After 18 years of blogging...

I started blogging after my first book 'Sacred Sabbath' was published, hence the url I've used for the past eighteen years: sacredsabbath.blogspot.com 😀

Over time I posted about my books, faith, adventures, and questions. Based upon input from readers I did quite a few blog series.

At some point, I wanted to change the web address (url) of my blog because 'sacredsabbath' didn't really accurately describe the variety of topics. 

I don't know whether any of you ever tried to change the url, but it means that everywhere you posted a link to your blog, that link would be broken.

Nah, didn't want to do that. 

I asked my followers on Instagram whether they read my blogs and I received positive responses. Stopping therefore is not an option. Then, the other day I read an article that said blogging is not dead, quite encouraging.

So, this week I decided to start a new blog where I will be posting regularly. That way I will get to keep the eighteen years of blogging that are behind me. It is still kind of a blanc page there (except for one article I posted earlier today), but I hope you decide to sign up for or follow the new blog.

➔Question: Have you ever been thinking of starting a new blog or do you already have different blogs?

Expand my territory!

"I like the idea of expansion, as long as it is not my waist or weight 😁", I wrote in my blog post on January 4th of this year. The post was about my #oneword for 2024: EXPAND. You can read that post HERE.

Expand as in the prayer of Jabez: Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! (1 Chronicles 4:10).

Expand as in Psalm 119:32: I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding.

Europe Teen Challenge Conference

We're talking territorial as well as spiritual expansion. I like that idea. This past weekend, we attended the Europe Teen Challenge conference in Warsaw, Poland. With our non-profit organization Traveling Light, we support Teen Challenge programs (faith-based rehab and discipleship programs) in more than 30 countries in Europe. So, the annual conference is always a great opportunity to meet with staff and students from all over Europe.

Book table

We are always present with our book table, which is a blessing as well. Several of my books have been translated into other languages (German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Farsi, and Polish, to name a few). This time I had two new books/editions on the table:

• No other gods, which is the tenth and final book in my series about the Ten Commandments in the 21st century, and
• Duch Prawdy, which is the Polish edition of my book Spirit of Truth.

Ten Core Values

While writing that final book in the series, the idea came to me that the Ten Commandments are basically the Ten Core Values for a dedicated and fruitful Christian life. I wrote a book about each commandment, and each book represents a core value that we live out in our daily lives.

👉I decided to do a blog series about those Ten Core Values. I surely hope you will take the journey with me. Along the way, the Holy Spirit will expand our understanding of a proper balance between law and grace.

PS: My books are available on Amazon in your country!

We all have something particular to do

I ended my latest blog series with a conclusion and a question: "I strongly believe we all have something particular to do, apart from the general works we are called to do as believers. 👉What is it He called you to do?"

In other words, what is your calling? The Bible is full of stories of people who had a specific task given by God. One smaller, one bigger, but a task nonetheless.

And whatever they did, became part of Biblical world history and God's Kingdom as we know it. All their stories are connected to Ephesians 2:10 where it is written:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Notice it says 'in' Christ Jesus. We first need to be in Him. Why? Because it is in Him that we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). We find our purpose in Jesus. Being in Him comes before doing something for Him. Remember that! 2 Corinthians 5:17 says:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

We discover the specific works God has prepared for us when we are a new creation in Christ, in other words when we have been born again. How exciting! Think about it, there is a task only you can do. 

Yes, you. Why? Because you are unique. You have a specific character and background. You have specific life experiences, abilities, strengths, talents, and spiritual gifts. Some of your experiences may be painful or negative, but God will make everything new. He redeems our lives for His purposes.

I am a writer and blogger, but there are probably millions of people who do a better job than I do. Yet, I know that I am called to write about certain topics in a certain way, simply because of the way I think, the way I grew up, the way I connect with the Lord, the way I express myself etc. etc.

Furthermore, a prophetic word was given to me many years ago, before I even penned one blog, article, or book. God called me to be His 'faithful mouthpiece'. I have those words on my desk, to be reminded every day that I work for Him.

How do you find out what it is God has prepared for you?

• I believe it starts with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the Father's purpose for your life.
• Seek Christian gatherings where people operate in prophetic gifts and come with a genuine hunger to do His will.
• Get inspired by reading the Bible, by the men and women that went before you and take notice when your heart jumps a beat... that is a clue for further prayer.
• Journal (write down) anything that the Lord brings to mind: words, thoughts, scriptures, names... anything! They are pieces of the puzzle.
• Make sure to seek silence so you can listen to the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit.

This post might be helpful as well

And you know what, when we do the particular works, we are being shaped into the man or woman He ordained us to be. Our specific calling shapes our life for eternal purposes.

Year in review

I don't know about you, but I still have some trouble getting back to a healthy rhythm in writing and posting... well, in everything really.

After almost three years of great disturbances worldwide (which affected everyone and everything, no matter where you are in the discussion) I still haven't found my flow.

👉However, I always like to reflect and look back at each year, just to make sure I am still moving forward. As you can see I made an infographic of my writing and speaking efforts in 2022.

Hm, I think I am satisfied, although I have postponed and procrastinated on some of my writing goals. Well, 2023 will bring new opportunities and chances.

Writers/bloggers... Do you review your year? Are you satisfied? Any new goals or plans? Are you working on something new? I would love to hear it.

As far as my work is concerned:

WEBSITE: www.marjameijers.com

YOUTUBE: @MarjaVerschoorMeijers

PODCAST: Fresh Insights on Ancient Truths

TWITTER: @marjameijers

INSTAGRAM: Marja Verschoor-Meijers

FACEBOOK: marja.meijers

Looking beyond restrictions

Sometimes I get the feeling that 2021 was a year of restrictions, in many ways. That may be true, if I look through a negative lens.

If I look through a positive lens instead and make my 2021 work summary, I come to the conclusion that I have done many things... when it comes to writing and speaking.

I realize that there is an enemy who always tries to make us think that we didn't do enough, that it wasn't good, that it could be better, that what we did had no impact etc. etc.

That enemy is a liar and a thief. He is harassing us, trying to steal our joy, and belittle our talents. For that reason alone I like to take inventory for myself, as proof that he has no right to speak!

• I have recorded more than two hundred videos about the Psalms and Proverbs 3 and distributed them on YouTube and Instagram TV
• I have written monthly blogs for www.ikzoekgod.nl and
• monthly columns for Opwekking Magazine
• In addition, I also wrote posts almost weekly on my English and Dutch blogs
• 
  I also wrote two feature articles for Opwekking Magazine
• Recently I also started making podcasts that you can find on Spotify under the name Fresh Insights on Ancient Truths
• I also wrote 23,000 words in my new book and
• I preached a number of times in churches and at gatherings.

All different ways to stay connected with readers and listeners and to keep spreading His Word. After all, my #oneword for 2021 was connect.

👉I don't know about you, but if you have the feeling that the year has slipped through your hands without significant highlights...

Please, take inventory and you will be amazed at what you have been able to accomplish and it will inspire you to continue, also in 2022!

Do we keep on blogging in 2021?

Google announced that the Feedburner service will stop as of July 1st. That is the service that takes care of sending your blog posts to people's email addresses (well, to the ones that have signed up for it.)

When I read that, I thought 'what now?' 😕Is this the moment to stop blogging? Getting my blog posts to readers by email is a quite reliable way to stay connected, especially now that readers are leaving Facebook, Twitter, and other social media because of censorship.

I wanted to know whether writing blogs was still worth the effort, so I began to search the internet for news and statistics on blogging and found some interesting facts. For example, marketing consultant and speaker Neal Schaffer writes on his website:

"Blogging is absolutely still relevant in 2021. In fact, roughly 409 million internet users read about 20 billion blog pages monthly. People undeniably still read blogs. As a matter of fact, 77% of internet users worldwide like reading them. People in the United States alone read blogs 3 times more than emails. Blogging is not dead, blogs are powerful and it is the 5th most reliable source of information on the internet. Blogging will always be worth it especially if you find a niche you are passionate about."

So, I decided to keep on blogging 💚and I hope you will do the same (if you are a blogger)! I have added a new feed service to my blogs. So, please sign up for your favorite blog in the sidebar (on a laptop or desktop). I post about once a week:

Fresh Insights on Ancient Blogs: sacredsabbath.blogspot.com 

Frisse Kijk op Oude Waarheden: frisse-kijk.blogspot.com 

Non-profit Traveling Light: janandmarja.blogspot.com 

Stichting Traveling Light: janenmarja.blogspot.com 

Annoyed... and anointed

The posts I share on social media are a positive mix of my daily life, faith, writing journey, and family, as most of you will have noticed by now 😀

Am I not concerned then, about world events, politics, current problems, and so on? Am I hiding my head in the sand, so to speak, when I ignore such topics?

Sure... I am concerned about such things, but I have chosen not to ventilate my thoughts (with some exceptions) on social media about current happenings, simply because I am quite annoyed with the direction my country and this world, in general, are going.

Annoyed, yes I confess it. And who wants to listen to an annoyed person?

At the same time, I know that I am also anointed... anointed to be God's faithful mouthpiece, to speak His Word, and to share His heart. 👉Anointed means I am called and confirmed by the Holy Spirit to open my mouth and use my pen and keyboard to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

My annoyance with today's politics, the lying and manipulating, the lawlessness and selfish gain, is real. So, I have to purposely make the decision each day to set aside my irritation over our godless society and magnify the goodness of God. He deserves my voice and my choice!

PS: I understand that some of you feel they just have to address such issues... please, go ahead. I appreciate your efforts.

Yes, you can!

They did it again! Fellow bloggers and writers Jeanette Levellie and Beth Gormong named their second joined effort 'Yes, you can!'

After their 2019 release of Hello Beautiful! they decided to get together again and write another excellent devotional. Their second collaboration comes at a crucial time in our world, when people need hope and help from above.  If you love to read short inspiring and uplifting stories, then this is the book for you.

Yes, you can! is filled with forty devotional stories. Through modern-day true accounts and biblical examples of women who overcame impossible odds, Jen and Beth show the reader how to:

• Receive and believe God’s undying love
• Trust in God’s willingness to answer our prayers
• Tap into God’s power to achieve our goals
• Walk in God’s wisdom to navigate hard circumstances
• Find God’s strength to overcome impossibilities

And (this I absolutely love) each chapter includes a journaling prompt or coloring page to help you personalize the life-changing truths.

Blogging is often the step that precedes publishing articles or books. We all have stories to share, right? May Yes, you can! be an inspiration and encouragement to you and who knows... one day you might write your own story.

You can read more about her new book or leave a note on Jen's weblog.

You can order the paperback and e-book on Amazon.

A writer's glorious blues

Musing over a blog post? Re-writing an article for the umpteenth time? Discouraged about a book-deal gone wrong? Well... most of us have been there. We procrastinated. We failed and tried again. We cried and picked up the pieces... again.

And so the story of our writing journey continues. 👉Who knows we are writing life stories for a next generation that is growing up with smart phone language and emoticons. Although some people will never read a book in their life, let alone write one, one day someone will be inspired and motivated by the words we are putting on paper.

I must have been 5 or 6 years old when I knew I loved reading and writing. I ran up and down to the local library several times a week to get new books. I wrote little journals, diaries and short stories at a very early age. God put it in me, I just know that for sure.

Back in 2006 my first book was published in the USA. It has been a long and bumpy road ever since. I have doubted my calling. I have had writer's block. I have been discouraged a thousand times. I wanted to quit several times. But you know what? I am still here and I am still writing. Even if no one would ever read my stuff, even if no one would ever buy one of my books... I would still write. Simply because it is what I love to do.

I am getting used to the up's and down's this journey brings. I learn from my mistakes and I cherish the highlights.

I entered my latest book In My Name in the Reader's Favorite 2018 Awards. Knowing that they receive thousands upon thousands of entries in more than 140 categories I knew I needed God's favor to be noticed. But a girl can ask, right?

My book did not win an award. But I am thankful to announce that In My Name was a finalist in the category Christian - Devotions and Bible Studies. Such moments make the writer's blues glorious again. We get pushed forward, we believe we can do one more article, one more blog or yet another book :)

Thank you readers, thank you bloggers. Let's continue to encourage one another!

My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer [Psalm 45:1]

Value your readers!

In my previous blog post I wrote about my different kind of give-away: 'It is my greatest joy to see the messages God gave me, touch people's lives. If it helps them to grow in their faith, if they are encouraged and inspired... I am happy.'

Whether you are a blogger, writer or author... you have a story to tell and if what you write touches a person's heart... you did not write in vain.

In this picture I am giving a copy of my latest book In My Name to Zhenya Venidyktova. She is one of my lovely interpreters when visiting Ukraine. She speaks Russian and English fluently and it is such a joy to hang out with her. Oh, how we love to minister together to those who are hurt and in need of a touch of God.

I wish I could visit Ukraine more often and hang out with people like Zhenya.... talking about God, books, history and the future of our nations. She finished reading In My name and she wrote me a note:

"Your latest book gives a fresh look at one of the 10 commandments, not to use the Lord's Name in vain. I liked that it shows us how to really use the Lord's Name for His glory, how we can do what the Holy Spirit tells us to do. I also liked the examples from your life & ministry. It helps me to hear the Holy Spirit & to obey Him."

I thought I 'd honor her, one of my many readers, with this blog post because I truly value her!

Do you have precious comments from readers that you would like to share?

PS: If you haven't done so already, you can order the e-book on Amazon for just 2.99.

I am looking forward to your comments!

Reviews: give and take

As bloggers we love to get comments on our posts, it encourages and motivates. As writers and authors we love to get feedback on our articles and books, whether that is in the form of emails, shares on social media or honest reviews.

Of course we are excited about our own work, if not... something would be wrong 😁Even with little response to our writings, most of us would probably continue to do what we feel God has called us to do.

However, it is always good and useful to reflect and pray about our writings, to learn new skills, to develop existing ones and (let's not forget!) to comment on the work of others.

Reviews... it is a give and take business. Do for others what you want them to do for you; everyone loves to receive positive feedback from their readers!

Blogger and author Jeanette Levellie wrote a review about my latest book IN MY NAME on her blog Love Splashes and she posted a 5-star review on Amazon. She wrote:

"I found myself not only thinking of God and his name in new, intimate ways. But the teachings of In My Name  changed the way I pray!" 

Her comments are very encouraging to me and I am thankful for her postings. Have you subscribed to Jeanette's blog? 

Readers Favorite gave my new book a thumbs up in several reviews. One reader wrote:

"...clear writing and a straightforward concise message."

As bloggers/writers/authors we can meet on Goodreads as well, there are several interesting groups where books are discussed and reviews are given. Several years ago I started the Christian Nonfiction Lovers Book Club. We are currently revamping the topics, so feel free to join in!

Do you receive encouragement?

Sometimes I want to throw in the towel. Yeah, honestly. I am talking about writing books, blogs and articles. I am talking about the calling that is on my life. Do you ever feel that way?

At times I find it very difficult to concentrate, to find (or better: make) time to write, to ponder, to reflect. At times I am disappointed because a book I expected to be a success, did not sell so well. At times I wonder if anyone is encouraged and built up at all by my writings.

Oh well, I know all writers and bloggers deal with this from time to time. I've read it on your blogs, I've seen it in other authors and artists. I call it 'being overrun by waves of doubt and discouragement'.

But somehow, each time I feel like throwing in the towel, I receive encouragement from unexpected sources. Like the other day... I received an email from a gentleman all the way in the north of Sweden, who picked up my latest book Spirit of Truth,

"Gull-Brith, my wife, loves your book Spirit of Truth very much and so do I. We belong to a generation that did not learn English at school... She has gone through the book a couple of times and now she is working on the vocabulary."

Such emails make my day and I see them as encouragement from the Lord... go on, don't stop, I have your back. And at such moments I know it: I am blessed!

I am wondering, what kind of encouragement do you receive from time to time? Want to share your thoughts?

Times of trouble bring rays of joy

I love it when the blogging community gets stirred because one of us has published a book. It doesn't really matter whether it is a first try at having one's work in print or whether it is the next book in a growing bibliography. Writing a book takes determination, effort, passion, and lots of work. So, having said that... congratulations to Cecelia Lester for bringing out a devotional book, titled Times of trouble bring rays of joy.

What I really like about Cecelia's book is that she has kept the devotionals short and to the point with a scripture to read, her personal reflection, several questions for the reader... and room to write! I love journaling, so any book that allows me to scribble what the Spirit is telling me while reading, gets a big plus. Well done Cecelia.

The subtitle of this book is 'Thoughts of God and His Word', and that is certainly what I, as the reader, can sense. As Cecelia shares her personal thoughts and questions , she opens up her heart and mind for the reader to be inspired. She is not afraid to question popular thinking and the ways of our present-day world. I quote:

"In our twenty-first century society, we sometimes forget that God is sovereign. We try to manipulate Him into doing what we want. We should be more polite and ask Him for guidance before we make decisions."

The devotions have been grouped in a series of topics such as: strength, faith, humility and peace. That makes the reading even more practical as it is possible to pick a devotion fitting our circumstances or needs.

Times of trouble bring rays of joy is available on Amazon as paperback and e-book. Do Cecelia a favor and leave her a review if you enjoy her writings. Let's encourage one another!

About the author:

Cecelia Lester lives in central Indiana with her husband. She started blogging back in 2008. Her mission statement is: "Quiet Spirit writes with the focus to minister to those who hurt, to them who search for God, and those who wish to have a closer walk with Jesus."

See also the interview with Cecelia on my blog back in 2013.

Blogging routine baloney

Well, after the blogoversary celebrations, the WIP special Bloggers@work and the latest news about my new book Spirit of Truth, I am trying to get back to my weekly writing routine... yeah, I said trying.

There is no such thing as a writing or blogging routine in my life. Last week I was traveling in the beautiful country of Macedonia which has a history going back to Biblical times. I attended a conference of Roma gypsies; believers who have a heart to change the fate and future of their people. I could write a book about the struggles and victories they experience.

In the meantime my husband was traveling in Slovenia. He attended a men's conference where more than 400 men from different Balkan countries (former Yugoslavia) came together to seek God's face, to forgive and be forgiven and in doing so to be healed of their brokenness. I know this will not appear on the daily news, but believe me... this is a major happening in the spiritual world and it would take more than one book to write down the stories!

When at home with nothing to do :-) (just kidding) I am working on a Bible study book in the Dutch language while ideas for the next book in the Ten Commandments series are running through my mind. Besides that, an Italian version of one of my dearest and most precious books, Breath of Life, will be coming out next month... and yeah, we will be traveling to Italy.

So, a writing or blogging routine... nah, can't seem to get it together. How about you?

Blogoversary continued...

The party isn't over until it's over! That certainly goes for my 10 year blogging anniversary.

I am thankful for everyone who participated in my blogspecial Bloggers@work. If I have learned something, it is that we bloggers/writers don't like editing and that we should never, ever give up on writing!

Susan Reinhardt threw in a giveaway and I asked her to draw a name. She writes: "I drew a name, but made an executive decision :) Since May was also my blogoversary month, I'm going to bless all three of these ladies!"

• Susan will send a paperback of The Moses Conspiracy to Cecelia
• Jen will get a Kindle version of The Christmas Wish
• Elsie will get a Kindle version of The Moses Conspiracy

Isn't it great to celebrate together?! Thank you Susan, for your kindness.

To top it off, Cecelia Lester posted an interview with me on her blog and a review of my latest book Spirit of Truth. I quote:

"Marja delves into the nuances of being truthful about what we share with others. She approaches the issues involved with a magnifying glass and sheds light on issues most of the people would only think about in passing."

I am looking back with a grateful heart at a this blogoversary and I hope yours will be a blast as well, in due time. Let's keep on blogging!

Bloggers@work: Karen Lange

This month I am celebrating my 10 year blogoversary with giveaways and a bloggers special: Bloggers@work.

Ten years of blogging wouldn't be possible without the support, encouragement, comments and inspiration of other bloggers. I love this community and that's why I am hosting some of my favorite bloggers and their WIP (work in progress). Karen Lange tops it off!

What is your current WIP?

One of my latest projects is a feature on my blog entitled Meet the Blogger. While brainstorming topics for posts, I decided to create a monthly spotlight for my blogging friends. I’ve been blogging since 2009 and met so many wonderful people from various backgrounds. Writers, photographers, artists, and the like, they’ve extended wisdom, kindness, and support, so I thought it would be nice to share their stories, why they started blogging, and so on.

Karen Lange

I composed a list of questions designed to help them share their stories about their blogs, books, hobbies, projects, etc. Though the questions are the same, the monthly interviews are all different, and it’s great fun to see what they have to say. 

Wherein lies your biggest struggle with this particular project?

I am the queen of procrastination, so occasionally I put off contacting my friends for interviews. This causes me to scramble at the last minute, hoping someone will respond quickly. Thankfully, this doesn’t happen often!  

What do you see as the biggest blessing while working on this particular project?

I’ve gotten better acquainted with my blogging friends and have gained more of an appreciation for what they do, whether it’s freelancing, writing books, or another interesting occupation. It’s also offered a great way to further connect and introduce my blog followers to each other.  It’s a wonderful, encouraging community. 

Do you have a word of wisdom for writers and their WIP?

Don’t quit. Keep moving forward. If the Lord has called you to write, or to do a certain work or project, He will provide all you need to complete the task.

More about Karen Lange:

Karen Lange is a freelance editor and writer, an online writing instructor, and the author of two books for homeschool parents. She is a big fan of dark chocolate, Christian historical fiction, and spending time with her grandson.

Visit her blog: karenelange.blogspot.com

or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/authorkarenlange 

Bloggers@work: Susan Reinhardt

This month I am celebrating my 10 year blogoversary with giveaways and a bloggers special: Bloggers@work.

Ten years of blogging wouldn't be possible without the support, encouragement, comments and inspiration of other bloggers. I love this community and that's why I am hosting some of my favorite bloggers and their WIP (work in progress). This week Susan Reinhardt shares...

Susan at a book signing with mom in the background

What is your current WIP?

Right now, I'm working on a contemporary Christian novel. My prior books were all near-future stories, so this genre is new to me. Here's my blurb: A runaway pastor and a runaway boy discover answers they weren't expecting. 

This is the first book in a series. The working title is: Days of Elijah, but I'm not happy with it. If I go with a traditional publisher, they'll have the last word on the title.

Wherein lies your biggest struggle with this particular project?

In a word: editing. I love writing the story, but re-working parts and going over it a gazillion times bores me. This time around I hired a professional editor. Although I still have to make the changes, I've learned so much from her. Editors coach, as well as pick up on manuscript problems (depending on the type of edit you get).

What do you see as the biggest blessing while working on this particular project?

As a seat-of-the-pants writer, I start off with an idea and know where I want the story to end. Apart from that, it's as much of an adventure for me as for the reader. I love asking the Lord to give me characters and situations that will reach deep into readers' hearts. I'm blessed as the story unfolds and first readers/critique partners express their enthusiasm.

Susan's books... and more to come!

Do you have a word of wisdom for writers and their WIP?

Last year at the Greater Philadelphia Writers Conference, I took a Continuing Session with Alan Arnold. He talked about writing our stories with the Lord. Have you ever done something and then understood the principles behind it at a later date? This is what happened to me. 

Whether you're a plotter or a seat-of-the-pants writer like me, writing can take on a whole other dimension when you bathe the process in prayer and ask Him for direction. Many times I've been at a standstill, unsure of where to take a plot. After asking the Lord what should happen next, He's always come through. I'll read something that sets off a brainstorming session, wake up with the answer, or even dream an entire portion. 

Another helpful suggestion: Never pour out every idea onto the page. Leave the last thought/scene unfinished. You can then pick up the thread at your next writing session and continue. It's a great way to avoid staring at a blank page.

More about Susan:

susanjreinhardt.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/AuthorSusanJReinhardt

Member ACFW

Represented by Joyce Hart, Hartline Literary Agency

Susan is a blessing to many bloggers. I have been reading her blogs... well, for a long, long time. And guess what? She is throwing in a giveaway! Make a chance to win a Kindle Edition of one of her books, simply by leaving your comment on this post. She'll draw a name next week!

Bloggers@work: Lynn Mosher

This month I am celebrating my 10 year blogoversary with giveaways and a bloggers special: Bloggers@work.

Ten years of blogging wouldn't be possible without the support, encouragement, comments and inspiration of other bloggers. I love this community and that's why I'll be hosting some of my favorite bloggers and their WIP (work in progress). This week Lynn Mosher shares...

Lynn Mosher

What is your current WIP?

When I became ill in 2000, I heard the Lord whisper to me a few months later to write for Him. He led me to write a book on the Hebrew/Jewish betrothal process. Such a wealth of knowledge that we can apply to our lives. 

However, it sits on the shelf, awaiting publication. So, while it waits, I have started working on another book. This one is about our journey through life, the paths or choices we make, and intermingled with a story/parable.

I work on it in between my twice weekly blogposts, my monthly writings for others sites, and a couple of other projects I’ve started. Right now, it’s trudging along very slowly.

Wherein lies your biggest struggle with this particular project?

My greatest struggle is just that…a struggle. I fight discouragement. I need to feel that it is coming together. However, it isn’t at the point of being cohesive. It’s a mixed bag of thoughts, story points, and scriptures. I know getting over this initial hump will allow me to feel less disjointed.

What do you see as the biggest blessing while working on this particular project?

Lynn's winter look

My first book was truly a blessing and an inspiration to me because the Lord showed me so many things in His Word.

The second book has been the culmination of so many ideas and situations of life the Lord has shown me. It’s always a blessing to be writing for Him. It is my calling, my passion; therefore, I write in obedience. 

Do you have a word of wisdom for writers and their WIP?

Oh, my writer friends, keep going! Keep praying. Keep the passion alive. And when discouragement or writer’s block sets in, don’t give up. Do whatever it takes to overcome it. If you are writing under the calling of the Lord, obedience is your only priority. So, keep at it! 

*This photo is my winter look. I get “mouse hands.” COLD hands while typing. The desk? My lap! My chair? The couch! 

More about Lynn Mosher:

lynnmosher.com

twitter.com/lynnmosher

facebook.com/lynnhmosher

pinterest.com/lynnmosher

And the winner is...

This month I am celebrating my 10 year blogoversary. Believe it or not, but I penned my first blog post in May 2006, not knowing where the adventure would lead me.

I started the month with a book giveaway. I asked my husband to draw a name and the winner is.... Cindy Moquin.

Congratulations girl, you have won a copy of my new book Spirit of Truth which has just been released. Please let me know where I can send it to.

To further celebrate I am also hosting several bloggers in a blogoversary special: Bloggers@work...

Jeanette Levellie kicked off, followed by Aileen Stewart.

Next up on this blog will be Lynn Mosher.

Let's celebrate blogging!

Bloggers@work: Aileen Stewart

This month I am celebrating my 10 year blogiversary with giveaways and a bloggers special: Bloggers@work.

Ten years of blogging wouldn't be possible without the support, encouragement, comments and inspiration of other bloggers. I love this community and that's why I'll be hosting some of my favorite bloggers and their WIP (work in progress). Jeanette Levellie kicked off with her WIP, now it's Aileen Stewart's turn, she writes children's books!

Aileen Stewart at a book signing

What is your current WIP?

Currently I am revising a picture book wip. It is the story of a shy duck who must find his voice in order to save a friend.  It seems I have a thing for ducks and farm animals in general.

I recently attended a critique group sponsored by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators where I received some pointers on how to polish this particular manuscript. It should be ready for submission very soon which is always an exciting place to be at when working on a wip.

Wherein lies your biggest struggle with this particular project?

My biggest struggle with this project and many other projects is remembering to show and not tell. Thankfully, passive voice is fairly easy to correct.

What do you see as the biggest blessing while working on this particular project?

Every project I work on is a blessing because the ideas and the words are my gift from the Father. Each new idea shows that I am indeed made in the father’s image. He created the world and all that is in it, and I create imaginary characters and worlds on paper.

Do you have a word of wisdom for writers and their WIP?

The three p’s serve well no matter what a person is working on. Patience, Perseverance, and  a Positive attitude. Remember everything is in the Lord’s timing. Never give up. And above all, look at the positive aspects and choose joy no matter what.

More about Aileen:

www.funwithaileen.com

www.aileensthoughts.com