BE THE EXAMPLE

When I was invited to co-host a  literary event I'd long admired, I was excited. I floated around the room for about two hours. At hour two and one second I hit the floor hard. I did because the reality of what I had been charged with weighted me down.

 

When I got up the nerve to call back and ask why I had been selected, the simple response floored me. I was told by the host that they had been watching me and they liked what they'd seen. Bottom line was that from those observations it was felt that I would be a good example of caring and source of information at the venue that attendees would benefit from interacting with.

 

It's amazing to find out that people have been watching you and what they determine about you from their observations.

 

Whether you're in business or just going about what you consider your ordinary day, people are watching. What example to you want to set?

 

 

Linda!

DETERMINATION

There will be times in your life when even the little things will seem too complicated to deal with. Then there will be those days when you will feel like you can conquer the world only to have someone tell you what you can't do.

 

Long story short, what you determine to do with each day you're granted on this earth is up to you!

 

 

 

Linda!

CREATION

"Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last you create what you will." George Bernard Shaw

 

Too often the creative mind is stifled by the heavy hand of indifference. Once you find your muse, embrace it, nurture it and present it to the world. Do so because even if there is only one, they are the one destined to benefit from your creation.

Linda!

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

As a little girl I often daydreamed about who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do. Of course back then who and what I wanted to be varied from day-to-day. Moving into the ranks of adulthood didn't change the fact that I still had varied interests. What changed was that I began to believe that I could achieve what others told me I couldn't.

It took time, but I slowly began the process to move forward with the desire that had been burning in my spirit. Holding fast to that desire and needing to be the example of what I had preached to my children, at the age of forty-five I enrolled into college.

It was scary for many reasons. The first being that I had doubts about my intellectual capacity.

That revelation sounded strange to those who had known me in the realm of business owner and ministry leader. It did because they saw the outer trappings of a woman fighting to overcome the stigma of being crushed by unkind words that destroyed my belief of what I could achieve.

It took some doing, but I made the decision to believe everything I told my children about overcoming adversity and negative words. I dared to believe that I could earn a college degree. I dared to believe that by doing so I could be an encouragement and maybe, even a champion for those who have yet to believe.

Today I challenge, encourage and implore you to take the time to discover who you are and believe in yourself. 

 

 

Linda!

 



YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF

I've always been an avid reader. When I discovered the 'Inspirational/Christian Fiction' genre I was ecstatic. Each author had their own distinct way of bringing faith into their stories. Many of those stories encouraged me and I knew that I could do the same for others.
When I shared about the content of my first novel with a select few, some didn't believe that I would have much success. Their belief  was rooted in the fact that my story wasn't what they were used to reading in the 'inspirational' genre.

That was the point. The story that came from my soul was never meant to be 'like the others' -- it was 'authentic'.

Had I listened to the words from those who felt my work should have been like that of others, I would have given away my authentic voice.

As individuals we all have gifts. That unique gift was given to us   to give to others who need what we have to offer.

I encourage you to embrace your authentic voice and become the gift others need to open.

Linda!

I'm Back

A few days ago I had a conversation with a friend. She told me about the A to Z blog challenge she entered. The conversation convicted me of the fact that I had neglected keeping up this blog. Rather than wallow in what I hadn't done, I decided to take the plunge and enter the challenge. By doing so would have to focus on what this blog is about -- 'Using Words to Bear Good Fruit'. To that end, I committed to the process.

 

That process  requires that a post be made each week day beginning April 1st. The first post will begin with the letter A. Subsequent posts would continue until the alphabet ends at Z.

 

I'm looking forward to, as they say, 'getting back in the saddle' and reacquainting myself with some, and prayerfully meeting new friends.

 

Take care and remember to use your words to bear good fruit.

 

 

Linda!

Saving Tate Michaels

Saving Tate Michaels
(Book Three in the Isaac Hunt Series)

Former FBI agent Tate Michaels's past and present threaten to pull him further from his relationship with God and family when he needs them most. To save his family from a kidnapper bent on revenge, Tate Michaels must first lose himself.

 

Tate is forced to examine his motives and open himself to a whole new definition of family.

 

Down load the first chapter here: http://llhargrove.com/

 

Visit Linda at: http://llhargrove.com/ to learn more about her and her works.