A Step in the Write Direction--August 4, 2014--Time to Quit Writing?

A Step in the Write Direction

August 4, 2014

Update: Oh, how I miss Word 2003! I’ve been trying to make corrections in the new version of “A Step in the Write Direction,” and realize how inept I am. I have to create five forms, and don’t know how on Word 2007. A friend from my hometown offered to do it if I would scan them and send them to her—something I haven’t learned how to on my new printer. I’m trying to make corrections on the PDF copy and find that is also impossible to do. Monday begins a new week, so I’ll say a prayer and try again!...My last medical test last week turned out fine, so the next item on our agenda is to test for mold in our bathroom (where we had a plumbing problem) and in my office (where the roof leaks)….Now that I’m caught up (temporarily) on other people’s work, I’m anxious to start organizing all the material I’ve collected over the past months on my caregiver book. Once I find a publisher, I’ll send out a call for submissions.  

Thought for the Day: If you find that you are not excelling in the present, it could most certainly be because you have no vision for the future (Dr. Tony Evans).

Song for the Day:

Empty and broken, I came back to Him;

A vessel unworthy, and so scarred with sin

But He did not despair, He started over again,

And I bless the day, He didn’t throw the clay away!

Over and over, He molds me and makes me

Into His likeness, He fashions the clay.

A vessel of honor I am today.

All because Jesus didn’t throw the clay away.

                        —Gene Reasoner

Laugh for the Day: At Sunday school they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she said, “Johnny, what is the matter?”  Little Johnny responded, “I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife.”

Writer’s Tips:

Time to Quit?

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and

all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33).

“I wish I had more time to write,” I moaned to my weekly critique group.  Running my own business and caring for a disabled husband consumed much of my time. I saw no way to write two hours a day as suggested by speakers at every writers’ conference I attended. I could barely squeeze out one hour a week.

Then one day while playing racquetball with my son, I fell and broke my wrist in four places. The doctor removed the cast two months later, but in weeks to come I still couldn’t pick up a cup of tea without pain. An MRI showed three torn ligaments and a torn tendon which led to a 3½ hour surgery and two more months in a cast.

Now I had a lot of time! I scanned my latest Christian Writers Market Guide, typing out possible markets with the three fingers poking out from my cast. Then I dug out old manuscripts, updated them, sent them out in bunches, and sat back and waited for responses.

And they came—12 rejections in one day! I threw the envelopes on the living room floor and announced to my husband, “I quit! I’m not writing anymore!”

Then I heard a quiet voice within: “I just want you to use this time to get close to Me.”

What a revelation! While I couldn’t drive, clean house, type very well, or run errands, I could worship God. I could listen to Christian CDs. I could make a dent in the pile of books I had promised myself to read “someday.” And I could pray—for my writer friends, for my family, for our church and its staff, for missionaries, and for our government leaders.

Perhaps you’re wishing today you had more time for family, for hobbies, for recreation—and especially for writing. Seek God first, and “all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

            Take time to be holy,

            Speak oft with thy Lord;

            Abide in him always,

            And feed on His Word….

            Take time to be holy,

The world rushes on;

Spend much time in secret

With Jesus alone.

 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