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.

New Year's Eve

God Knows (The Gate of the Year)  

by Minnie Louise Haskins (1875-1957)

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

https://splashschools.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Resource-sheet_God-Knows-poem.pdf 

Worth reading the rest of the poem.

And sometimes, someone shares exactly what you need, like For Jesus First Loved Us:

https://forjesusfirstlovedme.wordpress.com/2022/12/30/leave-the-decor-up-one-more-day/

Ready for the New Year?

Celebrate with a story.

Happy New Year?

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

Officer Tim Black moved to Holiday for a change of scene. He never anticipated wanting to change his single status at the same time, but the lady refuses to even date him.

Sandy Foster moved to Holiday to escape her dysfunctional family, changing everything about her life. Finding someone who wanted to share her life holds a never-ending spot on her uninspiring list of New Year's resolutions.

The tiniest misunderstanding and the willingness to set pride aside might make the difference between spending the New Year alone and a Happily Ever After...

http://www.amazon.com/Happy-New-Year-Holiday-USA-ebook/dp/B00HCQKGF4/ref=sr_1_1

 If you 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

Lyrics to Danny Gokey's "Haven't Seen It Yet"

https://youtu.be/b3zZNfTkLGc

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbit

Only a few chapters left to edit.

Monday Quote

 

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.

 

Sunday Scripture on Saturday

Jude 1:1-2

1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

Revelations 1:1-2

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

If you read this blog every Sunday, you read from every book of the Bible this year. Well done. Now, read some more and enjoy the journey.

Lindsey Stirling - O Holy Night https://youtu.be/n3YBq0QWmbU

Favorite Book Friday

Are you ready for Christmas?

Celebrate with a story.

Christmas Lost

The twelfth novella in the series is here...

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

Townie Karen Little is the resident quintessential spinster. She's lived in the same house her whole life, more than half a century. She knows she's stuck, but her plans for the future blow up in her face, on a regular basis. Why risk being wrong again?

After six years, Holiday Diner's owner, Alexander Hamilton, is still a newbie and Holiday's most eligible silver fox bachelor. Being the catch of the day for the single women of Holiday makes his vow to never marry again a challenge. Why test the three strikes you're out rule?

Sometimes, so much time passes, it feels like God has forgotten, but He is moving all the pieces into place for the right moment...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BHC1CL9/ref=sr_1_1 

 

If you prefer paperback, Holiday, USA Anthology 2016-17

All four novellas, 9-12, are available in their entirety in paperback, including the covers on the back, for those who enjoy collecting a series.

http://a.co/5ETTtmt

 

Musical Thursday

Niel Diamond "The Christmas Song"

https://youtu.be/fgulqWNQbt0

Wordless Wednesday