Rebecca Thesman | Let’s Chat

Welcome, everyone!

Rebecca Thesman (R.J. Thesman) is a certified life coach with a focus on writing, an editor and author. Trained as a Stephen minister and biblical counselor, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She teaches at writers conferences throughout the Midwest.

Rebecca writes from the heartland of Kansas where she enjoys gardening, reading and cooking — especially anything with blueberries. Connect with RJ on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Follow her blog at https://RJThesman.net.

Welcome, Rebecca!

My writing journey began in early childhood. My mother would often find me on a limb of “my tree” on our farm, a Red Chief tablet and fat pencil in my hand. Those first stories were melodramatic, but precious to my burgeoning writer soul.

I was the kid in high school English who was thrilled when the teacher said, “Write an essay.” All my peers groaned.

But I did not follow through with a Journalism major in college. I felt God wanted me to serve in missions. So I majored in education, and my first teaching job was in Honduras at a school for missionary kids. During that time, my writing consisted only of journaling. Later, those journals became my first book, The Plain Path, which is now out of print.

Rebecca Thesman: During the years of teaching, then becoming a mother and working in various ministry jobs, I continued to write.

Sometimes that meant getting up early or staying up late. In 1983, I attended my first writers conference and learned how to freelance. That conference was instrumental in pushing me forward, and I became a professional freelance writer and editor.

I continued in ministry but always wrote. Gradually I have built my publishing resume to 18 books and 800+ articles. God has gifted me with creativity and the ability to use ministry as fodder for writing. Most of my books contain the theme of Hope.

In 2012, I became a certified life coach which was part of my ministry at a nonprofit for women.

Then in 2017, after struggling through ministry exhaustion, I became a full-time writing coach, editor and author. I absolutely love what I do as I help other writers birth their words.

Through my ministry with women, I discovered so many who live in destructive relationships. Actually, the numbers are staggering. One out of four women live this way, including Christian women in Christian homes. They often receive no support from their church leaders who are patriarchal and demand submission from women.

I have counseled with pastors’ wives, deacons’ wives and women in all walks of life who wonder how long they can hold on to their sanity and their lives. They often stay because of finances. Most have invested their entire lives being wives, homeschooling mothers and volunteers in the church. They have few marketable skills. They sacrificed their own dreams for those of their abusive mates.

Several years ago, God directed me to write the fictional story of Abigail — the she-ro in First Samuel 25.

Abigail helped King David during a crisis, and scripture states “Nabal was an abusive man.” God Himself took care of Nabal. That story reminded me how God loves his daughters and does not call us to live in destructive relationships.

But I resisted writing the story as a novel. My writing resume included mostly nonfiction, and the topic was close to home. But as a workshop teacher, I often said, “Nonfiction tells the facts while fiction shares the truth.”

Rebecca Thesman: So I eventually stopped arguing with God and wrote No Visible Scars.

It is a contemporary version of the Abigail story with many of the same characters. But it shows how Abigail learns to set healthy boundaries and eventually, finds her freedom. No Visible Scars was released in 2018. It has sold to hundreds of women and hopefully, made a difference in their lives. Whenever I speak about domestic abuse, I sell copies to grandparents who are concerned about the danger their daughters or granddaughters live in. Domestic abuse is a tragedy in every part of society. It is a hidden problem in the church.

In this excerpt, Abigail begins to seek help. She is finally admitting her truth.

No Visible Scars by Rebecca Thesman

Abigail walked past the police station for the third time. She willed herself to draw closer, to yank open the door and state her business. But every cell in her body felt paralyzed. Her heart continued its thumping, louder and more insistent, squeezed by fear.

She had driven all the way to north Kansas City, to a station far from home, to find a police officer who would not know her husband. On her fourth trip around the block, she shook her head and clenched her fists. Finally, she pushed through her fear and stormed into the station. Breathless, she stopped in front of the main desk to face a female officer. A woman. She would understand.

A shiny badge with Officer Tamara in bold letters. Tamara. A safe person. Was she experienced in domestic problems, this petite woman with caramel-colored hair pulled back into a chignon? No earrings or makeup. No nonsense.

Abigail swallowed hard. “Uhm, yes, please. I have a question. Uhm…I have a friend who is…concerned about her marriage. Uhm…he’s kind of mean, but he doesn’t hit her. It’s mostly…well…words and emotional stuff and…my friend doesn’t know if she called 9-1-1, would you come to help her?”

She wanted to scream. Maybe she could commit a crime. Nothing terrible. Just enough to get her locked up. Far, far away from Nate. She twirled a section of her hair tight, then tighter until it hurt. The platinum mess Nate loved, so different from her natural shade. She couldn’t even own her hair color. She turned and pushed through the door. Gulping air, she wished she could have told Officer Tamara the ugly truth.

Rebecca Thesman Links

Blog: https://rjthesman.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RJThesman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RJThesman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccajthesman/

YouTube channel – Coaching for Writers: https://bit.ly/2QOkD6Z

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Dear Lord, please bless each word Rebecca writes for You.
~ For Jesus’ sake ~