A Gifted Note: Pursuing Music as His Steward (SAMPLE)

Purpose is an innate desire within us and inflicts more questions than any other element of human nature. It drives us to ask, “Why am I here? Does my life matter? What are my talents? How can I be used by God?”

First and foremost, purpose is found in Jesus Christ alone, but as children of God, we have been entrusted with gifts to use in His name, to glorify and project Him to the world. These gifts, when developed with the right intentions, have the power to transform culture, society and ultimately, be tools of evangelism. Jesus expounded on the importance of being good stewards of God-given gifts in the Parable of the Talents, found in Matthew 25.

Gifts can be any physical or emotional actions expressed with above-average ability—this broad definition includes music and art talent, a desire to serve others, an intimate connection with God through prayer, etc. Recognizing your gifts is the first step to becoming a good steward of God’s talents and taking ownership of the power, the unfair favor willed to you through salvation.

Like a flame hidden behind a bushel, a gift not applied is useless. Galatians 6:4-5 says, “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.”

Writing is the gift God has handed to me, and I strive each day to use it as a tool to magnify His light and love. However, music has established itself within my life as a limitless beacon. I live in Nashville, work as a publicist for a recording artist and compose songs with friends from My Local, a young adult ministry organization. Music absorbs my God-given gift and shines it in a different format, a revised medium.

To those with a passion for music, take heart. There are countless ways to serve God with your talent. Music is universal. It affects anyone with the ability to hear. In contrast, if you feel God leading you to pursue music as a career, you have an extensive journey before you. The music industry is a congested business. To reach an audience and generate a sustaining income, one must have determination, a “thick skin,” networking ability and the Lord’s blessing.

Nothing is impossible with God.

When I first met with my client to discuss her public relations plan, we went through several steps to establish who she was going to be as an artist and strategize ways to broaden her audience. The following steps will help you become a better steward of your gifts . . .

(Read more in the April 2017 digital issue of Pursue Magazine)

From Dawn to Dusk: A Writer’s Guide to Recognizing God’s Presence in the Wait

Time ticks on, yet the metaphorical doors leading to answered prayers remain closed, and the hallway between opportunities stretches as far as the eye can see. What else can be done but wait, hope and pray? How can God be actively at work within a place of stillness?

When I speak at schools and other venues, I often tell people my job is to be rejected. I give thousands of hours to a pixelated stack of white pages on an illuminated computer screen. I pour my heart and soul into each sentence, yet I spend as much time waiting for a YES from publishers and accepting countless NOs as I do composing a novel. I’m on a thousand-hour coffee date with possibilities that may or may not become my reality.

Life is a hallway of locked doors. No matter how much someone knocks, unless it is God’s will, the panels will stay sealed and act as protective barriers between the sovereign plan and one’s desires. Some doors never open; those that might have been concealed from sight or kept from consideration unlock at unpredictable moments.

Opportunities come in fleeting gasps, subtle whispers and screeches of celebration. They’re delivered in blinks and extensive spans. They come when we ache for them, when we least expect them.

Rejection is a large portion of my job, but God-glorified waiting is a lifestyle I have accepted, applied. God-glorified waiting is an attitude of surrender, a faith in His promise to open doors—it is a life of knocking and being content in whichever threshold becomes available.

Waiting is not a passive verb.

God is not bound by time.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

Our lives are caged into a block of linear years. We exist in a timeline, but God surpasses chronology. He does not abide by the earthy rules that hold our bodies captive. He works beyond seconds, hours and days. If we have asked Him to be Lord of our lives, we have been adopted into His master plan where nothing can happen too early or too late.

The timelessness of God is a truth we can cling to as we wait for His doors to unlock.

God is not bound by dreams.

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” Hebrews 10:36

God cares for the desires of our hearts. He does not toy with us, give dreams and not fulfill His promises. If we are divinely called to a destination, He will pave the path.

Our dreams cannot build parameters around God’s power. He has the ability to change our hearts, replace desires with burning passions. He can do immeasurably more with us when we walk the hallway of life, knock and ask for His guidance.

God is not bound by choices.

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14

Salvation through Jesus Christ is the ultimate open door—it makes available to us God’s perfect plan. Grace declares victory over the choices we make, and God’s will prevails.

Waiting is a state of motion where God can reveal His truth and mold our hearts. We must be sure to recognize His voice in the perceived stillness, listen to Him above all else and dwell within the comfort of communication with Him.

Dreams can be fulfilled while walking down a hallway.

#Boss2017

Merry Christmas!

As 2016 draws to an end, I’d like to offer a brief reflection on two topics often involved in New Year’s resolutions: time management and entrepreneurship. Included below are some simple tips to help 2017 be your best year.

1.      Complete your work one step at a time.

When faced with a project, one often becomes overwhelmed and resorts to procrastination. To avoid time-wasting, divide the project into small tasks that can be completed in a short amount of time. The feeling of progress will keep you focused and motivated.

2.      Prioritize.

There will be times when you’re forced to juggle many tasks. Inspect your deadlines, see which job needs to be completed first and focus your complete attention on it. By prioritizing, you are less likely to experience last minute stress.

3.      Find what organizational tool works best for you.

My public relations friends have high-tech planners and complex organizational systems. I have a basic calendar and rely on my daily sticky note to-do list to keep myself on track. Although my method is unorthodox, it works for me. Figure out a way to organize your tasks without causing yourself panic.

Time management is an ever-going process. However, knowing how to manage your days opens the door to pursuing dreams and business ventures. To prepare yourself for such endeavors . . .

1.      Think about the future.

Write down your dreams, where you envision yourself in ten years.

2.      Make a plan.

People often dream about the future but refrain from creating a strategic plan to help them achieve their goals. Once you know where you want to go, make a map to get you there.

3.      Complete the plan one step at a time.

As you can see, time management goes hand-in-hand with entrepreneurship. Well managed time leads to broad possibilities.

Although my tips are simple, they revolutionize productivity.

Thank you for making 2016 a terrific year! I’m excited for all God has in store for 2017.

Five Steps To Falling In Love With Your Story

Books live within their own pages, bleed an invisible intimacy that connects with readers in powerful, unexplainable ways. The publishing industry feared extinction when new forms of entertainment became available to the public, but they soon discovered consumers treasured the ability to indulge in an individualistic experience catered specifically to their personal desires, interests—an experience different for each person. eBooks also presented concern for publishers. However, even with lower book costs, consumers preferred the tangibility of paperbacks, the physical bond.

Readers fall in love with books, characters and new worlds.

Writers must fall in love with their own work because, as I mentioned above, books bleed an invisible intimacy that first stems from the writer before it can affect a reader.

I’ve undergone months and months of rewriting, editing, probing the innermost parts of my creation. There have been times I have wanted to kill off my characters and spend the remaining word-count lecturing on my book’s meaning, yet I have continued to fight through the work because I believe the book says something important—it may resonate a valuable lesson to readers.

The writing process is long and turbulent. Without a personal connection and belief in the story’s importance, a writer will “throw in the towel” and trash their manuscript.

Love, life, writing—they are all the same. They require determination, a futuristic mindset and belief in the end goal. They involve relationships . . .

And relationships, the ones that change us, are worth fighting to keep.

Fellow writers, I understand preparing to write a book can be a daunting task. There are many factors to consider when developing plot, characters, etc., most of which I will not cover in this post. However, I will offer you five steps to help you fall in love with your story.

1.      Believe In Your Message.

You have the unique opportunity to capture readers’ attention for hours. Use that time you have with them to say something important. If you believe your book could help someone, change perspective, make a needed statement, you are more likely to reach the “finish line.”

2.      Write For Yourself.

I have met many individuals who tell me they want to be authors. What they do not realize is publishing is the product of writing a book worth reading.

Write the book you would want to buy, read and showcase on your shelf. Write the book you would love so much, you wouldn’t care if another person laid eyes on it.

Loving your story will create an urgency that increases your motivation.

3.      Weave Yourself Into The Pages

Find a common ground between you and your characters. Add elements of yourself to the setting, conflict, etc. Although the book shouldn’t convey you to the public, it should reflect parts of you.

Just think—you wouldn’t grab coffee with someone polar opposite to you (that would make for awkward silence and an overall uncomfortable situation).

4.      Extend Expression

Writing projects a story, but there is more to a character’s life than what survives edits. Have fun with your world-building. Create a storyboard, illustrate scenes from your book and incorporate your work into other artistic mediums. Be your own biggest fan!

 

5.      Believe In God’s Plan For Your Life

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Galatians 6:4-5 says, “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.”

If God has called you to write, you will discover the ability to write.

Three Cheers for Teens - Big City Thoughts - Acacia Evans

Few would expect the flannel-dressed girl typing feverishly on her sticker-pasted laptop to be the founder and editor-in-chief of a popular music website. However, Acacia Evans, an Entertainment Industry Studies Major at Belmont University, has never been one to “think inside the box.” At age fifteen, Acacia started media outlet turned digital magazine, Big City Thoughts, which has grown to include staff writers and photographers.

This past week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Acacia about her journey with Big City Thoughts.

To begin the interview, would you tell readers about Big City Thoughts?

-        Hey! Thanks again for thinking of me. Big City Thoughts is a digital magazine/online media outlet I created when I was 15-years-old. Originating in the alternative/rock scene, I finally decided that I wanted to expand into different genres. In the spring of 2015, I temporarily left school for health reasons. While I was home, I decided to make Big City Thoughts into a digital magazine so our audience could flip through our work in one place.

What motivated you to start Big City Thoughts as a teen?

-        This is actually really funny so please no judging! When I was in middle school, I was obsessed with the Jonas Brothers. Everything about them: their fan base, live shows, and obviously good looks were extremely fascinating to me. I thought to myself, “I’m going to interview them one day.”

Did you face adversity, negativity from others?

-        I think no matter what industry you’re in or what company you run, you’re always going to run into hardships. The media outlet/concert photographer world can get extremely competitive. I’m not a very competitive person, but I think this industry sometimes brings out a side of me that I’m not too happy about. I’ve learned throughout the past couple of years that empowerment is so much stronger and healthier than competition and jealousy. Better for your mental health as well.

How has the magazine grown?

-        The magazine has grown in ways that I have absolutely never imagined. I have writers. I have photographers. I have friends that help me run our social media accounts and who coordinate our live show coverage. I’m photographing in arenas. I mean, it’s truly incredible how much support and help I’ve gotten. It’s amazing to have a team of friends and family behind me who are helping me grow more and more every day.

What are your goals for the future?

-        I always find this a difficult question because my goals change everyday. As of right now, I want to expand our viewership and following on all platforms. I also want to make sure that we are covering all genres of music and successfully doing so.

After years of working with the magazine, what’s been your favorite experience so far?

-        I think my favorite experience so far was shooting Demi Lovato for the first time back in March of 2014 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. I have been a huge fan of Demi since my Jonas Brothers days and have always looked up to her for so many reasons. Demi battles mental illness and I do as well, so it’s incredible to see her up on stage in a really raw and vulnerable state.

If you could give advice to all the young people with large dreams, what would you tell them?

-        I feel like people get sick of being told to “just do it,” but it’s entirely true. If you want to do something, take action. I also feel like a lot of people hold back on chasing their dreams due to age, but to me, age is literally just a number. It’s never too late to start chasing!

To learn more Big City Thoughts, go to: bigcitythoughts.com.

And don’t forget to follow Acacia on Instagram and Twitter @acaciaevans.

YA AUTHORS HOST INTERACTIVE WRITING AND PUBLISHING WORKSHOP, OCTOBER 8

Tessa Emily Hall, award-winning author of “Purple Moon,” and

Caroline George, author of “The Prime Way Trilogy,”

set to hold workshop for aspiring authors

at the Anderson County Museum

(Nashville, Tenn.) – The teen author duo, Tessa Emily Hall and Caroline George, will host a writing and publishing workshop, Write Now, on October 8, 2016 at the Anderson County Museum, 202 E Greenville St, Anderson, SC from 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM. Write Now caters to teen and adult writers, and offers inspiration as well as step-by-step guidelines that will increase chances of publication.

Unlike other workshops, Write Now motivates writers to pursue author careers with realistic expectations and knowledge of the current marketplace. Tessa Emily Hall, award-winning author, blogger and agent intern, shatters the misconceptions surrounding the traditional publishing realm and offers editing and pitch tips. Caroline George, two-time Georgia Author of the Year nominee, multi-self-published author and marketing intern for Harper Collins Publishing, offers an in-depth look at the setup of a publishing house and the process of self-publication. Participants will leave Write Now with a better understanding of the industry and be equipped with writing, editing and marketing tools to assist their efforts.

Tessa’s debut novel, “Purple Moon,” which was published while she was still in her teen years, has been vastly praised. Actress Alyson Stoner, known for her roles in Cheaper by the Dozen, Camp Rock and Step Up, said about “Purple Moon,” “Tessa offers a glance at the complex and all-too-commonly dysfunctional nature of relationships--to self, to family and peers--especially as we're learning to navigate the world on our own. Nimbly, she also interweaves hope amidst suffering; promise amidst frustration; restoration and wholeness among chaos and confusion; and endurance and vibrance among the throes of life. Purple Moon feels like the perfect side-hug to my teenage self, which reassures me I'm not alone, but knows I'm highly hormonal and not in the mood to romanticize life’s messes.”

At fifteen years of age, Caroline self-published the first book in her trilogy, “The Prime Way Program: Be the Victor.” Since then, the series has gained worldwide readership and gushing reviews from readers such as “George's world building is stunning and character development is amazingly strong. Her dedication to this book and characters is also not something to be overlooked. […] Truly an amazing story.”

From the get-go, when Tessa and Caroline first met to discuss book-tour plans over cups of coffee, they decided pairing their platforms would not only grow their success but encourage young writers to pursue their life visions. Now, after two years spent strengthening their credentials and friendship, they are ready to broaden their audience to include adult writers.

“I’ve never had a friendship quite like mine and Caroline’s,” Tessa said in an interview with Lisa Bergmanis of Belmont University. “We both share a strange obsession for imaginary characters, coffee and stories. Because of that, when we hang out, we don’t typically do the normal best friend stuff—such as watching movies, painting our nails, shopping, etc. (Actually, on a rare occasion when we did watch a movie, we took notes on the plot the entire time. Ha!)”

With one teen writer’s workshop already under their belts, complete with raving reviews from participants, the YA author duo is ecstatic to be offering the information behind Write Now to the general public.

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To reserve a spot at the event and pay the twenty-dollar fee, email TessaEmilyHall@gmail.com. Registration closes October 7, 2016.

Three Cheers For Teens - Artist Spotlight - Leah

Leah perceives a noir-pop world constructed of objectified girls and bad boys, and stands amidst the heartbreak as an individualistic onlooker.

Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, Leah kicks down the walls dividing genres and delivers a fierce, independent sound that both seduces and empowers. Inspired by influences such as Stevie Nicks, Bread, Lana Del Rey and Norah Jones, Leah’s music evokes eerie, cinematic emotions that reveal what it means to be a girl caught in the rift between attraction, love, and freedom.

As a young teenager, Leah rebelled against criticism, embraced her “different” voice, and began playing in bars and restaurants. Since that time, she has performed for intimate gatherings and crowds in excess of ten thousand, sharing her profound, glamour-rich songs and fiery passion.

“A unique sound from a refreshing perspective, Leah brings it.” -John Scott, iHeartMedia

I first met Leah in a college seminar course. The moment she walked into the room, I knew she was special. And each day since then, she’s proven me right. Not only is Leah an incredible singer and songwriter, she’s also an inspiring person with a God-given vision. Her soulful, mesmerizing music will add heat to any playlist.

In the following interview for Pursue Magazine and Girl Meets Publishing World, Leah shares her journey from aspiring musician to breakthrough artist and offers advice to those pursuing their dreams.

When did you first become interested in music?

I truly cannot remember a time when I wasn’t interested in music. I remember sitting in the back of my mom’s mini-van listening to Norah Jones and being obsessed with the musicality in every word she sang. I began singing and writing when I was about 12 and performing publicly when I was 14, but as far as my interest in music, it has always been there.

How did you break into the music scene?

I didn’t know any better way to “break into the music scene” than to write everyday and start playing in public, so that is exactly what I did! When other kids would be hanging out I would lock myself in my room, sit on my bed, and write for hours. And then I would take those songs and play them anywhere they'd let a 14-15 year old play. I was playing one Saturday night at a small restaurant and a local dj happened to be there. He liked my sound, invited me into the station and I did a live show with him. After that he wrote an article calling me an artist to watch. That really opened doors for me, giving me a little credibility, allowing me to play in more places; even though I was still too young to get into some of them on my own!  I am truly grateful for all of the positive things that came from that one vote of confidence. 

What are your future goals as a musician? 

I want to play music for the rest of my life, make a living out of it, but still love it at the end. I think that is the key: still loving it. Fame would be great and having people know every lyric to all of my songs, but I just want to continue sharing my music with every ear that will listen and if fame came out of, that would just be a plus.

Besides music, what else do you like to do? Favorite things?

Oddly enough, I love running! People think I am crazy when I say that, but as long as I have a pair of tennis shoes and the road, I am a happy lady. It gives me a lot of time to think. A lot of my songs have been written while running. A less abnormal thing that I love to do is bake! I can make some pretty amazing chocolate chip cookies.

How has God shaped your life and career?

Something I struggled with when I was young and around a lot of people that I went to church with was how I could sing and write secular songs and still be a Christian. My view is more that the way I treat others and portray myself as woman should show my love for Christ. If you listen closely to some of my lyrics, my personal values show through, like in my song Easy (this song hasn’t been released yet) I say, “I’ve got dignity and I’ve got strength and just because I want you doesn’t mean I’m gonna give it away. I’m not saying your sleazy, I’m just not easy.”

Do you have any advice you’d like to give those pursuing their dreams?

Don’t get easily discouraged! Whatever industry you want to break into whether it be music, business, or basket weaving, you will come across people who don’t agree with you or will try to change you. The most important thing that I have learned is to listen with a critical ear to decipher what criticism I can use to make myself better and what is just meant to hurt me and let it roll off my back.

Leah’s single, Cupid, is now available for download. Be sure to watch for her upcoming releases and LIKE her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LeahSykesMusician.

You can also see more of Leah in the latest trailer for The Prime Way Program.