New Life Awaits

The hyacinth and tulip leaves have pushed through 

the cold January ground and reminded me of the coming of spring. 

I love that God thought to give us plants, some to eat and some to 

simply enjoy. As I wait through the quiet of winter, I look forward to 

new life in my garden, just as I look forward to heaven.

Enjoy the beauty of the earth until we see the magnificence of heaven.

 Genesis 1:11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.

He Broke the Record

2 Peter 1:5-8
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The crowd cheered.

Our grandson, Aiden, a senior on the varsity basketball team, broke his own record. A few weeks previous, he set the record for the most three-point shots in a game at his school. He made eight three-point shots (baskets made beyond the arc.) Impressive. Then a few games later, he hit nine three-point shots and smashed his own record.

How did this young man do it? Practice, self-control, and knowledge of the game played a big part. He stayed after practice and challenged himself to make as many baskets in a row as he could. His perseverance paid off. Even in his excitement to break his record, his ability to be a good teammate shined throughout the game. After the game, his team gathered around him, hugged him, and congratulated him. They showed him how much they valued him.

Peter writes to make every effort to pursue faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, affection, and love. Those are all qualities I strive toward in everything I do. They all help me live a productive life for God. Sometimes it takes more work than others. Self-control is a tricky one for me, especially with sweets, but I continue to try. Jesus set the perfect example as He ministered to everyone who would listen. God asks me to grow in knowledge of Him every day. And I’m so thankful He gave us the Bible to read and study. I strive to be a better person, as I live my life as a believer and follower of Christ.

Seek ways to grow.

Snow like Wool

I can't resist sharing a photo of the snow we got on Sunday.

In Psalm 147, the psalmist mentions that God spreads the snow like wool. 

I can imagine shepherds pulling wool, sheered from their sheep, over them at night to protect themselves from the cold.

Could it be that God covers the land with snow as a reminder of His provision?

It's a comfort to know God is always with us.

He loves us.

 

I Am Not Alone

Matthew 10:16-20

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

God is with me.

A crowd gathered for the varsity boys’ game. On the opposite side of the gym from us, the opposing team’s fans came together. A sea of blue filled the bleachers, except for one lone soul dressed in gold and black (our team colors.) When I noticed the fellow dressed in different colors, my first thought was sympathy. A fan for our team sat amidst the opposing fans, but then I wondered if he wore those colors without thinking about what everyone else was wearing.

I’ll never know the answer, but the visual reminded me of folks who stand alone in their faith or are on their own in their circumstances. Missionaries go to places where they may be the only ones who believe in Jesus, and they are responsible for living a life of faith. Teachers stand before classes and work so hard to instill a love of learning in their students. Ministers sometimes feel alone, even surrounded by many.

I’m sure the apostles felt singled out and on their own many times. Jesus sent them out without earthly possessions and asked them to go to towns less than welcoming. They traveled and taught about Jesus, even though they could be flogged or end up in jail. What did the apostles know that kept them going? God was with them. They were not alone. The Holy Spirit dwelled in their hearts.

Writing is a solitary activity, but I know beyond a doubt, God is beside me as I write. He’s with me when I’m tired, disappointed, excited, happy, broken, or weary. No matter what my circumstances may be, God stands with me, picks me up, heals my heart, and keeps me going. For that, I am so thankful.

God is with His people, even when we feel alone.

From Our Chaos

My daughter, Maggie, made this beautiful piece of embroidered art.

I'm happy we share a love of fiber arts. 

When I create embroidered art, my box of floss has a

chaotic array of tangles, 

but when each strand is threaded through a needle

and applied to the fabric, a work of art emerges.

Art is chaos taking shape, much like life. 

God mends our broken strands, and 

He takes our loose threads and weaves beauty.

From our chaos, He creates a work of art.

 

And God Gave us Music

Psalm 92:1-3

It is good to praise the Lord
    and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning
    and your faithfulness at night,
to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
    and the melody of the harp.

Praise is the rehearsal for our eternal song. -Charles Spurgeon

Our grandson, Zeke, tried out for the OMEA seventh grade band performance. I’m delighted to share he was chosen as first chair baritone. The students from various districts came together to perform a wonderful concert after learning the music in only three days. Kudos to Maggie (his momma) for driving him to Cincinnati every one of those days.

On Sunday, as the band assembled, I sat in the audience with family and soaked in each song. Each of the four songs inspired their own beauty. They started with a song that might have been the soundtrack to an action flick. Then they played a lovely song that invoked an inward peace. The third song reminded of something you might hear in a palace, and the last song they played was based on an African spiritual with a contagious rhythm.

As I think back on the music, the first song played reminds me of Joshua marching around the walls of Jerico. The peaceful song left me thinking of Mary holding baby Jesus. The palace song brought Queen Esther to mind, and the African beat reminded me of David dancing and praising.

God gave us the gift of music, and we can use instruments and voices to raise praises to God. Music also soothes the soul and offers a respite from the cacophony of a noisy world. I’m thankful there are different styles of music, and a variety of musicians so we can all find the tunes that draw us closer to God. Contemporary Christian music, traditional hymns, pop, and folk are among my favorites, and I’ll listen to almost any instrumental tunes. As I am with nature, I’m amazed at God’s creation of tones and melodies. He’s given us so many gifts, and just think how beautiful the music of heaven will be.

Find music that draws you closer to God.

Seek the Beauty

Walking in the woods this time of year, I don't see much color. 

There's an occasional dart of red from a cardinal 

or some orange bittersweet buds still hanging around, 

but without snow, brown covers the canvas. 

Tim and I walked a path at the local park not long ago 

and this bright orange fungi grabbed my attention. 

I love discovering beauty in the every day. 

Some people may not think fungus is pretty, 

but this particular one looked like flower petals growing from wood.

When you're out and about or even at home seek beauty in every day.

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.

-Ephesians 3:11

 

Content and Obedient

Acts 18:9-11
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Content and complacent are not the same. 

This time of year, when snow falls or rain drenches the ground, I’m content to stay inside and enjoy the peace and quiet. With my word for the year being content, I’ve been thinking about what it means to live a life pleased with what I have and having what I need.

Tim and I live a pretty simple life. We don’t need a lot of things. We’re not extravagant spenders, nor are we wasteful. In pursuing a content life, does that mean I stop striving and moving forward in my life, my writing, or my spiritual growth? Of course not. No matter how old I am, or how successful, or pleased with life, God wants me to continue to serve through the gifts and circumstances He’s given me.

The apostle Paul spoke of how he’d learned to be content in any circumstance, but guess what—he continued to strive to be a better person, one who served the Lord and listened to his calling. In Acts 18, the Lord even spoke to Paul and encouraged him to not be afraid and to continue speaking and sharing the gospel in Corinth because God placed people around him to care for him. Paul obeyed God and once again found contentment.

As a believer in God’s mercy and grace and as a person of faith, I trust God in my circumstances and long to serve Him all my days.

Content and complacent are not the same. Strive to be content and obedient.

He Made Summer and Winter

I want to challenge you in this new year of 2023 

to slow down and observe God's creation.

He's given us a beautiful natural world as a resource, 

but also as a reminder of His magnificence and power.

Whatever the season, appreciate His creation.

 

Suspense Fiction Review: Critical Threat (Extreme Measures Book #3) by Lynette Eason

What it’s About:

FBI Special Agent Grace Billingsley tracks serial killers, using her skills as a psychiatrist and behavioral analyst to get dangerous people off the street and safely behind bars. But prison psychiatrist Sam Monroe knows that just because a killer is incarcerated doesn't mean they're not a threat. His own father, Peter, is a serial killer--in prison but certainly not out of Sam's life, as much as he wishes he was.

When bodies start showing up with Peter's MO, Sam and Grace are both called in to consult. They've met before--and though Grace thought they'd made a real connection, Sam ghosted her. They'll have to get past the awkwardness and mistrust to solve this case--especially because it's about to get personal.

My Thoughts:

If you’re a fan of shows like Criminal Minds you’ll like this book. I’m not a fan of those types of shows, I prefer a little milder show like NCIS, but I will say this story kept me reading. Grace is a tough lady determined to find a serial killer. Sam, whose dad is a serial killer is right on her heals trying to protect her. Eason’s characters have depth and insight as they chase down the evil man who is taking lives. She also layers in how such horrific events affect so many. If you enjoy thriller suspense, you’ll want to read book three of the Extreme Measures series.  I received a free copy of the book with no expectations. The opinions here are mine.

Learn to be Content

Philippians 4:11
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

You are your words.

As I tiptoe into 2023 and leave behind a year that tugged on my heart and left me with empty seats at the table, I’ve asked God to lay a word for the year on my heart. For years, I’ve considered 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 my life verse. The one I study to discern how to live my life. Of course, I embrace all the Bible says, but these verses resonate with me.

As I prayed and read Bible verses in the hope God would help me choose a word, the one that caught my attention was “content.” A tall order in this world is to be satisfied with what I have and how I live. In a Bible study of the word content, the leader said, “contentment is a spiritual principle of dependence on the Lord rather than on human help or self.” As I read those words, I read my life verse again. The last phrase “so that you will not be dependent on anybody” struck me as contrary to contentment until I understood, our contentment doesn’t depend on us taking care of ourselves, instead we trust God to provide. In that, I am satisfied with His plan for my life.

The Apostle Paul spoke of contentment in Philippians. He learned to be content even though he lived a life of difficulties. In prison, on the streets, in homes where he was well taken care of, and still he chose to be content and depend on God.

My prayer this year is to be content in my circumstances and trust God to see me through. No doubt, I'll need to keep the word content in front of me and remind myself daily of God's care.

What word will you carry through the year? 

resource:https://dacc.edu/assets/pdfs/PCM/workbook.pdf 

Faith

Jesus was born in a humble manger to a young woman who trusted God.

When I think of the miracle of Christmas, 

my faith grows and my love for Jesus increases.

I'm thankful Mary loved God and trusted His plan.

 

Merry Christmas!

 

The Light Came Down

1 John 1:5-7
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Be the light or look for the light.

Tim and I turn the Christmas music on in the car and cruise through a few neighborhoods to view Christmas lights. We have a few favorites we hope to see every year, and we’re pleased when a few pop up we haven’t encountered before. On a street new to us we saw a sign pointing people to a display. When you see a sign, that usually means we will come upon a home where someone has taken the extra steps to create a light show. Sure enough, we turned the corner and oh my, the lights shone.

The house, covered in strands hanging from roof to foundation set the stage for the many lighted blow-ups in the yard. I have to say, the folks who set up this display had organized it and made it attractive and fun. We were drawn to the light.

John tells me that God is the light and anyone who loves God and follows Him will be a light in the world. I see this two ways, we either are the light, because we choose to follow Jesus or we need the light of Jesus’ love. There was a time when I chased the light, and I thank God He offered me grace and hope. I pray now I am a light in the darkness of this world. My hope is, if you need the light of Jesus, you embrace it this Christmas. 

The light Jesus brought to the world, coming to us as a baby and growing into the teacher and Savior shines rays of hope.

Light was my word for 2022. I’ve clung to Jesus’ light and shared it as I followed Him.

Merry Christmas!

Hope

I am so thankful we have hope in Jesus.

When the world seems bleak, the Lord of Lords offers hope of new life

and hope of peace and freedom in this life.

He is the hope of the world!

 

Are You Prepared to Celebrate?

Luke 2:4-5

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 

“Be prepared, just not to be safe, but to be a faithful servant of God.”-Didi Bacon

Christmas takes preparation. With five children, four with spouses, and eleven grands, I have to begin preparing for the holidays early, because I prefer to take my time rather than stress.

For Christmas dinner, I keep it simple. Yet, the meal takes organization. Yesterday, I spent a chunk of the day cooking hamburger for sloppy joes and chopping peppers for pizza dip. When I finished, I tucked both into the freezer until December 24. As I stirred the burger and cooked the pink out, my mind wandered to Joseph and Mary. Weird, I know, but that’s how my brain works.

God had chosen Mary to be Jesus’ momma, and he picked Joseph as Jesus’ earthly father because Joseph was a man of integrity who loved God. Obviously, Joseph took care of Mary. When he heard Caesar Augustus called for them to travel to Bethlehem for the census, he loaded the donkey (at least that's what we learned in Sunday school,) and he and Mary joined the caravan on the journey. I’ve no doubt Joseph packed water and snacks, along with blankets and bags of clothes. He prepared for the long trip, but he didn’t stop there. His most important preparation wasn’t food or clothes, instead he took the time to prepare his heart.

Joseph had accepted his role in the coming of King Jesus. With willingness, Joseph humbled his heart and opened his mind to the changes coming to his family. He looked to God with a servant’s heart and accepted the part God asked him to take on. He chose to love the One who would change the world, even as he raised Jesus as his son.

Joseph’s willingness to accept his circumstances kind of blows my mind. His faith was extraordinary. His actions push me to prepare for Christmas, not in gift giving and cooking, but more importantly, to prepare my heart to worship the King.

Christmas is about Jesus. He’s the reason we celebrate. With humility, I ask God to open my eyes and heart in service to Him.

Prepare your heart to worship God and serve Him in this holy season.

Peace

Peace is something I cherish.

I love fresh fallen snow and the quiet I hear.

I thank God for the Prince of Peace-- 

who brings peace on earth through his grace and forgiveness.

 

Never Say Never by Patti Shene Gonzales

Today, I'm hosting Patti Shene Gonzales. Patti is an amazing encourager who has written her first Christmas novella. She shares a bit about herself, her journey, and her story, Cathy’s Christmas Confession: A Christmas Ridge Romance Book 3.

I have wanted to be a writer since childhood. However, a career, a family, and other priorities always seemed to get in the way.

The biggest stumbling block to my writing career came from my own weakness, my procrastination. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW.com) and an attendee at several writers conferences, I have encountered agents and editors interested in my work over many years. However, in my opinion, my manuscripts always needed improvement before submission, and therefore were never really 'finished'.

There were things I said I would never do if I did pursue a writing career. Number one, the last story I would have any interest in writing would be a Christmas story. It’s not that I have anything against Christmas. It is the most joyful and meaningful time of year. I just could not see myself coming up with the type of amazing Christmas stories that I have seen others write.

Second, I was never going to self-publish a book. I wanted my work to be accepted by a royalty paying publisher who, by contracting it, would validate that what I had written was worth publishing.

Sometimes God has other plans. He has an amazing way of changing the minds of even the most stubborn.

A few months ago, a friend invited me to participate with four other writers in a multi author series. This happened to be a Christmas series. She assured me that, having written Gunsmoke fanfiction in the past, this would be easy for me, since the setting and some of the characters were already established.

The project sounded intriguing, so I decided to accept the challenge. I encountered many obstacles along the way as I prepared this manuscript, mainly, as mentioned before, my almost pathological propensity to procrastinate.

I spent way too much time tossing ideas around in my head without writing them down. Suddenly, my deadline date loomed a mere few weeks away. Several nights found me up until 4 a.m., struggling to put the words together that would make a readable story. Sometimes, I went to the Lord in tears, wondering if this was a project I should pursue. The ideas just didn’t seem to be coming.

The more I wrote scenes and deleted them, changed the names of my characters, and tried to create conflict and resolution, the easier it became. I thank God for that. He has a way of putting ideas into a writer's head that can be transposed onto paper or a computer screen to convey a message.

I had promised myself that I would never publish a book that had not been edited by someone other than myself, I sent the manuscript to a friend who edits in an unusual manner. She is blind, so using a reading program, she picks up things the average person doesn’t, such as a missing open quotation mark, a missing period at the end of a sentence, a commonly misspelled word.

Next, I sent the manuscript to two friends who served as beta readers. These were authors I could trust to tell me if the manuscript had merit or did not deserve to see the light of day.

I then tackled the hurdle of learning how to self-publish the book through Amazon. That took a bit of time, but once I got the knack of the program, it wasn’t that hard. I spent several hours at my friend's home as she showed me how to upload the book to Amazon.

So, this aspiring writer who claimed she would never self-publish a book, especially a Christmas story, is excited to announce the publication of her first novella, Cathy’s Christmas Confession: A Christmas Ridge Romance Book 3. The book released on November 22, 2022 at this link (https://tinyurl.com/mr26ekaj) on Kindle. Hopefully, a print copy will follow.

If you choose to read Cathy's Christmas Confession, out of the many hundreds of Christmas stories that will be published this year, I will be truly honored. My prayer is that the story will glorify my Heavenly Father and bless you as the reader.

Blurb for Cathy's Christmas Confession

Christmas is not a time of joy for the hurting.

During a snowstorm, widow Cathy Fischer creams a stop sign on her way to work at the Christmas Ridge Community Church. Acquaintance David Martin stops to help. Cathy sees signs of deep grief in David, a recent widower. She reaches out with support in an attempt to help David through this most difficult first Christmas without his beloved wife.

David Martin struggles with grief over the death of his wife. He blames God for her rapid demise after her cancer diagnosis. Cathy reaches out to him with compassion and support and soon enlists him in her mission to bring joy to others at Christmas. Will their joint quest restore David’s faith?

David needs to turn loose of the past and embrace his future. Cathy has a confession to make to the entire community that may give David a different perspective of who she really is. Will her confession set her free?

Does God have plans in mind for the two of them they did not anticipate?

Check out our Amazon Christmas Ridge Romance page (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLCJ9P9J) to learn about other books in the series and receive updates!

BIO:
Patti Shene Gonzales hosts Step Into the Light, a weekly interview style podcast, where guests share their journey out of darkness or ways they lead others back to light. She hosts writers on her two blogs, Patti’s Porch and The Over 50 Writer. Patti is published in two anthologies and local publications and has three novels in progress. She enjoys writing, reading, critiquing, and spending time with family and friends. Patti lives in Colorado with her devoted feline companion, Duncan. Cathy’s Christmas Confession is her first novella.

Visit Patti at her website www.pattishene.com

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/PattiShene

Tuck Hope in Your Heart

 Luke 2:19

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

So many memories flood my heart at Christmas.

I confess. I put my Christmas tree up the day before Thanksgiving, this year. We were going to my sister’s house for the holiday, so no one would be visiting us. After I had prepared the food I was taking, I had time to set up the tree. As I fluffed the silver branches, I remembered when Tim brought home this beauty. He knew I wanted a silver one and went on the hunt for it.  The tree has been with us for ten-plus years.

Each year as I adorn it with ornaments, the memories I’ve stored in my heart come to life. As the wrapping comes off of each bauble, I remember the person or occasion associated with the decoration. The first felt ornament I made, in sixth grade art class, still hangs on my tree. Along with our Christmas tree, decorations from my childhood adorn our home. With each one the thought of Christmases past tugs at my heart.

Imagine a young woman who an angel declared pregnant by God, traveling to another town at nine months pregnant, and giving birth to the King of Kings in a stable. Instead of being terrified or embarrassed, she treasured and embraced her experience. As a mom and a person who cherishes sweet memories, I love reading that Mary treasured and pondered what happened in her heart.

I’m sure those memories helped carry her through the death and resurrection of her Son.

Even as I contemplate the memories attached to my tree, I cherish the nativity ornaments that tell the story of the Savior come to earth as a babe.

Jesus brought hope to a dark world. Even as we navigate the chaos, hold on to the hope and tuck it into your heart.

The Star

When I go outside with Rosie May in the evening, I look at the stars. 

On a clear night, they twinkle and shine and remind me of the star over Bethlehem.

They fill me with joy as they remind me of Jesus.