Every June Celebrate Lit celebrates summer by doing a huge giveaway just for readers. I have partnered up with them for this amazing giveaway so I can have the opportunity to show my appreciation for you!
I want you to have a chance to win 40+ books or a $500 Amazon card to buy a ton of books yourself in Celebrate Lit's Summer Kick Off Giveaway.
Click here to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/1d71d/2022-summer-kick-off-multi-author
The event and giveaway is going on now through June 18.
My mom always had something different to tell me. She said that the early days go slowly, but once they go to school time fast-forwards. The pace of life picks up with sports, extracurricular activities, homework, and friends. Suddenly the calendar is full and your dashing off all over trying to keep pace.
And then....
18 years have passed.
When we brought Kyla home from the hospital, Joel voiced fears that we were going to mess up as parents. Well, not fear - certainty. We were new parents, fallible humans with sins and mistakes that effect those around us daily. How could we possibly be trusted to raise this little baby?
The key is we didn't raise her alone. First and foremost we have God by our sides and the Spirit's prompting. Second we had experienced parents around us to help us. Third we had the support of our church. With so many helpers by our side we were able to raise our baby into a lovely young woman.
Not that we didn't make mistakes. We absolutely did! As she hit high school we realized we had unintentionally instilled a strong perfectionism trait in her and we had to pull back so that she could feel like it was okay to fail at times and learn from mistakes as well as successes.
To tell the truth, God blessed us with a daughter who's personality is so beautiful that we often get credit as parents for something that He gifted her with. She has such a strong feeling of compassion for others that she definitely didn't learn from me. She was always drawn to the outcasts at school which made her an outcast by association at times. As I watched her in a Christian school get ostracized for loving the unlovable, I became indignant. Here was a girl who was loving as Jesus loved and was pushed aside in a Christian school! It wasn't right! But it didn't bother her. She kept doing what she knew was right.
As she crossed the stage for graduation, I was so proud of my beautiful girl for her poise and confidence without arrogance. That's not an easy line to walk, but she walks it well. When she was cast as Mary Poppins in the school musical, she was humbled by the opportunity, worked hard to get the role right, uplifted others, and generally was "practically perfect in every way". In fact, she was nominated for a musical theater award for her performance and all the other nominees signed her head shot saying how humble, sweet, and "practically perfect" she was.
I thought I'd be an emotional wreck at my daughter's graduation, but instead I was just incredibly proud and happy for her! She is so special, and I am so glad that God showed mercy and grace in my parenting mistakes to grow her into the young lady she is today.
Mamas - I know you hear it all the time, but time does fly. Before you know it the toys and mess will be gone. It doesn't seem like it now, but it will one day. I won't tell you to cherish every moment because that's not possible. Life is busy and messy, but enjoy the journey. Each stage of life is precious - even potty training.
They say time flies when you're having fun. My Kyla makes life fun with her sunny personality and love for others. It's no surprise that these 18 years flew by with her.
Kyla, I could not be more proud of you! You exhibit God's love and grace in your dealings with others. Time and again others have told me that God has something special for you, and it always gave me chills. I can't wait to see where God takes you next! I love you, sweet girl! Congratulations!
What's better than a garden of flowers? How about a garden of books!
I have partnered up with Celebrate Lit Publicity to do an amazing giveaway just for you for the opportunity to shower one winner with books!
I want you to have a chance to win 40+ books or a $500 Amazon card to buy a ton of books yourself in Celebrate Lit's A Garden of Books Giveaway.
Click here to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/1c61c/2022-a-garden-of-books
The event and giveaway is going on now through May 14
The day before Easter, my family attended two memorial services. One was for a man at our church who was younger than me and left behind a wife and two young children. The second was for a man who I had served with at another church for several years. At first glance, it seemed strange to have these services on the day before the biggest celebration of the year for Christians. Yet the more I thought about it, the more perfect it seemed, because the resurrection is the reason for our hope even in death.
Before I continue, I was to clarify the definition of hope. The world's definition of hope is wishful uncertainty. But the Christian Biblical definition of hope is a certain and joyful expectation. It is something that we know will happen, and we look forward to with anticipation.
The resurrection is the reason for our hope for multiple reasons. First we know that death is not the end. "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14) 'Fallen asleep' is the Biblical euphemism for death. We still grieve, we still mourn, but our grief is different from the world's, because we have hope. We know that when Jesus returns, those who have passed on before will come with Him. Death is not the end, and it is not an eternal separation.
Secondly, we know where they are right now. "Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8) Death is a separation of the spirit from the body. When believers are taken from their body, they are immediately in the presence of the Lord. How awesome! Both of these men are in the presence of God! We miss them, absolutely, but we have peace knowing that they are home.
Finally, we know that Jesus's resurrection defeated death once and for all. "“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:55-57) Without Christ's resurrection, we are to be pitied, as Paul says, because everything we believe is worthless. If Jesus was just a man who died and is still in the tomb, then Christianity is nothing. But He didn't! He's alive! His resurrection defeated death and gives us victory, because we now have eternal life with Him.
Feeling the pain of death so close to Easter helped me to appreciate the hope we have because of His resurrection. This is temporary. Joy and life are ours forever.
“Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
Photo by Aaron Burden: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-daisy-flower-bloom-2449543/
April Showers bring May...Books! Right?!
I have partnered up with Celebrate Lit Publicity to do an amazing giveaway just for you for the opportunity to shower one winner with books!
I want you to have a chance to win 40+ books or a $500 Amazon card to buy a ton of books yourself in Celebrate Lit's 3rd Annual April Showers Bring May Books Giveaway.
Click here to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/1b04a/2022-april-showers-bring-may-books
The event and giveaway is going on now through April 16
I came across an opportunity. Love Inspired, the inspirational division of Harlequin Press, was looking for new authors. To be considered I simply needed to submit a query letter, a synopsis, and the first chapter of a book. If they were interested, they would request a full manuscript. If they liked that, I would be considered for publication. It was worth trying at least. I had nothing to lose.
A few weeks ago, I submitted the required elements. Yesterday I received the response. "We have read this with great interest and there’s lots to love in your writing. Despite this, . . . " And there is was. I'll admit that I tend to be a pessimist. If I have low expectations, then I won't be disappointed. So when I sent it in, I told myself that it wasn't going to happen. When I got the rejection, it amazed me that I was actually okay with it.
For one thing, I have the first chapter of what will be this year's Christmas novella written. Maybe they don't want it, but I know that it's going to be a good story, and nothing is preventing me from telling it.
Another reason is that I trust that God has a plan for me and my writing. For right now, publishing traditionally is not in His plans for me. Maybe someday it will, but for now, His answer is no. God can still use my work for His honor and glory. In some ways, I have more freedom in what I write because I self-publish.
I had hoped that they would at least want my full manuscript or that if they gave me a rejection, they would be specific with why they didn't chose it. Neither of those happened. Still I put my work out there for the first time in a long time. I know that rejection is part of being an author, and I feel like I was able to handle it well.
Being a writer is not easy. I'll admit that there are times that I want to quit. For now, I'll keep going and trust that God has a plan for me that is better than the plans I have in mind for myself.
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-typewriter-machine-typing-on-white-printer-paper-1303835/
Spring is coming! Flowers are blooming, the weather is warming, and it's a beautiful time to be outside. To honor you and the coming of spring, I have partnered up with Celebrate Lit Publicity to do an amazing giveaway just for you!
I want you to have a chance to win 45+ books or a $500 Amazon card to buy a ton of books yourself in Celebrate Lit's 3rd Annual Hop into Spring Giveaway.
Click here to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/1a2bc/2022-hop-into-spring
The event and giveaway is going on now through March 19.
