Not my most Spirit-inspired piece, but I wrote this the other evening to share at the Christian Writers Conference in April. Those of us who write poetry do, indeed, see the world in a far more sensory and off-kilter way (Page Highfill , a member of Richmond Christians Who Write refers to "thin places" and I think that is where poets reside much of the time). This is meant to be anencouragement to claim the "poets voice" within.
I am a poet
I write words in a series and sometimes they rhyme.
I am a poet
I capture thoughts from the mind of God himself.
I am a poet
Don’t ask me to conform to your way of thinking.
I am a poet
Others see black and white still photos, I see Technicolor!
I am a poet
My spirit-inspired writings are simply sublime.
I am a poet
I have notebooks, books, journals piled high on every shelf.
I am a poet
I can create a poem lickety-split, and do so without blinking.
I am a poet
Jesus died for me. I write for Him and not for another.
(c) Mary Moss - March 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Praising God Through Poetry
I've been taxing my brain to think of a good title for the session I'm leading at the writer's conference at the end of April. I've also received several great suggestions from others. I decided this morning I would just it all "roll around" in my head and come up with something tonight (since the deadline is tomorrow!) I'm going to title my workshop, "Praising God Through Poetry". The theme of the conference is "Time to Testify" and I am speaking about poetry, so I think that's a suitable title.
Today at work, I read a short poem by Emily Dickinson that was printed and framed:
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
I think this captures the heart of every poet - actually every writer. As a Christian writer, I would add that we have the desire to do these good deeds because of the gift of grace won for us by Christ. I will build my presentation on this poem and a couple of psalms. Haven't decided which ones yet.
I have also decided to change the focus of this blog a bit. I will continue to share my own writing journey, but I am going to focus more on offering encouragement to other writers. I'll add to the grammar helps I've posted on and off and expand it to including ways to deal with writer's block, and other writing challenges.
I feel God encouraging me to stretch and enlarge my ministry.
Today at work, I read a short poem by Emily Dickinson that was printed and framed:
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
I think this captures the heart of every poet - actually every writer. As a Christian writer, I would add that we have the desire to do these good deeds because of the gift of grace won for us by Christ. I will build my presentation on this poem and a couple of psalms. Haven't decided which ones yet.
I have also decided to change the focus of this blog a bit. I will continue to share my own writing journey, but I am going to focus more on offering encouragement to other writers. I'll add to the grammar helps I've posted on and off and expand it to including ways to deal with writer's block, and other writing challenges.
I feel God encouraging me to stretch and enlarge my ministry.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Premio Dardas Award! Wow!
Wow! This has been a week full of encouragement from some wonderful, spirit-filled Christian women! I'm over whelmed to have won this award from Mid Stutsman at Mid's Point. Talk about someone who exempliflies the award! Mid certainly does, so the fact that she passed it on to me is quite an honor.
What exactly is the award? I share Mid's explanation: Premio Dardos means “prize darts” in Spanish. It is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing.
Here are some rules to be followed if you choose to participate in passing this blog award on to others:
• First, accept the award by posting it on your blog along with the name of the person that has granted the award and link to her blog.
• Second, pass the award to other blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment, remembering to contact each of them to let them know they have been selected for this award.
Here are some great blogs that I think you'll agree meet this criteria:
Here are some rules to be followed if you choose to participate in passing this blog award on to others:
• First, accept the award by posting it on your blog along with the name of the person that has granted the award and link to her blog.
• Second, pass the award to other blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment, remembering to contact each of them to let them know they have been selected for this award.
Here are some great blogs that I think you'll agree meet this criteria:
Just Another Clay Pot - Betsy Markman
The Next Step - Tami Boesiger
Princess and the King - Spring Fricks
The Next Step - Tami Boesiger
Princess and the King - Spring Fricks
Becoming Me - Angela (Mrs. Naz) Nazworth
All God's Creatures - Andrea Perdue
Saturday, March 21, 2009
The Importance of Targeting Your Marketing
Courtesy of Past Expiry Cartoon
Monday, March 16, 2009
Crayon Chronicles Won A Fabulous Blog Award!
My dear bloggy friend, Sitka the Therapy Dog gave my Crayon Chronicles blog a "Fabulous Blog Award!.
I'm so pleased to have been chosen! I shared at the other blog that I think his mom, Andrea, may have unduly influenced him, but that's okay by me:-)
Stop by Crayon Chronicles and check out the award.
I'm so pleased to have been chosen! I shared at the other blog that I think his mom, Andrea, may have unduly influenced him, but that's okay by me:-)
Stop by Crayon Chronicles and check out the award.
Friday, March 13, 2009
A Holy Roller Coaster Ride
I am feeling like I'm riding a roller coaster we rode on when we went to Disney World about 20 years ago. The entire track was inside - in the dark! You literally could not see when the next turn was coming, how far up or down you be carried; You could sure tell you were going really fast though!
I've never been a big roller coaster fan. I'm afraid of heights, so the downhill dives almost give me heart failure! God's had me on a roller coaster lately. It is just about as frightening as that Disney roller coaster, too. You see, once I obeyed him and published my book, He has enlarged my territory, expanded my sphere of influence, grown my "base" of readers and pumped me full of the Holy Spirit!
My last post shared how I will be giving $1.00 from the sale of each book to Just the Roof. On Monday I attended a meeting for Operation Community Kindness. I'll be taking over some blogging duties and probably writing/editing some content for the site for this promotion. I'm also going to be part of the team that works on compiling a book of stories from the participants. While I was waiting for the organizer to arrive so we could have the conference room unlocked, there on the table directly in front of me was a manual entitled "How To Start a Non-Profit Organization."
Can you guess where I'm going here? I almost checked out the book, but I uncharacteristically decided I would wait for affirmation and clarity. I've received it! I had lunch with a friend on Wednesday and I shared with her this had occurred. We got to talking about all the women we could minister to and all the ways we could spread the Good News--in other words, how our own individual ministries could be combined and enlarged to do even more to offer hope, healing and the love of Christ to even more hurting and broken women.
I know absolutely nothing about starting a non-profit organization. But I know a couple of people who do. I also know the public library has a really good resource I can read. I keep reminding myself I didn't how to self-publish a book until I tried it, researched it, stepped back and redid and retried it until I got it right. Not knowing how has never been an obstacle for me! I can learn how. I'm willing to learn how as long as it's what God is directing me to do. I think it is. Right now I'm going to pray--a lot. Then I'm going to pray some more.
I'm starting a national marketing campaign for my book and I'm going to include information about my speaking to womens groups. We'll see how it flies and go from there. The other two women who will be part of this undertaking are so gifted and bright and have such a heart for Christ. I am so grateful for their presence in my life and feel more and more the more I get to know them that we three were brought together for a divine purpose. You know how I feel about that!
Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. (Isaiah 54:2)
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31)
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request. (1 Chronicles 4:10)
I've never been a big roller coaster fan. I'm afraid of heights, so the downhill dives almost give me heart failure! God's had me on a roller coaster lately. It is just about as frightening as that Disney roller coaster, too. You see, once I obeyed him and published my book, He has enlarged my territory, expanded my sphere of influence, grown my "base" of readers and pumped me full of the Holy Spirit!
My last post shared how I will be giving $1.00 from the sale of each book to Just the Roof. On Monday I attended a meeting for Operation Community Kindness. I'll be taking over some blogging duties and probably writing/editing some content for the site for this promotion. I'm also going to be part of the team that works on compiling a book of stories from the participants. While I was waiting for the organizer to arrive so we could have the conference room unlocked, there on the table directly in front of me was a manual entitled "How To Start a Non-Profit Organization."
Can you guess where I'm going here? I almost checked out the book, but I uncharacteristically decided I would wait for affirmation and clarity. I've received it! I had lunch with a friend on Wednesday and I shared with her this had occurred. We got to talking about all the women we could minister to and all the ways we could spread the Good News--in other words, how our own individual ministries could be combined and enlarged to do even more to offer hope, healing and the love of Christ to even more hurting and broken women.
I know absolutely nothing about starting a non-profit organization. But I know a couple of people who do. I also know the public library has a really good resource I can read. I keep reminding myself I didn't how to self-publish a book until I tried it, researched it, stepped back and redid and retried it until I got it right. Not knowing how has never been an obstacle for me! I can learn how. I'm willing to learn how as long as it's what God is directing me to do. I think it is. Right now I'm going to pray--a lot. Then I'm going to pray some more.
I'm starting a national marketing campaign for my book and I'm going to include information about my speaking to womens groups. We'll see how it flies and go from there. The other two women who will be part of this undertaking are so gifted and bright and have such a heart for Christ. I am so grateful for their presence in my life and feel more and more the more I get to know them that we three were brought together for a divine purpose. You know how I feel about that!
Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. (Isaiah 54:2)
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31)
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request. (1 Chronicles 4:10)
Sunday, March 8, 2009
JUST THE ROOF
God is so very good! Since my book has been published I have been praying about a women's ministry or mission activity to which I could contribute a portion of the proceeds from book sales.
This morning in our worship service 4 of the young college men of our church were home for spring break and told us about a mission project they are undertaking. It's called Just the Roof. I'm going to be donating $1 from the sale of every book to this cause.
Like many issues in the world, this is a complicated one. From this Washington Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/25/AR2008122501198.html?nav=hcmodule&sid=ST2008122600004&s_pos=
"For nearly four decades, Togo suffered under the rule of Gnassingbé Eyadéma, a president who suffocated his country politically and economically until he died in 2005. His son, Faure Gnassingbé, is now president.
In the countryside, where 90 percent of the people are impoverished, many girls see hope in the capital, where only a quarter of the population lives in poverty, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Some leave the country altogether, seeing Nigeria -- where the per capita annual income is $2,100, compared with Togo's $900 -- as a land of opportunity."
Young girls are often given away into forced marriages or sent away from home to live with relatives or others in neighboring villages where they end up entering a life of prostitution or virtual slavery to survive.
Just the Roof raises money for dormitories for the girls so they can get an education and have a place to live. It offers them an opportunity to make a life for themselves.
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/147407?m=3f1cca43 This group on Facebook.com would like to raise $30,000. This will provide housing for 30+ girls and their teachers for one year. The brother of one of these young men is currently working in Togo with the Peace Corps.
Click on the link above to join this cause. Or buy Woman At The Well!
This morning in our worship service 4 of the young college men of our church were home for spring break and told us about a mission project they are undertaking. It's called Just the Roof. I'm going to be donating $1 from the sale of every book to this cause.
Like many issues in the world, this is a complicated one. From this Washington Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/25/AR2008122501198.html?nav=hcmodule&sid=ST2008122600004&s_pos=
"For nearly four decades, Togo suffered under the rule of Gnassingbé Eyadéma, a president who suffocated his country politically and economically until he died in 2005. His son, Faure Gnassingbé, is now president.
In the countryside, where 90 percent of the people are impoverished, many girls see hope in the capital, where only a quarter of the population lives in poverty, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Some leave the country altogether, seeing Nigeria -- where the per capita annual income is $2,100, compared with Togo's $900 -- as a land of opportunity."
Young girls are often given away into forced marriages or sent away from home to live with relatives or others in neighboring villages where they end up entering a life of prostitution or virtual slavery to survive.
Just the Roof raises money for dormitories for the girls so they can get an education and have a place to live. It offers them an opportunity to make a life for themselves.
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/147407?m=3f1cca43 This group on Facebook.com would like to raise $30,000. This will provide housing for 30+ girls and their teachers for one year. The brother of one of these young men is currently working in Togo with the Peace Corps.
Click on the link above to join this cause. Or buy Woman At The Well!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Beautiful God Published!
I just received a pleasant surprise! I started receiving an e-mail newsletter, JournEzine, a couple of months ago. When I received the March issue in my in-box I opened the email to view the contents for this issue. I found my name and the title of a submission I had sent for consideration!
I was so thrilled to have one of my submissions featured! Then I got even more excited because one of my new Christian writing friends also has a featured article in the March issue. Then I discovered another friend was a Christmas story contest winner last year!
Anyway, here's the link to the article: Beautiful God. I hope you'll pop over to read the article, then spend some time looking around JournEzine.
I was so thrilled to have one of my submissions featured! Then I got even more excited because one of my new Christian writing friends also has a featured article in the March issue. Then I discovered another friend was a Christmas story contest winner last year!
Anyway, here's the link to the article: Beautiful God. I hope you'll pop over to read the article, then spend some time looking around JournEzine.
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