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The Steve Laube Agency

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Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Writing Craft » Page 62

Writing Craft

Knowing Discouragement’s End

By Karen Ballon January 22, 2014
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A guest blog by Mesu Andrews

SONY DSCMesu Andrews has had a passionate love of God’s Words for a long time. She spends countless hours studying Scripture and historical reference materials to ensure her biblical fiction not only resonates as a powerful story, but reflects what it really was like to live in those days. Her heart’s goal is not just to entertain, but, in her own words, “to reach folks with well-researched, engaging biblical novels that send the reader straight back to Scripture, hungry for the Truth of God’s Word.” Mesu and her husband, Roy, live in the Pacific Northwest.

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Mark Lowry is one of my favorite comedians. I heard one of his performances many years ago, and he quoted a single, profound phrase found 457 times in the King James Bible: “It came to pass…”

That’s it. That’s all.

It came…to pass.

And then he challenged the audience to remember those words the next time they faced an impossible situation, the depths of discouragement, or “a bout of constipation.” (Lowry’s words, not mine.)

I’ve needed that reminder during my writing journey: Discouragement will pass. And I decided if anyone could to teach me about discouragement, it was Brother Job. That poor guy lost his oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, and children—and was left with a surly wife. Eee-gad!

So, I dove—headfirst—into the mire of Job’s whining and ranting. After reading a few chapters , my life didn’t seem so awful! And I learned things everyone should know when they struggle with discouragement:

  • Know yourself
  • Know your enemy
  • Know your Champion

Know Yourself

The world says look inward to know ourselves, but Job 1 shows us how God knows us. Read the Lord’s description of His servant Job:

“There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Job 1:8

God lauded four qualities—none of which included sinlessness. Granted, God was impressed with Job. But Job had not been washed in the precious blood of Jesus. Only Jesus was without sin and gave His life as a perfect ransom for you and me.

Now, you and I approach the Throne of Grace as God’s children. He’s not just impressed—He’s enthralled as a Father, and He loves, protects, and meets the needs His kids.

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

You and I are children of the Most High God. Embrace it. Trust it. Know it. For in doing so, you’ll know yourself.

Know Your Enemy

Do you remember how helpful Job’s friends were? How they blamed Job’s problems on his hidden sin (Job 4:7-11). Good ol’ Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar even told Job his kids died because they sinned (Job 8:4), or perhaps it was something Job had done (Job 21:19). Nice, right? They almost had Job convinced that God was unfair, unfaithful, unattainable, and untrustworthy…

Almost.

“When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?” Job 9:24

This short verse, hidden among Job’s questions and his friends’ accusations, shouts through the megaphone of Old Testament limitation. Chronologically, Job is one of (if not the) oldest books in the Canon of Scripture. Its author (thought to be Moses) knew of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, and through the Spirit was privy to the heavenly scenes in chapters one and two of Job. But Job knew only God. His knowledge of evil was limited.

We have no such limitation. We know our enemy:

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

So, when disappointment, discouragement, and despair attack, we know the enemy of our souls is at work—and we must rely on our Champion to save us.

Know Your Champion

Job is truly amazing. If I was a betting woman, I’d bet when we get to heaven, Job will be the one standing closest to Jesus, praising Him the loudest. Why? Because he had this Messiah thing figured out long before the rest of Abraham’s family got it.

“If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.” Job 9:33-35

Right now… imagine Jesus’s hand on you—and His other hand stretched up to the Father.

That’s what Job longed for. That’s what every believer in Jesus Christ HAS. A Mediator. A Savior, who has removed God’s wrath and opened the way for us to speak to God without fear or shame.

This Too Will Pass

Discouragement visits us all at some point in life. But it’s a visitor, not a guest or an owner of God’s kids. Knowing yourself, your enemy, and your Champion will all help you know, in your heart of hearts, that discouragement will not last. It comes…to pass.

What are some ways you lean into your Champion to get rid of this unwelcomed visitor in your life?

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Category: Book Business, Guest Post, Karen, The Writing LifeTag: Discouragement, The Writing Life

Embracing Change – Part Two

By Dan Balowon January 21, 2014
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Last week in my post "Embracing Change," I outlined the six phases that characterize the acceptance of change in our lives and world.  Today, I want to focus on some specifics that you need to consider to adapt to the future.

First, a recap of the six phases when confronted with something new:
Phase One - Dismissed as a fad by those who stand to lose the most or like the status quo.
Phase Two …

Read moreEmbracing Change – Part Two
Category: Book Business, Career, Dan, Get Published, TrendsTag: Book Business, Change

A Major Money Mistake

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 16, 2014
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When I was working for a small company years ago, the extremely reliable woman who cut our paychecks missed the Big Day -- a Friday. As it became evident she would be a no-show, one of my co-workers revealed she was upset. "I wrote out and mailed checks for all my bills last night because I thought I was going to get paid today. Now they'll all bounce."

I didn't understand why anyone would …

Read moreA Major Money Mistake
Category: Book Business, Career, Money, TamelaTag: Book Business, Money

Embracing Change

By Dan Balowon January 14, 2014
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On September 3, 1967 the world changed. It was a day remembered for chaos and disillusionment, despair and confusion.  No, it wasn’t because the last episode of “What’s My Line?” aired on U.S. television.

The above picture is what happened in Sweden the day the country switched from driving on the left to the right side of the road.  Their neighbors, Norway and Finland had already changed, but …

Read moreEmbracing Change
Category: Book Business, Dan, E-Books, Get Published, The Publishing Life

Two Basic Tips on Budgeting with an Irregular Income

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 9, 2014
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One challenge of writing books for a living is the fact that unlike many other jobs, you don't usually see a cycle of paychecks appearing at regular intervals with predictable amounts. Instead, you may see a whoosh of money, followed by smaller amounts every few months triggered by actions on your part, such as turning in manuscripts and proposals. Only well-established authors will have this …

Read moreTwo Basic Tips on Budgeting with an Irregular Income
Category: Book Business, Career, Money, TamelaTag: Book Business, Budget; Finances; income, Money

Exceptions are Exceptions Because they are Exceptions

By Dan Balowon January 7, 2014
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You can self-publish a book, sell 10,000 copies in the first week, 50,000 in the second week and be a millionaire in three months.

You can write a book and mail it to a publisher, they publish it without meeting you and you become a wealthy household name.

An antiques dealer can knock on your door and offer you $250,000 for your end table that you bought last summer at a garage sale for …

Read moreExceptions are Exceptions Because they are Exceptions
Category: Book Business, Dan, Get Published, The Publishing LifeTag: Book Business, publishing, Success

Steve Laube Buys Marcher Lord Press

By Steve Laubeon January 6, 2014
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Below the following announcement is a question and answer session with Steve Laube.
 (January 1, 2014 - Phoenix, AZ) Steve Laube, president of The Steve Laube Agency, has agreed to purchase Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Science Fiction and Fantasy for the Christian market. The sale was finalized on January 1, 2014.
Laube has long been a champion of the genre, going back to his …

Read moreSteve Laube Buys Marcher Lord Press
Category: Book Business, Get Published, Personal, Steve, The Publishing Life, TrendsTag: Marcher Lord Press, publishing

The Quiet Zone

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 26, 2013
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I've noticed, not only this year, but in past years, that opinions from publishing professionals regarding the month of December vary.

Some say nothing gets done in December. Others say a little bit gets done in December. A rare few say a lot of work gets done.

Everyone is telling the truth. Why? Because publishing is filled with so many manuscripts in varying parts of the evaluation or …

Read moreThe Quiet Zone
Category: Book Business, Communication, Tamela, The Publishing LifeTag: Communication, The Publishing Life

Taking the “Dis” out of Discourage

By Steve Laubeon December 11, 2013
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by Nancy Farrier

With over 400,000 books in print, Nancy J. Farrier is no stranger to the ups and downs of the writing life. That combined with being a worship leader and Bible study leader has given her all kinds of valuable lessons on discouragement--and its solutions!

__________

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair…”    II Cor. …

Read moreTaking the “Dis” out of Discourage
Category: Career, Guest Post, The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Discouragement, Encouragement, The Writing Life

A Writing Life – Pearl S. Buck

By Dan Balowon December 10, 2013
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Seventy –five years ago today, Pearl Buck became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.  The king of Sweden gave her the award at a ceremony on December 10, 1938 in the Stockholm Concert Hall.  It read:
“By awarding this year’s Prize to Pearl Buck for the notable works which pave the way to a human sympathy passing over widely separated racial boundaries and for …

Read moreA Writing Life – Pearl S. Buck
Category: Career, Dan, Writing CraftTag: Career, Writing Life
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