Hello and welcome to Beauty, the no-frills, no-nonsense podcast about all things Beauty. True Beauty. God’s Beauty. I am your host, Deanna, and today we are talking about motherhood. 

When I was young, I would wake up for school, sometimes with the help of my mother, but more often, by the sound of an alarm. I would get up, get ready for school, and walk to the kitchen to find the table set. We didn’t eat breakfast as a family because school schedules were different and dad was always at work early, but mom still got up and made sure we had something to eat before we left for the day. Sometimes it was a big pot of oatmeal on the stove with all the fixin’s set out on the table. Sometimes it was a stack of pancakes. And sometimes it was a few boxes of cereal and big bowls to slurp the milk from when we were done. Mom would sit at the table with her cigarette and stare. Sometimes at our sloppiness. Other time into space. It was rare she leaned into conversations with us in the morning. No one liked the morning so no one was super talkative. As soon as we were all out the door, she’d set about cleaning up the mess we left behind - in the kitchen, and the bathrooms, and anywhere else we had been. She’d do all the household chores and make the place look homey and welcoming when we returned. On Saturday we would all help tackle the chore list, with groans. Mom and dad would sleep in while I watched cartoons with my siblings, but the TV went off when mom was ready to bust out cleaning and get on with her day. The beds were stripped and the whole house was dusted and swept. The kitchen and bathrooms were wiped down and everything was put in its place. We worked together and got it all done so we could get on with the more fun part of our day, while she fixed what we didn’t do properly.    

I have been noticing a lot of social media influencers share about motherhood - and it has triggered some of these memories of my mom. I can’t think of one time in my life that I wanted to be like her in regard to mothering as the world sees it. In fact, when I was a young mom, I used to think I was broken because I didn’t have the same desire to take care of my home and family the way she did. I liked going to work. I loved my job. I didn’t love being home to change diapers and wipe noses and dust ledges and sweep floors and water plants. I hate cooking and cleaning and I have never kept a garden. Even now - my husband does that! I have about five plants in my house and they are all fighting for their life. I am not good at most things domestic. 

But I still do what needs to be done. 

I like a clean house but it is far from spotless. The floor gets mopped once a week, if I am lucky to find twenty minutes to get it done. I won’t notice the dust on the fan until I have the gumption to wipe it down. And I could care less about fingerprints on the refrigerator. My mom, however, kept floors you could eat off of and would think she failed in her day if she saw a spec of dust somewhere - which was usually left behind from one of her kids tasked with dusting on a Saturday. 

I have two adult kids who have kids of their own and my youngest is almost sixteen - and sometimes I still feel a bit broken. When I start to feel like that, I need to remember exactly what the women on social media are saying. Our job, as mothers, is to invest in our children's lives. To me, that doesn’t mean doing everything for them and being at their beck and call. The most important thing, to me, is to invest in their spiritual life so that when they leave our home, they can make some ramen noodles, throw a load of laundry into the wash, and talk to Jesus. 

In many ways, my two oldest kids did have a mom who was broken. It wasn’t until they were in fourth or fifth grade that I came to understand my role as a mom and even later until I understood what it meant to lead them spiritually. When my mom died, I was helping my dad clean things up and get things in order for him to begin his new life without her. He asked me to go through some things in the basement, so as I was catching up on laundry, I ruffled through a stack of papers and books, separating them into piles for dad. I found an old journal my mom wrote in. When I flipped it open to see what it was, I don’t think it was an accident that I landed on a prayer she wrote for me. I always knew my mom prayed for me, but it wasn’t until I read her journal that I understood how deeply she prayed. She was concerned about my eternity. It was then that I started to pray deeper prayers for my own kids. 

We always talk about how our kids leave us. How they go off to college or get married and they make the transition out of our homes and step into a life of their own. But we never talk about leaving our kids. The fact of life is that we will leave our kids one day. We place great emphasis on preparing them to exit well, we forget about our own exit. What will we leave them when we are gone? Memories of us doing everything for them? Memories of home-cooked meals, lush gardens, and spectacular houses? Memories of vacations, school parties, and special holiday gifts? Those are all great things, but they are not the best things God desires for us. He desires for us to have his heart. 

Thanks to Leap Day, we get to read a little about Elijah and Elisha this week. We are only reading 2 Kings 2, but it is enough to capture our attention as moms and remind us that it is nice to choose to stay home and be with our kids. But if you are like me, and enjoy going to work outside of the home, you are not broken. When you leave your kids, it won’t matter to them whether you stayed home or found purpose in employment. When God called Elijah home, Elisha was confident because he knew God was still present. He could have that confidence because of the discipleship he was provided. When my mom died, I knew the same as soon as I flipped through her journal. She prayed fervently for all of her kids - and when she was alive, she never hesitated to tell us and engage us in discussion about how God was moving. Sometimes I smiled politely and concentrated on keeping my eyeballs from rolling back, but I can recall many of those discussions even still today and see exactly what she meant. She took each of us under her motherly wing, and she trusted God to help us fly.  

It doesn’t matter if you are the CEO of a company or the CEO of your home. Making sourdough or the choice to homeschool doesn’t make you a great mom. A great mom doesn’t place an emphasis on staying home or going to work. A great mom places an emphasis on drawing near to God. As you dive into this week’s study, my tip is that you use the time to prepare yourself to leave the people you love. We always talk about only having eighteen good, formative years with our kids - but that’s a lie we use to encourage the mom holding a screaming baby or wrestling with an antsy toddler. We tell them to enjoy the phases and use the time to show them the love of Jesus. But there is more to discipleship and it doesn’t end when our kids turn eighteen. What do you want them to know? What do you want them to remember about you when God calls you home? Your answer should have nothing to do with you and everything to do with the glory of God. 

Before Elijah was taken home, they crossed the Jordan and he asked Elisha, What can I do before I leave? Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah’s prophetic spirit. He is asking for the right of the firstborn, only instead of riches, he is asking for the gift of prophecy. And not just a little bit. He doesn’t kind of want to be like Elijah - when it is easy or convenient. In asking, he is committing to continuing in Elijah’s footsteps and he knows he needs God’s power to accomplish it. Elisha gave up everything to follow Elijah. What are you giving up to follow Jesus?

When my mom died, I wanted to fill her shoes. Yes, I helped my dad in many of the ways she did - but through the years, I took on the prayers I know she would have prayed for our family. I can emphatically tell you I still don’t want to be a homemaker like my mom. But if I could have a double portion of her faith, I would gladly take it and continue investing in people the way she did. When God calls me home, I can only hope my children will have the desire to do the same. I’d go to the ends of the earth to fight for any one of my kids and their family. But the true mama bear is the warrior on her knees in the early morning hours, trusting God to move in mighty ways. 

Thanks for listening today. If you were encouraged by this message, would you please consider sharing it with a friend or two? Likes, loves, comments, and shares go a long way in reaching the eyes and ears of new friends. Until next time, be beautiful and keep looking for beauty.

Deanna

Hello and welcome to Beauty, the no-frills, no-nonsense podcast about all things beauty. True Beauty. God’s Beauty. I am your host, Deanna, and today we are talking about the book of Exodus - and let me tell you, if you have not read Exodus before, or if it has been a while, you are in for a treat. The book of Exodus is beautiful and has some lessons I think are important to remember. So, let’s dive in and reveal some of this beauty.

Exodus is a story of deliverance. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt and this book shares their story. There is a lot involved in forty chapters, including the birth of Moses, the burning bush (one of my most favorite stories), plagues, the wilderness journey, and the Ten Commandments. Moses is typically credited with authorship of the book of Exodus, but remember when I talked about the authors of the bible back in December, and I shared about the letters and how the books were put together? Well, the smart bible people of the world say the book of Exodus may have had two different authors and then a third author who merged the two works into one. It doesn’t really matter - it doesn’t change the content or the message of the book. I just think it is interesting to think about how the bible came to be. We always hear the bible is written by men inspired by God and we grow in our faith believing every part of the bible is God breathed - which is true. But that shouldn’t mean we don’t dig a little deeper to understand exactly how God moved in different lives to make it all happen. That’s part of the treasure hunt, for me. 

There is a great theme in this book which centers around the rescue of the Israelites from human bondage. But there is also a parallel theme. In a way, the Israelites’ story is our story, and our rescue from the bondage of sin.

I used The Lexham Bible Dictionary for my study and found nine themes that are highlighted in the book of Exodus. I want to share these so you can look for them as you read.

* As I said at the beginning of this podcast, the book of Exodus is a story of deliverance. The Israelites would never have asked to be freed. They couldn’t save themselves and they needed help. They just didn’t envision the kind of help they received. And isn’t that alone a beautiful picture for us? But there is so much more.

* The book of Exodus shows how the Israelites came to have knowledge of God. As you read, think about how personal this is as the Israelites hear over and over, “I am the Lord.” This was not an emotional alter-call. He was making his choice for them very clear, which leads me to the third theme. 

* God’s covenant with the Israelites. He literally calls them “My people.” He chose them - and this is a key theme. The Israelites accepted this covenant as a group and they experienced the benefits of God’s presence, which we will touch on in a minute.

* The Israelites were in Egypt, but they were slaves. They were not citizens in the land. Under the covenant with God, there is a promised land. A place for them to look forward to. A reason for them to trust and have hope. God promised to lead them to a permanent home, which also meant they needed to defeat the greatest warriors. This is an incredibly exciting book. 

* Despite how God moves so dramatically in the book of Exodus, the presence of God is limited to the Israelite people. Think about how they had to trust an unseen God. Read the description of the tabernacle with joy and consider what they saw and felt as they disassembled everything to travel from place to place. The ark was the symbol of God’s presence and he kept it hidden from sight. The Israelites didn’t have unlimited access to God, which leads me to number six.

* Because the people couldn’t see God, they took to the use of idols. The book of Exodus shows the contrast between those idols and a covenant God.

* Laws play an important role in this book, as they do in life. Laws give guidance on how to live in community and be productive. God’s law takes this one step further and teaches people how to be holy. God’s laws help to shape a person’s journey and lead us away from sin and into eternal life.

* Of course, to get from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Israelites had to learn to lean in and trust God, which is what allows them to see the last theme.

* I have shared before about my time in leadership over a preschool ministry at my church. One of my favorite things was to say, “God is…” and then hold up my index finger. When I did that, the kids always held up their index fingers and we all shouted, “the one true God.” He is the one with the power and the book of Exodus is a beautiful story of how the Israelites came to experience the greatness of the one true God.

My tip for you this week is to slow down and lean into the reading of Exodus. Even if you have read it before, and even if you know the stories and remember the flannel board or yelling for yourself, “God is the one true God.” Don’t skim these timeless treasures. Instead, dig into the story of redemption. Read the words with fresh eyes. Imagine yourself in the story because it is your story. See that parallel in your own life and faith journey. When we lean in, we remember his favor. We see his character - the very character we need to emulate in our lives today. We understand his purpose and sense his glory. God’s presence did all that and more for the Israelites when he set in motion their rescue from Egypt and he does that for us today. 

If you have been inspired by this message, please encourage a friend to join you on the journey of reading the bible in two years. A like and a share go a long way - for me, of course, but more importantly, for the faith life of another human made in the image of God. 

Thanks for listening today. Until next week, be beautiful and keep looking for beauty.

Deanna 

Hello and welcome to Beauty, the no-frills, no-nonsense podcast about all things beauty. True beauty. God’s beauty. I am your host, Deanna, and today we are talking about waiting. I know. Not fun - but necessary, so let’s dive in. 

I often talk to women who are frustrated with their bible study and when I start to ask questions, it almost always comes down to the fact they were expecting something more out of their time with God. If you are looking to social media for guidance, you might see women sitting down with their notebooks and highlighters, in their peaceful surroundings. That might lead you to believe they have everything they need and are fully prepared for special revelation because their time with the Lord looks so perfect and surely, those are the times in which God speaks, right? We are then disappointed when our time doesn’t look quite like that and soon we spiral into a decline that leads us to ditch our time with God. I know it looks easy on TikTok, but bible study is a little more involved than what you see on a sixty-second reel.

Sometimes you will have a-ha moments as you read. Moments where something speaks to you or stirs your spirit and sends you into some study. For instance, when reading John 11, I kept going back to verse nine where Jesus heard Lazarus was sick. He told his disciples they were going back to Judea and his disciples questioned his decision because they knew the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus. Of all the sermons I have heard and books I have read that use this story, I always heard about how Jesus waited for two days before going to care for his friends and how that act was to glorify God, and that it was an act of love. Verse three tells us the message to Jesus is, “the one you love is sick.” Not our brother is sick. Not the one we love is sick. But Jesus, the one you love is sick. If he had gone right away and healed Lazarus, he would have done the same thing he had previously done to others with his healing. But by waiting, he shows extravagant love. 

I can’t remember hearing anything about verses nine and ten, which is where Jesus responds to his disciple’s questioning. He says,

“Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles for he has no light.” 

These are important verses. Have you ever wondered why Jesus says these words at this moment in the story? Me neither…until recently. Let me share the evolution of my thoughts with you.

Our lives are a series of days divided into ages and stages, and filled with opportunities. I was drawn to the contrast of light and dark because it is a reminder of the choices we must make. I spent some time writing about this in my notebook and I glanced at my commentary, but I didn’t have a lot of time, so I didn’t get too deep into my thoughts when I first read this passage of scripture. Later in the week, I heard a podcast where the speaker mentioned something about the contrast between light and dark. Interesting. That kept me thinking about what I read, and then, at the end of the week, I was in conversation with others in a class I am taking when the same analogy came up. Even more interesting. It allowed me to think about the scripture once again. When we walk in the light, we walk with God and with the intent to shine. In the darkness, we stumble because we are without God, without light, and we are easily led astray. By using the contrast of light and dark, Jesus was telling his disciples this was his time to go. To shine his light. To glorify God with the miracle he was about to perform on the person he loved so deeply - and it was going to make a big impact.

As you can probably guess, the concept of shining light is a core value in the business and ministry of Shining.Our.Light and the scripture I read early in the week, carried on throughout the week. Now remember, this wasn’t the first time I read that passage of scripture. Yet, when I read this familiar story I was reminded how we all have choices to make with the hours God has given us. It was the first time I heard that particular message - and I believe there was purpose in it. I don’t ever need a reason to sit and pray, but this story and the podcast and the class discussion I engaged in all worked together to bring me to the foot of the cross, to ask God for more. I believe God is calling me in a little different direction, one I didn’t expect, and I want to spend time with him about his call for my life and ministry. I believe he is helping me see the next step on my journey, for me to go where I am called, to shine my light and glorify God by building relationships and helping others use their voice for good.

I’ve been reading the bible for twenty-plus years and if I was discouraged because I didn’t fully understand every word of this portion of scripture (or any scripture), I wouldn’t have kept reading. There is a lot involved in this story - so much that one sermon wouldn’t do it justice. Just the same, one reading won’t do it justice. And unless we are reading and studying every minute of our day, we can’t comprehend the fullness of this story (or of any scripture). That’s why we have to wait. We have to continue reading and studying so that God will open our hearts and minds to all the intricacies of his love and instruction contained in the words of scripture, meant to propel us forward and grow our faith. 

I get up and read every morning and more often than not, something catches my eye. I underline it, and maybe write it out in my notebook, but that’s it… It could be days or months or years before God fully reveals to me something about that passage of scripture. My tip to you this week is to be patient and pay attention. If God doesn’t speak in the moments you are spending with him, he may speak in the ordinary moments of your life. Pay attention to what you are reading, the sermons you hear, the podcasts you listen to, and the conversations you have. Sometimes these things will relate to what you are reading and then you can start to connect the dots. Again, it could be days, weeks, months, or years before you reach that next dot. It requires waiting and attentiveness. Don’t walk away from your bible study unfulfilled. Instead, walk away with expectancy and see how God uses it to lead you.

For week four of Bible in Two, you’ll start with the story I just shared in John. Look for the things in that story - and in all of the scripture you will read this week - that catch your eye. And then, wait for the Lord to show you what he wants to show you, when he wants to show it to you. We all learn different things at different times. I believe there is purpose in that, too, because we all have a different sphere of influence and need different knowledge and experience to reach the world for Christ. Use what he gives you and don’t be sad or mad he didn’t give you what he gave someone else. Keep reading. Keep studying. Keep growing. And keep shining your light. 

Thanks for listening today. If you liked this little message, please share it with your friends and consider subscribing to this space. There will be one more free version of my Bible In Two Tips, and then these posts will only be available for my paid subscribers. But don’t you worry. If you like the encouragement this brings, I will still have some bite-sized nuggets of truth for you on my social media and, of course, I will continue to provide other amazing content right here on the blog and podcast. Until next time, be beautiful and keep looking for beauty.

Deanna

We get to know God by consistently sitting with the Lord, reading his words, and learning more about him so we can Shine.Our.Light. When I say that, it seems sort of corny, but I honestly believe it. We can’t be an effective witness without knowing God and we get to know him as we spend time with him.

So, let’s do that. 

In this episode, I share this week’s tip and one thing I learned in my study time. Be sure to share what you are learning, too. You can leave a comment here or on social.

Be beautiful and keep looking for beauty!

Deanna

In this episode, I discuss the importance of studying the bible and encourage you to join Bible in Two as a paid subscriber. When we are consistent in our time with the Lord, he will show up. He will lead. He will teach. We will grow - and that is a beautiful thing!

I mentioned some podcasts in this episode. I really enjoy Theology Mom and encourage you to listen to her podcast. She did a four-part series on the history of Israel that was informative!

Think Biblically is another podcast I enjoy listening to and they did a two-month update podcast that was interesting and worth listening to!

If you are interested in a timeline resource, I purchased mine from ChristianBook.com. You can also find timeline information online, like this and this.

Until next time, be beautiful and keep looking for beauty.

Deanna

Podcast Show Notes: Why should we study the bible? In this episode, I share four reasons. Click the link below to hear all my 2024 announcements, which include the deets and downloads for Bible in Two.

I’d love for you to join me on this journey. Click the subscribe button, print the reading plan, buy a pretty journal, and let’s go!

Be beautiful & look for beauty!

Deanna

Podcast show notes. Please listen to the podcast for further information.

I have been working on goals and plans to make 2024 amazing. In this episode, I share three, no, four things you will want to look for as you walk this journey with me.

First: A new logo! What do you think? Seriously. Tell me. I value your feedback.

The second announcement is about platform. If you have been around in the last year, you know I write about two things: writing and everything else, usually with a faith focus. I will be moving my writing posts to Medium. If you are into the writing life or want to read what I have written for fun, follow me here.

Third, I will not be providing monthly resources. The guides I have been creating keep getting longer and longer and it is too difficult to produce them monthly, with quality. My paid subscribers can still look forward to these resources, just quarterly instead of monthly. To kick it off, you can look forward to a bible study on our identity in Christ at the beginning of the year, including two personal essays from two courageous friends. You won’t want to miss this one!

Last, but certainly not least, is the announcement about my bible reading program!

Be sure to listen to the podcast for the details about the reading plan and the reasoning for a two-year program when everyone else pushes one year.

As mentioned in the podcast, if you choose, you can download the full Book of Common Prayer here. It is over 800 pages and includes a lot of interesting information. I have taken out the bible reading plan and created the plan for us, which you can download below.

Download

Thank you for listening. As I hope you can tell from the podcast, I am already thrilled about the coming year. With any luck, this energizes you, as well! Until next time, be beautiful and look for beauty.

Deanna

We are created to work and we shouldn't dread it. Listen to today's podcast and learn why it's important to discover your passion and use your gifts to serve others and live out the gospel.

Hello and welcome to Beauty – the no-frills, no-nonsense podcast about all things beauty. True Beauty. God’s Beauty. I am your host, Deanna, and today we are continuing our conversation about character development using the story of Ruth and Naomi. Now, this is not a bible study, but I do encourage you to study this book. It is only four chapters, but it is filled with some good stuff. And, as a little teaser for my paid subscribers, if you are craving a little study, you might like next month’s resource.

Okay, Ruth and Naomi. Why are they good examples for character development? I love the way we are introduced to these ladies. Right off the bat, we are told there was a famine and Naomi moved to a new land with her husband and two sons. The husband ends up dying and the sons marry. But then, ten years later, they also die. We aren’t told anything about the way these people look, what they do for a living, how they died – nothing. I am a curious person, so I have questions – but the writer of the book of Ruth gave us the information we need for the overall story – which, if you read the book, is a beautiful story of trust and faith; hope and redemption.

We are told that Naomi decided to go back home because she learned the famine had ended. She told the girls to head home to their parents, but they refused. There is an exchange, and one ends up heading back to her parents, while the other, Ruth, stays with Naomi and they head to Bethlehem. Still no descriptions of either woman, but we can infer a couple of things. First, we can infer Ruth is committed and loyal for staying with her mother-in-law. We can also infer the deep grief Naomi was experiencing because of a conversation she had with the town ladies when she arrived. I love that this is all the information we need to captivate our attention. It would just be a distraction to read about their physical appearance. Sometimes, too many words and descriptions are just not necessary when telling a story.  

Chapter two unveils a plan to get Ruth a husband. Naomi sends her out to glean the field. We get some information about Boaz, learning he was worthy, so you can infer some things about what “worthy” might mean, and that he was a close relative in the family. We see Ruth’s willingness and obedience. She is described as a young woman and she caught the eye of Boaz. The next two chapters don’t reveal much more description and that is what I want you to notice. The absence of physical appearance is replaced with details of actions and customs. We don’t need to know what they looked like or how they carried themselves to connect with them. We connect with Naomi because of the tragedy she experienced. We connect with Ruth because of her obedience. And we connect with Boaz because he comes in and saves both women in a noble act of genuine love.

Both the story of David from last week and the story of Ruth and Naomi include a lot of details about things other than physical appearance. We read about their surroundings, their relationships, their actions and reactions, their body language, their words, and yes, their physical characteristics. For David, it was important to share – and in most stories you write, the physical characteristics will also be important. But what I want you to see in the story of Ruth and Naomi is that physical characteristics can be used sparingly and still make a great story. A great story is certainly a beautiful thing.

Just like the bible characters of David, Ruth, and Naomi, we are told what we need to know, when we need to know it. Look at your own story and consider which details are the most important to share – and when to share them. Remember, you want to share slowly over the course of your story.

If you need help or feedback, as always, feel free to reach out. I am happy to read or talk through your thoughts and help you on your writing journey.

D 😊

Hello and welcome to Beauty, the no-frills, no-nonsense podcast about all things beauty. True Beauty. God’s Beauty. I am your host, Deanna, and today we are going to talk about creating strong characters for a powerful story.

Think back to your high school English days. You were probably asked to make a timeline of your life and then use it for a writing exercise. It was the thing to do in the 80’s and I am thankful our teachers have evolved in giving more meaningful assignments. I always thought the exercise was kind of painful, because in high school, my life wasn’t terribly exciting. I hadn’t hit my rebellious years, so I hadn’t gotten to the juicy stuff. My timeline was boring.

Now that I am older, if I had to revisit that activity, the excitement would pop off the page. I’ve been on journeys. Marriage, divorce, remarriage, parenting, faith, health, grief – I’ve got stories, and I am not shy about sharing them. I believe these stories are what helped shape me into the woman I am today. But I can’t share all of it, all the time. When we are choosing a project, we have to narrow our focus. Let me explain what I mean.

I started a health journey about twelve years ago when I couldn’t keep up with my son as he was playing in the yard. I decided I needed to make some changes, which led me into the world of running, and eventually, CrossFit.

Fun Fact: I was so excited about this journey, I even started to pursued a personal trainer certificate.

For a short time, I gathered friends to join me on runs and workouts. I was having fun, but eventually, those groups fizzled out. Why? Because as much as I loved the journey I was on, it wasn’t really my wheelhouse – so it wasn’t sustainable long-term. That is a part of my story, and I still share it, but I share it to be an encouragement to others who are just starting or who are hitting a bump in the road. I wouldn’t choose to write a book about my health journey because, while there is a lot to it, there is not enough to fill a book and make it an interesting read.

So, what does this have to do with creating characters for fiction work? I’m glad you asked. There is much overlap between fiction writing and non-fiction writing, specifically creative non-fiction, memoirs, and personal essays. Since this month is dedicated to character development, I thought it would be fun to look at real-life biblical examples and how they were used in story.

The reason readers enjoy a story is because they connect with your characters – whether that be you in a memoir or Uncle Bob, the town drunk and black sheep of the family in a novel you are writing. Your characters make up your story. So, for example, if I decided to write about my health journey, I would paint a picture of the person I was before I began – an overweight mom, muddling through life with heavy breathing; happily eating processed food and drinking Pepsi while not considering the consequences. My character would evolve from there and my story would depict the journey. I would share descriptions of my physical appearance, but I would also share my thoughts, feelings, and emotions because those help bring the reader into the story, almost as if they were sitting on the front porch watching me feel like I was having a heart attack when I made my first jog around the block. Whether the story is fiction or non-fiction doesn’t matter when it comes to characters. Your reader needs to relate to these people, and you need to get good at describing exactly who they are.

Let’s look at David in the bible. I picked him because he is a mixture of good and bad, and most people relate to David on some level. He was a man of great accomplishment – but those accomplishments were stained with sin. That’s part of what makes his story so compelling, His story is our story, too. Let’s look at how the bible describes David.

In 1 Samuel 16:11-13, he is described as the youngest boy who tends to sheep and goats. He is dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes; chosen and anointed. If you keep reading in 1 Samuel 16, you will see David is a talented harp player, a brave warrior, a man of war, and a person with good judgment. When you flip to the next chapter, you will also see he is curious and that there is something about him that makes even his own brother a bit jealous. David is portrayed as brave enough to fight the giant Philistine, but not taken seriously enough because of his size. Notice how he shares a story in verses 34-37 to convince the king he is the one to put into battle, a foreshadowing of his career to come.

David is set up as a bold warrior – and his story goes on to reveal so much about him. I encourage you to take some time this week to study David. To write down, or even draw, a picture of how you visualize him – not just his appearance, but who he really is. Look at the ebb and flow of his life. His rise and his fall. Read the psalms he wrote, words which have stood the test of time; and take notice how the story is written. The descriptions. The conflicts. The goal. The motivation. The elements of a good story are all right there on the pages of scripture – and that is always a beautiful thing.

I know this is getting a bit long, but I do want to share one more thing with you. Well, two. First, I am super excited for the August resource to release for my paid subscribers.

For the last eight or nine years, I have been doing a 12-Days of Prayer for Teachers in my community where I post on my social media a different thing to pray for in the twelve days leading up to the first day of school. This year, I have created a School Year of Prayer and Encouragement – a guide filled with ways you can pray for and encourage a teacher or two in your life. As I said, this will only be available to my paid subscribers. A subscription to Shining.Our.Light is $5 per month, and if you choose the yearly option, you get two months free. And, because I believe it is important to invest into the next generation, a portion of the subscription fees are set aside to build the Shine Your Light Scholarship Award.  

The second thing I want you to know about is the resource for January.

I know it seems like January is so far away, but really, is it? I think not - and these resources take time to put together. The resource I will be sharing in January is a collection of personal essays. I am looking for people willing to work with me to share a piece of their story. Specifically, I am looking for stories of grief, spiritual wandering, or hardships (financial, health, relational) – and how you overcame the struggle. Stories of faith are preferred, but not required. Any story that shows a struggle and a triumph will be considered. Please note, stories need to be submitted by October 31st. You can get more information and indicate your interest here. There are limited slots available, so be sure to connect with me soon to get on the list.

Thanks for joining me today. Happy writing!

D 😊