Learning to Trust - Laura J. Davis

The last time I was here I shared with you how I came to know the Lord. You can read about it here. Today, I'd love to share with you where I was when God found me. 

Before I made a decision to live my life for the Lord, I was a professional singer. Or rather, I was just getting my start professionally. I had an agent, who would send me to some of the most horrible places to sing. A backup band would be hired to support me and I would sing from about 9:00 pm to 1:00 am. I would do a 40 minute set and then break for 20 minutes. Most of the places where I sang were noisy, smokey and filled with drunks. I was about 18 years old at the the time.

These types of gigs continued until sometime after my conversion, when my pastor asked me why I was wasting the voice God gave me instead of  using it for Him. I wondered how I would be able to sing without my back-up band and what songs I would sing. I was a new Christian. I didn't know any Christian songs, only secular ones. I put the thought out of my mind.

Six-months later, that thought seemed to be hounding me and I knew I had to make a decision one way or the other. The time came when I was asked to perform at the Talent Search Awards ceremony in the Ballroom at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. Talent Search was the agency that I had signed (they are no longer operating) with and they had these awards ceremonies every year to bring media attention to their clients. It was a very dressy affair and I sat at a table with my parents and some other people I didn't know. I was supposed to sing right before the Female Singers Awards portion of the show.

After I finished my song I went back to my table and the host took out the envelope with the Female Singer of the Year nominees. To my delight and my horror I was named Runner-Up Singer of the Year. It was a tie! I can't remember what I said when I received this award, but I do remember quite clearly what I felt and heard as I held it in my hands and went back to my table. 

"Who are you singing for? You or Me? Trust me." 

The conviction that came over my spirit was so strong, that the following day, I decided I would sing for the Lord and Him only. I backed out of all opportunities to sing in bars and told my agent I was singing for a higher power now. We parted ways amicably. 

I was now faced without a back-up band, or the ability to play any instruments, to help myself. But, convinced I was doing the right thing, I trusted God to lead me. Three months later I received a guitar for my birthday. I gave it back to God and said, "Okay, Lord if you want me to sing for you, you'll have to teach me how to play this thing." He did more than that. Within a year I had written over 22 songs.

The music was flowing and it would not stop. I had no idea that by saying yes to God, I was about to begin a 30 year career in Christian Music Ministry. So, when it stopped I was broken and shattered. 


More on that next time. Until then, please come visit me over at my website at www.laurajdavis.com. Have a blessed week!

Awards and Rewards by Ruth Smith Meyer

Everyone likes awards. My children must have taken after me, for although they loved sports and physical activities, they didn’t excel enough to capture any awards or anything near to it. It wasn’t for lack of trying.

Our son was born with a curved spine that cut off the strength and feeling when he put his weight on his left foot. We sought attention when he was small but were told we were over-protective parents and he would grow out of it. By the time his real problem was discovered at eleven or twelve, it had seriously affected his coordination. When his school class was given skating lessons one winter, he was far behind in every lap across the rink because he was restricted to pumping with one leg only. Instead of giving up, he asked me to make a slow-moving vehicle sign to hang on his back. He had others laughing with him instead of at him.

I always remember one of my daughters who set cross-country running as a goal for herself. She practiced faithfully in her attempts to prepare herself for the big race. I was there to cheer for her as she crossed the line in something like 45th place. I readied myself to console her and praise her for trying. I couldn’t have been more proud of her when she came panting to me, excitement and satisfaction in her tone, saying, “Mom that’s a lot better than I did last time!” Even though neither had received an award, they both obtained rewards.

When we design our resume or bio, we note our educational degrees, our accomplishments and awards in an attempt to prove our competence and that we are worthy of what we seek. It’s nice, as writers, to be recognized for our writing. We often hear how much it helps to sell books if we have one of those Award Winning stickers to put on the covers of our books. If we want to continue writing, those can be helpful, for it is necessary to sell books, especially if we want to earn our bread and butter that way.

That’s the way it is with awards.

Rewards perhaps share some of the same qualities, but there is a depth to rewards that go so much further than awards. As writers who are Christian, we are humbled and deeply thankful when we are used in helping others to find their way in life’s tests or to find God faithful in trials.

To hear that someone remembers a line or an experience about which you wrote and that it has changed their outlook or helped in challenges they face, isn’t something you can put in a resume or bio, but it is certainly rewarding. To know that your writing has changed a person from grumbling at their lot in life to being thankful for their blessings doesn’t sell a dozen books but it is a real bonus. To be told that a book has helped someone find their Rock in Jesus Christ, maybe doesn’t bring in the dollars, but is infinitely rewarding.

Just recently, when I was facing a personal challenge, someone quoted a line from one of my own books to encourage me! I had to smile, even while I took it to heart. It really did give clarity to my situation!

This week I received an email from a person who read an article I had published last spring. It had touched a heart long after I had expected to get any feedback, and I felt again, a sense of calling to share my stories—even those that make me vulnerable and are a little difficult to share—so that someone else can be comforted and encouraged. I felt rewarded and challenged at the same time.

Maybe that is the difference in rewards—they confirm our calling and urge us on in our ministry. “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn,” says Romans 11:29 NLT or as the Message puts it, “God's gifts and God's call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded.”

So write on!

Musings - Smith Meyer

WRITE! Canada 2010 has happened--and it happened without me. Each year since I first went, it has been an important event every June. While I always return bodily tired, my mind and my enthusiasm are renewed and invigorated. Of course that exhaustion is partly due to not wanting to miss anything, staying up for the night owl sessions and rising for the early bird or prayer sessions.

Although my publisher again entered my latest book in the contest for an award, this year because of events in my life, I decided I couldn't attend. My mind didn't listen though and from Thursday to Saturday I was conscious of what I was missing.

Then today, four days after the close of the conference, the TWG letter containing the judge's evaluation and remarks came in the mail. I debated if I really wanted to know what it said, but curiosity won out and I tore it open. After several years of work, editing and redoing, testing it out on children of the ages I had mentioned (with good response) having positive affirmation from the publisher, my writing group and from people who have purchased the book, the judge's feedback didn't reflect any of that. On a scale of one to five, the categories were marked. 2,3,3,3,4,1,2,2,5,3. Was it disappointing? Yes, but not devastating.

Again, I was thankful for what I have learned at WRITE! Canada and in my writer's group. We all differ in our likes and dislikes--even fellow writers and the honourable judge. The very thing one person finds the most intriguing or heart-warming just doesn't do it for another. What charms one reader makes it hard for another to connect.

We need to seriously weigh what the "experts" say, put tu use those suggestions that feel right to you the author and then extend to yourself the grace to trust in your own intuition as well. It is helpful if there are additional judges (and I would recommend that) so that the picture is more complete, but each critique deserves our full attention.

Is it nice to capture a few awards? Yes, I think that can be very satisfying. Is it nice to Wow your judge? I surmise it may be. However, as Tammy Wiens says, "I have found that I've gotten so caught up in trying to please the industry at times that I've forgotten my audience. In the end, they are the ones who buy my books and let me know if they are good or not--not editors or publishers."

My biggest and best award comes from the people who have been helped in facing their own challenges by reading my books. If I have brought understanding, growth or comfort to even a few readers, then my writing has not been in vain. Instead of a sticker on the front cover proclaiming my book to be a finalist or award winning book, there is a warm spot in my heart, knowing God has used my efforts to bring help, healing, or even enjoyment to my fellow travellers in life.

My Love/Hate Relationship with Awards - Lindquist

I hate awards. Most of the time. Except maybe when I win one. Then they aren't so bad.

The shortlist for the Canadian Christian Writing Awards will be made public soon. All across Canada, people will read it and sigh or smile; burst into tears or do a little happy dance; vow to never write another word or race to their computers to begin a new manuscript....

Awards are emotional. No matter how much your brain tells you "There were a number of entrants"..."We can't all win every time"..."It's just someone's opinion," not being shortlisted - or not winning - hits you right in the solar plexus. You think "I'm not good enough"..."They hate me"... "I'll never be any good"..."I may as well quit now."

Of course, sooner or later, most of us eventually talk ourselves out of the negative feelings. And we commit to trying one more time. Or perhaps we get that dogged "I'll show them" look in our eyes and not only decide to keep writing, but to keep writing until I win one of those stupid awards!

Like most people, I see the value in awards. Five reasons to enter awards contests come to mind.

1. Primarily, they're great for promotion. You can call yourself an award-winning writer. You can add the award to your resume, where it looks pretty good. You can put a photo of yourself getting the award on your website. If you're an author, you may be able to put a little sticker on the cover that says "Finalist" or "Winner."

2. They can also help keep you motivated. You can hang the certificate on your wall and look at it in times of frustration or writer's block and remind yourself that someone once thought you were good.

3. A bigger benefit in my mind is that they provide a standard of excellence. How much money one makes or how many copies of the magazine or book are sold aren't necessarily measures of greatness. There are beautifully written things that few people ever see. Awards can provide a way of recognition for work that is well-done but doesn't have a large audience.

4. Awards can also provide a guide for aspiring writers - something they can read and study to see what something "good" looks like, and know what to emulate.

5. If there are comments from the judges, while they can hurt, they can also help you grow as a writer and improve your work for the next time.

But there is a negative side to awards.

1. They are exceedingly subjective. While there are set standards, and judges are chosen for their expertise, the final decisions usually come down to personal preferences. And everyone needs to keep that in mind. While it does occasionally happen that a particular writer's work is at a completely different level than the other entrants, and ten judges out of ten would always pick that writer to win, more often there are two or three or even six entries that are very close, and given a different judge, there might have been a different shortlist or winner.

I recall a time when I was helping with The Word Guild Awards when there were two judges. In the short story category, the two judges had ranked the 6 entries exactly opposite. So the story that was the best in one judge's mind was the worst in the other judge's, and vice versa. What to do? We enlisted the aid of a third judge, added up all the marks, and awarded the prize to the one with the highest score from the three judges. Was that fair? Who knows? Would a different third judge have altered the results? Probably.

2. Competition can be divisive. And it can create a barrier between people who might be friends but find it difficult when they are writing in a similar area and therefore have to compete with each other a lot - especially if one tends to always win over the other.

3. Whenever there is a winner, there is by definition a loser. And I hate that. I wish there was a different way to acknowledge those who do well without seemingly putting down those who don't. But I don't have the answer.

Personally, I hate competition. I'd like to just erase it totally from the world. But it seems to be part of human nature to compete. And we do need a way to acknowledge that which is well-done and beautiful and inspiring. So I guess, for now, awards are here to stay.

What should you do when you see the results?

1. Ask God to help you react the right way, so you don't get a swelled head if you win or go to pieces if you don't.

2. Don't take them too seriously. In my experience, you win some, you lose some. And life goes on.

3. Don't ignore the judges' comments if/when you get them; study them and try to understand how you could improve. Yes, occasionally the judge might have totally missed what you were trying to do, but, normally, the judge's comments will help you if you think them over.

4. No matter what you do or how many awards you win or don't win, continue to do your best each time. You'll be rewarded some time, though maybe not with an award.

5. Keep asking God what he wants you to do, and do that. Obedience is far better than any award.