“This week, aim for simplicity. The last few weeks may have been filled with baking, shopping, concerts, gift wrapping, and dinner parties, but today, celebrate simplicity as you fix your eyes on Jesus.” ~ Joni Eareckson Tada, Diamonds in the Dust

“I’ve probably never kept the same writing schedule for longer than a few weeks at a time. If I let that inconsistency bother me, my writing would have dried up a long time ago.” ~ Vinita Hampton Wright, The Soul Tells a Story

Some complain that holidays throw a damper on their writing schedules. Deadlines are important. But shifting schedules can actually enhance the flow of creativity. For me, cooking, shopping, decorating, or scrapbooking can give me a break from writing long enough to stir new juices. When I get back to my keyboard, my mind has already processed the next article.

While some absolutely need a rigid writing schedule to stay productive, others believe the holidays were designed to annoy them. They go all scroogy when Christmas activities threaten the flow of their creativity.

After years of raising children, I’m used to interruptions. I’ve discovered ways to weave a little writing balance into my holiday celebrations.

As we celebrate Christ’s birth, I want to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season. That means moving beyond my keyboard and mingling with family and friends, baking, wrapping gifts, and taking time to rest, reflect, and pray. God’s Word quiets my heart during an otherwise frantic season. Time with Him enables me to get the needed things done.

“…we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:18

“May these gifts be yours at Christmas: Peace. Love. Joy.”

During this season when we all feel rushed, it’s easy to forget the blessing of words. Sometimes we inadvertently deny others needed encouragement all because we’re preoccupied.

It needn’t be that way.

A blessing can be either verbal or written. See who the Lord brings across your path to encourage. No need to be wordy or smarmy - only genuine. On a Christmas card, we could share what someone’s friendship has meant to us this year, or include a memory we’ve made together. For some, a timely scripture will minister to the spirit. In person, there are a hundred different ways to encourage someone… if only we consider the needs of others this Christmas.

Speaking and writing heartfelt words takes an extra minute or two. But the message of love and caring lives on in the soul of the one being blessed.

Spread the love. ♥

“And so story helped me to learn to live. Story was in no way an evasion of life, but a way of living life creatively instead of fearfully.” ~ Madeleine L’Engle

As writers we need criticism, not just encouragement. The right kind, that is. In The Soul Tells a Story, Vinita Hampton Wright reminds us that we’ll never become objective enough to see our own work clearly. We need help.

Who do we listen to? Personally, I need people in my life who are 1) discerning, and 2) who are willing to risk my hurt feelings to share their honest opinion. Too many times I’ve not listened and missed the wisdom. It’s important to hear the person who speaks the truth in love.

Do you have a mentor? Or someone who is knowledgeable, helpful, and candid? Most of us share a vulnerability to judgment, but constructive criticism is a gift. Helpful criticism opens the door to personal and writing growth. ♥

“When we grasp the depth of God’s love and care for us, we can be freed from the fear that despite all our sincere efforts we will somehow miss finding what God wants us to do with our lives. God is fully capable of making his will known to us.” ~ Kevin Brennfleck

The counselor shook his head and said: “Do you realize the definition of crazy? It’s doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”

I laughed. Guilty as charged. But the ‘crazy’ coin has a flip side.

It’s called magical thinking. Maybe it’s the opposite of crazy. Surely it’s a more passive role, assuming that God automatically zaps everything into place without us ever making an effort to change the course we’re on. Sure, we pray. Sometimes we forget that as we abide in Christ, He empowers us to move in His direction.

Many writers pray that something will happen with their writing…one day. Feeling a tad bit inadequate and fearful, they fill their hard-drives with material but never submit anything. Some stop altogether. But when we seek His guidance and write, we also look for opportunities to get the writing out there. God motivates us and we respond in faith.

Is it possible to avoid the tension between our beliefs about God and what we actually do? A little tension is always there, but it helps to remember that our part is to believe and abide. His part is to equip and enable. At some point, we need to act.

Magical thinking and fear of failure are common hindrances to writing. But in Christ, we’re given the grace to overcome.

Step one: trust Him and abide.

Now, what are you writing today? Where will you submit?

“Deep in our hearts, we all want to find and fulfill a purpose bigger than ourselves. Only such a larger purpose can inspire us to heights we know we could never reach on our own. For each of us the real purpose is personal and passionate: to know what we are here to do, and why.” ~ Os Guinness

Be encouraged today. More uplifting quotes from Kevin & Kay Marie Brennfleck, authors of Live Your Calling:

“God cares about all of the needs in this world. He doesn’t separate life into sacred and secular categories. The Bible does not support a two-tier view of work, with “full-time Christian service” being in the upper tier and everything else below it.”

“Before being called to something, we are called to Someone. Before we are called to do, we are called to be. Our primary calling is to be in a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.”

What about this month puts a smile in your heart?

My own Christmas pleasures: Writing by the snap-crackle-pop of a toasty fire, mulberry-scented pillar candles brightly burning, and sipping hot cinnamon-apple tea beside our twinkly tree. But Christmas is never complete without hearing once again the deeply moving lyrics of Handel’s Messiah. I never tire of it.

What traditions do you enjoy? Feeling Scroogie? Make memories! Enjoy the sights and sounds! Rejoice in Emmanuel, God with us, for He is the Light in our dark and sinful world.

“The most vivid memories of Christmases past are usually not of gifts given or received, but of the spirit of love, the special warmth of Christmas worship, the cherished little habits of the home.” ~ Lois Rand

“Tradition gives us a sense of solidarity and roots, a knowing there are some things one can count on.” ~ Gloria Gaither

“God grant you the light in Christmas, which is faith; the warmth of Christmas, which is love…the belief in Christmas, which is truth; the all of Christmas which is Christ.” ~ Wilda English

What we believe really matters. As writers, it might even affect our productivity. Take this wonderful quote for example:

It isn’t what you wish to do, it’s what you will do for God that transforms your life.” ~Henrietta Mears

Although I appreciate what the author is saying, taken out of context, these words push me into a frenetic pace to write my brains out for God. Maybe I missed the point. But honestly, nothing I’ll ever do for Him can transform my life. It’s the other way around. God is the One who transforms and enables me, therefore I write. Sure, dreaming about writing isn’t the same as getting down to business. But this business of writing can only result as I’m daily refueled.

So my take on the above quote is simple: It isn’t what I wish to do, it’s what God does in me and through me that transforms my life.

Christ is our Source. As we abide in Him and look for His guidance, yes, even for writing, we’ll produce according to the grace given to each one of us. As faith writers, we recognize Him as Enabler and Transformer of the heart.

From there, the writing flows. ♥

“Always laugh when you can; it is cheap medicine. Merriment is a philosophy not well understood. It is the sunny side of existence.” ~ Lord Byron

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We cooked and cleaned and sampled yummy recipes, feasting joyfully with family and grandchildren. Later, Mr. G. pulled out the Christmas boxes from the basement and assembled our 9-ft. fir tree. Twenty-four hours later, our home had morphed into a cozy little holiday refuge adorned with soft twinkly lights, my favorite Nativities, berries and bows, red scented candles, and my homespun wreaths. With decorating behind us, I scurried to prepare for our annual Christmas Tea: banana-nut bread, tea cakes, finger sandwiches, and creamed artichoke soup. Whew! The weekend was busy but blessed. A fun time with all the girls here at the Gaines cottage.

Then early this morning my laptop died. After bemoaning this unfortunate loss, I now greet you via my trusty desktop - every writer’s blessing. Never mind that 3,000 spammers tried their level best to undo me in three short days. Akismet is a beautiful thing.

Thanks for your patience as I return to regular posting. This month let’s prepare our writing hearts for the greatest love story ever told: God’s gift of Christ to us. May He bless your week in unexpected ways.

More soon!

“I can do every through Him who gives me strength.” ~ Philippians 4:13

Are you a writer? What fear holds you back from completing that article, essay, or book? Are you hung up on past failures? Given up the vision? Feeling inadequate? Too many obstacles?

You’re not alone.

But if we see these struggles as part of the faith-building process, we needn’t cave to fear. To live our calling as scribes and writers begins with absolute trust in the One who calls us. God enables us to do what we never thought imaginable. All of us deal with fear at some point, but God is greater than all our fears combined.

“At the beginning of every act of faith, there is often a seed of fear. For great acts of faith are seldom born out of calm calculation.” ~ Max Lucado

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” ~ Henry Ford

“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all.” ~ Helen Keller

“By definition, a God-sized calling exceeds our human capabilities. It not only requires more than we can humanly do but also defies our desire to control, define, curtail, and delineate.” ~ Kevin Brennfleck

Step out in faith with me! The risk might be enormous, but God is able.