Where can I get a copy of your bio to announce your visit in our monthly
newsletter?
Click on this link to view a sample Speaker Confirmation page. Scroll down and you'll
see my bio included.
You're so young. Why did you have a stroke?
Though my husband, Bret, and I did not know it at the time, stroke can strike anyone at
any time. Hundreds of pediatric patients are having the surgery to close up a PFO--hole
in the heart--like I had. This undetected birth defect led to a massive stroke for me when I
was one month away from 40. I encourage you to read my entire stroke story for
information and inspiration.
When is your first book coming out?
A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts (Leafwood Press, October 2008) Cathy Messecar,
Trish Berg, Terra Hangen, Brenda Nixon, Karen Robbins, Leslie Wilson
It's good to be in the game and I will let you know more before it hits the shelf in October
of this year. Click here to sign up to be notified.
When did you know God was calling you into full-time speaking and writing?
This is sort of like trying to tell someone when you knew God wanted you to be a mom.
On a certain level, I've always known. God has been preparing me for this ministry my
whole life. He has brought people and circumstances into my life that have shaped me
into the person I am today.
His mercy and grace (instead of justice) has shown me that I don't have to be perfect at
anything; he already took care of that. Instead, I can go forth, in my wildly flawed state
and love on people and share with them what God has done for me.
On another level I knew God had called me to write and speak when He gave me my first
jobs: a speech at my home church and a novel that He sent my way in a dream. I knew I
would be disobedient if I said "No" to either one.
Do you ever worry that people will be critical of your life because of the topics
you speak on?
Of course. I definitely have the tendency to worry that people will notice when I mess up
or when my children don't behave as they should. However, it's no different than a pastor
or other person in a position of leadership. If people are looking for an excuse not to be
a part of a church or a certain ministry, they can find flaws or sin in those who lead
it--giving them their "out."
I prefer to spend time with other sinners, saved by grace, who are focused on doing what
God has called them to do. When I find myself beginning to have doubts or fears, I ask
God to remove it and replace it with his strength and wisdom about the situation. 2
Timothy 1:7 is my favorite verse: "For God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of
power, of love, and of self-discipline." I kind of feel like adding, "So there!" onto the end
of it.
How do you come up with your ideas for speaking and writing?
Like many authors, I am constantly watching the people and things and situations around
me. Our world is full of beauty and ugliness, pleasure and pain, treasures and sorrows.
As writers we are blessed to comment on them all. Over the period of four or five years, I
have developed numerous speaking topics.
God has given me these based on my personal experience, my observations, and the
needs of my audience--usually young moms at home with children. I often find new
material when I'm reading, whether it be Scripture, a novel or the newspaper. The
problem has never been a shortage of ideas; it's having the time to write them all down!
newsletter?
Click on this link to view a sample Speaker Confirmation page. Scroll down and you'll
see my bio included.
You're so young. Why did you have a stroke?
Though my husband, Bret, and I did not know it at the time, stroke can strike anyone at
any time. Hundreds of pediatric patients are having the surgery to close up a PFO--hole
in the heart--like I had. This undetected birth defect led to a massive stroke for me when I
was one month away from 40. I encourage you to read my entire stroke story for
information and inspiration.
When is your first book coming out?
A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts (Leafwood Press, October 2008) Cathy Messecar,
Trish Berg, Terra Hangen, Brenda Nixon, Karen Robbins, Leslie Wilson
It's good to be in the game and I will let you know more before it hits the shelf in October
of this year. Click here to sign up to be notified.
When did you know God was calling you into full-time speaking and writing?
This is sort of like trying to tell someone when you knew God wanted you to be a mom.
On a certain level, I've always known. God has been preparing me for this ministry my
whole life. He has brought people and circumstances into my life that have shaped me
into the person I am today.
His mercy and grace (instead of justice) has shown me that I don't have to be perfect at
anything; he already took care of that. Instead, I can go forth, in my wildly flawed state
and love on people and share with them what God has done for me.
On another level I knew God had called me to write and speak when He gave me my first
jobs: a speech at my home church and a novel that He sent my way in a dream. I knew I
would be disobedient if I said "No" to either one.
Do you ever worry that people will be critical of your life because of the topics
you speak on?
Of course. I definitely have the tendency to worry that people will notice when I mess up
or when my children don't behave as they should. However, it's no different than a pastor
or other person in a position of leadership. If people are looking for an excuse not to be
a part of a church or a certain ministry, they can find flaws or sin in those who lead
it--giving them their "out."
I prefer to spend time with other sinners, saved by grace, who are focused on doing what
God has called them to do. When I find myself beginning to have doubts or fears, I ask
God to remove it and replace it with his strength and wisdom about the situation. 2
Timothy 1:7 is my favorite verse: "For God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of
power, of love, and of self-discipline." I kind of feel like adding, "So there!" onto the end
of it.
How do you come up with your ideas for speaking and writing?
Like many authors, I am constantly watching the people and things and situations around
me. Our world is full of beauty and ugliness, pleasure and pain, treasures and sorrows.
As writers we are blessed to comment on them all. Over the period of four or five years, I
have developed numerous speaking topics.
God has given me these based on my personal experience, my observations, and the
needs of my audience--usually young moms at home with children. I often find new
material when I'm reading, whether it be Scripture, a novel or the newspaper. The
problem has never been a shortage of ideas; it's having the time to write them all down!
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