Let’s begin this new
year with focus. Single-mindedness.
Break through the
chaos, the clutter, the distractions—and maybe even the flu bugs—of the past
holiday season.
Focus. Re-focus. Keep
in mind why you are writing your memoir.
It is not a hobby. It is a ministry: Remind yourself of Deuteronomy 4:9 in this blog’s
header.
Writing your
memoir is a ministry: Your stories
can shape lives—including the spiritual lives—of your children, grandchildren,
great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, and other readers.
Because writing
your memoir is a ministry, make it a
prayer
priority.
Lloyd Ogilvie
acknowledged that in his ministry he
faced “soul-sized issues,” so he
prayed,
“Sovereign
Father,… You have given me … an imagination able to envision Your plan and
purpose for me, and a will ready to
do Your will.
“… I know you
will go before me to show me the
way, behind me to press me forward, beside me to give me courage, above me to protect me, and within me to give me wisdom and
discernment.” (Quiet Moments With God;
emphasis mine)
Your family has soul-sized issues today and, as new
generations join your family, they, too, will have soul-sized issues. God has a
plan and purpose for you, a role to
play in your family.
As you
carry it out, He will go before you, behind you, beside you, above you, and
within you. You can count on Him!
You
probably have no idea just how much God can use your stories to impact soul-sized issues in your family’s future
generations, so today I share with you
Duane Scott’s prayer, a humble prayer for himself and all writers:
Dear
Author,
Today,
the words I use, let them be Your words.
Words
of Hope, of Love, of Faith.
Allow
me, with trembling hands, to be Your voice.…
Let me
never forget, the words I write today,
May
change the life of one, maybe two.
But as
the Psalmist says, I bring You my sheaves,
They
may not be many, but they are Yours.…
(Click
here to continue reading Duane’s The Writer’s Prayer)
Focus! Be
single-minded! Pray! Write!
This is super -packed with encouragement, thanks so much. Susie
ReplyDeleteSusie, I'm thankful you found encouragement here. I love the way your blog post of yesterday fits so well with this one here -- yours captures our first priority, mine captures the overflow the results from focusing on that first priority.
DeleteBlessings in 2013!
Linda
Oh Linda, this is perfect and beautiful. Just what I needed. You have a way of delivering the messages that count. I'm copying this and hanging it in my writing area for ongoing encouragement and guidance. Thank you so much. Blessings and Hugs, Kathy
ReplyDeleteHi, Kathy, I am humbled to think that anything I write could be helpful but if God uses these words, then I am delighted. My prayers have been answered.
DeleteThe mountains and sea in the Psalms illustration is the view from my in-laws' front window, the scenery I grew up with: The Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. :)
Linda
Once again, I feel as if you're an angel sitting on my shoulder, whispering just the message I need to hear. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh, Cathy, I'm delighted if you found some encouragement in this post. I prayed a lot about what to post. In fact I had a different post prepared and decided to publish this one instead. May God keep you focused and excited about all He has planned for you!
DeleteLinda