Assignment 6 - Prepare Your Hearts

Your final assignment before Boot Camp is probably the hardest assignment you will be given. It's one where you are easily distracted. One that is hard to sometimes manage. It's preparation. You've done the paper work. Written your pieces to bring with you, added to the contests available, and you'll be reading through your roster that is attached. YEAH!  The paper work is done. 

But here is the hard part. Preparing your heart and minds. What happens is this: just before you arrive little voices start to attack your sense of self-worth and your self-confidence. You  may begin to wonder if writing is something you are meant to do. Perhaps you're coming along with a friend for the ride. Maybe you have a burning desire to be in print. It could be you really have a story to tell and you simply don't know it. It doesn't matter why. Only that you are in obedience.

Early on, I told you we have been praying for you for over a year. We started after boot camp last year, praying for God to send those HE WANTED to attend. Regardless how you are getting to boot camp, the undeniable fact is - you were prayed here. There is a calling on your heart. Sometimes it's just hard to see it through the rhetoric of life.

This is why your final assignment is so hard. Now is when you sit down, get quiet, and begin your uninterrupted prayers. Prayer is something we are so easily distracted away from especially when we need it the most. We find reasons to pray for others, but ourselves are a different issue. Pride, stubbornness, a desire to handle things on our own, prevent us from going to our knees on a personal level with a DESIRE, not a need. 

God loves to give us the desires of our hearts. In fact, we're told just that in scripture, but He is also a loving and omnipresent, omniscient God. He knows all our desires are not healthy for us. His discernment for our lives is far greater than we can imagine. 

Writing is a passion - a desire - placed inside us as one of our chosen gifts. Remember, He knew us long before we were knit together in our mother's wombs. He'd chosen the traits, the gifts, the passions He knew would best suit each of us. For you - writing is one of those things. So why is it hard to kneel before the King and ask for the passion of your life - the desire of your heart, to be a writer for Him? 

Here is the second thing. We are not writers chosen to be writers for ourselves. We are chosen to be a writer for Him. For His kingdom. That doesn't mean every other word you write is Jesus. It simply means, your write with a godly spirit. You choose to write words that you know Jesus would be proud to stand before the Kingdom and read aloud. Words that impact lives, give direction, bring joy, allow imagination to explode in our minds. Devotions are not the only words you can write. You can write fiction that moves the soul and changes hearts. Or non-fiction that guides and directs, addresses current issues, but offers hope. The words you write should be bound in Christ, offering glory to the Great I Am. Tell a good story. Tell it with words that raise the standards of the world. Do not fall to the lies of the world that tell you immoral, shameful language, or detestable behavior is the only thing that will sell. I am here as a witness to tell you that is a lie. IT IS NOT. You can write good words without tearing away at your Christian standards.

Thirdly, your attitude. Start now grooming yourself for an attitude of gratitude in your writing. Contracts, book sales, blog posts, articles are not entitlements - they are gifts. Learn now to treat them as such. Learn this very day, that editors are your friends and their goals are not to tear apart your work and destroy it, but to make it a glory for God. Learn to have a willing heart and teachable spirit for within those traits your success will multiply.

Prepare your hearts. Prepare your attitudes. Prepare your minds for the task God is calling you to do. Be open. Be willing. Be kind. Don't be driven by greed, selfish desire, and pride. Prepare yourself to learn and be filled with the knowledge that 1) will develop the craft of writing 2) draw you closer to the Father who has chosen YOU for this work. 

It is not easy. It will be frustrating. It will sometimes be disappointing. But you never go wrong when you walk in the calling, in the will of the Father. 

Finally, remember God's timing is ultimate. What is not timed for today, is marked for tomorrow.

Now, prepare your hearts.

Blessings,
Cindy
Get to it!  Click here for the link to the blog post for Assignment 5.
 

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THE BOOT CAMP ROSTER

It's READY!  Let me first thank Cindy Saab for being such a trooper. She volunteered early  to take on this task and despite my ever mounting changes, she has hung with me. We've learned that Mac's don't play well with regular PC's. They like to change things to what ever they desire. But we have a roster. We are praying we have everyone (less perhaps those very last minute attendees - there had to be a cut off).  You may read through and say...I didn't send that. And you're probably right. I spent time searching your blogs, websites, and sundries for photos and information to make a short bio. If you failed to send one...you got one. So don't be picky. (smiling).  I'm sure Cindy nor I am perfect, but we've worked hard on this roster (we may have even cried a little - you'll have to ask Cindy Saab). So offer us grace if things aren't perfect. Give Cindy a hug when you see her because she deserves it.

This roster is located on the www.ashevillechristianwritersconference.com site under newsletters.  Simply click the roster title or click the NOTES photo. You will get the roster. You can save it to your desk top. 

Spend some time gleaning through the faces and bios. These are your classmates. Your peers. These are the ones you begin your writing journey with. Make friends. Network. Keep this roster. Use it. Save the PDF on your desktop for future reference. This tool will serve you well in the future. OOORAH! to Cindy. And a thanks too. 
 

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 PREPARE FOR ARRIVAL PAGE

Once again, I have made you a PREPARE FOR ARRIVAL page on the website.  Some final notes:
*DO NOT ARRIVE AT THE COVE BEFORE 12:00 NOON. If you do, you will not be allowed up to the conference center. You will be sent to the Chapel to hang out until Pilgrim's Inn is ready to receive you.

*Arrive at NOON - drive to Pilgrim's Inn and check in. DO NOT TAKE YOUR BAGS IN. JUST GO IN AND CHECK IN.  You'll receive your badge which will admit you to the conference and meals.

*Get your badge and go directly to the main conference center. You can unload your suitcase after the early bird classes and get ready for supper. There is time. You can drive up the 30 second drive or you can take the shuttle that runs every 6 minutes. Take the elevator across from the fireplace to the 3rd floor.

*WEAR YOUR BADGE - don't remove your badge. This is your admittance to the 3rd floor of the Cove and also your meal ticket. Without your badge you may be asked to leave. This is their security measure that you are supposed to be on campus. It's for your safety.

*Liability Waiver - You will each be asked to sign a liability waiver. The Cove requires us to have insurance, but since we are not located in a physical building with a sign outside...you will be required to sign a liability waiver. This releases Christian Devotions, The Asheville Christian Writers Conference and the Cove from any liability. We must have these on file. So please be sure to sign it. I'll list it here and on the site for your to read in advance.

*ENJOY YOUR TIME AT THE COVE - It's a beautiful place. The food is amazing and well....it's an experience. Just an FYI about the Cove. They have on-going conferences and weekend events that you are able to participate in. In the past there has been a charge for these events (i.e. folks like Chip Ingram, Tony Evans, and artists like Selah, Phillips, Craig and Dean, and more. This year, the Cove has stepped out in faith and are offering most all their events free of charge. (Concerts and Christmas events are the exception). You can attend an even with Tony Evans and only pay if you choose to stay the night at the Cove's hotel. So check out The Cove's site. It's a wonderful place with wonderful events that you can attend to deepen your spiritual growth.

*Currently we are slated to stay in Pilgrim's Inn.

*If you are off campus, be sure and tell the guard gate attendant and they should give you a parking voucher.

*The weather should be good. Mid-50's with some rain showers. I encourage you to dress warm. Jeans and sweaters are fine. 50's in the mountains is still chilly and if it rains, the damp cold is chilling. Come comfortable but prepared to stay warm.

*Check the Newsletter page for your assignments and newsletters.
 

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PRAY THIS WEEK:

Pray for Boot Camp and here's how you can:
Pray for this event to be to God's glory and only His glory
Pray for open hearts and minds
Pray for creativity
Pray for joy and new friendships
Pray for Sonia Cameron - her father was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer Monday. Sonia is unable to attend.
Pray for Darla Duhamell who is suffering with some serious health issues and is unable to attend.
Pray for safe travel.
Pray that God will show you direction with your call to write.
Pray for good weather.
Pray for all the kinks to smooth out.
Pray for our faculty.
Pray for your writing work.
 

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Liability Notice

Liability Release Form 

Name of Business or Organization
The Asheville Christian Writers Conference, Christian Devotions Ministries & The Cove (The Billy Graham Training Center, their staffs and faculty.

Activity or Event
The Asheville Christian Writers Conference
February 19-21, 2106
Participant's Name:______________________________

In signing below, I assume risk of harm or injury which may occur to the participant as a result of participating in the above-named event or activity. I hereby release The Asheville Christian Writers Conference, Christian Devotions Ministries & The Cove (The Billy Graham Training Center, their staffs and faculty and its officers, employees, or agents, and all 501c3 connections from any liability, costs and damages resulting this individual's participation. I accept full responsibility for myself, my well-being, my possessions while in attendance. 

I also give my consent for the Asheville Christian Writers Conference, Christian Devotions Ministries & The Cove (The Billy Graham Training Center, their staffs and faculty to seek emergency treatment for myself if necessary, and I agree to accept financial responsibility for the costs related to this emergency treatment. 

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Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters...Colossians 3:23 NIV

I will see you on Friday! As my grandmaw always said, "I'll be there with bells on my toes."

Much love,
Cin