Tag: God’s guidance

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A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life

It’s Only A season

lighter look at a writer's life

Currently, here in my “neck of the woods” as we call it in Eastern Kentucky, we are in the middle of the transition of seasons. Summer is quickly fading, and fall is upon us. I couldn’t be happier.

The last few mornings, I have gotten up to get ready for work, and, as I go outside to walk the dog, the temperature has been in the mid-fifties. Ahhhh, sweet fall, where have you been? It’s good to have you back.

As I am getting older, summer has become a problematic season for me. It is like someone has turned my inner combustion engine to “Super-High,” and, if I spend more than five minutes outside, I look like I have taken a shower in my clothes. To coin a cliché, I can’t take the heat anymore, so I need to stay out of the miserably hot “kitchen” of the outdoors. Air conditioning, how I love you, my dear friend.

Now, I can stay outside for longer periods of time without the profusion of sweat. The other day, I wore a REGULAR COTTON T-SHIRT ALL DAY LONG WITHOUT SWEATING THROUGH IT. Progress, people.

I can hear your thoughts now: “What does this have to do with writing? Get to your point, Carlton!”

A friend recently asked me how my writing is going, and I responded with “heavy sigh.” I’m in that “in-between projects” mode, where I am waiting on something to happen, waiting on editors/publishers to throw me an offer (If you are one of those people and you are reading this now, please respond promptly), waiting on doors to open.

A few weeks ago, I was praying about this situation, and I felt God speak to my heart a short but powerful message: It’s only a season, and seasons change.

Wow. While I was agonizing over my lack of current projects, I forgot that God ordains seasons in our lives just as He ordains the seasons of weather. My current personal season is full of personal responsibilities that would make it hard for me to give loads of attention to a big project. In His mercy, God is keeping the “extra things” small at the moment to give me time to breathe. Isn’t He good in that way? I need to remember this and not sweat the small stuff (while I am also getting a break from extreme sweat from the heat outside).

What season are you in today? Maybe it’s a season of busyness, a season of excitement, or even a season of quiet. Whatever it is, embrace it and trust God with the timing. Just as He is guiding us in the transition from summer to fall, He will transition you in His timing.

Now, I am going to go walk the dog in the glorious 57-degree weather. I may even wear a light jacket. Oh, sweet fall, how I have missed you! It is so good you are here! Bring on a new season!

Carlton Hughes, represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary, wears many hats. By day, he is a professor of communication. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he serves as a children’s pastor. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer. Carlton is an empty-nesting dad and devoted husband who likes long walks on the beach, old sitcoms, and chocolate—all the chocolate. His work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dating Game, The Wonders of Nature, Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. His latest book is Adventures in Fatherhood, co-authored with Holland Webb.

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Devotions for Writers

Caught in the Candy Jar

devotions

“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

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My Writing Journey

God Said, “Write”

It is so very clever how God moves in us to get our attention to do something He wants us to do—or encourages us to take a step.

Several years ago I read a book that talked about honoring God by using the gifts He gave us—not to take our talents and dreams to our graves—that if we have a desire to write a book, pen a song, act, preach, teach, whatever, we should pursue it.

God grabbed my attention when I was talking about community activities with the owner of a newspaper.  Towards the end of our conversation our discussion moved to various columns in her newspaper.  I almost missed my (God-provided) clue or opportunity.  Pursing a column was not on my mind.  But God kept nudging me and I finally asked the owner if she would consider me submitting Christian based columns for the paper’s religion page.  She agreed and I wrote several years for her newspaper and another community newspaper.

God continued to confirm that not only was He reminding me that I can write, but writing is one thing He wants me to do.

When I questioned my right to write, I heard God through one of Rev. Charles Stanley’s In Touch Ministries radio programs.  That day Stanley preached that any Christian has the right, indeed the responsibility to talk about our relationship with Christ. No excuses, I concluded.  Yes, it’s important that I write to honor a talent God gave me and to spread His good Word.

Then God in his kindness used an amazing experience to further encourage me to write:  I was driving home from work and God placed in my mind the likeness of a black and white speckled composition notebook, which I had previously used for my writing for many years.

The confirmation came when I arrived home and on a pile of some papers and books, was one of those composition books.  I hadn’t seen this type notebook in my home in quite a while.  To see one laying there after God had placed the image in my mind only a few minutes earlier was amazing. My husband told me later he had unpacked some items and found the unused notebook.  Little did he know that placing that notebook in plain view was God-directed.

God still encourages me to write.  The opportunity to submit this article is one example.  I continue to write and to publish.  More on publishing next time.

Deborah Tompkins Johnson is the author of How Did They Do That? – Career Highlights, Triumphs, and Challenges.  She also penned and markets the poem, Don’t Forget Your Umbrella, which espouses a God-given message encouraging us to hear and listen to the Holy Spirit.  For six years Deborah wrote columns for two community newspapers in the suburbs of Washington, D. C.  Those columns were titled Listening to God and In Search of Good Books.

Visit her at shepherdsvoiceministries.org