On the Cover of a Magazine...
Hey everyone, I had a family member get after me for not announcing that I am on the cover of a magazine. So, Now Hear This: I am on the cover of the current issue (August 2008) of The Christian Communicator. There. I announced it! :-) Seriously, if you don't subscribe and would like to read the article, drop me an email and I'll email a word file to you of the article. In His Service, Connie
The Brevity of Time
The slowest two months out of the year, when you're a kid, anyway, was always November and December; you counted down the days until Christmas. But as an adult, January and February are the ones that drag on for me. And for most of us, the quickest two months out of the year have to be June and July. One day school is out and parents scramble to find sitters while anticipating vacations, the next day, or so it seems, they are shopping for school supplies. As a matter-of-fact,I always thought that the new year should begin the first of September. I mean, even as a kid, the first day of school WAS a new year; new teachers, new classmates, new clothes, new school supplies, sometimes even a new school. Why not make September 1st, the beginning of the new year? It makes more sense. It's the end of July right now, and there's something distinctly different in the air as fall approaches: a crisp, earthy scent. And there are different sounds in the air, too. Crickets and cicadas blend their shrill chirps and screeches, announcing the lazy, hazy days of summer are coming to a close. It's time to get the books out, it's time to get back into the habit of studying again. I, too, still have a desire to "go back to school" every fall, or attend a writer's conference. Hopefully that urge to learn will never disappear. How I long to hold onto these next few weeks - if only there were a way to bottle them up for those ice-covered, frigid days of February. With each passing year, I hear myself sounding more like one of those old people that I used to roll my eyes up at, everytime I mention how fast time flies. Speaking of flies - there's one in my office. I guess I did find something about summer that I won't miss... Blessings for your summer, Connie Labels: Time Flies
After the Writer's Conference, Now What?
The 2008 Columbus American Christian Writer's Conference has come and gone. As usual I loved the atmosphere. At Christian writer's conferences we are all on the same team, pulling for each other. Our unified goal is to build the Kingdom of God and to be the best writers we can, for God's glory. I've been to a few secular conferences, and while I always learn how to improve my writing, I am usually disappointed in the attitudes of most of the writers. They seem almost secretive about what they know, not wanting to build their competition. Anyway, suffice it to say, I was a fish in water this weekend. After each conference I attend my creativity screams to be unleashed. The problem is, not only was I gone for several days at the conference, but prior to the conference I (like the rest of you) was very busy preparing for it. Most of us have a zillion things waiting for us at home that have to be done. Our creativity has to be put on the backburner for a little while. So, what to do? Quickly scour your notes while the info. is still fresh, and find those gems of article/book ideas and jot them down. Organize your list by those projects that you are the most passionate about, or that have an upcoming deadline. Write as much info. about each one as time permits, then assign a date beside each one to finish them. Try to carve the time needed, a little each day, to meet those deadlines. As we learned at the conference, as long as we pray, we are patient, and we are persistent, we will achieve our writing goals . Writing for His glory, Connie
Breaking the Chains that Bind
Our speeches at the prison were awesome. No, not because of the speakers, but because of Who was speaking through us. The Holy Spirit showed up in a big way and there were many lives touched, including mine. Besides myself, my speaker friend Pat Collins spoke, and our guitarist friend, Carolyn Logsdon, led worship. None of us will ever forget that night. We set out to BE a blessing, yet WE were the ones who were blessed. The women were starved for words of hope and encouragement. I shared with them how there were 2 things that I've told the Lord for years that I did not want to do: 1) be a speaker and, 2) minister inside prisons. I warned them to be careful what you tell God you don't want to do! That is the exact thing He will ask of you, so that HE will get the glory (as it should be). I also added how incredibly blessed and enriched my life has become since (finally) obeying God in those 2 areas. If God brings us to it, He WILL see us through it, and He will not only use us to be a blessing to others, but in the process - He will bless our socks off! It was incredibly humbling to see the changes that came over them within one hour. As they arrived we greeted them and many kept their eyes downcast. Afterwards most of them held their heads high and looked us straight in the eyes. We received many heartfelt thank-you's, and one inmate even whispered in my ear, "Please come back soon. We need you." We were deeply moved by the professions of faith and rededications to the Lord. We even brought home dozens of prayer requests. It will be an honor to lift their burdens to the One who see's them and loves them...just as they are. Thanks for your time... Connie (Matthew 25: 36.)
Appearances
The BACKWOODS FEST 2008 Thornville, Ohio SEPTEMBER 19, 20 & 21, 2008 FRI. & Sat. 10AM-6PM, SUN. 10AM - 5PM Adults Admission $7.00, 10 AND UNDER FREE! FREE PARKING! Join me and my writer friend, Faye Landrum for some outdoor fun. We'll be signing our books to the tune of bluegrass bands and kettle cooked vittles. Over 225 vendors! Look for us in one of the white tents before entering the woods. Enjoy! C-Tec Craft Show Sat. Nov. 8, 2008 150 Price Rd. Newark, OH 43055 Huge Christmas Craft Show - I'll have 2 new books, besides my other 5. Lots of vendors! Food! Prizes!
Finally with the 90's!
I'm new to the blogging world. As my daughter Chelsea says, "Mom, you're finally with the 90's!" Better late than never, though, as the old saying goes. The radio interview went well. As usual, after each interview/speech I give, I scrutinize myself and wish I would've said or not said something. But I'm learning that as long as I remember to pray first, (which I do -- a lot-- before each speaking engagement or interview) then I need to leave the results in the Father's hands. I need to trust that He heard my prayer and that He led me to speak or not to speak, what HE wanted. Speaking of speeches: My friend, Pat, and I, will be speaking to a total of 200 female inmates at the Franklin Pre-Release Center on Sat. May 17. There will be 2 sessions of 100 inmates each. While she and I are not afraid of going into prisons, we are afraid of missing what the Lord wants to say through us. We want to speak words of hope and encouragement to these ladies - as they live in a very negative atmosphere. We also want to make sure these women know they can be forgiven by God, and that He has an awesome plan for their life. Please pray for Pat and I as we prepare our messages, and for Carolyn, who will be playing the guitar for praise and worship. Labels: Prison Speech
Radio Interview, Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Radio Interview AM 880 WRFD The Bob Burney Live Show Both Faye Landrum and I will be joining Bob from 3:30 to 4:00 on Wednesday, May 7 to discuss our writing backgrounds, and to give information about the upcoming American Christian Writer's Conference in Columbus, Ohio. We will each be teaching a workshop during the 2-day conference on June 6 and 7. If you've always wanted to write a book, but didn't know where to begin, you won't want to miss this conference!
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