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  • Maranatha Writers Contest 1st place devo

    Thirsty Soul

    I debated with myself that morning whether or not to exercise. A multitude of other to-dos remained on my agenda. Instead, I donned tennis shoes and headed in the direction of a small creek nearby.

    Almost immediately, my ankle began to ache due to a recent injury. “Shall I turn around or keep going? If I could just reach my favorite spot and linger over the bridge,” I prayed. The calming water always reminded me of the words in Psalms 42:1, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

    Convincing myself to go a bit further, I rounded the corner and saw them. They saw me. We all froze in our tracks. About 150 feet away stood two deer pausing to quench their thirst.

    An affirmation and reward appeared that morning in the form of God’s majestic creatures–almost as if God was saying, “I’m glad you took the time to seek me out.”

    Ask:

    Do I pant for you, Lord, like a deer pants for water? Or, am I usually in such a hurry to get going on the next thing on my list? Do I say I believe in You, yet go about my business as if I am the one in charge?

    Prayer:

    Dear God, I desperately need your sustaining power and mercy. I know the only way to acquire this is when I schedule time away with you every day. Now I realize my day is not complete until I meet with You. Oh, that my soul might thirst after you! Amen.

     Copyright Teresa Lasher 2009©

  • Maranatha Writers Contest results

    DSCF5770

    I was shocked and excited all at the same time when “Doc” Dennis Hensley announced my name as the winner of 1st place in the devotional category!  A couple of my new-found author friends at the conference also won in the category they entered.

    When “Doc” handed me my certificate, it was almost as if God said, “My child, this is confirmation you are on the right track. Keep on keeping on.” What a joyous affirmation. Praise the Lord! I also give credit to my hubby and daughter who patiently help critique my seemingly endless pieces and my writer friends! Thank you all!

  • Maranatha Writers Conf. – day #5

    HOW THEN SHOULD I LIVE DSCF5702(and write)?

    “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 5:29)

    My mission is complicated, difficult, but not impossible. Later on in the book of Ephesians, Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus, reminds the saints in Ephesus (the faithful) they were once in darkness, but now are “…light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”

    What a tall order. I have been infused with much information this week, and many ideas. My brain is overwhelmed/on overload. I know for certain I cannot intentionally allow any unwholesome talk or words be posted that do not build up or edify or encourage others.  

    With God anything is impossible.

  • Maranatha Writers Conf.-day #3

    by the shores of Lake Michigan--Maranatha...just a few steps away

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    Beautiful Lake Michigan is just a few steps away from the Maranatha Conference Grounds–I’m finding the location to be the IDEAL place for ideas for my writing to spring forth.
    We learned about SACRIFICES…Sally Stuart, author of “Christian Writers’ Market Guide” shared a few tips of the trade:
    • Too full schedule? – what can I give up? look first to the things I really don’t like to do or want to do (housework? that might not count–unless you can get away with it!) look at things that don’t enrich my writing life or me spiritually…maybe a few of those could go. if the task competes with my writing time (email, TV)–then maybe it’s the thing to disappear.
    • Need free thinking time. time to just “be” still and not “do.” what’s a good time for me?
    • Need “unreproducible experiences.” look for ways to do things in my life differently. take a different route to work, eat at a different restaurant, meet with a new person/acquaintance for coffee. fill your reservoir with new, quirky ideas.
    • Need to be more curious? listen (eavesdrop on conversations–it’s okay, you’re a writer!) smell, look, taste–use ALL your senses to sniff out a story. write a profile or scene every day. BE ALERT AND AWARE wherever you go! More than likely, a story is brewing!

    more to follow… 

  • Maranatha Writers’ Conference-day #2

    Whispers by Shirley Vogel

    I met a new fellow-writer friend today, Shirley Pieters Vogel. She wrote, “wHispers,” which stands for: “when He is so precious even rocks sing.”  Isn’t that cool?

    She autographed a copy of her book just for me and we shared similiar health struggles. Shirley, I’m eager to begin your book…I just love the quote on the first page:

    “The voice of the Spirit of God is as gentle as a summer breeze–so gentle that unless you are living in complete fellowship and oneness with God, you will never hear it.” – Oswald Chambers

    Isn’t that the truth? With today’s busy hustle-bustle lifestyle, I have to make an extra special effort to hear that whisper that is as gentle as a summer breeze. Oh God, help me to be still so I may hear when you call my name and order my steps for this evening and the rest of this conference week.

    “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10

  • Writers Conference updates-day #1

    Hi all, just returned from a nearly full day at Maranatha Writers Conference. If the other four days are like this, my head will be swimming w/information overload!  Today we heard from Anne Fenske, of  Grace Acres Press on: Secrets every writer should know before, during and after writing their manuscript. 

    TAKING A JOURNEY:

    • Know the rules of the road first
    • Preparation for writing
    • Arrival – journey is not over, but just begun

    KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE:

    • Who, What, Where, Why, When, and How
    • Know the competition out there
    • Marketplace, what is selling hot? and what’s  not?

    WHAT DO WRITERS DO?

    • write
    • Revise
    • Collaborate
    • Re-write
    • Research
    • Revise

    WHAT DO PUBLISHERS DO?  Publishers are venture captialists for people who have intellectual property (whether it be words, art, music)

    It is my duty as a writer to bring something very valuable to the table for the publisher.

    READ AND OBEY what the publishers want. Cannot stress this enough! If they want your name and contact info on the left side of the paper–don’t put it on the right side -more than likely, it will be dropped in the slush pile.

    WEBSITES are very important. Build a database of your fan club w/names and addresses where they can register on your website. Are you out there speaking? mingling? meeting new people and gathering THEIR business cards wherever you go? Even if your book isn’t written–NOW is the time to start your marketing plan!!

  • Maranatha Writers Conference–here I come!

    I’m excited to join many other writers at the annual Maranatha Christian Writers Conference beginning tomorrow 9/20 through Friday. The conference is held at the Maranatha conference grounds on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan.

    I’m eager to meet new writers, authors and publishers!

    https://writewithpurpose.com/

  • Labor of Love quilt

    back side of Lighthouse quilt
    back side of Lighthouse quilt
    front of quilt
    front of quilt

    Strips of red, white, and blue

    Cut in various shapes

    Fastened together with

    Stitches of Love

     

    Lovingly designed by Bethany,

    Our daughter-in-law

    Mother of our two grandchildren,

    Liberty and Elijah

     

    Patterned after a lighthouse

    Down by the sea

    The beautiful sea

    Nautical theme of which we love

     

    Thank you, Bethany

    For your hard work and creativity

    We’ll enjoy for years to come

    This special Labor of Love quilt

  • West Michigan Fellowship of Christian Writers

    https://www.meetup.com/wm-fcwriters/

    Great meetup time! Received info on book proposals – some of which I hadn’t seen before. I’ll be able to utilize this info in creating my own proposal. Valuable critique of my own article.

    Looking forward to next weeks Maranatha Christian Writers Conference (https://www.writewithpurpose.org/) hosted  in Muskegon, MI.

  • Light my day with your Truth

    DSCN4570Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. – Micah 7:8b

    Life everywhere is full of distractions that block out God. He is still there–always the same, unchanging, steadfast. Lord…Keep lighting our days with your truth. – Cynthia Culp Allen