by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
Many of you know today’s special guest (and I do mean special), Michelle Cox. I first met Michelle when she led a newbie class at Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference several years ago. Her snappy smile and non-apologetic Southern drawl convinced me I was among friends.
In 2014, Just 18 Summers, a novel co-authored by Michelle Cox, debuted and it’s touched thousands of lives ever since. When I heard the inspiration behind the idea for this novel I knew it was something I wanted to share with you. Enjoy!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
Is there anything more refreshing than a an ice cold slushy or a splash in the pool on a sweltering summer day?
R–E–F-R-E–S–H–M–E–N–T
Turns out, there is.
If you’ve attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference there’s one particular room where dreams have the potential to either take flight, or deflate as quickly as Tom Brady’s fleet of footballs. On one side of the table sit the agents, editors, publishers, etc. On the other, attendees waiting to pitch ideas or ask questions within their fifteen minute appointment. If an attendee arrives for their appointment and finds the person ahead of them still pitching past their allotted time, we’re told to quietly go stand behind the other conferee, signaling their time is up.
This year, while sharing my appointment time with Ginger Harrington, friend and fellow blogger, she noticed that her time immediately followed mine.
I smiled and told her to feel free to sneak up on me if my time ran over. Without hesitation she said, “I won’t be sneaking up on you, I’ll be standing there praying for you.”
This is one of many reasons I love the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference:
Prayer supersedes plans more often than not.
Our exchange that morning left me feeling refreshed—physically, emotionally, and especially spiritually. New perspectives have a way of doing that, don’t they?
So, how has God brought refreshment to your soul via another person lately?
(Congratulations to Ginger! She won 1st place in Blogging this year. Visit her site and you’ll see why.)
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
Welcome to our June series, Summer Snippets!
Every Monday and Wednesday you’ll find a pithy post, perfect for hot summer days when a sip refreshes more than a guzzle.
I-N-S-P-I-R-A-T-I-O-N
inspire [in-spahyuh r]: to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence.
Many of us land on the steps of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference in search of inspiration through newly forged friendships, positive appointments, and dynamic classes. Blue Ridge offers it all, but one bit of truth grounded my grandiose desires this year, and it was this: I can’t make anything happen. God is the Originator of all ideas. If we’re willing to do the hard work to see these ideas come to fruition, we can rest in knowing He goes before us, fully equipping us. He brings favor as He desires. He opens doors, and closes them. All for His glory.
Others inspire us
but only One indwells us
infusing our deepest desires with Sovereign power.
Father,
Take the desires you have placed on our hearts and bring them to fruition
for Your glory
in Your ways
and in Your timing,
for all personify a perfection we can trust.
What/who has recently served as an inspiration to you?
Speaking of inspiration, (how’s that for a segue?) I’m thrilled to announce that I’m now a regular contributor to Inspire A Fire! In fact, my first post is today. I’d love for you to hop over and take a look. Mark your calendar (or subscribe via email on Inspire A Fire’s site!) I’ll post the first Monday of every month.
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
Remember this post?
Today’s date with your artist within includes a trip to your local coffee or tea shoppe. Now, this is my kind of date!
“Write out your ideal day. Take yourself out to a coffee shop or cafe. Settle in with a notepad and give yourself permission to dream. Imagine, in vivid detail, your ideal day. Where are you? What are you doing? Who shared the day with you? When did you wake up? What did you eat? What activity did you engage in? Fill in the details of your day. Be specific.” -Julia Cameron, The Miracle of the Artist Date
Save the Date:
Play time comes easy for some. For others, like myself, not so much. Don’t get me wrong. Spending time with my grandchildren, hanging out with friends (especially during “lobby time” at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference!), and mountain trips with my hubster makes me downright giddy. But sometimes the seriousness of intentionality tempers my more playful side. For instance, instead of writing about my ideal day I’d be more likely to write out my current to-do’s and details for future projects. It just seems like a better use of time. (wink wink)
Sometimes the best use of time is releasing the need to find the best use of time.
You’re Invited:
Pick a day. Pack up your notebook and head to your favorite cafe. Your date awaits. If you want to go on a double date, let me know!
So where are you and your artist within headed for your day-dreamy date? If you’re at the conference with me this week, I have a feeling the cafe of choice will be The Clouds. 🙂
[As
always, I welcome any comments you would like to share! I’m at Blue
Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference this week so it will be a
few days before I can respond.]
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
{ Day 7 }
When three people tell you within a two month period that you’re being too hard on yourself, God may be up to something.
Perfectionism has been my enemy for as long as I can remember. You wouldn’t recognize this tendency if you visited my home or caught sight of my unruly brows but it’s there nonetheless. It established patterns of procrastination behind my back, paralyzing me to move forward in certain areas of my life.
Can you relate?
Perhaps it’s because I’m still a WIP (work in progress) that I gravitate towards godly women with a wise perspective, like Ginger Harrington. I had the opportunity to meet Ginger at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference in May and now she’s also a fellow #write31days participant. When I read her post Soul Search: Why Are You So Hard On Yourself? from Monday, I had to share it here, with you. Prepare to be blessed!
|
| Ginger Harrington’s 31 Day series |
Ginger’s theme for October is Soul Strength and you’ll not want to miss a post via Ginger’s Corner.
Staying in Step With The Spirit: When we choose to see ourselves as God sees us, we are strengthened by truth — and truth never fails to draw us closer to God.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the “wide fields of grace” You provide for us to run free and forgiven in Your presence. Help us to stand firm in the truth that when You see us, You see Jesus—the only Perfect one.
For it is God’s loving soul search that sets us free to run forgiven in wide fields of grace. -Ginger Harrington
Past #write31days posts:
{ Day 1 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Our Senses
{ Day 2 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Less Clutter
{ Day 3 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Healthy Relationships
{ Day 4 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via God’s Creation
{ Day 5 } Sunday
