Self-Determination (by Margaret Lepke)

Thirty years ago, self-determination was one of my goals. It meant autonomy, self-rule and independence. People all over the world are striving for it because they think it will make them happy. But then I learned that true happiness flows from a different source.

One day, one of my clients produced a Bible from her handbag and read me this verse: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:36). I didn't object to a God of love, but then she started talking about sin: There is no one righteous, not even one (Rom.3:10) - and I quickly protested. "I'm not a sinner! I'm not a liar, a thief or a murderer! To the contrary, I am a nice person. I help others!"

My lovely client was wise and did not argue. Instead, she read from Isaiah 53:6 that all of us like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him (meaning Christ) the iniquity (sin) of us all. And there it was: my own way. SELF-DETERMINATION. What I thought to be a virtue, God declared to be sin. And it bugged me. A lot! The Holy Spirit used this verse to convict me, to show me that self-rule - in the sense of not wanting to submit to a higher authority - was the very essence of sin.

This conviction immediately led to fear. Jesus once said: Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt. 20:28 and Luke 12:5). So if the God of the Bible truly existed, then I was truly in trouble because then I was guilty. I needed a pardon, and that very evening I turned to Jesus who had paid for my sins in His own body on the cross. I handed over the reins of my life and self-determination turned into God-determination. I thought that was the end of my 'self' determining things. But was it - really?

In regard to trusting God and following His lead it was. However – and this is a big however – when reading the Bible I soon discovered that I still had the responsibility of determining things. For example, Rom.12:2 told me that I should NOT conform to the pattern of this world, but that I should be transformed by the renewing of my mind. It wasn’t a passive thing that would just happen, but in obedience I had to actively do it myself. God is in the renovation business. He wants to renew my mind and my life and has given me all the tools I need. But it’s my responsibility to pick them up and put them to use so that I might run my race here on earth effectively. The Bible puts it this way:

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it (1Cor.9:24).
And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown (victor's wreath), but we for an imperishable crown (1Cor.9:25).

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil.3:14).
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done (Matt.16:27).

It became clear to me that my eternal reward is determined by what I do. Just as my eternal destination is determined by what I believe. Once I truly grasped this concept, it changed my whole attitude to the here and now. It's up to me to determine my future! Paul said in Phil.1:21, For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. And a plaque in our kitchen reads, Only one life, it’ll soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last. 

Do YOU think God's rewards are worth striving for? I certainly do. I gave up self-determination in order to follow Jesus, but then I took it back under God’s guidance to use for His eternal glory because any reward (or crown) I might receive will prove my gratitude and love for Him through my actions here on earth. What a glorious turn-around for self-determination! Praise God from whom all blessings flow…  

PS: 
My apologies for today’s topic not being on literary quests. I have recently had a new vision of the importance of providing for our eternal future and thought I might share it with you instead.

May your future hold great rewards for you - eternally!

With Christian love,
Margaret
www.drlepke.com.au
 

Base Camp

by Jeanette O'Hagan

     The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights.

     Habbukuk 3: 19 (NIV)

In 1996 Bear Grylls broke his back in a parachuting accident, severely crushing several vertebrae. Fortunately, his spine was not severed. In the long months following the accident a photo of Everest and an old crazy dream to conquer its summit motivated his recovery.

‘So much of my focus during my recovery centred on Everest. It gave me something to aim for, but no one in my family really took it seriously.’ Bear Grylls 2011

Almost two years later, at the age of 23, Bear became the youngest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest (at that time).

‘At 7.22am on May 26, 1998, with tears still pouring down my frozen cheeks, the summit of Everest opened her arms and welcomed me in. My pulse raced and in a haze I found myself suddenly standing on top of the world.’ Bear Grylls 2011

That journey didn’t happen with a snap of a benevolent Genie’s fingers. It took determination, guts, preparation, training, providence and time. Time in hospital, 3 months bedridden at home, 8 months of 10 hours a day rehabilitation, a tester expedition to Mount Ama Dablam (6858m) in 1997 before he even started the Everest Expedition. Once on the mountain, it took  another 3 ½ months – some weeks to acclimatise to the mountain, 6 weeks to reach the final base camp, more preparation and setbacks - before finally Bear and his companions began their gruelling 10 ½ hour climb to the summit.  All the while knowing that on average 1 in 6 climbers died in the attempt.

Just so you know – I’m not planning on climbing Mount Everest (8848 m) anytime soon. But sometimes I think that there are marked similarities between climbing the world’s highest peak – and being a writer. I don’t know what the attrition rate of aspiring authors is – but I do know that the dream doesn’t materialise overnight. It takes determination, guts, preparation, training, providence and time. Sound familiar?

And part of what makes the climb possible is the base camps.

• The base camp is a place of preparation – where one marshals one’s resources, enhance one’s skills and plans the next step of the ascent;
• The base camp is a place of acclimatisation, of adapting to the new conditions so that what seemed hard becomes natural;
• It’s also a place to recuperate and recover after setbacks, injuries or failed attempts;
• Even getting to the base camp is an achievement;
• There is more than one base camp before reaching one’s goal;
• Base camp is also a place to reflect and sometimes to re-imagine one’s goals. There are, after all, other times, other seasons, maybe even other goals.

Because of the need to adapt to the low oxygen environment, Bear and his companions spent as much time descending as ascending, each time going up ‘just a little bit higher.’   

 ‘They actually say you climb Everest seven or eight times over just because of this process of ascending and descending.’ Bear Grylls 2010a

Receiving rejections and criticisms, often scathing, are part of what it means to be a writer. Sometimes these negatives are deserved, sometimes they are not. It takes time to hone one’s skills, to make connections, to find those elusive opportunities or to make them. And there are many summits along the way – the day we decided to sit down and write, the day we finished our first draft, the day we sent it (properly edited) to a publisher, and then submitted it to the next one. For me the summit is publication – but the summits don’t stop there – with marketing, networking, writing and publishing more books, becoming established, keeping the ideas flowing, gaining an audience and so on.

‘It was about knowing and believing that dreams are worth taking a risk for. Dreams come at a cost. And the rewards don't always go to the strongest or the bravest or the fittest or the cleverest. The rewards go very simply to those who can understand it means: never, ever quit.’ Bear Grylls 2010b

If we are following the call of our Lord, we know we do not climb alone. And it may also be that while we are fixated with the summit, God has other plans in mind. As Paula Vince reminds us, Mount Everest is just another hard to see bump from space. She says, ‘I now like to think that from a lofty enough heavenly perspective, all the good we do just becomes part of the earth's fabric.’ (Vince 2014) What’s important is the journey, not the climb – knowing that our Master blesses us and through us, He blesses others, through each small obedient action we take along the way.

 Jeanette has practiced medicine, studied communication, history and theology and has taught theology.  She is currently caring for her  children, enjoying post-graduate studies in writing at Swinburne University and writing her Akrad fantasy fiction series.  She is actively involved in a caring Christian community.

You can find her on her Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/JeanetteOHaganAuthorAndSpeaker or webistes Jeanette O'Hagan Writes &   JennysThread.com .

Images:

Mount Everest (Public Domain CCO) sourced from Pixabay

The Himalyas (Public Domain CCO) sourced from Pixabay 

References:

Bear Grylls 2011 ‘Bear Grylls: How Climbing Everest Was a Perfect Cure for a Broken Bake’ in Daily Mail,  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1389519/Bear-Grylls-How-climbing-Everest-perfect-cure-BROKEN-BACK.html#ixzz373tmdIC5

Bear Grylls 2010a ‘Bear Grylls Describes Deaths of His Climbing Mates on Everest’ in Webex, http://blogs.webex.com/webex_interactions/2010/08/bear_grylls_death_on_everest.html

Bear Grylls 2010b ‘Bear Grylls Survives the ‘Death Zone’ and reaches the summit at last’ in Webex, http://blogs.webex.com/webex_interactions/2010/08/bear_grylls_everest.html

Bear Grylls 2012 Mud, Sweat and Tears William Morrow

Paula Vince, 2014, ‘We May Have Mount Everest Syndrome’ in It Just Occurred To Me, http://justoccurred.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/that-we-may-have-mount-everest-syndrome.html

Interview with Jack Haines

By Ian Acheson

Photo courtesy of Rendeeplumia/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I had the opportunity to sit down with Jack Haines, the hero of Angelguard. In a long wide-ranging interview that covered various topics including Jack’s faith, dealing with grief and the loss of loved ones, to his passion for ball sports and a hidden talent, Ian was able to share an excerpt with us on Christian Writers Downunder.

Thanks Jack for your time today. Perhaps fill us in with what occupies most of your days.

Ian, it’s my pleasure. I spend most of my weeks during the academic year teaching organisational design, leadership and entrepreneurship to students at the one of Australia's leading Graduate Management Schools. I also run my own consultancy business where I share my learning’s as a student of business with a small number of global clients.

And what about when you’re not working?

Running around being exhausted by two daughters, two-year-old twins. As a single dad it can be a lot of work. I’m blessed that my dear mum, Louise, moved into my home after Sarah, my wife, passed away last year. Mum cares for the girls while I’m working. I’m fortunate that I’m able to do a lot of preparation work at home so I can be within earshot of the family on most days.

Last year was a traumatic time for you. Are you able to share a little about how this impacted your walk with the Lord?

As you can imagine it was really tough at first. We were living the life, busy work and enjoying being a family of six, and part of a wonderfully caring church community. Then bang, tragedy struck, that family was halved and all of a sudden I felt terribly alone having to care for my two little ones. It was a real test of my faith. At first, I blamed God, but through His gentle reassuring touch He ministered to my broken heart. It’s still healing but what I’ve come to appreciate is that God wants us to depend on Him. Not just for the big things in life, but the everyday. So each day when I rise I seek Him out and ask for His help in everything I’m doing that day: caring for Gracey and Catie, teaching my students, being a son, friend and brother.

You confronted real evil last year on a few occasions. What was that like?

Fortunately, I can now only remember the joy I felt when we were together on the train heading towards Circular Quay. What happened after we crashed has now become a blur, until I woke in the hospital to be told Sarah and my two eldest had perished at the hands of a terrorist. Those first moments on hearing that news I expect I’ll never forget even though I was on heavy painkillers.

We’re all familiar with the Bible verses that tell us about what Satan and his workers are all about. John 10:10, “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;” well I’ve seen the results of his handiwork firsthand. All the atrocities that occur in this world should remind us that evil does exist and as far as the enemy is concerned it’s a full-bloodied assault for our souls.

But the second half of that verse tells us we have the ultimate warrior on our side: Jesus. He has come that we may have life and have it to the full.

Even though there’s still sadness, I know God’s in charge, He’s crazy about me and as I mentioned before I’m learning to give over more of myself to Him. My prayer life has become such an important part of my day. Even days’ that are incredibly busy I make sure I give time to be in His presence and thank Him for all that He has blessed me with.

That’s all with have today. Further excerpts will be made available in the future.

If you’re not familiar with Jack Haines, his story can be found in Angelguard, the first novel in the Chronicles of the Angelguard.

Angelguard reveals the timeless supernatural war that continues unabated and it’s intersection with our physical world. In bringing the warring angels and demons to the forefront of a rollicking tale that crosses the globe, it highlights the ferocity of this conflict. The physical story focuses on three survivors of separate acts of terrorism that occur within weeks of each other. 

The power of prayer in engaging heaven is a second prominent theme of the novel. 

Ian Acheson is an author and strategy consultant based in Northern Sydney. Ian's first novel of speculative fiction, Angelguard, is now available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. You can find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter

Poem Patterns by Rachel Timmins

The poem below entitled After the Gruelling, was written (sans edits) after a trying experience and while listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

After completing the poem, I noticed that lines two and four rhymed, and for no particular reason I started to write down the last word of the rhyming lines.  An interesting pattern emerged. The lines were all human-nature related things. 

I enjoy things like Biblical codes, so I became intrigued and then jotted down the non-rhyming lines separately.  All those words were things from God.  It gave me a joyous feeling of God’s involvement with me and care for me after the stressful experience and subsequent therapy of poetry-writing. 

I suggest reading the poem through without looking at the analysis in parentheses, and then read the analysis.

Try this exercise and any others you can think of, on any of your poems and see if there is a pattern from the Holy Spirit.  Or try writing one directly from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit’s voice right now. 

You may find you’ve written something with more than one layer of meaning, such as we find in the scriptures. 

You may even discover that you have created a numeric pattern that you weren’t attempting to.  If there is one, you could check the meaning of the numbers involved either online or by using a reference book such as Number in Scripture by E.W. Bullivant. Online:  http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/number01.htm

Perhaps you will experience as I did that analysing your poem in this way will help your faith or even give you a secret love message from the King; that He is involved in all the details of your life.  He is with you and He cares for you.

After the Gruelling

Shaken by triggers      (revealed by God)

Comfort in hot tea      (natural comfort)

The mad and the sane    (my sanity is from God)

Chatting around me      (natural discomfort)

Forgive and forgive     (with God’s help)

Patience then patience  (I choose to be patient)

Strong in His strength  (strength from God)

Rebuffing offence       (I choose to resist temptation)

God has His plan        (from God)

His path, His ways      (I choose to follow)

To learn to love        (lessons on love from God)

Refusing worldly sways  (I choose to resist them)

BIO

I am an amateur writer and I have been involved in a writer’s group for the past four years. I have had devotionals and poems published in the anthologies, Penned from the Heart, Footprints magazine, The Mozzie, The Voices Project, and a travel article for the Sunday Mail. Poetica Christi is to publish a poem of mine in their upcoming anthology A Lightness of Being. 

Many of my poems are cathartic or helpful to others relating to a background of abuse. As a Christian I believe God has healed me of trauma. I hope by writing to encourage other women to believe that healing is possible and that life is worth living.  Overcoming the past has been a long journey for me.

Hearing God's Voice

by Karina Hudson

Hello! This is my first blog entry for Christian Writer’s Downunder and I hope that those who take a few minutes from their day to read it, will be glad they did.

It’s quite daunting to write something for an audience of writers. A similar feeling emerges when I sing in front of other singers; actually, no, it’s more like when I sang in front of a group of highly trained speech therapists! Thoughts that went through my head included things like “Are they analyzing my larynx for any signs of stress or strain? Is my vocal tract worthy of the title of voice teacher?”

Anyway… after a lot of thought over the content of this blog, I decided on this one ….. HEARING GOD’S VOICE - the how and when of God’s call on our lives.

I’ve known the Lord personally since I was 8 years old. I’m a month away from turning 42. During this time, I’ve come to know through experience that God chooses to speak to me in 4 ways:

1. His Word  2. Prayer/Meditation  3. People  4. Circumstances. I also believe that God can speak through our dreams and through His creation although the former 4 ways will be my focus today.

God’s word doesn’t give me specific instructions on matters of guidance like “Karina, write books for Christian Blended Families” or “Resign from your permanent part-time teaching position”. Wouldn’t that make life easier?  However, God will give me scriptures like “God comforts us in all our troubles so we can use that same comfort to comfort others (2 Cor.1:1-3) or “God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him” (Rom. 8:28) to quicken my spirit as to what HIS Spirit is doing and then invites me to get on board with His plans.

I’ve found that the study and meditation of God’s word through daily devotional time coupled with time of prayer and then, with the help of the Holy Spirit, applying His word in my life is the best way by which to live and fulfill His purposes for my life. I certainly haven’t always gotten it right, but would like to hope that the older I’m getting, the wiser I’m becoming to be more in tune with God’s call to answer His promptings without delay.

I try not to play a Russian Roulette of sorts with the Bible anymore, by offering up a popcorn (quick) prayer and then opening the Bible randomly to either expect or hope to hear His voice. Rather, I will take time just to be in His Presence, thinking of Him, waiting for Him and then open the Word. Sometimes an answer will be immediate; other times, I will need to wait and allow Him to show me His will through scripture on another occasion or through people and /or circumstances.

I don’t allow just any person to speak into my life. I have a small number of trustworthy and godly people in my world who I will ask for prayer, wisdom or advice - all of whose advice will line up with God’s word. If God is wanting to reveal His will for me at any time, He will not do so only through His Word, my prayer life and godly people but also through circumstances. This way can become quite exciting; as you seek to see God at work in the everyday, orchestrating seemingly ordinary events to help accomplish His purposes that He delights for us to partner with Him in.

A number of years ago, I believed I heard God’s voice calling me to write books targeted specifically for Christian Blended families and although I tarried in answering His call at first, God, in His everlasting love, grace and patience has continued to grow my faith and reassure me that I DID hear His voice in this direction by saying “My sheep hear my voice” (Jn. 10:3). He used scripture, my times of prayer, people and circumstances to confirm to me what He was calling me to accomplish by His strength and through His grace.

August 12, 2014 will mark the day my first book MY TWO HOUSES will be released to both the United States and Australian marketplaces. I also believe it will be a day of great rejoicing in heaven as another of God’s children has heard God’s voice and been obedient in acting on His calling.

Be assured that God can take our ordinary circumstances and with the creativity and imagination He instills into His children who are writers, can use US as tools to help others hear God’s voice as well. That IS exciting!

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecc. 9:10).

Like the eloquent C. Spurgeon has written, “Some people are foolish to think that the only way they can live for God is by becoming a minister or missionary…. Beloved, it is not the work, it is the earnestness with which it is performed”. And I would add “after hearing God’s voice and courageously answering His call.”

Find Karina on her website: karinahudson.tateauthor.com

or her Facebook page: Karina Hudson- Author/writer

The Power of Helping Others

In most industries, we refer to those who are doing the same kind of work that we are as our competitors. The aim is to get more attention on your own work and less attention on theirs. It appears to be the total opposite when it comes to creative arts, such as writing. It is our best interest to help our “competitors”.

A Success Story

My video had just finished uploading. I clicked the buttons to share it on several social media sites and leaned back in my chair. I had just released the latest episode of my youTube series - reviewing a book called Synchronic - 13 Tales of Time Travel. I'd lost a little momentum recently due to sickness but was now back on track.

When I checked the next morning I was surprised to see I gained over 40 views while I slept. This was about the same amount that my previous episode had gained in almost two months. I also had a record number of "likes". We're not talking big numbers here, but it was a significant difference.

Mutual Benefit and Community

Why did this particular video fare better than average? Was it particularly well-produced? Had I latched onto a topic that everyone was already talking about? No. So what was it? The book I was reviewing was an indie title, with 13 contributing authors. One of those authors, who I happened to be connected with on Twitter shared it for me. Then another of the authors shared it with all his fans on Facebook and Twitter, tagging all the other authors involved in the project.

I had helped them by giving a positive review for their book, but they had helped me by sharing my video with a bunch of book lovers who would otherwise never have seen it. We helped each other. This kind of mutually beneficial assistance is common in the indie fiction world. It works nicely. Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn calls it Social Karma. We Christians often don't like to use the 'K' word, but all she really means here is that when we help our fellow content creators, we find ourselves getting helped as well. There is a community that builds up. When we help each other, we all win.

I have found that the same helpful culture that exists in the indie fiction world also exists in the Australian Christian fiction industry. There is a wonderful community that is so welcoming of both the experienced author and the growing wannabe. I have been surprised by the help, support and encouragement I have received along my journey.

All of this reminds me of Proverbs 11:25 "A generous person will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."

What do you think?

Do you have any success stories to share? Have you ever experienced a situation where you felt like you were in competition with another author or artist?

Photo credit: prixel creative

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Adam Collings is a writer of speculative fiction and video blogger. He is actively working toward becoming a published author. He lives in Tasmania, Australia. Adam discusses books and movies on his youTube series Stories. You can find Adam on-line at collingszone.wordpress.com or his Google+ Profile

Spicing up Your Novel with Teamwork

by Jessica Everingham

What if I told you there was a secret to supercharging the relationships—romantic or platonic—in your novel?

Fantasy, romance, suspense, this trick applies to any genre. It raises the stakes, it gets us to invest in the characters, sucks us in and won’t let us go. What is it?

Partnership.

Doesn’t sound amazingly exciting, I know.

But think about one of the greatest fictional relationships of all time—Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. TV shows and movies based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s characters always feature great mysteries, action and suspense. But so do a million other stories. Even Sherlock’s genius mind, while awesome, isn’t entirely unique. So what makes these London crime-fighters so great?

They are partners. With Holmes and Watson, 1+1 does not equal 2. They are ten times better together than apart. They fill one another’s deficiencies—Sherlock needs Watson to balance him out. They are brutally honest with one another, and their teamwork while crime-fighting is exceptional. Their relationship is so strong that they can fight and no one freaks out that the friendship is over. They’re buddies for life, and they know it.

How does this help the story? For starters, it raises the stakes in a big way. If Watson dies, where does that leave Sherlock? Any threat to their lives or relationship suddenly becomes a major issue. It also gives the writers plenty of room for witty banter and other humour.

Television shows have grasped this concept particularly well. Ever watched Castle? The Mentalist?  Covert Affairs? Each of these shows has a partnership at its core, and that is the glue that holds everything else together—even if the crimes, mystery and action get far more screen time.

So, what are some great ways to boost the relationships in your book? Here’s a quick checklist:

• Banter. Witty dialogue is a real art. Jenny B. Jones’ book, Save The Date, is a great example. So is the movie Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
• Shared history, memories and experiences.
• Characters knowing what the other will do or say before they do or say it. Remember George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s characters having those half-sentence conversations in the Oceans 11 trilogy?
• Brutal honesty, even insults. It’s a special relationship when you can tell your friend exactly what you think. Sherlock and Watson are great for this, in either the Robert Downey Jr movies or Benedict Cumberbatch’s BBC version.
• Opposite personalities fill one another’s ‘holes’, i.e. Kirk and Spock, Holmes and Watson, Jane and Lisbon (The Mentalist), Castle and Beckett (Castle), or Becky Bloomwood and Luke Brandon (Confessions of a Shopoholic).
• Terrific teamwork. Without even speaking, the characters know when to punch, duck, and kick together to defeat the bad guys. Think Shanghai Noon or Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
• They can fight and still be friends. This goes another step beyond brutal honesty. Rarely can a relationship survive strong conflict or differing opinions; the fact that your characters can do this cements their relationship as unshakeable.
• Emotional intimacy; the characters confide in one another and go to each other for advice, even if they are romantically involved with someone else. Annie and Auggie in Covert Affairs are a great example.
• Self-sacrifice. This is a BIG ONE. Anytime a character sacrifices for the other it is a massive ‘awww’ moment. Even a villain, no matter how terrible, can be redeemed by a significant act of self-sacrifice. When a hero does it, it’s that much more heartwarming. Prince Charming and Snow White in Once Upon A Time are total experts at this. Also, before you have a massive sacrifice in your story, you can lead up to it by having one partner act defensive or protective of the other.
• Trust. This is an absolute must. It’s the foundation of every partnership.

So there you have it. All the tools you need to create your own dynamic duo and inject extra humor, high personal stakes and even romance into your story.

Go dream up something awesome!

Jessica Everingham is a 22 year-old Australian blogger, journalist and aspiring author, and is about to start a new career as a course writer. She loves God, good stories and romance, and combines all those elements in her contemporary Christian romance novels. She loves to connect with fellow readers via her blog, 

www.jessicaeveringham.com, Facebook (www.facebook.com/jessicaeveringhamwriting) and Twitter (@JessEveringham).

That Boring Chore

7 years ago, God placed my feet on an amazing path – the magnificent journey of becoming a Christian Writer. I have never looked back. Not because of the financial rewards… or rather the lack of it! Not due to the fame and prestige… or the lack of that too. Not due to any worldly benefits … can you think of any? But as all of you my fellow writers would testify – the fulfillment I receive from being a writer is huge. Enormous. Vast. Gargantuan. Mammoth. Epic. Mammoth. Collosal………………Have I said enough?

Yes, I am honoured and blessed to be called a Christian Writer. I am thrilled to be part of a creative community who are Image Bearers of our wonderful, awesome God. The benefits of being one far outweigh any negatives. And then, there are also many perks of being a writer – some which I sometimes don't even recognise. A few years ago, a publisher friend persuaded me that in order to be taken seriously as a writer, I needed a platform. She said my writer’s platform must include a weekly blog. I balked at it. Not that I didn’t like the idea of blog writing. I just didn’t like to add yet another deadline to my already busy schedule. It would be another chore to add to my To-do list each week!

After much thought and prayer however I realised that blog writing was part of the writer’s package. I knew that in order to obey God, there was no way around it. And so I surrendered to Him. In the next few weeks I got busy. I had fun creating my website, ‘Dancing in the Rain’. On the 27th of February 2012, I shared my website (and blog site) with all the world. It was a joyous day. Since then I have written blog after blog after blog. It has actually enriched me. It’s brought a new sense of purpose into my life.

A few weeks into my blog writing, a friend wrote that my blog always encouraged and inspired her. She said she looked forward to reading it every Monday. I was humbled. I was blessed. I was encouraged by her words. And a light went off in my head. From that day onwards, writing my weekly blog was not something I did because I had to. It was because I wanted to. It was a way of honouring God. And of blessing others. Having the right perception and the right attitude made all the difference.

Blog writing wasn’t just a boring chore I had to perform. Instead it became an exciting task with which I could bless God and His world. There was more. During the past few months my world was turned upside down. My church based job which I was very passionate about was whisked away from under me and I was forced to resign. As I grappled with the situation – I found myself floundering in a difficult season of grief and loss.

But guess what! I had still had one job that continued. Yes, that of writing my weekly blog. That ‘boring chore’ now became my lifeline. As I struggled with feelings of failure in my working life – it blessed me to know that there was an area where God still needed me. I was not worthless after all. My once “boring chore” became the joyful focus of each week. It brought meaning to my existence. It kept me going. It blessed me in more ways than one. And I hope blessed many others too. Thank you God. Thank you.

Are you struggling with any tedious aspects of the writing journey that you don’t enjoy? Like editing? Or marketing? Or something else? Let me assure you that the boring aspects of your writing journey may one day become something vitally important. What I've enjoyed most in my blog writing is the connection I have with others. I love hearing from readers how my blog blessed or helped them in their day to day lives. What a great thrill it is when God uses our little offerings and multiplies it for His kingdom.

He doesn’t ask that we reach perfection. Just that we strive at excellence.
He doesn’t demand impossibilities from us. Just our surrender.
He doesn’t force us to do things that are too difficult for us. He desires we obey Him.

Boring? No …wait! Let me rephrase that. Not a boring chore any longer. A joyful task that I offer the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. After all, He’s given me the privilege and honour of sharing His heart with His world. It can’t get better than that, can it? Is God calling you to something today? Do you have a list of excuses as to why you can’t do it? It may be worth your while reflecting on it as you view it through God’s eyes.

One day it may turn out to be your lifeline. And one day the world may resound with praises to our King simply because you obeyed Him.

Anusha Atukorala is passionate about God, His Kingdom, His world, all who live in it, His amazing creation and of course about WRITING. Her first book 'Enjoying the Journey' is a book of little God thoughts and life lessons about every day life. She, like her writing is a work in progress. Do pop into say G'day to her at her website 'Dancing in the Rain.'

Where Will Your Writing Take You?

Writing is a solitary pursuit—it’s you, your laptop, your thoughts and hours of tapping away to get those thoughts into a form someone may one day read.

If you believe your life has purpose and meaning, and that God will use you and your writing for a reason, where will it take you?

My journey began in teaching. I thought I would always be in a school and retire later in life, having had a fulfilling career. Mr Holland’s Opus is one of my favourite movies, and I saw myself as living out a similar life. (Except I don’t have a musical bone in my body!)

However, in 2000 I resigned my position, spent a year doing a post graduate education degree, then another few years where I wrote my first books, did some relief principal jobs, a research job and began training teachers in Cambodia.

All this seemed very bitsy, and I didn’t feel like I had left teaching completely. I was hanging onto it, but at the same time I didn’t feel like I had a ‘real’ job.

I knew quitting teaching would lead me into another season of life, but it didn’t make a lot of sense. I said to God that I would do whatever was in my hand to do.

I didn’t understand a lot of the why, but felt a compulsion to continue to write.

My husband also felt led to give up his career in the corporate world, and in 2009, took up photography professionally whilst still being a director of a company. Over the next three years he transitioned into photography full time.

We never thought we’d ever be able to work together, as over the years our careers were very separate and quite different. Now, we’ve written several photography books together, I edit articles for him, write web copy, write my own books—he does the photography for my books and we travel for several months of the year. 

Recently we spent a week in Seattle speaking to professionals in their 20’s and 30’s about life, philanthropy and work.

Sitting on a rooftop speaking to a group of shiny Seattleites, the sun sparkling off the mountains in the distance with my husband beside me was a long way from the classrooms of a high school.

If I hadn’t taken that leap in 2000, and if I hadn’t gone on to write my books, where would I be now? Still in the classroom enjoying teaching I’m sure—but sometimes God has other plans—plans we could never dream of or anticipate. 

Since the publication of my first book in 2004, writing has taken me on a journey of the soul, as well as a physical journey. God has taken me on a journey to places in the world, and in my soul, I never thought I'd reach.

Where has your writing taken you?

Elaine Fraser

www.elainefraser.co

Tubthumping - by Natalie McNee

I was wondering about what I should write for this blog post when the song Tubthumping (I get knocked down) by Chumbawamba came to mind. I haven’t heard this song since the 90’s so I YouTubed it to listen to the lyrics; now I know it’s not a Christian song and the use of some language is not great but I could really relate to the first part of the song which goes like this:

“We’ll be singing when we’re winning,
We’ll be singing,
I get knocked down, but I get up again,
You’re never gonna keep me down!” (Repeat last two lines x7)

Doesn’t this just sum up a writer? How many times do we get critiques, comments and rejection letters to our work which might knock us down but after overcoming the hurt (hopefully not by drinking the whiskey/vodka /larger/cider drink as stated in the song) do we get back up again and just keep going for it?! I believe writers must be the most persistent people on the planet. 

For many years we have had only a few “stars”; those big name authors from big ministries who have had their books published but I believe that is changing. God is no respector of persons so there are no “stars” in the kingdom of heaven. I believe that God is raising up armies of people all over the world armed with pen, paper and computers to get His Word and revelations out to both the saved and unsaved. The more we learn about the craft of writing the more steadfast we will become when opposition heads our way. God has already qualified us as writers and so we need to remind ourselves that if one way doesn’t work then we can try another way and continue to stand until we are victorious in breaking the opposition. 

Persistence pays off, it is a vital character trait for a writer and I have never heard of a writer becoming successful without persistence. Elisha was one of the most persistent people in the Bible, so I encourage you to read 2 Kings 2, and then get back to writing so you can start singing because you’re winning!

Image by Stuart Miles, published on 09 May 2014
Stock Image - image ID: 100259557
www.freedigitalphotos.net

Natalie is a freelance copywriter and ghostwriter servicing the Christian market. She is also the co-owner of Flowers To Remember. Natalie is also proudly a Child Advocate Network supporter with Compassion and volunteers for the Street Chaplains in her free time. To connect with her on various social networks please visit her website www.nataliemcnee.com