New Year New Focus by Steph Beth Nickel

Resolutions. Goals. Objectives. Whatever we call them, if we don't have focus, we won't achieve what we desire in the year ahead.

My word of the year is determination. But no matter how determined I am to achieve certain things, it won't happen unless I narrow my focus.

Are you like me? Eclectically interested and eclectically involved? 

Do you suffer from what I refer to as the Butterfly Syndrome? Do you flit from one beautiful, shiny project to the next to the next?

While we've often heard of trying to juggle too many responsibilities, I think of it more as plate-spinning. And I've come to realize recently that if I try to keep too many plates spinning at once, soon some of them will end up on the floor, shattered beyond repair.

So how am I approaching things this year, in particular, with regard to writing and publishing?

First, I'm determined to launch the first three books in my Nurture and Inspire series of ebooks.

I don't want a month to go by that I don't take a significant step in that direction. So far, I have decided on the topic of my first book and secured my new domain name.

In January, I plan to set up my first self-hosted website. I'll give myself until the end of March to get my first book together. By the end of May, the second should be ready. And by the end of July, the third.

This involves determining which blog posts to include, compiling and reworking them as necessary. It also includes formatting each ebook and purchasing book covers. 

Can I meet my self-imposed September deadline? That remains to be seen. But I am determined to work toward that goal.

How about you? What is your focus this year? What is one big goal you have for 2018?

After you've set that goal, it's best to break it down into manageable chunks. Set realistic time limits for each.

If you hit your first deadline, great! If not, don't get discouraged. (Life happens.) Simply set a new deadline and take the next step.

As believers in Christ, it is vital that we are prayerful each step of the way, asking Him what His plans and purposes are for us this year.

May He lead each of us on the path He'd have us walk. And may He enable us to keep our focus where it ought to be.

Where's Your Focus? by Steph Beth Nickel

Despite the fact that the Christmas season revolves around the Saviour’s birth, even we who are Christian can become overwhelmed and distracted.

Let’s seek to focus on what’s truly important this month and as we head into 2018.

While we do our Christmas shopping …

Maybe you love to hunt for the perfect gift for each person on your Christmas list—whether online or in the stores. Or maybe you find it all exhausting, having no idea what people want or need. Maybe you’re stressed because of time and financial constraints.  

While we’re considering gift giving, let’s take time to step back and consider the Greatest Gift of All Time, our Lord and Saviour, the reason for this and every season.

Thankfulness Checklist by Steph Beth Nickel

We've been encouraged in recent years to keep a gratitude journal. Ann Voskamp encourages readers to make a list of 1,000 things they're thankful for. (Not to worry; this list will be much shorter than that.)

As writers, our list will include items most others wouldn't even think to add. Below are five of the things I'm thankful for and examples of each.

Total Strangers

When someone you've never met connects with you and tells you they appreciate your programs on HopeStreamRadio, it's humbling and encouraging.

Total strangers don't stay strangers long when you connect over a common pursuit such as writing. I met Ron Hughes at Write Canada a number of years ago. So when he called to see if I knew anyone who would be interested in joining the HopeStreamRadio team, I was eager to get on board.

Online Communities

Yes, there are downsides to the Internet. We can spend hours commenting on status updates, tweeting, and pinning that would be better spent writing, reading, or doing housework. We can dive down one rabbit hole after the next after the next.

On the other hand, we can connect with amazing people we're never likely to meet in person who will encourage, challenge, and enlighten us. Such is the case with communities such as the Create If Writing group on Facebook. I've linked to the public group, but there are several advantages to joining the paid community as well. 

And I have to tell you the online communities that I've connected with are made up of some of the most generous people you'll ever meet.

Podcasts

I could list podcast after podcast after podcast where I like to hang out. While I enjoy reading, I've found that a familiar voice soon becomes a trusted voice, especially when the information they're sharing is practical and up-to-date.

Among the podcasts I follow are Kirsten Oliphant's Create If Writing, Joanna Penn's The Creative Penn, and Tara Hunt's Truly Social.

Challenges

I have joined the thousands of other writers who are participating in National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo. I'm on track to hit the 25K mark today. The challenge, if you're not familiar with it, is to write 50K words in the month of November. Obviously, the idea is to write the first draft of a novel. However, there are those who use the energy and camaraderie to write short stories, academic papers, etc. I love it and am learning a lot. As was said, there are no NaNo police.

Lifetime Access

If any of you have attended a free online summit, you'll know the allure of purchasing lifetime access. You can listen to the interviews whenever you want to, whenever you have the time. You have the luxury of going back and listening over and over to those you found particularly helpful.

I have purchased lifetime access to many summits and have signed up for the paid courses after watching brief series of free lessons on writing and writing-related topics.

These are all well and good, but I have to go back and start digging into the wealth of material I have access to. It does me know good tucked away in cyber space.

What's on your Thankfulness Checklist? 

A Writer Counts her Blessings by Steph Beth Nickel

We writers include items on our Thanksgiving list that others may not even consider.

Sure, we're thankful for family and friends, for food and fellowship, but we're thankful for the following as well:

Escaping Reality in Jasper by Steph Beth Nickel

Photo Credit: Dave Nickel

Opportunity of a Lifetime

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?

After nearly 35 years of marriage, my hubby and I were able to travel to Alberta together. Dave worked in Jasper for two summers and a Christmas before we were married and he'd always wanted to show me his favourite places, some of which are pictured above.

Was it a restful vacation? In many ways it was. But we were, by no means, lazing around. In our two weeks out west, I walked more than I had in months. And I'd never hiked nine kilometres in one day before. 

Dave, at 62, was able to hike the Palisades in less time than he'd expected, two and a half hours up and two hours back. Now that was a day I stayed put, except for doing some laundry and walking around the town site. 

Escaping Reality

Are there times you just need to get away from it all?

For the first week in Jasper, I simply couldn't imagine getting back to business as usual. I didn't want to think about what was waiting for me back home or my regular routine. In fact, I was grateful to spend very little time online although I love connecting with friends and family and learning new things..

The Blessing of the Moment

Are you living in the Now?

Most people I know are busy running from one thing to the next to the next. When they're doing one task, they're thinking of the next thing on their To Do list. They're trying to keep all the balls in the air—or all the plates spinning—whichever analogy works best for you.

While on vacation, I sought to enjoy every moment, to get the most out of every day, to live in the Now. 

Inspiration

Where do you find inspiration?

Although I bought a cute journal and two Writer's Digest magazines in West Edmonton Mall our first day in Alberta, I wrote and read very little. But that doesn't mean the time away didn't give me an abundance of inspiration for future projects.

James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (ESV).

My time out west was a wonderful gift ... as is my life here in Ontario.

What gifts are you thankful for this day?

Enjoying the Sonshine by Steph Beth Nickel

We recently returned from a vacation to Canada's breathtaking Rockies. Dave, my hubby, worked in Jasper for two summers and a Christmas before we were married. However, we had never visited together. We were thrilled to have the opportunity this year. (We have been married for 35 years.)

The weather was beautiful and we most definitely enjoyed the sunshine.

Below are three pictures Dave took while we were there:

The sun is usually an important factor when on vacation. It affects what we do, where we go, and how fulfilling we find the experience.

No matter how spectacular the scenery (and it was) or how brightly the sun shone (and it did), it's almost insignificant compared to the impact the Son has on our lives.

And, amazingly, while Jesus makes it clear from various passages in the gospel of John that He is the Light of the World, He also refers to His followers in this way. (See Matthew 5:14-16.)

So whether we're on vacation or in the midst of our day-to-day routine ... whether the sun is shining brightly or the clouds are thick and grey ... may we all shine brightly in the days ahead.

Beauty of Creation by Steph Beth Nickel

When I think of creation, I almost always think of Romans 1:20: "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made" (ESV).

Enjoy the beauty, the order, and the complexity of His creation ... and think about what they teach us about the Creator.

Here are a few pictures I've taken of this beautiful world ...

Green Thumb Writers by Steph Beth Nickel

First published on the InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship blog, June 3, 2017.

Remember the colour wheel your art teacher used in high school? If you forget what it looks like, you can check it out on Google images—which is what I did.

See that pretty green segment? Go straight across from it and you’ll discover red on the opposite side of the wheel. That’s the colour of my thumb—at least in the area of gardening.

Decluttering Your Life by Steph Beth Nickel

Have you ever signed up for an online challenge because you thought it sounded interesting or because you thought it might be the nudge in the right direction that you needed, the kick in the backside so to speak?

That was my reason for signing up for Kathi Lipp’s Clutter Free Bible Study challenge. It sounded intriguing: getting rid of excess stuff and exploring the spiritual implications of doing so.

Take Up a Challenge

While I don’t typically give up something for Lent, this challenge involved tossing or re-homing at least 10 items per day, 6 days per week. Almost 400 items gone in 40 days. It sounded great to me. Plus, I knew I could achieve that goal by tackling nothing more than my bookshelves.

Within the first week and a half, I had boxed up approximately that many books and magazines and made several trips to the library to drop them off. I also took a number of trips to the local thrift store with boxes or household items and bags of clothes.

I discovered open space within our home that we hadn’t had in years. Plus, I was finding spots to put away items that had sat out for … wait for it … yes, years. One family member teased they were going from being uncomfortable in cramped spaces to being uncomfortable in open ones.

Be Open to Surprising Revelations

The transformation within our home is evident even though I still have a long way to go. But it’s the transformation within my mind and heart that have been the most surprising.

Kathi Lipp doesn’t merely tack on spiritual meaning to our clutter. She shines a light on the whys and wherefores. She does it as one who has “been there, done that.”

Why do we accumulate stuff we don’t need? Why do we keep it? What are the benefits of leading a clutter free lifestyle?

Celebrate Victories and Don't Let Setbacks Discourage You

As an extrovert, I do best when surrounded by community. The closed Facebook group for the clutter free challenge soon became one of my favourites. Here we were safe to confess our struggles and celebrate our victories. Courageous souls posted before and after pictures, knowing they wouldn’t be judged, criticized, or condemned. And because it was a Bible study, we got to explore the changes within our hearts and minds, not just our homes.

Narrow your Focus

In the midst of our current responsibilities and the multitude of intriguing opportunities that pique our curiosity, we have to choose which to pursue at any given time.

What the Lord revealed to me during Lent about my stuff and myself have become pivotal for the present and the future. It is my desire to live a clutter free life; ultimately, pursuing only those things He has for me.

Have you had a life-changing realization lately? I’d love to hear about it.  

Surprised by Transformation by Steph Beth Nickel

The following post first appeared on Janet Sketchley's blog, "Tenacity."

Be on the lookout. Transformation can come in ways you never expected.

And that’s exactly what has been happening to me this Lenten season.

While I don’t usually participate in the tradition of giving up something for Lent, this year I became aware of Kathi Lipp’s Clutter Free Bible Study and decided to jump onboard.

The challenge: get rid of 10 things per day for the 40 days of Lent.

Having wanted to declutter our home for years, I thought it was a great way to start.

I had no idea.

I knew I could get rid of most, if not all 400 items, by culling my books and magazines, which I did.

However, I have also kept going, aiming to get rid of 10 items per day not only until Easter but also beyond that, until our home is the way we want it, free of clutter.

You have to understand … I used to have a blog called “Confessions of a Horrible Housekeeper.” That wasn’t one of those cutesy titles created by someone who was actually just shy of receiving The Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. No! Horrible was an accurate descriptor.

But that’s changing.

Not because it will make me a better person.

Not because others will think more highly of me.

Not to my credit.

It’s all about the Lord.

What does decluttering have to do with our spiritual life?

In the study, Kathi Lipp addresses the “whys” of clutter. Why do we surround ourselves with things we don’t need and/or love? Why do we hold onto things even when we’ve come to recognize them as clutter?

This is not a one-size-fits-all study. But when you discover yourself in the pages of Clutter Free, it’s powerful.

What are some of the advantages I’ve discovered so far?

I feel lighter emotionally, having gotten rid of so many items.

Because I’ve cleaned out my kitchen cupboards, I’ve found “forever homes” for items that have sat out for years. I’m also motivated to wash up the dishes as we dirty them, leaving our newly discovered counter free of clutter.

I’ve set a good example for my hubby and our daughter. No nagging necessary. They’ve both begun to address their own clutter and we’re enjoying the transformation together.

How do I know this was the right time to take this challenge?

For the sake of peace in our household, I decided years ago not to nag my family members about the condition of the house. Therefore, for the most part, I ignored the ever-increasing piles of stuff that surrounded us.

When I made an effort to tidy up, I became overwhelmed with the immensity of the task and would give up.

I was under the mistaken impression that something new and shiny would either make me happy or motivate me to do what I felt I should (thus, the accumulation of cookbooks and fitness equipment).

But no more.

I’ve found contentment in addressing the clutter in even a small corner of our home.

The Clutter Free Facebook group is a safe place to be open and honest. I’ve been encouraged and had the opportunity to encourage others.

I’ve let go of my defensive attitude. In the past I felt others were judging me because of the condition of our home—and I was determined to defend my choices even if they never knew about it.

Never before have I been so excited to get rid of things.

The most important changes are taking place within me, not the walls of our home.

When has transformation surprised you? 

Hope is an Empty Bookcase by Steph Beth Nickel

Although I don't typically observe Lent, this year I joined Kathi Lipp's challenge based on her book Clutter Free.

It's so much more than simply a way to organize one's household.

The challenge entails re-homing or tossing 10 pieces of clutter per day for the 40 days of Lent. For some, it's as simple as emptying the garbage from a purse or going through a stack of papers.

But for others, like myself, it means boxing up hundreds of items and getting them out of the house.

I have set myself a goal of getting rid of 400+ books and magazines. Although I'm only eight days into the challenge, I'm almost there. (I very much look forward to paying a visit to our public library this weekend and unloading several cartons of books.)

For years I've felt "less than" those whose houses always appear clean, tidy, and relatively clutter free. Resentfulness and envy factored into the mix as well. Clutter is so much more than just having too much stuff.

Kathi Lipp believes the root causes of accumulating more than we need are fear, guilt, and shame. While I wouldn't have come to this conclusion, the more I examine things from her perspective, the more I see there is truth in what she says.

And just how does hope factor in to the process of decluttering?

Here is what I look forward to, what I hope for, on the other side of this process (one that is sure to last long past the Lenten season):

1. Others will benefit from those things which I give away.

2. There will be space to put away the things I choose to keep.

3. I will be less distracted by our stuff.

4. I will be more inclined to invite others over.

5. Our home will appear larger.

6. We will be able to accommodate family and friends who choose to come for an extended stay.

7. I will think twice (or three times) before I purchase something I don't need.

8. I will become more content with what I have.

9. I will be able to concentrate on what truly matters.

10. I will set a good example for my family.

11.I will be in a position to offer hope to others whose excess is weighing them down.

And ...

12. If we ever move, it will be far less stressful.

How about you? Could you find hope in an empty bookcase, kitchen cupboard, or spare room?

Love is in the Air ... and in the Vacuum of Cyberspace by Steph Beth Nickel

First, I must say, “Thank you, Glynis, for the invitation to post regularly to TWG blog.” Guest blogging is, indeed, something I love to do, thus, the title of today’s post.

Guest posting … there are conflicting ideas about the wisdom of inviting others to post on your blog. After all, don’t readers pop by to read what you, the blog owner, have to say?

That certainly may be true if you are the author of several books with a following of thousands or tens of thousands. However, many (most) of us are not at that point.

Plus, some blogs, like this one, are set up with the intention of having a number of different contributors.

Here are six things I love about guest posting:

1. I don’t have to come up with a topic. Sometimes my eclectic interests make it a challenge for me to zero in on my target audience and what I should write about for my own blog and website.

2. People I wouldn’t reach otherwise read my words—and hopefully, are encouraged.

3. By writing for others and seeing how they lay out their site, I get ideas for my own online presence.

4. I am becoming increasingly adept at using sites such as pixabay[dot]com and picmonkey[dot]com to create graphics to include with my posts.

5. As is the case for many writers, a looming deadline serves as a great motivator.

6. As a result of guest posting, I have developed friendships with those for whom I blog and others.

And six things I love about inviting others to guest post on my blog:

1. It provides encouragement to other writers who do not have their own blog.

2. It validates those who question the relevance and worth of their words.

3. It gives timid writers the opportunity to connect with an “audience.”

4. It gives these writers the opportunity to encourage my readers.

5. It gives my readers the opportunity to read something unique, something with a different voice.

6. When I was blogging regularly, it gave me a break.

So, to my fellow TWG members—and others—who welcome me to their blogs regularly, “Thank you! The vacuum of cyberspace is anything but dark and dreary because of you.”

If you have a blog, do you invite others to guest post? Regularly? Every now and then?

Do you guest post for others? What do you love about doing so?