Tuesday Tidbit

Work on the last chapter continues. I think it's done. I re-read it, and something is jarring, so I try again, re-write, shuffle. Frustrating.

Monday Quote

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks! Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle. But you shall be a miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God." ~ Phillips Brooks

 

Sunday Scripture

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Saturday Links

Jesusluvsall shares a power message I pray I more fully embrace:

https://jesusluvsall.org/2023/01/03/voices-which-one-will-we-pay-attention-to/ 

Keep Living Forward shared "The Struggle and the Response" a dilemma with which I'm well acquainted:

https://keeplivingforward.wordpress.com/2023/01/10/the-struggle-and-the-response/ 

God bless.

Chocolate Cake Day

Celebrate with a story.

Chocolate Cake for Two

The second novella in the series.

Welcome back to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and maybe a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

Freed, after being wrongly imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, Henry Weaver needs a fresh start. The "Help Wanted" sign in the cupcake shop window couldn't possibly be the answer to his prayer.

Holiday Sweets, a specialty cupcake shop, is Annie Sweet's heritage. Everything would be perfect if only she could find competent help. An ultimatum demands Annie make a painful decision.

Choosing God is rarely the easy way, and sometimes the way to Happily Ever After appears impossible...

http://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Cake-Two-Holiday-USA-ebook/dp/B00HYLK0P8/ref=sr_1_1

For those who prefer paperback, Holiday, USA Anthology 2014

All four novellas published in 2014 are available in their entirety in paperback, including the covers on the back, for those who enjoy collecting a series.

http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-USA-Anthology-2014-1/dp/150773459X/ref=sr_1_6 

Musical Thursday

Mystical Adventure collected some of my favorite bits of the score to Lord of the Rings:

https://youtu.be/YM2M8qPP5Ws

Wordless Wednesday

 

Tuesday Tidbit

Still working on the last chapter.

Monday Quote

 

Sunday Scripture

Joshua 1:9

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Saturday Links

Global Sojourns Photography shares stunning pictures with a whimsical narrative:

https://dalocollis.com/2022/12/01/the-edge-of-autumn/ 

Gracefuladdict, over at The daily addict, shares her recovery journey. She isn't wrong; seek help, as hard as it is:

https://thedailyaddictcom.wordpress.com/2022/12/30/suicidal-ideations-12-30/ 

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

A Night Divine by Dawn Kinzer Christian romance, a sequel to By All Appearances. An enjoyable read.

 

Musical Thursday

Kenneth Cope's full album "Face to Face"

https://youtu.be/Z8cBwI-4pF8

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbit

By God's grace, I finally worked through the troublesome chapter. One chapter to go.

Monday Quote

Live isn't meant to be easy, it's meant to be lived. 

Sometimes happy, other times rough... 

But every up and down you learn lessons that make you strong.

~ Unkown

Sunday Scripture

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Saturday Links

"Where Wisdom Begins" by Feeding on Jesus:

https://feedingonjesus.com/2022/11/18/where-wisdom-begins/ 

My God, My Music, My Life shared a needed perspective (for me) in this post "Empty Field No More." 

https://mygodmymusicmylife.com/2022/12/01/empty-field-no-more/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Eternity (The Friendship Series Book 1)  by Staci Stallings Christian romance. Loved it.

The Easy Way Out (The Friendship Series Book 2)  by Staci Stallings Christian romance. Staci is one of my favorite storytellers. I only wish I could buy all her books in paperback. They're all keepers.

Musical Thursday

Geoff Castellucci's "Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold"

https://youtu.be/Erkv1-_xR7U

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbit

I've 2 chapters to go, but I'm stuck. It's the second to last chapter, and I'm struggling with why it doesn't read quite right. This is the last time it'll be published, and I want it as right as possible.

Monday Quote

Life Isn’t Meant To Be Easy, 

And If It Is, 

Then You’re Doing It Wrong

~ Lauren Jarvis-Gibson

Sunday Scripture

As I ponder which word to choose for my Word of the Year, I couldn't settle on a word. A phrase kept coming to mind. I finally stopped fighting: Learn of Me. I don't know about you, but I could use some rest to my soul.

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 

Saturday Links

I remember reading this long ago. Thanks, Coach Muller, for sharing it again, over at My Good Time Stories. Have kleenex:

https://mygoodtimestories.com/2022/10/16/showing-an-act-of-kindness-you-never-know/

Bridget A. Thomas' series on "Abide" is worth reading; this is part 6:

https://bridgetathomas.com/2022/11/17/abide-part-6/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Cowboy Daddy, Jingle Bell Baby by Linda Goodnight contemporary romance. Still love this story.

Musical Thursday

If you enjoy the guitar, and Christmas music, Tim Janis offers "Christmas Woods."

https://youtu.be/AWoNc41XR3M

Wordless Wednesday

 

Tuesday Tidbit

I can count on one hand the number of chapters left to edit. However, I'm tripping over the start of a chapter, and it's taking me longer than I'd hoped to figure out how it needs to be straightened out. I want the story to glorify God, not detract from the message.

Monday Quote

The purpose of Discipleship is not to live perfectly but to live intentionally.

~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Happy New Year!

Congratulations! You made it through 2022. I wouldn't have made it without God. I'll not wish you a safe new year; this world is many things, but safe is not one of them. We didn't come to earth to be safe; we came to be tested. It's expected we'll fail, often. God doesn't hold that against us; it is why He provided a Savior to rescue us from our own folly. 

Will you step into this new year in fear or faith? The choice is yours.

And be gentle with yourself; doubt and fear are opportunities for faith to grow.