Uplifted. Challenged. Informed.
Three seemingly disconnected words to describe four days of intense personal growth at the Oregon Christian Writers Conference in Portland, Oregon last week.
Frank Peretti, also known as the father of Christian fiction, not only tickled our funny bones but challenged us to make our voices heard in a land that has become deaf to spiritual truths. Peretti is the author of the popular novel, This Present Darkness, and sixty-five other titles. His humorous views on life also make him a frequently sought-after speaker.
Tessa Afshar, author of Pearl in the Sand, and eight other titles, tugged at our hearts as she shared her journey to publication. She reminded us to keep writing our stories, even when there seems to be no one who wants to hear them, just as Noah kept building the ark in a desert where there was no rain.
The week included dozens of workshops, editor meetings, agent panels, and reconnection with friends. For me this was a time to regroup, rethink some of my stories, and come home challenged to keep pursuing the goal. My second book, Love Calls Her Home, is now in the editing process, expected release March of 2018. My third novel, tentatively titled A Kite on the Wind, is nearing its expected end. But, as any writer will tell you, these characters have ideas of their own.
In I Peter 1:13 God says, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Good words to reflect on while you’re writing a blog, editing a book, building an ark, or waiting on God.
Author of
An Anchor On Her Heart released August 1, 2017