A. SPIRITUAL TOPICS:
Starting from Scratch. Where is God when life pulls the rug out from under you–when you’re forced to start over again? Sharon’s message of restoration and healing comes from personal experience and the Word of God. While suffering can be intense, God gives us skills and abilities, personality traits, dreams, values and passion that translates into hope. Trust Him, and He will eventually make everything right.
Walking With God in the Everyday. How can we better cooperate with God as He works to transform us and bring us to spiritual maturity? The following themes have been used as topics for a six-session Weekend Retreat:
1. D is for Doubt: he loves me, he loves me not…
2. D if for Discouragement: “What if…?”
3. D is for Deception: children of darkness, children of light
4. D is for Distractions: how to be still and know…
5. D is for Direction: where are we headed?
6. D is for Determination: wisdom is knowledge is power!
Intimate Apparel for the Woman of God (alternate title for Mother-Daughter events: Close to God with Clothes to Match). God wants us to have an intimate relationship with Him. Indeed, we are the beautiful, beloved Bride of Christ. Items of clothing ranging from a negligée to sweatshirt and jeans are used to illustrate concepts of the spiritual life: our need for repentance, the transformed life, and effective service for our Lord.
Come Away… (based on Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus calls us to sweet communion with Him. Are we responding? This presentation is a hands-on experience designed to motivate believers in spending consistent, quality time in personal devotions. We’ll share practical and stimulating techniques for Bible reading, meditation, journal prayers and personal mini-retreats. We’ll also explore ways of fostering self-discipline and keeping distractions to a minimum.
Presents From God’s Presence. Gift-wrapped surprises illustrate the blessings we receive from God through Jesus Christ. Jesus says, “I have come that you might have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). Then He proceeds to give us gift after gift – more than we could ever expect or imagine. There is so much to receive – so much He wants to show us and teach us in the process.
Being Filled with the Spirit. Much misunderstanding, controversy, and even ill-will has grown up around the function of the Holy Spirit since Jesus sent Him into the upper room 2,000 years ago. Yet there are many truths that are perfectly clear in the Scriptures (and this is a very Scriptural presentation). Being filled with the Spirit really means emptying ourselves of all that prevents His infilling. This includes all sin, anger, unforgiveness— the list goes on and on. Only when we repent and open ourselves to God’s way can Jesus fill us and re-fill us, use us and re-use us, inspire us and re-inspire us with His Holy Spirit power.
The Purpose of Prayer – An Understanding that Brings Confidence. More than just the basics of prayer are explored in this session. Techniques and examples of focused prayer are demonstrated. Then aspects of spiritual warfare are discussed to emphasize God’s ability to change us from worried, meek mice into strong and savvy lionesses.
B. WRITING WORKSHOPS:
So You Want to Write a Book!
Did you know that 86% of Americans have the desire to write and publish a book? Only a small percentage of them ever take action, however. If you are one of those who wants to explore your options and move ahead, this course might be for you. Part One, “Publishing and Marketing,” explores options that include royalty publishing, subsidized publishing, printing presses, and print on demand. Then we discuss the various methods of promoting and marketing your book. Part Two, “Writing and Finishing,” covers some of the techniques necessary for grabbing and holding your reader’s interest. Learn how to stay on task, streamline the writing process, avoid writer’s block, and make good use of your time. If you’d like, Sharon and class members will give you feedback on your manuscript. DATES: Thursday evenings, 6:30-9:00 PM, October 15-November 19, 2009. LOCATION: Caribou Coffee Conference Room, 2111 Snelling Avenue N, Roseville MN 55113 (across from HarMar Mall). So You Want to Write a Book! To print a downloadable PDF, click here: So You Want to Write a Book! Or e-mail Sharon at sharonknudson@hotmail.com with your name/address so a brochure can be sent to you.
Pathway to Publication
Sharon shares her personal journey — how and when she started writing and speaking, what happened along the way, and how that might apply to you and your writing/life.
Write Smart and Get Results
If you treat writing like a hobby, it will stay a hobby. But if you’re serious about getting published, Sharon has some helping tools: keep a treadmill journal, cluster your ideas, structure your content quickly, organize you comuter and your hardcopies, recycle your work again and again. Last, set realistic goals while you dare to dream big. The result? Efficiency and success as defined by you!
COMING EVENTS:
Go to the CALENDAR tab.
