  6. Use Bible passages to look at sentence positioning. Does one jump out at you in a new way?
  7. Observe people in a mall or airport. How would you develop a story around questions you might ask about their destination, appearance or companions?

What thought starters are in your imaginary suitcase?

Maybe you’ve started a composition book or a computer file with whimsical sayings. Maybe you’ve toyed with them while daydreaming. What do they say to you? Why do they tickle your fancy?

Look at two verses that say almost the same thing—or do they?

“All things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27 NIV

“For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:37 NKJV

“For no word from God will ever fail.” Luke 1:37 NIV

How does a different translation change your approach to what it says?

The next time you are looking for that illusive word, remember God loves the art of communication. Ask Him for a nudge in the right direction and you’ll come up with a fresh angle for your WIP.

Your Bible is a treasure chest of words!

Sally Ferguson

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

Categories
Devotions for Writers

It’s Okay to Ask for Help!

She stopped to adjust her baby on one hip while juggling luggage with the other. Her son came up behind with his kid-size rolling case and her husband scrambled ahead with dual strollers and a suitcase.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“No,” she said. “I’ve got it.”

She resolutely forged ahead to find the airline desk.

“It’s okay to ask for help, mom,” I murmured.

How often have I refused help when it was obvious to everyone else I needed it?

Sure, a body can only be too careful in our world these days. But some of the best stories come from strangers helping one another.

How about your writing? Could you use some help with your assignments? A second set of eyes can scan for errors. Someone with grammar skills can hone the manuscript. A critique group can brainstorm catchy titles. A writing partner can polish ideas. A writers conference can open doors.

How will you ask for help to get to the place where you can soar?

Exercise:

  1. Elijah asked the most unlikely for a meal when he approached the widow. 1 Kings 17:7-16 says her cupboard was bare. She complied and the Lord provided. How can the Lord provide for another through your need? Purpose? Dignity? Companionship?
  2. Jesus asked the disciples for support when He wrestled with impending arrest. (Matthew 26:36-46) They were privy to the power of prayer when they later faced persecution and overwhelming circumstances. How can your anguish provide comfort to another who has a front row seat to your story? Persistence in pain? Perseverance in brokenness?
  3. Samuel needed help discerning the Lord’s call. When he asked Eli repeatedly for clarification, Eli recognized God’s hand on the boy. Who can you ask for help in seeking the Lord’s direction for your words? (1 Samuel 3:1-9)
  4. Mary and Martha asked Jesus for a healing. Instead, they got a resurrection.(John 11:1-45) Could your need provide a greater testimony to God’s work in your life?
  5. Jesus asked, “How many loaves do you have?”

The disciples replied, “Seven, and a few small fish.” (Matthew 15:32-38)

Maybe your small offering will be used to feed more than you can imagine?

Our words can open God’s Word when we vulnerably share our needs. Ask Him for help.

“He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)

Do you need a helping hand? It’s okay to ask.

Sally Ferguson

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

Categories
Devotions for Writers

Burnt Cookies

Our cookie exchange fell flat. Usually boasting attendance of a baker’s dozen, one-by-one individuals backed out. Busy schedules, lack of Christmas spirit, and exhaustion from a hectic season all topped the list of reasons people didn’t come. But most interesting was the pronouncement of baking failures. Mine were included in that category—I tried a new recipe and was less than satisfied with the results.

“I’m not going,” I declared. “The caramel topping tastes burnt.”

“It’ll be good for you to go,” Hubby said, always my encourager.

At the last minute, I relented and grabbed packages of hot cocoa and candy canes to share.

Being with the other gals was just what I needed—we visited, munched on cookies, and worked a jigsaw puzzle together. It was a good reprieve and morale booster.

What if I had missed out by saying my contribution was not good enough?

Exercise:

What have you been labeling “not good enough?”

  1. Could you tweak that WIP from a different angle?
  2. Could you rearrange sentences or paragraphs to flow better?
  3. What could you eliminate to make it more concise?

How do you demean your art when you place it in the “not good enough” category?

  1. What is the difference between excellence and perfectionism?
  2. Is “not good enough” an attack on your personhood?
  3. How can you separate your disappointment in your words from disappointment in your worth?

Will you choose to look at who you are through God’s eyes?

  1. Blessed. Psalm 139:5-6, You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. (NIV)
  2. Secure. Psalm 139:9-10, If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (NIV)
  3. Wondrous. Psalm 139:14, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (NIV)

Still have doubts? Ask God for help.

Search me, God, and know my heart;   test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

Avoid missed opportunities by giving your burnt offerings a chance to be redeemed!

Turn flops into fulfillment with fun.

Sally Ferguson

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

Categories
Devotions for Writers

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:

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

Sally Ferguson

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

Categories
Devotions for Writers

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 Ferguson

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 www.sallyferguson.net

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Guest post archive

HOW THE LAMBS ROAR-By Martin Johnson. Interview with Brian Bird

 

As an English major in the 90s, I was excited to learn my craft and be creative. However, I was clueless about what to create. Then one day, I bought a book that changed how I viewed my passion for writing.

The late Bob Briner’s classic The Roaring Lambs challenged Christians to use their talents to create positive and redemptive art across the spectrum of entertainment: sports, music, art, television, and film. Briner called Hollywood a “Mission field!”[i]

Recently, I sat down with 30 year Hollywood veteran Brian Bird (The Case for Christ, When Calls The Heart) to talk about how the lambs (the church) can roar in this mission field.

Martin Johnson: I know you are a fan of the Roaring Lambs, how has the film industry changed since it came out in the 90s?

Brian Bird: Oh yes, love the book! Prior to the book, For much of the 20th century, I think Christians working in the arts were few and far between, with the exception of music.  There were a handful of believers working in the film industry, but a lot of that activity was specifically on church films, small-time evangelistic church films. But there was not a real attempt to break into the mainstream audience with Christian films; for the most part, evangelicals were M.I.A.

Martin Johnson: You used an interesting word there, evangelicals. As a filmmaker, what does it mean to be an evangelical filmmaker?

Brian Bird:  There are filmmakers who are Christians who make sermons on film. There are Christian filmmakers who don’t make specifically evangelistic films, and there are filmmakers who are evangelicals who don’t make Christian films. You can even be a non-believer and make a terrific evangelical film. It’s all about telling great stories.

Martin Johnson: Briner expressed how the church needs writers.  What do you hope to accomplish at the end of the day?

Brian Bird:   My personal mission is to tell stories that stir up cravings in people’s souls, make them want to know God—to be effective as I can be at communicating my Christian worldview through good story-telling, to tell stories that don’t beat people over the head, but, stir up soul cravings.  To me those are the best kind of faith films. Sometimes evangelistic films can be neither good evangelism nor good filmmaking; because their intent from the beginning is propaganda. There are good uses for propaganda. Propaganda in the most generous sense of the world can be put to good use as evangelism. The Jesus films have been effective at that.  A good example of that is The Jesus Film—very effective.  Those kinds of films are good and effective, but that is not what I’ve been called to do. I’ve been called to just tell great, true, redemptive stories that are not there just to entertain, but to provoke hearts to greater self-reflection and get people talking about the water cooler.  In my view, the story of Jesus and his work on the cross needs to be shared between two flesh and blood people having a conversation. Not by a picture on a wall.

Martin Johnson: What is the main roadblock keeping Christian film from being successful at the box office?

Brian Bird:   Ourselves. . .the church! If evangelicals are going to make a difference in the giant media conversation going on across the world, we, have to pursue excellence in our crafts of communicating. The church must support the gifts of creative evangelicals when it does the message and the art can soar! During the Renaissance, the church supported all the great artists of that time and people like Michelangelo were able to strive for excellence because of that support. Art in humans is always a reflection of the creativity behind the creation of the universe. The Renaissance artists were trying to bring heaven to earth with their creations, as CS Lewis said… all art from men is an attempt to copy heaven. We are made in the image of our creator; it is in our DNA to create. This was evident in the Renaissance, the Reformation; the church stopped supporting the arts.  The theology of the church began to view all art as worldly and considered it sinful. But that is so counterintuitive to the truth in the Bible. The view of art became worldly, it was considered sinful. God was the first writer … in the beginning was the Word (John 1:1–4). The Bible is full of references to the beauty and art in creation, and yet for several hundred years the church left art behind in favor of the “good enough principal.” We need to get back to pursuing excellence in Hollywood and that to me is the biggest obstacle facing us, the good enough principle. That’s where art has been relegated in the church and it has to stop—this attitude that art doesn’t have to be excellent, all it has to be is useful. We need to strive for excellence, not for our own glory—but for the glory of our creator, God. We can trust Him with our talents.

 

Brian Bird on the set of, “When Calls the Heart”

 

 

Martin Johnson: I’m glad you mentioned trusting God, Briner says that the lambs can trust their Shepherd.

Brian Bird: Throughout history, all art has been passed down from one generation to the next through a process called “Copy the Master.” In an art class, for example, the Master, or the teacher, is at the front of the room painting or sculpting, and the students are at their canvass.  They copy the Master but bring themselves to the canvass in order to learn our art. Well, we are all in the class with the author of the universe—that’s quite a source to copy from. And we can trust our Master with every creative bone in our bodies.

Martin Johnson: Briner says art is a full-time ministry. What do you think?

Brian Bird:   He was absolutely right; it is how we answer our God-given calling. Every person who finds Jesus needs to strive to become a minister out of the skills and talents God has gifted them with, both inside and outside the church.

Martin Johnson: Briner points out that part of our ministry is being the salt of the earth. Thus, for Christians to be roaring lambs in Hollywood we can’t just be just entertaining, we need to be ministers of the gospel.

Brian Bird We should be telling great stories, but they have to stir up soul cravings in people. We need to tell stories that help people realize there is more to life than what this world offers. Great stories have great messages. If they’re not entertaining though, they are not good stories. We have to do both. We have to tell stories that transfix our audiences; you have to keep your audience entertained so they can organically receive the meta-narrative or message, that is at the heart of your story.

Martin Johnson: In closing, what do you see the church doing to become the roaring lambs Briner described in his book?

Brian Bird: I think that is starting to happen. I think there’s a new renaissance beginning. I am witnessing it around me, in younger people that I mentor in filmmaking. I have this film coming out September 14th I executive produced called The Heart of Man and I shepherded a group of incredibly young talented filmmakers. I am so proud of them and proud of what we are making. I think it’s about all of us who are in this business encouraging one another to push for excellence, not to settle for just good enough, to practice the 10,000 -hour rule and to be bold. Some people who are born with a spark of genius need to put in their 10,000 hours in order to get really good at what they do. That’s how genius become experts.  All of us are born with that spark because we are made in the image of the author of all things. But if we sit on our hands and don’t put in the time to become experts, we will never be the roaring lambs Bob Briner was hoping for.

[i] Briner, P (1993).  The Roaring Lambs. Grand Rapids: Zondervan

Brian Bird “When Calls the Heart Devotion” with Michelle Cox

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/When-God-Calls-Heart-Devotions/dp/1424556066

 

Martin is a forty-three-year-old award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book after three years of researching, editing and remembering.

While majoring in English, he walked away from the Christian faith to experience the grandeur and luster of college life. While dating, he delved into different spiritual beliefs—from Hinduism to Catholicism and Judaism.Martin’s journey took him on a journey for answers.

In March of 1997, Martin received his answer. Albeit, not the answer he wanted. Nearly dying in a severe car accident, he survived with a  (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side.

After enduring eleven months of humiliating rehabilitation and therapy, Martin found himself at the foot of the cross with a choice to make. It was then Martin realized to truly live, he had to die. Not physically but in every other area of his life. There could be no compromise.

Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries Martin shares his testimony. Martin explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives.

Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at https://spiritualperspectivesofdasingleguy.blogspot.com/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mtjohnson51. He is also a contributing writer at Faith & Fitness Magazine and the Christian Film Database.