Got Nothing. Aurrghh!

By Nan Trammell Jones

I was stumped. The freshly written devotion was powerful, poignant - even unique. But I had no idea how to bring it full circle and end it with a life-changing punch. I clicked my fingertips against the computer keys. Nothing. Moments later, I clasped my hands, rolled them forward and stretched them high above my head, bobbing my neck from side to side, willing the muscles to relax. Still nothing. I lost myself in the candle’s flickering flame teasing me with its fresh apple scent and, you guessed it. Nothing.

And then I remembered.

When I decided to get serious about my writing, the first book I read was Marlene Bagnull’s, Write His Answer. In this fabulous bible study for writers, Marlene instructs the writer to learn to sit quietly before the Lord and listen to His gentle whisper. Ask Him, “Lord, what is Your answer here? What do you want my words to say?” This is a simple solution. It requires discipline, but the results can be stunning.

I have applied Marlene’s instruction many times. When I sat at the keyboard and stared at a blank screen, I sat quietly for a moment, then asked those very questions, “Lord, what is Your answer? What do you want me to write?” Oftentimes, I only hear one word deep in my spirit. If I am willing to type that one word – and trust that I have heard from the Lord – the sentences begin to unfold. It is a matter of intentionally seeking His guidance and listening for His sweet voice. No one is more surprised at His answers than me.

He amazes me every time.

You may visit Nan at her website: www.jubilantlight.com or stop by Morning Glory: http://morningglorylights.blogspot.com

If you are interested int the book Nan mentioned, Write His Answer by Marlene Bagnull, use the following link to check it out and possibly purchase it.

http://www.amazon.com/Write-His-Answer-Christian-Writers/dp/1892525127/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334101549&sr=8-1

The 20-30 Challenge

Marietta Taylor

I've said “I don't have time today to write” more than I've actually sat down to write. It's not that I don't want to, I just get overwhelmed by life and responsibilities and then do nothing with my writing. But last month I found a solution I call the 20-30 challenge to get my behind in the chair and words on the page every day. If you are in need of a writing nudge, would you be willing try it for the next thirty days?

The solution is to write for just twenty minutes a day for the next thirty days. Now don't go off like Naaman did in 2 Kings and get mad because it's not something elaborate. It's simple and it works. I did it as part of a 30-day challenge to discover and spark your passion. I already knew writing was what I was devoted to, so I just needed a spark to get going again. When I first agreed on day seven of the challenge to spend twenty minutes a day on my passion, I didn't think I'd accomplish much. I was wrong. Each day I spent those twenty minutes, I was able to complete or almost complete a devotion using the Hook, Book, Look and Took method. After 23 days, I had written 15 devotions. I think that's a decent return on my investment.

Reflecting on it now, I realize that before this, I thought I needed an hour or more to be productive. Now I know that's not true. My schedule is packed, but finding twenty minutes was easier than I thought. It was definitely simpler than finding an hour. After I saw what could be done in such a small time period, I looked forward to that time each night. I think you will find the same to be true. I'm done with my 30-day challenge but I'm going to commit to the 20-30 challenge every month. Don't get left behind. Mark your calendar and begin your own today.

More - Paul Newton

 Occasionally, we as writers need to slow down, sit down and shut down, long enough for us to see the joys God has given. We're often overcome with deadlines, worrying about the write, right, wright...words. Paul brings us back to the reality of Christ and our need to abide in Him. In Him, our gifts are made more. In Him, we are more. - Cindy Sproles

"I need more. I need more depth. I need more one on one." These words stayed with me as I left the hospital room. What can we say to a mind clouded by pain - to a focus that is blinded by tribulation, known and unknowable. Surely this is a place I have been before. The details were different but the need was the same. I need more!!

The blessing of trials and afflictions are, even now, awaiting me. Those blessings from the past comfort me. Thirty years ago, I was crying out to God for the same thing. At that time, I might have called it peace, health or a clear mind. My goal was to meet the needs of my world and hold on to my idols. My idols were "good" idols. All I wanted was to meet the needs of my family, the demands of my job and to save my marriage. One night, I was overcome by frustration and anger realizing that I had no clue to the puzzle of my life. I was also inebriated. Obviously, this was a perfect setting for a quiet time with God.  I picked up my Bible and selected my text by "the let it fall open method." God, who is the I AM, WAS in that moment - and ever shall be.

The complexity and the mystery of God revealed His mastery of the most minute detail. I was given the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 that night. I couldn't miss it because it was underlined. It was my Bible but I had no memory of that verse. When I read it, my body shook and every hair I had stood up. It seemed as if an electric current had just run through me. GOD HAD SPOKEN TO ME!! John Newton has said, "God works powerfully but for the most part gently and gradually." That moment was powerful. The next thirty years has seen God work gradually but also relentlessly. The gently has been hit or miss. I'm sure that if I listened better He would have treated me more gently.

Today my walk with God is still seeking the "..more .. depth .. one on one" of my hospital visits mentioned earlier. Today, I more completely trust God in and for all things. Today, I seek His will because I know my will is usually bad for me. In the future, I pray to seek His will because my desire is more of Him, more depth in Him and more one on one time in His presence. Today, I confidently say that my every need, my every question, my every hope and my every prayer has the same answer; "I AM!" "In Him (I) we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:28 "Jesus!" is the prayer that I breath many times in my day. "Father!" is the prayer He speaks for me every time. "I AM!" is the answer always. Thank you father for your faithfulness.

Stress and Writing - Karen Jones

I have noticed when I am stressed, worried or over committed writing becomes laborious. Words and ideas will not come. It is like looking into a black hole expecting something to appear on the horizon.

When I am at peace in my world and with my God I hear the Lord's promptings as if The God of my creation, Elohim, is pouring forth ideas like the oil running down Aaron's beard. The ideas come so rapidly I can't wait to write them down. Scriptures come with deeper understandings, children's books or ideas gush in my soul.

When I read the scripture "Be still and know that I Am God" (Psalm 46:10) I understand that being still is not just being quiet, reading the scriptures, or praying. It is being at peace in my soul.

Who Me? Called? - Amy Fish

"Remember, you are each coming because you heard the whisper of God and answered. This is YOUR call. You've enlisted and now you are part of Gideon's army of 300. I hope you come with an open mind, open heart so that your EYES will be opened while you are with us." - Cindy Sproles

These words from Cindy had me doing a double take this morning. As I read and re-read, my heart rejoiced. Dare I believe that this be true? With confidence, I now can say, "YES!" It was about a month ago that my dear friend approached me and asked if I wanted to attend the conference. Hesitantly, I told him I did. To my surprise, he told me my way would be covered. I was shocked. Speechless actually. NOTHING was standing in the way for the Lord to further equip me to write.

Days passed, and I began to question if traveling to The Cove was the right thing to do. Once I realized my way was paid, I quickly drafted my husband to be my companion. Both of us had been writing bits and pieces of lessons learned in our journey with the Lord for years now. We had never been published, but the love to express our heart through the written word was a connecting bond. However, as time drew closer excuses began to pile up.

What about our children and dogs? We'd be missing our daughter's basketball tournament and our new puppy was only three months old. Was it right to leave them? Yes, my way was covered, but paying for my husband seemed far too extravagant for us to cover with finances so tight. How could we possibly afford this right now?

Then the family concerns turned to feelings of inadequacy. Who am I, Lord? Why would anybody want to read what I've written? Aren't there tons of other people out there who can write better than me. Amidst all the thoughts and excuses, a gentle nudge within my heart kept encouraging me to simply pay the deposit. So with a bit of fear and trepidation, I did.

Reading Cindy's reminder that I have been called puts a smile on my face. Robert Benson, author of In Constant Prayer, writes, "To be a writer is to bear witness to what you've seen and heard." I'll never forget the first time I read those words for in that moment I could hear the Lord saying to me as He did to the disciples, "You shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). We have all been called to bear witness. Now is the time to sharpen the ax.

With great joy, I look forward to meeting my fellow soldiers and getting the equipping I need to be His witness.

To God be the glory.

The Price of Beauty or How to Embrace Editing - Sarah Thomas

Last fall we were having perfect autumn weather--it was in the 70s, the sky was a brilliant blue and the leaf color was at its peak. How could we not go outside? So outside my husband and I went to hike in Pisgah National Forest with Thistle testing the limits of her leash.

The Forest Service logged the area where we often hike not long ago. Now, I’m in favor of harvesting timber. When done right, it’s good for the forest, good for the trees and reduces the likelihood of forest fires. Still. Having hiked those woods for 10 years or so I felt a little sentimental about certain spots. Say the sighing pine that told me we were nearing the bottom of a trail. Or the huge log where we used to leave walking sticks propped for our next visit. Or the little side trail that had showy orchis blooming along its edge each spring.

As we made our way up the trail, most of the forest was unchanged. But I knew that once we took the steep, descending trail, it would pop us out into a lower area that had been almost completely clear-cut. I would miss certain landmarks and knew I would have to squint and use my imagination to recognize the trail that once was.

So I was bracing myself as we stepped into the edge of the timbered area. The forest service did a nice job of thinning the trees at the border of the cut to create a more gentle transition. And there, beyond those last few trees, was an unexpected gift. The wide open view allowed us to see the mountains ablaze with October color as the sun sank toward the horizon. One prominent fold glowed with light while the next fold receded into velvet shadow. Even Thistle seemed content to sit a moment. Perhaps the loss of the sighing pine was a fair trade after all.

And that’s how I try to look at editing my manuscripts. Yes, I’m attached to the scene with the old family veterinarian. I just love that guy! But will the scene help my readers see the bigger picture? Or will it lose them down a rabbit trail? Can cutting those paragraphs give readers a glimpse of a panoramic view? If it can, then the vet has to go.



The forest service didn’t finish their logging operation in a day, a week or even a month. It took time to plan the cut and to execute it. But the result is a healthier forest with a view that makes me feel a little sorry for people who live in flat places.

So. I’ll be taking a chainsaw to my manuscript once again. Got to get the deadwood out. Got to free up that amazing view.

Sarah Loudin Thomas is seeking publication of her novel, The Memory of Drowning. She has written articles for magazines and newspapers including Now & Then: The Appalachian Magazine, The Asheville Citizen Times and The Journey Christian Newspaper. Her poetry has appeared in Now & Then, Appalachian Heritage and The Pisgah Review. A member of ACFW, she maintains a blog at www.sarahanneloudinthomas.wordpress.com

What Were You Created to Do? - Martha Hynson

For the past five years, I’ve written a monthly inspirational column called Through a Woman’s Eyes. I’m very thankful for the opportunities God’s given me to write for Him. Like most women, however, my schedule is packed and finding time to write is often a challenge.

Recently, I’ve felt God leading me to make a life changing decision which will allow me to have more time to write. I’ve been praying for God to provide encouragement and confirmation in this decision. On a recent Saturday afternoon, with this on my mind, I sat down to look over some of my past articles in preparation for the upcoming conference. As I did, God used my own writing to remind me of a lesson I learned long ago. I want to share part of an article with you in the hopes that you might be encouraged by it, as well.

When my children were little, I attempted to sew for them. I say attempted because I wasn’t a very talented seamstress. After a while I began to ask myself why it was so important to me to make my children’s clothes. Was it because my mom had made my clothes? Wasn’t that what good mothers did? As a stay-at-home mom, I felt I should save money wherever I could. Wasn’t sewing my children’s clothes a smart way to do that? Maybe I could even sew for others and earn some money. All these reasons kept me stitching and ripping, but there was something more. Even beyond all the reasons I felt I should sew, I kept at it because there was a longing in me to create something of beauty.


One day, as I chauffeured kids from one activity to another, we passed a sign for a children’s consignment sale. I stopped the car and turned around. Thirty minutes later, I left with my little girl’s summer wardrobe (bought at a fraction of the retail price) and plans to consign her outgrown clothing at the next sale.


I was so excited about the concept of consigning that I submitted an article about it to a parenting magazine. To my delight, I not only sold the article but also went on to write for the publication on a regular basis.


I was amazed at how God had provided. I was able to dress my daughter beautifully, without busting the budget. In fact, I was earning money by consigning her clothes and by selling articles. Through my writing, I’d even found an outlet for my creativity. Who would have guessed that all the things I’d tried to accomplish with my sewing were within my reach without my ever having to pick up a needle and thread.

It finally began to dawn on me that, although sewing is a wonderful gift, it isn’t mine. God simply did not stitch me together to stitch things together.


God has a pattern for each one of us. He has designed us all to be unique and special and He doesn’t expect any of us to be someone other than who He designed us to be. Ephesians 2:10 says, For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I’ve spent plenty of time trying to accomplish things that God never intended for me accomplish. It took me a while to understand, but it was only when I finally let go of what I thought I should do, that I found what I was truly created to do.


I am a writer.

Martha Hynson writes “Through a Woman’s Eyes,” a monthly inspirational column for women. Her column is printed in The 400 Edition, a North Georgia magazine, as well as The Shelby Shopper, a North Carolina regional publication.

Stepping Stones - Sally Matheny

This past year, I have found myself journeying down a new path. God has taken me from writing in journals about my children to writing devotional articles for other children, to answering phone calls from prospective homeschoolers and writing encouraging articles for homeschooling magazines. He’s has been stretching my boundaries (and my comfort zones). After reading hundreds of children’s books in my life, I’m now testing the waters and writing one of my own.

God has called me to write. I pray daily God will tell me the “who, what, when, where and how.” He hasn’t just dropped a completed manuscript in my lap, yet. As in any calling in life, God expects us to cultivate the skills and talents He has given us.

One thing that has helped me focus on the goal, is keeping a running list of my “stepping stones.” After a writer sends off a manuscript, months can pass before receiving a response. Rather than waiting for confirmation, I continue writing; taking strides in the right direction.

My stepping-stones included reading books about writing and the writing business. I kept a list of each book I read and made notes about what I wanted to remember from each one. The more I read, the more I realized how much I did not know, thus, more reading.

Visualizing the benefits of more hands-on training, I signed up for two writing conferences. I figured if I was going to enlist in a new tour of duty, there would be no better place to start than “Boot Camp.” More training is in store for me at a Children’s Writers conference in March, entitled “Write2Ignite.”

Broadening my scope, I began to research other writers with similar interests. The ones I chose to contact have been gracious and helpful. I began studying their websites; learning how they reach their readers. All this information helps me put together my own website… still a work in progress.

One day as I was having a bit of a pity party, thinking nothing was happening with my writing; God drew me to look in my notebook. I read over the list of all the books I had read and thought about the steps I am taking to improve my vessel. I realized God is using each one as a stepping-stone. Read a book…learn a new skill… take another step in His direction.

God always has something happening in our lives to further His purposes, whether we perceive it or not. He equips us for the next phase. Although sometimes I want to leap over three steps in one bound, I trust the Master’s plan and take one at a time, knowing each has its own purpose.

As writers, new or seasoned it’s important to continually “strengthen our positions and see what must be done” (I Kings 20:22a, NIV) so that we are ready for God’s next assignment. Praying through the discouraging days, pushing past obstacles, we take one step at a time, as God continues to train us in the way He wants us to go.
You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. Psalm 18:28-29

Encouraging others is Sally Matheny’s mission in life, with a special passion for children.  Recently, she has written for the devotional magazine, Keys for Kids.

Sally takes pleasure in speaking at various women’s events and children’s groups. God has used her as a facilitator for Bible studies with women, children, and parents. For twenty-five years, she’s taught God’s truths to children, from toddlers – teens.

Sally, a former public school teacher with a M. Ed., is happily married to her pastor-husband and they have homeschooled their children for twelve years.

Member : SCWBI, ACW.  Contact her at (website): www.sallymatheny.weebly.com (email): sallymatheny@gmail.com