Well, it's been awhile since I've posted on my blog. It's titled "Rebecca's Journey", but I'm certainly not sharing very much of my journey. Maybe I'm not meant to be a blogger. I'm too private. LOL :)
God is certainly leading me down interesting paths right now. I know I'm called to write, but yet I struggle to finish my manuscripts. And the ideas keep coming! When I do get into serious writing mode, I absolutley love it!
But I also love serving American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) as its Vice-President.
At the beginning of the year, this is the last place I thought I'd be! I was already on the Operating Board for ACFW, happily serving as its Membership Director. I was also volunteering in church, and with my local ACFW chapter as Secretary (shout-out to the DFW Ready Writers!)
Earlier in the year, I felt nudging, I guess nudging from God. (Wouldn't it be great if God used neon billboards!) I needed to reign in my focus. I was over-committed, over-volunteered, etc. So, I took a step back. I un-volunteered from my church, which was very difficult to do. And I knew my term as Membership Director with ACFW would end in December this year, as well as my term as Secretary for my local chapter. So, I made preparations to serve out my terms faithfully and focus on writing.
It was time to get back to what I was supposed to be doing -- writing stories. But that didn't happen!
I was appointed Vice-President of ACFW when our wonderful sitting V.P. had to resign, and shortly after I stepped back from my other volunteer duties.
So, this appointment keeps me on the ACFW board until 2010, and takes up a great deal of my time.
My focus still isn't writing, but I felt that my un-volunteering was God's way of preparing me for this position.
I continually pick at my work-in-progress, but for some reason, God wants me right where I am. And if I have to not write as frequently as I'd like, at least it's for the wonderful reason of serving our Lord via ACFW, and trying to give back in some way for all that this organization has given to me.
I'm still not quite sure what God is up to, but I trust and pray, and keep learning and growing through ACFW. I can't wait to see what He brings after 2010!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, July 21, 2008
My birthday was two days ago, and yes, having birthdays, especially at my age, leads to a reflection of your life. But this year, I was reflecting in a different way.
My husband threw me a birthday party this year! How fun! We had 30 people at our house, and the amazing thing is that we didn't know 25 of them 8 months ago!
We've moved to this area almost eight months ago, and it's been a long road in establishing friendships. I grew up in the military, so I was used to moving around, and I've moved several times as an adult. Change is okay in my book. However this last move, for my husband's new job, was different. Our kids are in college, so we weren't meeting parents of kids the same age as ours through school. I'm no longer working out of the house, but am instead working on my writing career at home, so I'm not meeting new friends via a workplace. And with church, well, we shopped churches for several months, only joining our new church two months ago.
In January and February of this year, I recall being very lonely, feeling isolated, and although I knew that feeling would change as we established ourselves in a new home, it was a difficult few months.
My birthday party was a celebration, and did it ever show what a mighty work God can do in your life if you just ask Him. In January, I would never have imagined that there would be a house full of people in my home. But there they were, from all different areas of our lives: neighbors, church friends, writer friends, a college buddy, and cousins we're finally getting to know because we now live closer to them.
God has done nothing but bless us for this entire move: From the beginning, even when we thought we were going to another city and couldn't understand why the doors kept closing there, all the way to our beautiful home, that was happily filled with laughter, love, and good new friends. We're establishing our life here, and it's going to be wonderful.
God is so good.....
My husband threw me a birthday party this year! How fun! We had 30 people at our house, and the amazing thing is that we didn't know 25 of them 8 months ago!
We've moved to this area almost eight months ago, and it's been a long road in establishing friendships. I grew up in the military, so I was used to moving around, and I've moved several times as an adult. Change is okay in my book. However this last move, for my husband's new job, was different. Our kids are in college, so we weren't meeting parents of kids the same age as ours through school. I'm no longer working out of the house, but am instead working on my writing career at home, so I'm not meeting new friends via a workplace. And with church, well, we shopped churches for several months, only joining our new church two months ago.
In January and February of this year, I recall being very lonely, feeling isolated, and although I knew that feeling would change as we established ourselves in a new home, it was a difficult few months.
My birthday party was a celebration, and did it ever show what a mighty work God can do in your life if you just ask Him. In January, I would never have imagined that there would be a house full of people in my home. But there they were, from all different areas of our lives: neighbors, church friends, writer friends, a college buddy, and cousins we're finally getting to know because we now live closer to them.
God has done nothing but bless us for this entire move: From the beginning, even when we thought we were going to another city and couldn't understand why the doors kept closing there, all the way to our beautiful home, that was happily filled with laughter, love, and good new friends. We're establishing our life here, and it's going to be wonderful.
God is so good.....
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Decision - Determination - Discipline:
I had a college professor give those words as he was talking about what was needed to pass his class. We had made the decision to take his class. Now we needed to have determination, as well as the discipline to do the readings and the homework to do well.
I think this is also true for the writing life. I've made this decision, better yet, God has thrust this decision upon me, to write for Him. I am determined to write and to finish my manuscripts. Now that I've made the decision and have the determination, I am dealing with the discipline issues.
Like most writers, I have set a schedule for my writing. I have a daily/weekly writing goal, and I treat my writing as my job. Since I also have other work (thankfully, I can work from home), I pick two days a week where I take care of my regular paying jobs.
The key now is to stick with this schedule, create a habit, and make this work.
Besides the 3 D's -- I need to add one more thing: PRAYER. As I sit down to start my work day, I am trying to be diligent about saying a prayer over my work day to help me avoid distractions and laziness, and to stay focused. Whether or not I succeed, well, it is up to me. God has given me gifts to use for his purpose, and why I realize that nothing I can do can thwart God's plans, I certainly can derail myself. By praying and bringing God into my daily work world, I am hoping to avoid the terrible D's of: distraction, doubt, and discouragement, and continue with the positive D's of: Diligence, Determination and Discipline.
I had a college professor give those words as he was talking about what was needed to pass his class. We had made the decision to take his class. Now we needed to have determination, as well as the discipline to do the readings and the homework to do well.
I think this is also true for the writing life. I've made this decision, better yet, God has thrust this decision upon me, to write for Him. I am determined to write and to finish my manuscripts. Now that I've made the decision and have the determination, I am dealing with the discipline issues.
Like most writers, I have set a schedule for my writing. I have a daily/weekly writing goal, and I treat my writing as my job. Since I also have other work (thankfully, I can work from home), I pick two days a week where I take care of my regular paying jobs.
The key now is to stick with this schedule, create a habit, and make this work.
Besides the 3 D's -- I need to add one more thing: PRAYER. As I sit down to start my work day, I am trying to be diligent about saying a prayer over my work day to help me avoid distractions and laziness, and to stay focused. Whether or not I succeed, well, it is up to me. God has given me gifts to use for his purpose, and why I realize that nothing I can do can thwart God's plans, I certainly can derail myself. By praying and bringing God into my daily work world, I am hoping to avoid the terrible D's of: distraction, doubt, and discouragement, and continue with the positive D's of: Diligence, Determination and Discipline.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Friends Along the Way
In our journey in this life, we run across many people. Some become our friends, some are co-workers, and some are just passing through. Then there are the distinctive few, that become your best friends, your confidantes. There's a special connection that puts them on a different level than other friends. Growing up, they would be your best friend.
My husband and I were fortunate enough to connect with our friends, Dan and Sandi. For the past 4 and 1/2 years we've shared the birth of children, music, cancer diagnosis (and recovery), the passing of other friends, and the struggles with our jobs and even with our spouses. Now, Dan and Sandi are leaving. They have a job opportunity they can't turn down. We're very excited for them, but as my husband and I are thinking about them, we realize we don't have any other friends on the same level as Dan and Sandi. We have acquaintances, and other friends, but none we have the same connection with as we do with these extraordinary people.
We are thankful to God for blessing this friendship, and bringing these wonderful people in to our lives, but truly our hearts are breaking as we watch them leave and head out to new adventures. It's strange knowing there's no one here in our hometown that we have this same level of friendship with... but maybe that will change in time. We trust God to guide us and bring new people into our lives who will bless us as much as Dan and Sandi have.
We need to take the time to cultivate friendships, and make people count in our lives. We get wrapped up in day-to-day living, problems with the kids or issues at home. It’s easy to focus only on our own situations. But we can’t do that always. We need friends, we need fellowship, and we need to share our lives with others. Value your friends for they are precious.
In our journey in this life, we run across many people. Some become our friends, some are co-workers, and some are just passing through. Then there are the distinctive few, that become your best friends, your confidantes. There's a special connection that puts them on a different level than other friends. Growing up, they would be your best friend.
My husband and I were fortunate enough to connect with our friends, Dan and Sandi. For the past 4 and 1/2 years we've shared the birth of children, music, cancer diagnosis (and recovery), the passing of other friends, and the struggles with our jobs and even with our spouses. Now, Dan and Sandi are leaving. They have a job opportunity they can't turn down. We're very excited for them, but as my husband and I are thinking about them, we realize we don't have any other friends on the same level as Dan and Sandi. We have acquaintances, and other friends, but none we have the same connection with as we do with these extraordinary people.
We are thankful to God for blessing this friendship, and bringing these wonderful people in to our lives, but truly our hearts are breaking as we watch them leave and head out to new adventures. It's strange knowing there's no one here in our hometown that we have this same level of friendship with... but maybe that will change in time. We trust God to guide us and bring new people into our lives who will bless us as much as Dan and Sandi have.
We need to take the time to cultivate friendships, and make people count in our lives. We get wrapped up in day-to-day living, problems with the kids or issues at home. It’s easy to focus only on our own situations. But we can’t do that always. We need friends, we need fellowship, and we need to share our lives with others. Value your friends for they are precious.
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