Joy is a verb!

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One of the benefits of writing about joy, like Discovering Joy in Philippians: A Creative Bible Study Experience,  is that you learn many unique facts that can in turn help you and those in your ministry. In the New Testament, a common word is JOY! χαρὰ  (chara) from chairó is in N. T. 74 times! When God repeats Himself– that is a sign of importance or priority– so obviously His ability to help us walk in joy is on His heart! To great someone and wish them JOY, was a a common greeting and farewell salutation. (Wouldn’t the world be…

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Joy is Relationship

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On my birthday, as my newest book, Discovering Joy in Philippians: A Creative Bible Study Experience released, I pondered “What is joy, really?”  As I look back, seems God had me on a learning trajectory to find then live out joy. As a child, first born daughter of an alcoholic dad, I was naturally joyful but our home situation was chaotic and unpredictable so when things got volatile due to my dad’s anger or his own depression, I retreated and became a sullen, sometimes, pouty and often emotionally teary-eyed little girl. But God had something greater, something better for me…

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Jump for Joy!

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What makes you “jump for joy”? This May, the week of my birthday, my 48th book released: Discovering Joy in Philippians: A Creative Bible Study Experience.  How about you, look around, God is doing amazing things– some of which should motivate you to “jump for joy”! Jumping, rather leaping, for joy is biblical: “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. ..” (Luke 6:23) Let’s make this summer  of JOY! Pam Farrel is an international speaker, author of 48 books including several bestsellers like Men Are Like WAffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti, Discovering…

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Sunday Reflection: Lost in Translation

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. . . let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18 NIV) We have a goal to visit the countries that represent the 15 or so languages our book Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti has been translated into.  Because of our desire to cross cultures, we have often been accompanied by translators. They take what we are saying and reword our thoughts and intentions so that a clear message is accomplished. To do this, often they do not translate word for word, but adapt to carry the main…

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Sunday Reflection: The Kiss

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One the wall of our bedroom is a beautiful portrait taken by a well known photographer.  The photo is black and white then recolorized to highlight certain aspects of the portrait. The picture is of Bill and me. In the photo you can’t see our faces because I am wearing a hat, but you can tell, it was a kiss of love. How? In the photo, I am standing on my tippie toes reaching up to give Bill a kiss. That peck was apparently was so amazing that it caused Bill to rock back on his heels. (I think this…

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Sunday Reflection: Humble Choices

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“. . . those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)   He sat in my office, his marriage in ruins, yet he was pridefully proclaiming all the things his wife needed to do, his kids needed to do and even what God needed to do. Nothing seemed to be his fault. Is arrogance was the biggest roadblock to healing his own family. We can all drift into conceit and smugness unless we are willing to be humble. To humble means “to depress and in Hebrew, the word humbly implies a stance of bowing, stooping or crouching as in…

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Sunday Reflection: Pass the Baton of Faith

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We think that your marriage is a wonderful forum for instilling values, beliefs, principles and morals. Society sometimes just doesn’t know what to do with great men, great women, great dads, great moms, and people are often baffled by the wise, well spoken,  and well centered children focused parents produce. We were very proactive in our parenting. We share the details of how we raised our kids is in 10 Best Decisions a Parent Can Make. The main point is that all along the way we prayed specifically and planned intentionally. We developed a Learner and Leader Plan with a…

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It Takes a Network!

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Marketing in today’s world takes a team—a well- oiled machine of wisdom–  or at least a circle of friends committed to share each other’s PR and “street team” nuggets so everyone moves their ministry and business forward.  This year at ICRS (International Christian Retail Show) the CAN Author Bootcamp was just that– a WEALTH OF WISDOM!~ ! In a wonderful “meeting of the minds” CBA (Christian Bookstore Association, CAN and Harvest House Publishers sponsored a very informative morning. I had the joy of kicking off the morning with a keynote on 7 Simple Skills to Success in Publishing where I…

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Tips from the Pros: Torry Martin

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So, I met this author, screenplay writer, comedian, speaker, teacher, and ex-reindeer handler at the Florida Christian Writers Conference a couple of years ago. I had the privilege of attending his continuing class on screenwriting.  At that time, he was editing his new book, and we got to hear a chapter (the one with the Christmas lawn ornaments and the BB gun?). Since then, I’ve watched as God has blessed this author with one awesome opportunity after another. So, let me introduce you to my friend, Torry Martin! Welcome, Torry! It’s been a busy year for you in many areas….

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Tips From the Pros: Rebecca Ondov

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So, summer is officially over for me. I’m a school administrator by day. When I peel back my shirt and run to the nearest phone booth after work (who has those anymore?), that’s when the big “W” on my chest appears. Super Writer! (There’s got to be a superhero story there somewhere…) As the kiddos languish over the dwindling days of summer and “look forward” to hitting the books again, in whatever form that may take – public, private, or at home – there’s a writer to whom you may wish to introduce them. Particularly if you have girls in your midst….

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