Hey, friends. Thank you for stopping by. My writing journey has been a long one, and I'm thankful I stayed on the path where God has taken me. If you are a reader, thank you so much. As an author, I appreciate you more than I can say. If you're a writer and you've been penning words a long time or just a little while, trust God with your journey. He knows what's ahead.
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.
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.
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.
What it’s About:
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.
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?
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!
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.
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.
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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.
Christmas is not a time of joy for the hurting.
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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
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.
Matthew 2:10
When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!
Jesus gives the true joy of the season.
In the book, Blessed
are the Misfits, Brant Hansen, Star 93.3 radio DJ, poses the question,
"Can a person have depression and joy at the same time?" That got me
to thinking, can we invite joy into our hearts during the holidays, regardless
of our circumstances or our feelings? Can I be joyful during the holidays even
when...
I'm a single parent and, by America's standards, I
can't buy what my children want...
I've lost a loved one who won't be there to wish a
Merry Christmas...
I'm a high school student who has no close
friends...
I'm a college student struggling to balance work and
school...
I'm a parent rushing from activity to activity just
trying to get it all done...
I’m single and all my friends are in couples...
I'm a soldier, out of the country, with no hope of
being home for the holidays...
I’m sick and not sure I can celebrate...
I'm just overwhelmed with all the preparation of Christmas...
I haven't experienced all of these scenarios, but
I've had my share of struggles
during the holidays. Circumstances that could
have stolen every speck of joy from my heart. Yet, God shined on me through His
people and His word. I found if I could hold on to one little twinkle of joy in
my heart, the fire would burn and spark delight in my soul.
Joy filled the wise men's hearts when they saw the star and realized Jesus was nearby. He is for us, too. Jesus is here with the joy we desire. Not happiness that's fleeting, but joy that underlies all circumstances. Even when everything seems difficult, frustrating, or hopeless Jesus' joy is like a buoy that helps me through the tough times. I think of it as heavenly delight that fills my soul.
I pray this Christmas you’ll seek hope in Jesus and discover
His spark of amazing joy.
What it’s about:
Elizabella can't imagine anything worse than being a Jamestown bride -- but her sister is determined to do just that. On the way to the ship to stop her sister, she witnesses a brutal murder and must flee for her life. She takes refuge on the ship, pretending to be her sister, intending to leave as soon as she is safe. Before she knows it, she is headed for the New World, trapped by desperation and deception.
My Thoughts:
Set in the 1620s, The Seasoning of Elizabella
captures the early days of Jamestown, Virginia and the difficult time the
settlers faced. Elizabella is content to run her sewing shop in London, but her
sister is intent on travelling to Jamestown to find a husband. Elizabella wants
to protect her sister, but after a tragic event she accidentally ends up on a
ship sailing to America. Miles has lost so much and he wants nothing more than
to protect his brother in Jamestown. As the settlers wrestle with the difficult
life there, the brides arrive and Elizabella, much to her dismay, is with them.
Kraft doesn’t sugar coat the way many of the settlers lived in those difficult
times. I appreciate that Miles loves and respects God, as does Elizabella which
adds a beautiful thread of hope. With a thorough understanding of the history
which surrounded Jamestown, Kraft has written a story historical fiction
readers will enjoy. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions
expressed in this review are completely my own.
