“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.”