Keeping it Fresh

Posted on May 2, 2014 by kristenheitzmann

For me writing is vocation, avocation, vacation, and variation. I’ve never gone with a publisher who is sold on the concept of branding because I know I have to go where the spirit leads. This is so intrinsic to my nature it comes out in many ways.

Before writing for publication, I expressed my creativity through fine arts of various forms. I had great success with clay sculptures that sold through a wonderful shop in historic Old Colorado City. I had an amazing following of collectors, some of whom would buy things sight-unseen that the proprietor would ship around the country. I loved creating these pieces and seeing what whimsy would come out when I sat down and took up the clay. What was the kiss of death? Orders. Prepaid orders. My husband would say, “It’s money in your hand. You don’t have to wait and see if something will sell. They already want it.” He did not understand that having an expectation hanging over me somehow killed the process. I would grit my teeth and make the thing, which was not at all the same as watching with delight what my fingertips wrought.

I don’t believe I could do a book for hire, or take on a preset project. I could not write, as some authors happily do, the same style story over and over again no matter how popular that formula was. Writing, like sculpture, is something I open up to, something that overtakes and carries me along. And it has to be fresh and variable. That’s why I love weather so much–it changes!

I’ve been working on a historical series, delving into settings and devouring actual news of the time etc. and I am excited about the stories that are coming out of that. I love how deep the characters are becoming and the different ways the stories are going. But…

I happened to open the contemporary wildfire novel I have in process the other day, and, wow, am I loving sinking my teeth back into that. So it seems with several stories in process, I am creatively energized by change and variation. It brings a freshness and joy to the process and keeps me at it and excitedly working scene after scene. Some might call this scatterbrained, but I guess I’d say why not? We use so little of our brains, why not fire up those resting neurons with a change of pace now and then?

Anyone else get this way? How do you keep it fresh?

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Book Release Day

Posted on May 1, 2014 by bethrachg

 

LoveintheWindThe day a book releases is always a fun day for authors. Sometimes we throw book launch parties near the release date or schedule book-signings or participate in blog tours and other social media venues for promotion.  Sometimes we simply let the people with whom we’ve connected in cyberspace know.

Like now.

Love in the Wind is the third and last book in my series set in New Mexico.  A sweet romance and complete departure from my usual romantic suspense, I enjoyed writing the characters and exploring the world of sailing. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it!

SAILING IS MADDIE CRAMER’S ESCAPE

Now she’s counting on it to bring her closer to the biological father she’s just met. But her chances of winning the regatta—and his approval—are in jeopardy unless she can find a new crew mate. Enter Grady Stone, a perfect fit for Maddie’s crew in more ways than one.

Maddie and Grady grow close as they spend time together on the water. But Maddie, wary of emotional entanglement, guards her heart closely. And Grady’s here only to help Maddie win the race, then he’s off to a new job. The day of the race will test their ability to sail together—and the trueness of their love.

 

 

 

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Forgiveness

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Maureen Lang

A natural element in both Christian fiction and non-fiction deals with forgiveness. It’s a popular topic, with the promise that forgiveness helps not just the one being forgiven but also the person doing the forgiving.

I was reminded of this theme over the weekend when I saw the movie The Railway Man, a story of a man who survived being a POW during the Second World War, when he was also tortured by his Japanese captors. It was a movie I wasn’t sure I wanted to see, not because of the grim subject matter but because my own father was a POW of the Japanese as well. I wasn’t sure I wanted a visual representation of some of the things he went through.

To be sure, it wasn’t easy to watch young men being herded into cattle cars under a sweltering sun and transported for who-knows-how-long on yet another version of the Death March my father traveled. The beatings, the slave labor, the general shaming each prisoner met were all common stories from camps like the ones my father endured.

512px-Giving_a_sick_man_a_drink_as_US_POWs_of_Japanese,_Philippine_Islands,_Cabanatuan_prison_campI recalled my father saying to me some time before he died that if he’d had the chance he’d have returned to the Philippines (where he was taken) and then to Manchuria where he spent another long segment of time during his POW experience. Although I couldn’t understand why, this must have been a rather common feeling. The movie touched on this as a part of healing as well.

Since the war ended, China has preserved the very POW camp that housed my father. Obviously my father wasn’t the only POW who wanted to return to the scene of such a devastating time in his life.

My dad was one of the strong, silent types as so many of his generation were. To the end of his life he suffered bouts of malaria, one of several diseases afflicting those who were malnourished and kept in appalling conditions at such camps as Bilibid and Cabanatuan before being transferred on the “Hell Ship” Tottori Maru to Mukden, Manchuria where he was used as unpaid labor until the end of the war.

I often think about the things he endured, because it somehow makes the comparatively trivial challenges I face easier to deal with. But this was the first time I wondered how my father felt about forgiveness toward those who held him captive.

What do you think? If you’d been held for 3 1/2 years of your life, do you think forgiveness would come . . . with time? In fiction we often remind our characters that withholding forgiveness only hurts the one hanging on to the pain. I do know, somewhere along the way, my father let go of any anger or bitterness he might have held. He said his time served was done in the name of his country; he wasn’t alone; he mattered. He went on to live what I saw as a productive, happy life. He wasn’t often haunted by his memories that I could tell, perhaps partly because he’d been so young at this time of his life. The only time I saw any resentment toward the Japanese was when I was older and brought home a Toyota. All he said was that he’d wished I bought American. 🙂

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Upcoming Release by Hannah Alexander

Posted on April 29, 2014 by alexanderhodde

Friends, I’m thrilled to announce an upcoming release of a new Hannah Alexander title, Hallowed Halls. It should be in stores and available on ebook in the month of May. The reason I’m so excited is that this is the first book actually published in a hybrid format by Hannah Alexander via the promotional help of Jerry B Jenkins Select. If that doesn’t make sense to you, don’t worry. It’s still a book you’ll be able to read soon. I’ll have a picture of the cover for you before long, but since this is a new undertaking for all of us concerned, we’re taking it easy and making sure everything is done perfectly. Four of our colleagues are working with us on this venture as novelists: Angela Hunt, Brandilyn Collins, Bill Myers and Sammy Tippett, a worldwide evangelist I’m sure many of you know very well.

Please watch for our books on endcaps in your Christian stores, and on ebooks sometime in May. Once I know the books are available to you, I’ll figure out a way (remember me? The technoboob?) to get the cover on my next post for your enjoyment, and to give you a better idea of what Hallowed Halls–a women’s romantic fiction medically thrilling non-murder mystery with quirky, small-town characters and some adorable animals–is all about.

IMG Publicity

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Good News and Bad News…

Posted on April 28, 2014 by alandkathi66

Many of us recently heard about yet another Christian book publisher being acquired by a larger publishing house. This reflects on the direction of the industry in general, but it also impacts a lot of individual lives. One of the employees of said publisher is a dear friend of mine, who now has 50 days of employment left. That’s the bad news for her. The good news? Her amazing attitude.
“I always loved an adventure,” she said, “and I can’t wait to see the one God is going to take me on now.” I love that, don’t you? Talk about taking lemons and turning them into lemonade? And this lady is no twenty- or thirty- or even forty-something. She’s at a place in life when it’s a bit tougher to land a job, but she knows it’s not up to her to make that happen. Instead she is patiently and even excitedly waiting on God to take her to that next season in her life.
Isn’t that how we all should live, regardless of our circumstances? Isn’t that Romans 8:28 in real-life? “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (NKJV). All things—not a few things, or some things, or most thing. All things, even (and maybe most especially) the really tough and challenging things that we all face at one time or another. And for His purpose, not ours. That’s the secret. My friend knows she walks this earth to serve his purpose, not her own, and that’s why she can face this new “blip” on her radar screen with excitement rather than despair.
I pray we will all take that scripture to heart and put “feet to our faith” the next time we too are faced with a “good news-bad news” situation.

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No Dumb Questions by Julie Arduini

Posted on April 23, 2014 by juliearduini

Each Easter season I’m fascinated to watch our daughter process Christ’s love for us as she watches it through our church’s Passion  Play. She has mild special needs that include comprehension issues, so often things her peers can figure out without a lot of cues, she needs some explanation. This year she wasn’t just the townsgirl/robe carrier, she made her way to the crucifixion scene. (I’m not certain she was allowed, but that’s another post for another day.)

Once the play ended, she asked if she could watch the Bible series on the History Channel. She compared the two performances and tried in her ten year old way to compare it to what she knew of the Bible. Of course, she had questions.

PassionPlay2014

Jesus inviting the children to come forward. Our daughter is in the light blue.

  • Why is Jesus looking at Peter funny when he’s talking?

(Because Jesus knows in a matter of hours Peter will deny Him three times.)

 

  • Where do you think Satan was when Jesus was on the cross?

(I’m guessing close by, enjoying every second, thinking he had won.)

 

  • Why did you say I’m more blessed than Thomas?

(Because she believes without needing to see.)

 

  • I don’t understand how Saul and Paul are the same person.

(That’s a tough one to explain. But in the end, she grasped that Saul was someone who lived to see Christians die. He was on his way to catch Christians when Jesus blinded him. Saul’s life changed so much he became Paul, one of the greatest evangelists the world could ever know. And what faith on the Christians part, because they allowed Paul in, not sure if his transformation was true.)

 

  • Why is it such a big deal John is listed last and it says he died of old age?

(At the end of our Passion Play it lists each disciple and how they died. John the Revelator is the protagonist and he jokes how they’ve tried to burn him, poison him, beat him…and nothing worked, so they exiled him. For him to die of old age gives me the goose bumps. He took care of Mary. He was a true friend. And how he loved the Lord.)

 

She had a lot of questions but I loved her understanding, the best we can, the depth of Christ’s love to sacrifice as He did. That she saw flawed men who goofed up and goofed up bad turn things around so much they were among the first to take the gospel and run with it. She understood when evil is the core of intentions, it will not end well.

Her excitement fanned my flames of adoration.

I kept thinking back to Peter. So confident and sure to full of shame. And because of Christ, stronger than ever and remembered through the ages because we can relate. Paul. He thought he was right, and to know he had a hand in so many murders, how could he go on? But go on Paul did. I’ve always been inspired by Him.

And of course, John. Talk about passionate for Christ. The attempts to kill him were such failures they sent him away to exile. I’m sure no one wanted to see his anointed face as a reminder he couldn’t be silenced, not by their hand. That gives me courage to be bolder.

But none of these questions exist, there’s no reason to explore the personal histories without Jesus.

And I praise God our kids know Him. They treat participating in the Passion Play as a small gift to Him, their way of saying thank you for eternal life. For our daughter, thanks we don’t have to kill animals and use their blood to get forgiveness. She gets that Jesus did that for us.

If you weren’t able to take opportunity to watch the life, death and resurrection of Jesus played out, it’s not too late. Find a copy of Passion of the Christ. Check out the History Channel.

Or, best of all, take time apart and spend some quiet time in prayer.

You’re welcome to ask questions.

 

Photo by Julie Arduini/dream special effect used

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1 Person Can Touch Millions by Vicki Hinze

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Vicki Hinze

 

vicki hinze, Christians Read, 1 can touch millions, canstockphoto.comHoly Week has come and Easter has passed. Like for many others, for me, it’s an emotional time. A time of deep reflection on spiritual priorities, on all things spiritual, really.

 

 

 

This year has been a difficult one for a lot of people. Our prayer lists attest to just how difficult. And yet during Lent especially, our troubles, no matter how huge, seem small because we’re viewing them through the prism of Christ and His challenges. Through God’s prism, and His challenges. Though Mary’s prism and her challenges, and when we see the scope and impact of that on all of humanity, it is overwhelming. It’s humbling. Gratitude and the magnitude of the gift fills us.

I received a link to a Godtube video just before Good Friday. Two women—one singing, one directing a choir of children—were in it. The singer, at the request of her pastor, had rewritten the words of Hallelujah into the Easter story. It touched over 4,000,000 people in four days.  This morning, it’s up to over 6,000,000.

The singer had rewritten the lyrics and wrote to the publisher of the original and asked permission to record her version of it. Two years and one day later, she got that permission.   She sang the song and in days, it created a firestorm.

Comments on her rendition were that it gave the listener chills. That it brought the listener to tears. What’s significant is the sheer volume of people touched and their reactions—they were moved by her lyrics.

I’m sure as certain that when writing the lyrics, the singer didn’t set out to have such an impact. Her pastor asked her to sing Hallelujah, and she agreed, then thought she should rewrite the lyrics for Easter.  So she did.  She had no idea what would happen.  But it did happen, and her effort serves to remind us that, when called to serve, we have no idea of the potential of our service.  We all could impact many others. One doesn’t always know just how far the ripples of an effort will extend.

This, too, is humbling. And it reminds us that in service we bear an enormous responsibility to give our best.  For many years, I’ve been asked regarding my books about sales.  I don’t worry about them.  I do what I can and trust that those who are supposed to read the books will.  Yet I hadn’t thought in terms of impact.  It encourages me to try harder to make sure the books are readily available.  That is part of my best effort.

The point is, regardless of what we do, we all have the potential to impact others, and we never know how many or how deeply.  That, to me, is worth remembering.

If you’d like to view the video, you can at: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0E02FMNU

Of all those people, how many, do you think, gained some new knowledge or insight of the Easter story?  Considering the number of times I saw it Tweeted and on Facebook, I’d say a lot.

We can’t measure that, of course, but I do love thinking about the potential.  I do love that so many had the opportunity to hear the Easter story–perhaps for the first time.

That too is humbling.

 

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The Book Lady

Posted on April 17, 2014 by bethrachg

BoxesDo you ever get the feeling you have too many books?
I’m packing up for a big move this week. With only three days to pack, I don’t know what I would have done without my teenage boys. They have each done an amazing job packing boxes and boxes of books!
Where did all the books come from? I have given away what seems like a library of books to my church and local library, and friends and neighbors. Over the years, I’ve done this many times. Believe me, I’ve shared the books. And still, the boxes filled with books far outweigh and are more numerous than the rest of the packed stuff in the house. How can that be?  Ha!
Just when I thought we were done packing books, I started on my bedroom and noticed I have stacks of books next to my bed piled high on the nightstand and on the floor. Not one or two boxes, but three boxes worth of books. These books are the most important because I’ve put them next to my bed with the intention of actually reading them. I’m usually reading more than one book at a time. One for research, another on writing craft, the Bible, and something for pleasure.
All the books on my Kindle are not included in this count—but imagine if they were physical books. Oy vey!
I’ve tried to cull because it feels like some wicked kind of insanity to pack and move so many books, but when I try to decide which ones to give up, I realize the books that are with me now are all the keepers that have survived the culling of previous years.
Some people love birds, some love cats or dogs—not saying that I don’t—but one of these decades when I’m very old and gray—say in my nineties—they will call me the book lady.

 

Blessings!

Elizabeth Goddard

Home

 

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The Sound of Musical Writing

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Maureen Lang

Gclef_A1_1-4The other day I happened to be reminded of an old memory of my husband listening to the radio as he painted the walls along our basement stairs. The host was reading a school lunch menu . . . in French. Suddenly chicken or macaroni and cheese sounded sooo much more appetizing!

That reminded me of another memory of an old friend of mine, a fellow writer who also happened to have been an actress and TV journalist at various times in her life. She’s lovely, for one thing, but beside that possesses a voice that certainly added to her value in front of an audience, live or on the air. When she was writing, she would bring her manuscript to our critique group and read it aloud. Instantly, we would be swept up in the world she created with words and sound.

Finally, recently I listed to the audio version of Susanna Kearsley’s The Firebird. The story was well researched, the characters sympathetic and appealing, the plot with romantic elements well structured. But I think what I appreciated every bit as much as the writing was the performance of the narrator. She was completely convincing in each of the accents—British, Scot, Russian, even an American thrown in for good measure. I was right there in the world she created for me, even when she read the parts of the male characters.

I say all of this because sometimes the sound of words can so enhance the words themselves that it’s fun to read them aloud from time to time! Granted, the performance might make a difference, or the rhythm of the words themselves. I’m imagining how nice my work-in-progress might sound if I heard it in French or if someone with a rich voice and no fear of emoting did the reading. But as I recall another detail from my voice-talented friend, I didn’t want her to read my manuscript at our writer’s group because I knew she would make it sound better than it was, and I wouldn’t get the constructive criticism I was looking for. So there is definitely a right time, at least for a writer, to have our work performed.

But as readers, I think it’s a fun exercise to read a scene or two aloud from whatever book we’re enjoying, if only to let our ears enjoy the sound of musically written words.

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Perfect Season for a Book by Tara Randel

Posted on April 10, 2014 by tararandel

Spring is here in Florida. The temperatures are warming up to make for very comfortable days. Everything is blooming. The azalea’s are gorgeous and the grass is starting to turn back to a healthy shade of green. It’s a beautiful time of year. Just ask the tourists!

These are the azaleas blooming in my yard.

20140222_162352

As an author, one of the things I must decide as I start plotting a book is, what time of year will I set my story? Christmas is always a popular holiday, especially if you love snow and the fun details of holiday decorating. But then I think, who can resist a book set during a summer vacation? The beach. Or maybe a cruise? And what about the mountains in autumn when the leaves are changing color? With so many traditions scheduled at different times of the year, picking that particular season to plan the story gives authors plenty to work with.

So how do I chose? First, it depends on what is going on in the story line. If I start out knowing the book will be a Christmas story, then I can jump right in. I might decide on the season because of my character’s jobs. For added conflict, I might factor in the worst time of the year to travel to visit family or help a friend in need, due to bad weather or my character’s messy personal circumstances. It’s all about the dynamics.

Rival Hearts (Quilts of Love, #19)

 

When I wrote Rival Hearts, my June 2014 Quilts of Love book, I settled on the springtime. Set in Tampa, the warm weather best suited my heroine’s kayaking adventures. Unlike my heroine, who is an indoor kind of girl, I love to be outdoors. The spring temperatures in Florida are perfect for bicycling or hiking.

For Magnolia Bride, my July 2014 Harlequin Heartwarming release, I set the story in June, with warming temperatures beginning to rise in anticipation of summer. So of course I had my characters walk along beach, because you have to hit the beach in warm weather or admire a star-lit night.

I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan of winter, but I can get into the spirit of writing a snowstorm scene since I won’t have to deal with actual snow banks in Florida.

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love,
and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Leave a comment and let me know your favorite season for a book.

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What Would You Put in Your Locket? By Julie Arduini

Posted on April 9, 2014 by juliearduini

origami owl photo: Origami Owl Living Lockets 3.jpg

Each Christmas vacation I visit my dear friends from my school years. Last December we met at the mall and as soon as I saw Julie, I was drawn to her necklace. It was a locket with charms inside. She told me it was a gift from her husband, an Origami Owl necklace.

I looked it up when I got home and became intrigued with them. The idea is you buy a necklace and fill it with charms that summarize your life and interests.

The charm choices are limitless.

  • Mom
  • USA/Military
  • Children (blue/pink)
  • Dog
  • Cat
  • Cheerleading
  • Golf
  • Cross
  • Words like faith and family
  • Flip flops

and more.

I gifted myself a cheaper brand for my birthday and I was surprised by how long it took me to figure out what charms I wanted. There’s only so much room in the locket, so you want to get it right.

I represent a lot of things to people: wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend. Ohio person, Upstate NY born and bred. Writer. Reader. Dog lover. Coffee drinker. Choco-holic. And of course,  Jesus-girl.

So, what did I end up with?

  • A set of wedding rings to represent marriage
  • A boy charm to represent our oldest son
  • A girl charm to represent our daughter
  • A pink cross to show the world I’m a Jesus-girl.
  • A stack of books because I’m a writer and a reader.

I think those sum me up well.

But I wondered, what charms would people pick?

If you were given a locket and 5 charms to choose from, what ones would most signify you?

I’d love to hear what you would choose, and why.

photobucket image

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Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt

Posted on April 5, 2014 by bethrachg

 

Starts on  April 4th. Oh wait, that’s tomorrow! I thought my Christiansread family of readers would want to know. You don’t want to miss this one.  If you don’t win the Kindle Fire HDX plus $100 in Kindle credit, you could win one of two prize packs including ALL OF THESE BOOKS!
The Scavenger Hunt begins at Robin Lee Hatcher’s blog. There you’ll find all the official details about the hunt which starts at noon April 4th. Her post will be Stop #1. Go there and you’re off to follow the links to each of the other sites where you will gather the clue on each one, and submitting the answer at the end. The trail will lead you right back to Robin’s site.
Even more fun—there will be mini-contests and prizes along the way. The hunt is open internationally. If a reader outside the USA wins the Kindle and $100 credit, they will receive the equivalent in USD$.

HAVE FUN!!!

 

Blessings!

Elizabeth Goddard

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Recommended Read: The Singing Quilt by Kathi Macias

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Vicki Hinze
The Singing Quilt, Kathi Macias

The Singing Quilt
Inspirational Fiction
Social Issues
Kathi Macias

 

Christians Read, Recommended Read

    Recommended Read: Inspirational Fiction, Social Issues

     The Singing Quilt By Kathi Macias

 

Jolissa Montoya believes God is calling her to work with the disadvantaged children in her inner-city neighborhood. There’s only one problem: The children wouldn’t be able to understand her. Jolissa suffers from a speech impediment and has a thick accent because Spanish is her first language. Ridiculed through much of her youth, she is quite shy and reticent to speak. She is convinced that what God has spoken to her heart is impossible. Impossible, that is, until one day when her confidante shows her a quilt—a quilt that depicts the life of a courageous woman. Can another woman’s courage move her to try the impossible and step out and follow God wherever He leads her?

 

The Singing Quilt is set against the backdrop of the life of Fanny Crosby, who in addition to writing hundreds of songs was also a well-known public speaker and active in Christian rescue missions despite her disability. Readers will be inspired not to let fear or a disability prevent them from answering what they think is God’s impossible call.

 

The Singing Quilt is the third book in the contemporary fiction “Quilt” series (The Doctor’s Christmas Quilt, The Moses Quilt) written by award-winning author Kathi Macias.

 

NOTE: The Singing Quilt completes the series, which focuses on various social issues, including racial and pro-life issues.

 

BONUS: Supplemental online book club materials will be available at NewHopeDigital.com.

 

Reviews:

“This book was God kissed!” ~M.Fields

__________

“I love the way that Ms. Macias does her research in order to not only write this Quilt series but all of her books. I have learned many things from her books. Her story and inclusion of facts about these famous and courageous woman in this series is eye opening. I cannot wait for the next story!” ~Calliegh (via Amazon.com)

 

A Word With the Author…

When we asked Kathi Macias why she wrote The Singing Quilt and what she hoped Readers would gain from reading it, she said . . .

“I wrote this book because I so admire Fanny Crosby, and I wanted readers who may struggle with insecurities that keep them from pursuing all God has purposed for them (much like Jolissa in the book) to realize that with God NOTHING is impossible!”    

 

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other booksellers in these formats:

Digital

Trade

__________________________________________

Don’t Miss This!

I’m giving away five copies of The Singing Quilt in exchange for honest reviews.  The first five who respond win.

Email me from my website contact page:  http://vickihinze.com/contact

 

__________________________________________

Readers and Authors: If you deem a book, novel or short story suitable for feature on our “Recommended Reads,” please check our guidelines, and complete the form entered on our sister site, Clean Read Books, to enter it for a Feature consideration

Blessings,

Christians Read

 

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A Trouble Antidote posted by Maureen Lang

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Maureen Lang

512px-Candle_or_SorrowEven Jesus acknowledged in Matthew Chapter 6 that troubles are part of life, and I have yet to meet anyone who hasn’t faced some kind of challenge.

 

There are many ways to deal with our troubles.

 

We can ignore them. This is, after all, a blog for readers and reading is one of the best escapes I can think of. While we all benefit from the refreshing elements of temporary escapism, a wise billboard outside a local dentist office once taught me: Your teeth are the only things that will go away if you ignore them.

 

We can wallow in our troubles. This includes regular pity parties, a face more accustomed to frowning than smiling, eventual isolation and perhaps bitterness. Isolation because who wants to spend time with a sour puss and bitterness when we realize no one wants to spend time with a sour puss.

 

Spend endless hours and countless dollars in therapy about our troubles, trying to fix it on our own. This could reap some benefits but might also bankrupt us and does run the risk of too much self-absorbtion after a while. I’m not suggesting therapy isn’t a good idea, but it’s not the answer to every form of disappointment in life. Sometimes it’s just hard to find a good therapist we can afford, especially since many of our troubles have a spiritual element.

 

We can give our troubles to someone else. This antidote sounds nice, doesn’t? Just hand over our problems and let someone else do the wrestling. The problem with this, if we can find such a hero or heroine to accept the burden, is that no one else likely cares quite the way we do, and the answer they come up with may not be best for us.

 

Or we can hand them over to God. Like so many Christian platitudes this is something we hear but the meaning is lost. Surrendering our trouble to God takes a combination of faith, trust, and conscious effort. It’s easy to go through the steps. Pray about something, telling God we’re handing over the issue, and will wait on His answer. But a little while later we take up the worry again. So we start the process over, only this time we add a little guilt to the mix because we obviously didn’t do it right the first time, or at least didn’t have enough faith to wait.

 

For me, the best way to get through a tough issue is to remember that this isn’t a faith issue. I may not have the faith of an apostle, but all that’s needed is a mustard seed size and I’m pretty sure I have at least that much.

 

Faith is the foundation to this antidote, even tiny, itsy-bitsy faith, but that’s not where it ends. We can find comfort in the Bible even with wobbling faith, reminding ourselves of the promises God has made for our future and our hope (Jer 29:11, Prov 3:5-6, Rom 8:28). Make time to collect a list of God’s promises.

 

The next thing to do while waiting for Him to answer, in action or direction, is to remember what God has done in the past—in the big areas, of course, like creating a world as extensively, amazingly, astonishingly gorgeous and complex as the one we live in. Dive into the proof of God’s love that’s right at our doorstep.

 

And then we should look at the smaller stuff. For me, God proved His love a long time ago when I first realized there was more to life than just my own plans. We have a Savior who was willing to die for us so we can look forward to heaven. He’s loved me through my own rebellions, fears, and mistakes. He’s provided practical gifts too, like a roof and clothing and enough food to eat. And He’s given me ample opportunities to rejoice with other kinds of gifts: beautiful birds to admire when I look out my window; books to read and to write; friends to love; people and other resources to experience the joy of learning and growing. Best of all, I have a wonderful husband, a precious family who needs me and a church I love.

 

I guess what it boils down to is a song from one of my favorite Christmas movies. I know April is hardly the time to be thinking about a season that comes with cold weather and snow when we just finished one of the worst winters in recent memory, but do you remember the song Bing Crosby sang to Rosemary Clooney in the movie White Christmas? Some of the lyrics went something like this: When you’re troubled and you can’t sleep, count your blessings instead of sheep.

 

So that’s my advice for getting through tough times: Remember God’s love by counting your specific blessings, entrust the outcome based on what the Bible promises and remember the positive things He’s done for you in your own, personal past.

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Acclaim the Lord! by Tara Randel

Posted on March 27, 2014 by tararandel

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. Ps 89:15 NIV

I read this scripture the other day and thought, have I learned to acclaim you Lord? To acclaim means to cry out, to greet or announce with loud approval or applause. In the KJV, it says, Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. I had to stop and think, do I know the joyful sound? Do I make the joyful sound in daily living in order to walk in His light?

One of the reasons I love reading the book of Psalms is that no matter what verse I study, I always end up taking stock of my life. More times than not, questions pop into my mind and I find myself really pondering the answers. Not that I always get answers mind you, but by spending time contemplating the verses, I at least come away feeling like I have walked in the presence of God.

Being an author is mostly a solitary job. I sit for hours before a computer scene, creating a world for my characters to live and work in or I read, reread and read yet again, my work in progress. Not exactly a noisy endeavor. There’s not a lot of loud commotion around me, certainly no applause. Yet I can find ways to greet my Lord by being mindful of his promise that I walk in the light of His presence.

On Sundays, I sing on the worship team. Through years of being involved with music, I have come to understand how our praise and worship draw the spirit of God. There are instruments, sound systems, and a congregation crying out in loud approval and applause. It’s a time of celebration and reflecting on our almighty God.

And then Monday morning rolls around and I’m back in my quiet house, typing away. So how do I acclaim Him? By understanding that God is always present. Even as I work, I know He is with me. And if that isn’t enough to get excited about, I don’t know what else is! Each morning I take the time to acknowledge His mighty presence. I may have a full day planned, but I’ve learned to make special time to acclaim the Lord. To speak words of admiration. To bask in His light. I can’t think of any better way to start my work day. Or any day.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the business of life. No matter what type of job you have, at home or in the workplace, be blessed by taking the time to acknowledge Him before starting your day. I can certainly sing out to God from before my computer screen or while driving if I have an appointment. As God’s people, let’s acclaim Him in a loud voice and please, pass on this scripture verse to others. As you share with others, you never know just how He’ll bless you.

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