Laura J. Davis

Read Genesis 11:1-9

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to give yourself more credit than you are due? We have a tendency to present ourselves to people (especially ones we are just meeting) with an over-inflated sense of self-importance. Like the people in today's reading, we want to make a name for ourselves. Everyone does it. From titles that we spend years in school to receive, just so we can say with pride, "I have a doctorate in...", to big homes that we (secretly) hope others will envy, to fancy cars, important jobs, church involvement and perfect families. We, like the people in our reading today, are constantly building towers to ourselves, rather than bringing glory to God and we don't even realize it.

For example - lets look at the area of family life and our expectations we have for each other - especially our children. We want them to obey us, get good grades, a good job, grow up without embarrassing us (too much) and live a life that WE can be proud of. Why do we do that? For some, our spouses and our children become our reason for living. We cannot fathom a world without them. We put so much into their lives, their well-being, that we lose our own identity. This is usually a problem only women experience. They tend to worry about every little detail. Men on the other hand, have it in their heads that they have to work, work and work some more, to provide the very best for their families. The end result being that they spend very little time with the families they are building a future for. Children, pressured to live up to their parents expectations to get good grades, a good job, etc. have more pressure on them to succeed these days then ever before.

We are tower builders. We build towers of pride in ourselves, our homes, our work, our kids, our reputations, our church, etc. When the people of Babylon began the tower of Babel they said in their hearts, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." And what did God do? He scattered them over the face of the earth. Why? Because they were so ambitious that they tried to compete with each other and forgot they were there to serve and glorify God.

The drive to be perfect in all we do, means nothing if it is not for the glory of God. What kinds of "towers" have you built in your life? Are  you honouring God as you should? Think about it.

"The one sole thing in myself in which I glory is that I see in myself nothing in which I can glory." - Catherine of Genoa

Are you going to Write! Canada this year? I am ready and excited to be seeing many of my friends and making new ones. Honestly, I think that is what I enjoy the most about the conference. Seeing everyone again! It's like a family reunion.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that the conference (held in Guelph) offers great plenary speakers, continuing classes and workshops. That doesn't include the appointments you can make with agents, editors, publishers and other authors, for manuscript critiques or to pitch your next book. It can be a bit overwhelming for first-timers, but I think it can be a bit overwhelming even for those who go back every year. Why? Because there is so much to take in!

If you are going for the first time here are some valuable tips on how best to enjoy the conference:

• Don't freak out over talking to publishers, editors, agents, etc. They are people too and they know you are nervous. RELAX. If they have something negative to say about your writing, welcome it - criticism leads to improvement. If they love your writing then follow through with whatever they have asked of you (sending them a proposal).

• At breakfast, lunch and dinner DO sit at a different table each time. The faculty at the conference each have their own table, so it is a good opportunity to sit with them in a less threatening atmosphere. Yes, it is wonderful to sit with your friends, but the conference is all about networking too, so make the most of it. Word of warning  - let the faculty member eat his/her meal in peace. Don't keep asking them questions, so that they can't get their fork in their mouth. Basically, don't hog the conversation at the table. You aren't the only one who wants to talk to them.
  

• Do make sure to bring an umbrella, flashlight (if you are staying on grounds), earplugs (for snoring roommates), mosquito repellant (I hear we're having a bonfire this year - is that true?) and don't forget a notepad and pen.

• Don't follow faculty members into the washroom to pitch a book to them. This has actually happened. 

• Do come prepared. Be ready to pass out business cards or one-sheets. Are you an article writer? Bring a binder with your tear-sheets and you can display your work for all to see. Do you have a book out? Make sure to bring copies to sell in the bookstore.
  

Above all - have fun, relax and soak in the atmosphere.This year, I deliberately chose not to schedule a workshop on one of my days there, so that I could calm my spirit, listen to the Lord and just sit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the campground. Plus, I know my body and unfortunately it can't keep up with the pace of my mind. So, I am bringing my journal and taking a long break in a cozy chair on the front lawn.

For those who have attended the conference before, what advice can you offer "first-timers"?

If you like to win free books, this should interest you. If you are a writer and want to promote your work, this should interest you as well.

I was recently asked to become a member of the Clash of the Titles (COTT) website. COTT is a Christian literary website hosting bi-weekly contests in the form of "sparring matches", in which readers vote between written excerpts from two different authors to determine a winner on - well - whose writing is the best!  At first I thought - wow - writers are already insecure and we are constantly comparing our work to others. But now there is a website that will allow readers to determine who is the better writer? Ack! What writer would want to subject themselves to that? If you win, you feel great, but if you lose - all the doubt and worry about how good  you are comes crashing down around you. Or does it?

Here is what you can expect: Week 1 of a Clash places two anonymous excerpts from novels up for voting on a Monday.  The excerpts fall into various categories. For example, this week's category is "Most Gut Wrenching Scene". Readers choose the excerpt they like the most. Voting remains open till Friday when it is revealed who the authors are. Week 2 features author interviews on Monday and Wednesday, with results announced on Friday.  In addition to choosing a winner, two readers are randomly selected to win free books by the two sparring authors.

So, it is not quite as bad as it sounds. Both authors are featured over several blogs, their books are promoted and it is good natured fun for the authors, plus the readers  (those who voted) get a chance to win both books. Not at all as scary as I implied. So, if you want the chance to participate, as reader or author, visit my blog at  Interviews & Reviews

and let the battle begin!

Some of you already know about my involvement with https://www.compassion.ca/donation.asp?intid=51&intredirectid=199" target="_blank">Compassion Canada. My husband and I have been sponsoring a child in Kenya for the last 8 years. During my time with Compassion, one of the things that I have found unique about them is the Compassion Advocacy Network. It allows anyone to advocate for a child. While most of the advocates are already child sponsors, some are not. But, each tries to do what they can to raise awareness about Compassion Canada and the work they are doing throughout the world for children in need.

As a child-sponsor, I wanted to do something more. I would love to sponsor more than one child, but I simply can't afford to and so I asked myself, what else could I do to help? My goal is to raise $2,000 this year for Compassion's Unsponsored Children's Fund. How am I going to do this? Through sales of my book Come to Me. One dollar from each book sold will go to Compassion. Am I setting myself up for a fall? Maybe. Selling 100 books seemed daunting to me, selling 2,000 will only happen through the grace of God and your generosity.

Are you looking to start a bible study group or book club? Come to Me is about the life of Christ. You get to read a novel and use it to study Christ's life at the same time! Plus, all books purchased through this website are discounted. What a deal!  

Don't want to buy my book? That's okay. Can you still donate something to Compassion anyway? On my home page you will find a Compassion Logo. Click on it and it will take you directly to their site. You will see my name and the name of my book on the page. Don't be alarmed - the money is not going to me. My name and book are there, so that Compassion knows the donations are going to their Unsponsored Children's Fund because you donated through my website.

I want Come to Me to be more than just about selling books. It's my way of giving back to those less fortunate. If you would like to purchase a signed copy of Come to Me, visit my bookstore today.

After you read this blog, you might think I'm nuts too, but I welcome your opinion as I am about to make a rather crazy decision. Well ... my husband thinks it's crazy, but I'm not so sure.

Come to Me, is about to get a facelift. I have been mulling this over in my mind for about a year now. When Google books decided to upload my ENTIRE book to the internet (the ending included), I noticed a drop in sales. No surprise there. After finding out that my publisher, Lulu, had given them permission to reprint my book, I knew I needed to switch publishers. After realizing that Lulu did not own the rights to my book and dropping words like "lawyer" and "illegal", Google deleted all but 38 pages.

Since that time I have had huge problems getting my book "out there". After talking with a representative from Word Alive Press at the recent Write! Canada conference, I was assured that I could republish Come to Me with them. It would have a new cover, a better marketing campaign (something I failed to really establish early on) and proper distribution into actual "brick and mortar" stores. This has been the frustrating part of dealing with Lulu. To buy my book now, you have to either live in London, Ontario or buy it through Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 

So, the question I would like to put out there is this: do you think I'm crazy? Should I republish a revised edition of Come to Me with Word Alive? Or should I forget about it (as my husband wishes I would) and use Word Alive Press for my next novel instead?

Well, it has been a while since I've blogged, but I have a good excuse - I was at the Write! Canada conference and then a lot of other things happened after that!

First, hands up for those who attended the conference and had a good time. I thought the courses this year were exceptional and wished I could have taken them all. I took the Eight-Step Editing course with Jim Taylor. Everyone received an 88 page booklet that I know I will turn to again and again. In fact, the day I got back I had to put my new skills to work immediately, as I had something waiting in my email box that someone wanted edited.

As for the conference itself, as always it was wonderful to see old friends again and make new ones. I had a lovely lunch at Tim Horton's with a total stranger who became (I hope) a lifelong friend by the end of the conference. Timmy's was a great place to go before the conference started. Many Word Guilder's were there!

This conference was less stressful for me than last year, in that I did not make ANY appointments at all. I didn't have a manuscript ready that needed critiquing so I didn't want to waste anyone's time. Yet, God had other plans. I had a little accident at the conference and hurt my baby toe. It was bleeding quite badly and I needed a nurse to bandage it up. I missed my workshop that day and by the time she finished treating me it was time for a coffee break. So I went to the lounge and sat with people I didn't know. We started talking and sharing as writers do, about what we were working on. The girl to my right said, "That sounds interesting. I'd like to hear more, but I have to leave." I nodded my head and said something like, "Well, we'll see each other around I'm sure." To which she responded, "Make an appointment with me." Well, it's about here that my mouth should have had a check on it, but like always it says what it wants and I blurted out, "Who are  you?"

Fortunately, Monica Leis from Maranatha News laughed and I made an appointment with her later that day. I'm happy to say that she is interested in some articles that I sent her in regards to disability issues. Neat huh? After I finally clued in about what God wanted me to do (see my last post) and then I meet Monica. She even hinted that they might like a series of articles from me.

Yep, definitely a God thing.

It's coming! Can you feel it? The excitement is in the air and we still have four months to go! Write! Canada is Canada's largest Christian Writer's Conference and offers incredible opportunities from networking and marketing to building our skills as writers. The dates this year are June 17-19 and it is held in Guelph. While I have only attended one conference, I can honestly say it was the best experience of my life. I learned so much I felt like my brain was on overload! I am praying that I will be able to attend this year as well.

Even with all the workshops and continuing classes, the plenaries and manuscript critiques, (which were all incredible) I have to say my favourite part of the entire weekend were the friendships established and renewed. It's like going to a family reunion!

This year the workshops and classes offered are excellent and our keynote speaker is Joel A. Freeman, author of the book If Nobody Loves You, Create the Demand. I'm looking forward to hearing from him.

What about you? Are you attending Write! Canada this year? If so, what are you looking forward to the most?

I know I have a few writer friends that visit here from time to time and I was wondering - how are you doing? What have you got in the works right now? I have just spent an entire day writing (well almost - at one point I had to go out and buy cat food), but once I was at my computer again I was having a grand time.

For some time now, I have been working on a book called Finding Claire. Oh, the troubles Claire has caused me. She and her friends have refused to behave and they are just now starting to cooperate. I thought I would be done this book in October, but it is taking longer than I thought. But today I woke up with so many ideas in my head I couldn't contain them. I love it when that happens!

But it got me thinking - how many of you, use outlines? Do you find it helpful? I have tried countless times to outline my books before I start to write, but I get so antsy to get started that I always give up!

I am and always will be a write first ask questions later kind of gal. How about you?

I love books! I receive about three or four in the mail each week for review. My pile has grown quite large and can get distracting,especially when I'm in the middle of writing my own. But everytime I open my mailbox and see another stuffed envelope or box I get excited.

This love of books began when I was in public school. Fairy tales, adventures, picture books - anything that would whisk me away to another land was fine by me. I was the first one in line when the book mobile came to our school and I was the last one to leave. When our school library needed volunteers, I jumped at the opportunity. I felt like a kid in a candy store! When it was time for recess I would be inside cataloguing books and when I could, finding a corner to read my favourite book series, "Little House on the Prairie". What girl didn't read those books growing up? 

At home and at school, my love of singing, combined with my love of reading, led me to write poems and then songs. In  highschool, while I spent a great deal of time singing, I also took creative writing classes and after highschool, I took more classes in writing. At the time, I was heavily involved in singing ministry, so I couldn't quite figure out, why I was so interested in learning how to write a novel.  I didn't believe I would actually write anything or do anything with that skill. Any stories I wrote were for my eyes only! In fact, the first writing class I took, the author (who had several books published) shared some wise words of advice - "If you think you are going to make thousands of dollars writing - think again! Writing," she said, "Is not a good way to make a living." She was right.

Since I was singing for a living, I wasn't too concerned. I knew what I would be doing until the day I died - and it wouldn't be writing. But God knew better.He designed me with a love of music, reading and writing. He saw the big picture and prepared me for the day when singing would no longer be an option and writing would be.

Sometimes,God takes us places that we don't want to go. Life is going along at a merry pace and then wham! Everything changes. We lose our jobs, we get sick, we have to move away from our family and friends. Any number of things can happen that we aren't prepared for. Sometimes God asks us to do things that seem impossible. But nothing is impossible with God. He tells us in His word that He has a plan for us: For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

Are you going through a difficult time right now? Know this - God loves you and is giving you the opportunity to trust Him. You can cower in fear at the events going on in your life, or you can start another chapter and let the adventure begin!

"Mother Teresa once said, "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." She had it right. We're not authors, any of us. We are just the "pencils." Once we understand that, we might actually become useful to God." - The Hole in Our Gospel, Richard Stearns

Have you read The Hole in Our Gospel yet? If you haven't, you should. I'm only on page 94 and I'm finding new insights everyday. Written by the president of World Vision, it will challenge you to think about what you are really doing with your life - or not doing as the case may be.

I must confess that I feel at times I've limited myself in what I can or cannot do (change that to will not do)  for God. I've been more of an eraser than a pencil!  I have all kinds of excuses that I use for months before I finally give in to the calling of the Lord. Then I kick myself for not listening sooner!  I use excuses like - I can't stand for very long (so I couldn't possibly be called to go speak somewhere). I am a singer, not a writer (so He can't possibly be calling me to write). I don't have a lot of money (so He can't really be asking me to support a child in a third world country). He can't be asking me to just serve at home! That's way too boring! Or, here's a recent one - I can't possibly go into retirement homes and give bible studies, because I'm not a teacher.

Yet, after reading only 94 pages of A Hole in Our Gospel, I realize that God's anger could be burning against me, just as it did Moses when He asked him to talk to Pharaoh. (Ex. 4:10-14). If you read the chapter before that one, you will get a better idea of how much whining Moses did before he finally relented and went to Pharaoh. That's what I feel like I've been doing too. I lot of whining.

Out of all those excuses, there is only one I haven't followed through on and it is the Bible Studies. After I finish writing this blog, I will get on the phone to some retirement facilities here in London and find out if there would be an interest in that sort of thing. I've put this off for about 6 months now, because I kept telling myself no one would allow it  and no one would be interested anyway, plus - did I really have the time? Oh, boy talk about whining!

But, have you ever noticed how God uses people who are impossible? There's Jonah, who ran away from God. Peter who denied God, Thomas who doubted God - and _____ _____ you fill in the blanks.

One of the questions that rocked Richard Stearns' world was "Are you willing to be open to God's will for your life?" I will admit that up until this point, I thought I was! But, I can do so much better.

How about you? Are you a pencil or an eraser?