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!

Writing as love language

I once got a diary for my birthday. I don't remember how old I was... maybe 8 or 9. It was one of those diaries with a golden lock on it. You could trust your secrets to paper and no one could get to them. I loved it!

For years I wrote many of my childish and (later) adolescent thoughts in such diaries. When we moved to another house, I threw them all away. The thought of anyone reading my secrets was downright embarrassing.

When I became a believer about twenty years ago, I started writing again. It's called journaling these days. I have already filled quite a few notebooks. And yes, I definitely read back from time to time. It's interesting to see what I was worried about ten years ago, what I had questions about, or what I prayed for. Most things turned out well 😁

Over the years, my writing has, in reality, become talking with God. It has become the love language between Him and me. When I make a journal entry it usually starts with me talking about what's on my mind. When I am halfway the page I often notice that I no longer write down what I think, but what God wants to say to me. You can see this change in perspective quite often in the psalms.

👉 My pen becomes His instrument in my hands, as it were. Whenever it is hard for me to hear His still small voice, I'll write. Do you recognize that?

Even if you don't like writing, you should start... just to have one of those beautiful journals from Flame Tree!

My #oneword for 2021

At the beginning of a new year, I often pray for a word. Yes, one word that will become a common thread throughout the upcoming months.

A word that gives color and meaning to the year. After a few days of praying and listening, I finally got my #oneword for 2021 about three weeks ago: connect, or associate, hook up, relate.

My first reaction to that word was one of amazement. Connect? How? We are under worldwide orders to isolate ourselves, to not hang out with other people (well, that is my interpretation). But that first thought led to another thought: Connection contradicts isolation. And so my #oneword turns out to be quite revolutionary; connection is the opposite of isolation.

God's thoughts are opposite to the thoughts of the people in this world. This has always been so, and always will be. The Bible warns against loneliness (it is not good for man to be alone and a sheep that strays from the flock is in danger) and calls believers to look after one another and to keep hospitality a priority. Yes, in good times and bad times.

I see my #oneword for 2021 as a reminder that right in the midst of a world that has gone insane I can/must have a different message, that I can/must extend the invitation of Jesus: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

I trust that He will show me whom I can 'connect' with from day to day.

Do you have a word for 2021? 

Author to author

Translating author Lynn Austin

Last Thursday night I had the honor and privilege to meet with author Lynn Austin. She came to The Netherlands to promote her first non-fiction title Pilgrimage.

In the weeks prior to her visit I slowly read her latest release and was pleasantly surprised. The book is filled with nuggets of wisdom and truth! Lynn writes with raw honesty about the desert period she went through in her own life. Pilgrimage is a very inspirational book. I can absolutely recommend it. Give it as an encouragement to a friend or family member who is going through a hard time!

It was such a fun evening. Lynn showed photo's from her trip to Israel and shared the spiritual lessons the journey through that dry land taught her. I was asked to translate her message; how cool is that?! Many people came to the event and enjoyed Lynn's message and book signing.

Our very own Dutch singer/songwriter Christian Verwoerd (click on his name to see a video clip from Israel) was present as well, and performed several songs. His music turned out to be just right for this evening.

PS: I just received word this week from two of my foreign translators. The German translation of Breath of Life and the Spanish translation of Grace of Giving are finished and ready to be edited!

I sincerely hope your week had some writing highlights as well!

Homeschool Co-ops 101 Book Tour

Yep! Things are on the move in blogging land... this time fellow blogger Karen Lange has penned a great and helpful book and I am happy to join her efforts to get the word out!

Homeschool Co-ops 101

Essential co-op tools, tips, and options for today’s homeschool families

Thinking about joining or starting a homeschool co-op? Not sure if a co-op is a good fit? Homeschool Co-ops 101 weighs the pros, cons, and creative options available for today’s homeschool family.

• Section 1 includes essential, digestible info on co-op ingredients such as planning and organization, schedules, teaching, finances, and addressing conflict and burnout.
• Section 2 shares a sampling of co-op games and activities, and
• Section 3 contains five hands-on unit studies. These ready to use studies include lessons on Leonardo da Vinci, Birds of Prey, Public Speaking, Tall Tales, and Creative Writing, and are suitable for co-op or home use. This section also includes unit study guidelines that are easily customized to suit any topic.
• Section 4 offers suggested books, curriculum, and other resources.

Karen Lange has gathered insight from years of co-oping and now shares her own and others’ experiences in this valuable and encouraging handbook.

Homeschool Co-ops 101 is available at:

~~~Amazon~~~

~~~Barnes and Noble~~~

~~~Kobo~~~

About the Author Karen Lange (click HERE for the interview I did with her in 2012), her husband, and three children were active in co-ops during their sixteen-year homeschool journey. Her experience includes serving as a local homeschool support group coordinator and consultant for a state homeschool network in New Jersey. Karen’s children have since graduated, and she is now a freelance writer and online writing instructor for homeschooled teens. You can connect with Karen at her Blog, on Twitter, and Facebook. 

Blog Tour Schedule

November 4 ~Ruth Schiffman, http://outonalimbshywritergoessocial.blogspot.com/ ~Robyn Campbell, http://robyn-campbell.blogspot.com/

November 5 ~Carol Alexander, http://lessonsfromthehomestead.com/blog/

~Diane Estrella, www.dianeestrella.com

November 6 ~Gena Mayo, ichoosejoy.org

~Marja Meijers, http://sacredsabbath.blogspot.com/

November 7 ~Sandie Crozek, http://chattycrone.blogspot.com/

~Melissa Brander, http://mkbrander.com/

~Cecelia Lester, http://quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/

November 8 ~Susan Reinhardt, http://www.susanjreinhardt.com/

~Cecelia Lester, http://quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/

November 10

~Laura V. Hilton, http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/

~Melissa & Tiffany, http://www.homegrownfamilies.net

~Janette Dolores, http://janettedolores.blogspot.com

November 11 ~Susan Sundwall, www.sundwallsays.blogspot.com

~Michelle Isenhoff, http://www.michelleisenhoff.com/wp

November 12 ~Carol Alexander, http://lessonsfromthehomestead.com/blog/

~Jeanette Levellie, http://www.jeanettelevellie.com/

November 13 ~Susanne Dietze, http://susannedietze.blogspot.com/ ~Sherryl Wilson, simplysherryl.com

~Anne Payne, duhpaynes.blogspot.com

November 14 ~Rhonda Schrock, http://www.rhondaschrock.com/rhondas_blog/ ~Abi Buening, http://myheartbelongs2books.blogspot.com/

~Amber Schamel, http://www.amberschamel.com/history-blog.html

~Renee, motherdaughterbookreviews.com

November 15 ~Crystal King, http://asimpleheartforhome.blogspot.com/ ~Barb Winters, inthemidstof.wordpress.com/

~Tyrean Martinson, http://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/

November 16

~Julie, soaringeagle8.blogspot.com

~Sarah, myjoyfilledlife.com

November 17 ~Amada Chavez, ascphotosanddesigns.blogspot.com

~Cindi Clubbs, http://ccclubbs.com/

~Rebecca Boerner, http://ohiohomeschool.blogspot.com/

November 18

~Carlene Havel, https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6440085.Carlene_Havel/blog

~Cindy Loven, http://cindylovenreviews.blogspot.com

November 19

~Karen Loethen, http://taytayhser.blogspot.com.au/

~Amy Smith, myseasonsofopportunities.blogspot.com/

November 20

~Darlene Arroyo-Lozada, http://lovebookslozada.blogspot.com/

November 22

~Sarah Bailey, http://growingforchrist.wordpress.com

~Thumb Updown, http://momsthumb.blogspot.com/

December 2

~Jennifer Shirk, http://jennifershirk.blogspot.com/

~Ticia M., http://adventuresinmommydom.org/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 The Giveaway Open to US addresses only. One person will receive a $25 Amazon GC and a copy of Homeschool Co-ops 101. Please use the Rafflecopter below to be entered: a Rafflecopter giveaway The winner will be chosen from those entries and announced December 5, 2013. Good luck!

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as e-mailed, and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Diane at That’s What I’m Here For… and sponsored by the author, Karen Lange. The author provided me with a free copy of Homeschool Co-ops 101 to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a giveaway in return for the free book.VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Encourage 24/7

This week I am traveling, well digitally speaking... I am joining Tracy Teppler in her effort to encourage women all over the world, from her home base in South Africa. She does this with the help of a wide variety of bloggers. (Don't you just LOVE being part of the international blogging sphere?) I am honored to be this week's featured encourager at her Encourage 24/7 blog! If you've never been there, please stop by for a quick and powerful encouraging word. It might change your week.

By the way, you could be the next featured ENCOURAGER. Do you have a testimony? Do you have some good biblical advice? Do you want to encourage other women with what you have overcome? Looking for some extra exposure out there in the Christian blog world? Feel free to email your submission to:  247encourage@gmail.com

What are the requirements?:

• God-centred post
• Not too long
• The point of the post is to be encouraging 
• Submit a small bio with a picture of yourself so the readers can get to know you
• Make sure an email address (for Tracy's eyes only) is submitted along with a link to your blog (if you have one).

Tracy's heart is to help other women restore the broken walls in their lives. She wants to involve women who love the Lord and have a heart for encouragement. If that's you... don't hesitate and join Encourage 24/7 today!

Blogging buzz...

After a series like Law & grace, an uneven match? it is always kind of difficult to pick up the pace of blogging again. Besides that, it's summer time and many readers are enjoying some well deserved time away from the computer. However... especially for those who are still keeping an eye on the comings and goings in blogging land, I have selected some great news items. Here they come:

• I am thrilled to announce that my book Grace of Giving will now be published in Italian (only a few months after the German version came out!). La Grazia Del Donare will be out September 1st and we are planning to make a trip to Italy to present it to several of our contacts. The paperback version will be out in Europe only. A Kindle edition will be available on Amazon soon, so if you happen to have Italian speaking family or friends.... surprise and bless them with this award winning book.
• Fellow blogger Karen Lange's upcoming e-book Homeschool Co-ops 101 (published by Helping Hands Press) is scheduled for release on August 15. A blog tour is scheduled to run from August 15-30 coordinated by blogger Diane Estrella, so you can contact her if you want to participate, and help Karen getting the word out about her e-book.
• Several writer conferences are being organized throughout the US. On the East coast the Spirit of Naples (SON), is hosting a conference for Christian writers, screenwriters and filmmakers who want to break into the mainstream media. It will take place October 3-7, 2013 in Naples, FL. On the West coast the Oregon Christian Writers Summer Coaching Conference will be held August 12–15, 2013, at Portland’s Jantzen Beach Red Lion Hotel. Known as one of the country’s best Christian writers’ conferences, it features top editors, agents and authors teaching 12 intensive morning coaching classes and 30 afternoon workshops, plus manuscript reviews, mentoring and one-on-one appointments with editors and agents.
• In order to sharpen and improve my writing skills I enter writing contests from time to time. Often I'll give poetry a try... simply because that is not where my main talent is, but I like to stretch my writing muscles a bit :) Writers Digest has an excellent list of contests and competitions, check it out and do not hesitate to try something new. You might surprise yourself!

30 days of prayer

This week I will interrupt the law & grace, an uneven match? series for the announcement of the 30 days of prayer for the Muslim world.

Today is the start of the Ramadan, the fasting period for millions of Muslims worldwide. That period is being used by Christians all over the world to specifically pray for Muslims. You can pray on a small scale (for your Muslim neighbor or co-worker for example) and on a much larger scale (for the situation in Egypt for example). Using a digital booklet (that you can get HERE) will help you to pray for different people, countries and issues every day. The emphasis is on freedom for the Islamic countries. Freedom of speech and freedom to choose whether you want to be Muslim or Christian.

There is huge unrest in the Islamic nations at the moment, and no one knows whether things will improve or get worse for the people. But we can pray for our fellow men (Muslims and Christians in those countries) to receive the peace that surpasses all understanding. The peace that only Jesus Christ / Yeshua ישוע / Yasu' al-Masih يسوع المسيح can give.

Currently I am reading the book Prayer - The real battle by Brother Andrew and Al Janssen, wow, what a great inspirational book. It will really help you to pray effectively for Muslims.

Please, act now and join us worldwide in praying and fasting for a world in need!

(Choose any form of fasting; you can fast from sugar, coffee, alcohol, television, meat... anything)

Blogging buzz...

Things are always moving in the blogging sphere. We bloggers are always thinking, writing, publishing and learning. We go through ups and downs together. Most bloggers are hard working people, like you and me, without a celebrity status or mega sales of their (often self-published) books. We do have a common goal: to improve our writing and share the journey with each other.

Join me for the latest news and happenings.

• Fellow blogger Aileen Stewart announced on Facebook that her newest manuscript was rejected. Many of us have gone through that phase and I believe we can be a great help by encouraging one another. Aileen is a stay-at-home mom and she writes children's books. She's a great example of someone who keeps pursuing her writing dream. Feel free to visit her blog and give her a thumbs up for all her hard work.
• Blogger/writer Susan Reinhardt has a new website, make sure to check it out. She always has interviews, reviews and bits & pieces of publishing news. She recently toured the blog-o-sphere with her e-book release The Moses Conspiracy, which is now also available in paperback.
• My latest release My Neighbor's House received a 5-star review from Readers' Favorite, which can be viewed here. The reviewer wrote me a personal note, saying:  I loved this book and will work through it with a highlighter and journal. It is well-researched, well-written, and logical to follow. Thank you so much. I hope you write more. You can do me a huge favor by leaving your comment at the bottom of the review page, using your FB login. THANKS!
• Maria Morgan is another fellow blogger who recently launched her first e-book, a devotional called God Speaking. You can simply get it by signing up for her updates. She's asking for feedback from readers. Another great way to interact and learn from each other.

Is any interesting stuff going in your blogging/writing world that will encourage and inspire others? Please e-mail me and I'll announce it in the next blogging buzz.

Happy writing!

Gospel of Luke inspires

This is the 4th blog post in my series on the Gospel of Luke, again... viewed from a different perspective. Grab your head phones, turn up the volume and listen...

Happy weekend!

Interview with Cecelia Lester

I am delighted to host an interview with fellow blogger Cecelia Lester. She writes from her heart on her blog Following My King and I am happy and thankful that she graciously agreed to answer the questions I emailed her. Let's get to know Cecelia a little better...

Please, introduce yourself… anything special we need to know about Cecelia Lester?

Hello Marja, Thanks for having me on your blog. I am happy to be here.  My name is Cecelia Lester. My dad gave my mother a lapel pin that was a little Dutch girl with blonde braids. He called it ‘Cecelia.’ Hence, my mother chose to name me that. I am an encourager, it’s one of my spiritual gifts. One of my local friends sent me a card reminding me. I have a few bad habits that I am trying to break. I am a pack rat. I am easily discouraged by people; but I get my encouragement from Jesus. I am married to my husband,Jim, for 44 years. We have a grown son who lives in Kansas.

How and when did you start your blog?

In planning for the presentation of one of my plays for Good Friday 2007, I was talking to our pastor. I told him I wanted to share my writing with others. He suggested that I start a blog. My first attempt wasn’t very good. I tried to make my blog work on the first site but in July 2008 I moved Quiet Spirit-following my king to Blogger. 

What is your drive behind blogging? What do you hope to accomplish?

My mission statement says: “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.”

Your word for 2013 is GRACE. Any reason why you picked that?

Last fall, I reviewed a book by Max Lucado, GRACE: more than we deserve-greater than we imagine. I fell in love with the concept. Several years ago, the church I was in studied Philip Yancey’s What’s So Amazing About Grace? From time to time I need a refresher course in the basics of my beliefs.

You live in Indiana. Please tell us, fellow bloggers, why we should come and see your state.

Our state park system is wonderful. We have park land set aside at different locations throughout the state from Indiana Dunes in the northwest to Clifty Falls in the southeast. Our Indianapolis Motor Speedway presents the Indy 500 the end of May and the Brickyard 400 the end of July or first of August. The fall is a beautiful time of the year in Indiana. The leaves dress themselves in reds, yellows, and golds .

Top three on your ‘places-to-see list…

1.) New England, 2.) Mount Rushmore and 3.) Yellowstone or Carlsbad Caverns (Yes, I like to travel.)

If the whole world could see your bumper sticker, what would it say?

“What would our world look like if we all followed the Golden Rule?”

Do you have any authors or specific books that have been an inspiration to you?

Having worked in a library for a few years, I became interested in several authors: John Grisham, Nicholas Sparks, James Patterson, Beverly Lewis, and Janet Evanovich. (I started reading John Grisham before I went to work at that library.) The first Christian author I read was Catherine Marshall. I have read most of the Left Behind series by Tim La Haye and Jerry B. Jenkins I have on my desk another book by Max Lucado. On my coffee table I have two books by Lauraine Snelling, Ruby and Pearl.

Any words of encouragement to us bloggers?

It is a privilege to read your blogs. It is an honor to become friends with a lot of you. Keep up writing your blogs. 

Thank you Cecelia, for taking the time to tell us a bit more about yourself, your writing and your influences. We truly appreciate your quiet spirit!
Cecelia can be found here:

Website: Quiet Spirit
Weblog: Following My King
Cecelia also contributes a weekly column at Live as if...