I am a cradle Christian. My name was on the Sunday School roll in the church nursery before I was born. The stories of scriptures and words of the Bible have always been readily accessible to me when I was just a toddler (as seen in this picture). I could recite the books of the …
writing
The World Needs Your Creativity
In my childhood church in Chattanooga, TN, I was raised by many teachers. One of them was a woman who ran the children’s choir program. Though she was active in the church in almost every way, never did you hear her sing in church. One day I asked why. “I used to sing a lot …
Why Read Birthed?
My book, Birthed: Finding Grace Through Infertility has been out for over a month now. It’s hard to believe that so many of you have had the opportunity to read the words that I labored over for so long! Do you have your copy yet? It’s been fun to read what others are saying and …
How Could I Not?
It’s National Pregnancy/ Child Loss Month. And I have been invited to guest blog over at Project Pomegranate for the next several weeks about my experiences and writing #Birthed. Recently I offered this post that I’d like to also share with you today: Since folks have heard that I wrote a memoir about my struggle with …
Book Birthing
Let me let you in on a secret. I may seem cool and calm in person. But, when I’m launching something new, I’m a nervous wreck on the inside. For there’s nothing scarier than putting yourself out there, putting all your energy or weight behind something and hoping people show up, participate and gain from …
“You Should Really Be in the Church, Full-Time”
Such is the start of several conversations I’ve had lately with folks who wonder why I’m not serving one particular church, full-time. “But you’re good at it. Why would you not?” “The church needs you. Why are you keeping your gifts from it by not applying for ___ job?” “Did you really go to seminary …
What’s It Like to Write a Memoir?
What am I up to these days? Writing, writing and more writing! My publication date of this memoir project is only months away now. And we have title! Watch for Birthed: Finding Grace Through Infertility coming October 2016! The planning stage for marketing is in full force now, and it’s excited to see the years of …
They Were Right
For years I’ve hung around friends who write books. I’ve observed them. I’ve admired them. I’ve taken notes. Maybe for the reason that before I even said the words aloud, “I want to write a book one day” I knew this would be my journey. And in sticking close to my book writing friends, I’d …
The Post I’ve Wanted to Write for 5 Years
Courage comes in steps, you know? No one does a hard thing all at once. Life’s big dreams are rarely fulfilled in giant leaps. In the early months of 2011, I started to get a hunch that I wanted to write a book. A hard thing. A seemingly impossible thing. Me, an author? Who would …
Encouragement to Create
I’m a fan of courageous people who are also writers. And I’d say that Elizabeth Gilbert is one of them. Many of you know her from her 2006 bestseller, Eat Pray Love which chronicled her healing journey from divorce while visiting Italy, India and Bali. (I also loved Gilbert’s not as widely read follow-up memoir, …
5 Ways to Improve Your Writing
I write a lot these days. I write here at Preacher on the Plaza. I write sermons (that I always don’t publish) for churches where I’m preaching. I write for the Feed the Children blog called BEYOND where we tell the stories of the good work of this humanitarian organization. And, I am a contracted ghost …
Pentecost Possibilities- Rebekah Hutto
Today, as our summer Thursdays “Pentecost Possibilities” series continues, I’m glad to introduce my friend and colleague, Rebekah Hutto to the blog. She’s a mother of Hannah Ruth as pictured to the left. Rebekah has allowed the Spirit to lead her to combine two of her favorite things– children’s books and the season of Pentecost …