Good Still Prevails in this World

Many of you know the battles we've fought with my daughter's seizures at birth and through her toddler years. What you might not know is that she was healed and remained seizure-free and med-free for almost ten years. Then in April 2012, we received a call from the school. Celina was running track and had fallen from a convulsion. She was unconscious and an ambulance raced her to a nearby hospital. 

I can't begin to describe the myriad of emotions when my husband called me. Denial, panic, doubt, worry, then prayer. Prayer was the natural instinct that took over as I stepped onto the elevator. The Holy Spirit hit me and I prayed in the spirit, allowing the Lord to calm me until I could get to my car. From there I had a 40 minute drive. I needed to hear someone's voice. I called my mom. No answer. I called my sister. No answer. I called Angela Breidenbach. I needed a voice of reason. Angie answered and she talked me through positive thoughts and reassurances that I needed to hear.

When I arrived at the hospital, my husband was already there and my daughter had awakened. She was dazed and a little confused. She couldn't remember what happened, the ambulance ride, or her arrival to the hospital. The next three days proved to be similar with short term memory losses that annoyed her. Extreme fatigue took over body and she suffered from severe sore muscles, scrapes and bruises where she had fallen on the asphalt. 

Before her CT scan, my 14-year-old asked for prayer. I had prayed on the way there, but why hadn't I considered praying WITH her to help calm her fears and ease her pain? She had to ask for it and I'm glad she did. 

Over the next month, life changed for us. We bought a video monitor so we would know if she needed us at night. After an episode where my husband and I nearly killed each other trying to get upstairs to her, we bought her a new bed and set it in the dining room so she would be closer--on the same floor as us. Her neurologist took her out of gym and her school monitored her  carefully. She couldn't get stressed or overheated. She had an MRI and an EEG. Her doctors are still trying to determine the best treatment plan for Celina. 

In spite of all we've been through, God has blessed us with many prayers and support. People from all over--some we have never met in person--are praying for my daughter. I am humbled by God's grace and love through his prayer warriors. 

Celina was excited to receive a plaque from a group of prayer warriors. They had hand painted the flower in the first image and signed their name on the back as a commitment to keep praying for her. This meant a lot to her. She placed it on our mantle and it reminds her on those tough nights when she's pacing and needing a good night sleep that people are praying for her--that people care. Good still prevails in this world, because God's people are still carrying on. We thank you for your prayers. 

She was healed from her infancy seizures. What she is experiencing now is different. She will be undergoing a different treatment plan than before. I thank God for modern technology and medicine. I thank God for her doctors and the medical personnel working for her. I thank God for people who are surrounding her in prayer. And I thank God for a child who is open to the guidance of the Lord.

Word of Inspiration: It's All About God's Kingdom

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;” Romans 12:10 

It isn't about you or me, or any of us. Life is about furthering God's kingdom and living to represent Him in a way that brings His glory to others who are lost in a dark world. If someone snaps at you today, respond in love. If someone cuts you off while driving, pray for them. Offer a kind word or compliment to someone who looks as if they need cheering and who needs to know they are beautiful in God's eyes. Take the time to be a friend to an acquaintance you don't know well. Be the light!

Goodreads Book Giveaway - "Quakers of New Garden" (giving away 2 books)

In honor of Memorial Day, I'll be giving away 2 copies of Quakers of New Garden. Four Quaker women face challenges of the heart. Ruth hesitates to give her bridegroom a third chance at love. Underground Railroad worker Deborah meets a bounty hunter. Leah tries to turn a marriage of convenience into a marriage of love. Christian Jaidon falls for Quaker Catherine. Will love endure in their hearts and lives?

This is a novella of four stories in one volume that follow the Wall family from 1808 through the generations to present day. 

 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Quakers of New Garden

by Claire Sanders

Giveaway ends May 28, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

CFBA Blog Tour: "The Anniversary Waltz" by Darrel Nelson

The Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Anniversary Waltz Realms by Darrel Nelson

#christianfiction, #christianromance

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A Word from the author:

I am a schoolteacher by profession and have taught school for (thir—ahem!) years. I grew up in Raymond, Alberta, and attended the University of Lethbridge after graduating from high school and serving a 2-year mission to Japan. During university, I met and married Marsha Smith, the parents of 4 children, including spouses and 10 grandchildren.

I started writing stories before I was old enough to realize I was writing stories. It seemed a natural to pick up a pencil and paper and create a world using words—worlds of adventure in steaming jungles (Tarzan was an early influence on me) or realms of adventure in outer space (Buck Rogers). But as I grew older, I discovered that my real inspiration is exploring the theme of love and how it can make a difference in the world.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

At their sixtieth anniversary party, Adam Carlson asks his wife, Elizabeth, for their customary waltz. After the dance they gather the family and share their story—a story of love and courage overcoming adversity and thriving in the face of overwhelming odds.

It’s the summer of 1946, and Adam has just returned from the war to his home in Reunion, Montana. At a town festival he meets Elizabeth Baxter, a young woman going steady with his former high school rival and now influential banker, Nathan Roberts.

When Adam and Elizabeth share a waltz in a deserted pavilion one evening, their feelings begin to grow and they embark on a journey, and a dance, that will last a lifetime.

If you'd like to read the first chapter excerpt of The Anniversary Waltz, go HERE.

Word of Inspiration: Embrace Your Blessings

"Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well." (Proverbs 5:15)

Enjoy the blessings you have been given and avoid coveting what belongs to someone else. It will only stir up jealousy and envy as it begins to make you think less of what you have. Count your blessings. Look at the good times, the blessings you received, but never expected. Drink in joyous moments and cherish them for the journey of life will keep moving forward and these moments will soon be gone. Embrace your blessings!

Guest Post: Should You Enter Writing Contests? by Naomi Musch

While popping around the web and perusing writers' magazines, it doesn't take long to discover a myriad of writing contests out there. If you're like most authors, you may have mulled these contests over and wondered if they're worth your while to enter. Winning would be fantastic! But what do you have to gain for all your effort if you lose?  

Contests are a great way to stretch your writing wings. Of course, not every contest is for every author. To randomly select contests to enter would be as bad as submitting an article to just any-old-market without first studying its style and content requirements. If you haven't studied the writing craft for long, or if you haven't been through the experience of having your work critiqued, then entering a national contest would probably not be the best use of your time.

However, if you're looking at a smaller contest with a topic or style that really suits you, then entering a writing contest can have value in a several ways.  

First, you just might win. You might not, of course. Your odds are always 1 in however-many-entrants-you're-up-against. And you may be competing against some real whizz-bang writers. But even if you don't win or don't make an honorable mention, you will doubtless learn something through trial and error that will improve your skill. If the contest is small enough, you may get individual feedback from the judges. This is a HUGE deal. As long as you can handle helpful criticism, you stand to gain insight that most unpublished authors have to pay for. 

But even if you don't get feedback, you may learn to streamline a story, set parameters, follow guidelines, train your mind around a theme, work on a deadline, and so on. And then there is always the possibility of residual rewards.

Case in point: A couple years ago I entered a large contest with a national publisher for a contemporary romance novella. In this case, the contest word limit was 25,000 words. My story came in just under that. 

I'd never written a novella before. I'd also only written in the historical genre, never contemporary. But as I was working on a separate, much longer project involving tons of research, stepping back to enter the contest gave me a refreshing break. It taught me a different style. In writing a novella that didn't really require research, I knew I'd see closure on a story much sooner than in my long fiction. The contest also gave me very clear guidelines for writing this contemporary story. You could say those guidelines walked me through the process. I really didn't know how it would go, but when I finished, I felt I'd written a very sound piece. I also discovered that I actually enjoyed writing contemporary stuff -- much more than I ever thought I would.

So did I win? No. I don't even know if I came close. But...

I was so pleased with that story that I decided to modify it for a different publisher (so it wouldn't be seen as the same storyline as for that contest) and I submitted it elsewhere. Within weeks, I had a contract for publication of my novella, Heart Not Taken.

I am really glad I entered that contest!

Not every story you write might come to such a fine conclusion. But you will never know unless you try.

BIO

Naomi and husband Jeff enjoy the splendor of Wisconsin's northwoods along with their five young adults who live nearby or at home. She writes both historical and contemporary fiction in which her aim is to surprise and entertain readers by telling stories of imperfect people who are finding faith and hope to overcome their struggles. The Red Fury is book two in her Empire in Pine historical series from Desert Breeze Publishing. Book three, The Black Rose will release in July 2012. Naomi is also a staff writer for the Christian e-newspaper LivingStonesNews.com and has published numerous magazine articles for the encouragement of the homeschool community. She invites you to connect with her and investigate her series and other works at:  http://www.naomimusch.com  on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Naomi-Musch-Author/165673476805357 or follow her on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/NMusch

CFBA Blog Tour: Chameleon by Jillian Kent

The Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing  Chameleon Realms by  Jillian Kent

#christianfiction, #christianromance

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jillian Kent is a busy writer and the alter ego of Jill Nutter, a full-time counselor.

Jill spent the first semester of her senior year of college at Oxford studying British Literature, where she fell in love with England. During this season, she came to appreciate the written word, the rich imagery of romantic poetry like The Highwayman, and historical novels of many types, including Jane Austen and all things Regency.

Jill received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Bethany College in West Virginia, and her Masters Degree in Social Work from WVU, and she brings her fascination with different cultures and societies into her writing.

Jill has always been a romantic at heart, so readers will find a good dose of romance woven through each of her novels. Jill, her husband Randy, and children Katie and Meghan are animal lovers. They currently own two dogs, Boo-Boo and Bandit and a menagerie of cats, Lucky, Yuma, Snow, and Holden. Critters of all assortments make their appearance in her stories.

ABOUT THE BOOK

How much can you really know about someone?

Lady Victoria Grayson has always considered herself a keen observer of human behavior. After battling a chronic childhood illness that kept her homebound for years, she journeys to London determined to have the adventure of a lifetime.

Jaded by his wartime profession as a spy, Lord Witt understands, more than most, that everyone is not always who they pretend to be. He meets Victoria after the Regent requests an investigation into the activities of her physician brother, Lord Ravensmoore.

Witt and Victoria become increasingly entangled in a plot targeting the lords of Parliament. Victoria is forced to question how well she knows those close to her while challenging Witt’s cynical nature and doubts about God. Together they must confront their pasts in order to solve a mystery that could devastate their future.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Chameleon, go HERE.

Word of Inspiration: God's Path is Like the Shining Sun

"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day." (Proverbs 4:18)

Isn't this inspiring? If we walk the path of God's righteousness, we will be walking witnesses to those mired in the shadows of darkness. God's light will shine through us and it will grow brighter until the perfect day of His return. We will be BLESSED and happy--joyful in the Lord--the happiness that is beyond what the world can give us. Shine bright!

Guest Post: "Conference Appointments Made Simple" by Patti Sheene

Please welcome Patti Sheene.

 

Patti’s passion is to mentor young writers. As Vice President of Written World Communications, she supervises the company’s YA division. She serves as Executive Editor to Starsongs Magazine, a general market publication for kids by kids ages 9-19.  A retired RN and “over 50 writer” herself, she also encourages and admires writers whose careers have commenced or blossomed later in life. Patti is published in Gary Chapman and James Stuart Bell’s Love is a Verb Devotional. She has had work accepted for their soon to be published anthology Angels, Miracles, and Heavenly Encounters: Real-Life Stories of Supernatural Events.

Conference Appointments Made Simple

The airline ticket has been purchased and the weight goal that makes you look smashing in that new outfit reached. Emails brimming with anticipation arrive from writer friends you haven’t seen for months. Conference season is in full swing and you’re caught up in the excitement and anticipation of realizing unfulfilled dreams.

Yet, your stomach churns and your hands tremble at the thought of those fifteen minutes with the one editor you’ve wanted to meet for months, maybe even years. Let me share a few tips to help calm the queasiness, put you in control, and simplify what can appear to be a daunting experience. 

Smile! Don’t approach your appointment as though you are headed to the dentist’s chair! Editors are human too. A smile exudes confidence and puts both of you at ease.

Introduce yourself. Even though a list is available to the editor, appointments are sometimes shifted. Be sure the editor knows who he is speaking with from the start of the meeting.

Make your intentions known. Explain why you chose to speak to that particular editor. Have questions prepared and easily accessible. Are you pitching a manuscript for a specific book imprint or simply seeking general information about the publishing house?

 Provide paper. Present the editor with something visual, such as a one-sheet that contains the maximum information attractively arranged in a minimum amount of space. Don’t expect her to keep it. Paper adds weight to luggage and can be cumbersome to manage. Email is more convenient.

Listen! Pay attention to what the editor tells you. Has he expressed an interest in your work or referred you to someone else who can better meet your needs? Have you been asked to provide further information? Make notes to ensure follow through. File business cards where they can be easily found after the conference.

Express your appreciation Thank the editor for her time, even if she is unable to use the work you presented. Recognition of her efforts builds a positive relationship for future contact.

These simple tips can serve to fix your name in your dream editor’s brain long after the meeting concludes.

Happy conferencing!

Word of Inspiration: Friendships are Blessed Through Private Discretion

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” (Matthew 18:15) 

This verse is referring to a brother or sister in Christ, not necessarily a sibling by blood, although it can be for both. By the time we're in grade school, we've probably already experienced a betrayal of a friend. For my daughter, it was in third grade when a friend asked to borrow her ring, but then refused to give it back. Half a year later we had to get the teacher involved and it was finally returned. As adults, we expect people to have achieved a certain level of maturity. When they lie, deceive, steal, or betray us, and we thought they were trustworthy, especially long-time friends, the pain can be even deeper and harder to overcome. It makes us question our own discernment and sometimes prohibits us from trusting others. 


The worst thing we can do is to complain about that person to other friends and people who know them and forage into the realm of gossiping and judging them behind their backs. Stewing on it and becoming angry and bitter isn't going to help matters. Confronting them in front of others and embarrassing them will cause further strife. If we subscribe to this verse and approach them about the problem in private, both of you will have a better chance at breaking down the walls of miscommunication and opening the channels of forgiveness. Don't accuse them and have an attitude of confrontation, but chose your words wisely in how you phrase them and be open-minded to hear your friend--and willing to forgive. Good friendships are worth keeping, especially when they have been there for you through the tough times and have forgiven you. None of us are perfect and we all make mistakes. Forgive and move on.