Merry Christmas

Isaiah 9:6

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:1-16

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 

Musical Thursday

The Story behind Casting Crowns' "Praise You in the Storm"

https://youtu.be/bDtHf5J3ZLE

Favorite Book Friday

"When God Doesn't Fix It" by Laura Story

Saturday Links

Lynn Mosher shared "Breezing." Anything to do with horses catches my attention. This fit me:
http://lynnmosher.com/breezing/

Motivating Daily is a bit of inspiration, every day, and this one is from Benjamin Franklin:
https://motivatingdaily.com/2016/09/09/words-vs-action/

Jennifer Slattery is studying John the Baptist, more inspiration:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/2016/09/08/obedience-in-the-mundane/

God bless.

Inspiration From My Heart

It took me far too long to figure out: If your life is smooth as glass, you’re doing it wrong. Look at the world God created. It’s filled with mountains and valleys, glaciers and volcanoes, oceans and deserts, pine forests and rain forests, and that’s only some of the variety on this planet. Animals and plants and those yet undiscovered. Snow, rain, blistering sun, fog, the auroras, the moon, planets, stars, and numberless galaxies. Embrace the variety, every moment.

Final stages...

Only a little more work to go and Leap of Faith Day will be ready for publishing. GodTube encouraged sharing this, and I appreciate the reminder:

A bit of inspiration...

Sometimes, life is weird. Sometimes, life is hard. Sometimes, life is confusing. Sometimes, life is painful. Sometimes, life is messy. Sometimes, life is amazing. Sometimes, life is disappointing. Sometimes, life is joyous. Sometimes, life is lonely. Sometimes, life is full to bursting. Always, life is precious, even when it feels shattered. Pieces are lost. Pieces are mangled. Life is not a puzzle where every piece must fit perfectly in order to make a pretty picture. Life is a kaleidoscope. It is all the broken pieces piled together, with spaces in between, and light that creates the wondrous beauty.

Life and Death...

Palm Sunday.

Did you know that donkeys were a symbol of peace? Did you know that donkeys are smart and fierce? I recently read an article that explained why a donkey appears stubborn. The little critters like to think things through and decide if what you're asking is reasonable. There's a reason the rides into the Grand Canyon are on mules, a cross between a horse and a donkey. A horse will walk off the trail if you push it. A mule won't. A donkey is also often used as a guard dog for sheep. They will assess the danger and attack, if necessary.

I was often called stubborn as a mule. Thanks for the compliment.

Nothing is coincidence with God.

Friday's coming, but so is Sunday.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew it would be painful and nearly unbearable. He didn't waver.

As a Christian, I should stubbornly follow Christ.

If I'm truly Christian, then I believe it is my responsibility to follow Jesus. I know He won't lead me astray. And yet, how often do I procrastinate or shy away when I know something will be difficult? Too often.

If I truly believe Jesus walks with me when I choose to walk in His way, then my faith demands I step forward boldly. I'm human. I fear making mistakes. Kind of silly. I'm human. I WILL make mistakes. God knew I would.

The Father allowed the sacrifice of His Beloved Son, and His Beloved Son volunteered because it was the only way to bring me Home. Jesus volunteered and persevered through to the end, including the Resurrection not because He was forced to do it but because He loves each of us THAT much.

May your day be blessed.

Saturday Link Share...

Hope for the Broken Hearted shared a lovely prayer, including a beautiful picture and one of my favorite songs:
https://hopeforthebrokenhearted.wordpress.com/2014/12/06/prayer-for-december-6th-2/

The Writer's Refuge shared three ways to connect emotionally with readers. I want to do this:
http://thewritersrefuge.wordpress.com/2014/12/07/how-to-feel-the-words-you-write/

I like Patricia Johns' take on this:
http://patriciajohnsromance.com/2014/12/08/being-woman-enough/

Beth Trissel shares a lovely posts on angels:
https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/the-angel-from-on-high/

Writers In The Storm shared a good post on Copyrights, specifically using songs and lyrics, recipes, and photos:
http://writersinthestormblog.com/2014/12/the-copyright-naughty-list/ 

May you be blessed.

Sharing Links...

Little Birdie Blessings shared the Celebration of Advent:
http://littlebirdieblessings.blogspot.com/2014/11/celebration-of-advent.html

Dyan Diamond is an inspirationalist, author, and Life Coach. I follow her blog for encouragement and perspective. Here's a link to one of her posts:
http://dyandiamond.net/2014/12/04/no-silver-lining/

 Handmade. Homegrown. Beautiful Life is another lovely blog that brightens my day:
http://handmadehomegrownbeautifullife.com/2014/11/28/pie-for-breakfast-christmas-cactus/

May you be blessed.

Sharing favorite quotes and...

...lines from some of my favorite Christmas stories, every day on my Facebook author page.

https://www.facebook.com/LaurelHawkes

Christ is the reason for the season.

...mas... Without Christ, there is no Christmas.

"Marley was dead: to begin with."

I'm looking for more ways to help me embrace the season. It can be tough for survivors.

I listen to Christmas music. I'm re-reading my favorite Christmas romance stories. I watch Christmas programs I enjoy. I'm adding a Christmas decoration every day. I'm working on Christmas gifts every day. I'm endeavoring to fill my mind and heart with the reason for the season.

May you be blessed.

Inspirational Links to Share...

Little Birdie Blessings:
http://littlebirdieblessings.blogspot.com/2014/11/thankful-for-small-things.html

Inspired by the Nature of God:
http://inspiredbythenatureofgod.com/2014/11/15/broken-pieces/

Writers In The Storm shared a blog on overcoming fear:
http://writersinthestormblog.com/2014/11/a-recipe-for-fear-and-its-antidote/

The Writer's Refuge share a lovely post:
http://thewritersrefuge.wordpress.com/2014/11/26/write-to-release-the-music-inside-you/

May you be blessed.

The dog in most of my books...

...is based on my own dog. She passed away several years ago, but she left an everlasting influence.

Miss B was one of many nicknames. She was a rescue mutt. A local pet store made a deal with the vet across the street. Whenever the vet ended up with unwanted puppies, the pet store would sell the pups for a minimal fee that included a first vet visit.

After the passing of my brother's dog, an animal I'd helped care for, I decided I needed a dog of my own. I planned to search the pound and shelters. I would make sure I explored all the possibilities before making a decision. The excursion was planned for a Saturday. On Thursday, I stopped in at the pet shop on my way to grocery shop. It couldn't hurt.

They had a raised enclosure with a bunch of puppies, balls of fur in gold and black. The gold critters were purebreds and appropriately priced. The black fur balls were cheap. I was only looking. What could it hurt?

That night, I dreamed about one of the black balls of fur and even named her. In the dream, I saw her from puppy to close to the end of her life. I denied the meaning of the dream. I was determined to carry out my plan to explore every possibility.

Best laid plans of mice and men... God's ways are not man's ways.

I returned Saturday morning, with the plan to start the day making sure she was still there. She was on the list. We'd see where she was by the end of my excursions.

You guessed it. I never it made it out of the pet shop. I've never been sorry.

Where do I find inspiration...

I was recently asked this question. The simple answer is "Everywhere."

Sometimes something happens to me or to someone I know. Sometimes I hear something on the radio or television or read somewhere.

No matter what the source is there is always only one question to start the story in my head: What if...

On FB, yesterday, I shared a picture of one of my sources of inspiration:

My dog. I miss her.

A bit of lovely distraction...

God's spring bouquet...

Graduation address in 2012...

Thanks to my BFF for sharing this link with me:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/21/neil-gaiman-commencement-speech_n_1534005.html?ref=tw

I need to learn to enjoy the journey. I do, but I think perhaps I allow the worries too much attention.

One of my favorite inspirational authors...

I recently finished Teri Wilson's latest book, Alaskan Hero. It's the second book in her Alaska series. The first is Alaskan Hearts. She writes very sweet romances with strong Christian themes. Her stories lift my spirit, always touching something going on in my life at the time.

Of course, there's an extra special place in my heart for her stories because she always includes dogs.

The first Teri Wilson book I read was Cup of Joe. I loved it and have purchased every one of her books I could find.

Arizona Dreamin'...

My report, at last.

It was amazing!

My sister, bless her, helped with picking people up at the airport. We both liked knowing people we care about made it safe and sound. It was also a lot of fun. She did the driving, and I knew what everyone looked like: Perfect team. :-)

We started with Buildin' the Dream: A writer's one-day conference. It was the first time. There were a lot of excellent workshops and, unfortunately, not enough time to attend them all. Pick and choose.

The Friday Night start-off for the Readers' Conference was amazing. I laughed a lot.

Saturday was packed with events, again. The Book Clubs, where you meet with a favorite author in half hour increments, were fantastic. I met a favorite author for the first time and enjoyed visiting with a couple of favorite authors I've met before.

There are goody bags, food, and a couple auctions. Lots of fun.

Best part: The people. Catching up with friends I only see at Arizona Dreamin' and making new friends.

The hotel is very nice.

There was plenty of food.

I'm one of those alphabet soup types, i.e., C-PTSD, OCD, yes, you get the picture. I was able to manage it all and came home energized and inspired. I stayed an extra day and used it to write and plan the next manuscript.

I will definitely be attending next year.

Will you?

http://www.arizonadreaminevent.com/p/may-31-june-2-2013.html

Me with Lance, my pick for the Man of Our Dreams contest and the cover model on Kris Tualla's book Loving the Norseman.
http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Norseman-Hansen-Series-Rydar/dp/1456562118/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1371736985&sr=8-15&keywords=kris+tualla

Inspiration for The Silver Locket Sisterhood series...

This was sent to me by a very dear friend back in January 2003. I was writing fanfiction at the time, with no thought of writing my own stories.

I started Luck in Love and toyed with the idea of going further.

I wrote A Promise of Possibilities.

Ideas bubbled, and here I am.

Amazing what a little inspiration will accomplish when you follow where He leads.

"Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.  One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next study.

That week the woman visited a silversmith.  As she watched him work, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.  He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.  The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot, as she thought again about the verse in Malachi.

She asked the smith if it were true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.  The man answered yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire.  If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment.  Then she asked, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'

The smith smiled and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- I know it is ready when I see my image in it.'

If you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you; He will not let you burn so that you are destroyed, but He will keep watching you until He sees His image in you."

Email share...

This was sent to me by a very dear friend. I love this kind of stuff. I attempted to hunt down the author, with no luck. I found it posted at several blogs, including one who had been introduced to it in his pastor's newsletter, but no original author. It made me stop and think and cry...

A GREAT REMINDER FOR US

 

Apples...    This is as good as it gets!!!

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago .. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly-missed boarding...

ALL BUT ONE!!! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.

He was glad he did. The 16-year-old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her; no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister...." He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, "Are you Jesus?"

He stopped in mid-stride .... and he wondered. He gently went back and said, "No, I am nothing like Jesus - He is good, kind, caring, loving, and would never have bumped into your display in the first place.

"The girl gently nodded: "I only asked because I prayed for Jesus to help me gather the apples. He sent you to help me, so you are like Him - only He knows who will do His will. Thank you for hearing His call, Mister."

Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"

Do people mistake you for Jesus?

That's our destiny, is it not?To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day .

You are the apple of His eye even though you, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked up you and me on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Please share this, (IF you feel led to do so).

Sometimes we just take things for granted, when we really need to be sharing what we know....Thanks.

"Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect.
It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections."



The nicest place to be is in someone's thoughts,
the safest place to be is in someone's prayers,
and the very best place to be is ........
in the hands of God