Through our weaknesses and dealing with the haters.

Sometimes in the middle of the night I’ll wake up and in my sleepy state I will see a shadow that isn’t supposed to be there. My heart will race and about a jillion scenarios will fly through my head. Thankfully my practical self will take over. Forcing my eyes shut I’ll tell myself: when I re-open my eyes if--and only if--the shadow is coming closer, am I allowed to start panicking. (I never said my practical self was logical.)

                And guess what…sometimes the shadow does move. It is then in that moment, I will reach for my glasses. (Right, did I forget to mention I have horribly bad eye sight? Let’s just say my husband says my glasses can help people see Neil Armstrong's footprint on the moon.)

So with my glasses now on, I can see…Nothing. That’s right, peering through the darkness wearing my amazingly high prescription glasses, I can see no foreign shadows lurking in my room.

               

                This week I received my first ever ‘hate mail’ for my writing. It was creepy, weird, and well, really cruel. (Now I know why Taylor Swift wrote her song: Mean.) I could feel the beginnings of panic inching up my spine. Only after asking for wisdom did I finally put on my ‘glasses’ and see the hateful email for what it really was:

Showing God’s glory… DO WHAT?

(If you read the email, you’d think I’ve gone nuts.)

But stay with me!

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I didn’t need a stranger telling me all about my writing weaknesses. After all I live with them. I know them very well! But for whatever reason at this moment in my life, God has chosen to use my weaknesses to share the news about Him.

                If I never become known for my skillfully crafted writings, that’s ok. (Especially, if it means receiving less hurtful letters from haters. Lol)

               I know I can’t spell. I know I don’t use commas correctly, and I so know I have a very limited knowledge of what writers call ‘the craft.’  And I hate that. I’m working to better all of that. But I also know this is what I’m supposed to be doing.

                In your daily lives are you listening to the craziness of the world? The haters, the imaginary lurking shadows? Sometimes it is easier to shrug and say, “Yah, that dude is totally right. What in the world am I thinking…?”

Before you start panicking, I encourage you to stop and put on your “glasses”—and make sure the prescription was given to you by the Lord.

                See I’m not retiring my writing pen anytime soon, because God’s still working on me. (and you :) ) And when He’s done, I know the world will see how little of it was achieved by me.

                Are you seeing shadows?

Put on your glasses. Keep your eyes on Jesus, and let Him use your weaknesses to show His awesomeness!     

Because when I am weak, He often makes me strong.

with love and prayers,

Megan Besing

www.meganbesing.com

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

If you enjoyed this post, you may enjoy this one.

Author of:

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The Mail-Order Brides Collection: 

9 Historical Stories of Marriage that Precedes Love

Escape into the history of the American West along with nine couples whose relationships begin with advertisements for mail-order brides. Placing their dreams for new beginnings in the hands of a stranger, will each bride be disappointed, or will some find true love?

Perfect for the Preacher by Megan Besing
1897, Indiana
Fresh from seminary, Amos Lowry believes marriage will prove to his skeptical congregation that he’s mature. If only his mail-order bride wasn’t an ex-saloon girl, and worse, pregnant.

My 90day Challenge and Raising the Number 19.

The closing of this week brings on a need for celebration. Why? I finished reading the book of Psalms! You know the book in the middle of the bible, that Psalms. Okay, so I’ve read that book many times before, why is this time different?

I’m so glad you asked. J

 Because… now I’m more than half way done with reading the whole bible.

  See told you:  Celebration!

                Several weeks ago a friend asked if I wanted to join her in reading through the bible, something she’d never done before. I read her text and literally I groaned. Why, because she was going to do it in 90days! I have read through the bible several times, but I had always done the yearly plan. I knew how much reading would have to be done to complete it in that short time frame. So I asked her what the plan of attack was. She said she would be using the schedule provided by haventoday.org.

Then I groaned again, it was a plan to read straight through. Personally, I like the ones that give me a little bit of Old and New with sprinkles of Psalms and Proverbs per day. The thought of reading Leviticus straight through made my eyes want to glaze over. I had to repeat to myself: 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

                So I prayed, got the go ahead, and I told her I would do it with her.

                Well on Sunday, my Pastor stated that only 40% of churchgoers actually read their bible outside of church. Wishful thinking that he was wrong, I looked it up.  According to LifeWay Research 36% read their bible outside of church…wait for it…and a gut retching 19% read it every day. You can find this article here: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/most.churchgoers.do.not.read.bible.daily.survey/30620.htm  

Remember this was a survey taken of churchgoers, not of non-Christians.

In case you’re not the best at math, 19 and 36 are NOT numbers to be proud of!

How can we stand up for our Christian beliefs if we aren’t reading the bible and learning what our beliefs actually are?

So what’s stopping us?

I would say let’s get off our booties and do it. But it’s more likely we need to make time to: stop, sit, and open the Bible.

Pray first. Always pray before you start reading. Ask God to open His words to you. Trust me, inside that book is some confusing stuff.

If you are doing the 90day challenge, I recommend reading in NLT or NIV. Have paper, pens, and highlighters handy.  You will be reading about 15 chapters a day and it will take close to an hour to do it, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for deep thinking. This is where I highlight things I like, things I forgot, and things I don’t understand. Then I make a note in my notebook to go back and study those scriptures after these crazy 90days.

                Remember you don’t have to read it all at once. Life is busy. So read a few chapters at a time. Read while you’re stirring dinner, lunch at the office, etc. Just bring your bible with you when you leave the house or put a bible app on your phone, ipod, or kindle.

                More than likely at one point or another, you will get behind. That’s okay, just keep reading. Saturdays are hard for me to finish. I usually have to read extra on Sunday and Monday to catch back up. Just keep on going.

If this challenge sounds like something you want to do, than great! Do it. BUT! If you commit this to God, you need to follow through.

 Trust me God is big on the whole commitment thing!!!

 Don’t’ trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.

Proverbs 20:25 nlt

 

Do I recommend the 90day challenge? Honestly, not to most people. It’s rough! But I do know you can do it!

Will I be doing the 90day challenge again after I finish? Hopefully…that’s a negative. I’m much more of an in-depth study on an individual book at a time kind of girl, but I’m glad I did  do it.

(Check out precept.org for wonderful resources on in-depth bible studies.)

No matter if you focus on one book at a time, or read it in a year or a month, the point is to read the Bible. Now let’s change that awful 19 number together! Shall we...

Edgy Inspirational Romance: Introducing Megan Besing, one of two new EIR Regul...

I'm famous again! Okay, that's a negative once again. However, I'm please to announce I'll be a regular guest reviewer on the super-duper awesome blog: Edgy Inspirational Romance. Where I will get to read and write reviews on YA (mainstream young adult) and Inspy books (Christian usually romance).

Check out my introduction! http://www.edgyinspirationalromance.com/2014/02/introducing-megan-besing-one-of-two-new.html#links There may or may not be something about me dressing up and using a British Accent.
And incase you couldn't tell. I'm excited! :)

Edgy Inspirational Romance: Introducing Megan Besing, one of two new EIR Regul...: A while back we posted a virtual "help wanted" sign, looking for a couple of people who might be willing to serve as regular guest...


with love and prayers,
Megan Besing

Read "Together" and Giveaway!

I'm famous! Okay, not hardly. But you can read my first published work. (Insert confetti falling here.) A short story based loosely on our army life events. You can read it here in Splickety Love's 1.1 Issue.

If you'd like to win a free digital copy of the magazine. Leave a comment on my blog, Megan Besing Writing facebook page, or twitter @MeganBesing. To enter like or add me and let me know what was your worst or favorite Valentine's Day memory. When you read my story you'll find out mine! I'll be choosing one name to win on Monday.

Enjoy!
with love and prayers,
Megan Besing


Have you checked out my new website? www.meganbesing.com


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Laundry's helpmate: Mr.Dryer

The dryer is a wonderful invention.

-Pull the dried clothes out of the dryer and place them into the basket.

-Pull out the vent and wipe out the lint.

-Throw a new dryer sheet into the opened dryer and close the door.

-Turn the timer on.

-Press the circular button that starts the dryer.

 

It was at the final step I realized my mistake. You see a dryer’s sole purpose is to dry clothes. And I had forgotten to add any.

 If I had turned my dryer on without placing any clothing inside, the dryer would just be eating energy and I would be wasting money. Also those wet clean clothes inside my washer would not be drying properly.

 Even if my dryer was the newest, cleanest, most energy efficient appliance available, if I didn’t use it for its intended use, than it just becomes a very expensive space holder.

 God has made you for something special too.

 In 1^st Corinthians Chapter 12 verse 14 it reads: Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Verses 17-19 continue: If the whole body were eyes, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?

If we love Jesus and have Him in our hearts than we are the body of Christ, and as first 27 says: each one of us are a certain part.

 No we’re not dryers, but the concepts the same.

 

So which dryer are you:

- a dryer, drying clothes? Doing your job correctly?

- a dryer that from the outside you look like you’re doing your job, but on the inside you’re just spinning emptiness?

- a dryer angry that you are just that, a dryer. And your desire to be a washer, oven, or anything else has caused you to stop. Now you’re only collecting dust.

- a dryer that has made plans to take your dryer parts and see what else you can become.

 

We’re here for a purpose. If I’m not doing what God created me for, than I’m just tumbling hot air and collecting dust.

 Now go ask God what He’s created you for.

And as Phillipians 2:14 says: Do everything without complaining.

Because when during laundry, there’s nothing worse than a unbalanced clanking dryer.

 With love and prayers,

Megan

 

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All scripture from NIV.

 

 

 

 

 

Hurry Up and WAIT!

Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, up-up.

Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, up-up.

Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, up-up.

 

Hurry up and WAIT!

 Based on my life’s actions this must be my theme song.

I rush, rush, rush to get to a desired point in my life. I run around with my head cut off just to reach the starting line out of breathe and my hair all array.  Why? So I can arrive early to wait.

 

For example:

I couldn’t wait to get out of high school….I was so ready to find the love of my life and get married.

Army Life, oh my goodness I’ve never lived through so much hurry up and wait. It really should be the military’s motto. My soldier rushed to get training completed, and had to report early just to stand in formation for hours. Yes, seriously, hours. I wished months off my life in anticipation of bringing my loved one home from deployments. I couldn’t wait until my husband’s military career was finished to move back home and be near our families.

Then we adopted. We hustled paper work while we juggled questions of when we’d receive news of our new child. We hurried, and we waited….tons of waiting.

As my children passed through the different stages of growing, I often caught myself yearning for their next step. Who doesn’t want to get to the point where their infant will sleep all night? How many more packages of diapers will I have to buy! But if I want the diapers gone, then that sweet two year old grin is also gone.

Three years of my spouse going back to school. We were beyond ready for this world’s so called ‘normal’ life to arrive. One that didn’t involve a tight income and living in our parent’s basement.

And here I am again…waiting. Sitting here wishing I was a published author. I wrote a book, I sacrificed precious sleep to research, complete queries, and revise my novel. I’m in a hurry to get to the next phase of my life: a deal with a literary agent.

But there’s a problem.

Time is not mine to control!

In fact I cannot hurry up anything. Trust me I’ve tried!

Do you suffer from hurry-up-and-wait-syndrome too?

If I had to guess, I would say I was in shared company.

Life is precious.

To be content is a full time job.

 Contentment should be an action verb.

 

However, there is one phase of my life that I should be anxious about getting too.  But you see, it is often pushed to the back corner, clouded by these so called important things.

 

Heaven! This life is nothing compared to what is yet to come. I should be in a hurry to get to the real happily-ever-after. Like waiting for my book to sell or finding our dream home, it’s not yet time for me to see my Lord. I have to wait.

                                                          While I’m waiting for the most important time in my life,

I should be busy.  Busy spreading The Word.

 

Life is precious.

And Time is in His hands.

So Hurry Up!

Surrender those moments or things you’re yearning for.

Give your life to Him.

 

We’ve got some waiting to do!

 

 

 

 

with love and prayers,

Megan Besing

 

Twitter: @meganbesing

Facebook: Megan Besing (Writer)

Goodreads: Megan Besing

Pitch Wars

             

   Just because I wrote a book, does not mean it will get published. Do What? Exactly! For those of you outside the writing world, let me fill you in on some basic steps of how to get a book out and into the hands of the world.

               First sit down and write, then finish the monster you created, followed by finding an agent, editor, and publishing house, and lastly promote, promote, promote!

                Sounds easy enough, right? Sorry in advance if my smile turns sour and an evil chuckle explodes from my throat. So… No. Not so much!

                To further my novel’s career, I was on one of my many internet searches, and I came a crossed Brenda Drakes’, author of soon to be released Library Jumpers, website. She was having a contest called Pitch Wars. Entries would be pining for a spot to be chosen by a mentor for a chance to be…well mentored. Getting their novel combed over by those who have traveled this road ahead of them. Then a group of agents would read over the winners’ manuscripts.

 If I got into Pitch Wars, in non-writing world terms, I’d have a much better shot at publication. Cha-Ching. I kept reading.

To qualify you had to be unpublished…unfortunately check.  Manuscript must be finished, check.  And you had to turn in a query letter address to four out of forty-seven available mentors along with the first five pages of your novel. Then on and only on December 2nd, you’d send in your entry. Alright, sweet!

                Finding out all this information at eleven at night is not recommended! I was all pumped up on what ifs. I had to keep going. I spent way too much time looking up all the mentors and their given information. Full of yawns and tired eyes, I had finally narrowed it down. I had my four choices for who I wanted to mentor me.

                The next day, I set my sites on perfecting my query, a letter stating information about me and my book. As best as I knew how anyway. Reaching the proper amount of sucking-up and professionalism turned out to be quite an undertaking.

                Finally the day came; my little engine was busy chugging up the hill. I think I can. I think I can. I set off my entries.  This made my heart flutter as a smile hit my face. This was pretty cool…this could be it! A mentor could love me and my book. We’d go off skipping hand and hand as we go over my manuscript. Then an agent would fall head over heels with my work, and my book would live happily ever after in the published world. Everything was in perfect order, until my little engine and my ‘I think I cans,’ reached the top of the hill. I looked down and there around me where thousands of other engines. Literally, there were over one thousand and seven hundred entries.

Yes, how did you know? My tiny bubble of hope popped. I actually laughed as I sat there on top of my hill looking around at the others. There was no turning back now; you can’t just take back an entry claiming you were crazy for even thinking you might have a shot. I realized the valley below me was going to come whether I loosen my gears or not. I mean, there’s gravity and everything. What must go up must, well you know. December 11^th would come whether my name was on the list of chosen mentees or not.

After catching myself stalking tweeter for #pitchwars updates, and opening my email a bazillion times to see if one of my wanted mentors had requested more information from me. The thought of not being chosen rang strong and clear. I swallowed down the thought that it could be years before my written novel enters the world, if at all. Seriously, it’s just a tiny bit discouraging.  Then my practical self-overrode my crazy alter ego, and I realized this road of writing was never guaranteed an easy or quick way to success. Huh, much like everything else in life.

Today, I’m still hoping for a coveted spot in Pitch Wars. However, if my name isn’t chosen then I’ll dust off my engine and put on a smile. After all isn’t it about the climb? Well, at least there is a song claiming such a thing. So to make me feel better, let’s pretend it is so.

 One day I’ll see you on the other side of publication.  Don’t worry you’ll know it when it happens. I’ll be the one holding a book up against my chest, with the cheesiest grin EVER! Until then, I’ve got more stories to write, and more agents to query.  I think I can. I think I can. I know I can!

For more information on Pitch Wars, Brenda Drake’s new book, and other writing information check out http://www.brenda-drake.com/

 

with love and prayers,

Megan Besing