| FaithWriters - December 2019
Wishing All A Very Blessed Christmas! News & Information for the Write Brained Christian
Growing Christian Writers and Spreading the Gospel in over 230 Countries Devotional & Newest Member E-Books Included
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| | The Challenge Will Improve Your Writing!
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Christmas Tree (10/09/08)
TITLE: Showdown on Hope Lane
By Sheri Gordon
Peering out the bay window, I am relieved to see the street empty. I grab my gardening gloves and venture outside. While pulling weeds, I covertly survey the neighborhood for lurking busybodies. Seeing no one, I climb into our old pick-up and drive away. I am safe…for now.
Three hours later I’m heading back down Hope Lane with my spoils—the perfect Christmas tree.
Driving slowly toward our house at the end of the cul-de-sac, I stop short. Apparently, the neighborhood has congregated at the Coleman’s house. Glancing out the passenger window, I spy lawn chairs and…a smoking barbeque?! Oh please.
As I pull into the driveway, the neighbors begin settling themselves into the chairs, all facing our house. Seeing my husband’s Honda in the garage I realize that, yes indeed, the show is about to begin.
I hop out of the truck, lower the tailgate, and remove the red cautionary flag from the tree before Donnie emerges from the house.
“Hey, Bob. Throw me another beer. Don’s coming outside…this oughta be good.”
“Yep. Looks like Missy did it again. This is probably the biggest one yet.”
The neighbors don’t even attempt to disguise their amusement. Rumor has it they have dubbed today “Christmas Tree Day”—not because any of them get their tree on this day, but because they know I always get our tree the Friday after Thanksgiving, which inevitably leads to the annual Christmas tree fight.
This year, however, things will be different. This year Donnie and I prayed about “Christmas Tree Day.” Donnie prayed for harmony between us, and I prayed that he would be understanding when I arrived home with a tree three feet taller than our ceiling.
Donnie obviously doesn’t appreciate the art of procuring the perfect Christmas tree. I cannot be held responsible if the tree with the impeccable shape happens to be too tall to fit inside our house. I, after all, take on the tiresome task of traipsing through every Christmas tree lot within twenty miles to find the flawless tree. The only job Donnie has is to cut a few feet off the bottom of the tree…while ensuring that the perfect shape stays intact. Seems simple to me.
I wait nervously while Donnie hollers neighborly greetings. “Hey, Tommy…guys. Those dogs sure smell good. I’ll be over as soon as I get my lovely bride’s tree inside.”
Eight mouths drop in disbelief. Well, nine, counting mine. “Who are you, and what have you done with my husband?”
Donnie whispers, “We’re Christians now, remember? We have to show our neighbors how we’ve changed.”
With his back to the crowd, Donnie eyes the tree sticking out the back of the truck…and glares. He plasters on a smile, waves to the audience next door, and heads to the garage.
Moments later, Donnie’s standing at the garage entrance…chainsaw in hand, tape measure on the belt. Like two cowboys facing off in a noontime showdown, I’m positioned at the back of the truck staring down the long drive at Donnie.
He approaches the tree…smile still in place. “How tall is this one?” he queries through clenched teeth.
“Twelve…maybe a smidge more.”
“Twelve feet?!” Donnie starts to lose his poise. “Do you realize I’ll be chopping off almost half this tree?!”
“Honey, remember the neighbors. And our witness.” I wave at Linda and Caroline, who are passing out brownies and hot chocolate.
Donnie measures the tree, starts the chainsaw, stops the chainsaw, glares at me, measures again, restarts the chainsaw, glares at me again, and commences cutting off branches.
After thirty minutes of ceaseless sawing, Donnie mounts the tree in the stand and lugs it inside. Moments later the tree reappears, with Donnie stumbling behind.
“It doesn’t fit—the bottom branches have to go.” Donnie continues communicating through clenched teeth, though the smile vanished sometime during pruning.
“No! It’ll ruin the shape.” Arms flailing, I attempt to demonstrate why the lower branches provide the entire balance to the tree.
“Fine—I’ll decapitate it instead.” Donnie snatches the electric saw—I pull the plug and start running with the cord. Still clutching the chainsaw, Donnie chases after me.
Racing by gawking neighbors, we simultaneously stop at their stunned expressions. Donnie lowers the chainsaw and restores his counterfeit smile. I copy his countenance. Together, we slink back to our Christmas tree.
“Guess we have some work to do on this Christian example stuff, huh?” I shrug, and silently watch Donnie trim off two more feet.
Leave a comment for Sheri HERE. |
| | | Increase Sales With an Audio Book or Make a Nice Income From HomeRecently, I had an email exchange with Dave Walker, a longtime FaithWriters member. Dave's book, God in the ICU, has done very well. But, Dave was happily surprised to see a significant increase in sales due to the addition of an audio version. You can view Dave's book and listen to a small audio portion HERE. Dave's book was perfect for an audiobook. Dave did his narration, and for some, that might work out great. But there is an easier way and it is not that expensive. You can learn about it HERE. ACX is an Amazon company, on their site you can place your book up for narrator auditions. You then get offers from narrators who read a sample for you, posting it on ACX. You choose the one you like and make a deal. This is all done online. I recently had an audiobook done of Gravity on ACX, by a great narrator and believer named R.F. McCoy. You can hear a sample HERE. If you like R.F. McCoy's voice, make sure to request an audition from him. He was professional, diligent and on schedule. You can find his profile on ACX. It costs nothing to request auditions and you will probably get several. I paid Bob $500.00 and keep any profits myself after Amazon's cut. You can also offer to split profits and pay nothing if a narrator agrees. When your narration is complete and you have paid the bill, your book is automatically loaded for sale on Audible and other outlets. Everything is professional and that's what you want for your audiobook. Another thought for some readers is to apply to be a narrator. ACX will show you how to do this on their site. If you have a good voice, you could make a nice income from home. |
| | Do This Today!
Do You Always Keep a Copy of Your Articles? We STRONGLY recommend you do this today and occasionally in the future as you add more articles
We appreciated your patience when FaithWriters was down for over two days a few months ago, due to issues with our service provider. The issue we experienced makes this message of even more importance. We do not want you to lose your articles. Therefore, we have been pushing this for over a year and hope you have already taken advantage of it. You can download a copy of your articles in mass, with one click on the site.
We back up the site regularly but cannot give you a 100% guarantee of there safety. Things happen online as you know. Hackers are a big issue and some out there would like to take a Christian site down. If you log into the site and look in the middle left column of the My Account page under Update and Manage Your Profile/Account, you will see the following link on the website.
Click Here to Download a Copy of Your Articles in Mass
When you are logged into the site, click on that link on the website and a copy of your articles will be downloaded to your computer in a zip file. It will be fairly quick depending on your internet speed and number of articles. Save them to your computer or a thumb drive. While this should download all of your articles, sometimes a couple are missed for some unknown reason. Therefore, double check the downloaded articles by opening each one on your computer. If an important one is missed, you will need to manually copy it to your records from the site. Then going forward, make sure to keep a copy of each new article you post.
Make sure to do this today to protect your writing. Log in HERE. |
| | Love getting comments and critiques on your articles? We all do.
We are asking all members to commit to being a blessing by commenting on at least one Challenge entry per day? It just takes a few minutes, and there are some great entries to read every week.
Be a blessing today by clicking the links below and leaving at least one comment.
We also encourage you to comment on regular articles now and then. Think of the encouragement we can be if many of us commented on one article per week or even per day! Just look at the newest 200 titles and choose a few that draw your attention.
Reading the work of others and critiquing them on a regular basis, helps us grow as writers. Both parties benefit.
You Are Just One Comment Away From Being and Receiving a Great Blessing.
A special thank you to all our members who do leave comments on a regular basis. You will reap what you have sown. |
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Devotionals submitted from members publish on thousands of websites worldwide!
Great Multitude Daily Bible Devotional Receive it by email or place it on your website HERE
More Than Enough - Jennifer Woodley
‘Upon hearing this, the apostles said to Jesus, “Lord, you must increase our measure of faith!”’ Luke 17:5 (The Passion Version)
It is not a matter of asking God for more faith; it is about using the measure of faith we already have. The faith we have could move sycamore trees into the sea (if that was needed). So how much more real good can our faith achieve if we trust God?
Faith working in love is the faith we need. Faith to be patient with the rude and unruly. Faith to be generous when we have little to give or don’t want to give. Faith to hold our tongue and not insist on having the last word. Faith to keep going when we feel like giving up.
God has already given us a deposit of faith to do all this and much more. Let’s exercise that faith. Make it strong. Make it a fruitful, productive faith. Faith without action is a useless faith. We need to cease asking God for more faith, but rather use the faith we already have. It’s more than enough! Today, can we begin to do what is expected of us by using the faith He has given to us? In what area of our lives are we seeking God for faith to believe, and not exercising the faith He has deposited within us? How can we allow God to stretch us further into new situations?
Heavenly Father, thank you for the measure of faith that you have given to me. May it grow, become strong and fruitful as I exercise this faith and trust you in all circumstances this day.’
Jennifer is an Australian freelance writer who enjoys encouraging others on their faith journey through writing and mentoring. Contact
Help us spread the good news of Jesus around the world. The FaithWriters devotional is on thousands of websites, plus thousands go out by email and Twitter daily. They are also published about 90 days after FaithWriters on IDisciple HERE . Members are encouraged to submit an edited devotional for publication HERE. Submissions are a maximum of 300 words, helping you learn to write to topic and word count. You never know how your writing may inspire a brother or sister in Christ or impact a lost soul.
The devotional appears on many unique websites around the world. Sites like the Kenmure Church of Scotland, Los Angeles Police Wives Association, Shields of Christ, Slavic Youth Fellowship, Go the Distance Radio Ministry, New Life Assembly, Holy Communion Lutheran Church, Metropolitan Baptist Church, ETBS South Africa, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Group Seven Technology , Nassau Tabernacle of Praise , Police Wives of America and Christian Hope Church U.K. |
| | We can learn and improve our own writing by reading the winners.
While you are there, sow some good seed by leaving a comment.
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The Challenge WILL Improve Your Writing!
NEVER MISS THAT PERFECT CHALLENGE TOPIC AGAIN. GO HERE and sign up in the right hand column for a weekly topic email. |
| | We Always Respond to Emails
If you do not receive a timely response to an email, we did not receive your email, or you did not receive our reply. We are constantly battling overwhelming amounts of spam and sometimes emails we should receive end up in our spam by accident.
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If you have tried more than once and did not receive a reply, click on a contact link at the bottom of most FaithWriters pages and send us a message telling us of the issue. We will try and email you from another email provider.
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| | | Article Comment Emails Not Getting to Your Gmail?
In the past, some members have had issues receiving notification emails when their Challenge or other articles receive a comment. We just did a test of the system and placed a Gmail test address in my profile. I then posted a comment
on one of my articles. I also did this test on a Challenge article for a member who said she was not getting the emails. In both tests, the email notification of the comment did come through to the Gmail address, but in both cases it went to the junk file in Gmail. So, FaithWriters automatic email system
is working to Gmail but may be going to your junk.
If you have not been receiving notifications of comments on your articles, post a test comment on one of your own articles and then check the junk tab on your Gmail. Be aware, my junk tab in Gmail showed there were no junk emails until I clicked on it and found the comment notification email from FaithWriters in there. If you find any emails from FaithWriters in your junk, move them to your inbox and hopefully next
time they will not go to junk. Make sure to check your junk on a regular basis and click on the other tabs just to check. Each time move them to your inbox. There is also a tab titled "view all email" that should be checked. Sometimes Gmail divides email up into different tabs, so check all the tabs once in awhile just in case. This is something you should check if you have Hotmail or others too. |
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| | | Support Fellow Christian Authors - Free Reads for Reviews
Read Great Christian Books for Free in Exchange for a Review
Many already have multiple five-star reviews on Amazon.
These are all free to read for you while others pay full price on Amazon. Plus you receive the bonus of helping a fellow believer and FaithWriters member. It takes reviews to sell books these days, and other members appreciate your help.
The Truth That Sets You Free - Find this book HERE.
Vicky Jeter
Your Enemy is Strong but God is Stronger! Humanly we tend to focus on our predicaments of life and we never begin to see what God has already worked out from our beginning. Relooking at the lies we are told, how our minds get lost and how Satan follows us even into the church.
Forever Kozy - Find this book HERE.
Marilyn Borga
Shadows from Kozy Hanner's past reach out to haunt her when one of her third grade students is whisked into foster care. She must face her fearful memories and learn lessons in forgiveness and compassion before her relationship with Nolan Calderon can move forward.
The decisions that we make daily have a crucial impact on our life here and on our eternal destination. We can think of the source of our choices as contained in Life Files deep in our inner man.
There are several member books you can read for free in exchange for a review. Many already have multiple five-star reviews. One book is running just below five stars with over 200 reviews online, and it is listed in the top ten books of its two categories on Amazon. Another with over 40 reviews is running close to five stars and was honored as the book of the year by a major theological website. Another has over 30 reviews and is running almost five stars. Read one of these or one that has just joined the program and desperately needs reviews.
Go HERE to find other great books to read for FREE for a REVIEW.
Hurry and choose one while they are still free to read! The authors can take their books out of this program at any moment.
Have you written a book and need reviews? Learn about submitting your book to this program HERE. |
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The Challenge WILL Improve Your Writing!
NEVER MISS THAT PERFECT CHALLENGE TOPIC AGAIN. GO HERE and sign up in the right hand column for a weekly topic email. |
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Support FaithWriters Spread of the Gospel
Fishers of Men in Over 230 Countries Together We Spread the Gospel On the Net
Not all of us can go around the world as missionaries in person, but we can reach the world online. We can even reach many places missionaries cannot go in person. The world needs sites like FaithWriters, prepared Christian authors and as many Christian articles and books that point to Jesus as possible. The web especially needs your Bible studies, apologetic articles, calls to salvation, nonfiction and fiction articles and books leading people to Jesus. Together we attract lost people from all over the world who need Jesus along with believers who need their minds renewed and encouraged. God has given us a great opportunity to reach many people who may have never heard of Jesus. The image above marks the location of our visitors.
Numerous people from around the world have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior directly through FaithWriters. We contact every person who leaves an email address and provide them with more information. Sometimes we correspond with them several times. We even offer to place them in contact with another believer (FaithWriters member) in their country. Consider how much time people --- especially kids --- spend on the internet these days. Watch this two-minute video from Kimberly on how she found God on the internet
A few unedited emails from people who have accepted Jesus on the site.
1) This first one was from a person who hacked FaithWriters a few years ago. We feared the entire site might be lost. We prayed for our hackers and posted articles letting them know that their salvation was more important than the website. The shutdown of the site stopped and we received this message through our evangelism page. I am certain is was our hacker.
Type of prayer : first time prayer
Country : Algeria - Please leave a comment. : "I JESUS PRAY TODAY MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER I USED TO BE THIEF CRIMINAL IDENTITY SCAM BUT NOW LIFE IS BETTER UNDER JESUS CHRIST MY LORD SAVIOR."
Your work occupation : Other Religious background : Muslim
2) "Hi my name is Collin I live in Utah heber I know that we are n the last days and I want to be saved so please I need help I've been going to site to site I'm tired of going home from school a sinner I'm stressed with all my homework I cry more than ever sometimes I need Jesus." (This message was obviously from a young boy)
3) "I felt the the holyspirit lead me to you and that God's message of love drew me here."
4) "I want Jesus to be the number one in my life."
5) "I'm saved from sin and I've rededicated my life to HIM who owns me. I'm now free from lies, exam malpractice etc. Pray for me to believe that indeed "It is finished "
6) "I accepted Jesus as Lord and Need A Bible." (We sent Roger a Bible.)
7) "I have accepted Jesus and prayer not continue to commit sin any more." Matthew
8) Recently had a deputy police chief from a major city accept Jesus on the site. He is responsible for over 1,500 officers and staff and could be a big influence for Jesus. Please pray for J. Ramar.
9) "Jesus is my Lord and Savior, please save us from witchcraft, sorcery, divination, polygamy, immorality, astral projection, pride, all sin iniquity fathers, false religion, false gods, show me your way, give me purity, holiness, give me Jesus true, save me from work of devil, and evil spirit, kingdom of darkness be destroyed, give me holiness, save us from Satan and his work, premature death, I need to serve Jesus, thank You Jesus, Amen." Anna S.
We wish you many blessings in Christ and thank you for your support! Michael & Bea Edwards and everyone at FaithWriters
Free E-Book to build up your faith and help your friends and family members come to Christ. |
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Promote your Christian book on FaithWriters, and you will help support our mission to grow Christian writers and spread the gospel in over 230 countries online. You will not find more exposure for your Christian book anywhere at this price.
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| | Another Great Way to Improve The Critique CircleFellow Members Need Your Help.
Providing comments and critiques for fellow members is of great encouragement to them. It is also the perfect way to improve your writing skill.
Tips on Giving Critiques
Critiquing the work of others requires balance. Being too nice will not help your fellow writers develop their work; being too harsh can crush a writer’s ego (particularly new writers, who tend to be shy about sharing their work). How can you achieve the right balance? Here are some tips:
Take care to point out both what works, and what doesn’t. If you’re new to critiquing, a good hint would be to point out one thing you like (a phrase, a description, an idea) for each thing that bothered you.
Whenever possible, be specific when pointing out things that you didn’t like (don’t just say “I didn’t like this part” or “I’d cut that,” say “I didn’t like this part because…” or “I’d cut that because…”).
Try to offer suggestions when you think a change is needed. Suggestions, even to the point of an offered rewording, can be very helpful; even if the suggestion isn’t exactly right for the author to use, he or she may get a good idea from it, or at least a better understanding of the point you are trying to make.
Be honest and direct, but in a polite and caring way. Holding back your feelings about a piece because you’re afraid to share your thoughts isn’t going to help anyone. Just be mindful of how you share your opinions!
We Also Need Your Article to Critique!
Members and paid editors provide the critiques in the circle. You can even submit your judged Challenge entries to the circle.
"I have a few, very few, trusted friends who will edit me with a scowl. Most people want you to feel good so they give you compliments about your writing, and these don’t help at all (except emotionally). Really, you need some grouches to edit your work." Philip Yancey in a FaithWriters interview.
This is a real chance to help others and receive some very constructive and private critiques of your writing.
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| | Please Change Your FaithWriters Password
If we are going to be online, we need to protect ourselves. It only takes a few minutes to change your most important passwords. Always use different passwords for each place you log in and keep them in a safe place. A great way to remember a password is with a sentence. For example, I am a 35 year old Christian writer. Using the first letter in each word plus the numerals and the period, the password is: Iaa35yoCw. Make up a sentence with your pets or kids names, or whatever sentence you can remember. Make sure to include a numeral or two, upper and lower case and a symbol like the example shows. Here are a couple more: 1) I live at 4533 Canyon, Wonderful, AZ. The password ends up being: Ila4533C,W,AZ. 2) I graduated from Alhambra high school in 1977. The password ends up being: IgfAhsi1977.
The world's system is placing all of their faith in the internet, even when they can see how vunerable it is. Thankfully, we know the only place where our faith belongs.
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Don't Skimp on the Editing Hire a FaithWriters Approved Editor Today!
Noel Mitaxa is an Aussie storyteller and one of several editors offering editing services. He has syndicated his weekly Good News column in Australian secular newspapers for over twenty years; a syndication that's recently expanded into Australia's armed services and to the USA and the UK.
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| | This Months FaithWriters Great Reads Selection
We have some excellent writers and many topics to choose from at FaithWriters. Bless your fellow members by reading one or more of their books. Just imagine how you would feel if they did the same for you. Many of these books have multiple five-star reviews on Amazon.
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Recently Added Books as Described by the Author
Fiction
The Millennium Ultimatum
Graham Keet
Your Price: $5.75
The peaceful millennium has come to an end. Satan has been released from the abyss and is gathering his forces to overcome the king's government. In a thrilling showdown on Jerusalem's Temple Mount the forces of good and evil meet in a final showdown.
from Amazon.com!
Darling Dare Enduring: The Loss of Her Own Daughter
Donald Standeford
Your Price: $2.99
Darling Dare, 33 years old, grew up an army brat. She is well trained in hand to hand combat. Darling must use her hand-to-hand combat skills to stay alive against the onslaught of evil that comes upon her. She may be alone, but she still has the training left to her by her father. She is not your typical 1961 homemaker and hair salon owner.
from Amazon.com!
The General's Treason
William Charles Oakes
Your Price: $0.99
In Ancient Israel, a good King falters. As a result, his infant son dies in fulfillment of prophesy, his chief General plots treason with other powerful allies in the Kingdom. Together, they attempt the deception of the century. Will they succeed, or will God intervene?
from Amazon.com!
R7:17 DOMINION
W. Anne Vega
Your Price: $4.99
When three renowned strangers accept an invitation from a mysterious and eccentric philanthropist, they unknowingly embark on a life-altering journey, where science and spirituality collide,
from Amazon.com!
Available in more formats from:
Smashwords.com
Church Administration
8 1/2 Secrets: How to Keep, Encourage and STOP Driving Your Volunteers Crazy
June Kenny
Your Price: $9.99
8½ SECRETS reveals the down-to-earth practical leadership strategies to energize and mobilize your unpaid workforce. These are the SECRETS your volunteers wished you knew! Are you really doing everything you can to achieve your ministry goals? Empower your volunteers! 8 1/2 SECRETS shows you how!
from Amazon.com!
Free Reads For Reviews
The Truth That Sets You Free
Vicky Jeter
Your Price: $9.99
Your Enemy is Strong but God is Stronger! Humanly we tend to focus on our predicaments of life and we never begin to see what God has already worked out from our beginning. Relooking at the lies we are told, how our minds get lost and how Satan follows us even into the church.
Login to Buy!
Available in more formats from:
Amazon.com
Forever Kozy
Marilyn Borga
Your Price: $4.99
Shadows from Kozy Hanner's past reach out to haunt her when one of her third grade students is whisked into foster care. She must face her fearful memories and learn lessons in forgiveness and compassion before her relationship with Nolan Calderon can move forward.
from Amazon.com!
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