On Being Selfish and Selfless

One of the things I love about being a writer is digging deep to give wisdom and meaning to my characters in dialog and action that's not trite or expressly something I would say or do.

While I'm pro life, I had to write convincing pro choice dialog for the book The Sweet By and By when my heroine was discussing why her Mama took her for an abortion an sixteen.

I am good at seeing multiple sides. Which is helpful yet frustrating.

Anyway, writing a scene yesterday, the heroine challenged the hero on being selfish. I can't remember what she said exactly at this moment but it sparked something in me.

Selfishness comes from what we want to do or be. Our desires and dreams energize our focus on self and where we want to go. We wind up comparing ourselves to others and feeling like failures for no good reason.

Perhaps a friend is a CEO for a major corporation while you're still at lower level management. Or another person you know started his own company but you're still working for "the man."

A friend is good with finances while you can't seem to save a quarter. So we get dissatisfied and grumble. We start to turn in and think of ourselves. If we don't succeed then we must be failing.

Selfishness is really about "me." And the "me world" is really rooted in fear and pride that I might just "lose myself and become nothing." That if I don't toot my own horn, chase my own dreams, do what I got to do, then I'll die in the dirt and no one will remember me.

This is why I follow Jesus. I can give of myself freely without losing myself. Granted, it's hard and I'm FAR from perfect but I don't have to toot my horn, He will.

If I focus on loving others, He will see to my needs. If I ask Him to increase in me so I can decrease, He'll accomplish the works of my hands.

See, we think if we surrender God automatically sits us on the bench. But the opposite is true. It's when we surrender, become selfless, He gives us a job to do and calls us into the game.

The best part? We don't have to worry about success or failure because He takes care of us. We don't have to worry about dying in the dust forgotten because He remembers us. We don't have to worry about leaving our mark in the world because this life is a vapor.

It's an internship for the Life to come. That is where we will really see and be rewarded. Did you work an internship in college? I did. A couple of them. I'm glad I did. Glad to have worked hard and earned a good grade, but it was not my ultimate career.

Can you imagine if I worked in internship with the force and drive of a forty year career?The intern people would throw a party when the school quarter ended. An internship is to die to self, to learn, to prepare for the work place.

That's this life. To die to self. To prepare and learn for the age to come.

Eternity is a long time to make up for anything you lost or didn't get in this short 70-80 year life.

Be selfless. Trust me, it will pay off in the eternal run!

Thoughts on Writing Today

Need to edit about 30 pages. Fifty would be better. Sometimes it goes quickly, other times I have to cut and rewrite.

It's hard in this final stage. Last rewriting before turning the book in. I'm not sure if the book is good or if I want it to be good.

I'm so close to it, reading every work, dissecting every sentence, I get weary and bogged down in the "weeds."

"Is this boring? I feel exhausted."

So. I've done this enough times to know it's part of the process. I plod along.

Meanwhile, The Wedding Dress releases in a few weeks! So excited!

Here's the summary in case you've not read it.

One dress. Four women. An amazing destiny.

Charlotte Malone is getting married. Yet all is not settled in the heart of Birmingham's chic bridal boutique owner. Charlotte can dress any bride to perfection-except herself. When she discovers a vintage mint-condition wedding gown in a battered old trunk, Charlotte embarks on a passionate journey to discover the women who wore the gown before her.

Emily in 1912. Mary in 1939. And Hillary in 1968. Each woman teaches Charlotte something about love in her own unique way. Woven within the threads of the beautiful hundred-year-old gown is the truth about Charlotte's heritage, the power of faith, and the beauty of finding true love.

Standing n the Surf

I love this image. Standing on the edge of a turbulent surf, watching, the storm roll in. As I took this picture of friend Beth Vogt, I imagined for a moment I was not on shore but out at sea.

I wondered how high and how strong the waves crashed two, three, a hundred miles into the Gulf. No land in sight. No light to guide a ship.

I was comforted to have my feet were on terra slipping-sanda. ;) And deepened my resolve to never go on a cruise.

We have many conveniences today that ease the mind of a sailor at sea in a storm. Of a woman on the shore with her toes barely touching the surf. Of a parent who worries over his child.

The good, the bad, the pretty, the ugly, we all have some form of coping. We have some "technology" be it meds, music, technology, entertainment of all kinds, that kind of act as our "shore" in turbulent times.

As I've learned more lately about politics, our gov't, our President, my heart as often felt faint. I think I've made a safe place for my heart out of something that's shifting, washing away like the sand under my feet.

I've pledged alligence to things, people and places that do not really love me in return. TV doesn't love me. My iPhone doesn't. My local and national representatives don't love me. My governor and president don't love me.

They are not my source of strength and peace.

Jesus is my one true love. He's the only one whom I can truly lean upon in turbulent times. When I'm concerned or scared. When I see the dark clouds on the horizon, I trust He's got it all in command.

My job is to align my heart with His. And gratefully, He's able to do that for and with me, too.

What about you? What are your go-to sources for comfort instead of Jesus? He died for you, could you die a little to yourself for Him? All He wants is your heart.

Peace

The word peace shows up in the Bible something like 249 times. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Lying awake at 2:30 a.m. this morning, I meditated on Psalm 4:8.

In peace I will lie down and sleep,

for you alone, LORD,

make me dwell in safety.

In a world of anxiety and turmoil, mounting fear, and content worry, I think the Lord wants us to remember He is a God of peace and safety for our hearts and minds.

Fix on Him instead of your troubles. Instead of your worries. Even instead of your physical aliments.

Peace.

Black Christian Fiction Author Parade: Rhonda Bowen

Hey all!

Continuing my partnership with Patricia Woodside on the lovely Parade of Black Christian Fiction Authors. I've loved reading about these authors. They have some great stories and accomplishments.

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Today Black Christian Fiction Authors on Parade brings you author Rhonda Bowen.

Rhonda is one of the newer authors on this year's parade. Although she hasn't been writing long, only beginning her writing journey in 2008, she hasn't wasted any time. After completing her first novel, some time in 2009, she was unsure what to do next, given that she lives in Canada and most of the commercial African American fiction with which she was familiar was published in the U.S.

But Rhonda is a resourceful and adventurous person. A public relations professional and event planner, she recently spent a year in Thailand teaching English as a second language to school children. Rhonda is definitely not the type of person to twiddle her thumbs for too long.

Instead, she sent her manuscript out and to her surprise, she got a call from her current publisher, Kensington Books. Shortly thereafter, her debut novel,Man Enough For Me, was released.

Jules Jackson is more or less satisfied with her life. Sure, her job as a Toronto based publicist can get pretty hectic, and her relationship with her mom is less than perfect. But her relationship with God is enough to get her through those minor patches. Yes, she is pretty content. That is until the night she meets Germaine Williams while promoting a client who is performing at Germaine's lounge. Before she knows it, she is throwing caution to the wind, and falling hard for a man she has just met.

But Germaine isn't all that he seems, and when Jules start asking questions, things start getting more complicated than she planned for.With everything in her life up in the air, she must decide whether she is willing to give up what is sure for something and someone that is more than she could ever ask for.

Man Enough For Me represented a fresh voice in the Christian fiction market, informed by Rhonda's multicultural background--born in Jamaica, reared and living in Toronto, and having spent nearly a year in Asia.

This month, Rhonda's second novel, One Way Or Another, was released. As in her first novel, Rhonda again writes about real Christian women in realistic situations. As to her inspiration, Rhonda says, "A couple years ago I was attending a youth event where a young man gave a testimony about how he walked away from God as a teenager, got involved in a lot of criminal activity, but eventually came back to Christ in his adolescent years. The story he told of the consequences to his actions not only while he was involved in illegal activity, but even after he came back to God inspired me to write.

Read more here!

Laughter: The best medicine

I sat with my friend Susie last night in a weird, tall, ugly room (yes, it was tall, weird I know) with bold overhead lighting debriefing from the week... thinking out-loud how the Deep Thinker's Retreat was going so far.

With the technical details and issues, thoughts and adjustments, aside our conversation paused... Susie glanced at her email.

"Oh, here, let me read you this," she said.

She read a clip from an email that just hit us funny. We started laughing which led to banter which led to more laughter, more banter, more laughter.

I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt. My throat ached.

I needed to laugh. I felt different. I'd taken my medicine. No sugar required. Just a friend. A spark. And a willing heart.

Do you need a good laugh? Be willing, first, then go out and find a way to make merry!

Black Christian Fiction Authors Parade! Shawneda Marks

Hey all!

Continuing my partnership with Patricia Woodside on the lovely Parade of Black Christian Fiction Authors. I've loved reading about these authors. They have some great stories and accomplishments.

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Shawneda Marks, in her own words, "has loved reading and writing since she can remember." Always a storyteller, after years of entertaining colleagues at Bank of America and Comcast with colorful stories about customer interactions, Shawneda decided to put pen to paper and write her own stories.

Shawneda's novels and devotionals are crafted to raise awareness. Her debut novel, It's In My Blood, promoted HIV/AIDS awareness, the first book in the Red Ribbon collection, was released on World AIDS Day in 2009. The story is one of a daughter whose relationships with her parents are damaged. Upon losing the man she loved, then receiving tragic news, Rosalyn decides to go home and into the arms of a praying mother and hopeful father. Nominated for a 2009 SORMAG Readers Choice award for Christian Fiction, It's In My Blood is about reconciliation and restoration against all odds. It's sequel, Beyond My Status, continues Rosalyn's story as a new mother learning to live with HIV.

An entrpreneur and activist, Shawneda has established her own publishing company. She enjoys utilizing technology as an independent author to share her stories with readers while "creating as small a carbon foot print as possible." To that end, Shawneda offers her books primarily via Print on Demand and as ebooks.

In addition to raising awareness, Shawneda's books are designed to explore wellness and equip readers to deal with weighty issues. The Pink Ribbon Collection deals with an increasingly prevalent disease, breast cancer. Book 1 is My True Essence and Book 2, scheduled for release in March 2012, is Embracing Myself Now. Again it continues the story of a group of characters from the first book in the series, in this case, four women who discover it's difficult to let go of what was having never expected what their lives have become.

To learn more about Shawneda and her works, visit Patricia's Readin N Writin blog!

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It's been an honor and privilege to showcase these authors during Black History Month!

Black Christian Fiction Authors Parade! Dwan Abrams

Welcome to the third week of black Christian author parade. I'm delighted to be reposting from Patricia Wooside at Readin N Writin with Patricia.

Check out all of her reviews on her blog!

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Today's author on parade is Dwan Abrams.

Dwan Abrams is like a multi-faceted gemstone. There are so many sides to her, almost too many to count.

The woman is an author, freelance editor, publisher, writing coach, professional speaker and former radio show host.

That's not to mention being a mentor to middle school students, a community volunteer, a former fashion editor, a frequent writing conference panelist, a veteran of the United States Armed Forces and a mom.

Dwan began her publishing career with the release of Only True Love Waitswhich went on to become a bestseller and won the 2007 Pen of the Writer POWER Award for Best Fiction. (It will be rereleased this summer by Urban Christian.

She has written several other award-winning novels, publishing as a self-published author as well as with both small and large presses.

Divorcing the Devil peeked at #1 on the Black Expressions Christian Fiction Bestsellers list and has consistently ranked in its Top 25 Fiction Bestsellers list.

It also ranked #1 on the Top 25 Black Christian Book Distributors Independent Publishers Bestsellers list and was nominated for a 2008 African American Literary Award. (RH: Awesome!)

Other books from Dwan include My Mother's Child, the sequel to Divorcing the Devil, Married Strangers, first book in the Married series, and The Scream Within.

Most recently she penned the 2nd book in the Married series, When the Fairytale Ends, a 2011 release:

What happens when the fairytale ends and real life begins? Greg and Shania will find out the hard way.

Young, successful, and thriving, Shania and Greg have the type of relationship that most people only dream about. Greg enjoys working as a youth pastor at his church and making a difference in the lives of troubled teens. After receiving some unexpected news, however, Greg's manhood takes a devastating blow.

To read more, click here!

Black Christian Fiction Authors Parade! Stacy Hawkins Adams

Continuing our celebration of black authors, here's a post from Patricia Woodside's blog. Please visit her blog for more authors and reviews.

The parade has begun! Today's featured author is Stacy Hawkins Adams.

By Patricia Woodside

Stacy Hawkins Adams burst on to the Christian fiction scene with Speak to My Heart in 2004.

This book began the Spirit and Soul series. What was interesting about that for me was that prior to this book being published, I'd not previously seen many--maybe not any--books by that particular publisher, Revell/Baker Books, which featured black characters. Stacy was a new author to me and I was intrigued.

It was also the year I began reviewing books online. Speak to My Heart was one of my first book reviews for a third-party site, SORMAG (Shades of Romance Magazine). Speak to My Heart went on to win SORMAG's Best New Multicultural Fiction Book of the Year for 2004.

Stacy completed that series, about a rising young professional who grapples with issues of identity and family as she moves from single to married to motherhood while also helping a friend deal with an abusive relationship, in Nothing But the Right Thingand Watercolored Pearls. More recently, she wrote the Jubiliant Soul series (The Someday List, Worth A Thousand Words and Dreams That Won't Let Go).

Stacy's books have received numerous awards and recognition, including being chosen as a Black Expressions Book Club Main Selection and a featured summer reading selection for Sybil's Book Club on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Her books have been nominated for a Library of Virginia Literary Award and been deemed bestsellers by Barnes & Noble, Black Expressions Book Club, and Essence Magazine.

Watercolored Pearls received 2nd place in the American Christian Fiction Writers 2008 Book of the Year contest.

In addition to writing fiction, Stacy is a freelance journalist and a motivational speaker. Her speech topics range from "Understanding Your Relevance" to "Faith-Based Fiction in an X-Rated World" to "The Brand is YOU – Authentically Marketing Yourself and Your Business to Success."

She has penned two novellas included in the anthologies, This Far By Faith and The Midnight Clear, and a non-fiction book, Who Speaks To Your Heart, crafted to help women "connect more often and more deeply with God."

An author coach, Stacy offers telecourses and personal coaching for writers through Author In You ™ and teaches writing courses at the University of Richmond.

Stacy's latest novel, Coming Home, is the first in a new series, The Winds of Change. Releasingon March 16th, this book explores forgiveness, reconciliation and unconditional love.

If forgiving your ex-husband was easy, everybody would do it. Brent had cheated on Dayna and coldly said goodbye to her seven long years ago---dashing her hopes of having children or growing old with the love of her life.

Working hard to make herself successful as a hospital executive, Dayna has moved on, finding comfort in a new dating relationship with a faith-filled colleague, Warren. But when Brent resurfaces on her doorstep at just the wrong time, Dayna's heart threatens to come unglued.

Why is Brent asking for forgiveness now? And why are he and his new wife, Tamara, interested in reconciliation with Dayna? The unbelievable answers in Coming Homebegin to surface as Brent boldly asks Dayna to support him at the most crucial time of his life. While Tamara's heart brims with guilt, both women will discover what it means to reach beyond pain and baggage to love unconditionally, leaving the consequences to God.

Learn more about Stacy and her books through her website, http://www.stacyhawkinsadams.com/, and find her on Facebookwhere she regularly offers inspirational words of wisdom.

Today is a blessed day! Stacy is offering one of her books for one of today's commenters and...

For everyone who enjoys reading ebooks, Stacy's Essence bestseller,The Someday List, is currently available free on Kindle. Download it now!

Come back tomorrow to wave at (and wish a Happy Birthday to) Dee Stewart aka author Miranda Parker on parade.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Heart of Gold by Robin Lee Hatcher

The truest treasure is found deep in the heart.

Back in her beloved Virginia, Shannon Adair loved nursing injured soldiers back to health. But in Grand Coeur, Idaho-the rough-and-tumble place where her father has been called to lead the church-she's not sure where she fits in. Then a critically ill woman arrives, and Shannon knows her place at last: to care for this dear woman and ease her pain.

Matthew Dubois is the fastest and most reliable stagecoach driver on Wells Fargo's payroll. But his widowed sister is dying and he's about to inherit his young nephew. So he takes a job at the Wells Fargo express office in Grand Coeur until he can find the one thing he needs to get back to driving: a wife to care for the boy.

What neither of them knows is that God is at work behind the scenes-and is lovingly bringing them together to discover the true desires of their hearts.

About the Author:

Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love.

She discovered her vocation after many years of reading everything she could put her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and ketchup bottles.

The winner of the Idahope Writer of the Year, the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, two RITA Awards for Best Inspirational Romance, two RT Career Achievement Awards (Americana Romance and Inspirational Fiction), and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of 65 novels and novellas. Her historical romance Catching Katie was named one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Library Journal.

Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, reading books that make her cry, and watching romantic movies.

She is passionate about the theater, and several nights every summer, she can be found at the outdoor amphitheater of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, enjoying plays under the stars. Her main hobby (when time allows) is knitting, and she has a special love for making prayer shawls.

Robin and her husband make their home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with Poppet, the high-maintenance Papillon, and Princess Pinky, the DC (demon cat).

**********************************

A Note from Robin:

Please join me on Thursday, February 9, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time) for an online party to celebrate the release of Heart of Gold, a Women of Faith™ novel!

We will be gathering on my Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/robinleehatcher)

under the Notes section to get to know each other better (look for the link in the left sidebar of my wall, click it, then click the link to the party which will be the top Note listed).

I will be sharing behind the scenes stories and a favorite recipe. If you have a recipe to share, please have it ready! (For a better understanding of how the party works and a list of all the prizes, please read the information on the Event page <https://www.facebook.com/events/185357471546685/>.)

I’ll also be hosting drawings for autographed copies of the book and other prizes with ties to Idaho and the story. We’ll have a party game with a grand prize of a Kindle Touch loaded with my two Women of Faith™ novels, The Perfect Life and Heart of Gold! I'll also be announcing an exciting new contest during the evening.

Please share this information with your friends. The more who come to the party the merrier!

I’m looking forward to mingling online with all of you! Please be sure to calculate the correct time zone for you. If you need help, use: www.timezoneconverter.com

In the grip of His grace,

Robin

Don't you wonder?

The story of this swing?

How long it's been there?

How long it will be?

Did lovers sit here and declare their hearts?

Or a crying mother over the plight of a child?

Perhaps children ran screaming for the swing,

Hopping up on it's seat.

Maybe the swing itself weeps,

Of being alone,

Beside the tree.

I wonder,

what story

this swing would tell

If wood, nails and twine

Could speak.

Perhaps I'll take it as my task.

To tell the tale,

of an old wooden swing,

dangling from my tree.

Black Christian Fiction Authors Parade!

I'm thrilled to be partnering with Patricia Woodside to feature some of Christian Fictions black authors.

Throughout the month of February, she'll feature some of her favorite and some new to her authors of Christian fiction. You'll learn about the writers, their journeys and hopefully come away with a desire to read a few of their books.

I begin this year's parade of authors with a writer Patricia met a few years back at a conference, Kendra Norman-Bellamy.

To read more, go to Readin N Writing.

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Reading and writing are two of Patricia Woodside's favorite pastimes.

An avid reader, she enjoys Christian fiction, contemporary romance, historicals and suspense, but will read most anything, including the labels on household products.

As a writer, Patricia has published several short stories and numerous freelance articles. She also pens book reviews for FreshFiction.com and her own blog, Readin' N Writin' with Patricia.

A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Patricia is currently working on an inspirational novel. She resides in central FL with her husband and three sons.

January - A month in my rear view

 Where did January go? It's all but over. Despite the fact this month comes after my favorite time of year, October - December, fall, football, Thanksgiving, birthdays and Christmas, I love January.

It's when all the noise and busyness eases to the back of the bus and I can focus on writing. But this time, January came with a delightful hustle and bustle.

Hubby's parents came for two and a half weeks, along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and family, plus, dealing with daily issues with our ailing nineteen year old cat.

I love a full house. It makes for a full heart. Though there was a sliver of sadness when we had to say goodbye to Red, El Cato extraordinaire. He just couldn't go on and it was time to end his suffering.

Writing was a bit hit or miss, but I'm on my rewrite now, looking forward to buckling down in February and getting 'er done!

I do love ruminating over a book though. And even if I'm not butt-in-chair, fingers-to-the-keyboard writing, the story is always on my mind, and in my heart. I play with tag lines and high concept pitch lines in order to clarify the story.

How about you? How's your January going? How does the year look for you? I have a sense of expectancy. Excitement. Like a lot of things we've all been waiting for are going to happen. At the very least, have the opportunity to happen.

I pray about the sense in my heart, partnering with God for His good pleasure to be accomplished in my life. You know, it's where a lot of us makes mistakes in our relationship with God. We assume God said it so it's going to happen. Fer sure!

But most of the time God's words to us or "sense of something" is an invitation into a divinely more intimate relationship with Him. It's about partnership. We must agree with Him to bring it about. We can't sit on the side lines, waiting.

Yeah, there are some FOR SURE promises. God will make it happen. But those are more rare than we like to think.

It's like this... The coach says he's going to put you into the game. "Hauck, you're going in some time this year."

"Okay coach, thanks!" 

Hauck shows up to practice every day and... sits on the bench. Just waiting. To be called in. Hauck never prepares for the day Coach says, "You're up. Get in there. Go make me proud."

Hauck hops off the bench, barely, cause she's so out of shape and stiff from sitting. She's mentally foggy and well, she's not going to make the coach proud.

Sometimes I think this his how we approach our walk with the Lord. Waiting. Sitting. Being passive when we could be training for whatever He's called us to do. How do we train?

Be in prayer. Be in the Word. Be in fellowship. Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly with our God. Seek. Ask. Knock. Fast. Do the stuff, you know?

He'll give you hope, promises and encouragement a long the way. And when He finally calls you into the game, you're in agreement with Him, in shape, ready to "play."

I'm believing God for good things this year. And it starts right now when I can't see or hear the future. It begins with faith in my heart. Agreement with God about who He says HE is and who I am. It begins on my knees.

What about you? Are you training for what God has for you this year? Let's go! Let'd JUST DO IT!

 

Jesus literally paid His Father's Debt of Love

Singing and worshipping from the Word today, I came across this passage from Micah 7:18-20.

"Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity,

And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?

He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love.

He will again have compassion on us;

He will tread our iniquities under foot.

Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

You will give truth to Jacob

And unchanging love to Abraham,

Which You swore to our forefathers

From the days of old."

The prophet is extolling God for His mercy and compassion, for His unchanging love. He closes with this, written in Rachel Translation, "God, you will give truth and love to us because you promised it to our forefathers from way back."

Here's the Glorious truth: Jesus IS that fulfilled promise. In Micah's day, God in essence owed Israel and those who were His, love. He was in debt to them by His own promise.

But God always pays His debts. He purposefully became in debated to His people for love.

Paul writes in Romans 13:8, "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law." NIV

Do you see? God owed us love and He paid His debt through His son. The Cross is our payment. We're redeemed from our sin by love! A love that was promised and owed to us.

It's for love sake that Jesus came, endured the Cross and paid our debt of sin while fulfilling the Father's debt of love.

The Son of God, the Son of Man! Oh, what a divine exchange! JOY!

Look at the last half of the verse. "...whoever loves others has fulfilled the law." The Father gave the law in the Old Testament to prove to us how much we need His love. The coming of Jesus fulfilled the law which is the message over and over in the New Testament.

The law is love. Jesus fulfilled this law. God the Father has demonstrated how to love by sending His son. He's gladly paid His debt to the forefathers.

Our job is to access His love.

If someone pays you back the money they owe, you now have access to extra capital. You are richer. The money can cover your own debt, or purchase needs for the family, or even go on a dream vacation. It is yours to use your way.

So... how are you using the paid debt of love Jesus and the Father so graciously paid? Are you accessing your heavenly account? Are you walking in the riches of His grace and love? Are you enjoying Him?

Let's not let the paid balance of love just linger in our account while we live like paupers, head down, heart beat up, barely getting by. Let's access His very precious love, paid for with His own blood.

Why Should I Keep Praying?

My dear brother and friend Stuart Greaves shares truth and wisdom in the video.

Is God Helping Tim Tebow Win Games?

Absolutely!

Press pause. I'm not a Broncos fan. I don't know their current record. I'm not even sure if they are still winning... I just know they were and the big whoopty-do in the media was the question, "Is God helping Tim Tebow win football games?"

Yes! Absolutely. Please, God, help Tim win games.

Help me write a book. Help Tony teach math and be a pastor.

Help the father raise his children. Help the mother do her job to the best of her ability.

Help the pilot fly the plane. Help leaders lead. Help Obama be president.

God the Father is so kind a gracious He gives us gifts and duties, He maps out a destiny and He enables us to do the very thing He wants us to do.

So why wouldn't God help Tim Tebow win football games? He's gifted him. He's enabled him. He's called Tim to play football in this season. I'm sure it's part of Tebow's QB job duties to "win football games." Otherwise, the Broncos would have a different quarterback.

The difference, and why people get all offended by the idea that God helps Tebow, is that we don't think He's helping us.

Many years ago Tony said to the kids sitting in youth church, "I'm God's favorite."

I could physically feel the air in the room deplete as about forty kids sucked in a desperate gasp. What?! You're His favorite?

Because the immediate assumption is, "What about me? I'm not His favorite?"

Beloved, you are also His favorite! It's this kind of confidence that puts us on our own "football" fields and makes us winners.

Technically, Tebow is not the best quarterback. He has an odd throw -- kind of a pump-n-pass. So I hear. But the Lord loves Tim's heart when he gets out on the field and operates in complete confidence that he is doing exactly what God has called him to do. He taps into the love and favor of the Lord!

Same with me. When I write, I know I'm not the best writer out there. Not even close. The lack of awards on my shelf is proof. Yet I know the Lord is with me. I know He helps me write books. I know He gives me favor with the publishing community. Why? Because I'm doing what He's called me to do. And He loves that I lean into Him in the midst of my weakness.

But don't take my word for it. Let's check some Bible on this.

Psalm 90:17

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us;

And confirm for us the work of our hands;
Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

Confirm the work of our hands! To me, that sounds like winning. Succeeding. Taking those small steps forward... toward a goal.

1 Corinthians 2:9

“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

Do you love Jesus? He's prepared amazing things for you! Tim Tebow loves Jesus, and from the outside, he appears to honor Him with his life on and off the field. Why would God NOT honor him with success in his calling?

And why not for you, too? Come on, now. Take off your mad, sad God hat.

John 10:10

Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

God is not the thief or destroyer, Satan is. Jesus is the one who gives life! Reach for life. Reach for His favor.

If you love Jesus, if He's your Lord and Savior, if you have the Holy Spirit, why would the Lord not give you every thing you need to life godly and righteous?

He does! He will. He already has!

So, if God is helping Tim Tebow win football games, what can He help you achieve?

Home from the Game

I'm glad to be home from the game. The Gator Bowl. Not because my team lost. But because it's always good to be home. It was cold in Jacksonville. Brrr... But sunny and beautiful. 

Husband and I had a good time! The faithful Buckeye fans out numbered the Gator fans -- and your team played in your home state! Tsk-tsk.But in the end, fielding one of the worst football teams I've seen in awhile couldn't win all those red shirts and crazy Buckeye hats the game. 

The team wasn't bad -- I mean -- the talent is there. But it literally looked like OSU didn't even review tape of the Gators. Special teams really won the game for the Gator baiters. ;) 

Yet OSU couldn't pull it together.I wonder... was it the price of the sins of our past? If so, let's hope it's paid in full. By the way, can we NOT do the whole UbanNation thing? We have enough "nations" going on in NCAA "nation." ;) 

 We ate at Cracker Barrel on the way home. They had a fire in the fireplace. Thank you very much! The dining room was full of sulking Buckeyes. We were comforted by each others silent presence. 

 In the mean time, I had lots of fun with my new Nikon. Took lots of pictures. I'll post later. 

Yesterday I preached in church on the Authority of the Believer. It was good. I was glad the Lord gave me something to share with the body of Christ! Rock on, Believers! Go for it! 

 Back to today. I"m still a Buckeye through and through. Funny how deep alma mater loyalties run. 

 Tomorrow, back to writing A Royal Affair. 

 Tomorrow, the official release of Love Lifted Me.

Happy New Year!

I pray you all have a happy, prosperous, JOY filled 2012!

Merry Christmas

Count Your Blessings

This song played through my mind last week when I'd not yet watched White Christmas, or heard the song on the radio or Pandora. If only...

Count Your Blessings was as popular as Santa Baby this year! Can I call a moratorium on that song? Just me...

I closed worship Sunday with this song. "When I'm worried, and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep..."

It was a lovely way to end a morning of fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ than to "count our blessings."

Tony and I have been extremely blessed this year. Last Thanksgiving while riding my bike before joining friends for dinner, I had a JOY attack. As I pedaled, waves of joy swelled in my heart. I'd laugh. I'd cry. I'd laugh again.

I had no idea the blessings coming to us this year. A new house with an amazing office for Tony and me. I have the "tower," he has the "dungeon." ;)

We cleared our debt and a friend's.

In the fall I was offered a new 3-book contract from Zondervan that miraculously matched my writing goals. I'm so humbled and honored.

I finally purchased an iMac.

Family and friends flooded in for visits. Friends from New York, our girl Carrie Campbell, Tony's brother and his family, our girl Cassie Campbell visited with a friend. Then my brother came with his wife and kids. And last but not least, my mom came for a very fun week.

I had a fun few days brainstorming with fab writers in Vero Beach.

Through it all, Tony and I have a general feeling of grace and well-being. Despite the economy, despite missed paychecks and other reductions in pay along with our living expenses going up a tad with the new home, we've lacked for nothing.

The Lord blessed in other ways. My writing income is increasing, and while a writers paycheck can be very unstable, this year birthed in my heart a greater reality that God can and will meet our needs.

I'm grateful, blessed, and so honored to be walking this journey with my husband and family, called and loved by Jesus. Honored to walk this with you.

I know, I've turned into a horrible blogger, so thank you for those of you who hang in there with me. I count YOU in my blessings.

So, what blessings are you counting this year? Let's purpose to be grateful and full of JOY.