Tag Archive - Work

Book Giveaway: The Ten Best Decisions A Graduate Can Make

April 25, 2012 in On Writing with 13 Comments

I LOVE Bill and Pam Farrel for more than a few reasons:

1. They’ve faithfully served in all facets of ministry including pastors, authors, speakers, and counselors, for Y-E-A-R-S.

2. They champion younger leaders like myself.

3. They share practical and insightful wisdom for all phases of life.

Without realizing it, you’ve probably read one of their 50+ published books including Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti–their most popular and best-selling book.

Today, I am giving away three copies of their latest book, The 10 Best Decisions A Graduate Can Make.

It’s pocket-sized so you can take it with you to college! Read it when you feel stressed with:

+Discerning job and career opportunities

+Finding ministry and mission that fit a graduate’s personality

+Developing healthy relationships with friends and mentors

+Locating a positive fit for church, parachurch, and social community

+Building on a graduate’s strengths, gifts, and skills

+Biblical insights and life examples offer spiritual encouragement and practical guidance for those beginning a career and leaving the student life behind.

Interview with Pam

You and your husband Bill have written a series on the 10 Best Decisions. What made you decide to write one for the graduate?

Pam’s response: Our kids helped write this book. In one year our youngest graduated high school, our middle son from college and our oldest and his wife from graduate school—so we knew they had much to say to grads! We [also] have a 10 Best Decisions series (for singes, couples, parents, women, men—so 10 Best Decisions  for Grads just seemed logical.

Why is it important to finish what you started?

Pam’s response: If a grad will apply themselves in college and graduate school and make it their goal to be excellent, and go above and beyond, people will recognize their diligence and not only do they stand out, but they will get hired first!

What sort of advice would you give to the graduate who’s pursuing their dreams truly for the first time?

Pam’s response: Hold onto God. Life is such a rush of excitement if you give God a chance to lead and guide you! Give God your first 10 minutes each day. Each day look for God’s “post-card” of goodness to you, and His whisper of “say this” or “do that”—your life will never be boring if you take God up on his offer in Jer 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and mighty things that you do not know!”

Enter to win one of three copies by leaving a comment on this blog or you can purchase a copy on Amazon.

Happy Easter

April 4, 2012 in On Writing with 3 Comments

I would like to wish you and your family a Happy Easter.

I’m really excited about an article I wrote because I anticipate my first Easter as a newlywed.

Easter exists.

I don’t know about you, but I need the resurrection.

I need the reminder of the empty tomb.

Jesus did actually die and come back to life.

To continue reading the article please click here.

Jesus is Risen! Jesus is Risen indeed!

8 Year Blogiversary

April 2, 2012 in On Writing with 9 Comments

2012 marks a huge milestone in my writing career. I began writing 8 years ago in 2004 before blogging was cool, hipster, and on WordPress.

My first blog was called More Words Than Webster on blogspot. I had a lot to say then as I do now! Then I changed the name to E-couragements. 

After reading some of my four-hundred blog posts–my mentor Marcia Ramsland, The Organizing Pro named me Devotional Diva and it stuck!

I cannot say how grateful I am to have this medium on which to express myself. Without blogging I probably wouldn’t be here today. I went from a shy, fearful girl into an expressive and transparent woman thanks to blogging and writing.

Below are 8 excerpts of some of my favorite blogs and 8 helpful tips (I hope) on writing.

Whether you’re just getting started or you’re a long-time pro like me–we can all use the encouragement to keep writing!

8 Excerpts

1. Ten Tips to Renew YOUR Devotional Life – My favorite ways to stay refreshed spiritually.

2. Beautiful Girl – My favorite poem.

3. I like Big Butts – My favorite revelation from Scripture.

4. I Suck Without Jesus – My favorite devotional from Faithbook of Jesus.

5. When God Says No – My hardest lesson learned.

6. Launching Devotional Diva Ministries – My transition into full time writing as a ministry.

7. Endorsements for Not Another Dating Book – My supporters–I couldn’t have done it without them.

8. Happy Endings Do Exist – My love story.

8 Tips

1. Accidental Author – I didn’t set out to become a writer or dream of the day I’d make a living as an author. I actually wanted to teach high school math. I’m so glad I obeyed God’s nudging into writing because it turned out to be something I love and can use to support myself with.

2. Spur Others Forward – My number one passion is encouraging others through writing (1 Corinthians 14:24-25, Hebrews 10:24).

3. Publish His Deeds – I write because of what Jesus has done for me (Psalm 96:3).

4. Suffer With Those Who Suffer – One of the fruits of the Spirit is longsuffering (Galatians 5:22, NKJV). It’s easy to follow those who have everything going for them, but a real friend is one who can stick close during the hard times. I write for them!

5. Writing Is Worth It – If you’re looking for a wider audience to reach others with your writings I urge you to find a writing mentor, get into a writing critique group, and attend multiple writers conferences. If you feel writing should be your business/calling/whatever then it’s worth making the investment. I spent a couple thousand dollars to rebrand myself, which helped to catch the eye of my first publisher, NavPress.

6. Pay Your Dues – You may feel compelled to write on a certain subject, mainly your story, but to make it in the writing business you’ve got to be versatile. Pay your dues so one day you can write about what really matters to you!

7. Make Friends First – Build your audience with your friends and family first. This is usually the toughest but most loving. If Jesus wasn’t welcomed in his own hometown, then you’re going to be rejected also. Persevere because a crown is waiting for you on the other side.

8. Never Surrender – I can personally attest to the fact that writing is one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever had. Writing my first book put me in the hospital with panic attacks. I continue to write because of the things God teaches me in every day life, and because I’d die inside if I couldn’t express those Truths that transform not only my life, but for others as well.

To watch this Wwek’s Video Blog please click here.

Permission To Transition Part II

March 27, 2012 in Daily Devotionals, Dating & Relationships with 7 Comments

Sometimes, you need to give yourself permission for peace. 

I’m letting you know right now this post is going to rock your world. I may get vulgar and you might not like it.

But that’s what we do when we transition. Isn’t it?

We get rude.

In your face.

At first we think it’s our right. We were the ones wronged.

What happens when that apology we’re waiting for never comes?

I can’t tell you how frustrated life’s challenges have been in my life to the point where I refused to stay silent–and I’m the one who got burned. What the?

#1. Like that time my former coworker tried to force himself on me and didn’t stop when I said no–and I’m the one who got in trouble at work for reporting him.
#2. Like that time my roommates were so messy that I paid double rent just to move out immediately–and I had to leave the church we all attended because it was so awkward.
#3. Like that time my coworker acted inappropriately towards our boss at a Christian company–and I quit my job and moved back in with my parents.
#4. Like that time my guy friend acted like he liked me and then started dating someone else–the only girl I confided in about him.

One of my favorite movies is “The Wedding Date.” Debra Messing’s character is told that she has the exact love life she wants. Her face says it all. “You THINK I want to be this unhappy and miserable?” Well, yeah!

That taught me a lesson or two.

Just because I felt in the right, didn’t give me permission to give others the middle finger. That is when I needed peace the most.

“There will be times when we have to defend ourselves. When those times occur, let’s be sure we don’t confuse our job description with God’s job description. He is the consuming fire; we are not” (One Year Alone with God, Ava Pennington).

Going back to #1. After I quit my job God brought me into a place of abundance. Because that experience was so humiliating I ended up writing again. I started blogging. Most of the pages to Faithbook of Jesus, my first book, were from those few years of asking God where the heck was he was.

Going back to #2. God restored my relationships, although not to the point where they were–but it gave me permission to find a roommate that suited my needs at the moment. I wrote Faithbook of Jesus there, and I couldn’t have done it without my roommate.

Going back to #3. I am only responsible for my actions. I am only responsible for my actions. It took me months of therapy, disability classes, and anxiety meds for me to see that I was the one in error. God wanted me at that moment in time to leave room for faith and start writing full time as my ministry.

Going back to #4. I am not proud of how I handled that situation at all. It was the first time that I had the guts to give someone piece of my mind–to their faces. Still, I felt awful for my actions. After I apologized and calmed down, God used their prayers to bring the most amazing man into my life almost immediately–my husband.

Often times when God wants to transition our lives is when we’re most vulnerable to attacks of the enemy.

Satan knows how to push our buttons.

He knows our weaknesses.

God is patient and waits for us.

If you’re in the middle of transition and struggling with playing the blame game, here is a chart to keep you on the right path for peace.

Common Signs of Bitterness

1. Gossip and Slander. “See to it that no one comes short to the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled…” (Hebrews 12:15-17)

2. Ungrateful and Complaining. “Do all things without grumbling or disputing…” (Philippians 2:14)

3. Judges Motives. “Therefore do not go on passing judgement before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5, emphasis added)

4. Self-Centered. “…do not merely look out for your own personal interests…” (Philippians 2:4)

5. Excessive Sorrow. “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart” (John 16:6)

6. Vengeful. “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone…Never take your own personal revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God…” (Romans 12:17, 19)

7. Brooding. “Love does not take into account a wrong suffered” (1 Corinthians 13:5).

8. Loss of Joy. “And I shall delight in Thy commandments which I love” (Psalm 119:47).

9. A Critical, Judgmental Attitude. “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). (Taken from The Excellent Wife, Martha Peace)

The next time you find yourself in a rough transition remember there is always room for peace.

Read Permission to Transition, Part I.

[Picture taken by Nathan Colwell]

Permission To Transition

March 26, 2012 in Daily Devotionals, The Church with 9 Comments

Sometimes, you need to give yourself permission to transition.

Why?

Because no one else can do it for you.

This past week has been the most amazing spiritual high ever and I feel I may never come down. It’s not an emotional high, but the benefits of walking obediently.

Two weeks ago, I wrote a confession. That I was going to take the rest of the year off from traveling, speaking, and writing my next book.

It’s so weird. Since then God has blessed me even more that I can hardly stand it!

I can’t help but rejoice that the Lord reigns in my life–and I pray yours as well. Those feelings of depression and despair are leaving because the King of King’s has arrived. Here are a few highlights of my week:

1. Reunited with a friend whom I hadn’t seen in years. God used her mightily in my life many years ago to show me that my writing would one day bring people to Christ! Her friendship has given me the permission to transition once again.

2. Attended The Voice of the Martyrs Regional Conference Bound With Them. The voices of those who are and were persecuted have echoed in my heart since that I find myself waking out of the sleep that is American Christianity.

3. Marc and I visited a new church the past two weeks called The Gathering Place. The  pastor preached on Exodus 33-34, which was the passage of Scripture God used to reveal to me two weeks ago that I should take the rest of the year off.

Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:15-16)

When we don’t have His Presence, we have nothing to separate us from anyone else or every other religion.

Confirmation after confirmation this week showed me one thing:

Give yourself permission to transition

When I met with my former friend, I wasn’t expecting her to be in the same spot I was a few years ago when I quit my job. I wanted nothing more than to encourage her to keep going, and yet I realized that God has new things in store for me too–even now as I rest in Him (Isaiah 43:19)!

Transition Doesn’t Always Equal Bad Changes

God has continually been surprising me with new realities.

Transition brings change, yes.

But it’s not always bad.

For instance, after I quit my job Harvest House picked up Not Another Dating Book, and I met my husband Marc. Hello? Sometimes, it’s all I can do to keep up with His Spirit (Amen?). I think the place where I’m at is the best life is and is going to get.

But it’s not.

God has more.

More of His presence.

More of His blessings.

Today, I am giving you the permission to transition. The kind of permission I was waiting so desperately when I quit my job. You might not have someone telling you what to do or that it’s all going to work out–but actually, you do. His name is Jesus and He is waiting for you to come to Him.

Friend, if you are in the midst of a job, relationship, or transition of any kind–I encourage you to check out the promises of God.

Cling to them.

Hold fast.

Hope is real, and He will not let you go even for a second.

If you find anything lingering in your heart squash it for the idol that it is. Smash anything that sets itself up between you and God. Go with God.

Here is something I read this week that changed my life–and I hope it changes yours.

“Recently I heard someone say, ‘God has given me a heart to pastor a church.’ What he meant was he had a desire to become a pastor. Certainly, to pastor a church is a good desire. As I walked away, I prayed that someday God will grant him the ‘desire of his heart‘ (Psalms 37:4). However, his desire to pastor is only as good as his willingness to wait on God’s timing…If he is not content to wait on God, if he is miserable and sins as a result, then his heart’s desire is not set on the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead, his desire has become an idol (Ezekiel 14:1-11) or a lust (1 John 2:15-17; 5:21)” (The Excellent Wife, Martha Peace, page 59).

Watch my video log below and leave room for faith.

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