From the Editor’s Desk

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;
yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
(Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

It was one sunny Saturday morning, eight and a half years ago, when the idea for FaithWriters Magazine first popped into my mind. It was on a two minute drive to the supermarket when God grabbed my attention. Right in the midst of a mundane task, He turned my thoughts to an exciting, potential-filled possibility.

At that time, July 2004, FaithWriters.com had approximately 7,000 members (a far cry from the 60,000+ members today), and we were constantly looking for ways to encourage and bless those who shared their writing on the site, while also blessing the many people who visited FaithWriters each day to read. FaithWriters Magazine was the perfect way to do both, and the only question was why we hadn’t thought of it sooner.

Over the next four years, FaithWriters Magazine showcased a multitude of talented new writers, and a quick browse through the first issue revealed articles by at least three people who I know have gone on to do exciting things with their writing (including our very own Lynda Schab, the author of the very popular Madi series of books).

God’s timing is perfect. It was His timing when we launched the first issue back in September 2004, and it was His timing when, in May 2008, we made the hard decision to close the doors—at least, for a season.

But the great thing about seasons is that they don’t last forever. And as far as FaithWriters Magazine is concerned, we’ve just moved from winter into spring.

This first issue of the new FaithWriters Magazine is filled with a great mix of award-winning articles, poems and stories. Something for just about every taste. And speaking of taste, if you are suffering the results of post-holiday season overindulgence (and I suspect most of us are), we have just the article to help kick-start that New Year diet resolution: Gluttony 101 by the 2012 Page Turner Contest runner-up, Beth Muehlhausen.

If you’ve ever been hurt by someone, join the club. When the pain hits, I know it is all too easy to add another brick to the barricade around my heart. If you relate to that feeling, then don’t miss Ellen Carr’s beautiful poem, Until. May God use her words to minister to your soul and help tear down that wall.

Fellow Australian Geoffrey Johnstone lives in one of my favorite parts of the world—the beautiful Hunter Valley in New South Wales—and Geoffrey has become one of my favorite down-to-earth, straight-to-the point writers at FaithWriters. His messages are always very clear, but he delivers them in a way that keeps the reader’s interest. R835 is a perfect example of his style, and I’m delighted to share it with you in this issue.

One of the most gripping pieces in this month’s magazine comes from the very talented Amy Michelle Wiley. Amy’s story, The Monster Behind Me, is based on her own experience. I won’t say anything else about it, but I know many readers will relate. If you do, please feel free to contact Amy via her member page at FaithWriters.com.

And that goes for anything you read in FaithWriters Magazine. All our authors love to hear from people who have been encouraged, inspired or blessed through their writing.

As well as the articles I’ve mentioned above, we have more wonderful stories and poems by Laura Hawbaker, Cheryl von Drehle, Vincent Lyons, Nancy Bucca, Deborah Engle, Joe Moreland and Raymond Dickerson, as well as FaithWriters “old-timer” Linda Germain (having been a much loved and active member since December, 2003).

Wishing you and your loved ones a very happy 2013 and a year of great reading with FaithWriters Magazine.

Deb Porter
Editor, FaithWriters Magazine