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Stuck Psalm 40:1-3 Are you familiar with the word “mire”? A mire is an area of wet, spongy earth like a bog or marsh.  Have you ever been on a piece of land after the snow has melted or after a tremendous downpour of rain that leaves the land extremely muddy? Perhaps you’ve been on a trail where the mud cakes on the bottom of your shoes with every step and becomes heavy. Our lives can sometimes feel like this where we get stuck or each step forward becomes heavier and heavier.  What did David do when he was stuck in the miry clay? How did he climb out of his slimy pit of despair? He waited upon the Lord. Waiting is difficult for us because we’re impatient. So we try with all of our own effort to climb out of the mud. Like with David, God will hear our cries for help and will pull us out of that deep despair. We go from stuck to steady as He places us on firm, solid footing. This is God’s grace in our lives.  God is able to birth new words in our lives to share with the world. These words can be a “volume of p

Shoring up Weaknesses “Shoring” is the process of temporarily supporting a building, vessel, structure, or trench with shores (props) when in danger of collapse or during repairs or alterations. Shoring comes from shore, a timber or metal prop. Shoring may be vertical, angled, or horizontal.  5 Lessons we can take from 2 Chronicles 32:1-8 Consult with trusted advisors - friends, pastors, counselors, fellow Kingdom writers - for wisdom and understanding moving forward. King Hezekiah showed humility by asking for help. Cut off anything that might fuel or refresh our enemy and allow him to prolong his attack. Sin is an obvious thing to cut off. Perhaps we also need to consider cutting off toxic people in our lives. Cut off the flow of toxic news or other social media that the enemy might utilize to create anxiety. Healing of the broken places in our lives. Shoring up those weaknesses to prevent the enemy from constantly zeroing in on those vulnerable areas. Perhaps forming a small prayer team could be a fo

Hearing from Headquarters Whether it’s in the military or a strategic undercover operation, hearing from headquarters is crucial in order to carry out important plans. How much more do we as Kingdom writers need to hear God’s plans from headquarters?  We must be willing to set aside time each day to soak in God’s Word. Why would we need this important time? In order to get to know the God of that Word. As we do so, we become intimately acquainted with the character and ways that God might be leading us. When we get to know someone so well, we can almost finish their sentences. This is the idea we’re looking at in getting to know God well. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” - John 10:27 NLT “Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.” - Proverbs 2:2-4 NLT We tune our ears to the Lord like we might finely tune in a radio station and eliminate sta

Happy In Hiddenness 1 Samuel 16:1-13 v.4 – It was quite a shock to the Bethlehem elders that Samuel came to their town. They assumed something was wrong. v.6-7 – Even Samuel was enamored with Jesse’s oldest son Eliab. But God wasn’t impressed. He was looking at hidden traits, not outward superficial data. David wasn’t even an option. He was out in the fields tending sheep and goats – a low-level job. Example of my Ray’s Food Place job in high school. Stocking shelves in the back room at minimum wage ($3.85/hr) Many of you are tending sheep & goats in this season. You’re living the hidden life and quietly honing your rock-slinging skills, practicing the harp, stringing words together, wondering if they’re even going to see the light of day. Here are a few people who can relate: Joseph waiting 13 years from the time he was sold into slavery to getting his call to serve in the Palace of Pharaoh. Moses tending sheep for 40 years before encountering God in the burning bush, Jesus and his hidden years of servin

Recovering What We Have Lost as Writers 2 Kings 6:1-7 In this little story tucked away in the Old Testament, we see several nuggets we can apply to our lives and our writing. Like the young prophet in the story, we may find ourselves losing our “cutting edge” and feeling powerless.  This group of prophets were building a new meeting place and insisted that their leader, Elisha, accompany them down to the Jordan River where they would cut down trees for the new facility. They were busy doing good work until one of them lost his ax head which sank to the bottom of the Jordan. At times, we can also be busy doing good work until we lose our cutting edge. In our case, we can refer to the power of God as our cutting edge. It’s the ability to get the job done most efficiently rather than relying on our own strength. Imagine trying to cut down a tree with only a wooden ax handle. It would be like our flesh trying to cut into the spiritual realm which is something bigger and more powerful than what we possess without

Do You Feel Rusty in Your Writing? “We must all either wear out or rust out, every one of us. My choice is to wear out.” - Theodore Roosevelt “There is a time for everything. We wait on God to renew our batteries, and then when they are up to full power, we turn them loose into the work of God.” - A.W. Tozer “Christians are like farm implements. Farm machinery seldom wears out. If you keep your machinery up, you can use it summer in and summer out until it becomes obsolete. The idle machine sitting in dampness will go to pieces in one season, but that same machine used for 10 years will only make it shine. One year of sitting around sulking will do more to rust your soul than 100 years of hard work, if God granted you that many years” - A.W. Tozer We can easily apply the above quotes to our own writing. There’s certainly a time to rest but we must be careful not to rust. Writing is a skill that must be practiced and refined over time. Staying consistent with a writing habit will help “keep our machinery up” s

The Right Kind of Boasting In this episode of the Kingdom Writers Podcast, we look at the theme of boasting in the Lord rather than a boasting that originates from the flesh.  We look at Paul’s teachings from 2 Corinthians 10:13-18. It seems that there were some people trying to influence the church in Corinth and taking credit for the ministry taking place there. Paul will not be pulled into a competition with others but simply points to the work they did in planting the church there.  Paul’s desire was to see the ministry extended beyond the borders of what they did while living among the church in Corinth. He wanted nothing more than for this church to grow and mature to the point where they were multiplying beyond their local area. As writers, we have opportunities to see our borders extended through the words we write. Our books can go far and wide in their influence and reach people we wouldn’t be able to in person. Paul quotes Jeremiah 9:24 to emphasize the right kind of boasting. We get a little more

Do The Work 2 Timothy 4:5 - “As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” Paul gives young Timothy four things to do in this powerful little verse… Be sober-minded - In a world where others may be losing their minds, we are to remain clear in our thinking and focused on the things God has for us Endure suffering - Whether from other people or from our spiritual enemy, we are told to endure which is the ability to withstand pain or hardship Do the work - In Timothy’s case, Paul specifically instructs him to do the work of an evangelist. As Kingdom writers, we might be instructed to “do the work of a writer.” Fulfill Your Ministry - Whatever God has called us to do, we are to complete that task and fulfill what He’s called us to do. Fulfill the ministry of writing that book that needs to get into specific hands the Lord wants to encourage What does it mean to “do the work”? We’ll look at this topic as it pertains to the Kingdom writer. The

Don't miss out! The Courageous Writer Bundle ends 5/7/24 at midnight eastern. Get yours here: https://courageouswriterbundle.com/ 1. Listen to podcasts for free. Check out my private podcast, Hitz Blitz here: https://trainingauthors.com/hitzblitz 2. Attend online conferences and summits. Sign up to one of the editions of the Kingdom Writers Conference here: https://kingdomwritersconference.com/editions/ 3. Sign up for bundles. We are hosting the Courageous Writer Bundle with over 40 experts. It ends 5/7/24 so make sure to get yours now here: https://courageouswriterbundle.com/ Which option will you choose this week? 

Get valuable insights on writing as a ministry and reaching the right audience for your message as Shelley discusses the importance of consistently creating and publishing content to serve your intended audience, understanding and identifying your target readers. Take a Step of Faith and Finally Finish Your Book You have a story to tell. But creating a book that makes an impact isn’t easy, especially without support and guidance. Our online community, Christian Book Academy, is where we help you write words that leave a legacy, self-publish books that fulfill your calling, and connect with a wider audience. Click here to learn more.  

If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years about the writing life, it’s that a person needs to have a passion for writing. This passion is fueled by the God we desire to partner with in order to write lasting words of impact. After all, the Kingdom writer is one who is gifted and called by God. The prophet Jeremiah describes our calling with these words, “But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!” (Jeremiah 20:9 NLT) Can you relate to feeling this way? Are the words inside you like a fire in your bones until you’re able to get those words onto paper? But like many things in life, sometimes our passion and fire can grow dim. Somewhere along the way, we forget about the love we once had for the craft of writing. Instead, we become focused on the destination or the finished product and become impatient when things aren’t lining up the way we want. Listen in as we ta

If you’re interested in knowing how to find your audience of readers, we highly recommend you listen to this episode. Shelley talks about the significance of knowing where your audience hangs out online and how to engage with established groups.  Free: 27 Book Marketing Ideas  You have finally written and published your book. Yay! Now, it’s time to market and promote it to reach more people and inspire lives. Get instant access to our FREE PDF on 27 Book Marketing Ideas to help you with your book marketing strategy here.  Book Marketing Templates to Save You Time and Money You’ve got a book you’re proud of. Now you’re looking for a simpler way to get it into the hands of more readers. One way you can do that is through social media. It's free to use...however, it can also take up a lot of your time.  Good news!   You can get your social media posts for the next month done in just 90 minutes so that you can reach more readers with your book (without being pushy or salesy) in the Mini-Marketing Messages worksho

Why choose to self-publish a book? Join us for this episode as Shelley discusses the opportunities presented by self-publishing, bypassing traditional publishing timelines, and the advantages for authors like you. Download Your Publishing Map If you want to write and publish a book but don't know where to start, this Publishing Map is for you. You will learn Shelley's 9 simple steps inside her publishing map that will help you gain clarity on your next steps. Download it now for free here. Join Our Procrastination to Publication Workshop With our simple 5-step system, you’ll be able to self-publish a quality Kindle eBook (without breaking the bank) in as little as 30 days. Here are a few of the topics we’ll cover:  The 5-step method for editing, formatting, and designing a book cover so you can publish your Kindle eBook in as little as 30 days.  My go-to process for self-editing your manuscript (that writers rave about) The formula I’ve used to easily price my books The tools you can use to format yo

In this episode, Shelley shares insights on how to keep your creativity flowing and seek guidance from God in the writing process. What is the importance of refilling your creative well and how do you do it? Listen to this episode to find out. Free: Writing Wheel Learn 5 proven writing strategies you can use today to get more writing done.  Download it now here.  Your Book on Paper in Just 90-Minutes Are you ready to get your book onto paper without the frustration of getting stuck or dealing with writers’ block?   Get your book out of your head and onto paper by the end of this 90-minute workshop using our 3 simple book writing formulas here.  

Hagar & Ishmael were sent away Genesis 21:14-19 Is it possible that in her pain & despair, Hagar assumes the worst-that God is not with her and that He will not help her, that He doesn’t see her suffering-and that this perspective blinds her to the well in front of her? Is it possible that in our own trials and pain, we let that same lie sneak in? Maybe this time He won’t come to my aid-and my eyes become so fixed on that lie that I’m blinded to the grace and joy right in front of me, all around me, or perhaps right around the corner?  We need God to open our eyes to ideas and possibilities for our books even when our resources have been used up and we feel like we’re dying in the desert. He wants to inject hope into our writing like a cool glass of water in the midst of drought.  As you may recall, Hagar found herself in the desert more than once. In chapter 16, near a spring in the desert as a pregnant runaway, she encountered the angel of the Lord and declared, “You are the God who sees me” (El-roi

Are you ready to take your book marketing to the next level? Learn a 5-step marketing plan to effectively promote and sell your book. Listen to this episode and unlock the potential of your book!  Free: 27 Book Marketing Ideas You have finally written and published your book. Yay! Now, it’s time to market and promote it to reach more people and inspire lives. Get instant access to our FREE PDF on 27 Book Marketing Ideas to help you with your book marketing strategy here. Book Marketing Templates to Save You Time and Money You’ve got a book you’re proud of. Now you’re looking for a simpler way to get it into the hands of more readers. One way you can do that is through social media. It's free to use...however, it can also take up a lot of your time.  Good news!  You can get your social media posts for the next month done in just 90 minutes so that you can reach more readers with your book (without being pushy or salesy) in the Mini-Marketing Messages workshop here.   

Glean insightful tips on the post-publishing phase, including the importance of the book launch and ongoing marketing as Shelley discusses what to expect once your book is released and out in the public. Tune in to know more!  Download Your Publishing Map If you want to write and publish a book but don't know where to start, this Publishing Map is for you. You will learn Shelley's 9 simple steps inside her publishing map that will help you gain clarity on your next steps. Download it now for free here. Join Our Procrastination to Publication Workshop With our simple 5-step system, you’ll be able to self-publish a quality Kindle eBook (without breaking the bank) in as little as 30 days. Here are a few of the topics we’ll cover:  The 5-step method for editing, formatting, and designing a book cover so you can publish your Kindle eBook in as little as 30 days.  My go-to process for self-editing your manuscript (that writers rave about) The formula I’ve used to easily price my books The tools you can use

In this episode, Shelley shares valuable insights on how to persevere and complete a full-length novel. Get to know the  importance of knowing your why, establishing a community for support and accountability, and incorporating God into the writing, publishing, and marketing process. Free: Writing Wheel Learn 5 proven writing strategies you can use today to get more writing done. Download it now here.   Your Book on Paper in Just 90-Minutes Are you ready to get your book onto paper without the frustration of getting stuck or dealing with writers’ block?  Get your book out of your head and onto paper by the end of this 90-minute workshop using our 3 simple book writing formulas here.  

Jesus’s earthly father Joseph was an unsung hero. Joseph displayed obedience and played a key role in God’s plan played out through Jesus. Joseph can sometimes be in the background, blending in without much notice.  After receiving dream after dream (Matthew 1:20; 2:13-14; 2:19-21; 2:22) from the Lord, Joseph had a choice to obey which he did in every instance. He chose to walk this unexpected journey with his wife Mary and their “God in the flesh” son. God was and still is more than capable of protecting us like He did the baby Jesus from being snuffed out by the enemy. He’s more than capable of protecting the Kingdom writer and the books they are called to birth into the world. May we listen to the Lord, whether in our dreams or any other means God wants to intervene in our lives. Like Joseph, we may find ourselves in a story that we never expected and wondering what the Lord has up His sleeve. And like Joseph the carpenter, we can humbly live out our lives as a different kind of carpenter where we build th

Get ideas on the best ways to sell your books online and how leveraging other people's experiences and feedback about your book—whether it's through reviews or personal stories—can engage your email list effectively.  Listen to this episode and discover how marketing authentically can make a meaningful impact on connecting with readers. Free: 27 Book Marketing Ideas You have finally written and published your book. Yay! Now, it’s time to market and promote it to reach more people and inspire lives. Get instant access to our FREE PDF on 27 Book Marketing Ideas to help you with your book marketing strategy here. Book Marketing Templates to Save You Time and Money You’ve got a book you’re proud of. Now you’re looking for a simpler way to get it into the hands of more readers. One way you can do that is through social media. It's free to use...however, it can also take up a lot of your time.  Good news!  You can get your social media posts for the next month done in just 90 minutes so that you can reach more read