Running to the arms of God

Tuesdays with Tiffany
by Tiffany Colter

Sometimes I get scared.

Do you ever feel that way? Learning all the different parts of living the writer's life can be VERY scary. You're putting yourself out there daily to rejection and pain, with splatterings of victory.

Not trying to sound negative; it's just part of the writer's life.

A few nights ago I was in bed, sound asleep, when our 5 year old came in. She was scared. She'd had a bad dream and something bothered her in her room. She was on my husband's side of the bed and I heard her say, "Daddy, can I sleep with you?"

He made room for her, hugged her, kissed her, and brought her in to bed. For some reason I instantly thought of all of you blog readers. I saw something in that moment, that one mundane act...

When we are going through our lives there are moments when we become afraid. We feel lonely. We need reassurance. During those times God brings us beside Him and comforts us. We stay warm and close to him for a season. But we can't stay there forever. Just like happened with my 5 year old, after a bit God takes us back to where we were and let's us try again. Our daughter stayed in bed with us for an hour or two and then we carried her safely back to her bed. She needed to try doing it again, but she knew we were right down the hall if she needed us.

The same is true with God. He is there waiting for us if we need Him, but He knows it is safe for us to return...

Even when we're unsure of ourselves.

So if in your writing or marketing you feel unsure, you're scared...get close to God. Find your place of comfort...then trust Him when He carries you back to "your bed" and tells you to try again.

Your Coach for the Journey, Tiffany Colter

Is it Worth The Effort?

:-D

Rest is really what takes your mind off the normal things you do every day. So if you normally write, then the opposite is restful-reading. Some people love science and math. Sometimes they do one thing all week and then reading an article on an interesting topic can completely reenergize them. Another thought, is busy worth it?

This week was a crazy one for our family. Our son was in Divisionals for Basketball, another son had his college music recital the same night, I had a personal appearance, and we have tons of business things going on. Not to mention that I spent time discussing contracts with my agent, a marketing company, and a sponsor for the Mrs. Montana pageant.

The craziness came in that none of these things were scheduled in the same town. We had to run up to a town an hour and a half away, back to home, back to the basketball tournament, back to town for the university recital, back to the basketball tournament, back to town for the personal appearance, back to the basketball tournament. So we put several hundred miles a day on our car. But no one knew our team would go as far as they did!

I'd say it threw a fly in the ointment, but it didn't. Even though it was a race to go back and forth to the other town for the tournament, it was with great joy we went back for every game the boys advanced to in the competition. In the end, our week was super busy, but well worth all the effort.

So that's the difference. When you add extra things into your schedule, can you say that those additions are worth the extra effort for you? If so, it isn't always exhausting. You may need some extra rest afterward, however, that just might be the sweetest you've had in a long time.

Weigh out the value of the busy life you are leading. Determine if it is one of satisfaction or stress. It makes all the difference in the world!

Angie
Please visit with me more over at my daily blog.

Normalcy is Overrated!

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of meeting some fellow Christian writers at a local restaurant – seven writers, to be exact. A couple of these ladies I had met before but several, I had not. I have to say, it was so cool!

The one thing I learned right off the bat was that I’m normal! I mean, let’s face it. Writers sometimes come across as a little, um, different. People don’t “get” us. They don’t understand our love of words and imagery. Our passion for making up stuff. Our talk about POV, character development, subplots or The Snowflake Method. They look at us funny when we pull that notebook from our purse because we have to write down that idea before we forget it. And they especially don’t excuse us for not hearing something they say because those darn voices in our head are too loud!

Even my husband gets that glazed, I’m-trying-to-listen-but-have-no-clue-what-you’re-saying look in his eye when I talk about my writing or my current work in progress.

But on Saturday, in the midst of others just like me, I felt understood! Accepted!

Normal!

As the eight of us chatted over coffee, I learned the following: two ladies have non-fiction books published. Five of us write fiction. Two have completed novels. Two have been published only online. Two have never been published, anywhere. Three are just beginning their writing careers. Four have been writing forever. One writes curriculum. Two are editors. One journals obsessively. The oldest writer represented on Saturday is over fifty. The youngest is only seventeen. Five have children. Three are grandmothers.

It struck me that even though we are all at completely different stages of not only our writing careers, but life in general, we have two ties that bind us together. 1. We feel called to write! Our passion for prose immediately connected us in a special way. 2. We love God and desire to glorify Him. And each of us expressed specific ways that God, through our writing, has used us to glorify Him and touch others.

Isn’t it a wonder that no matter what point of the path we’re on in our walk – whether as Christians or writers, no matter how young or old, or how many notches we have in our accomplishment belts, God will meet us right where we are. He uses each one of us in a unique way to make a difference and accomplish His purpose.

And He may even send a few “normal” friends to encourage us along the way.

Pretty cool, indeed.