I met Erica Vetsch almost 2 years ago at ACFW in Indianapolis. It was a pretty memorable event. We met just outside the bar, waiting to shmooze with the Seekers – and I think I was already in my frumpy pajamas. (To the left is a pic of me, Mary Connealy, and Erica. Cute bunch, eh?)
Is that right, Erica? 🙂
You’ll find that both online and off, Erica has a vital and engaging sense of humor, not to mention a sprawling vocabulary. It’s embarassing how many cool words she knows…and how few of them I can define 😉
And she has a great tip on ‘inspiration’ for us today. Check it out.
My favorite inspirational scene…that’s difficult to say, but I’m going to go with my most recent release, A Bride’s Portrait of Dodge City, Kansas. The hero, Miles, is trying so hard to change his life instead of letting God change it. His wise friend Jonas speaks some truth over him about who needs to perform the change and who needs to let Him. 🙂
Jonas stopped pacing. “You’ve been carrying around a lot of burdens. I stand by my earlier assessment. You’re one of thebravest men I know.”
“I sure don’t feel like it. Have you ever tried not to be something you’ve been your whole life?”
“Every day.”
That answer, when Miles expected a denial, made him blink.
“Every day I have to let God be in charge and change me. It’s when I try to do the changing, or when I get bucky and refuse to change, that things get fouled up.” He clapped Miles on the shoulder. “Get some sleep. You’re going to need it. We’ve got quite a few mysteries to solve.”
Miles closed the door after his friend. When he put his head on the pillow, he thought he’d have trouble getting to sleep, he had so much to think about and work through, but as his eyelids grew heavy, he realized that in sharing his troubles with Jonas, he’d lightened his burden.
Would he experience the same easing of his troubles when he confessed everything to Addie?
The Bible verse that helps me when I’m stymied? The same one that helps me in so many ways. Often when I’m blocked or stuck or procrastinating, it’s because I’m afraid. Afraid I won’t be able to give life to the vision in my head, that I won’t live up to my and readers’ expectations.
That’s when I need to remind myself of a profound truth.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Thanks so much for the reminder, Erica….and I’m looking forward to getting hold of your book! YAY!
Stop by on Thursday for a visit from Ruth Axtell Morren.
Blessings,
I met Erica Vetsch almost 2 years ago at ACFW in Indianapolis. It was a pretty memorable event. We met just outside the bar, waiting to shmooze with the Seekers – and I think I was already in my frumpy pajamas. (To the left is a pic of me, Mary Connealy, and Erica. Cute bunch, eh?)
“I sure don’t feel like it. Have you ever tried not to be something you’ve been your whole life?”
Pepper, thanks for letting us know Erica better! I so appreciate a sprawling vocabulary – I learn so much for brains like hers. Erica, I LOVE your inspiration verse. We could spend a lifetime in the book of Isaiah and still not know/understand it all. Thanks for this cool insight into your book. It’s on my Kindle, but I haven’t had the privilege of reading it yet. (As an aside, I just checked Amazon to discover they only have ONE of your books left in stock with more being ordered! Well done!)
Donna,
Thanks for stopping by. Yep, those people with massive vocabularies help educate the rest of us, right? 🙂
And ONE BOOK LEFT on Amazon?!? Way to GO, Erica!
Donna, I first read Isaiah 41:10 when I was a kid reading Jeanette Oke books. One of her characters had that as a life verse, and I just loved it so, I adopted it as my own. 🙂
Ooohh…this is another awesome verse on fear! I love these devotionals and excerpts.
This line is a great one because I think we can all relate to it (or at least I can):
“I sure don’t feel like it. Have you ever tried not to be something you’ve been your whole life?”
Julia, thanks so much for your comment. I love that line too, because, as you said, I relate to it. 🙂
Massive vocabulary??? Okay, that settles it, Erica — you and I are NEVER playing Scrabble, girlfriend. 🙂
Hugs,
Julie
You should play Scrabble with me, Julie. I spend so much time looking for the unusual word, I end up losing because I never remember to count up points or place the words where I could get the highest score. 🙂
It’s a trap, Julie. Don’t listen 😉 I’m not even going to try, Erica. You’d take me down in 4 words or less 🙂