Hello lovely ladies,

This week's newsletter is going to be quite different. You've been warned. Haha!

[Side note:] For you NEW subscribers, I apologize for loading this on you so soon. If you'd like, you can just jump ahead and read my weekly Journal Jots in the next section below.

I'm brainstorming with YOU today. I did mention a short while back that I needed to do my yearly evaluation. I had to put that on hold for a while due to some circumstances in my life. I was taught in Bible college to never make decision while you are angry, sick, tired, overwhelmed, etc. (And without prayer, of course!)

TOPIC at stake: What's Working and What's Not

1. Writing Devotionals 

a. What IS Working -- Sharing God's Word is a Win!

God's Word does not turn void. It's ALWAYS a win, of course.

My goal is two-fold. To share the gospel and to encourage Women to read their Bibles more, pray and walk in faith.

b: What's NOT working here...

First, it might surprise you, but I'm NOT a fast writer. Sometimes, I can be. But, most times it's quite a laborious process for me. 

Some of this may be due to the "perfectionist" in me, but it's not necessary the whole case. I don't, in reality, have the "gift to gab," but I volunteer my time to struggle at it anyway. It's a means of encouraging and sharing the Word of God online.

Secondly, having my devotional launched by Wednesday each week is a struggle many times. I'm a visual person and love to draw graphics to go with my devotionals. I also have some priorities at the beginning of the week that I try to get done. I have a devotional burning in my heart right now, but haven't written it all out yet. 

c: SOLUTION BRAINSTORMING:

- Changing my devotional launch date to Thursdays would give me an extra day to get it all done. So, Thursday is the new day for devotionals!

- Holidays -- I will make sure to take off during weeks of holidays for planning & spending time with my family. (We all need a vacation from time to time.)

- Writing SHORTER devotionals is a win-win for the writer and the reader. (Most of you are very busy as well.)

- Narrowing my topic to ONE key Bible verse & truth to share.  

Sometimes I write and create these long Bible study outlines with points...then, I keep adding new ideas and points -- and it begins to feel like I'm practically writing a report by the time I'm done. Ha!ha!

So, I realize I need to keep things short and simple -- and share just one take-away truth. It doesn't need to be a whole page long. (Light bulb moment here. LOL)

d. Side thoughts: I considered doing a monthly "theme". I chewed on this idea for quite some time. I looked over my notes for future devotional topics I wanted to share, and this just doesn't seem like it would work for me. 

I like to write down devotional ideas AS they come to me, while I'm doing my own Bible reading and studying. IF I were to make myself stick with a monthly theme, then I would be tied down to writing only within that topic for the month -- and forcing my inspired thoughts to be set aside. So for right now, it's a no-go!

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Next up to the plate...

2. My printables, journals, ebooks, etc.

Hear me out on this one, PLEASE. Please don't come to conclusions before you read the whole matter...

I know some Christian bloggers have been criticized for trying to make money. But, we don't expect an author to give away their books for free. (Yes, many give away some free ebooks, but I'm talking about, in general, hard copy books and most of their labored-hard-over ebooks.) They have worked hard, and a workman is worthy of their labor.

Many writers would not have time to write unless they earned some sort of income because they'd have to go get an outside job for financial support and wouldn't have time to write as often as they did otherwise.

a. What IS working...

Free printables that encourage growth in the Lord and / or share the gospel is always a win.

IF I can create a helpful printable like this in 30 minutes or less... It's a great giveaway gift. It's a win!

b. What's NOT working here...

Spending hours away creating printables, journals or ebooks -- and then simply giving them away.

This action is not valuing my time, but worse, it's not fair for my husband. There are some issues he's facing right now, but I'm not here to share sob stories at all.

c. SOLUTION BRAINSTORMING....

I want to have MORE time for "CREATING" -- something that is a PASSION of mine... and I DO want my time to also be "worthwhile".

Notice that I did NOT say... make me rich. Ha! ha! Because ministry and working for income must be separated.

And work must also have a balance. People who start focusing only on dollar signs lose sight of their goals to really help people.

Creatives and content that I make, that are NOT related to sharing the gospel (the salvation message should ALWAYS be free!), and that I spend my labored time on, I will try to get them launched into my shop, and at a budget price. (I realize the economy is rough right now.) 

You would be surprised at how many projects I've worked hours on, but then set them aside because of doing other free stuff.  *Note to self: I need to get all those unfinished projects finished this year!

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And finally, the last point...

3. My weekly newsletter

You're truly a dedicated reader of mine if you've made it this far. Ha! ha! Thank YOU!!!!

This truly has been a labor of love for me. I have no regrets, except there have been times that I spent too much time on it and needed to get another priority done.

a. What IS working...

Connecting with YOU each week. It's been amazing and awesome. I LOVE my sisters-in-Christ so much! YOU are the cream of the crop!

b. What's NOT working here...

Lengthy newsletters. (Again, I'm a slow, thoughtful writer. I want things to be even shorter and sweeter, but YET still a weekly encouragement to you.)

And, this is something that's also bothered me for a LONG while... 

Those who subscribe LATER have missed out on my previous writings. There's been no fancy way to share my past labor of love. 

I want my newsletters "archived" and available, so they can be read later or whenever it's convenient for you.

Email sometimes gets lost among the spam. If someone misses an email, I want a full list of archives where they can access them later.

And finally, I want you to be able to feel more like a Christian community... so opportunities to respond to my newsletter content would be very nice as well.

c. SOLUTION BRAINSTORMING...

I have recently discovered Substack. At first, it might sort of look just like a blogging effort (it sort of is), but it's actually a newsletter sending platform. 

You write the content, and it's sent out to the people who have subscribed to your content. It's all archived in a nice format for the reader to access later.

My content will be sent out directly to your inbox, just like a normal email. And yet, if you miss that email, you can always go find it online later.

There is a paid version to my newsletter, but this is NOT necessary at all. 

I wanted a way to let some of my readers be able reuse my art or content creations for their own ministry or even in commercial projects without my branding name. So, I will be sharing those privately each month by giving the download links to paid members.(Again, that's me valuing my time that God's given me while creating these things.)

Right now, I have a few graphics ready for access, but will also be sharing some printables you can use as your own without my branding, etc.

I will be moving my newsletter to the link below... and will probably send out a couple more reminders about this since not everyone opens up each email. (I don't want anyone missing out.)

**One important thing to NOTE: I plan to write on this platform 2 to 3 times per week initially to build up content. Perhaps that's too much for you? I'm not sure, but you can always "unsubscribe" if you wish.

Here's the link to continue connecting with me...

https://createwithme.substack.com/

Keep Walking in FAITH,

Rhonda White (rhondawhite@outlook.com)

~ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. I Corinthians 16:23 KJV

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7 Journal Jots: (Use these ideas for your journal or ministry)

"It is blessed to eat into the very soul of the Bible until, at last, you come to talk in Scriptural language and your spirit is flavored with the words of the Lord, so that your blood is Bibline and the very essence of the Bible flows from you." - Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)

"I am convinced one sign of being mature is the ability to laugh at ourselves." - Dr. Mike Rouse

"Success is a good thing unless, of course, we believe that WE are the reason for the success. Then, success becomes the self-induced trial of failure and hurt." - Refreshing Daily in God's Word, February 2021

"Maybe you're going through something because someone needs to see GOD through you." - Pastor McCullough

All of our busy-ness is useless without prayer.

Humility cures envy, jealousy, strife and division. 

QUESTION: Does my can't really mean won't?

Exercise: Try replacing the word "can't" with "won't" for awhile. Evaluate yourself honestly and do something about it.

Example: I can't find time to do my Bible devotions. Replacement: I won't find time to do my Bible devotions.

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SIDENOTE: What is the definition of BIBLINE? It isn’t even in the dictionary anymore. Pastor Mickey Connolly shared his summary statement about what it means to be bibline: “To be a people that love, treasure, read, and live by the Holy Scriptures.” It means to be Bible saturated.

*Resource: americaskeswick.org/blog/victory-call/bibline/

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