Day 4! Enlightened: My Personal Journey with Christ Through Scripture Journaling FREE

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Enlightened: My Personal Journey with Christ Through Scripture Journaling

Enlightened: My Personal Journey with Christ Through Scripture Journaling, is here!
(And I need reviewers!)

If you'd like to review this book, and you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, please let me know. We can discuss the details. Email me at kathy@ariverofstones.com.

Get it at Amazon
or send an email to kathy@ariverofstones.com
and I will autograph and send you a copy!

Is it Time?

Kathryn Elizabeth Jones has been a lover of journaling since the time she was a teenager. But the journaling that began as a keeper of secret thoughts, daily activities, and hopes and dreams of the future, one day changed direction in focus and feeling the moment she realized what personal revelation could truly mean for her.

Although personal scripture reading began at about the same time, it was much later, while Kathryn was reflecting on the power of the Kirtland Temple dedication, that the Lord’s voice was heard, and Kathryn wrote of the experience.

Connecting personal revelation to scripture study and prayer as a conduit for an even stronger relationship with Jesus Christ is the premise of this book.

May it enlighten your life and may your own path be made clear as you take the Lord’s hand, listen to His words, and follow His voice.

FRIDAY FLICKS: Prayer Warrior by Stormie Omartian

Get the Book at Amazon!

FRIDAY FLICKS: War Room by Chris Fabry

http://chrisfabry.com/war-room-trailer

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Chris Fabry

Tell me about yourself. What got you started in writing?

I was fascinated with words as a child. My mother read to me. I got hooked on Hardy Boys stories and after that it was all over. I wrote songs, poems, stories, skits—you name it, and in college I studied journalism, thinking that was the only way to apply a love of writing. In my 30s, after hosting a radio show for many years and interviewing authors, I decided to take the plunge and IVP published Spiritually Correct Bedtime Stories. Since then, I’ve had more than 70 books published and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to write. 

How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?

Morning is the best time to get everything flowing. I do an afternoon radio show and have other voice work I do—but I try to carve out from the time I get up to late morning for working on whatever is on the front burner. I’m a big believer that 90% of writing, like life, is simply showing up.

How and where do you write? Do you prefer a laptop or some other method of getting your words down?

My wife has been trying to get me to use a standing desk, but I’m still a sit-down writer. I use my desktop computer with an ergonomic keyboard. Sometimes I move to the other side of the room, away from the desk, and sit with the keyboard in my lap.

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

The favorite part is discovering something about the character or story that I didn’t know. Sometimes a question will pop up or a character says something I hadn’t intended in dialog and I just smile. My least favorite part of writing is judging the results by how many buy or read what I write. It’s easy to get into a performance trap with this and not simply offer it to God like anything else.

How did you come up with your book idea? How long did it take you to write your book?

The Kendricks came up with the story, the script, the dialog—they did 90% of the heavy lifting and I came along and filled out the story in novel form. It was an invigorating process because my novels usually take a lot longer—6-12 months in some cases. But War Room gave me a field in which to play and I loved that structure and was able to bring my own creativity to the story. I got the script in November of last year, as I recall, and the first draft was finished by February.

What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing?

I don’t do a lot of marketing myself—the publisher does that and the Kendricks certainly did a great job with making a great movie. For my other books, I appear on programs—my own show, too, Chris Fabry Live, and my website—plus social media. That lets people know about my projects.

What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out?

My next novel is titled The Promise of Jesse Woods. It will come out in June of 2016. It’s a coming-of-age story that takes place simultaneously in 1972 and 1984. It’s really a love story about three kids who had an eventful summer and how that affected them.

Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.

I have 50 ideas that are vying for the next story. I keep a running list of ideas and note cards and stories. That’s part of the fun of doing this.

What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?

Talent doesn’t mean much to me. Some of the most talented writers have never published. I look for the hungry person who wants to write. If you’re willing to be open to a painful experience—editing and questions and honing the craft and reading other writers and about writing—see, now you’ve got me going. Don’t worry about your talent. Sit down and write. So many people have said, “I have a really good story I know will be a hit.” Guess how many times those people have actually written it down. Very few of them have done the hard work of even starting to tell the story. So worrying about the talent is a non-starter. The better question is, “Do I have stamina to push through to the end?” Do you have what it takes to be published—which is years of lonely work, little pay, but a ton of satisfaction. Off the soapbox now.

What advice can you give someone who isn’t worried about talent but doesn’t know where to start?

Start small. Write consistently. Journal. Blog. Get your ideas out of your head onto the page. Don’t start with writing a novel or a full-length nonfiction book. Start small. Write for your local newspaper. Write online—there are so many places you can be published today that weren’t there when I was starting. And don’t believe everything your mother/family tell you about writing. Find someone who can look at your writing and help you get better. Find someone who is published who can help lead you the next step of the way.

***

Thanks, Chris!

Learn more about Chris:

Website: http://chrisfabry.com

War Room Book Trailer: http://chrisfabry.com/war-room-trailer

Also, my radio show is http://www.moodyradio.org/chrisfabrylive/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chris-Fabry-148580635211003/?fref=nf

BOOK REVIEW: Journaling with Jesus: How to Draw Closer to God

For readers who know me and my personal journey with what I've always called "scripture" journaling, you'll want to read Journaling with Jesus, an insightful, honest and refreshingly motivating nonfiction book by Carol Round.

 

If you've ever wanted to get closer to God through prayer, scripture study and journaling, then this book is for you. Journaling with Jesus is beautifully penned from the first word to the last, and gives adult readers an opportunity to see the power of prayer while they are developing a more intimate communication with God.

Round shares personal experiences that she has had with God through her journaling of the past 10 years. She also shares the experiences others have had with prayer journaling. She opens the way for readers of all faiths to experience prayer journaling for themselves.

Consider these insights:

"(Prayer journaling) is a relationship with God. I talk, He listens. He talks, I listen."

"...we write to grow, not to stay the same."

"I wasn't aware of God's plan to use my gifts and talents for His glory. Through my daily habit of journaling, He has made me appreciate the importance of letting Him shape and mold me into the woman He created me to be."

Journaling with Jesus is for anyone desiring to improve his/her relationship with God. Although this reader could see the direction of the book for women, primarily, the truths spoken of in Round's book will assist anyone with the desire for a deeper connection with God.

Discover the interest God has in you as His child. Feel the presence of God.

Carol Round's book can be purchased at Amazon.

 

Writing in the New Year

What do you want for your writing in the new year?

I've previously written about organizing your writing life, but when it comes to actual writing, I wanted to share a bit more about goals and their realization.

I remember the day I realized that my goals needed to be written down or displayed for me to keep focused on them so that they might become a reality. I can also pinpoint the day I pulled my dreams off the wall.

What did the Lord want for me in the new year? What would be his focus if only I could ask him?

Photo by: crschmidt, courtesy of Flickr

The incredible thing is, I can ask him. And I want to place a little bug in your ear too. You can ask him.

When it comes to wanting what I want when I want it, I'm not always the best judge of when that should be. Making a list is good, but then relying on what I want without asking God for confirmation is like hiking up a mountain not knowing what trail will get me to the sought after lake.

This year has been a year of tremendous growth for me. I began a new business. Published 4 books, and pretty much spent endless days marketing what I'd written. And I've had some great success. This success has included the people I have met and the connections I have made as well as the money I have made.

I have learned that the inspirational or self-help book comes with the greatest joy, both for myself and for those I share it with. That with writing comes more opportunity to speak. And that writing, for me, will always be fulfilling, no matter what I choose to write about.

Photo by: Darcy McCarty, courtesy of Flickr 

This next year, I hope to make my journey in writing more fulfilling and focused because of who I'm taking with me up the mountain. And I hope you consider your own writing after you've written it down or displayed it for all eyes to see.

I hope you ask.

Dreams and Visions

DECEMBER 31
Dreams and Visions


Dreams and visions are an important part of prayer; two important ways Heavenly Father has of speaking to his children.

Both are very real.

If not, Lehi’s dream of the tree of life would mean nothing more than a journey to a tree instead of our journey to Christ. Joseph’s Smith's first and subsequent visions would be nothing more than a fairy tale.

Photo by: @ly$ in wonderland, courtesy of Flickr

It may be easy for us to look upon these dreams and visions as just that—dreams and visions of prophets—righteous men who walked the earth in the days of Christ and in modern times. Why would the Father want to speak to us in such a way? Are we prophets?

I can’t help but think of Moses’ feelings on this very subject. He said, “Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!”(Number 11:29).

And this one: “Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream” (Numbers 12:6).

And finally, this one in Acts 2:17: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy” (See also: Joel 2:28).

I have been taught many things about myself, my husband and my children through not only remembering my dreams when I awaken, but recording them, and then asking my Father in Heaven what he would have me know and do.

Dreams are not always what they appear to be on first awakening. Like the truths spoken before the Savior’s crucifixion and resurrection, there were some who did not believe His words. They did not understand them because the Lord spoke in parables.

Aren’t dreams often like parables that simply need searching out? Have you had a dream recently that made no sense, but something about it made you think of it again and again? Some dreams need an interpretation. They need the word of the Lord to clarify what we have received so that we might benefit. This means we must go to the Father in prayer. If the dream is from Him we will know it.

Dreams and visions, just like the peace that comes from our Heavenly Father, cannot be forced or coerced. They come in his time, not ours. But I know this. If we truly seek to know Him, to hear His voice, to feel of His love, He will manifest himself to us through dreams and visions—yes, just like Nephi of old.

Once again I have come to see how much our Father in Heaven is a part of our lives. This morning as I spoke with Him about assisting me in the lesson I was to give this Sunday in church, I felt a calmness that he would.

The lesson began with the Wiseman’s travel to see the Christ child. Through a vision, Joseph had the faith to take his wife and son to Egypt so that they would be saved from the cruel hands of King Herod. There they lived until another visit of the angel directed them to return home—Herod was dead.

It was during my study of this lesson that I realized the reason I’d been asked to substitute for my friend in her Primary class—even so far as the reason I’d been handed this particular lesson.

Our Father cares about our journey. He cares that we come to Him in prayer to receive direction. He cares what we are doing in our individual lives so much that He is willing to send a lesson our way to help us. If we are struggling with family members He may send a friend to comfort us. If we are studying a particularly difficult gospel topic, He enlightens our minds so that we will understand. If we are feeling unloved, he wraps His arms around us at home, at church; even at the grocery store.

Photo by: Jim Mead, courtesy of Flickr

“I love you,” he says to our minds and hearts. “I love you, and I want you to be happy. Come unto me and I will give you rest.”

On this last day of the year, pray and listen for his words to you. Listen with your “might, mind and strength.” Have the faith and courage to hear.