PRAY: Prayer for My Fellow Writers
I spent the past few days with a wonderful group in an inspiring setting. Many of the artists from Reclaim Management gathered in Fulton, Kentucky for a retreat at Storybook Farm, home of Reclaim co-owner Rebeca Seitz and her husband Charles.The event included a delightful mix of interaction, writing, food, and rest. My favorite part of the retreat was the time spent with other writers. I love hearing about their call to write and listening to the stories God has placed on their hearts. Here at home, my heart overflows with prayers for fellow wordsmiths. I witnessed their desire to use their words to make a difference. I saw their passion for stories that matter. So I post this prayer in honor of the Reclaim family and all the other artists of words whose work breathes life and truth. Holy God, I praise You for Your amazing creativity. Thank You for making a world filled with color, shape, form, and design. Thank You for giving us the tools of words and language, for moving us to craft messages and more. Thank You for sharing truth via words in the Book that matters most. And thank You, Father, for writing Your story through us. Thank You for the different ways you have shaped and molded us as a community of artists. Thank You for urging to share unique elements of Your work. Thank you for the times of joy and sorrow that shape not only our lives but our words. I lift up my fellow writers today as I ask you to draw near. Whisper the words that remind them of Your love. Replace their fears with faith. Help them through the hard places and smooth out the rough spots—in their lives and their manuscripts. Remind them to take every thought captive and to allow their words to reflect Your truth. Use Your Word to inspire them and Your Spirit to encourage them. Fill them with a bubbling fountain of ideas. Speak to them of secret things and open doors for them that no one can shut. And Lord, please keep them from the evil one. I know he wants to kill their creative desires, steal their joy in their work, and destroy everything their words build. I also know You have the victory so I ask You to keep these precious ones in Your name—the mighty name in which I pray today. Amen. Are you a writer with a specific prayer request? Feel free to share it by leaving a comment or send an email to marti (at) martipieper (dot) com. Blessings on your work and your...
read morePRAY: The Panama Papers, #5 (Candy Girl)
“How did passing out candy become my job?” “Surely God brought me to Panama to be more than a candy supplier.” “I’m not sure we should be handing out candy anyway!” The afternoon before, all these thoughts ran through my head when I received a minor rebuke for not bringing out our bag of candy soon enough. Someone had given us a giant sackful of miniature Tootsie Pops®, and Dr. Walker Moore wanted us to use the treats in ministry. I knew we could use them. But this former dental hygienist didn’t want to be the one to do it. Still, I’ve spent years teaching my children the value of proper authority, which God places in our lives to provide both protection and direction. And as not only Awe Star’s president but also our trip leader, Walker’s words mattered. I confessed my inner grumbling and promised God I’d become the Candy Girl, joyful in sharing the treats He supplied. He didn’t wait long to bless my new attitude. The next day found the team rising early to eat, have a quick Bible study, and head out to a school at the edge of the Panama Canal. A previous Awe Star team had visited the same school to minister to older students. This morning, our team had the privilege of sharing “Freedom” with a younger group. The Panama heat radiated up from the concrete as we set up to begin our ministry. Dozens of curious children milled around us, pointing and asking questions. We engaged them with a quick line dance. Soon, performers and audience were good to go. Once again, I felt blessed to pray through the drama and ask for the winds of salvation to blow through tender hearts. Awe Star never presses children—or anyone—for decisions, but we understand our responsibility to share God’s truth. As the team poured out their hearts in the drama, I poured out mine in prayer. But I didn’t anticipate what happened next. When the drama concluded, the students hurried out in their ministry teams, and I pulled out my big bag of candy. I still felt a bit concerned because I knew the students would follow the sweet treasures. Would this keep them from responding to the gospel? But I remembered Walker’s direction, and lifted the giant sack. Before I could decide where to take it, a cluster of children surrounded me—so many, in fact, that I feared I might stumble. Amid the clamor, I held the bag high. Then suddenly, God gave me an idea. Perhaps I could use the candy to share my story! I sat down, holding the treats close as my new best friends surrounded me. I pulled out what Awe Star calls the “911 card” which would help me share the gospel without a translator. Right at that time, one of our host missionaries sent a translator to my rescue. I sensed the Holy Spirit speaking through me as, with the translator’s assistance, I had total freedom to share my story in a natural, effective way. I told the children I would give them candy but that I had something much better to share first. I spoke about my childhood and how, back then, I tried to be a good little girl. But even good little girls...
read moreWRITE: Florida Christian Writers Conference
Where can I find help to polish my novel? I’ve heard of book proposals, but the thought of writing one overwhelms me. Where can I get help? I’d love to submit articles to a magazine, but I don’t know a thing about the process. How can I learn? I think I’m ready for an agent. Where do I find one? The idea of marketing my book scares me to death. Can I get lessons? I’ve always wanted to write, but life got in the way. How can I get started? As a writer, editor, and mentor of writers, I’ve heard various forms of all these questions—all with the same answer. I find myself giving it in different ways to almost every writer or writer wannabe I know: Go to a writer’s conference. The best place to get started is a writer’s conference. You’ll get expert advice and instruction at a writer’s conference. Today, I want to highlight an event I’ve grown to love, the wonderful FloridaChristian Writers Conference. March 1-4, 2012 marks its 25th anniversary. I’m giving you plenty of notice on this one because you’ll want to pray about attending. As you do, you may want to read my first blog about the conferencewhen I attended back in 2010. Or you may want to note the following facts provided by conference director Billie Wilson: The Florida Christian Writers Conference offers: · Appointments with Agents and Editors · Manuscript Submission to Agents & Editors · 7 Continuing Classes (6 hours of instruction in a genre) · Mentoring Tracks limited to 10 participants in each track – take place during Continuing Class time § Fiction Project – Eva Marie Everson, Ken Kuhlken § Nonfiction Project – Janis Whipple § Writing for Children – Christine Tangvald, Carol Wedeven · 72 Elective Workshops · 12 “After Hours” Workshops Scholarships: To apply for all scholarships please email billiewilson@cfl.rr.com a brief bio, financial situation and a snippet of your current writing project. We are grateful that Cecil Murphey has made scholarships available from the Cecil Murphey Scholarship Fund. Cash Awards: Manuscripts submitted are considered for an award in the following categories: Poetry, Drama/Screenwriting, Children’s Book or Short Story, Curriculum , Short Story for Teens or Adults , Article, Devotional, Novel, Non-Fiction Book, Best Work for a First Time Conferee plus Writer of the Year Award of $200 from WinePress Publishing Group. The conference provides some additional benefits in the form of its beautiful central Florida setting at the Lake Yale Conference Center; delicious meals (including a full salad bar at lunch and dinner); and the opportunity to build relationships with writers, authors, agents, editors, and others in workshop, meal, and other settings. I’ll serve on the faculty as I represent SUSIE Magazine and teach some workshops, too. For more information: Conference blog: http://www.floridachristianwriters.blogspot.com/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/flwritersconf Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Florida-Christian-Writers-Conference/147564825201 Have you attended this conference? What would you say to someone considering it for 2012? And if you’re one of those still thinking about it, share your questions. I hope to see you there! Also, I’m trying out a new look for my blog. Any...
read moreWRITE: It Began with a Whisper
It began with a whisper. “Set up an appointment. Have a conversation.” I noticed her the year before at the Florida Christian Writers Conference. In fact, I attended a panel on which she served. I liked her direct manner, her easy laugh, her knowledge of the industry. But her role as a publicist didn’t mesh with mine as ghost- or collaborative writer. She’s also an author, so I spoke to her briefly about how much I enjoyed her books. A quick connection. A new Facebook friend. No genuine relationship. That spring, I was pushing. Many of my writer and author friends felt I needed an agent, someone to advocate on my behalf and handle the business side of my writing career. It sounded like a smart move (although I’ve learned a lot, I’m driven more by heart than business savvy), and I wanted to heed wise counsel. So I looked. And set up appointments with agents. And pushed. And in the end, nothing happened. Oh, one agent offered to sign me. I respected that individual, but it wasn’t a good fit. And after the conference, I sensed God’s direction to stop pushing and wait on Him. So I did. Over the next few months, I taught at two conferences but had no agent appointments or agent-seeking conversations. God kept bringing work. I stayed busy. I navigated a few more business deals. “I can do this,” I thought. “I don’t like it, but I can do it. God will give me the strength.” And He did. But in March 2011, at the same Florida conference, it began with a whisper. “Have a conversation,” He said. And, as you can guess, I did. In the space of fifteen minutes, God did amazing things. No, I didn’t leave the conference as an agented author. But I had an engaging conversation with a fellow industry professional—the same one I’d admired the year before. I knew she and a partner had combined talents to produce a distinctive new management company. We discovered some names and projects in common. And she agreed that I needed representation—although she wasn’t sure who should fill that role. “I’ll know in a week,” she told me. Publishing time reminds me of God’s time, where one day is as a thousand years. Before all the questions and conversations came together, July had all but ended. And that’s when I gained a new family at Reclaim Management, headed by the creative team of Steve Feldman (producer, director, and Renaissance man) and Rebeca Seitz (publicist, author, and all-around miracle worker). Reclaim’s commitment to produce “stories that matter” matches my own. I’m not (so far) a novelist, but I have an artist’s eye, passion, and desire. My sensitivity and perception help make me a powerful intercessor and a tender writer. But those same qualities also mean business details drain me. They stifle my creativity and slash my joy. And if I’m not careful, they keep me from hearing the whispers. As I write, I want to keep listening. I want to keep telling the stories and putting words together in ways that make a difference. I’m both honored and blessed to have Reclaim’s wise counsel and guidance. With my new managers on my side, I’m free to do the work He’s gifted me...
read morePRAY: The Panama Papers, #4 (Casca Viejo)
French Embassy, Panama City, Panama Am I really in Panama? As I followed the line of students down the sidewalk beside the narrow brick street, this question kept returning to my mind. We’d spent the morning in ministry at two different schools. Now, in the early afternoon, our bus delivered us to a new and (for us) unexplored area of the city. I gazed upward at columns and arches. I peered through wrought-iron gates into tiny courtyard gardens. Charleston? Perhaps. New Orleans? Maybe. Panama City, Panama? Surely not. I learned we had entered the area of Panama City commonly known as the French Quarter. In truth, it is Casca Viejo (“old part”), a section rebuilt in the 17th century after pirates destroyed the city. It boasts a curious blend of French colonial and Spanish architecture that made me feel as though we’d traveled through time. We moved to a small plaza overlooking the ocean, flanked by more beautiful colonial buildings that included the French Embassy. Our now-familiar routine allowed for a sooth setup. Students, not Awe Star Ministries staff, introduced the drama and shared their testimonies. And once again, I stepped back from the presentation to pray. A guard on the embassy steps caught my eye and heart. He couldn’t hear the drama from where he stood, but I could tell he was watching. “Move him closer,” I prayed. My gaze traveled to other onlookers, but when it returned to him only seconds later, his spot at the embassy doors was vacant. He had already come closer—and kept doing so throughout the next few minutes. At one point, a man in a business suit appeared at the embassy door, and the guard hurried back to his post. After a brief conversation, the other man moved to the parking lot, then turned to walk away. Our guard stepped back to a spot where he could see and hear the drama once again.. Next, two more men in uniform (complete with berets) appeared. Soldiers? Policemen? I wasn’t sure. I added them to my prayers as the eighteen-minute drama unfolded. After the presentation, I saw one ministry team move straight toward the security guard, a second to the two other men in uniform. My prayers intensified. As the teams came back together a short time later, they brought joyful news that all three—along with several other onlookers—had prayed to receive Christ. I thought back to the Bible stories of guards and soldiers who encountered Jesus. Today, God had moved these protective servants to the right place at exactly the right time. Familiar with authority, they now served a new one. And His kingdom endures forever. As we climbed back into the bus to end our brief time in Casca Viejo, I thanked God for new places, new experiences, and (most of all) new life. Have you traveled? Have you visited an area similar to Casca Viejo? Or have you watched God move someone to the right place at the right time? I’d love to hear your...
read moreWelcome
I've asked God to use my writing and speaking to count for eternity. I'm passionate about relationships and creativity.
