She Glows

With the She Speaks conference less than two weeks away, I'm in full-throttle prep mode. This year, that means practicing what I'll be saying to the publishers with whom I'm meeting, practicing a mini-talk I was asked to give, and working on sign-up sheets for the critique groups that will form after the conference is over.

At the same time, I'm pulling together a long list of supplies for my 20 year old son and 14 year old daughter as they prepare for a 10-day mission trip to Haiti; they leave just a few days after I return from the conference. (Crazy timing!)

Two things I'm most looking forward to are getting to know writer/speaker friends (both old and new) and spending time in the prayer room. There's just something about being around like-minded women that absolutely catapults me into bliss. And the prayer room? Phenomenal. Holy. Awe inspiring. Life changing. As is this conference.

Some Practical Advice:

• Take a sweater. The host hotel is frigid!
• If you don't finish your book proposal in time, consider taking a One-Sheet, instead. Sample
• Bring business cards, if you have them. You'll want to stay in touch with new, like-minded friends. (Don't have any? You can always make your own! Instructions )
• In a speaker evaluation group? Visit Zoe's blog for some great tips.
• Think you're writing isn't good enough to attend the critique session? Go anyway!
• You MUST visit the prayer room. You really, really must! Really.
• Bring a tote bag. You'll need it.
• Stuff a few water bottles into your suitcase for your room. You'll thank me later.
• Don't bring note paper; you'll receive a spiral-bound notebook upon registration.
• Smile, even if you're nervous. Especially if you're nervous.

If you'll be at She Speaks this year, leave me a comment so I can get to know you. Tell me what track you're taking. Let me know what you're hoping get out of all this. And hopefully we'll see each other there! I'll be the one glowing.

If you won't be at She Speaks this year, but have attended a prior She Speaks conference--or any other writers conference...describe your experience and share what you learned or your favorite part of the conference.

Blueprint Freak

I admit it: I love an organized, tidy life. I prefer everything unfolding according to plan...a sensible, easy-going plan, that is. But the truth is, my life doesn't work that way. And frankly, some days I'd be happy just to know the plan.

You'd think that the One who created the earth according to His extraordinary master plan would be delighted to drop freshly crafted blueprints into our hands so we could figure out (a.) where we're going in life and (b.) precisely how on earth to get there. Yet God continually surprises me. And by that I mean things rarely go the way I expect, even when I think I'm keeping my expectations in check.

But God is far more interested in teaching us to hear His voice than making our plans unfold flawlessly.

Risky Decisions

One of the things I'm learning as I navigate this faith-walk is to try to keep my preference out of God's way. This means keeping my feelings neutral, especially when I'm in decision making mode. I have to get to the place where I'm truly content regardless of which way things go. It's a struggle.

One of the scriptures that I regularly pray over myself when I'm making a decision is: "I roll my works upon You, Lord; I commit and trust them wholly to You; Please cause my thoughts to become agreeable to Your will, and] my plans will be established and succeed." (Proverbs 16:3 - personalized by me.)

The Umpire Calls It

My number one criteria for making a decision is to follow after peace. If I sense frustration, anxiety or uncertainty, I stop immediately and pray. God does not want us to be rushed or pressured into making a decision prematurely.

Colossians 3:15 says"And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]."

The lack of blueprints shouldn't deter us from moving ahead, but propel us closer to the Lord. It's when we cautiously tip-toe forward, our hearts straining to hear His voice, that we'll receive something even better than a set of blueprints: His personalized plan for that specific situation and exact moment in our lives. And for this blueprint freak, that's good news indeed.

How about you? Are you a blueprint freak? Do you need prayer for a decision in your life?