Sunday, November 30, 2014

A Step in the Write Direction--December 1, 2014--The Designated Gift Giver


A Step in the Write Direction

December 1, 2014

Update: Let me wish a happy birthday to Heather, who made me a grandma for the first time 27 years ago today. Can't believe how fast the years have gone….Not that I needed anything to remember my bestest friend by, but I was very touched Saturday when her husband offered me her piano. I haven't had one in years, and to have one that belonged to her touched me deeply! Now to find a way to get it the 50 miles to my house!...My husband took a visit to the E.R. again this week. Took me three times to wake him up in the morning, and when I finally did, he was very confused and couldn't walk. His sugar was quite low which was part of the problem. He spent the night, and will visit his regular doctor Wednesday….We had a good Thanksgiving; it was so good to spend it again with our daughter and family who moved back here from Oklahoma. Hope all of you had a good day too!

NOTE: If any of you have been a caregiver and can share some brief (250 words or less) humorous stories of something that happened, or how humor has helped you in caregiving, send them to me. (If you want the Table of Contents for the book to see what else I'll be looking for, email me. The publisher wants three sample chapters for a proposal.)

Thought for the Day: "The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it (2 Corinthians 8:10-11 MSG).

Song for the Day
In the service of the King
Ev'ry talent I will bring.
I have peace and joy and blessing
In the service of the King.
            Alfred H. Ackley, "In the Service of the King"

Laugh for Today: A movie star, on a cruise, saw a man suffering from a cold.  "I'll tell you what to do," she instructed.  "Go back to your stateroom, drink a lot of orange juice, take two aspirin and cover yourself with all the blankets you can find.  I should know what I'm talking about.  I'm Billie Burke of Hollywood." 

The man smiled warmly and replied, "Thanks.  I'm Dr. Mayo, of the Mayo Clinic."

A Christmas Devotion (from my book "Preparing Your Heart for Christmas"—31 Advent devotions, now on sale for half price—$5 + s&h).
The Designated Gift Giver
For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Although my mother didn’t have much money for Christmas shopping, she always seemed to know what gift to buy everyone—because she listened carefully all year. Her gifts ranged from a sewing box for my niece who made her own clothes, to blank tapes for my songwriting nephew, and a piano bench for my sister.

Through the years, I’ve tried to carry on her tradition, and today I’ve taken on the enjoyable task of designated gift buyer for our writers’ group. I’ll search for hours—in stores, in catalogs, and on the Internet—for just the right present for a particular person. Sometimes I buy things as much as a year early when I find the perfect gift. Then I wrap it in beautiful paper and give it to the only person that gift will fit.

I am acquainted with another Gift Giver. At the beginning of time, He looked ahead and saw millions of people who were in need of a gift. He listened to their cries, and thought, “What can I give them?” Then He said, “I know. I’ll give the best Gift possible—My Son.” So He wrapped this Gift in swaddling clothes and gave Him not to just one particular person, but to the whole world. And the neatest thing about this Gift is that it fits everyone—even me!

Lord, at this Christmas season, may I remember the Gift and the Giver. Let me love as You loved—and give as You gave.

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

Donna Clark Goodrich
·           A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers (student edition has assignments throughout); $12.50 and $7.50, $3.17 s&h)
   The Freedom of Letting Go--half-price--$7.50, $2.69 s&h)
   Healing in God’s Time (story of Dave Clark, songwriter of 25 songs that have gone to #1 on the charts); was $15; now $7.50, $2.69 s&h)
   The Little Book of Big Laughs (105 purse/pocket-size book of clean jokes)--$5; up to 4 for same s&h--$2.69
   Preparing Your Heart for Christmas (31 Advent Devotions)half-price--$5 + s&h
   Michigan and Ohio Cookbooks; half-price $5 each, plus s&h
Grandmother, Mother, and Me Anthology (stories, poetry, and recipes);
·          Grandfather, Father, and Me Anthology (stories, poetry, and recipes)
·          Celebrating Christmas with…Memories, Poetry, and Good Food
(above three anthologies now half price--$12.50, $3.17 s&h)
·          100-Plus Motivational Moments for Writers and Speakers--$5, $2.69 s&h, OR FREE WITH PURCHASE OF ANY 3 BOOKS!

Sunday, November 23, 2014

A Step in the Write Direction--November 24, 2014--The Stone of Defeatism

A Step in the Write Direction
November 24, 2014

Update: Our eight-month-old daughter had pneumonia and was in the hospital on her first Christmas. Finances were tight, so I took in two books of stamps to get her a Christmas gift. I laid the stamps on the counter to look at the catalog. When I turned around, my stamps were gone. "Where are my stamps? They were right here?" I asked. No one answered. Almost crying, I said, "Our little girl is in the hospital. These stamps were for her Christmas gift." Still no one responded, and I left the store empty-handed and in tears.

Fast forward five years: We had moved to Arizona due to my husband's arthritis. Our son's eighth birthday was coming up, and a coworker asked what we were going to buy him. "He wants a basketball," I answered, "but we told him he'd have to wait because his dad is sick and out of work."

The next day this lady handed me two books of trading stamps. "Here," she said, "use these to get your boy his basketball." Sharing the two stories with my sister, she said, "The second lady  made up for the people at the store who took your other stamps."

I had never thought of it in that way, realizing how long the stolen stamps had stayed in my memory. I had told the story over and over again and, with each retelling, the hurt returned. However, I had almost forgotten the friend who gave up her two books of stamps so our boy could have a happy birthday.

What are you thankful for this year?

Thought for the Day:
And help us to remember
That the key to life and living
Is to make each prayer a prayer of thanks
And every day Thanksgiving.
—“A Thanksgiving Prayer,” Helen Steiner Rice.

Song for the Day:
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
            "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," Thomas O. Chisholm

Laugh for the Day: One year after our pastor urged us to start giving thanks for everything, I took it to the limit. If our girls griped about doing dishes, I told them to be thankful they had food to eat. When they complained about the boy in children's church acting up, I told them to be thankful at least he was in church. On and on it went until the whole family got tired of it. It came to a head one day when I received a letter from our publishing house. "See," I boasted, "being thankful pays off.  Look! I sold a story!" I opened the envelope and pulled out—a bill!!

Writer's Tips: (from unpublished writers' devotional book. Note: I think I have a publisher who'll pick up this book after the first of the year!)

The Stone of Defeatism

Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory
that has overcome the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4).

“It is interesting to note how the news of the outcome of the battle of Waterloo was communicated to England. The message was sent by rider, by ship across the English Channel, and then by semaphore from ship to shore. The message had four words. Only the first two were communicated because a heavy fog descended suddenly. What got through was only, ‘W-e-l-l-i-n-g-t-o-n  d-e-f-e-a-t-e-d.’

That’s all the relay saw on the tower of Winchester Cathedral, and all he could do was pass on the sad news. England lived in disappointment for 24 hours. Then the fog lifted, and the whole message was completed: ‘W-e-l-l-i-n-g-t-o-n  d-e-f-e-a-t-e-d  t-h-e  e-n-e-m-y’.”

Are we living today with only half a message when God wants to give us all His promises? Are we living in defeat when God wants to give us victory? Bertha Munro, in her book Truth for Today, says that “More than conquerors isn’t just barely squeaking through. It’s victory with a margin.”

We say, “I can’t write.”
God says, “I’ll help you.”

We say, “I’m afraid of being rejected.”
God says, “My Son was rejected also.”

We say, “I feel so alone.”
God says, “I’ll surround you with mentors who will be glad to share their knowledge and encouragement.”

Stephen Arterburn, talking about David facing Goliath, says, “[David] could have said, ‘Goliath is so big. I can’t win!’ Instead he said, ‘Goliath is so big—I can’t miss!’”

God did not design us to be losers. He made us to be winners!

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

Donna Clark Goodrich

·         A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers (with assignments throughout); original copies now on sale for half-price--$12.50, $3.17 s&h)
·        The Freedom of Letting Go (with discussion questions; can be used in S.S. class or small group); original copies without questions now on sale for half-price--$7.50, $2.69 s&h)
·        Healing in God’s Time (story of Dave Clark, songwriter of 25 songs that have gone to #1 on the charts); was $15; now $10, $2.69 s&h)
·        The Little Book of Big Laughs (105 purse/pocket-size book of clean jokes); up to 4 for same s&h--$2.32
·        Preparing Your Heart for Christmas (31 Advent Devotions)$5, plus s&h
·        Michigan and Ohio Cookbooks; half-price $5 each, plus s&h
·           Grandmother, Mother, and Me Anthology (stories, poetry, and recipes);
·          Grandfather, Father, and Me Anthology (stories, poetry, and recipes)
·          Celebrating Christmas with…Memories, Poetry, and Good Food
(above three anthologies now half price--$12.50, $3.17 s&h)


Sunday, November 16, 2014

A Step in the Write Direction--November 17, 2014--Procrastination


A Step in the Write Direction

November 17, 2014

Update: While listening to Lawrence Welk the other night, they sang the song "Let Me Be There." As I listened to the words (see below), I thought how appropriate it could be for the Lord speaking to Christians. He always wants to be there for us, even—and especially—when we fall. He just wants to be there, but we have to ask….He has truly been with our family this last week: while sharing at my bestest friend's funeral (how do you select two or three memories from 69 years?), and having our son in the hospital for two days with what they thought was a stroke (it wasn't, but he has to see a neurologist). Just like we want our children to ask us when they need something, our heavenly Father is waiting for us to ask—and He'll be there!

Thought for the Day: "I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged. I had pieces that were rewritten so many times I suspect it was just a way of avoiding sending them out" (Erica Jong, bookbaby.com). (See Writers' Tips on procrastination below.)

Song for the Day:
Wherever you go, wherever you may wander in your life
Surely you know I'll always wanna be there
Holdin' your hand and standing by to catch you when you fall
Seeing you through in everything you do
Watching you grow and going through the changes in your life
That's how I know I'll always wanna be there
Whenever you feel you need a friend to lean on here I am
Whenever you call you know I'll be there
Let me be there in your morning, let me be there in your night
Let me change whatever's wrong and make it right…
All I ask you is let me be there
 —John Rostill, John Henry, Lyrics@EMI Music Publishing
Laugh for the Day: Two elderly ladies met on the street and hugged each other excitedly in recognition. They chatted for several minutes, then one of them said, “I recognize you but for the life of me I can't recall your name. Please don’t be offended, but would you tell me your name?”

The other lady stared at her, shocked. Thinking for a minute, she answered, "How soon do you need to know?" (Thanks to my writer friend Kitty Chappell for this one.)

Writer's Tips: (another stone that needs to be rolled away—from unpublished Writers' Devotional Book).

The Stone of Procrastination

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know
what a day may bring forth (Proverbs 27:1).

A little story made the rounds years ago. It went like this: A man dreamed that he attended a meeting of the board of directors in hell. Satan had expressed concern that business was not increasing as fast as hoped. He asked for suggestions.

One demon volunteered to go back to earth and tell people that there is no heaven. “We’ve tried that,” Satan said. “It doesn’t work.”

Another offered to convince men that there is no hell. “That won’t work either,” the devil said.

Then a clever demon in the back of the room rose. “If you let me go,” he said, “I can fill this place. I won’t tell people there is no heaven or hell. I’ll just tell them they can get right with God—tomorrow!”

Sound familiar?
“I’m going to be a writer—someday.”
“I’m going to start on my book—someday.”
“I’m going to attend a writer’s conference—someday.”

You may be writing now, but you’re not submitting your work to editors because you’re afraid of being rejected. Or you may already be writing, but only what you want to instead of what God has called you to write. One writer friend wanted to write about her missionary experiences, while God was leading her to write about the religious cult she had left. She finally obeyed, and her book has become a best-seller.

If you’re one who has been procrastinating, it’s time to stop talking and begin acting. These hints may help:
            1. Write your goals in detail.
            2. Write a target date.
            3. Make a “to do” list.
            4. Divide your goals into bite-sized pieces.

One pastor said that he has buried a lot of people with the music still in them. Don’t let the following be said of you:

            The greatest of workers, this man would have been
                                    Tomorrow.
            The world would have known, had he ever seen
                                    Tomorrow.
            But the fact is, he died, and he faded from view;
            And all that he left here, when his lifetime was through,
            Was a mountain of things he’d intended to do
                                    Tomorrow.
                                                —Author unknown

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

Donna Clark Goodrich

·           A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers (with assignments throughout); original copies now on sale for half-price--$12.50, $3.17 s&h)
·          The Freedom of Letting Go (with discussion questions; can be used in S.S. class or small group); original copies without questions now on sale for half-price--$7.50, $2.69 s&h)
·          Healing in God’s Time (story of Dave Clark, songwriter of 25 songs that have gone to #1 on the charts); was $15; now $10, $2.69 s&h)
·          The Little Book of Big Laughs (105 purse/pocket-size book of clean jokes); up to 4 for same s&h--$2.32
·          Preparing Your Heart for Christmas (31 Advent Devotions)
·          Michigan and Ohio Cookbooks; half-price $5 each, plus s&h (depending on number ordered)
·          Grandmother, Mother, and Me Anthology (stories, poetry, and recipes);
·          Grandfather, Father, and Me Anthology (stories, poetry, and recipes)
·          Celebrating Christmas with…Memories, Poetry, and Good Food
(above three anthologies now half price--$12.50, $3.17 s&h)


Monday, November 10, 2014

A Step in the Write Direction, November 10, 2014--Trained to Write for Him


A Step in the Write Direction
November 10, 2014

Update: Sunday morning, at 1:20 a.m., I lost my dearest friend of 69 years. Kathy and I had known each other since second grade and shared many great experiences together, including a 14-day tour of Great Britain. I shouldn't say I "lost" her, though, as you only lose something you don't know where it is—and I have no doubt where she is today. When we were in England, we saw Balmoral Castle where the queen was staying and visited Crathey Chapel where she attended church. Just as we left we saw a team of horses pulling a carriage. "The queen is leaving the castle," the tour guide told us. "If we had time, we'd pull over and watch her pass, but we have to stay on schedule." So we missed seeing the queen, but as shown in the song below which was sung so beautifully in church yesterday, Kathy is now in the presence of the King. I'll miss you, Bestest! You brought a lot of joy into my life!

Thought for Today:
I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world (Mother Teresa).

Song for Today:
In the presence of Jehovah,
God Almighty, Prince of Peace
Troubles vanish, hearts are mended,
In the presence of the King
            "In the Presence of Jehovah," Geron and Becky Davis

Laugh for Today:
A lady, taking music lessons, was nervously singing her first solo in church.  She came to the phrase, "the fairest of ten thousand," and her voice broke on the word "ten."  She tried a second time and failed.  "Give me my note again," she told the organist and she made the third attempt in vain. Then came a voice from the audience, "Why don't you start over and try for five thousand?"

Writer's Tips:
Trained to Write for Him

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who
correctly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

Donna Otto tells of a friend, a city girl, who loved plants and decided that gardening was a hobby she’d like to explore, even though the only gardening tools she ever saw in her parents’ garage were a lawn mower and an edger.

She started by reading articles and books and discussing her project with gardening friends. She received a wealth of tips and hints, but when the time came to actually break the soil and start the garden, she found herself stuck.

She explained her problem to Donna. “I have all this information, and I know what I want to do in this garden, but I still don’t have any idea what to do with a hoe!”

What a lesson for writers! We’ve all met people who have a talent for writing, but don’t know what to do with that talent. They’ve read articles and books, talked to friends, attended conferences. They know what they want to do, but when they “break the soil”—put the first word on the page, and eventually finish their manuscript—they don’t know where to go next.

I’ve always liked the slogan Reg Forder, director of American Christian Writers, uses: “Trained to Write for Him.” We may have all the talent in the world, we may be totally inspired, but we need training.

Writing is no different than any other field of work. No one with a mere interest in medicine would attempt brain surgery, nor would someone who can play a few notes on a violin join a symphony orchestra. Yet we often hear someone say, “I want to be a writer,” and think that desire is all that is necessary.

The exciting thing about being a writer is that we never stop learning! No matter how long we’ve written, no matter how many manuscripts we’ve sold, there’s always something new to learn. And we learn by reading writers’ magazines and other authors’ works, attending conferences, meeting with editors, talking to other writers. Grammar rules are updated, publishers’ needs change from year to year, snail mail submissions evolve into e-mail attachments. If we’re going to continue to be successful, we have to keep up with these changes.

There’s one important point to remember, however: We can read every writers’ magazine published, every book on writing, attend writers’ conferences, join writers’ groups, but unless we sit down and write, we won’t be a writer. Some people want to have written, like a girl who “wanted to be a returned missionary.”

It has been said, “Knowledge plus action produces change. Knowledge alone is not enough.”

If you haven’t yet attained your dream of being published, what steps can you take to further reach this goal?

 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




Sunday, November 2, 2014

A Step in the Write Direction--November 3, 2014--God's Ways Are Not Our Ways


A Step in the Write Direction

November 3, 2014

Update: Typing the words of today’s song brought back memories. In 1958-60 and 1964-65  I worked at the Nazarene Publishing House. The music branch of NPH was Lillenas Publishing Company, one of the largest music publishers in the U.S., named after Haldor Lillenas who wrote the song below. In 1959, Lillenas passed away and we went to the funeral home for the viewing. He was 74. After we left the room, we then went to another room at the same mortuary for the viewing of our Sunday school teacher’s two-year-old daughter. I couldn’t help but think what a full life Lillenas had and what a legacy he left while the little girl barely had a chance to live. I wonder what legacy she would have left. Then I wondered what legacy I’ll leave when my time here is done. Something to think about!...Yeah! Our daughter and family got here late tonight from Oklahoma. We’ll see them tomorrow…and the next day….and the next. So nice to have them back “home.”

Thought for the Day: “Try not to confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress” (Family Variety Puzzles & Games, October 2014, p. 144).

Song for the Day:
The burden that once I carried
Is gone, is gone.
Of all of my sins there remaineth
Not one, not one.
Jesus, the Saviour, hath ransomed me,
Bearing my sins upon Calvary,
Giving me glorious liberty;
My burden of sin is gone.
            —Haldor Lillenas, “My Burden Is Gone”

Laugh for the Day:
"Please go easy on the bill for repairing my car," the minister told the mechanic.  "Remember, I am a poor preacher." 

"I know," replied the mechanic.  "I heard you last Sunday."

Writer’s Tips: (This week I’m sharing a thought illustrating why God’s ways are not always our ways. It doesn’t refer to writing, but it may help someone going through a situation they don’t understand.)

For Elmer’s Sake

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord (Isaiah 55:8).

“Lord, why have you let Mother linger so long? You know she’s ready to go.”

It was two o’clock in the morning in December 1982. Sitting in the tiny, smoke-filled waiting room of the Intensive Care Unit, I thought back over the events of the last eighteen months: my mother’s cancer surgery, the chemo treatments, my eight trips between Arizona and Michigan, and the final surgery which led to the coma in which she now lay.

The week before, the doctor had told me “24 to 48 hours” and I had summoned my brothers and sister who had come, along with some of their children, to be by Mother’s bedside. Day after day we waited and watched. “She quit breathing,” someone would say and we’d rush to the cafeteria to get a family member. But by the time we returned, the breathing had begun again.

Exhausted, and needing to return home for a statewide Christian writers seminar I was leading, I often found myself alone in this little waiting room, praying and questioning God.

On this particular night, however, I was not alone for long. A man in his middle sixties made his way into the room, dragging his IV stand beside him.  “How are you doing?” I asked him.

“Not too good,” he answered in a low voice. “My doctor told me today I have only six months to live.”

We chatted for awhile. Then he asked why I was there and I told him about my
other.

“How did she handle it when they told her?” he asked me.

I shared with him about her Christian faith which had kept her all through the years, and also that many people had been praying for her.

“I used to pray,” he admitted, “but I don’t anymore. It’s too late.”

“It’s never too late,” I told him. Reaching into my purse, I took out my New Testament and turned to John 3:16.
“Listen to this verse,” I told him. I read the words, putting his name in the appropriate places:  “For God so loved Elmer, that he gave his only begotten Son, that [if] Elmer believes in him Elmer shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Elmer read the verse again, then he looked up and asked, “Does that mean there’s still a chance for me?”

“That’s exactly what it means,” I answered. I explained the gospel message simply and then asked if he would like to pray. He bowed his head and repeated the words I said to him. When we finished, he said, simply, “Thank you,” and left the room.

The next day while walking down the hall I looked up and saw Elmer coming toward me. His head erect, he shook my hand and said, “It’s okay. I’m not afraid to die now.”

Then I knew why God had let my mother linger for so long. It was for Elmer’s sake.

 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 Book for Christian Writers
Preparing Your Heart for Christmas
The Freedom of Letting Go
Healing in God’s Time
The Little Book of Big Laughs
Christmas Anthology
Mother/Grandmother Anthology
Father/Grandmother Anthology