CONSIDER THE HONEYSUCKLE
By Julie Lavender

I’ve taken a different path during my morning walks with God recently. The bigger road that leads to our neighborhood is less-traveled with many working from home, so I often walk that road now, as it eventually leads to a cow pasture. With social distancing, it seems that I’ve taken to chatting with the bovines.

Share good news and the Good News with newspaper writing

By Julie Lavender

(This post originally appeared on Edie Melson's blog, The Write Conversation. I'm giving you a portion of it here, to hopefully entice you to click here to read the article in its entirety. I hope you'll join Edie and me there, on my walk with God as a journalist, and learn more about newspaper writing.) 

To report the condition of our country and world in recent days, most of our newspapers scream dire and depressing headlines. And though we need that important information disseminated, good news stories and inspirational features can add a balance to otherwise difficult news to swallow. 

Now’s a great time for writers to contribute encouraging articles and faith-based stories to local newspaper. The slim staff of most newspaper entities keeps busy reporting “just the facts,” and stringers can add that leverage of boots-on-the-ground, local , feel-good stories to the content. 

Consider the Fringe Tree
By Julie Lavender

My walks look different these days, but God’s beauty still abounds. My husband and I passed a white fringe tree on our walk this morning. The fleecy white, barely fragrant flowers hang from the branches and flutter to and fro when the winds stir.

Consider the Mountains
By Julie Lavender

Nothing proclaims God's majesty to me quite like a view of the mountains. The mountains seem to proclaim God's might. To fashion such a monstrous, solid, fortifying mass of earth shows his power and majesty. 

Though I can't take a walk to the mountains in my current confinement, I can visualize them from my south Georgia home and remember past walks with God there. 

Guest blogger and author, Lori Hatcher

My guest blogger today is my friend, Lori Hatcher. I first met Lori in person at a writers conference, and she is such a delight! She is such a cheerleader and encourager of others, and for that reason, I know you're going to love her newest book, that is about to be hot off the presses! Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible (Our Daily Bread Publishing) comes out in just days! Please consider giving yourself an Easter present and preorder her book today! She also wrote the Christian Small Publisher’s 2016 Book of the Year, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women. Lori is a blogger and inspirational speaker. She and her pastor husband live delightfully close to their four grandchildren in Lexington, South Carolina. Connect with her at www.LoriHatcher.com. 

Consider the Dandelion
By Julie Lavender

On my walk with God with morning, dandelion puffballs dotted my path. Remember blowing the seeds and making a wish? 

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Write the Story
by Julie Lavender

Last week, I found out that several of the stories I've had the honor to share in newspapers or magazines were chosen as Selah Finalists in the contest sponsored by the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. I shared an article on Edie Melson's blog, The Write Conversation, with details about some of those inspirational stories. 

I'd love for you to scoot over to that site and read my post there. And, as always, I'd love for you to join the conversation there with a comment or two. 


Here's some of the pictures that go with the stories I included there:

"Determined Teen Follows Her Dream" 

-Statesboro Herald

"D's Friendly Diner" 

-Guideposts Magazine

"Christmas Card Creations"
-Clubhouse Magazine 

Don't forget to head over to The Write Conversation, here, to read "the rest of the story," ..... and join the conversation by commenting there. Thank you!