READ: Review, Flourish by Catherine Hart Weber, Ph.D.
(Comment below for the opportunity to win a copy). I chose an interesting time of year to read Flourish: Discover the Daily Joy of Abundant, Vibrant Living by Catherine Hart Weber, Ph.D. (Bethany House, 2010). Christmastime in our family tends to be anything but relaxed. This book’s emphasis on the essentials helped pull me back to center. Although Weber makes no secret of her Christian faith, she doesn’t blast readers with Scripture. And although she’s a licensed marriage and family therapist, she doesn’t lose them in psychobabble, either. Instead, Flourish offers the spiritual encouragement and practical advice readers need to move into the abundance of life as God designed it. After three chapters that introduce the basic concepts of flourishing, the book moves into a discussion of four systems (Relationship Attachment, Joy and Pleasure, Peace and Tranquility, Hope and Resilience) which, properly nurtured and maintained, yield a life that can’t help but flourish. The author’s attention to detail yields a book that speaks to readers’ needs and interests. True-life stories touch the heart, guided questionnaires encourage personal exploration, and practical exercises move the teaching from information to action. Don’t read this book. Instead, take time to absorb and apply it. As you move from frustration to flourish, you’ll find yourself like me—grateful. I’d love to share the joy of this delightful read. Post a comment here (make sure to leave a link or contact information) by midnight Friday, Dec. 17, and I’ll enter you in a drawing to win your own...
read morePRAY: Prayer for the Disappointed
Father, I pray this with understanding today because, well, it’s me. I thought I was following but it didn’t work out. I thought I was listening but it hasn’t happened. I thought I was serving but your answer sounds—for the moment, anyway—like a resounding “no.” I can tell you’re using this to teach me, Jesus, and for this, I thank you. I’ve realized I don’t trust you as much as I should. I’ve recognized my excitement has blasted ahead of my faith. My ambition has blinded me to a true vision of you. And my ears have become tuned to man’s voice instead of your still, small, ever-seeking one. I need you, my Savior, because I don’t always get it right. Forgive me my lack of trust. Yes, you sympathize with my weakness, but God, you also desire to keep me from sin. I recognize my hurt as a reflection of my lack of true union with you. Today, my Counselor, give me joy. Today, my Healer, bathe my spirit. May your poured-out presence be the only balm I seek. And, oh Jesus? You’re right. It’s not all about me after all. Others have much deeper and more painful hurts. Some are facing years of discouragement. For them, the sting of disappointment has become the gaping wound of destruction. Some have waited years without realizing their need to see you, to hear your voice and know your touch. In this season of presence, please come to them, my Emmanuel. Come to them. Become bigger in their lives, in my life, so we and our problems become less. We love you. We serve you. We lay our weakness and woundedness before you and seek your redemption. And we are so thankful you will never turn us away. Come to us, Lord Jesus. Please come—and let us know you are here. In the name of the One who knows all hurt I pray—AMEN. Do you identify? Do you have more to add? It’s my joy to pray alongside...
read moreWRITE: Frequently Made Errors #7: Arguing with the Editor
“I can’t believe it! They changed the whole meaning of that paragraph!” Had you lived in the Pieper household during the first few years of my professional writing career, you’d have heard many similar rants. If my long-suffering husband disagreed, he never told me. In fact, he did everything possible to sympathize with his wounded writer wife. What I did wrong: I failed to recognize the value of the editor’s work. What I did right: I never took my comments to the editor. Everyone needs an editor, as I mentioned to one of my blog regulars who found an error in a recent post. “Develop rhino skin,” the more experienced among us like to tell new writers. We mean it. Even the best writer or the strongest grammarian needs a second pair of eyes. An editor provides those eyes along with the experience to know what to cut, what to change, and when to cut or change it. “So what?” you may wonder. Today, I want to encourage acceptance and adherence to an editor’s fixes, critiques, and comments because on too many recent occasions, I’ve witnessed FME (Frequently Made Error) #7: Arguing with the Editor. This happens when a writer (usually via e-mail) takes the rants from the privacy of home or office back to the editor’s desk. She complains about the removal of sentences. He moans about the lost voice. She whines, “But I thought you’d work with me.” He grouses about the posted editorial guidelines. And everyone loses. Since I sit behind both a writer’s and an editor’s desk, I experience this issue from both sides. But whenever I consider it, I land on the side of respect. As an editor, I respect the writer’s expertise on a story, a subject or situation. I recognize the source of the story, and I’m not it. When I work with experienced writers, I recognize that their voices won’t—and shouldn’t—sound like my own. But as a writer, I must also respect my editor’s expertise. If eliminating a word here or a phrase there helps communicate truth, so be it. If reworking a paragraph or changing a chapter makes the teaching or story flow, let’s do it. In the end, both editor and writer must respect the reader. If we can work together to produce a product that lives, moves, and communicates truth, we’ve both reached our goal. Yes, minor changes can seem major. Some editors are less sensitive than others. Your article may not seem as much your own work after editing, and your book may not appear in print quite as you had envisioned it. But remember that someone cared enough to edit it. Someone also cared enough to publish it. And, as any writer knows, a published piece beats a WIP (“Work In Progress”) or perennial query every time. Editors can make mistakes. On my book projects, I’ve questioned a few editorial decisions that affected meaning (not grammar). But I only did so after years of experience and after building relationships that allowed me this privilege. Professional writers trust their editors’ wisdom. Don’t argue with the editor. Close your mouth (or your e-mail) and keep writing. Have you argued with an editor? Do you agree or disagree with my advice? Please share your...
read moreREAD: Review, Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes
I can’t help it—I love a happy ending. That’s why, as Crossing Oceans unfolded (do stories still “unfold” on a Kindle?), fear gripped my heart. I’d already fallen in love with the story’s main character, single mom Jenny Lucas. I admired her fierce love for her daughter. I understood her desire to repair broken relationships. I rejoiced in her victories and wept at her frustrations. In other words, debut author Gina Holmes hooked me. I’d already read too much about this novel, but her words pulled me in anyway. I didn’t have time to read, but I couldn’t stop. I wanted to find Jenny’s happy ending. I wanted to discover my own. Holmes delivered, but not in the way I expected. She gave me our language in uncommon beauty. She drew characters whose lives reached past the page. She provided reasons to consider eternity and how it applies to today. She poured out multiple layers of meaning and depths of relationship that made me reexamine my own. First novel? Crossing Oceans doesn’t belong in that category. Whether or not you cry when you read it, you’ll see yourself and your family here. You’ll remember how much small actions and quick conversations matter. You’ll find your heart quickened, your love renewed. Thanks, Ms. Holmes, for the years you labored to give us this gift. Thanks for Novel Journey. And thanks for reminding me of the preciousness of story. Happy endings start with great beginnings. You did it—and I can’t wait to read more....
read morePRAY: Times to Treasure (a prayer for women)
Father, I read about a young woman this morning. A young woman whose life intersected with yours as no one else’s. A woman who became the mother of a baby born to die, sent to save. I’ve noticed these words about Mary before, Father. Twice you tell us she “treasured these things in her heart” (Luke 2:19, 51). Isn’t that just like a woman? We tend to hold things close. We watch. We ponder. And we remember. We take few things at face value. We want to find the deeper meaning whether it’s there or not. Sometimes, this frees us. Other times, this traps us as we review painful events and conversations. Father, today I lift up my fellow women to you. I lift up those faraway and those near, those I know and those I don’t know. I ask You to redeem this treasuring quality of ours. Help us to hold fast to that which is good and to repel anything evil or dark. Help us cling to you more than to our memories. Help us not be bound by our thoughts, wishes, and dreams but to find freedom in the ones you give. Help us, oh Father, to seek you first. To find you in the stillness as Mary did so that when you come to us (as you promised), we’re ready to receive your words and your truth. Whether our calling is amazing or expected, typical or radical, Lord, allow us to demonstrate Mary’s willingness to follow. Let us have her heart, her spirit to drop our own activities and enter into yours. And Father? I ask you to allow us to experience your breath, your touch, your holiness that transforms each day, each moment into something to treasure. Allow us, dear Jesus, to treasure you. In Your holy and gracious and worthy name I pray—AMEN. How do you cling to the good and eliminate the less-than-best? How do you maintain purity in those things you “treasure in your heart”? Share with...
read moreWelcome
I've asked God to use my writing and speaking to count for eternity. I'm passionate about relationships and creativity.
