By Mesu Andrews When I was choosing dates to write for the ACFW blog, I noticed that today, May 21st, is Ascension Day. Now, I’m a theological mutt. Mom’s charismatic. Dad was Quaker. My grandparents were Pilgrim Holiness ordained ministers—both grandpa AND grandma even way back when. Since my spiritual heritage is Evangelical, I don’t know much about Ascension Day. …
Confined in Spring
by Elizabeth Musser Lord, how can I complain when I’m confined in Spring? When a chateau sits in my backyard When snow white calla lilies curl towards the sun And lilacs bloom and tulips tilt their crimson heads And butterflies, like wind, like Spirit, flit to who-knows-where? When everything outside proclaims this simple truth: Life wins! So may I not …
Cooking Up a Story
By Tanara McCauley “Are these…scones?” My teen’s guess was generous, considering the cookies looked more like jagged blue biscuits coated in a suspicious glaze. She held one in her hand, eyes skeptical. I frowned at the cookie-biscuit-scone between her fingers and shook my head. It was a lemon blueberry cookie, or it was supposed to be. Only I’d had to …
Want the Ball
By Renee Hodges You’re in exercise or dance class. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors face your group as you flow as one with the men and women around you. You are in the zone. Pulse racing to the rhythmic thumping of the sound system, you push yourself to keep up when encouraged by the pint-sized instructor with the wireless headset. Then you see …
Passed Over
by Terri Gillespie “For the vision is yet for an appointed time. It hastens to the end and will not fail. If it should be slow in coming, wait for it, for it will surely come—it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3, TLV Do you remember your first manuscript rejection? (I know, what a jolly way to begin a blog.) That …
From Panic to Focus
by Kristi Holl Last fall I spent several weeks researching a mystery series set in a small village in the Yorkshire Dales. The locals who own the village shops depend on tourist trade from daily bus tours and mountain bike groups. Recently villagers sent out a plea for the tourists to please stay home during the coronavirus scare. Students and …
Are You a Lion? Or a Scaredy-Cat?
By JPC Allen I’ve never been very good at finding role models, except in fiction. A few years ago, I became interested in finding a role model in the Bible. Although Jesus is the perfect role model for believers, I wanted to find someone with my weaknesses—worry, self-doubt, timidity—and learn how God helped them overcome those faults. As I examined …
Writing Tips from Paul and Joshua
By Lana Christian From conception to conclusion, every step of writing takes us out of our comfort zone. As faith-based writers, we also strive for excellence that pleases God. Collectively, that takes strength and courage. Scriptures for both abound. While they certainly can help us weather our challenges, they also contain writing tips. STRENGTH: Paul on word order and word …
Are you Courageous?
By Molly Jebber Are you courageous? Are you struggling to find the courage to do something Jesus Christ is asking you to do? I can empathize. Courage is hard sometimes. I was a Director for Pharmaceutical Research, and I needed a change. Jesus Christ had been pricking my conscience to seek a new job for many reasons. But I was …
I Have a Voice!
by Kathy Harris If you’re going to get heard, you can’t just raise your voice. You’ve got to set yourself apart, showing you have something special to say, and that you have a unique way of saying it. — Jeff Goins, author, blogger, speaker I could barely squeak out my words much less raise my voice over the holidays after …