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By Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2 �For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,� declares the Lord. �As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts� (Isaiah 55:8-9). Never were truer words penned than these ancient words from the prophet Isaiah. And if you�re a writer with the call of God on your life, these words are especially true for you. Case in point: A year ago I sensed God birthing an idea for a new devotional book. The concept grew, took shape, and swept me away like a swimmer in a rip tide. Although I know it�s proper procedure to write the proposal for a non-fiction book and then wait for a contract before writing the full manuscript, I just couldn�t help myself. Ideas popped like bacon in a skillet. Every time I opened my Bible, God illuminated special verses and passages I couldn�t wait to write about. Even though I knew better, that I might be wasting my time because a publisher might ...

by Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2 I hope by now you�ve watched the movie  I Can Only Imagine , which tells the story of Bart Millard, MercyMe�s lead singer�s relationship with his father. A hauntingly beautiful tale about pain and forgiveness, the film�s central message displays God�s ability to redeem the most broken situation and soften the hardest hearts.  Screenwriters used the history of the now wildly-successful Christian band as a backdrop for the primary theme. Since its inception, MercyMe has produced six gold albums and 13 consecutive top 5 singles on the Billboard Christian Songs chart, with seven of them reaching No. 1. The band has won 8 Dove Awards and many Grammy Award nominations.   But MercyMe hasn�t always been successful. And while success finally did come, it didn�t come overnight. Or easily. These truths combine to produce the secondary ribbon woven through the story�perseverance.  When Bart Millard felt God call him to use his musical gifts and tale...

By Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2 Do you ever wonder what in the world God is doing in this crazy writing life? God, why did I work so hard on that article only to have it rejected?  God, why was that piece chosen, but the one I really love not selected?  God, why did I spend nine months of my life on that project, only to have it sit in my computer going nowhere and reaching no one? God, why do you fill my head with ideas to write about and wake me up in the middle of the night, then don�t grow my blog as quickly as I�d hoped? God, if I�m obeying your call to write, why is it so hard? God, what are you doing in this crazy writing life of mine???? If you can relate to any of these questions, there�s hope. Hope that comes, of all places, from the book of Job. Imagine that. God is laughing already. Who would think that a man who had lost ten children in a tragic accident, went from millionaire to pauper in a day, and was married to a cruel, faithless woman would have any hope to off...

By Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2 How many times have you said, �That�s it. I quit�? If you�re a writer, you�ve said it at least once�this hour. Or maybe you�re on a writer�s high, and you haven�t said it in a day or two. For the sake of the community, allow me to crack open your skull (figuratively speaking, of course) and expose your innermost thoughts for the writing world to hear: I�m never going to finish this book. I could have birthed an elephant in the time I�ve been working on it. Maybe two. And if I do finish it, no agent will want to represent me. I�m a nobody. And if, by chance, someone feels sorry for me and takes me on as a benevolence project, he�ll never be able to find a publisher.  I�m sorry, but your manuscript doesn�t meet our publication needs at this time.  Besides, lots of other people have written about ________ (insert your subject or story line). What makes me think mine is unique? And even IF a publisher says yes, who�s going to pay good money to read wh...