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Whether you’re looking for a Christian women’s event speaker, an author, or a writing instructor, you’ve come to the right place! Go ahead, take your shoes off and get comfortable. Let’s get to know each other!

And while you're here, I hope you'll check out my new book trailer for Seeing Through the Lies. ;-)


The Christian Writer's Den Blog

Welcome to The Christian Writer's Den! If you're a writer, ever thought about writing, or just like to hang around writers, I hope you'll join us! I post every Tuesday, but you can visit and comment anytime. Here's the schedule:

1st Tuesday-Encouragement from the Bible with application to the writing life.
2nd Tuesday-Writing instruction and kudos for recently published readers. 3rd Tuesday-Writing instruction and list of writing opportunities.
4th Tuesday-Visiting author interview and book give away.
5th Tuesday-We'll have a guest blogger--and it could be YOU!

Please don't be shy. This blog is for you, whether you're just considering writing, have been writing for years, or just enjoy hanging around writers, so please leave a comment or question any time. It's my prayer that this blog will help each of us grow in God's calling on our lives.

Vonda's Recent Blog Entries

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Love by Guest Blogger Shelly Moran

Our guest blogger today is Shelly Moran of NC. Shelly and I met when I spoke at her church several years ago. She confessed she was interested in writing and the rest is history! I know you're going to enjoy Shelly's "...random musings and obscure scribblings as (she tries) to figure out God."

Love by Shelly Moran

shellymoransmallphoto3_modifiedIn the penultimate expression of all that is, we find LOVE. That's it, and we know it, the total expression and aspiration of everything. We hear that God is love, and our brain boggles, we hear there is no fear in love, yet we can't comprehend what that means.

So we wrap our arms around it and squeeze with all our might, and we strap it to our chests and loins with furor. We shake our fists at the misunderstandings, and leap toward our versions of paradise, until scalded and pierced we lie fallow, and panting, wondering how love still eludes us.

Yet IT stands. Not our murky impersonations and gilded thorns, but the truth: that God is love, that without God there can be no love, and within that love there can be no fear.

I want to grasp that: the seeming impossibility of reciprocal relationship, a circle of love and trust. To walk in the heat, and cool, and shadow, and light of God, and take it as a daily offering to my brothers in this endless race.

Why do we not see this? Why do we not run toward God's love and rest in it, holding His hand and staring in the depths of His face?

Because we cannot accept that ALL is according to His purpose.

That ALL is His unrivaled attempt to LOVE us.  

That he will take our wretched and selfish choices, that leave us gasping and grasping toward security--that he will take the evil that's visited upon us, that leaves us writhing and staggering from agony--and teach us to let go of fear, and hurt, and power, and glory. That He will orchestrate this supreme dance to its finest point and pinnacle, in spite of our vainglorious, ignorant strivings, and love us, fully bleeding, into freedom.

TRUST ME, He says, and we say, I CAN'T. LOVE ME, He says, and we say, I DO, but we don't. I CAN'T TRUST YOU, we say, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW YOU, BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE YOU, BECAUSE I WON'T COME CLOSE ENOUGH, BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST YOU.

Because, honestly, we cannot step outside our wretched perceptions of ourselves, to believe that with no further ascension or merit, we could be that authentically LOVED.

Vonda: Thanks, Shelly. Great job! Guest bloggers fill in on the fifth Tuesdays and are free to write on anything they wish. Would any of you like be a guest blogger here on The Christian Writer's Den? All you have to do is let me know and I'll put your name on the list. Thanks!

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Who Wins Marybeth Whalen's Book, Learning to Live Financially Free?

Lesia Glick! Congratulations, Lesia. All you have to do is send me your mailing address and your free book will be on the way!

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Writer's Conferences: An Integral Part of the Writing Life

What a wonderful week in PA at the St. David's Christian Writer's Conference! It was my first time to be there and what a blessing to visit with old friends and make new ones.

I'll be at three more writers' conferences this year and would love to see you!

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thecabincovesmallThe Fall Writing Retreat is full, but the waiting list is still open. It's October 1-4 in the beautiful mountains of Todd, NC. Simply send completed registration to Edie. NOTE: You don't have to send a deposit to be placed on the waiting list. Check out the 2008 video and you'll see why writers love it so much!

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While I was at the St. David's Conference this past week, I often heard writers say something like, "I'm sorry I'm so new at writing." Well, you know what I say to that? Don't apologize! Remember, all of us were new to writing at one time. And although most beginners have much to learn, that doesn't mean the messages aren't worthy and applicable. After all, even if our writings aren't yet publishable, God can still use those early words to encourage our churches, our friends, and our families. I encourage you with these words written by Paul as young Timothy began his ministry:

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.                                                  1 Timothy 4:12

I pray God's blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda

June 29, 2009 | 0 Comments | View or add comments
Interview and Book Give Away with Author and Speaker Marybeth Whalen

marybethwhalenheadshotI'm thrilled to introduce you to my friend, Marybeth Whalen. Marybeth is the wife of Curt and mom of six children, ages teen to toddler and they live outside Charlotte, NC. She's a member of the Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker team and a regular contributor to their daily devotions. She served as general editor of For The Write Reason and the upcoming book The Reason We Speak. Today we're going to hear about Learning To Live Financially Free: Hard-Earned Wisdom for Saving Your Marriage and Your Money, a recently released book she co-authored with her husband. Marybeth speaks regularly to women's groups and enjoys sharing stories from her daily adventures as a wife, mom, homeschooler, writer, and, most importantly, a follower of God. You can find her online at www.marybethwhalen.com.

Be sure to leave a comment and you'll be in the drawing for a free book!

Vonda: Okay, let's get started. What prompted you to write about your own financial life lessons?

Marybeth: My husband, Curt, and I learned that sharing our story is helpful to other people who are struggling. There's so much shame and hiding attached to issues with money. We decided that the best thing we could do is to just be honest and real about the mistakes that we've made and the lessons we've learned. People need to know they aren't the only ones struggling with these issues.

Vonda: You wrote this book as a couple. Why, and what were the challenges?

Marybeth: I love to write, but I am not a financially minded person. Since my husband takes care of the bills and has lots of experience with financial counseling, it was a natural fit for me to have him involved with this project. I can tell stories, but he brings the nuts and bolts of financial management to the equation. As far as the challenges, it was not that bad. Mostly I had to learn to be patient with him while he juggled working fulltime and writing the parts of the book I needed from him. I had to not cross the line between "asking" and nagging. We are already brainstorming our next book so I would say it was a good experience overall.

Vonda: As the mom of six children, what advice can you give to mothers about spending?

Marybeth: Number One--cook at home. When Curt does financial counseling with families he often discovers a huge portion of their monthly spending is for eating out. This is a easy to fix. I encourage moms to make a meal plan and then create a grocery list based on the needed ingredients for those meals. I usually do all of this on weekends. I sit down in my kitchen with some favorite cookbooks and begin writing down meals and what I will need to make them. (I do this in the kitchen so I can easily hop up to check what we need.) After I am done, it's time for a grocery run with my list in hand. I might spend 1.5-2 hours doing this on a weekend, but I don't have to think about dinner again all week--and that's a big relief to my stress level and our budget. No last minute pizza or takeout runs because I forgot to plan dinner! I post all our meals on a write on/wipe off board on the side of our fridge and each morning I look at the choices to see if I need to take meat out to thaw or start something in the crockpot.

For menu planning inspiration, check out Organizing Junkie where you'll find a roundup of menu plans every Monday and many people include recipes too. It really helps to see what a weekly menu looks like for other moms, especially if you've never done it before.

Vonda: What a great tip! Okay, here's a tough one. How can mothers teach their children about living financially free?

Marybeth: By putting as much of the spending decisions as you can into their livingfinanciallyfreecover hands. We give our kids money for certain jobs, but we also have them use that money for things they want. Want to go to the movies? Sure! If you have the money. Want a milkshake? Did you bring your money? They quickly see where their money goes... and how fast. It's so much more impactful than if you are constantly doling out money. It's funny to see how quickly some of those things they used to beg for become not so important when it's their money. That's a lesson you want them to learn early on-- the difference between needs and wants, and delayed gratification.

Vonda: What made you re-evaluate your family finances?

Marybeth: We were expecting our sixth child and were $95,000 in debt. We knew we were on a slippery slope and the reality of her arrival was weighing on us as we took on that additional responsibility. We sat in our car one night and dreamed of what it would be like to be debt free. Our dreams took shape as we plotted out what it would take to get out of debt once and for all. We were unified in our approach for the first time in our marriage and able to support each other as we took those first tentative steps. We knew it would be a long haul... and it was. It took us 4.5 years but now we are debt free except for our house.

Vonda: What's the first thing that families need to do to get a handle on their finances?

Marybeth: Set up a budget that your household runs on. Stick to that budget no matter what. Some people hate even hearing the word budget but we have learned that for our finances to work, it's a necessary thing that, in the end, can be quite freeing.

Vonda: Living frugal often has a negative connotation. What is the most rewarding thing about living financially free?

Marybeth: Being able to do things we've never been able to do before... and pay cash for it. We have to think ahead and make sure it's in the budget, but once we determine those things we can go out and make our purchase without that nagging feeling that we've just made a mistake like we used to.
 
Vonda: Show us a glimpse of the life in the day of a writer, speaker, and mom of 6.

Marybeth: No day is ever the same as the one before it. With school ending, we are looking forward to the lazy days of eating popsicles, going to our neighborhood pool, riding bikes, and catching fireflies. My oldest is driving now and will probably be working. On a good day, I get in a workout on the treadmill and get some writing done, too. Oh, and there's always meals to be cooked and laundry and dishes to be done!

Vonda: How can we find out more about your book, and where to connect with you?

Marybeth: My personal blog, Cheaper By The Half Dozen, can be found at www.marybethwhalen.com.

Curt and I have started a blog dealing with financial issues at www.marybethandcurt.blogspot.com. We answer questions there and also post ideas for saving money.

Vonda: And Learning To Live Financially Free: Hard-Earned Wisdom For Saving Your Marriage and Your Money, is available at my Amazon store or at Proverbs 31 Ministries http://www.proverbs31.org. Thank you for being with us, Marybeth.

And readers, don't forget to leave a comment. You know you want this book. It could save your marriage and your money

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The CWD Fall Writer's Retreat Waiting List is Up and Running!

2008cwdretreatThe last spot has been taken, but don't despair! It's easy to get on the waiting list. Simplly fill out the registration and mail it to Edie at the address noted. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SEND A DEPOSIT TO BE ON THE WAITING LIST! Names will go on the list as registrations are received. If an opening becomes available, we'll notify you in order of registration. We usually are able to take one and sometimes several from the waiting list. Remember, it's October 1-4 in Todd, NC. Be sure to check out last year's video and then get registered!

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I'm having a wonderful time this week at the St. David's Christian Writer's Conference in Pennsylvania. It's not only a wonderful conference, but it's held at Grove City College, an amazingly beautiful setting that confirms our God as Creator and Lord. Just another reminder that God speaks through His creation.

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:20

I pray God's blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda

June 22, 2009 | 11 Comments | View or add comments

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