Dianne E. Butts...equipping you to make a difference in our nation.
|
Dianne E. Butts...equipping you to make a difference in our nation. |
|
|
Butts About It . com E-Zine
Dianne E. Butts equipping you to make a difference in our nation January, 2008
Equipping You to Make a Difference
Discouragement and the Power of Encouragement
How easily do you get discouraged? Just a word from one person can discourage us. A few months ago I sent out an e-mail to friends and acquaintances letting them know about my blog and this e-zine because I thought they'd find them interesting. Back came a biting e-mail from one man admonishing me for sending such an e-mail because I was just "glorifying" myself, and asking to be removed from my mailing list. His e-mail caused me to second-guess myself. Should I have sent out the e-mail? Do other people feel the same way this man did but they're just too polite to say so? On the other hand, how will anyone know what I'm doing if I don't tell them? Is it wrong to do this? After thinking about it for some time, I realized that one man's negative biting comment caused me such great discouragement I almost stopped corresponding with everyone else who apparently likes to hear from me! In a separate incident, a few weeks ago I was reviewing all my projects and deciding if I should continue with them or cut some. When I thought about my ButtsAboutIt blog, I wondered if I should continue it. Do I have enough readers to make it "worth it"? Do people enjoy it, or do they feel the same way toward it as that man did toward my e-mail? At a Christmas party an acquaintance said, "Hey, I really like getting your blog by e-mail. I enjoy reading what you write." Well that little bit of encouragement cinched it! I'm continuing the blog! Have you ever noticed how little it takes for us to get discouraged? One negative comment might stop us from doing something that is valuable to many, many other people! And have you ever noticed how little it takes to encourage us to keep going? One encouraging comment can keep us going when everything else in the world seems to urge us to quit. When it comes to discouragement, I think we need to grow thicker skin. When I first started blogging, I had a couple of readers who left comments that were, well, less than encouraging. But I believe in what I write, and I want to make my voice heard, so I need to be careful that the comments of two (only two!) people don't stop me from doing what many others may profit from. I believe trouble we're seeing in the United States and around the world is only going to escalate. Things are going to get harder. Times are going to get worse. If we are going to make a difference, we can't get discouraged when one or a few people disagree with us. We must grow thicker skin! When it comes to encouragement, my friend's encouragement meant so much to me. It spurred me on. It kept me going. It made a difference. It not only made a difference to me, but hopefully to others--including you--as I continue to write my blog and this e-zine. Who do you know who may need encouragement to keep going? Who can you give even a simple word of encouragement to? It might make all the difference.
Section 2:
A Little Something Extra
"How Can We Speak Out?"
Here are some ways you can speak out to share your Christian faith and your conservative convictions, or to simply send a word of encouragement:
Q & A:
Q: Is it dangerous to speak out? What about the recent church shootings and the hate-Christians web sites and blog that young man who shot those people posted to? Can we be in danger for speaking out? Dianne: There are precautions you can take, for instance I keep a post office box to use as my address instead of putting my street address on my web site. Consult or google security experts and implement their ideas. Here is one web site I found with information: http://www.crimedoctor.com/homeinvasion.htm Do all you can to keep yourself and your family safe. But in the end, we must not let fear silence us. We must speak up for our Christian convictions and trust God with the rest.
Section 3:
No Buts About It:
How do we grow thicker skin? Find ways to speak out and then do it, even if you're afraid others might disagree with you. You may be surprised that the reaction you get isn't as strong as you feared. If you plan to speak out to an audiences who holds different views, anticipate their protests and have an answer based on your view prepared. Also, remember (write down if you need to) why you want to speak out on this topic. What do you hope will happen? Why do you believe it is important? Then when attacks come, review this list. If we're going to make a difference in our nation and our world, we must grow thick enough skin to take it when arrows and darts are thrown our way. But we can do it! No buts about it.
How to Support Butts About It E-zine
Do you find value in this e-zine? If yes, then please invite a friend to join us. You may forward this e-zine to interested parties. They may get their own free subscription at www.ButtsAboutIt.com Also, you can help offset our expenses for creating this e-zine together by clicking through the links in this e-zine or on the web sites when you make any purchase from the companies represented. Thank you!
Bio:
Dianne E. Butts has had more than 200 articles published in over 50 Christian magazine such as The Plain Truth, the Salvation Army's War Cry, The Lookout, Light and Life, and Focus on the Family magazine. She has contributed to fifteen books including Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul 2, What I Learned from God While Cooking, For Better, For Worse: Devotional Thoughts for Married Couples, Zondervan's New Women's Devotional Bible, and A Cup of Comfort Devotionals for Mothers and for Women. Her writing has been published in Great Britain, Bulgaria, Poland, Canada, and Korea. Dianne wrote her book, Dear America: A Letter of Comfort and Hope to a Grieving Nation (Ampelos Press, 2002), in response to September 11th to tell her own story, help others get through grief, and discuss topic like who the Muslims are, the story of the Bible, and Bible reading for beginners. When she's not writing, Dianne enjoys riding her motorcycle with her husband, Hal, and gardening with her cat, P.C.
Subtopic 1:
Quote:
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
The Bible (New International Translation), Galatians 6:9
My Book:
Dear America, - A Letter of Comfort & Hope to a Grieving Nation
Subtopic 2:
What's new on www.ButtsAboutIt.blogspot.com ?
What's new on
Interested in writing for publication? Get your free subscription to Dianne E. Butts About Writing at www.DianneEButts.com . ~
Subtopic 3:
Resources:
Recommended Books:
The New Temple and the Second Coming: The Prophecy That Points to Christ's Return in Your Generation
Religion of Peace?: Why Christianity Is and Islam Isn't
75% Off Premium "Custom" Business Cards at VistaPrint.com!
Coming next issue: Clear Writing = Clear Thinking
~~~ A Conservative Voice Equipping Conservative Voices
~
~ |
