Your Writer’s Voice for God

As an author and Christian Life Coach, I’m often asked about how to get started with a writing career. Here’s a mini-course on just that – how to get started on the writing path. There are lots of coaching tips and I’ve included worksheets to help you through those all-important first stages of decision making and planning, plus a guide to help equip you with attainable goals for moving forward in your new career. This course is for anyone thinking about changing their profession or seeking a solid basis to grow their writing.

Is God calling you to write for Him?

  • Do you feel compelled by God to write?
  • Does anyone say your words have impacted or inspired them?
  • Has anyone in professional writing circles said your work is good?
  • Have you ever dreamed of writing Devotionals or Christian Romance novels?
  • If your answer to any of those questions is “yes,” —

Congratulations – You just might be a writer!

As an author and Christian Life Coach, I’m often asked how to start a writing career. Here’s a workbook to help you with that. It has a questionnaire about how to get started on the writing path.

There are lots of coaching tips, and I’ve included worksheets to help you through those all-important first stages of decision-making and planning, plus a guide to help equip you with attainable goals for moving forward in your new career. The workbook is for anyone thinking about changing their profession or seeking a solid base to grow their writing.

Your Write Voice for His Kingdom is available from Amazon as a print book and  Etsy as an instant download.

Writing for God - a beginner's guide book, front cover showing a blue hydrangea.
Writing for God – a beginner’s guide.

If God is calling you to write for Him, there’s no better partnership.
You are His masterpiece, Blessed one.

Til next time, know you are loved by the One who made you in His image.

Lynne

Personality Type Assessment

Discover your Personality Type with this easy personality assessment. Your answers will give you one of sixteen personality types using Introvert, Extrovert, Sensor, Intuitive, Thinker, Feeler, Judge and Perceiver.
Personality Types

Answer each question and tally the results for each section. Try to answer as truthfully as you can. If you’re unsure, ask someone who knows you well. At the bottom of each section choose the definition that you scored the highest with. At the end of the assessment, you will have 4 letters which will serve as your abbreviated personality type definition.

Extroverts

  • Have natural high energy
  • Are outwardly expressive
  • Social
  • Talk more than listen
  • Think out loud
  • Are spontaneous
  • Prefer a public role
  • May be easily distracted
  • Can multi-task
  • Are outgoing
  • Enthusiastic

Introverts

  • Have quiet energy
  • Are reserved
  • Comfortable being alone
  • Listen more than talk
  • Keep most thoughts to themselves
  • Think before acting
  • Prefer to work behind the scenes
  • Have good concentration
  • Focus on one task at a time
  • Are quiet in crowds
  • Calm

If you chose mostly ‘Extrovert’ answers, put E as the first letter of your personality type.
If you chose mostly ‘Introvert’ answers, put I as the first letter of your personality type.

Sensory

  • Focus on specifics and details
  • Like practical solutions
  • Remember facts
  • See what is
  • Live In the moment
  • Trust actual experiences
  • Use established skills
  • Like step-by-step instructions
  • Work at a steady pace

Intuitive

  • Focus on the big picture
  • Appreciate creative ideas
  • Notice anything new or different
  • See possibilities
  • Think of future implications
  • Trust their own instincts
  • Like to learn new skills
  • Figure things out on their own
  • Work in bursts of energy

If you chose mostly ‘Sensory’ answers, put S as the second letter of your personality type.
If you chose mostly ‘Intuitive’ answers, put N as the second letter of your personality type.

You now have 2 letters as your personality type. 2 more to go…

Thinkers

  • Make objective decisions
  • Appear cool and reserved
  • Are convinced by rational arguments
  • Are truthful and direct
  • Value honesty and fairness
  • Don’t usually take things personally
  • Are quick to see flaws
  • Motivated by achievement
  • Enjoy arguing or debating

Feelers

  • Make decisions based on their values and feelings
  • Are warm and friendly
  • Convinced by how they feel
  • Are diplomatic and tactful
  • Value harmony and compassion
  • Usually take things personally
  • Are quick to compliment others
  • Motivated by appreciation
  • Try to avoid arguments and conflict

If you chose mostly ‘Thinker’ answers, put T as the third letter of your personality type.
If you chose mostly ‘Feeler’ answers, put F as the third letter of your personality type.

You now have 3 letters as your personality type. One more time…

Judgers

  • Like a sense of being settled
  • Take responsibility seriously
  • Are usually prompt
  • Like to finish what they start
  • Work before they play
  • Need closure
  • Prefer to work with rules and boundaries
  • Stick with a plan
  • Like schedules

Perceivers

  • Like to keep their options open
  • Are playful and casual
  • Usually run late
  • Often have multiple unfinished projects
  • Play before work
  • Are often indecisive
  • Don’t like rules and order
  • Like to work with flexible plans
  • Are spontaneous

If you chose mostly ‘Judger’ answers, put J as the fourth letter of your personality type.
If you chose mostly ‘Perceiver’ answers, put P as the fourth letter of your personality type.

You now have your 4 basic personality type letters!

Introvert v Extrovert
Sensory v Intuitive
Thinker v Feeler
Judger v Perceiver

Place them in order: I or E, S or N, T or F, J or P
For example: an Introvert, Sensory, Thinker, Judger = ISTJ

The 4 letters describe your personality as one of 16 basic personality types.

Want to find out more about personalities and character development? Visit my Pinterest board for Writing Personality Types.

Til next time, remember you were made in the image of the One who created you.

Lynne

Your Spiritual Gifts from God

Before you begin your Spiritual Gifts evaluation, you’ll need to understand what Spiritual Gifts are, and are not. These passages from scripture will help you see how wonderful our Heavenly Father is, that He would give all His children such special Gifts!

Romans 12:6-8

1 Corinthians 12:8-10

1 Corinthians 12:28

Ephesians 4:11

1 Peter 4:9-10

As you willingly accept your Gifts from God, ask Him to reveal to you how He wants to use them to accomplish the special assignments He has for you to fulfil your purpose for His Kingdom on Earth.

This evaluation will take approximately twenty minutes.

 

Let’s begin to unwrap your Gifts

Spiritual Gifts Test with Lynne Collier

How much do you agree with each statement? Be totally honest as you are right now, not as you want to be. God can use you right now for His Kingdom, so start where you are right now in your life – warts and all! Hold on to the person you want to be – that person will emerge as you seek God with all your heart and trust His leadership. You may see other Gifts unwrap as you grow in your faith. Put your answer beside each statement. And don’t be shy – if you know you fit the statement – say it with confidence in the realization that it’s not anything you’ve done, but what God has done through you. Give Him all the glory!

Score as 0 = Not at all. 1 = Sometimes. 2 = Often. 3 = Usually. 4 = Almost always.

__ Q1. I effectively organize people and projects to reach goals in ministry and work.
__ Q2. I have specific plans for reaching defined goals.
__ Q3. I easily delegate tasks in order to make things run more smoothly.
__ Q4. I seek out opportunities to make decisions.
__ Q5. I understand what must be done to accomplish a goal.

__ Q6. I feel driven to start new projects for God.
__ Q7. I enjoy new challenges and taking risks.
__ Q8. I enjoy making a difference in other people’s lives.
__ Q9. I would like to work as Christ’s ambassador on earth.
__ Q10. I am willing to work hard to see churches reach their full potential.

__ Q11. I can usually tell right away what a person’s character and abilities are.
__ Q12. I usually know if something is from God, Satan or Man.
__ Q13. I recognize inconsistencies in people.
__ Q14. I realize people’s true motives for doing something.
__ Q15. I perceive when something is twisted in communication.

__ Q16. I am driven to impact other people’s lives for Christ.
__ Q17. I rejoice with people who have put their trust in the Lord in difficult times.
__ Q18. I seek out opportunities to help people reach their full potential for Christ.
__ Q19. I like to be able to inspire people and encourage them.
__ Q20. I rejoice at other people’s success.

__ Q21. I seek out opportunities to bridge the gap between myself and people not of my faith.
__ Q22. I sense when a person is open to the message of salvation.
__ Q23. I have helped many people come to faith in Christ.
__ Q24. I believe love, not logic, wins people to Christ.
__ Q25. I’m deeply burdened for those who don’t know Christ.

__ Q26. I welcome taking risks for God.
__ Q27. I get excited by overcoming obstacles through faith.
__ Q28. I readily accept a challenge that seems like a ‘mission impossible.’
__ Q29. I have a passionate prayer life.
__ Q30. I have a great sense that God is in control of all things.

__ Q31. I eagerly give more than the ten percent tithe in my offering.
__ Q32. I usually give anonymously when I can.
__ Q33. I look for ways I can increase my income in order to give more to the church.
__ Q34. I see my resources as belonging to God so I give beyond what is asked of me.
__ Q35. I know everything belongs to God and I am a steward of His bounty.

__ Q36. I firmly believe that people can be healed supernaturally.
__ Q37. I pray specifically to be used by God to heal people.
__ Q38. I believe healing occurs only by God’s will.
__ Q39. I view medical science as a means God sometimes uses to heal people.
__ Q40. I give God all the glory when He uses me to bring healing to someone.

__ Q41. I like to serve behind the scenes.
__ Q42. I rejoice in the success of others.
__ Q43. I like attention to detail.
__ Q44. I seek out ways to assist others in their tasks.
__ Q45. I don’t need recognition for the work I do.

__ Q46. I’m known for making people feel welcome and comfortable.
__ Q47. I seek out people who are alone in a crowd.
__ Q48. I have a strong desire to make people feel loved and accepted.
__ Q49. I see my home as belonging to God and I welcome visitors in His name.
__ Q50. I try to promote fellowship in believers when I can.

__ Q51. I have a clear understanding of what the speaker is saying, even if the language is unknown to me.
__ Q52. I can translate messages in a way that edifies and exhorts believers.
__ Q53. I am able to convey the meaning of words spoken by other believers to glorify God.
__ Q54. I am able to interpret messages given by someone speaking in a language unknown to the audience.
__ Q55. I am eager to interpret when someone starts speaking in an unknown language.

__ Q56. I devote much of my time to reading scripture.
__ Q57. I love to share biblical insights.
__ Q58. I love to help others understand God’s Word.
__ Q59. I feel strong benefits from studying the Bible.
__ Q60. I delight in answering difficult questions about scripture to glorify God.

__ Q61. I motivate others to work towards accomplishing visions for the future of the church.
__ Q62. I am naturally drawn into leadership roles.
__ Q63. I find it easy to inspire people to work together for the benefit of God’s kingdom.
__ Q64. I easily see the vision for the church.
__ Q65. I am happy to release responsibility to others who are qualified.

__ Q66. I am drawn to meeting the practical needs of others.
__ Q67. I devote much prayer time for the sake of others.
__ Q68. I grieve with those who grieve.
__ Q69. I generally place the needs of others above my own needs.
__ Q70. I feel fulfilled when I visit the sick, homeless, orphans or those in nursing homes.

__ Q71. I recognize prayer as a supernatural way God acts in the lives of people.
__ Q72. I give credit to God alone for supernatural works.
__ Q73. I fully understand it is by God’s will only that miracles happen.
__ Q74. I believe I am an instrument for God’s work on Earth.
__ Q75. When I encounter an impossible situation, I pray and look to God for His will.

__ Q76. I feel driven to help others reach their full potential in Christ.
__ Q77. I look for opportunities to serve others.
__ Q78. I enjoy developing a trusting relationship with a small group of people.
__ Q79. I am happy to give my time to help people with their spiritual needs.
__ Q80. I believe people take precedence over projects.

__ Q81. I am known for communicating God’s Word.
__ Q82. I enjoy sharing my strong biblical convictions with others.
__ Q83. I view myself as an instrument to be used by the Holy Spirit to change lives.
__ Q84. I find it easy to confront others’ motives if they don’t live up to biblical standards.
__ Q85. I frequently receive and share messages from God which comfort and challenge His people.

__ Q86. I spend many hours studying scripture in order to apply the truth.
__ Q87. I enjoy explaining God’s Word to others.
__ Q88. I seek out opportunities to speak biblical truth and principles into situations.
__ Q89. I enjoy helping people learn to study scripture.
__ Q90. I believe God’s Word can be effectively taught by several means.

__ Q91. I believe God prompts me to convey His messages through a language I don’t know.
__ Q92. I often pray for others in utterances using an unknown language.
__ Q93. I desire opportunities to pray for the church in an unknown language which I believe glorifies God.
__ Q94. I share words and messages given to me by God, using an unknown language.
__ Q95. I often comfort or encourage others using an unknown language inspired by God.

__ Q96. I enjoy speaking biblical insights into life situations.
__ Q97. I am often sought out by others for advice or wisdom.
__ Q98. I take great pleasure in counselling others.
__ Q99. I am known for making correct decisions and judgements.
__ Q100. I recognize God as the primary source of all wisdom.

Now tally your results:

Qs 1-5 =
Qs 6-10 =
Qs 11-15 =
Qs 16-20 =
Qs 21-25 =
Qs 26-30 =
Qs 31-35 =
Qs 36-40 =
Qs 41-45 =
Qs 46-50 =
Qs 51-55 =
Qs 56-60 =
Qs 61-65 =
Qs 66-70 =
Qs 71-75 =
Qs 76-80 =
Qs 81-85 =
Qs 86-90 =
Qs 91-95 =
Qs 96-100 =

Now record your highest marks and discover which Gifts God may have blessed you with.

Record your highest three scores. Your supportive scores are listed as your fourth, fifth and sixth.

If you score the same on more than one Gift, write them on the same line then go to the next score.

Qs 1-5: means you likely have the Spiritual Gift of Administration, and so on;
Qs 6-10 Apostleship
Qs 11-15 Discernment
Qs 16-20 Encouragement
Qs 21-25 Evangelism
Qs 26-30 Faith
Qs 31-35 Giving
Qs 36-40 Healing
Qs 41-45 Helping
Qs 46-50 Hospitality
Qs 51-55 Interpretation
Qs 56-60 Knowledge
Qs 61-65 Leadership
Qs 66-70 Mercy
Qs 71-75 Miracles
Qs 76-80 Pastoring
Qs 81-85 Prophecy
Qs 86-90 Teaching
Qs 91-95 Tongues
Qs 96-100 Wisdom

My Highest Gifts Are:

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

My Supportive Gifts Are:

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

Definitions of Spiritual Gifts

Administration is the Gift which serves and strengthens the body of Christ by effectively organizing resources and people in order to efficiently reach ministry goals.

Apostleship is the Gift which God uses to launch and lead new ministries to expand His kingdom.

Discernment recognizes truth or error within a message, person or event.

Encouragement helps others to live a godly life through inspiration, counselling, and empowerment.

Evangelism is the Gift that enables believers who are blessed to share the love of Christ in a way which draws people to accept the gift of salvation.

Faith helps those who have this Gift to see God’s purposes accomplished; trusting God to overcome all obstacles.

Giving encourages people to joyfully offer more than the usual tithe to further God’s kingdom.

Healing restores health beyond traditional and natural means, to those who are sick and suffering.

Helping offers assistance to others in reaching their goals that glorify God, without thought for the helper’s own gratification.

Hospitality provides others with a welcoming environment for fellowship and comfort.

Interpretation is the Gift which understands a message from God spoken in a language unknown to them or others in attendance.

Knowledge is the ability to communicate God’s truth to others for the purpose of promoting justice, honesty, and understanding.

Leadership is given to believers to relay visions of God’s will for spiritual growth and achieving specific goals.

Mercy is the ability to minister to those who suffer physically, emotionally, spiritually, or relationally. Their acts are characterized by their love, compassion, and kindness.

Miracles are supernatural acts that bring validity to God and His power.

Pastoring is having responsibility for a group of believers to equip them in Christ-centered living.

Prophecy offers messages from God that comfort, encourage, warn, and reveal truths that lead to repentance and spiritual growth.

Teaching is imparting sound doctrine in relevant ways, empowering people to grow in their faith.

Tongues communicate God’s message in a special language unknown to the speaker.

Wisdom is making wise decisions and counselling others with sound advice in accordance with God’s will.

Now you have an idea of the Spiritual Gifts God may have given you. Pray for His will and guidance to use your Gifts for His glory, and to serve others as you minister to them in the love that flows from Christ.

Lynne

“Eyes” – Communicating with an Autistic Child

ConsumerView logo(Photo courtesy of ConsumerView Marketing )

Communicating with a child who has Autism is no easy feat. Every child is different. Benjamin was in a different world than ours and connecting with him was a lengthy process, taking several years. The following is a segment from, Raising Benjamin Frog – A Mother’s Journey with her Autistic Son.

When Benjamin was very young he didn’t communicate much at all. He simply did as he was told, as much as he knew to do so. We would use single words to tell him “sit”, “stand”, “walk”, “washroom” etc and he would do it. Questions were met with no response, but we talked to him in complete sentences when we were having a one-sided conversation with him; as if he understood everything, in hopes that someday he would.

If we needed a response from him or he just ‘wasn’t with us’, we’d say his name and tell him to “Stop”. Sometimes it took several attempts and louder voices but eventually he’d stop. Then we’d walk over to him and hold his head until our eyes were directly in line with his and say, “Look at my eyes”. Once we had his focus on our eyes, he seemed to understand that we wanted to talk to him and he listened. After a while, we simplified things and just said, “Eyes”, and he would stop and look at us.

By doing this, we were trying to make a connection between our world and his; a way for him to see us and to step into our world for a short time to hear something important.  We would do this, for example, when we needed to do something potentially dangerous like crossing the street. We would say, “Cars. Hand”, and he would hold our hands and cross the street. Without this strategy, Benjamin was prone to walk in straight lines regardless of traffic, people or brick walls. So this technique was, I believe, a linking of souls which otherwise wouldn’t be able to communicate in typical ways.

Who would have thought that this little boy would one day become a published author and public speaker?

benjaminfrog.wordpress.com

Ben’s prognosis at this early age wasn’t high, as far as communication skills went. But as he grew, we learned to listen to the clues he gave us about the way he learned. He taught us so much more than any book could (we didn’t have the internet back then, and very little support except for our amazing pediatrician). Children with, or without Autism, show us their unique design if we take the time to listen and watch.

I hope you have a blessed day,

Lynne

Give It Away

Stop hoarding your work! Start sharing!

Do you have a collection of something you treasure; art, books, old coins, stuffed animals? Most of us do. Our collections say a lot about who we are – our personalities and what we hold dear. I have a collection of books which belonged to my husband‘s parents.

Antique Book Cabinet

In it are yellowing pages bound in fraying covers and tattered spines. Some are old children’s stories, some are poetry, and one is even a much dated ‘Household Management’ book with instructions on how to set a formal dining table for 12 guests. (I don’t pull that one out very often!).

Victorian Dinner Table

Photo by Living History

These treasures are very dear to me because they remind me of the dear people who owned them, and also they link me to authors from long ago who had a vision of telling others what was close to their hearts. These family heirlooms I will not give away or sell, but will someday pass on to my family so they will tell stories of their grandparents to their children too.

Prompted by my daughters, I’ve recently ‘de-hoarded’ much of my home and given away what I thought would be useful to others. In the process, I realized I had collected notes and half-written short stories and poems. I felt compelled to share the literary treasures I had found, and have since turned some of the short stories into blogs or compilation pieces, and collected enough notes to write another e-book!

Do you find yourself hoarding your literary treasures? Is your notebook or laptop full of fascinating gems you haven’t done anything with yet? Share some of those gems with your audience every day. Let them see who you are and what inspires you.

I ‘follow’ several authors whose work I admire, but before I ‘liked’ them on Facebook or subscribed to their newsletter, I researched them online and got to know them as individuals. Once I liked what I saw, I followed them and even bought a book or two. Their online presence sometimes mentioned other authors they were inspired by, and I often bought their books too – all because they shared something that they treasured.

Austin Kleon

Austin Kleon – an author I follow

Now I do my best to pin or post one of my treasures every day. It’s not always about my work, but rather a gem I’ve discovered from someone else. I’ve collected a piece of their collection, cherished it, and then given it away for others to do the same. Check your notebooks and archived files. Are you hoarding treasure? If you are, start giving it away and see what happens…

Gemstones