The Power of the Word by Dr. Richard Spillman

As Christian writers, we have a weight of responsibility to fairly and prayerfully include God in your work. Our guest today, fellow Mountain Brook Ink author, Richard Spillman, is here with encouragement as we write. Read on!

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This is a story of the amazing power of the Word of God. It contains all the elements of a Hollywood script: drama, conflict, good vs. evil, angry crowds, and a single righteous man willing to speak the Word of God.

It took place several years ago in Palo Alto, California, at a time when Ray Stedman was the pastor of Peninsula Bible Church, the largest church in the community. A few weeks earlier a local developer had filed an application for a liquor license. He wanted to build a liquor store only blocks away from both Peninsula Bible Church and the local high school. The application was accepted, posted, and the zoning board set the date for a public hearing.

In the days leading up to the hearing things were relatively quiet. It appeared as if this proposal was going to easily slide through the approval process. Later the developer would tell the local news outlets that it looked like he was going to be able to walk out with his license in less than fifteen minutes.

The day arrived. The developer and his attorney were a little early, so they took their assigned seats at the front table. Occasionally one of them would glance back at the entrance and watch as the room filled until it was standing room only.

At the posted time the meeting was called to order and it began in a businesslike, calm fashion. But that didn’t last for long. Tension, yelling, interruptions, even red faces all slowly built up. Citizens expressed their outrage, citing the need to protect their youth from the temptation to buy and drink alcohol. The developer argued that if the students wanted alcohol, they would get it even if his store were located farther away. It was the parents’ responsibility not his to keep the kids away from his store.

Just when it looked hopeless, a solitary man sitting in the back who had remained quiet during all the arguments stood and raised his hand. At first no one reacted to this man but as the whisper circulated that it was the local pastor, Ray Stedman, people quieted down. He walked up to address the zoning board and asked for permission to read a short passage of Scripture. The board agreed.

Pastor Stedman opened his Bible and turned to Luke 17:1-2. As he read the words aloud, a hush fell over the crowd.

He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.”

Without a comment, Pastor Stedman closed his Bible, turned, and walked back his seat. After a few moments of silence, the man who wanted to open the liquor store stood up and withdrew his application.

Just as Christ used the Word to rebuke the enemy, Pastor Stedman had used the power of the Word to set things right in his community.

Since most of us are readers, writers, or both, this is a story we can take to heart. When we write our books, especially when those are Christian works, we need to understand that even if our book is a romantic historical piece, an adventure, or a cozy mystery, as soon as we put God in it, it has the potential to become powerful. We have a responsibility to ensure that the way we involve God in our stories is Holy Spirit led.

To that end, I pray, and I ask you to pray with me, that we will always keep Christ at the center of every word we pen.

Words are powerful, especially when our books include God. #amwriting #Christianfiction

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Everyone dies once…what if a chosen few were raised from the dead?

Now that the threat from Abdul Ba’ith has been eliminated, Lazarus and his team at SOAR hope to help Ricki discover the secret in his journal. That hope is dashed when he discovers that the UDs have even bigger plans in the works—plans that threaten the stability of the entire world.

North Korea is ruled by a UD who has overseen the development of a deadly airborne disease. The virus is on its way to the Middle East by boat where ISIS will use it to destroy Israel on October 10th. Lazarus joins a team sent to North Korea to eliminate the UD responsible for the program while another team searches for the virus in the Middle East, hoping to destroy it before it can be used.

The odds are stacked against both teams as twist after twist arise to impede their progress. Will Lazarus be able to free North Korea of its dictatorial leader? Will Shiri’s team be able to locate the virus and neutralize it before it is released on Israel? It’s a world-wide hunt with more that the existence of Israel at stake, because the virus will spread from Israel to the rest of the world.

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Richard Spillman has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and has taught Computer Engineering for over 30 years. After his recent retirement, Richard took up his life-long dream to write novels. His first novel, The Awakened, was a Genesis Semi-Finalist and a Cascade finalist. Richard is active on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Wattpad and LinkedIn. You can learn more about Richard at his website: spillmanrichard.com

If You’re Writing, You Better be Reading! by Susan Tuttle

I recently attended the writer’s conference Breathe in West Michigan where the keynote speaker was Stephen James. (Side note: if you ever get to hear him speak, don’t pass up the opportunity!) After the Friday night closing session, Stephen entered into a conversation with a group about whether or not writers should be reading the Classics.  

Now, I wasn’t there for this conversation—though a friend of mine was—so I’m not revealing his answer. I am, however, stating the overall answer everyone around that table agreed with: If you’re a writer, you better be reading. 

As writers we are all too often consumed by our writing. And rightfully so, it takes a huge bulk of time. If we have family, work another job, or basically have any other life outside of our writing desks, then finding the time to read on top of writing can seem impossible. Yet we need to make sure we are building that time into our schedules somehow. 

Why? Because reading feeds our imagination. It keeps us dreaming, and that’s a vital component to writing. Reading also allows us to widen our voice, whether through learning new tools we come across that we’d like to implement or steering us away from ones that didn’t work. It also deepens our vocabulary, both in actual words and style. If we see writers pulling off unique metaphors or stylish imagery, it pushes us to strive for the same. We dig deeper. Work harder. Edit longer.  

But best of all? When we continue the role of reader, we see words through another spectrum. We see their impact, and we know we want ours to be as powerful. Bottom line? Reading allows us to retain the wonder of the written word. When we’re filled with that, friends, we can’t help but pass it on to our own readers. 

So whatever you do, don’t stop reading. 

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Susan Tuttle

Susan Tuttle is a homeschooling mom of three who is crazy about coffee, dark chocolate, and words—both reading and writing them. Combine that love of words with her passion for leading women to a life-changing encounter with Christ, and you’ll find her crafting Inspirational Contemporary Romance stories laced with humor, love, and healing transformations. When not cheering on her Ironman hubby, chasing the family dog, or tackling complex math problems to teach her kids (yes, even the third grader), you can catch Susan at her blog, Steps.

God's Promises to Writers Series

The Right Words at the Right Time
God's Promises to Writers Series, I
Net's Notes Tuesdays

Welcome to Net’s Notes Tuesday here at Seriously Write. Annette here. Today I’m starting a new series on God’s promises to writers. Isn’t it great to know God, who has called you, will supply all your need according to His riches in Christ Jesus? When God calls us to do something, He equips us as we cooperate with Him. When He sent out the 70 to heal the sick and cleanse the lepers and cast out demons, He gave them specific directions. Don’t take extra provision (read: trust God to provide for your needs). The same is true for writers who are seeking to glorify God.

Stop and take a moment and consider the single most important thing you need right now as a writer. For each of us, the answer may be different. Some might mention a better technique or a higher level of vocabulary. Some might say they need a new laptop or an office to work from. Some might request fellowship with other writers in order to feel supported and gain valuable feedback. Personally, I’m asking for God’s anointing. His words flowing through my hands so they’ll have the most impact possible.

As Christian writers, we aren’t guaranteed God’s words, but if we stay dependent upon Him and stay connected to Him through His Word and through prayer and worship, we can ask for His words and His will and receive them by faith.

Here’s what His Word has to stay about that:

The Lord Jehovah has given Me the tongue of the learned, to know to help the weary with a word. He wakens morning by morning, He wakens the ear to hear as the learned. (Isaiah 50:4)

And don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words. (Matthew 10:19)

Isn’t that comforting?

Recently, I watched a discussion online about logging daily words on our manuscripts. What say you? Do you try to reach a certain word count goal every day? Do you ever worry the words won’t be there? Or face writer’s block? You can prepare your outline (if you use one) and consider your characters and their motives ahead of time. But what if the words still won't come? You’ve got everything lined up: tension, conflict, characters, dialogue and still the words aren’t there. It’s time to lean on God’s promise for His provision of words.

The same is true for non-fiction writers. You can have everything in order. Chapter title, theme, experience, illustrations, etc., but that's no guarantee of the right words. Time to press in. Ask God for His anointing, for His words to flow through your fingers.

Aren’t you glad we can count on God to provide us with the words we need to finish our books (first draft and rewrites)? His promises are for you, His writer.

Worshipful Writers Series: Part One

Net's Notation Tuesdays
Worshiping God with our Words

Welcome to a new Tuesday series at Seriously Write: Worshipful Writers Series.

Dear writing friends, think of your favorite worship song. Perhaps your church includes this song in services. Perhaps you listen to it in the car, or sing it in the shower. The words could be your own, they so accurately depict your experience.

Music is a powerful tool for expressing back to God what He means to us. But music without words is not nearly as powerful. (Generally speaking. I have heard anointed instrumental music and have to add this disclaimer because of it.) *smile*

It’s the words that impact us, drawing worship from us and sending our hearts reaching toward God.

Words are powerful. They impact lives and change hearts. They point people to God, to hope, to life. They encourage or enhance faith.

Words can be used to harm, too. But as a Christian writer, you’ve already determined to let your words glorify God, so they will make a difference.

Look at the psalmist’s description of God and his response:

Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking;
I compose songs on your wonders. (Psalm 145:5 MSG)

When we see God moving in our own lives, or those around us, and we somehow communicate that power in our writing (i.e. use life experiences in our books) we glorify God. We worship God through our writing. We magnify Him.

There have been novels in my reading experience which have so glorified God I’ve had to close them and simply worship Him, thank Him, honor Him, be still before Him. Some books have so drawn me to Him I have had to join the author in worshiping God in the midst of the words.

You’ve heard the phrase: “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.” (or something to that effect) Allow me to tweak that a little with this idea. If we experience God while we’re writing the words, if we ask Him for His words, then the reader will experience Him when they read the words. He will accompany those words into the hands of our readers. He will impact their lives to the degree they are willing to “let” Him.

I sat in a pastor’s office as a leader, knowing any moment I’d be called upon to address the rest of the occupants with my perspective, my advice. Before it came to my turn, it hit me. Words with no anointing do not bring about change like words with anointing. I asked God to anoint my words (which I was trusting Him to supply) so that they would change lives and positively affect the situation we were there to address. When the time came, not only did God give me the words, but I felt His presence in the wisdom He provided. I knew He had anointed my words. That He would be glorified, no matter the response of those in the room.

Our words have the potential to bring glory to God.

It’s one way we worship God as writers.

Annette