I had this really great thing I was going to blog about today, in the second installment on the “get real” topic of fear. I had the challenge questions all laid out, and the practical “how-tos” in order. It was mostly done, tied up in a neatly written package. The funny thing is, though I wanted to post it, I just couldn’t shake the feeling that it was not what I was supposed to write about. I tried to tweak it. I started it, edited it, then came back to it, certain that it was just temporary writer’s block that kept me from finishing it. I wanted it to be the right post, but it just went nowhere. So I slept on it. I woke up without the usual passion I have for writing my next blog. Sitting in front of my computer this morning, I finally surrendered to the fact that it was NOT the message I was supposed to post today. So I went back to the drawing board. That’s where I currently reside.
Forgive me for winging it.
So many things have been running through my head this week, reading all of the comments from my last post and reading through your emails. You have touched my heart, and your words have resonated with me on many levels. (I want so badly to jump through the computer screen and sit down and have coffee with every one of you to hear more about your passions and find out about your world!) One of the things I hear you saying over and over again is about how you have, either currently, or in the past, been listening to the little whispers in your ear about how you might not measure up…don’t have enough to offer…or aren’t good enough to write or share about anything.
I am so familiar with these “whispers,” that I can understand where you are coming from.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, my father has been in ministry for 40+ years, and he was a pastor for many of those. I grew up a preacher’s kid, and I did the things most preachers’ kids do to function in their “designated” role. I answered all the appropriate questions when asked. I rattled off Scripture on command. I smiled sweetly at the WMU ladies (Baptist girls, you will know what this stands for!) and was showered with both love and attention. I was a professional PK, and I played the role well. (And yes, I even kissed a few deacons’ boys behind the church, too! But that’s beside the point. :))
I loved being a PK and the way it made me feel.
So when at 10 years old, my father resigned his pastoral position to go and do a ministry on his own, I didn’t like it. We wound up moving to another state and attended a large church where I was suddenly completely anonymous. Sure, a few people knew what my dad did and where he had come from, but I was no longer the pastor’s daughter and was no longer showered with the same attention as one. This caused my little 10-year-old self more than a little pain and agony, as my identity of being a pastor’s daughter had been stripped away from me. And as a result, I was left without a job.
Though I was much too young to know it, what I was really dealing with was a self-esteem issue. For years, my self worth had been wrapped up in my father’s position in the church, not in me as a person. Even at that young age, I responded to the attention his position got me, to the point where it made me feel like a nobody when that position was no longer there.
I faced a similar crisis of identity a few years ago when my husband lost his job and was out of work for nearly 18 months. At some point in the process, I realized that my previous role of wife of a successful entrepreneur in a non-profit ministry had changed. I was now the wife of a very frustrated, unemployed man. Of course, he had to deal with changing roles of his own, as he went from a man with a Master’s degree and a great job and provider of his family to a man with a Master’s degree with no job, facing rejection upon rejection from the job market, praying to be able to provide for his family. In the middle of such a crises, I learned very quickly that what my husband did had very little to with who he actually was. He hadn’t changed, though this circumstance and title had. It took me back to those PK days…and remembering the importance of separating what we “do” from who we “are.”
What we do…is about a job. A life circumstance or title. A role we play. An action or activity.
Who we are is quite different.
Who we are…is our created self. Who we are meant to be. Our relationship to the awesome God of the Universe. A passion that perfectly ties in to our spiritual giftedness.
With all of this writing and “platform” talk fresh on my mind, I am reminded that there really is a bigger picture in all of this. There is a fine line between wanting to realize a dream, live out a passion, or fulfill a call…and desiring to fill a hole in our self-esteems by craving an endorsement of some kind through what we “do.”
This is dangerous on so many levels.
If we get wrapped up in “what we do” rather than “who we are,” then when the thing “we do” goes away or fails, we left with quite an identity crisis on our hands. No book contract = not good enough. Kids go astray = bad parent. Husband gets involved with another woman = don’t measure up. Friendship breaks up = failed as a friend.
If our motive (however slight it might be) for writing or teaching or speaking is to build our self-esteem or find significance in a status or task, (or to become the next Beth Moore) then what happens when/if that falls through or never even materializes at all? What happens when a platform goes defunct or our worldly popularity fades or we aren’t able to sell enough books to meet a quota? What happens if we are overlooked by a publisher or have to relinquish another role we love or are rejected on some other level in life?
I am not pointing the finger, girls, except at me. And this is not just about book writing, by the way.
In a strange way this ties into our fears. It’s a paradox, of sorts. It’s like we fear being used by God on His terms, yet we fear NOT being used by God equally as much, if not more.
In my life, my fears of speaking have at times caused me to live in a place of mediocrity. Those who know me well know that my first love is writing, and my preference is to stay in my fuzzy slippers and write my soul out late at night while the house sleeps. But while God cares about my “preferences,” He is not at all influenced by them. (Good thing for me since He is so much smarter than I am!) He has a plan for me, and my responsibility is to embrace those plans, no matter if they are currently preferred by me. This is the same for you, whatever your circumstance is. It’s that obedience word, ladies.
Some of my preferences come from how I’m hard wired. But some of them come from my fears and those nagging whispers in my ear.
…you know you don’t like to speak.
…you know you aren’t a Priscilla or a Beth.
…you know if you get up and speak everyone will know you are a fraud.
…you know they expect you to know all there is to know about the Bible since you went to seminary.
…you are better off staying at home where you love to be.
…your kids will not be well taken care of if you go speak somewhere.
…you will be embarrassed and humiliated if you speak. Let someone else do it.
…you know they wouldn’t listen to you if they knew you weren’t perfect.
He’s a slippery one, that Satan. You’d think by now, I would be able to hear his hiss in the “whispers.” But even after all this time, I sometimes still fall for the lies and manipulations.
It reminds me so much of a conversation I had just last night with my 5-year old daughter. Making her way into my office, she sought me out for comfort after having an interaction with my 7-year old son. Our conversation is so applicable here, I just don’t see it as coincidental, and I need to share it…
Shae: Micah says that if I accidentally press “new game” on his Gameboy and not “load game,” he’s going to destroy me.
Me: (laughing) Oh, sweetie. That’s silly. How will he destroy you?
Shae: (cute) Because he’s strong and I’m puny.
Me: He’s bluffing, Shae. He can’t destroy you, and he knows it. He just wants you to think he can so you won’t play his Gameboy anymore. Tell him I said to stop saying mean things that make you scared.
Oh, wow. Speaking of fear tactics. This might as well be a conversation between me and God about Satan’s empty threats against me. Though I know he is bluffing, he still has his moments when he gets to me. And I still sometimes believe that what he is saying about my worth as a person needs to be wrapped up in what I am doing.
In life…in books…in general.
What about you?
I don’t know who this message is for. Maybe it’s just for me. But whoever it’s for, God has prompted it and sent this self-professed planner into wing-it mode. It’s not a position I like. But then again, when does giving up control feel good?
Fly today, friends. Far away from your fears and from “doing.” Concentrate on “being.”
Lisa
Monday, January 21, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
From Lysa Terkeurst's Blog...to mine!
Welcome to my blog!
My good friend, Lysa Terkeurst, may have sent you my way. She is featuring a series of posts on book writing, and she asked me to write a portion about getting published from my experience to post on her blog. Because it is a bit lengthy, we decided to do it this way instead. Regardless…glad you found your way here!
Disclaimer: Though this is pretty long, if you are interested in writing, I think it will be worth your time to read it. If you have no interest in writing whatsoever, you may want to come back on Monday for my regular posting.
So…for those of you with a passion for writing, a message heavy on your heart, or are feeling an simple “tug” to write a book, read on. If you have no real platform, no connections to tap into, and no idea how to get your writing to someone who can take it to the next level, keep reading. If you don’t even know where to start, this post is for you. I am here to represent, ladies! Not too long ago I found myself in all of those very precarious categories.
My husband says I do everything the hard way. He is right, and getting published for me was no exception. I think I basically did everything the hard way. But fortunately for me, God overlooked all my inexperience, lamenting and uncertainty and took me from a long-shot wanna-be author with no platform whatsoever to awaiting the release of my 2nd book with one of the most revered Christian publishing houses around. It can happen, and I am living proof of that. I hope this post will encourage you to press on with the message God has laid on your heart as I share with you some of the things I have learned by doing it “the hard way!”
~Myth #1: You must have a platform to get noticed and/or published.
Let me start out by telling you the tough news. What Lysa told you on her blog about platforms is completely true. Editors/publishers will tell you right off that it is very important to have a platform in this day and time of zillions of books vying for your attention. They don’t do this to show favoritism or snub their noses at “no name brands.” (What I gently refer to myself as! :)) They do it because it is a simple reality that one will be more likely to buy a book or Bible Study by a recognizable name such as Beth Moore or Max Lucado. (It doesn’t hurt that they can “bring it,” too! :)) So the platform allows publishers a bit of an instant “Sale”-in with a name that is known to sell books or has an avenue by which to sell to large groups of people. Though there are many Godly people in the publishing industry, at the end of the day, publishing is a business. The bigger your platform is, the less marketing dollars the publisher has to spend on you to let the readership know about you. Yes, the publisher would prefer for you to have a platform before the book. (It’s frustrating, because most of the time, the book helps catapult the platform. But it is usually preferred the other way around.) Yes, the publisher will likely be more willing to take a closer look at your proposal if you can prove you can actually sell the book after it’s published. Which, obviously, is where the platform comes in.
Having said that, let me give you some good news to chew on. When I got my first book contract, though it was with a smaller press, they did not grill me about my platform before offering me the contract. They actually didn’t even ask. A smaller press has more flexability to do that because their quotas are not nearly as demanding as those of larger presses. And even when my 2nd project began to be considered by my current publisher, though the platform issue did come up rather quickly, it was still not the only consideration or they wouldn’t have eventually offered me a contract. They did want to know what my level of willingness was to travel, help promote the book, and use any inroads with readers I already had, etc. But it was not my platform, but other factors, that sold them on the book. Publishers do heavily consider an author’s potential, both with her writing and also in developing a growing platform. And you can have potential without actually having a currently huge platform.
~Myth #2: It is who you know. So, if you don’t know someone in the industry, you are not going to have your projects looked at.
This is somewhat true, but also not completely. It is great to know people who can provide you with email addresses of acquisition editors and/or agents in the biz who might consider you as a client. (Agents are also becoming inundated with people who want representation; so many of them are now turning down clients.) And yes, you may get your proposal looked at quicker if you can directly connect with the acquisitions editor. Connections are great to have, but at the end of the day, they will not get you a book contract. Publishers are simply not swayed by a “friend of a friend of a friend who knows someone.” They have way too many other things to consider. I will tell you this…I did not know the name of one person to drop when I approached my current publisher with my ideas. I did not have any email addresses. I simply went to the “Comments or Questions” section of their website and begin typing my name in Field 1 and Field 2. In the comments section, I gave a simple statement about having a couple of projects I wanted to get to an editor and then asked a nameless, faceless person that was reading my comment to please pass it on to the appropriate person. I truly never thought I would hear back from anyone. But two weeks later, an email appeared in my inbox from the woman I have since grown to know and love as the editor of my new book. This is proof that you don’t always have to have a connection to get your project(s) seen.
~Myth #3: There is nothing a person can do to get in the mix of this publishing world.
This is really not true. Although there is nothing you can do to force the hands of the decision makers in this process (believe me, I have wanted to try!), there are some things you can do to get you past the hump of getting your proposal looked at.
1) Be politely persistent.
If I had taken no for an answer every time I heard it, I wouldn’t be here writing to you now. Most publishing houses say on their websites that they will not take unsolicited manuscripts, which means that those without representation by an agent or have not had an editor request to see their material are discouraged from sending them a proposal. They say that. But obviously, by my experience, you know that it is not always the case. I have had rejections from publishers, especially with my first manuscript. I have been “passed” on by an agent. (I have never had one and still don’t.) At the same time, though I was persistent in moving past roadblocks, I did not do it in a manic way. It was a very controlled, spirit led way of pursuing what I knew God had called me to do. I wish I could say it was all due to my elbow grease, but friends, there’s not enough elbow grease in the world to snag you a book contract. Which is kind of freeing, actually.
2) Be focused and professional.
Remember when you are talking to an editor that they are not your best friend, even though they are great people to work with. But it is not like posting a blog comment or emailing someone you know very well. They are terribly busy and have many projects they are working on, so it is important to be mindful and respectful of their time by being concise, clear and professional. Don’t offer an editor a variety of half-developed ideas. Be very focused on a specific direction. Acquisition editors want your message to be clear, unique and filled with passion. They will greatly appreciate it, and you may very well stand out from the rest if you do!
3) Be patient.
Book writing/publishing is a lengthy and intense process, not unlike childbirth! It is not for the faint of heart and will stretch you to your core. But it will also be a huge blessing and take you places you have never been before in a spiritual sense. Waiting is a huge part of the process. It was about 9 months from the time I first made contact with my editor that I was presented with the contract. A larger press will have several boards to take the book through for approval, as well as the original proposal consideration and then the preview of the writing. At any point in the process a rejection can occur. Anticipate a lot of waiting…and praying…and growing…in the process. From start to finish, a project typically takes 1-1 ½ years to go from the proposal to the bookstore shelves.
4) Be an expert on your topic.
Not in a “know-it-all” sense, but in a confident, prepared sense. You only have one shot at a first impression, and this is never so true as it is with book writing. Research your topic. Find out if/where there is a need for such material. Are there any other books out there on your topic? What makes your book stand out if it is a topic that has been well written about? There is nothing new under the sun that hasn’t been written about, so it is not about writing something new but about presenting a topic in a unique and different way. Look through a different lens and be creative in your presentation! Know your message, where you want to share it, and why someone will want to read it.
Keep in mind that the smaller the focus, the smaller the audience. It’s great to be specific, but I would suggest you save that for inside of the book, perhaps in the breaking down of the chapters or in chapter sections. Look for the larger theme of whatever your topic of interest is. When a publisher looks for a book by a new author, they look for mass appeal. Realize that smaller focused messages may be reserved for a veteran author because of their “sell ability.” (The reality of it is that people will buy a Billy Graham book on virtually anything!) Editors are looking for a message that will resonate with many. Often they want something that has Bible Study potential. If you are impassioned about a narrower-focused message, if it can be broadened, broaden it. If not, set it aside for future or build on it. In essence, you have to pay your dues before you can write a book about ceiling fan bulbs and have it sell just based on your good reputation! (And even then there still might not be any offers to publish!) A broader message will appeal to many, and publishers are looking for that.
5) Get a great title and have a great proposal.
Again, it’s all about the first impression. A good title is good, but not good enough. You need a great title. Great titles peak the interest of an acquisitions editor who has seen it all and can be tough to impress. If the title you have has a familiar ring to it, go in a different direction. Take risks. The original title of my new manuscript was “Female Impersonators.” Although that title caught their attention at first, for very valid reasons, they ended up changing it. But it helped make them interested enough to pursue seeing the rest of the book and the writing, itself. And proposals are equally important. They need to look sharp and reflect a well-researched topic that in some way persuades editors to desire to see more. If you don't know how to write a proposal, don't guess. There are many on-line resources for you to glean from or ask an established author.
6) Do what you can.
The passion for the message always comes first. If you do not have clear direction in your message, start praying, start writing, and see where the Lord takes you. Focus on a topic that represents your passion, and then begin to formulate different word pictures and ways of presenting it that will resonate with a large majority in a new and fresh way. Blogging is a great conduit for a passionate message, and so is article writing. It gives you practice and lets you further develop your craft and build that platform we talked about. Develop a website. And I highly recommend attending a writer’s conference. I happen to know a great one that is in the beautiful Carolinas in June. :) SheSpeaks. (I think Lysa will probably be telling you about it in the weeks to come.) It is an encouraging and uplifting conference, not to mention all the practical hands-on information that you will get from experts and women who have walked in your shoes and share your love of writing. The access to featured editors is invaluable and just might land you an eventual contract!
7) Be realistic, but believe in the impossible.
Yes, it is tough to get published. I won't tell you that it is an easy road and that it happens for everyone. But people told me from the beginning that my current publisher would never publish my book. They said that it just wouldn’t happen. Truthfully, I am not even sure my editor thought it would happen at different times. (She told me so!) When she presented me with the contract my veteran editor of 20+ years in the biz said, “Lisa, I just want you to know that this was all God. My favorite contracts to hand out are the ones I know can’t happen BUT for God, and this is one of those.” Writing is really all BUT for God in the first place. He gives the ideas, supplies the passion, and brings forth His will in each of our lives.
Whether or not that means a book contract for you, I don’t know. But I do know that He is truly the best agent and marketer in the biz. And if He has this for you, no lack of platform or connections will stop it. If nothing else, I hope my experience reminds you of that. Oh, and one more thing. Don’t ever email your potential editor when you have PMS. I did that once. Once again, I always learn things the hard way! :) Thanks for letting me share with you. It's been an honor, and I still have much to learn. I would love to talk to you, so please feel free to post a comment or a question…and I would love for you to visit me, again!
Blessings to you on your exciting journey of book writing!
Lisa :)
My good friend, Lysa Terkeurst, may have sent you my way. She is featuring a series of posts on book writing, and she asked me to write a portion about getting published from my experience to post on her blog. Because it is a bit lengthy, we decided to do it this way instead. Regardless…glad you found your way here!
Disclaimer: Though this is pretty long, if you are interested in writing, I think it will be worth your time to read it. If you have no interest in writing whatsoever, you may want to come back on Monday for my regular posting.
So…for those of you with a passion for writing, a message heavy on your heart, or are feeling an simple “tug” to write a book, read on. If you have no real platform, no connections to tap into, and no idea how to get your writing to someone who can take it to the next level, keep reading. If you don’t even know where to start, this post is for you. I am here to represent, ladies! Not too long ago I found myself in all of those very precarious categories.
My husband says I do everything the hard way. He is right, and getting published for me was no exception. I think I basically did everything the hard way. But fortunately for me, God overlooked all my inexperience, lamenting and uncertainty and took me from a long-shot wanna-be author with no platform whatsoever to awaiting the release of my 2nd book with one of the most revered Christian publishing houses around. It can happen, and I am living proof of that. I hope this post will encourage you to press on with the message God has laid on your heart as I share with you some of the things I have learned by doing it “the hard way!”
~Myth #1: You must have a platform to get noticed and/or published.
Let me start out by telling you the tough news. What Lysa told you on her blog about platforms is completely true. Editors/publishers will tell you right off that it is very important to have a platform in this day and time of zillions of books vying for your attention. They don’t do this to show favoritism or snub their noses at “no name brands.” (What I gently refer to myself as! :)) They do it because it is a simple reality that one will be more likely to buy a book or Bible Study by a recognizable name such as Beth Moore or Max Lucado. (It doesn’t hurt that they can “bring it,” too! :)) So the platform allows publishers a bit of an instant “Sale”-in with a name that is known to sell books or has an avenue by which to sell to large groups of people. Though there are many Godly people in the publishing industry, at the end of the day, publishing is a business. The bigger your platform is, the less marketing dollars the publisher has to spend on you to let the readership know about you. Yes, the publisher would prefer for you to have a platform before the book. (It’s frustrating, because most of the time, the book helps catapult the platform. But it is usually preferred the other way around.) Yes, the publisher will likely be more willing to take a closer look at your proposal if you can prove you can actually sell the book after it’s published. Which, obviously, is where the platform comes in.
Having said that, let me give you some good news to chew on. When I got my first book contract, though it was with a smaller press, they did not grill me about my platform before offering me the contract. They actually didn’t even ask. A smaller press has more flexability to do that because their quotas are not nearly as demanding as those of larger presses. And even when my 2nd project began to be considered by my current publisher, though the platform issue did come up rather quickly, it was still not the only consideration or they wouldn’t have eventually offered me a contract. They did want to know what my level of willingness was to travel, help promote the book, and use any inroads with readers I already had, etc. But it was not my platform, but other factors, that sold them on the book. Publishers do heavily consider an author’s potential, both with her writing and also in developing a growing platform. And you can have potential without actually having a currently huge platform.
~Myth #2: It is who you know. So, if you don’t know someone in the industry, you are not going to have your projects looked at.
This is somewhat true, but also not completely. It is great to know people who can provide you with email addresses of acquisition editors and/or agents in the biz who might consider you as a client. (Agents are also becoming inundated with people who want representation; so many of them are now turning down clients.) And yes, you may get your proposal looked at quicker if you can directly connect with the acquisitions editor. Connections are great to have, but at the end of the day, they will not get you a book contract. Publishers are simply not swayed by a “friend of a friend of a friend who knows someone.” They have way too many other things to consider. I will tell you this…I did not know the name of one person to drop when I approached my current publisher with my ideas. I did not have any email addresses. I simply went to the “Comments or Questions” section of their website and begin typing my name in Field 1 and Field 2. In the comments section, I gave a simple statement about having a couple of projects I wanted to get to an editor and then asked a nameless, faceless person that was reading my comment to please pass it on to the appropriate person. I truly never thought I would hear back from anyone. But two weeks later, an email appeared in my inbox from the woman I have since grown to know and love as the editor of my new book. This is proof that you don’t always have to have a connection to get your project(s) seen.
~Myth #3: There is nothing a person can do to get in the mix of this publishing world.
This is really not true. Although there is nothing you can do to force the hands of the decision makers in this process (believe me, I have wanted to try!), there are some things you can do to get you past the hump of getting your proposal looked at.
1) Be politely persistent.
If I had taken no for an answer every time I heard it, I wouldn’t be here writing to you now. Most publishing houses say on their websites that they will not take unsolicited manuscripts, which means that those without representation by an agent or have not had an editor request to see their material are discouraged from sending them a proposal. They say that. But obviously, by my experience, you know that it is not always the case. I have had rejections from publishers, especially with my first manuscript. I have been “passed” on by an agent. (I have never had one and still don’t.) At the same time, though I was persistent in moving past roadblocks, I did not do it in a manic way. It was a very controlled, spirit led way of pursuing what I knew God had called me to do. I wish I could say it was all due to my elbow grease, but friends, there’s not enough elbow grease in the world to snag you a book contract. Which is kind of freeing, actually.
2) Be focused and professional.
Remember when you are talking to an editor that they are not your best friend, even though they are great people to work with. But it is not like posting a blog comment or emailing someone you know very well. They are terribly busy and have many projects they are working on, so it is important to be mindful and respectful of their time by being concise, clear and professional. Don’t offer an editor a variety of half-developed ideas. Be very focused on a specific direction. Acquisition editors want your message to be clear, unique and filled with passion. They will greatly appreciate it, and you may very well stand out from the rest if you do!
3) Be patient.
Book writing/publishing is a lengthy and intense process, not unlike childbirth! It is not for the faint of heart and will stretch you to your core. But it will also be a huge blessing and take you places you have never been before in a spiritual sense. Waiting is a huge part of the process. It was about 9 months from the time I first made contact with my editor that I was presented with the contract. A larger press will have several boards to take the book through for approval, as well as the original proposal consideration and then the preview of the writing. At any point in the process a rejection can occur. Anticipate a lot of waiting…and praying…and growing…in the process. From start to finish, a project typically takes 1-1 ½ years to go from the proposal to the bookstore shelves.
4) Be an expert on your topic.
Not in a “know-it-all” sense, but in a confident, prepared sense. You only have one shot at a first impression, and this is never so true as it is with book writing. Research your topic. Find out if/where there is a need for such material. Are there any other books out there on your topic? What makes your book stand out if it is a topic that has been well written about? There is nothing new under the sun that hasn’t been written about, so it is not about writing something new but about presenting a topic in a unique and different way. Look through a different lens and be creative in your presentation! Know your message, where you want to share it, and why someone will want to read it.
Keep in mind that the smaller the focus, the smaller the audience. It’s great to be specific, but I would suggest you save that for inside of the book, perhaps in the breaking down of the chapters or in chapter sections. Look for the larger theme of whatever your topic of interest is. When a publisher looks for a book by a new author, they look for mass appeal. Realize that smaller focused messages may be reserved for a veteran author because of their “sell ability.” (The reality of it is that people will buy a Billy Graham book on virtually anything!) Editors are looking for a message that will resonate with many. Often they want something that has Bible Study potential. If you are impassioned about a narrower-focused message, if it can be broadened, broaden it. If not, set it aside for future or build on it. In essence, you have to pay your dues before you can write a book about ceiling fan bulbs and have it sell just based on your good reputation! (And even then there still might not be any offers to publish!) A broader message will appeal to many, and publishers are looking for that.
5) Get a great title and have a great proposal.
Again, it’s all about the first impression. A good title is good, but not good enough. You need a great title. Great titles peak the interest of an acquisitions editor who has seen it all and can be tough to impress. If the title you have has a familiar ring to it, go in a different direction. Take risks. The original title of my new manuscript was “Female Impersonators.” Although that title caught their attention at first, for very valid reasons, they ended up changing it. But it helped make them interested enough to pursue seeing the rest of the book and the writing, itself. And proposals are equally important. They need to look sharp and reflect a well-researched topic that in some way persuades editors to desire to see more. If you don't know how to write a proposal, don't guess. There are many on-line resources for you to glean from or ask an established author.
6) Do what you can.
The passion for the message always comes first. If you do not have clear direction in your message, start praying, start writing, and see where the Lord takes you. Focus on a topic that represents your passion, and then begin to formulate different word pictures and ways of presenting it that will resonate with a large majority in a new and fresh way. Blogging is a great conduit for a passionate message, and so is article writing. It gives you practice and lets you further develop your craft and build that platform we talked about. Develop a website. And I highly recommend attending a writer’s conference. I happen to know a great one that is in the beautiful Carolinas in June. :) SheSpeaks. (I think Lysa will probably be telling you about it in the weeks to come.) It is an encouraging and uplifting conference, not to mention all the practical hands-on information that you will get from experts and women who have walked in your shoes and share your love of writing. The access to featured editors is invaluable and just might land you an eventual contract!
7) Be realistic, but believe in the impossible.
Yes, it is tough to get published. I won't tell you that it is an easy road and that it happens for everyone. But people told me from the beginning that my current publisher would never publish my book. They said that it just wouldn’t happen. Truthfully, I am not even sure my editor thought it would happen at different times. (She told me so!) When she presented me with the contract my veteran editor of 20+ years in the biz said, “Lisa, I just want you to know that this was all God. My favorite contracts to hand out are the ones I know can’t happen BUT for God, and this is one of those.” Writing is really all BUT for God in the first place. He gives the ideas, supplies the passion, and brings forth His will in each of our lives.
Whether or not that means a book contract for you, I don’t know. But I do know that He is truly the best agent and marketer in the biz. And if He has this for you, no lack of platform or connections will stop it. If nothing else, I hope my experience reminds you of that. Oh, and one more thing. Don’t ever email your potential editor when you have PMS. I did that once. Once again, I always learn things the hard way! :) Thanks for letting me share with you. It's been an honor, and I still have much to learn. I would love to talk to you, so please feel free to post a comment or a question…and I would love for you to visit me, again!
Blessings to you on your exciting journey of book writing!
Lisa :)
Will you join me....
…in praying for Britney Spears?
This morning as I was praying, an image of her popped into my mind. Like many of you, I have watched the relentless news coverage of this young woman for months now. I have prayed for her here and there, but today I am committing to earnest prayer for her, until…whenever I feel released from it.
We know that Satan laughs when we hurt. We know that Satan would love nothing more than to steal, kill and destroy this precious life. He wants her to feel hopeless, alone, angry, despondent, pursued and tortured. It is obvious by looking at her that she has many of these things going on, with the paparazzi literally stalking her. Her head shaving incident some months back represents the same level of despair Job felt when he was in a similar position of despondency over his circumstances. (Job 1:20) I cannot imagine what my mental state would be if I were in her shoes. Not to mention whatever her formal physical and/or psychological diagnosis may actually represent.
“Lord, touch the heart of this young woman today, no matter where she is or what she is doing. Let her feel your love like never before. Let her feel your acceptance and desire to father her on a level like no one else can. May Christians all over the world join together in praying in one accord for this life that is so very important to you. Help her to realize that you are the answer for all the madness that surrounds her. Praise You for your saving power in all of our lives!”
Zephaniah 3:17: “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Lisa
This morning as I was praying, an image of her popped into my mind. Like many of you, I have watched the relentless news coverage of this young woman for months now. I have prayed for her here and there, but today I am committing to earnest prayer for her, until…whenever I feel released from it.
We know that Satan laughs when we hurt. We know that Satan would love nothing more than to steal, kill and destroy this precious life. He wants her to feel hopeless, alone, angry, despondent, pursued and tortured. It is obvious by looking at her that she has many of these things going on, with the paparazzi literally stalking her. Her head shaving incident some months back represents the same level of despair Job felt when he was in a similar position of despondency over his circumstances. (Job 1:20) I cannot imagine what my mental state would be if I were in her shoes. Not to mention whatever her formal physical and/or psychological diagnosis may actually represent.
“Lord, touch the heart of this young woman today, no matter where she is or what she is doing. Let her feel your love like never before. Let her feel your acceptance and desire to father her on a level like no one else can. May Christians all over the world join together in praying in one accord for this life that is so very important to you. Help her to realize that you are the answer for all the madness that surrounds her. Praise You for your saving power in all of our lives!”
Zephaniah 3:17: “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Lisa
Monday, January 14, 2008
A Messy Pile of Scared Living -- Fear, Part 1
Pray for me, friends. This is probably going to be the most fearful week of my life.
Why?
Because I know the drill. I talk about something Satan doesn’t want me to, and then he hits me right between the eyes in that same area. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Maybe some of you have experienced it yourself. You share with someone about areas of your life you desire to give over to God like marriage…pride…or money, when suddenly that same week you have more marital conflicts than usual, a greater struggle with pure attitudes, and a really intense financial situation come up! Mark it down; the great destroyer will hit you where it hurts the most in the areas you are seeking to grow. It’s his main M.O., and he hates the truth being brought out into the open.
But go with me for a minute.
Have you ever thought of Satan as being a great accountability measure?
Ok, look. I refuse to give him “props” for anything. But you have to admit; he will make you put your money where your mouth is when you put things like this out there by testing your devotion to God and your commitment to dealing with spiritual issues. So, I write to you today, fully expecting an outright fear campaign to be waged on me; therefore, I truly do covet your prayers. But I also write…remembering that as a believer in Jesus Christ, I have the over comer on my side. So I can write about – and face – this issue of fear without fearing major repercussion.
Yep, that’s right. For the next three Mondays, I am going to talk about fear. It is the scariest 4-letter word there is, manifests itself in different ways for different people, can affect relationships, stunts one’s growth, and carries a necessity to die to it daily! And it has the potential to turn the most fearless person in the world into a messy pile of scared living.
One of the most highly quotable sayings about fear came from the 1st Inaugural address of President FDR in 1933. “…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Smack during the period of the Great Depression, this famous president was talking about the economic conditions of his time. But his quote transcends his era. I personally think it just may be the most accurate statement about fear ever made.
Fear itself – the thought of what we are afraid of, is what truly makes us fearful. Our mind is the battlefield, and Satan is the enemy trying to build camp in our psyches. And many times, friends, he does the job.
All of us have fears. This morning as I sit here at my computer, I can think of a couple of fears in particular that are so scary to me that I don’t want to type them out or verbalize them for fear that they will come true. It’s as if I believe that if I don’t acknowledge them to you or even myself, that they will never, ever be realized. And then I can continue to pretend that I am not afraid of them.
My denial has Satan’s sneaky fingerprints all over it.
After all, he doesn’t want me to acknowledge them or speak them or write about them. Because if I do, his covert operation might then become recognized or exposed. And then, just maybe…I might begin to face them, work on overcoming them, and give them over to the Lord, dying to them. For the evil one, that would be the ultimate defeat. He would much rather me never speak them, acknowledge them, share them, or face them…because then he can continue to terrorize me with them.
That’s what fear does.
It keeps you from doing things.
It paralyzes you from moving forward.
It terrorizes you into becoming a sprinter on the fast track of running scared.
I, myself, am a self-confessed sometime-sprinter. Let me just put that out there right now.
There are so many Bible heroes that come to mind as I think of this issue of fear. Noah. Esther. Abraham. Isaac. Jacob. Joseph. Moses. Hannah. Samuel. David. Elizabeth. Prophets…Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Elijah, Daniel. John. Paul. Peter. Ruth. Deborah. Timothy. James. The list could go on and on, but you get the point. Basically every major circumstance these heroes of the faith found themselves in was scary. They were certainly not immune to the sharp feelings of fear that most assuredly accompany risky, bold, impassioned actions in direct violation of Satan’s desires. Were they at times afraid? I believe so. They were human, after all. No fleshly, fallible person is exempt from feelings of fear. None that I know, at least.
How do you think Joshua felt when soon after the death of his beloved mentor, Moses, God appointed him the daunting task of leading the nation of Israel? Certainly, he had taken a few notes from Moses’ playbook. He had seen the best and watched him at work. Absolutely, God through Moses, had anointed Joshua with great wisdom. Yes, he was better qualified than anyone else to succeed his predecessor and do the job. But if he wasn’t at least a bit fearful to be the newly minted leader, then why did the omniscient Lord have to encourage him to be strong…have courage…and not be afraid?
Scripture really doesn’t say. But my guess is that it is because he was. The proof for me is found in the exhortation of Jesus to Joshua in Joshua 1: 2-9…
"Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I'm giving to the People of Israel. I'm giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River, the Euphrates River—all the Hittite country—and then west to the Great Sea. It's all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take." (The Message)
Though no outward cry for courage by Joshua is recorded in this passage, clearly God knew that he would need some to do the job at hand. So He graciously took care of the particulars before such issues ever came up. (He’s just good that way. :)) And since in the following verse we listen in as Joshua begins immediately barking out orders, my bet is that it worked. (vs. 10-11, “Then Joshua gave orders to the people's leaders: "Go through the camp and give this order to the people: 'Pack your bags. In three days you will cross this Jordan River to enter and take the land God, your God, is giving you to possess.'")
Friends, we can choose to continue to be a messy pile of scared living. Fear can often be an old friend, and we are not always eager to part with it. But our choice to let it stick around will not allow us the life we want, the relationships we crave, or the freedom we long for. Those things take some internal extrication of our feelings of fear. Can we do it? Not on our own. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, absolutely, 100%, we can.
Just ask Joshua.
Challenge Questions:
1) What are you currently afraid of? Is it something that has been an ongoing fear in your life, or is it something that has come up recently because of a circumstance you are facing? How have you been dealing with it? Has your way been effective?
2) On a scale of 1-10, how often to you pray about your fear(s)? Why are you at that number on the scale, and what can you do to change that?
3) Have you memorized Scripture(s) about fear? If so, what promises from God can you cling to in regards to your fears? If not, search the Scriptures to find at least two verses on fear, read them, and commit to memorizing them. (www.biblegateway.com is an excellent on-line resource)
Now What? (Your specific call to action)
In order to begin to surrender our fears, let’s take a lesson from Jesus’ playbook for Joshua (Joshua 1:6-9)…
1) Be strong and courageous. Requires daily surrender to our fears and continuous holy boldness from God, our resource.
2) Meditate on the Word. Day and night. All the time. Whenever you are afraid. It’s the only way to successfully conquer the fear factor in your life.
3) Cling to God. You need Him. I need Him. We need Him to deal with our feelings and draw Him close to us, loving us, when we are afraid.
Thanks for stopping by to catch Part 1 of this 3-part Monday series on fear – my first “get real” topic of 2008. Join me next Monday to find out what I believe all women, no matter who they are or what their circumstance is, fear the very most in life. Trust me, ladies. You will ALL relate.
Lisa
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
It's On!!
I wish I could look this cute when I eat…
It has nothing whatsoever to do with this post, but I just had to share it. My hubby got a new Mac and was fooling around with it last night and took this picture. Too sweet.
But now, back to not looking cute when I eat things that go right to my booheene.
If you’ve ever read my blog posts before, you know that I am often in a battle with my fluctuating weight. Right now I am carrying 23 extra pounds that stand in my way of fitting into most of my clothes. Since I am on a “wants” fast, I can no longer go out and buy clothes to accommodate my expanding saddlebags or make myself feel better by buying a new cute top. Thus, I am forced to wear the clothes I already have in my closet. That is, when I can fit into them!
My hubby wants to lose weight, too. His goal is to run in the NYC Marathon every 10 years, and 2008 marks the 10th year since he ran in the last one! Funny thing…apparently you lose weight when you run (I wouldn’t know since I detest this form of exercise), but you need to lose a little weight before you run so you can actually go the distance. I don’t know – sounds too complicated for me! Can you hear a good excuse coming on?
So, with the Biggest Loser Couples just starting, we decided that it was a perfect time to try to join our fellow TV weight-losers in the effort to lose weight. Our two best couple friends and another very close couple friend of ours have thrown their hats in the ring and challenged us to a full-on competition.
Cue the Rocky music. :)
The Minors (seen below)
…are the green team
The McGees
…are the orange team
The Perrys
…are the pink team
and The Whittles (us, of course)
…are the blue team
Ok, look. I know what you are thinking. And I agree with you. Our friends do not need to lose weight!!!!!! I have already voiced this to them. But each of them insists that they are carrying around 25-40 extra pounds on their frame, and they are doing this to lose it and prevent another 25-40 pounds from slowly creeping on!! How can I argue with that? (Personally, I think they may just like the idea of a competition.) :)
So it is that the Minors, the McGees, the Perrys, and the Underdogs (I mean the Whittles…we might as well be called the Underdogs because my hubby hates to diet and I dislike exercising until I get started – then I still don’t like it!) are in a fierce 10-week competition for a grand prize of a vacation, courtesy of the losing three couples.
All I can say is – it’s on, it’s on, like neck bone. (LOL – This phrase was thrown in there for Bobby, my Midland friend. I laugh so hard when he says it in his country accent!)
None of us wants to lose the competition. Maybe we will lose the weight instead.
I’ll keep you posted.
Go blue!
Lisa :)
Unfortunately, 36 year old women who eat chocolate that goes right to their booheene (my son’s word for behind) don’t look quite as endearing as my cute little 5 year old does! :)
Speaking of cute, look at this cute pic…
It has nothing whatsoever to do with this post, but I just had to share it. My hubby got a new Mac and was fooling around with it last night and took this picture. Too sweet.
But now, back to not looking cute when I eat things that go right to my booheene.
If you’ve ever read my blog posts before, you know that I am often in a battle with my fluctuating weight. Right now I am carrying 23 extra pounds that stand in my way of fitting into most of my clothes. Since I am on a “wants” fast, I can no longer go out and buy clothes to accommodate my expanding saddlebags or make myself feel better by buying a new cute top. Thus, I am forced to wear the clothes I already have in my closet. That is, when I can fit into them!
My hubby wants to lose weight, too. His goal is to run in the NYC Marathon every 10 years, and 2008 marks the 10th year since he ran in the last one! Funny thing…apparently you lose weight when you run (I wouldn’t know since I detest this form of exercise), but you need to lose a little weight before you run so you can actually go the distance. I don’t know – sounds too complicated for me! Can you hear a good excuse coming on?
So, with the Biggest Loser Couples just starting, we decided that it was a perfect time to try to join our fellow TV weight-losers in the effort to lose weight. Our two best couple friends and another very close couple friend of ours have thrown their hats in the ring and challenged us to a full-on competition.
Cue the Rocky music. :)
The Minors (seen below)
…are the green team
The McGees
…are the orange team
The Perrys
…are the pink team
and The Whittles (us, of course)
…are the blue team
Ok, look. I know what you are thinking. And I agree with you. Our friends do not need to lose weight!!!!!! I have already voiced this to them. But each of them insists that they are carrying around 25-40 extra pounds on their frame, and they are doing this to lose it and prevent another 25-40 pounds from slowly creeping on!! How can I argue with that? (Personally, I think they may just like the idea of a competition.) :)
So it is that the Minors, the McGees, the Perrys, and the Underdogs (I mean the Whittles…we might as well be called the Underdogs because my hubby hates to diet and I dislike exercising until I get started – then I still don’t like it!) are in a fierce 10-week competition for a grand prize of a vacation, courtesy of the losing three couples.
All I can say is – it’s on, it’s on, like neck bone. (LOL – This phrase was thrown in there for Bobby, my Midland friend. I laugh so hard when he says it in his country accent!)
None of us wants to lose the competition. Maybe we will lose the weight instead.
I’ll keep you posted.
Go blue!
Lisa :)
Monday, January 7, 2008
That Crazy "Mug" Shot, An Epiphany in a Hair Salon, and My 5th Child
Well, it’s official. All of blogworld (or the handful of people who read this blog) has now seen exactly what the UPS man, my husband and God Himself have seen for years: the real Lisa Whittle. Is it bad when your own mother doesn’t even recognize you? :) Oh well. Just in case you’re wondering...nope. I have absolutely no regrets about posting my scary-looking mug on last Monday’s blog entry. At least now I don’t have to worry about running into someone I know at the grocery store without my make-up! I think it might be a pleasant surprise to anyone who saw that fateful post. :)
I guess I need to stop and say a word of thanks to my hubby for letting me post such a deranged looking picture of me on the Internet. Especially since I know how important physical appearance is to a man (See the book For Women Only on this topic…great book). Honey, I’m sorry I took away your bragging rights about your wife. Thanks for still thinking I’m hot, even after that! :)
Actually, the pictures might have been the easy part to post. I mean, most women know all too well the magic our make-up bag holds and dip into its magic on a daily basis so as not to scare small animals and/or children. (Some of you confirmed this through your comments!) But posting my soul to you in the form of other things I don’t want you to see was quite a bit harder.
I guess I need to stop and say a word of thanks to my hubby for letting me post such a deranged looking picture of me on the Internet. Especially since I know how important physical appearance is to a man (See the book For Women Only on this topic…great book). Honey, I’m sorry I took away your bragging rights about your wife. Thanks for still thinking I’m hot, even after that! :)
Actually, the pictures might have been the easy part to post. I mean, most women know all too well the magic our make-up bag holds and dip into its magic on a daily basis so as not to scare small animals and/or children. (Some of you confirmed this through your comments!) But posting my soul to you in the form of other things I don’t want you to see was quite a bit harder.
Honestly, though it was a challenge, it wasn’t that much of a choice for me. I don’t think at this point I have any other option but authenticity. Not after what happened to me in a hair salon a couple of years ago. It was as close to an epiphany as I have ever come. That is, if you believe in “epiphanies…”
Ephiphany: a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience. (dictionary.com)
On one hand, it was an extraordinarily commonplace occurrence. Me. The hair salon. A high-energy stylist. Sitting in the chair for my 8-week foiling process. Grateful for the overhaul, but more than a little bored. But on the other hand, there was nothing commonplace about it. Because little did I know that this very commonplace occurrence would actually be the embryonic stage of my 5th child. Who’s due date is, ironically, almost exactly 2 years on the dot to that same hair appointment: May 15th, 2008.
If you have seen my blog profile or know me personally, you may be a bit baffled by the knowledge that I actually have 4 (and ½) children instead of the three I listed. My first three carry my DNA, but my 4th baby was adopted (and birthed, actually -- I'll explain) and my 5th baby is no longer an embryo, but not yet birthed. Ok, so I am using some of these terms lightly, but if you have ever written a book you know what I mean. Book writing/publishing is a labor and delivery, if ever I’ve experienced one! There’s a lot of waiting, hoping, praying, pushing, sweating, grunting, groaning and stretching…ooh…I'm reliving the memories just thinking about it. Somebody get me an epidural! Stat! :)
My 4th baby is my first book, The 7 Hardest Things God Asks a Woman to Do, released last March. I call it my “adopted” child because that is exactly what it is. (Or should I say “she” since ships are always named after women…and so are hurricanes, for that matter. :)) My co-author for that book is my precious mother, Kathie Reimer, and she was the birth mother of the project. It was her idea/inspiration, and she was gracious enough to let me ride her very capable coattails and contribute to a portion of the book. (You can read more about the book and hear more about the story of it’s “birth” by visiting my website at http://www.lisawhittle.com/). This child is very important to me, and it was especially special to get to share my first experience of book writing with my mom. (Thanks, momma! :))
My 5th child is my latest book, Behind Those Eyes: What’s Really Going on Inside the Souls of Women. It’s no longer an embryo, but still hasn’t been birthed. Let’s say “she” is currently residing in an incubator. :) She has been written, edited, and is currently undergoing some “grooming” to get her completely ready to present to the reading public. To tell you that I am excited about this book is an understatement of monumental proportions. It is a book that is super close to my heart. It goes there. It gets real. I get real. And to think that it all started with a simple conversation in a hair salon. A commonplace occurrence turned into a major epiphany. That is, if you believe in epiphanies.
I actually prefer to believe in divine encounters. I can’t wait for you to read about mine when the book is born in May.
I know…that is quite a ways off. But you know how it is when you are pregnant…you want to share the news with everyone! So today…though I can’t share with you the contents of the book…I want to show you…my bloggy friends, both old and new, an exclusive first look at the newborn…no one else has seen “her” yet…
Well, what do you think? Is “she” cute? :)
So, look. I know I can’t start talking about the contents of the book so far out from “her”due date. But what I can do is share with you a few of the themes in the book that are near and dear to my heart. These are things that have been weighing on my heart for a very long time. It’s all a part of my passion for “getting real.” And that preceded this book, for sure.
I do so hope you will come back and visit me on Mondays, if at no other time. These are the days that I have committed to blogging and will do my best to share some nuggets and insights that hopefully will get you thinking and challenge you! My motivation in blogging is always to point people to Christ…to inspire or move them to see His beauty and go deeper with Him. I feel that responsibility when I write, and you can feel free to keep me in check with that! Of course, don’t chastise me too much if I throw in some fun/ silly posts or pics of my kids now and then. I believe God loves it and is honored when we celebrate the life He has given us in this way, as well! :)
But back to Mondays. Here’s what you can expect if you come back at the start of every week…
My 5th child is my latest book, Behind Those Eyes: What’s Really Going on Inside the Souls of Women. It’s no longer an embryo, but still hasn’t been birthed. Let’s say “she” is currently residing in an incubator. :) She has been written, edited, and is currently undergoing some “grooming” to get her completely ready to present to the reading public. To tell you that I am excited about this book is an understatement of monumental proportions. It is a book that is super close to my heart. It goes there. It gets real. I get real. And to think that it all started with a simple conversation in a hair salon. A commonplace occurrence turned into a major epiphany. That is, if you believe in epiphanies.
I actually prefer to believe in divine encounters. I can’t wait for you to read about mine when the book is born in May.
I know…that is quite a ways off. But you know how it is when you are pregnant…you want to share the news with everyone! So today…though I can’t share with you the contents of the book…I want to show you…my bloggy friends, both old and new, an exclusive first look at the newborn…no one else has seen “her” yet…
Well, what do you think? Is “she” cute? :)
So, look. I know I can’t start talking about the contents of the book so far out from “her”due date. But what I can do is share with you a few of the themes in the book that are near and dear to my heart. These are things that have been weighing on my heart for a very long time. It’s all a part of my passion for “getting real.” And that preceded this book, for sure.
I do so hope you will come back and visit me on Mondays, if at no other time. These are the days that I have committed to blogging and will do my best to share some nuggets and insights that hopefully will get you thinking and challenge you! My motivation in blogging is always to point people to Christ…to inspire or move them to see His beauty and go deeper with Him. I feel that responsibility when I write, and you can feel free to keep me in check with that! Of course, don’t chastise me too much if I throw in some fun/ silly posts or pics of my kids now and then. I believe God loves it and is honored when we celebrate the life He has given us in this way, as well! :)
But back to Mondays. Here’s what you can expect if you come back at the start of every week…
~ Devotionals -- I have written some devotionals that have been featured on Crosswalk.com and various other ministries, and I will occasionally share those with you. These include thoughts…Scriptures…etc…and will tie into the theme of what I’m blogging about.
~ Stories – I will be sharing some personal stories from other women (with their permission, of course) and some from my own life, on the subject. If you have something to contribute, please let me know! I love learning from others.
~ Bible studies – I love digging into the Word, learning truth, and sharing that with others. So, I will be doing that and gleaning lessons from the lives of the Bible heroes we all love so much! I may even acquaint you with a few you might not be as familiar with. :)
~ Practical hands-on ways to deal with issues – I am all about action, action, action! I myself like to have practical things to help me implement what I learn. Otherwise, learning is great but doesn’t cause real change. My hubby does this in our SS class and we call it "Now What?" Once again, I think I’ll steal his stuff and use it here.
~ Questions to get you to think and reflect on the issue. – My blogging girlfriend, MaryBeth (http://www.marybethwhalen.com/) suggested this, and I think it is a great idea. Thanks, girl!
So…that is the general idea for what is to come for this blogging girl. Feel free to let me know what you think and what interests you the most. I want to write about things you want to read about! I’ll post other fun stuff that comes up during the week some weeks, too, so please keep visiting me. (I usually have something to share!) But I’m committed to this "get real" thing on Mondays…I’ll leave the recipes and home gardening tips to my very skilled culinary and horticultural friends! I like to know my strengths AND my weaknesses, folks! :)
Next week, I am going to tackle week one of a 3-week series on a subject that I think all of us can relate to. Hint: it manifests itself in different ways for different people, yet we usually deal with it in similar ways. It can affect relationships, stunt one’s growth, and carries a huge necessity to die to it daily.
On the journey with you!
Lisa :)
~ Stories – I will be sharing some personal stories from other women (with their permission, of course) and some from my own life, on the subject. If you have something to contribute, please let me know! I love learning from others.
~ Bible studies – I love digging into the Word, learning truth, and sharing that with others. So, I will be doing that and gleaning lessons from the lives of the Bible heroes we all love so much! I may even acquaint you with a few you might not be as familiar with. :)
~ Practical hands-on ways to deal with issues – I am all about action, action, action! I myself like to have practical things to help me implement what I learn. Otherwise, learning is great but doesn’t cause real change. My hubby does this in our SS class and we call it "Now What?" Once again, I think I’ll steal his stuff and use it here.
~ Questions to get you to think and reflect on the issue. – My blogging girlfriend, MaryBeth (http://www.marybethwhalen.com/) suggested this, and I think it is a great idea. Thanks, girl!
So…that is the general idea for what is to come for this blogging girl. Feel free to let me know what you think and what interests you the most. I want to write about things you want to read about! I’ll post other fun stuff that comes up during the week some weeks, too, so please keep visiting me. (I usually have something to share!) But I’m committed to this "get real" thing on Mondays…I’ll leave the recipes and home gardening tips to my very skilled culinary and horticultural friends! I like to know my strengths AND my weaknesses, folks! :)
Next week, I am going to tackle week one of a 3-week series on a subject that I think all of us can relate to. Hint: it manifests itself in different ways for different people, yet we usually deal with it in similar ways. It can affect relationships, stunt one’s growth, and carries a huge necessity to die to it daily.
On the journey with you!
Lisa :)
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
BHFH!
Sometimes my husband has moments of pure genius. Other times, well, not so much. :) (I'm referring to the times he is disagreeing with me, of course!) But on Sunday, he threw down the gauntlet in the form of a challenge to adopt a new motto for 2008…BHFH. It was one of his pure genius moments, and something of a divine moment for me.
Sidebar: Let me back up a minute and tell you that my hubby, Scott, is also my SS teacher on Sundays. He rocks the house and communicates things in a way that makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. (Or is that called lust?) :)
REGARDLESS…he is an amazing communicator.
On Sunday, Scott was talking about how the Urban streetwear clothing line, FUBU, got it’s name. The initials F-U-B-U stand for For Us, By Us and the line was created to represent a certain population of people who desired to make clothes exclusively with their unique “flavor.” Scott then challenged us to adopt a different set of initials in the form of a motto for the new year…BHFH. By Him, For Him. Good thing he told us this at the end of class or I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate on the rest of the lesson. I couldn’t stop thinking about it all day.
And I still can’t stop thinking about it.
It’s my new motto/conviction/mantra for 2008…By Him, For Him!
Really, there's more I could add, but what else needs to be said?
So let me recap. In the past week I’ve started my “wants” fast, adopted a new motto, and posted my scary-looking mug for the entire world to behold. My, my. This girl’s 2008 has certainly started out with a bang!
BHFH!
Lisa
P.S. Can I trademark that? :)
**As promised, my regular post on Monday will be the exciting thing I want to share with you. Not that this isn't exciting...but...well...it is not something I planned on posting. But I felt like I should, so consider it a mid-week bonus...or rant, whichever you prefer. :)
Sidebar: Let me back up a minute and tell you that my hubby, Scott, is also my SS teacher on Sundays. He rocks the house and communicates things in a way that makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. (Or is that called lust?) :)
REGARDLESS…he is an amazing communicator.
On Sunday, Scott was talking about how the Urban streetwear clothing line, FUBU, got it’s name. The initials F-U-B-U stand for For Us, By Us and the line was created to represent a certain population of people who desired to make clothes exclusively with their unique “flavor.” Scott then challenged us to adopt a different set of initials in the form of a motto for the new year…BHFH. By Him, For Him. Good thing he told us this at the end of class or I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate on the rest of the lesson. I couldn’t stop thinking about it all day.
And I still can’t stop thinking about it.
It’s my new motto/conviction/mantra for 2008…By Him, For Him!
Really, there's more I could add, but what else needs to be said?
So let me recap. In the past week I’ve started my “wants” fast, adopted a new motto, and posted my scary-looking mug for the entire world to behold. My, my. This girl’s 2008 has certainly started out with a bang!
BHFH!
Lisa
P.S. Can I trademark that? :)
**As promised, my regular post on Monday will be the exciting thing I want to share with you. Not that this isn't exciting...but...well...it is not something I planned on posting. But I felt like I should, so consider it a mid-week bonus...or rant, whichever you prefer. :)
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