The Founder's Pen
Welcome
to The Founder's Pen. Here, Sharen Watson, Founder of the Words for
the Journey Christian Writers Guild, and Director of the Guild's Rocky
Mountain Region, will be sharing her goings-on and
offering encouragement, refreshment, and news from the Front Range.
For more about Sharen, please see her bio on
this page.
Sharen is
excited to announce the opening of Words For The Journey Christian Writers
Guild – The Rocky Mountain Region. Please visit the Rocky
Mountain Region's information page for contact information, and meetings
schedule; and for news, check the Rocky
Mountain Region's newsletter.
A special note:
Congratulations
to Sharen! She was published in two God Allows U-Turns
books. The
books are titled, God Allows U-Turns for Women and God Allows
U-Turns for Teens.
Her
contributions are:
God Allows U-Turns for Women - "Waiting at the Crossroads"
God Allows U-Turns for Teens - "My Daddy's Lap"
At
http://www.godallowsuturns.com/
you'll see a list of all of the contributors for the books.
And a quick
note from Sharen:
Allison
Gappa Bottke...You know her best as the God Allows U-Turns lady. If
you have at least one of these books, then you know Allison's heart. She's
an expert at U-Turns in her own life, and her passion is
encouraging others to share their own stories of "how faith in God
can transform a life" in her God Allows U-Turns book
series. Also, watch for other opportunities to submit your own
stories to ongoing projects via her website. You will be blessed!
Her website is http://www.godallowsuturns.com/.
From Sharen
The Founder's Pen
“because
a friend of mine on a journey has come to me...”
Luke
11:16 (NIV)
It's
time (actually it's a bit past time) for the new Founder's Pen, so this is
what I thought I would do... Words For The Journey Christian Writers Guild
- Rocky Mountain Region is on break for the month of August, but each week
I'm addressing the group with a series of summer devotionals rather
than a newsy newsletter. As it is writing ministry oriented, I thought it
would be appropriate for WFTJ in both Texas and Colorado. My prayer is
that this series ministers to you with encouragement, peace, and
joy - within the context of the gift of writing, but also for your
spiritual growth in the Lord. Believe me, when I write these words,
He is ministering all these things to me and I'm just soaking them in. Oh,
He is so good to provide His nurturing when I need it. My prayer is
that you will find that it applies to you as you journey
alongside of me as we seek to glorify God with the written word.
____________________________________________________________________
AUGUST 1, 2006
"Wait
for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Psalm
27:14 (NIV)
I
thought if I could use this Word from the Lord, many of you could as well.
Waiting is a primary part of writing, but why I ask you???
Could it be
that the Lord drew us into the "word vocation" to teach us
patience during the "wait for publication" journey? Is He
teaching us to be strong, to take heart during our waiting times? As I
considered my current waiting time, I went through a myriad of emotion, as
I always do during the time between submission and editorial response.
Whether I
receive a rejection (or redirection) or a contract for publication, the
wait is the same. Here's what my process tends to look like:
- Edit, edit,
edit...and when I'm confident I've done the best I can do and prayed about
the final draft...
- I hit
the send button!
And then
comes the emotional process...
- I think to
myself, I've done the best I can do. I followed the guidelines, and
presented the material to the best of my ability. I'm fairly confident it
should meet the criteria of the publication (agent or editor) and
should be accepted.
- Week two
goes by... I'm still fairly confident the publication will send a positive
response, but wonder if anyone has even read it yet. The "fair"
confidence I felt when first pushing the send button, I discover, was
actually a good amount of confidence - human confidence, confidence of the
flesh, confidence in my ability as a writer. I kneel before the Lord and
ask Him for forgiveness. My desire is God confidence, not my own.
- Week four
passes quickly and I wonder if my submission ever made it to its
destination for consideration at all. My confidence begins to wane, just
a little. I complain, just a little, to Lord. "I
thought it was good enough, Father." And then, once again, my
knees hit the floor, and I ask His forgiveness for even suggesting
that my work was "good enough."
- Week eight
begins, and even though I've moved on to other projects, I wonder what has
become of the other project. Once again I bow before the Lord, my own
confidence gone, and ask that His will be done whether the project is
rejected or accepted. But, the question, "Why do continue to do this
thing? Has You really called me to sit in front of a computer screen
for hours at a time in order to create something that may never see
publication?" Just the slightest bit of resentment begins to creep
in...
- Week nine
ends, and my concentration lever has fallen. Thoughts of the submitted
project infiltrate and I struggle to move ahead with my current work. "Why
do I do this anyway?" Resentment has reached its plateau and I'm
ready to walk away from my keyboard.
- Week ten
begins and I'm begging the Lord for forgiveness again. "I know You've
called me to write, my Lord. I can't walk away. It's impossible to think
my life without expressing my heart and Your love and grace through words.
Can I begin again?"
In my spirit
I hear His sweet response...
Be
strong and take heart...wait.
- I
sit before the screen once again and let my fingers dance across the keys.
"Will I ever be published, Father?" And again His response is
swift and sweet...
Be
strong, my daughter. Take heart...wait.
The story
isn't over, my friends, and neither is yours. If you can't "not
write," and He invites His words to flow through your fingertips,
there is purpose. Is publication primary? No. Is obedience necessary?
Absolutely.
- And once
again, my knees are pressed against the carpet. "Lord, it is all for
You. Be glorified and be blessed. Your purpose is Your business and I
accept that. My confidence is in You...build my strength as I take heart
and wait."
*Just
to let you know, I've received neither rejection nor acceptance on the
women's series or the co-author. And I'm still waiting. I don't know the
outcome, but I know the journey serves His purpose. And that's the
only purpose I seek and wait to fulfill. As you wait, be strong and take
heart. Wait on the Lord.
"Those
who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength..."
Isaiah
40:31 (NIV)
____________________________________________________________________
August 8, 2006
And
let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if
we do not lose heart.
Galatians
6:9 (NIV)
I have a
feeling this Scripture is a follow-up of last week's devotional message,
but what can I do? The Lord impressed this Word on my heart this
afternoon, and I know when He does that, I'd better get to work writing
it.
The act of
writing can be a long, sometimes tedious and frustrating
occupation. But, has He called you? Once again, I'll revert to last week's
devotional, can you not "not write?" Is ministering God's
purpose your primary calling? If you answered a resounding YES to this
question, then you are doing good. Please do not grow weary. Just remember
to keep drinking from the living water, yes, stay in the Word. Stay close
to the Father's heart in prayer. Listen to His still, small voice.
You may grow
tired, but do not lose heart. He promises that in due season we will reap.
Oh my friends, our reaping will be for HIM! For HIS glory! I don't want to
miss out on that! Do you?
Of course
there is always the unknown...Do you see what the unknown is in this
Scripture? I noticed it right away. I can't say I'm altogether pleased
with it either. Notice He says we will reap in due season. I
want to know... When is the due season. Can we translate this into
writer's terms? Let's just be honest here...When will our writing see
publication???
Must we
constantly be reminded that God does not live in our time? Yes there are
seasons, but do ours look the same as our Lord's? NO! He has seasons set
aside for reaping and bringing in bundles of sheaves (the harvest) in
due season. And listen to this...
He
who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.
Psalm
126:6 (NIV)
Following the
call to write is often wearisome, and we may weep as we pull raw
stories from our emotions. Fiction or nonfiction, it doesn't matter.
If we are ministering God's purpose, our drive is to be real, transparent
and vulnerable. Parts of our own stories may flow into our manuscript as
tears pour from our eyes. The seed is sown. Our job is finished.
...Until
the Harvest
He has
promised that I will, and you will, return with songs of joy, carrying
sheaves. I don't know when that will be, but I know I'll lay those sheaves
at the feet of my Lord. It is...ALL FOR HIM. ALL FOR YOU, FATHER!
___________________________________________________________________
August 15, 2006
"Be
patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits
for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the
autumn and spring rains."
James
5:7 (NIV)
Once
again, this week we turn our attention to the harvest. Now, before you
think otherwise, I have never been a farmer, but I have sown a few seeds
in my life. I've also sown bulbs. So, that's where I'm going to go this
week -
Will
you consider this simple illustration with me this week? I want to share
with you the fact that I planted summer bulbs at the end of April,
gladiolas to be exact. It took work to sow those bulbs. Never mind the
fact that I had to put my hands in soil (giving my nail lady fits), get my
knees in the dirt, and work my way up from being on my hands and knees
while my body groaned in discomfort. But fellow sowers, it takes work to
sow, doesn't it? It felt so good to get it done.
And
then... May hurried by. June passed quickly. The months were warm, good
weather for summer bulbs, right? Faithfully, each morning as I took my
puppy out to - well, you know - I checked for signs of little green
sprouts. Nothing. Disappointment began to set in.
July
came, and still nothing. I was beginning to wonder if I'd done something
wrong. Along with disappointment came condemnation. Maybe I didn't plant
them deep enough, or far enough apart. Maybe they needed more water than I
was providing for them. Did I plant them upside down?After all, I was new
at planting summer bulbs. Did I follow the directions properly?
...and
then
Another
page of the calendar turned over. It was August. I checked less frequently
for signs of life, knowing I must have really messed up somehow and didn't
deserve the harvest of beautiful ruby-colored gladiolas. After all, I
don't have a green thumb. What makes me think I could have possibly sown
properly? I didn't deserve the beauty I expected.
...and
then
Two
days into August, I decided to take a look - one last look. I pushed aside
the plants that are obviously native to Colorado and grow regardless of
the green thumb, and to my surprise, I had not just sprouts, but plants
growing from the very spots I had planted bulbs. These plants grew
rapidly, and I was thrilled. I had actually sown and I was actually
reaping! Gladiolas are now bursting brilliant color into my flower beds!
OH,
thank you, Lord! They are beautiful! And they are life! And Lord, I
couldn't have done it without You!!!
What
was that? Oh, you mean I don't have to be responsible for the harvest
after I've sown? Yes, I worked hard to sow those bulbs; Yes, I was
initially impatient. And then came the disappointment; And then
condemnation where I questioned my ability.
But God gave
me the ability to plant. He gave me the tools I needed to sow, and the
desire to see the fruit of my labors, didn't He?
Does
this process sound familiar within the context of writing, and then
waiting? Please don't lose heart, and don't condemn yourself for a job
"not" well done. If you indeed have been called to sow the seed
of words, our Father will bring the harvest. We may not know what that
will look like, but He will use our toil for His glory.
So,
I will wait... And I will wait with you as we travel our writing journeys
together. And I will rejoice with you when the harvest comes! I pray you
will rejoice with me too. Whatever it looks like...
To
You, Oh Father, be the glory! You are Lord of the Harvest and we sow for
You - You alone!
____________________________________________________________________
AUGUST
21, 2006
“While
he was in
Bethany
, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a
woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure
nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some
of those present were saying indignantly to one another, ‘Why this waste
of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a years’ wages and the
money given to the poor.’ And they rebuked her harshly.”
Mark
14:3-5 (NIV)
While
the last three summer devotionals have been primarily about waiting, I’m
going to venture on to a place that can easily be a path off of the
journey of patiently waiting for word of publication. If you are a member
or have attended our meetings for any length of time, you have probably
heard Linda Kozar (the Director of WFTJ—Southeast Texas Region) or
myself talk about the different ways our writing can impact lives with or
without actual publication. Now, lest you think WFTJ is opposed to
publication, if you have read our
Mission
, Vision, Prayer, Membership and Critique Guidelines, you know we are
about the pure and joyful business of teaching, encouraging and cheering
authors, both seasoned and new, throughout the process of writing and
publication to minister God’s will and determined purpose to whomever HE
chooses to reach through the gift of His words through us.
Last week, I had the blessed privilege to meet for lunch with a new
friend. Our conversation was sweet, and through this fellowship, a new
friendship was birthed and nurtured in the matter of a couple of hours.
Isn’t that just like our Lord? I love it when He does that!
Anyway, our conversation shifted to, well of course, to writing and
publication. We looked to one another for the answer to this question –
When we have a web site, or
we write newsletters or other communications, how much of our writing
should we actually include? What if something we write “for free” can
be used for publication” What if a publisher wants to publish it, but
hesitates or even refuses because it has already been “out there?”
Yes, this is a concern. Yes, writing is a business. Yes, we need to
pay attention to that.
But, here’s the thing… And this is how I qualify all of my
writing. I hope it helps you all as well. PRAY! Yes, that sums it up.
PRAY! And PRAISE! Yes, those two applications should provide your answer
every time.
Yes, Mary’s alabaster jar filled with the most beautiful (and
expensive) fragrance could have been used for many purposes. She could
have reserved it for herself, to wear for those special occasions. Like
you and me, Mary probably loved touching fragrant oil to her skin and
breathing in its sweetness. This alabaster jar was special to Mary, just
as some of the words we write touch our lives so profoundly. Sometimes our
desire is to keep those written thoughts private, just for us, or maybe
for some higher call...like publication. Maybe Mary was reserving her
alabaster jar and its contents for just the right moment. But in that
moment, Mary recognized the time. It was time to use her precious oil. It
was time to pour it out for HIS purpose, time to sacrifice something
beloved.
Are you struggling with what to let go, and what to hold in
reserve. PRAY! Listen to the Lord. He will let you know what to do. I’m
going to venture a thought of my own. This is not in Scripture, but I
wonder, did Christ say something to trigger Mary’s reaction to offer
such a sacrifice? I think He might have. Again, this is not Scripture, but
I want to be listening if Jesus indicates a pouring out of something
I’ve held in private. Yes, I believe that somehow, He will let us know
when to give, and when to reserve. My only task in this is to listen
carefully to Him even when others might tell me differently.
Can you give as Mary did? Can I? Without thought to what others
would think, in humility and obedience? Oh, I hope so, I pray so.
In conclusion…
"Leave
her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done
a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you
can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did
what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my
burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout
the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
Mark
14:6-9 (NIV)
Under His Grace,
Sharen Watson
Founder, Words For The Journey Christian Writers Guild
Director, WFTJ - Rocky Mountain Region
Author/Speaker/Editor
http://www.wordsforthejourney.org/
"because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me..."
Luke 11:6 (NIV)
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