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Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Inspiration » Page 7

Inspiration

A Nativity Meditation for Writers

By Bob Hostetleron December 23, 2021
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Writing is hard. Maybe you knew that already.

And writing for publication is hard. That’s probably not news to you either.

For the Christian writer, in particular, the writing-for-publication and building-a-platform and waiting-and-hoping-for-your-first (or next)-book-contract journey often seems even harder. There are so many twists and turns to navigate. So much change happening. And always, always, so much to learn.

But there’s a timely lesson for the Christian writer in an oft-overlooked and easily-passed-by verse in Luke’s Gospel account of Jesus’ nativity. Luke 2:6 says, “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth” (Luke 2:6, ESV).

The time came. Of course. We know that. But can you imagine the wait? After all, Mary knew this was no ordinary pregnancy, as it had been no ordinary conception. And presumably the delivery would be different too. It had to have been agonizing, even more so than for other women and other babies, to wait for the time to come. But at long last, “the time came for her to give birth.”

Those who write for publication often get impatient for the time to come when we finally get the byline we crave. Or the agent we’d like to have. Or the book contract we want, sales numbers we’d like, or speaking gigs we’d enjoy. We wait. And write. And hope and pray.

It is, as I’m fond of saying (to adapt Nietzsche’s words), a long obedience in an uphill direction.

But, like Mary, the Christian who is a writer can look prayerfully forward and obediently work toward his or her moment. That moment when it will be said, “The time came for her to be published.” Or “for him to get a book deal.” Or “become as rich and famous as Steve Laube” (oh ye of little faith).

And, as it was in Mary’s case, you have a loving, sovereign heavenly Father who knows if and when that time will come for you. He knows when you’ll be ready. When your writing will be ready. When the world will be ready. And he is more than capable of getting you and your writing to that Bethlehem moment.

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Category: Inspiration, The Writing Life

The Writer’s Senses (a Writer’s Prayer)

By Bob Hostetleron November 24, 2021
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Gracious God, thank you for the smell of pencil shavings, the tactile elegance of a good fountain pen, and the click-clack of ancient typewriter keys… for the intoxication of creative juices, the sweetness of a well-turned phrase… for the creak of the office chair, and the surprise of a catch in the throat and the salty track of a tear on the cheek… for the hum of a computer, the …

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Category: Inspiration, The Writing Life, Theology

The Purpose of Christian Books

By Dan Balowon October 28, 2021
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A number of years ago, I recall listening to a sermon when the preacher spoke about all the problems the Israelites had while traveling through the wilderness for forty years after leaving Egypt. He was semiapologetic for the simplicity of the morning’s lesson. The Israelites kept forgetting God. Next time you read the book of Exodus, think about how the Israelites could have walked from Egypt to …

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Category: Inspiration, The Publishing Life, Theology

Fun Fridays – August 6, 2021

By Steve Laubeon August 6, 2021
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Take a moment to read the verses below, then watch the video. Let awe and wonder be your worship today. Our God is an awesome God. He holds the universe in His hand and yet cares for you today. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth …

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Category: Fun Fridays, Inspiration

The Pressure Is Off

By Dan Balowon August 5, 2021
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Last week, I wrote about the pressure on writers to write well and compelling enough to gain and keep readers. Today, I promise to take some pressure off. For Christian writers only, if you feel the pressure to affect a reader’s life rests entirely on your own ability to write well, here are some red-letter words direct from the Creator God. From the Old Testament book of Job, chapter 38, verses …

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Category: Book Business, Inspiration, The Writing Life, Theology

It’s New to Them

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 4, 2021
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The other day, I was surprised to see an ad for a book published fairly recently regarding Kitty Genovese, a woman murdered as bystanders watched in Queens, New York, in 1964. This case was so notorious for its study of human behavior (Why would witnesses fail to act?) that people have analyzed the event for decades. Most adults know the name and reference without blinking. But what about younger …

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Category: Creativity, Inspiration, Pitching

In Your Time (A Writer’s Prayer)

By Bob Hostetleron June 30, 2021
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Heavenly Father, you make everything beautiful in your time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). I submit to your timing. I await your timing. I desire what you will, as you will, when you will.  That goes for my writing, too. I long to touch lives with my words … in your time.I want to write passionately, effectively, impactfully … in your time.I yearn to think and …

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Category: Encouragement, Faith, Inspiration, Theology

31 Ways to Pray for Your Writing

By Bob Hostetleron June 17, 2021
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I consider prayer to be an important—indispensable, even—part of the writing life. I’ve written about that here, in fact. I’ve also written and published 31-day prayer resources (here and here). So, I thought I’d offer here a 31-day prayer plan specifically for you and your writing. See how nice I am? (Pray for me.) 1          “Alpha and Omega, First …

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Category: Encouragement, Inspiration, The Writing Life, Theology

Strategies to Self-Pity Proof Your Writing Life

By Guest Bloggeron June 9, 2021
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Today’s guest post is by Lori Stanley Roeleveld. She is a blogger, speaker, coach, and disturber of hobbits who enjoys making comfortable Christians late for dinner. She’s authored four unsettling books, including The Art of Hard Conversations: Biblical Tools for the Tough Talks that Matter. She speaks her mind at www.loriroeleveld.com and is represented by Bob Hostetler.   To persevere in …

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Category: Encouragement, Inspiration, The Writing Life

Knowing What to Expect

By Dan Balowon June 3, 2021
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Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it (Spanish philosopher George Santayana). Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it (Winston Churchill). If you remember the past and learn from history, you can see some things coming a long way off (Dan Balow, Literary Agent). Books acquired by traditional publishers are a best-guess what readers will desire two to …

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Category: Inspiration, The Writing Life
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