by Sharon O | Aug 15, 2012 | Uncategorized
In the next chapter of the book ‘Saying it well’ by Charles Swindoll
he tells us that saying it well requires dedication.
We must do what it takes to pursue our dream.
If we want to write then we must make the time and devote our ‘intentions’ to that dream.
If we want to do something else then we must do what it takes to prepare for it.
For some that might mean going back to school, or a training setting.
It might be a huge inconvenience for a short season but we are pursuing our hearts desire and it will be worth it once we have successfully met the challenge.
For others that might mean we have to quit the job we have so we can do what our heart is calling us to do.
That is basically what I did when I quit my job and began to write in this blog.
It is a process of becoming familiar with the dream and knowing how to make it happen.
He tells us there are three things for us to think about:
a. Identify our calling
b. Devote ourselves to preparation
c. Begin the journey
In order to begin a journey we must remember why we are pursuing our calling.
Some of us will go towards a new direction easily.
Our life experiences have already prepared us for hard and difficult times ahead.
Using the depth and insights we have learned gives us a head start above others and sets us apart from those who have not had life experiences like ours.
He tells us that keeping our ambition in check will help us in making good choices.
If we want to pursue writing then we must do what it takes to become a good writer but also understand that our life experiences bring a wealth of knowledge to us much more than a class room study book.
Don’t underestimate your life experiences.
He also tells us to pay close attention to our gut instinct.
“A churning gut means to apply the brakes and stop.”
“Intuition is powerful especially if we listen to it.”
Sometimes we have to take a break or even say no for a detour can mean other better things will come our way later when the time is right.
“When you feel restless pay attention to what your heart is telling you.”
Saying it well comes from handling life’s circumstances and transitions and coming out better on the other side.
We learn from our set backs and the paths that take us to different places.
He also tells us to seek counsel from those who really know us and
who are encouraging to our hearts and our dreams.
His final thought when ending the chapter is this:
“God crafts the character of a person using experiences as tools for shaping us.”
In saying all that, I do feel like the storms that I have had to pass through in this life did prepare me for my writing.
I cannot write from a place I have never been but
I can write from a deep place I have been
in such a way that others can feel ‘they are there with me’.
What I can write about is the journey God prepared for me to go on years before I went on it.
It was all for a purpose.
It was all for a reason and a plan so that I can learn to ‘say it well too’.
by Sharon O | Aug 14, 2012 | Uncategorized
Continuing on with the book, “Saying it well” by Charles Swindoll.
The next chapter he focuses on being prepared.
He tells us before you say anything or share anything you need to be prepared enough so that others are aware that you know what you are talking about.
In the effort of preparation he said for us to make time to not be distracted.
I know when I am writing or forming a blog post if the phone rings it is not answered.
I do not let myself get distracted by email or facebook or messaging.
As I sit in front of the computer if it is writing time
that is my focus.
I do not let anything get in the way of my thought process.
That has to be an hour that is not disturbed.
It takes discipline to get up and write.
Even Jeff Goins in his writing challenge said for us to make time every day to write.
Write everyday so that your practicing increases your skill level.
Just as in anything we do the more practice time we allow ourselves the better we become.
If the goal for us is to become good writers we must take the time now to get it done.
Charles tells us: “the future is never promised to us so we much act today.”
The other part of preparation that he tells us about is choosing good and wise mentors.
Others who are walking the same path as we are but have done it much longer and can give good advise.
The other part of preparation he tells us about is to have a clear understanding of who we are and also to always be authentic.
Remembering his three things to focus on:
Know who you are
Accept who you are
Be who you are
In order to move towards a calling such as writing or speaking we need to acquire the necessary skills in order to move forward.
If we need a class to help us then we need to take that class.
If we need to practice writing then we need to submit guest posts.
He tells us excellent communicators never stop preparing.
It takes effort.
Be passionate about what matters to you.
Excellent communicators know who they are.
Sometimes when we write we end up also speaking about what we wrote.
Be prepared. Be passionate. Be disciplined.
Begin to do what your heart is telling you to do.
Begin to express who you are to others.
Are you ready to begin today?
by Sharon O | Aug 13, 2012 | Uncategorized
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| Three generations…A father… A son and his three sons |
Generation after generation stands in awe of your work;
each one tells stories of your mighty acts.
Psalm 145:4
Then you can tell the next generation detail by detail the story of God, Our God forever, who guides us to the end of time.
Psalm 48:13
Then he commanded our parents to teach it to their children so the next generation would know, and all the generations to come-
Know the truth and tell the stories so their children can trust God.
Psalm 78:5.6
Joining Deidra on Jumping tandem and the Sunday community.
by Sharon O | Aug 9, 2012 | Uncategorized
Continuing on with the book “Saying it well.”
Charles Swindoll tells us in order to become a good writer we must release ourselves from the expectations of others.
We can learn from others but we need to create a writing and style that is our own when sharing our message.
If there is a calling on our hearts to write the desire to do it well
will happen and as that happens our confidence will grow and our writing ability will become stronger.
He tells us a clear calling requires sacrifice.
I can see that, at times when a blog post is being formed and written in my head other things have to wait.
The dishes might not get done. The rug that needs vacuumed remains dirty one more day.
He tells us when we have a deep internal calling there is also a deep assurance that this conviction is right.
The key thing I read so far is this:
All the events in your life have prepared you to write.
The Lord has created a plan for you.
He has gifted you.
Ultimately the choice remains within us whether or not we want to become storytellers, authors or teachers.
He tells us there are three things that must take place before we can become the writer we want to become.
1. Know who you are
2. Accept who you are
3. Be who you are
I honestly believe I had those steps in mind when this blog began.
If I could write in a beautifully deep way as a painter paints a picture on canvas
my words would paint a picture for the reader as they read in the quietness of their ‘home’.
Canvas pictures are beautiful and unique.
Word pictures are the same.
They each give us ‘something to think about.’
The other key he tells us in this book.
Learn to be your unique self.
He tells us self awareness equals transparency and the better we know ourselves the easier it is for us to share from the deepest places of our hearts.
He also tells us as we learn to accept ourselves and realize who we are the truth sets us free.
Another thought he tells us to think about:
Good communicators don’t fake it.
So the key is for us as we begin this process is to learn to be authentic and to learn to be comfortable in our own skin.
He said that even Jesus had to grow into his own identity.
He knew who he was but he chose to wait for maturity and at age 33 he chose to reveal his true identity.
The process and reality was always there but the timing wasn’t always right.
Our timing is a key too.
As we allow ourselves to learn new things we slowly will reveal the kind of writer
who will learn to ‘say it well.’
by Sharon O | Aug 9, 2012 | Uncategorized
Almost three years ago this blog began as an idea and a hope.
At first I was not sure what to do or how to do it or even what a blog was supposed to be like.
So in the process of beginning I google searched christian blogs.
I read several and thought to myself.
I can do that.
My first blog post was about a face book post that I had placed and the next day other thoughts came to me and the next thing I knew there was my first month of writing posted and in place on my new blog site.
Each blog was a struggle to find words that sounded good and how to form them into a thought and then how to present that thought to an ‘audience’ of a few.
It has been a journey of discovering who I am as a writer and what kind of topics that are good to write about and also who are my readers. At first there were only a few as the blog was set in a private mode.
Fearful of exposure and the ‘world’ out there in a private mode it felt safer to write and not worry about who was reading my words.
What I am getting from this book of Charles Swindoll’s when we write,
“We open ourselves up and become a vessel. A tool.
A teacher. A storyteller.”
Oh there are many stories to tell.
The first year was full of grief and loss and I wrote from a heart that was broken.
Bringing forward the well of sorrow and sadness and sharing those thoughts on paper.
My mom in law was dying of pancreatic cancer.
My life was deeply shaken and the only thing I could do at the time was write.
In the book I am reading he says, “saying it well is very important”.
A few weeks ago Jeff Goins in his challenge for writers said, “writers should be transparent and open, if it moves you to tears it will move your readers too.”
One of the first stories I told openly was the story of my sisters recovery from deaths door to life.
It was not easy to go back to that place of deep fatigue and exhaustion but the Lord pushed me on and said ‘the story needs to be shared’.
If you haven’t read it yet go back a few blog writings and you will find it as a guest post I just finished for Jeff Goins ‘wrecked’ series.
Charles Swindoll said we need to write our message.
Our story.
From our genuine from the heart authentic ‘self’.
As the journey continues I will always write from my heart.
by Sharon O | Aug 8, 2012 | Uncategorized
I am reading a book that is both interesting and challenging.
For years this man has been speaking and teaching and I have always loved his humor and ability
to draw you in and then focus as he moves you into a topic.
It is a gift.
But he didn’t always know that.
When he was in his 20’s he wanted to go into the military and serve there for the rest of his life.
Little did he know God had other plans for him.
Just like God has other plans for us.
If we be patient and wait.
The book is about writing.
Someone special gave it to me and as she handed it to me she said, “You can say it well too.
You just have to believe in yourself.”
So as I am reading this book I will share some of my notes about touching others with your words.
