Monday, February 3, 2014

A Step in the Write Direction, February 3, 2014--Why Do You Write?


A Step in the Write Direction

February 3, 2014

Update: Not too much to write this week. Have done several income taxes. Years ago I had an income tax business for 18 years with over 200 customers, and now I just do 20-30 a year, mostly people who work at the hospital with our son and daughter. For those who haven’t received it, I have a list of tax deductions for writers. Email me at: dgood648@aol.com. …Interesting facts from yesterday’s sermon: 75% of believers are in non-Western world (Africa, Asia, South/Central America); more Muslims are coming to Christ than ever before; Muslim judge in Iraq pleaded for someone to come and tell them about Jesus as he didn’t like the senseless killing that was going on; 6-7 million have seen the Jesus film in their language; 85% of pastors in non-Western world have only 5 minutes of pastoral training. And what I liked, Satan doesn’t know he’s already lost. He thinks he still has a chance.  (Jim Baugh).

Thought for the Day: God sent every person into the world with a special message to deliver, a special song to sing...No one else can speak my message or sing my song...These are entrusted to me (Father J. Nash).

Laugh for the Day: It was Super Bowl Sunday and in our Presbyterian church the time for the collection of tithes and offerings was approaching. The minister, a true sports enthusiast, reached into his pocket, took out a quarter, flipped it into the air, glanced at it as it landed, then in typical referee fashion joyfully announced: "The ushers have elected to receive!" (The Gospel Greats newsletter, 1/21/14).

Song for Today:
“I will pour water on him that is thirsty;
I will pour floods upon the dry ground.
Open your heart for the gift I am bringing.
While ye are seeking me, I will be found.”
                        —“Ho! Every One That Is Thirsty,” Lucy J. Rider

Quiz for Today:
Unscramble the following words related to writing (Thanks to Peg Phifer for this):
1. stryyem
2. aorcnem
3. sneessup    
4. tdaoveolin  
 5.pnubisgihl 
 6 yipssnso 
 7.ucanimrspt
 8.yaorlleg     
9. oghraabuitopy 
10.eiomrm
11. drliieapco  
12. rmgkantie

 Question for you: Would you write if you didn’t get a byline? (I’ll give you my answer next week.)

Writer’s Tips:

Repeating the saying that changed my writing life. Up until hearing this, writing was a hobby for me—something I did whenever I found the time. After hearing this, it became a calling, and I believe I am as called to write as a minister is called to preach:

“We are called to write and I feel we will be responsible at the Judgment for the people who are hurting that we could have helped but didn’t because we didn’t write what God laid on our hearts to write” (Harold Ivan Smith).

Why do you write? (continued):
Because Your Writing Can Help Spread the Gospel

As a teen, I loved listening to missionaries speak. Their work sounded exciting, especially those who went to Africa. I was disappointed that God didn’t call me to the mission field.

Years later a friend brought me an article to edit that she eventually sold to Decision magazine. Two young men in Africa read it and became Christians. I realized then that writing—and helping other writers—was my mission field.

You may not go to a far-off country, or even leave your hometown. However, through your writing about what God has done in your life, and what He can do in the lives of your readers, you can reach people all over the world.

Have a good week spreading the
gospel through the printed page.

Donna Clark Goodrich
dgood648@aol.com
www.thewritersfriend.net
http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com

 "A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers"

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