by Cathy Baker | Faith |
A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman rests comfortably in my top ten favorite reads — for a multitude of reasons. In this post back in January I shared one of many sections highlighted throughout the book.
In many (perhaps a million?) ways I think Edie Melson and Vonda Skelton could’ve collaborated on a similar book as their wise counsel over the years often mingled with Emily’s.
One such moment occurred on page 138, where Emily shared how we may not be the first to say it, write it, create it, or believe it—but our saying it may be the first time someone finally hears.
“There is no new truth, dear. All truth belongs to God. Sometimes you simply need to hear someone else say it.” -Steve Lynam
Plagued with self-doubt most of my life, I struggle to believe anyone would “hear” anything I had to say when so many others weave words like well spun silk. Yet, I know God has called me to bang the keys and pick up the pen for a purpose.
Could it be the words He places on my heart benefit “only” a handful of people? If so, I accept it with gratitude. It’s how I prepare lessons to teach, pen words for an article, and mold prose into poetry. My responsibility is to write, releasing the harvest to God’s safekeeping. (1 Cor. 3:6-9)
So in those moments of self-doubt, I remind you as I remind myself: Our calling isn’t confirmed by the number of “likes” on a Facebook post, the number of hits our blog posts receive, the awards that hang on our walls, or contests won.
There will always be others who do things better than we do. Praise God! But let’s not discount how He has uniquely created us to share the good news—perhaps in a way someone has never heard, seen or experienced before. The gift is from Him and the glory is all His, so go ahead — say it, write it, and create it!
“Were you made on purpose? Is there a unique blend of interests, desire, wisdom, quirks, insecurities, and loves that are within you? Can we agree those things are not a coincidence? Could it also be that there are things in you that aren’t in anyone else? That the way God has attached himself to you is a unique way he wants to display his glory to the world?” – Emily P. Freeman, A Million Little Ways
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Imagine the grin as I peeled back the festive paper to find a journal with Brilliant Ideas imprinted on the front in all its Copperplate glory. (Thank you, Ellen!)
Brilliant? Sure — no pressure! Ideas? Now, that’s more my speed.
An
hour prior to receiving this thoughtful gift, ideas had already begun
percolating over a plate (yes, a plate) of grits with one of the most creative people I know. Hopefully, you’ll soon see the results of that
particular grits session. 🙂
For those ideas that strike when I’m out and about, I carry a tiny moleskin notebook and pen in the front pocket of my purse because these days ideas seem to disappear as quickly as they strike.
How about you? Do you have a method for remembering brilliant ideas that come your way?
“Look at the blank pages before you with courage.
Now fill them with beauty.” Blaine Hogan
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Edie Melson, Jamie Britt, and Vonda Skelton
For this Friday Fave my focus turns towards one of the sweetest and most encouraging young women I know, Jamie Britt. Her physical sight may be impaired but the insight God gives her certainly is not.
Awhile back Jamie asked if I would be a “Friday Friend” on her awesome blog
Encouraging Women. I couldn’t say “yes” fast enough. (Thanks, Jamie!)
So, today, would you consider dropping by Jamie’s blog to read our interview? You can read it
here.
Thank you!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
This week, I decided to join
The Writer’s Plot, a local group led by the amazing Pam Zollman. The group meets on the third Saturday of every month — and the timing could not have been better! Tomorrow, Saturday, July 21, The Writer’s Plot will host
The Story Continues, a writer’s conference to be held at Furman University.
It’s not too late to join us!
10% discount for TWP members for all prices
Harold Underdown – consulting
editor, former vice president & editorial director at
ipicturebooks, former editorial director at Charlesbridge, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books
Edie Melson– social media marketing expert, author of best-selling ebook, Social Media Marketing for Writers and a devotional, Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves for Battle
Vonda Skelton – author of Seeing Through the Lies (for women), three Bitsy Burroughs Mysteries (for children), and numerous magazine articles for adults
Patricia Thomas – author of 7 picture books, including “Stand Back,” said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze!” as well as numerous magazine articles and short stories
Pam Zollman – award-winning
author of 40 children’s books, hundreds of short stories and articles
(for adults and children), and former editor at Highlights Magazine
Alan Gratz – award-winning author of six children’s and YA books, short stories, magazine articles, plays, and several episodes of A&E’s City Confidential
Jessica Alexander – Associate Editor for Peachtree Publishing
Katya Jensen—Editorial and Subrights Coordinator for Peachtree Publishing
Diana Flegal– Literary agent with Hartline Literary Agency
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
✔ Ipod loaded with music from Brandon, Zach (from college days), Aaron Keyes, and David Crowder. What better way to begin and end a day?
✔ Lots ‘o one dollar bills for the Cloud 9 Coffee Cafe. Latan, are you ready?
✔ My “Edie” notebook, stocked with business cards, writing samples, and a flashback-style plastic pouch filled with pens, paper clips, and sticky notes.
✔ Much, much more.
If you know me, you know I’m all about the checklist. The process makes me giddy:
- Empty thoughts onto page. In detail.
- Grab debit card. Go shopping.
- Ask hubster to bring luggage down from the attic. Okay, beg.
- Check off each item — quickly. Score!
Searching for the most comfortable shoes or snazziest notebook is gratifying, but if I’m not careful, I can allow the temporal prep to override the eternal one.
Becoming spiritually prepared for next week’s Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference also involves a process—one of searching the soul, with God leading the way. For me, it looks something like this:
God, would you search my heart? Turns out, I have a tendency to see only what I want to see about myself.
God, would you see if there is any offensive way in me?
- Pride – even a speck of it can leave enough space for the enemy’s big toe.
- Envy – “Envy is dissatisfaction with who God has made me to be. It is also suspicion that God is withholding what I deserve and giving it to someone else.” -Mindy Caliguire. God, am I envying someone else? If so, please forgive me and show me how to put on dancing shoes (preferably, without heels) on behalf of another person’s success.
- Greed – “Greed
grows out of the suspicion that God will not take care of our needs as
well as we can do it ourselves.” -Mindy Caliguire. I say I trust You to lead and guide the way on this journey, but when I try to make things happen in my own strength, there’s a whiff of greed in the air, i.e., the stench of flesh. Father, may You find me dying to self, allowing the Holy Spirit to move fully and freely in my life, bringing forth the sweet scent of Your glory.
God, open my eyes to the new and unique ways You are calling me to live out the Gospel as I choose to see this amazing conference as a blessing from You. Not one person will be in attendance by “coincidence”.
Next week is about You, not me.
Next week is about transformation, not information.
Next week is about becoming the men and women You’ve called us to be, not trying to become someone through the process of “doing”.
“Lay your deadly doing down
Down at Jesus’ feet
And stand in Him, in Him alone,
Wondrously complete.”
-James Proctor, It is Finished
