The Power of One Word

by Beth K. Vogt

I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions.

Oh, sure, I’ve tried to resolve my way into a better me – usually failed before the month of January is over. I lose the list. Or I just lose the want-to, overwhelmed by all those numbered priorities. It’s as if I’m juggling a bunch of have-to's.

Anybody else relate?

Twelve years ago, I discovered the principle of One Word – choosing to focus on one word for an entire year. Consider this quote from the book My One Word by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen:

“ …words encapsulate ideas. They evoke our emotions. They hook into memories. They define our experiences—helping to shape us in the process.

There’s power in words. Beauty in words. Grace in words.

Words create movement. They craft nations. They seal a marriage. They cast vision. They make us laugh. They focus our attention. They expand our horizons. They stimulate our creativity. And they script our possibilities.”

As writers, we can all agree with that statement, can’t we? Words are powerful. Now consider the process of prayerfully choosing one word to focus on in 2017, allowing it to fuel personal and spiritual change in your life. Intrigued?

To further spark your imagination, here’s a recap of my previous One Words:

• 2006: gratitude - Keeping a gratitude journal revolutionized my “glass-half-empty” attitude.
• 2007: simplify - A severe illness changed this word to survival as I embraced simpler things in ways I never imagined.
• 2008: content - as in “be content with such things as you have” (Hebrews 13:5) I bought a lot less that year!
• 2009 & 2010: forgiveness - I had a lot to learn and unlearn about forgiveness.
• 2011: hope - There were times I could have asked “Why?” Instead, I asked myself, “Are you going to abandon hope?” My answer: No.
• 2012: trust - During a year of change, I faced doubting versus trusting -- and chose to trust. 
• 2013: confidence - I was so much stronger after keeping my heart and mind set on "not throwing away my confidence." (Hebrews 10:35-36) 
• 2014: think - I anchored my thoughts to truth more and more, rather than letting my thoughts go wandering.
• 2015: collaborate – This means to work jointly on an activity, especially to produce or create something. Synonyms: co-operate, join forces, team up, band together, work together, participate, combine, ally. As a writer, I focused on collaborating with God.
• 2016: prosper - to act wisely, as in "And David was acting wisely (prospering) in all his ways for the LORD was with him." (1 Samuel 18 14.) This word helped me make major decisions.

My word for 2017 surprised me: inheritance.

Psalm 16:5-6 (NIV) says: "Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance." 

At times I've talked negatively about my inheritance. Not the eternal one I've received from God, no. But there can be emotional "inheritances" carried from generation to generation within families ... some good, some harmful. One night as I battled insomnia, I read Psalm 16:5-6, and the word "inheritance" seemed to be written in bright, bold letters. I knew it was my One Word for 2017.

If you’re considering focusing on One Word in 2017, here a few things that have helped me:

1. Read the book My One Word by Mike Ashcraft & Rachel Olsen. It’s not mandatory reading – I chose One Words for several years before I found this resource – but it’s excellent. There’s also a website: http://myoneword.org
2. Take time to pray about your One Word.
3. Read through Scripture and see if a particular verse stands out to you. My One Words are always scripturally based.
4. Look for confirmation. My One Word is often confirmed by a quote, a song, or a visual. I use those as additional ways to focus on my One Word for the year.

So, do you prefer to keep New Year’s Resolutions? Does anyone else choose One Word for the year like me? I’d love for you to share them in the comment section!

TWEETABLES

The Power of One Word by Beth K. Vogt (Click To Tweet)

I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions~ Beth K. Vogt (Click To Tweet)

There’s power in words. Beauty in words. Grace in words. (Click To Tweet)

Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” As a contemporary romance novelist, Beth is a 2016 Christy Award winner and 2016 Carol Award winner for her novel Crazy Little Thing Called Love.  She was also a 2015 RITA® Finalist for her novel Somebody Like You, which was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. In 2015, Beth introduced her destination wedding series with both an e-novella, Can’t Buy Me Love, and a novel, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. She continued the series in 2016 with the e-novella You Can’t Hurry Love (May) and the novel Almost Like Being in Love (June). Her novella A November Bride was part of the Year of Wedding Series by Zondervan. Beth enjoys writing contemporary romance because she believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. Find out more about her books at bethvogt.com. An established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth is also part of the leadership team for My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by best-selling author Susan May Warren. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people, and their youngest daughter, Christa, who loves to play volleyball and enjoys writing her own stories.

Read More

The Most Powerful Word in the World

by James L. Rubart

“You want to know the most powerful word in the English language?” 

My friend Scott had a thin smile on his face when he asked me that question a few years back. 

“Love to hear it.”

“No.”

“No what? No you’re not going to tell me?”

“No is the word.” Scott turned and glanced at me as we drove toward his home in San Antonio, his smile now bigger. “No.”

He explained how saying no brings great freedom. How we’re pre-conditioned to say yes, even when our plates are so full all we can see is a mountain of food. 

“Sure! Toss another dollop of potatoes on my plate. It’s only seven feet high at the moment. I can handle.”

No, you can’t. I can’t. No one can. 

Scott talked about how we say yes out of obligation, or fear of rejection, because we think it will curry favor with people with more power. Or because we’re worried we’ll miss out—and a hundred other reasons. 

But the result is the same. Feeling like we can’t breathe.

New Year

We’re only three weeks into the New Year and I’m guessing many of us have already given up on keeping our plates clear. We've been reminded once again there are only 24 hours in the day.

Where Do You Need to Say No?

• To a critique group?
• Unsubscribing to all those newsletters you never read?
• Turning down a guest blog post?
• Saying no to one more Facebook group?
• Volunteering at a conference?
• Joining the PTA?
• Reading a manuscript for possible endorsement?
• Agreeing to look at a friend of a friend’s novel attempt?

Don’t misunderstand, each of those examples can be an excellent use of our time, but are we doing it for the right reason? Did we seek the wisdom of trusted family and friends? 

Did we seek God’s counsel on the choice? Did God tell us to say yes to all the things we’ve agreed to? Did we take time to ask him, or did we just dive in? 

Too often my mode has been just dive in. I haven’t asked the Lord; instead I’ve almost automatically said yes to things that sounded fun at the time, but later realized was not a house God was building. 

Remember, if we’re doing A, we’re not doing B. And B might be the better choice. 

Do you say yes more than you want to? Why? Have you discovered the power of no?

James L. Rubart is 28 years old, but lives trapped inside an older man's body. He thinks he's still young enough to water ski like a madman and dirt bike with his two grown sons, and loves to send readers on journeys they'll remember months after they finish one of his stories. He's the best-selling, Christy, INSPY, and RT Book Reviews award winning author of seven novels as well as a professional speaker. During the day he runs his marketing company which helps businesses, authors, and publishers make more coin of the realm. He lives with his amazing wife on a small lake in eastern Washington. More at jameslrubart.com

Read More

When it All Seems Wrong

Jumbled Letters

by Marcia Lee Laycock

“It has to be here somewhere,” my husband’s voice was annoyingly calm.

“But the road ends right here!” My voice was not.

“Are you sure you have the address right?”

I sighed and dug out my cell phone to find the website and address for the courier again. I groaned when it finally came up. The number was 7476 not 4767. I opened my GPS app. and typed in the correct address. My husband chuckled as it directed us to the right spot.

I always have been a bit dyslexic when it comes to numbers but I couldn’t believe I had gotten the address so wrong. Not just one number out of place, but all of them! I sighed with frustration.

I remember having that same feeling one day when I was editing my first novel. I had put it away for a while, after writing The End, but now it was time to take a close critical look at it. I marked it up with my own unique editing notations and when I reached that last page I sighed with frustration. Many scenes seemed out of order. In fact, it seemed all wrong. I was tempted to just hit the delete button and start again, but there were segments I liked, characters that worked and scenes that had a good emotional punch. If I could just figure out where to put them! It took a while but the hard work of rearranging was worth it in the end. The novel won me the Best New Canadian Christian Author Award and I have had some wonderful responses from readers. In the end, I was glad I hadn’t hit that delete button.

Sometimes life seems like that doesn’t it? Sometimes we look at what’s going on around us, in our world, in our country, in our own local area and even in our own family, and it seems like it’s all mixed up – it’s all wrong. Sometimes we’d like to just hit some kind of delete button and start over. But then we see those shining moments when things do work, when the goodness and kindness of humanity prevail, or when right conquers wrong in a stunningly powerful way. We realize our world, our country, our city and our family is worth the effort.

And then there are those wonderful promises in God’s word: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33). And this one: The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Yes, there will always be times when things seem out of order and all wrong. But as we head into a new year it is good to remember that “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22,23).

May He bless you and your writing mightily in 2016!

****

Marcia Lee Laycock writes from central Alberta Canada where she is a pastor's wife and mother of three adult daughters. She was the winner of The Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for her novel, One Smooth Stone. The sequel, A Tumbled Stone was short listed in The Word Awards. Marcia also has two devotional books in print and has contributed to several anthologies. Her work has been endorsed by Sigmund Brouwer, Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and Mark Buchanan.

Abundant Rain, an ebook devotional for writers can be downloaded on Smashwords or on Amazon. It is also now available in Journal format on Amazon.

Her most recent release is A Traveler's Advisory, Stories of God's Grace Along the Way.
Here's Ane Mulligan's review on Amazon - "Marcia Laycock has an inspired ability to deliver devotions that pierce the heart with a message from God. A Travelers Advisory is a unique devotion book, filled with everyday occurrences from travel, and each reached home in my heart."

Visit Marcia’s Website

Sign up to receive her devotional column, The Spur

Read More

Stacking Up the New Year by DiAnn Mills

Stacking up the New Year
By DiAnn Mills

Our family celebrations often involve a game of dominoes. Me? I like stacking them up and watching them fall one-by-one.

Unfortunately if storytellers don’t make a few plans for their writing career in January 2015, our publishing dreams may fall. Every writer is motivated by something, and when we lose track of why we embarked upon this journey, our goals aren’t met. In fact, they are flattened.

Looks like I forgot to plan.

So how can we avoid the domino effect? I’ve listed ten ways writers can take charge of their career in 2015.

1.   Understand priorities and stick by them. Life is filled with interruptions, and only we can
      decide what distractions are important and what ones are merely annoyances.
2.   Establish a budget for conferences, marketing, promotion, and other expenses.
3.   We writers need to know where we’re going. Calendar due dates of writing projects. If a
      manuscript is on spec, establish a deadline to finish and stick to it.
4.   List the writing projects that need research and calendar them.
5.   Establish goals for social media. Buffer and Hootsuite offer solutions to save time and
      energy.
6.   Analyze the many blogs available for the writer and the world of publishing. Select and
      follow those that are consistency professional.
7.   Evaluate current writing groups, online and live. Which one(s) allow the writer to learn
      and give back to others?
8.   Create an “Idea” folder. Writing ideas come from the world around us—from blogs to
      articles to book projects.
9.  An author bio needs updating at least yearly.
10.Take an honest look at your professional photo. Is it time for a retake?

Facing the New Year with writing goals and a plan means professionalism. If we write when we feel the muse, edit when the mood strikes, and submit when we have nothing better to do, our careers will fail. Develop a plan and stick to it. Watch how your dominoes stack up this year.

Oh, I need to get this on paper.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Read More

2015 - A Big Year for Me, How About You?

Dan Walsh is the award-winning and bestselling author of 12 novels, including The Unfinished Gift, The Dance and When Night Comes. He has won 3 Carol Awards and 2 Selah Awards. Three of his books were finalists for Inspirational Book of the Year. Dan is a member of ACFW and Word Weavers. He lives with his wife, Cindi, in the Daytona Beach area where they love to take long walks. Click here to connect with Dan or check out his books.

*     *     *

I'm writing this yesterday. It's actually today for me. What I mean is, I'm writing this on New Year's Eve but it will come out on New Year's Day. Anyway...I'm not one who puts a lot of stock on celebrating New Year's. I'm more of a Christmas guy. New Year's seems anti-climactic to me by comparison. My wife and I typically stay-at-home, watch the new year role in on one of the TV shows.

My son holding our granddaughter

But the New Year's holiday does have some benefit to me. Almost involuntarily, it causes me to take stock. To look back over the year that's finishing up, and look forward to the year ahead. Mostly when I look back, it's about focusing on the things I'm thankful for, the things God has done that make me very glad He is in charge of my life. When I do take time to do this, it's not hard to come up with a number of things to rejoice about. Probably topping the list, for me, was seeing my son get engaged to a wonderful girl we really love, and my daughter giving birth to our second grandchild (who, at 6 months of age, gives away the most beautiful smiles for free).

As I look forward, I can almost become overwhelmed at all the big things happening in 2015. Moving in some new directions this year, both in my writing and non-writing life. My tendency is to overthink things, but with all these changes I can already see this is a season where I need to be more childlike in my walk.

In my writing, I will likely have 5 books coming out. The most I've ever had. Two of them will be the final 2 books written this past year under contract with Revell. The 4th and final book in the Restoration series with Gary Smalley, called The Legacy (releasing in April). And a new Christmas novel coming out in Sept, called Keeping Christmas (featuring an empty nest couple facing their first Christmas alone).

I also plan to release 3 new indie books in 2015. The sequel to my newest suspense novel,

When Night Comes, and the first 2 books of a new fiction trilogy that will be in the same genre as all my other novels (Nicholas Sparks-type books). I'm writing the first one now, called Rescuing Finley (Finley is a dog).

I'll also be working on something pretty exciting. That is, helping the writer/director who is adapting my novel, The Reunion, into a screenplay. He's working on it right now and plans to start production early in 2016. This year will be all kinds of behind-the-scenes movie stuff.

And finally in my non-writing life...after being out of pastoral ministry for 5 years, I'll be moving into an increasing role in my local church this year, leading a ministry to disciple new converts.

Well, that's what I've got coming up in 2015. Let's hear what's going on with you in the New Year!

Read More

WHEN GOD REPEATS HIMSELF

by Cynthia Ruchti

Here in the glorious between time--between Christmas and the dawning of the New Year--an air of anticipation holds us suspended. One year breathing its last gasps. Another yet to take its first breath.

Within the last two weeks, most of the people I know celebrated the birth of Christ. Some of them also battled the flu. Too many. Some dear friends laid family members to rest. Others gave birth. Some celebrations took place in hospital rooms or were wedged between chemo treatments. Others discovered, the day after Christmas, that the headaches stemmed from a tumor they hadn't known existed. Surgery, recovery, uncertainty, Happy New Year.

Others of us ping-ponged among concern for the ill and uncertain, joyful worship of the Christ Child Savior King, and writing assignments.

With the Word of God open to the left of my laptop and tea and DayQuil on the right, I'm plowing through the final chapters and anticipating the final round of editing. Among other things, I'll watch for over-used words. The story improves when I eliminate over-used words or convert them to other word choices.

But there, to my left, is my Bible open to a chapter with eight short verses and one word repeated six times in one form or another. If I weren't so grateful for the word, my editor-self would mark them for eviction.

But no. It's a priceless word. And God had good reason for using it repeatedly. He knew we'd need it embedded, driven deep, not tattooed but embossed on the frail flesh of our hearts.

The word? Protect. Protector.

"God won't let your foot slip.
   Your protector won't fall asleep on the job.
No! Israel's protector 
   never sleeps or rests!
The Lord is your protector;
   the Lord is your shade
      right beside you.
The Lord will protect you
   from all evil;
   God will protect your very life.
The Lord will protect you
   on your journeys--
   whether going or coming--
   from now until forever from now."
Psalm 121: 2-5, 7-8
Common English Bible

Here in the glorious between time, we lean into the unfailing protection of the One who won't let our feet slip, who will accompany us, protectively, through the unanticipated challenges and inexpressible joys of the year to come.

Protect. Protector. Blessed repetition.

Read More

His Love Endures Forever

When Anita Mellott isn’t homeschooling, she writes to encourage others at From the Mango Tree. She has more than ten years of experience as a writer/editor in the nonprofit world. Her book of devotionals for homeschooling parents will be released by Judson Press in summer 2011.

His Love Endures Forever
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:1

For what are you thankful? The thought resonated as I read Psalm 136 during my morning devotions.

I gazed at the green canopy of treetops through my bedroom window. Family, food, a roof over our heads, clothing, the privilege of being home with my kids, a book contract, finishing my book on time, knowing Jesus, health, a good church…

I looked at the Psalm again. Why did the Psalmist repeat “for his mercy endureth forever” 26 times over the 26 verses? The question lingered in my mind for several days, and the possible answers came in bits and pieces. Maybe because it’s important enough to bear repeating. But why? Maybe it’s because we’re prone to forget that God’s love endures forever. Because it’s what matters the most.

The latter reason hit hard. Most often, when I’m thankful, it concerns to material blessings. But as I studied the Psalm, I found that the Psalmist’s outpouring of thankfulness focused more on the intangible—the attributes of God and what He has done for His people--His goodness, His wonders, His creation, deliverance, protection (verses 1-22) rather than material provisions. (Only one verse—verse 25 spoke about Him giving food to every creature.)

Verses 23 and 24 grabbed my attention: “Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth forever: And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.” God remembered me when I was wallowing in the filth of sin, and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice so I might live (1 John 4:9).

All of a sudden the pieces came together in my mind. That’s why the Psalmist repeated “for His mercy endureth forever.” It’s because I’m to delight in God’s love. It’s because of His love that I live. It’s because of His grace that I am who I am. Nothing would be possible without His love!

The realization of the depth and magnitude of His love causes me to bow before Him saying, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house that thou hast brought me hitherto?” (1 Chronicles 17:16).

So as I reflect on 2010, gratitude to my Savior and Lord overwhelms me. As I end another Christmas celebration and enter a new year, I’m delighting in the gift of all time. The gift that never loses its glitter and joy, the gift that is for eternity—Jesus and His love that endures forever.

Read More

Future Tense

Marcia is charging into the future in central Alberta Canada. She is a speaker/writer/pastor's wife and mother. Her devotionals have been endorsed by Mark Buchanan, Phil Callaway and others. Her novel, One Smooth Stone won her the Best New Canadian Christian Author Award in 2006. The sequel will be released soon. Visit her at http://www.vinemarc.com/

2010. It seems like future time. Wasn’t it just yesterday that 1984 was so far away we thought we’d never get there? Then came 2000, a new millennium. And on we go. The years race after one another as though they are competing in the Indy 500. And I can’t keep up. Maybe I’m feeling my age. The big 60 is looming and I just can’t wrap my head around the idea.

I’m also conscious of wanting to “do something” with my life, wanting to make my life count with the remaining time I have left. I want to write the best novel I can and see it widely read. I want to speak to as many audiences as I can reach. I want to accomplish what God’s will is for me in the coming year. It makes the future seem a little tense.

But then I read a verse like “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life…” John 3:36, and John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

And I am encouraged. It’s all so simple, really. Just believe. Suddenly the pressure to perform, the pressure to “do something” fades. God has a plan and it’s a good one. He knows what books I’ll write and what He’ll do with them. He knows what audience’s I’ll speak to and how he’ll direct my words to their hearts and minds and accomplish His purposes.

And then he has a greater future planned for me – eternal life.

Eternal life. I can’t wrap my mind around that concept, either, but I know it’s a promise I can count on, because my God is faithful and merciful beyond knowing.
And I know it’s not going to be a boring life. It’s going to be so full we’ll have to be glorified to contain it. Wow. Now that’s a concept! Glorified, as he was - like Jesus Himself. Able to stand before God almighty. Able to talk with angels. Perhaps able to write words that will flow directly from his heart to mine and on to my readers. The mind boggles.

There are a lot of dark clouds looming in the future, according to almost any forward looking “seer” you might choose to listen to. But the concepts mentioned above blow them all out of the water. There is no need to stress over what to do with our lives when we know He is in control. There is no reason to fear a future in which our bodies will be transformed, able to walk on water and slide through solid walls, as Jesus did. There is no need to shudder at a future where God’s Spirit, His unconditional love, grace and mercy will be poured out on his people in ways that will astonish even the most sceptical. There is no logic in trembling at a future in which God’s own Son will invite us to join him in ruling a new earth and a new heaven.

Sound fantastic? Sound too good to be true? I agree. But I have chosen to listen and believe what God has declared – “For I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

2010. Hallelujah, here we come!

Read More