Loren Thornburg Passion Perspective Interview

We asked Loren to take us on the journey of the development of her weekly devotionals….
When we asked her what was her original passion and how it developed she answered, “It didn’t start as a passion but became one. It started in college with sharing a quote as a way to update friends and family on my college journey. It continued to grow into what it is now as a weekly devotional through the support and encouragement of readers. As my passion for encouraging others developed this gave me an outlet.”
Her weekly emails began in college but it was in 2007 that she compiled her first 30-day devotional book to help raise money to finance her overseas CEI mission trip that summer. (You can donate to her current mission trip if you are interested by clicking on the link above.)

Here are some photos from various mission trips that Loren has been on with Competitive Edge International (CEI).

We asked Loren what steps she took to make her passion for writing devotionals into compiling a book become a reality?: “It became a Sunday afternoon routine and to write and email the devotionals, also known as my WE (to subscribe to Loren’s weekly emails please send your request to her email lorenquinelle@gmail.com). The book was more of a process with editing, cover design, and printing. It has become a family affair as my mom edits, my sister designs the cover and my dad and I put the books together with folding and stapling.” And this is what sets Loren’s Devotions apart from other daily devotionals. Her books allow all of her family to be involved and to use their gifts as well.
When asked what makes Loren’s devotionals special, she answered, “It’s fun because it tells my story in a way that is meant to be an encouragement to others and spur them on in their story with the Lord.”

We wanted to know what her long term goals are for her passion of writing, so we asked her, and she replied, “I have 7 devotional books so far and would love to put them into a year long devotional once I have 12. I desire for people to be encouraged to fall more in love with Jesus.”

Since 2007, her WE (weekly Emails) have changed and expanded. “It began as a quote by someone famous but over time I couldn’t find quotes that said what I was wanting to communicate so I began writing my own.” Over the past 7-8 years, it has grown from words of inspiration to her own creative flair expressed with passion and purpose. She shares her emails with friends and family and during the Christmas season she promote the complied books of devotionals by sending a few emails and a few facebook posts.  One of her CEI co-workers and dear friend shares her thoughts, “Loren’s a laid-back, loyal-to the-end, authentic-to-the-core, funny friend who is passionate about her relationship with the Lord and encouraging others in their faith-walk!”

Our Passion Perspective feature has the goal of promoting people who have made an impact on our lives. We have been greatly blessed by Loren’s devotionals and we would love to have our readers and followers have the opportunity to receive Loren’s weekly emails. Loren passes on the blessings by using some of the proceeds from the sales of her books to help fund her CEI trips overseas. “I would like to continue to sell the books. I recently added an ebook option which I plan on continuing for the next book at the end of the year. I haven’t tried a lot of different marketing techniques but would love to find ways to improve in this area.” So let’s encourage Loren by subscribing to her weekly emails and tell our friends about the devotional books.

Loren has a deep abiding faith in Jesus and her faith has played an integral part of her journey. She has faced some challenges-expected and unexpected. “When I don’t get a lot of response from my emails or purchases from my books I can easily get discouraged. Thankfully the Lord has encouraged me to continue in writing.” She has also experienced some unexpected blessings, “Some weeks I get so much response from the emails and it is so life giving to know that people are encouraged in the Lord because I was obedient to write, even at times when it doesn’t feel like what I have to say is significant. Even more unexpected is how the writing ministers to me when I am reading through devotions to include them in the book.”

We asked Loren if she had some words of wisdom to share with others about sticking to your passion and making a dream become a reality. “Even when it doesn’t feel significant…it’s worth it. You never know who may be impacted. AND Get others involved in your dream. It wasn’t meant to be done alone. I felt like the Lord gave me a dream in the midst of my emails. I didn’t set out for a dream but I found one. The more I pursue it the more I come across resistance. There are many who don’t want to receive my emails or book, yet there are more that do. As I seek to encourage others, I am encouraged. When I sit down to write as much as others are blessed it gives me a space to tune into what is going on in me and with the Lord. It’s so fun that in doing something that helps me, I can bless others too.”

We asked Loren how pursuing her passion has impacted her own life and she responded, “I found a place where I was free to be without comparing. I walked into something that I couldn’t look around at other people doing it and decide it wasn’t good enough. That gave me the freedom to be creative in a way that I wasn’t hindered by my own fears or comparing. In that, I wonder how I can do that in everything and let it be what God created it to be.” The biggest impact through this experience she said was, “I have found humility. I failed my first college paper even with the help of a tutor. So I can’t say that I am a naturally gifted writer. The more I write the more I realize I am not the one writing. I may type the words and letters but He is the one directing the message.”

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