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
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
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…
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.)
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)
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