While working with the children in my care, I hear “I can’t” quite a bit. As an early childhood educator, it’s my job to encourage and empower them to move past their challenges to do their best.
At Deep Thinkers 2010, Rachel Hauck encouraged participants to choose a scripture to pray over their writing. I chose 2 Corinthians 3:2-3: “You yourselves are our letter written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
Recently, I attended a My Book Therapy staff retreat. While preparing a devotional to share with the rest of the staff, I continued reading in 2 Corinthians, and verses 4-6 read: “Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
These words remind me of our purpose in the world. God uses us to minister to others in his name — to be Jesus in the skin. Our words and actions are a letter — a witness to others.
The theme of this issue is competence. Competence is having a skill, an ability —something we’re good at.
Writing challenges cause us to doubt our abilities. We need to be humble about our abilities and know we are limited in our own right. Perfection is not possible. Jesus is the only Perfect One. But we’ve been gifted with unique talents and gifts. And those abilities come from God.
Like my toddlers and preschoolers, sometimes we may feel like we can’t. But you know what? We don’t have to do it by ourselves. Philippians 4:13 reminds us we can do all things through Him who gives us strength.
What is the one thing you’d do if you knew you could not fail?
As always, this e-zine is not a solo effort, but the work of an amazing team and guest writers. So allow me to close by thanking those involved in putting this e-zine together:
- Book Therapists, Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck.
- Voices Staff:
- Roxanne Gray, Copy editor.
- Edie Melson, Assistant copy editor, Social Marketing columnist.
- Vicki McCollumn, Assistant copy editor.
- Amy Lindberg, Assistant copy editor, Flash Fiction coordinator.
- Reba J. Hoffman, A Word of Encouragement columnist.
- Beth K. Vogt, Mentor’s Moment columnist.
- Jennie Atkins, The Write Technology columnist.
- Carrie Fancett Pagels, Making Your Characters Behave columnist.
- Patricia Woodside, Diversity in Writing columnist.
- Melissa Tagg, Finding the Funny columnist.
- Matthew Sheehy, The Manly Mindset columnist.
- Connie Almony, What’s Your Story? columnist.
- Amanda G. Stevens, Consulting With the Specialists coordinator
- Teri Dawn Smith, Consulting With the Specialists coordinator.
- Michelle Lim, Genre Java coordinator.
- Alena Taurianen, Writing & Wellness columnist.
- Preslaysa Williams, Featured Fiction coordinator.
Additional Articles:
- Delaina Netherland,
- Melissa Isaksen,
Whether you’re a new writer learning the basics or an established, published author, get involved and meet others who are finding their way in the writing world too. At MBT, you are not alone in your journey. Be part of the writing community where Every Voice Counts!
Your Voices Editor-in-Chief,
