NEW YEAR | NEW PERSPECTIVE

"Therefore, if anyone

is in Christ, the new

creation has come.

The old has gone, the

new is here!"

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

    

Well, you've weathered the busyness of the holidays. Now it's time for New Year'sresolutions. I'm not talking about the losing weight, more exercise sort. I'm referring to renewing your heart. What can you do this year to become more Christ-like? Who can you bless?

Consider for a moment your weak spots. Come, now. We all have them. One of mine, for instance, is patience...or lack of, I should say. I find I lose patience when things don't happen on my time schedule, or the way I hope. Often I grow frustrated and tire of waiting.


Writing requires huge chunks of time--time I often don't have. Life just seems to get in the way. It's then I have to remind myself the Lord is in control. It's His time schedule I need to be concerned with. He wants the best for us. We can trust Him to work things for our good.

This year it is my prayer that, instead of growing impatience when obstacles come, I'll take my frustrations to the Lord and allow Him to show me how to spend my time His way. It's all His time anyway, isn't it? It's all in our perspective.

When our plans get interrupted, we need to see it as an opportunity. How can I use this interruption as an opportunity to serve the Lord? Instead of fuming over interruptions to your plans, look for ways to make a difference in someone's life.

~Pray for those who cross your path.

~Consider your time God's time.

~Be committed to making each day count for Christ...no matter what He sends your way.

Blessings to you in the New Year!

Read more of Cynthia's work at: http://puttingonthenew.com/author/cynthiaroemer/

View Cynthia's full website at: http://cynthiaroemer.weebly.com/

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

SO THANKFUL CHRIST CAME IN SUCH A HUMBLE WAY TO SHOW HIS LOVE FOR ALL MANKIND.

"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

(Luke 2:10-12)

BLESSINGS TO YOU THIS CHRISTMAS AND IN THE COMING YEAR.

TAKING SOME TIME OFF TO CELEBRATE WITH FAMILY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

INSPIRATIONAL AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH GAIL KITTLESON

On this 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, I had the privilege of interviewing Inspirational WWII author Gail Kittleson this week. I hope you are blessed by her writing journey.

It's great to have you, Gail. How long have you been writing? 

I’ve been writing since adolescence, when poetry was my favorite genre.

What/who inspired you to write?

I’d have to say my middle school and high school teachers. Mrs. Morford, a dyed-in-the-wool grammarian, even inspired me to love diagramming sentences. Goes to show how much influence one instructor can wield. I even used this teacher in my novel.

How neat! You write Historical Christian fiction set during World War II. What interests you about this particular time period? 

Everything about World War II interests me, even the atrocities that can really depress a person. Just last night, I was re-reading about Operation Jedburgh, which sent Americans trained by the OSS into France before D-Day. Some of them suffered terribly in the effort to aid the Resistance.

But their accomplishments changed the course of the war. They blew railroads, blocked roads, destroyed Nazi truck tires, and performed myriad other acts of sabotage to hinder the movement of the Waffen SS and Das Reich (Hitler’s ferocious tank battalions) from their winter refitting in the south to Normandy.

It’s no fun pondering the agony of having one’s eyes gouged out by the Gestapo, but the German atrocities only highlight the bravery of those who willingly took the risk.

Can you give us an overview of your new release, In Times Like These?

This story, starring a young Iowa farm wife, Addie Bledsoe, came out in April. Addie faces her own battles with her volatile husband Harold, who longs to join the Army, but cannot due to his father’s stroke. As the Pearl harbor attack ignites war sentiment across the nation, Harold takes out his fury on Addie. Oh, he's too tuned in to others' opinions to hit her physically, but sends emotional and mental blows from every direction.

Who is your favorite character? Why?

 Aside from Addie, whose make-do attitude and irrepressible positivity win my respect, I think Jane, Addie’s down-the-road neighbor, is my favorite. Her brand of practical philosophy, honed through a lifetime of hard knocks, rings true to Addie far more deeply than any platitudes or pat answers others might pose. And her flower garden sends a message to everyone who passes her simple farmstead--in fact, that's what attracts Addie to stop by for their first conversation.

Jane is as tried and true as George, the rural mailman who displays loyalty in the midst of dire times. Perhaps surviving World War I has something to do with Jane and George’s indefatigable resilience and humor. Can you imagine enduring not just one, but two World Wars?

No I can't. What is the main message/theme you hope to relay to readers?

Sometimes finding one’s voice takes time. Childhood trauma, broken promises, and false teachings about faith can sidetrack a person in this vital pursuit. Often, we may not even realize we haven’t found our voice—perhaps we’ve allowed others’ voices to fill that void.

But slow as it may seem, this path to discovery is worth all the effort required. When the truth begins to dawn on us, we hear the first faint sounds of our voice rising from the depths of our soul. We face a frightening choice, then. Will we allow our voices to be heard, no matter how what we have to say might upset the status quo?  

Throughout this process, our faith grows, for our voice is a part of being made in our Creator’s image. The many ups and downs of Addie’s story and the encouragement she receives from her best friend in London, Jane, George, and even her mother-in-law have encouraged my readers. One of them has earmarked the novel, and says it’s helping her through a thorny relationship.  

 That's wonderful! Do you have any advice or tips for aspiring authors?

Pay attention to the voice within you. Many times we seek guidance from outside, but I’ve learned that often, our true polar star has been with us all along, and awaits discovery.

Thanks, Gail! It's been great.

Thanks so much, Cynthia, for having me visit. 

http://www.gailkittleson.com/
www.facebook.com/GailKittlesonAuthor

http://amazon.com/author/gailkittleson

HOPE AT CHRISTMAS | CELEBRATING CHRIST

"For to you is born

this day

in the city of David

a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord."

(Luke 2:11)

One of the best parts of Christmas is the spirit of hope and expectancy it holds. Children eagerly await the gifts and filled stockings of Christmas morn. Excitement fills their bright-eyed faces as they rise early to see if the coveted gifts they've hoped for are there beneath the tree.

But for those of us who are Christians, the true hope of Christmas came in the form of a tiny baby born in a stable. Jesus' humble birth changed everything. His coming gave us the hope of Heaven, a priceless gift that only He had the power to give.

This Christmas, I pray you'll join me in celebrating not only Christ's birth, but in giving thanks to God for His perfect plan of redemption and grace. Without Jesus, there can be no Christmas. Without His sacrifice for our sins, there can be no hope of Heaven.

Now, we wait in hope of Christ's second coming which will usher us home. Like children at Christmastime, may we live each day in expectancy, watching for His appearance, with hearts that are ready to meet the Savior.

May you have joy and hope this Christmas season as you celebrate with family and friends.

Read more of Cynthia’s writing at:

http://puttingonthenew.com/author/cynthiaroemer/

View Cynthia's full website at: http://cynthiaroemer.weebly.com/

Or follow her on: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCynthiaRoemer/

                         https://twitter.com/cynthiaroemer

THANKFUL HEARTS | EXPRESSING OUR GRATITUDE

"I will praise God’s

name in song and glorify him

with thanksgiving."

(Psalm 69:30)

Each Thanksgiving my family has the tradition of sharing thoughts on what we're thankful for. Yet I have to wonder, are there more practical/beneficial ways to express our gratitude to God?

Matthew 25:40 says, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

So then, when we bless others, we bless God.

I started brainstorming ideas of how we can show God our gratitude instead of just telling Him. {Show verses tell. Sounds like something a good writer is trained to do.}  =)

Soon I'd compiled a list of ways we can express our gratitude to God by touching the lives of others. Here's my top 20 picks!

 1) Spend some quality one-on-one time with your spouse.
 2) Hug your children.
 3) Send a Thinking of You card to someone on your heart.
 4) Share a meal with someone who can't or isn't able to return the favor.
 5) Pray with someone who's hurting.
 6) Offer to take a shut-in on an outing.
 7) Give to a worthy charity.
 8) Be someone's hands or feet.
 9) Send a care package to a missionary or military person.
10) Invite someone who has no place to go to your Thanksgiving gathering.
11) Volunteer.
12) Smile at a stranger.
13) Lend a helping hand to someone who's struggling.
14) Visit someone in a nursing home or assisted living.
15) Be a listening ear to someone.
16) Reach out to someone who's lost a loved one.
17) Share the gift of laughter.
18) Help someone in need.
19) Show forgiveness toward someone who has hurt you.
20) Tell someone thank you!

Do you have an idea to add to my list? I'd love to hear it!

Read more of Cynthia’s writing at:

http://puttingonthenew.com/author/cynthiaroemer/
View Cynthia's full website at: http://cynthiaroemer.weebly.com/
Or follow her on: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCynthiaRoemer/

                         https://twitter.com/cynthiaroemer

HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR WRITING IDENTITY? by Guest Blogger Jan Cline

Today Jan Cline shares insights from her writing journey. I hope you are as blessed.

Like many writers, I struggle to find my place in this crazy writing and publishing world. Starting out, I had no idea how big a world it was, or that I had jumped into a vast sea of aspiring writers just like me.

Then I caught sight of the big fish – the multi-published, best-selling, popular published authors. I even got to know many of them when I founded and directed a writer’s conference for several years - some of the most talented, enjoyable people I’ve ever met. I found myself on the edge of their circle and thought I was where I belonged. I knew it would only be a matter of time before I could really be a part of that identity as a traditionally published author.

Didn’t happen.

My heart’s desire is to be a novelist. I started late in life, so I worked hard, studied the craft, networked, did social media, and attended conferences. I did everything I knew to do, everything I was advised to do.

But I lost my writing identity. I lost touch with most of the inner circle I hoped to join. So I decided to self-publish. It was a long difficult process and did not produce the Indie-published author identity I thought it might.

I was back to square one. Where is my writing identity?

Ted Dekker in his book The Forgotten Way explains that we will never find our true peace and happiness until we know who we are and who our Father is. When we know all of that with our whole heart and mind, we will be secure in an identity that no one can take away, not even our self.

I must write in the light of my true identity, not for any other reason but to please the One who placed in me the desire to write. He has already decided if I will ever be traditionally published, or who my friends in the business will be or not be. I just need to do what is before me by His design, leaving the rest to Him. I have to align myself with His agenda.

Have you forgotten your writing identity? Your true identity? What has been the one thing that you strive to accomplish in your self-made identity?

May you find the forgotten way.

Blessings, Jan

Jan Cline is an author and speaker from the Pacific Northwest. She also teaches at writers groups and conferences. She is the mother of 3 and the grandmother of 7. Her debut historical novel released in March 2016, Emancipated Heart.

www.jancline.net

janclineauthor@gmail.com

INTERVIEW WITH MISTY M. BELLER - INSPIRATIONAL HISTORICAL ROMANCE AUTHOR

Today I'm thrilled to welcome inspirational, historical romance author, Misty M. Beller to share about her writing journey.


How long have you been writing, Misty?

All my life, I've been a true book lover. Give me a good novel, and you probably won't see me again until it's finished. I've also always enjoyed writing, and tend to express myself best through my written correspondence. In high school, I had a poem published in a commercial poetry compilation book. But I never seriously thought about writing a novel, until about four years ago.

What/who inspired you to write?

I was putting together my bucket list, and realized that I really did want to write a novel. So, "Write a novel that's published" made it near the top! I decided, it's now or never, and made the commitment to do it. So, I had a general idea that I wanted it to be a Christian western romance. But where to start? I finally decided I needed to find a good book to help me plan. I stumbled upon (a.k.a. God led me to) the best possible book to help me get started with a great plan: Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell. For all you writers out there, I can't recommend it highly enough!

From there, I've soaked in every bit of writing instruction I can from some amazing groups and individuals. And I've spent countless hours sitting with my laptop pouring out words onto the screen. The Lady and the Mountain Man is my first release, but the second novel I wrote. My first novel is under contract with Prism Book Group to release in 2015. Writing is in my blood. It's my passion. A true gift from my Heavenly Father, and I pray daily that he uses the words for His purpose.
You write Historical Romance.

What is your favorite time period to write about? What interests you about this time period?

I tend to be a bit of a sentimentalist, so Historical Romance is perfect for me! My favorite period is between 1860 - 1880, when the cowboy days were really ramping up. I love the simpler life, where there's no rat race. Just hard work, plenty of alone time (can you tell I'm an introvert?), and a strong family unit. My stories usually center around horses and ranching, which comes from my love for the animals. I was completely horse crazy growing up, and actually trained and showed horses professionally for a couple years after high school.

Your debut novel, The Lady and the Mountain Man came out in September, 2014. How’s that going? Can you share with us your experience thus far? Who is your favorite character? Why?

It's been such a blessing to see how God is using The Lady and the Mountain Man. Every book is a journey, and God used a series of closed doors to make it clear which publishing direction he wanted me to go with this book. I'm so thankful for the way he's blessing it!

I have to say my favorite character is Gideon, the handsome, quiet cowboy hero. He reminds me so much of my older brother, David! My brother was my best friend through my growing up years. When I started brainstorming Gideon's character, I kept coming back to David's personality. Maybe because I know him so well, I felt like I understood what made him tick. So, David, this one's for you…

You have a book coming out in December. Can you tell us a little about what we have to look forward to?

My next release, A Pony Express Romance, releases December 27th. Here's the blurb:

After growing up as an orphan, Josiah English wants nothing more than to have his own ranch and raise Arabian horses. Riding for the Pony Express seems like the ticket to his dream. And when he meets the stationmaster’s beautiful sister, it seems he may be within reach of the happy life he craves.
Mara Reid is thrilled to finally meet the man of her dreams, and the fact that they both want to raise horses in the Sweetwater River valley seems like confirmation straight from God. But when the Express shuts down and Mara's family home is in peril, the danger looming over Mara's life may not be half as destructive as that threatening her heart.

That sounds great. We'll definitely look forward to it! Thanks for joining us, Misty!

Connect with Misty at: www.mistymbeller.com or on Facebook & Twitter.

WAITING ON GOD'S TIMING AS WRITERS By Guest Blogger Sharon Rene

Sharon Rene joins us today with an important message for writers--the value of waiting on God's timing.

As a writer, I spend a lot of time in the “wait land.” Waiting for magazines to post their latest theme list, waiting for an editor or agent to read my submission and respond, waiting for the next great idea.

If you’re a writer you can relate, but I think everyone lives in the wait land. Students wait for grades to be posted, employees wait for raises and promotions, parents wait for the children to grow up, and grandparents wait for the little ones to visit. Waiting isn’t fun, and it’s not easy. Especially when we’re waiting for something life altering, such as a new job or the results of a CT scan.

Why does God make us wait? Romans 8:28 tells us that God works for our good, so He must have an important reason. The wait land is a good teacher. Delays, setbacks and disappointments build our hope, patience and faith. They draw us closer to God, and we depend on Him more and more.

What should we do while we’re waiting?

Be happy and celebrate with others. When a friend wins a writing contest, a critique partner gets published or finds an agent, cheer them on. Share in their victories with genuine joy. God says that love is not jealous.

God is not limited in the number of blessings He can bestow. Just because your friend is blessed by winning a contest doesn’t mean that’s one less blessing you’ll receive. We should never underestimate God.

We also need to explore other areas of writing. For example, if you only write fiction try a little non-fiction. Chicken Soup for the Soul’s website lists the types of articles they’re looking for, and this is a good way for writers to develop their skills and share inspiring stories with others.

If you typically write novels start writing short stories too. Short stories are fun and challenging, but can be written while you keep working on your full-length novel. I recently wrote a few flash fiction pieces, and one will be published in Splickity Love’s November issue.

Try blogging, twitter and Facebook pages. Attend conferences and workshops. Take advantage of the classes taught monthly on the ACFW loop, and never stop learning and growing as a writer and a Christian.

As rewarding as writing may be, nothing is as wonderful as a relationship with Jesus Christ. We need to rest in Jesus’s arms. It’s hard for me to rest and let God lead and direct, but I’ve learned through the years that things work much better when I let go.

I have to trust God to open the right doors and close the wrong doors. I have to believe that He has a perfect plan and a perfect will. Life in the wait land teaches us to count on God’s strength, not ours. His creative spirit, His desires, His purposes and His will for our lives are revealed in the wait land.

Life in the wait land is not so bad after all.

Sharon Rene loves to write speculative young adult fiction, children’s short stories, flash fiction, and devotions. Her short story StageFRIGHT was published in the September 2015 edition of the Kid’s Ark Magazine. The Sherriff’s Surprise will be published in the November 2016 issue of Splickety Love.  She is a member of ACFW and works as a legal assistant at a large corporation. Her Facebook page is entitled Creative Grace with Sharon Rene.

www.facebook.com/creativegraceSRD

FINDING TIME TO WRITE | EVERY WRITER'S STRUGGLE

"There is a time
for everything,
and a season for
every activity
under the heavens."

(Ecclesiastes 3)

No doubt about it. Our lives are BUSY! If we aren't careful, we can run ourselves ragged just trying to keep up. If you're like me, you can find yourself pulled in every direction, trying to balance family activities, work responsibilities, church and community functions, and household duties.

And I have to wonder, WHEN CAN I WRITE?! To be serious about writing, one has to be intentional these days. So, if you're struggling to find time to let your creativity flow, here's some suggestions to better manage your time.

START YOUR DAY WITH PRAYER - Begin each day by asking for the Lord's blessing. Taking a few precious moments to pray can make all the difference. When you submit your day and your writing to God, you're placing it in His hands, and He's sure to honor your request.

SET GOALS - As a writer, it's important to set goals. Small goals as well as larger ones. On the larger scale, you may have a goal to complete a novel in a year, six months, or even three months, depending on your capabilities or time allowance. But smaller goals are also important. Try setting a word count goal for a week, or a day. Make it one that will require you to work to reach it, but one that is within your grasp to complete. Each time you achieve a goal, give yourself a pat on the back, and set a new and higher one.

BE FLEXIBLE - While goals are important, writers need to be able to bend schedules as situations require it. While you may feel it necessary to protect your writing time from minor interruptions, some simply can't be avoided. In offering up prayers for my day, I often pray the Lord will allow me to accomplish all that He has in mind for me to accomplish. If I'm honest, that may sometimes differ from what I wish to accomplish. So when interruptions arise, take a deep breath, reassess, and adjust your plans accordingly. Perhaps the Lord has someone in mind for you to encourage through that change in plans.

DEVELOP A ROUTINE - Like it or not, we're creatures of habit. Most of us do well to have a set schedule to work with. Setting up specific hours to write keeps us motivated and creates a standard of expectation to go by. When we're organized, we make better use of our time.

LEARN YOUR CREATIVE TIME OF DAY - When do your creative juices flow most freely? I find my biggest word counts come in the early afternoon. How about you? Are you a night owl? Do you do your best work in the wee hours of the night? Or are you an early riser who finds inspiration in the promise of a new day? Be attune to the time of day that best suits your creative flare and set that as your focal point.

What ignites your creative flow? I'd love to hear from you.


Read more of Cynthia’s writing at: http://puttingonthenew.com/author/cynthiaroemer/

View Cynthia's full website at: http://cynthiaroemer.weebly.com/

Or follow her on: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCynthiaRoemer/

                         https://twitter.com/cynthiaroemer

FINDING THE REAL YOU by Guest Blogger, CHRISTINE LINDSAY

Today, Christine Lindsay shares an unforgettable message of hope and restoration within herself. Thanks for joining us.

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…” Isaiah 49:15, 16a

How many of us keep secrets from our nearest and dearest—secrets that could reveal the very core of our soul, the real us? How many of us go through life not knowing who we really are?

For 20 years my precious children had no idea they had a half-sister. In 1979, a year before I met my husband, I gave birth to a baby girl whom I named Sarah. Wanting to do the best for my child I relinquished her to adoption. For the next 20 years as God blessed me with a wonderful husband and our 3 kids, I prayed for the reunion with Sarah when she became an adult. But the reunion was not the joyful reunion that I had always envisioned. Our adoption reunion marked the beginning of my long emotional breakdown.

Here is an excerpt from Finding Sarah Finding Me that portrays the beginning of my search for myself.

~Just as I’ve done for the past eighteen years, I lift down the box from the back of my closet, feeling all the stealth of a Cold War spy. The box might as well be marked TOP SECRET. Few people know of the contents: my journals from my pregnancy with Sarah, the two hospital ID bracelets, mine and the tiny one that clasped around her baby ankle, and fragments of dried pink flower petals almost gray with the passage of time. Clues to that secret me, mother of a secret child.

~The reunion with my birth-daughter underscored that I had no idea who I really was. Was I wife to David, Mom to Lana, Kyle and Robert, but not to my firstborn whom I could never stop thinking of as my child? My heart cried out in this next excerpt from my book:

~Dear God, who am I? . . . Hagar dashing out to the desert? Naomi who whines in her alter ego of bitter Mara? Hannah who also gave up her baby and has been blessed with more children? Digging for myself in God’s Word isn’t a bad place to start as I unearth parallels to my own life in those ancient and messy biblical lives.

~*~

Then later in my emotional journey I learned: (Also from Finding Sarah Finding Me):

My love for my kids beats so strong at times I swear it will burst my heart. And I’ve been unable to cut my maternal ties for Sarah, though I tried for a short time. If I can’t forget Sarah, but actually pine for her still, how much less can God forget me? My besotted love for my kids is often marred by my own neediness and grief, but it remains by human standards a powerful, primal devotion that will never cease. Yet this very pulsing of my maternal heart is a smaller picture of God’s great love . . . . We find ourselves in the face of Christ.

Look for the true image of you in the palm of His hand. He keeps it safe there for you to discover.

Finding Sarah Finding Me:

Sometimes it is only through giving up our hearts that we learn to trust the Lord.


Adoption. It’s something that touches one in three people today, a word that will conjure different emotions in those people touched by it. A word that might represent the greatest hope…the greatest question…the greatest sacrifice. But most of all, it’s a word that represents God’s immense love for his people.

Join birth mother Christine Lindsay as she shares the heartaches, hopes, and epiphanies of her journey to reunion with the daughter she gave up...and to understanding her true identity in Christ along the way.

Through her story and glimpses into the lives of other families in the adoption triad, readers will see the beauty of our broken families, broken hearts, and broken dreams when we entrust them to our loving God.

Click HERE to read Chapter One of Finding Sarah Finding Me

Irish-born Christine Lindsay is author of multi-award-winning Christian fiction. Christine’s ancestry inspires her writing, but it was her experience in relinquishing her baby girl to adoption that inspires all Christine writes and speaks on.

http://christinelindsay.org/

Author’s Website for New Non-Fiction Release Finding Sarah Finding Me

5 WAYS TO DRIVE OUT DISCOURAGEMENT | A POSITIVE APPROACH

"Therefore encourage

one another and

build each other up."

(I Thessalonians 5:11)

You don't have to look farther than the 5 o' clock news to become depressed. Senseless shootings, political unrest, threats of war, natural disasters. The list goes on and on.

Discouragement can hang over us like an ominous cloud. It touches each of our lives through financial strain, unexpected illness, job stress, or relational conflict.

Writers face times of discouragement when our careers don't take off like we hope, or we face writer's block or other obligations pull us away from our time to write. 

So what can we do to counteract this onslaught of discouragements? Here are 5 ways I've found that help pull me out of the doldrums.

Seek Out Positive People - When we're discouraged, it's so tempting to just hibernate in our own little corner of the world and not want to interact. But doing so, breeds discontent. Instead, we need to saturate ourselves with positive people who'll do their utmost to encourage us. If you're looking to expel your negative outlook, find someone with an uplifting attitude to help send your negativity reeling!

Treat Yourself - Sometimes we just need a breather, something that refreshes us and can get us back on track. When you're at your wit's end, take time out to do an activity you enjoy. It can be something as simple as going out for ice cream with your family or friends, taking a trip back in time thumbing through old photo albums, or sprawling in a lawn chair in your back yard with a good book. A bit of relaxation can go a long way!

Give of Yourself to Others - Nothing takes our minds off our own troubles than doing something nice for someone else. Do you have an elderly neighbor who'd be blessed by a visit? Is there someone who could benefit from a RAK (Random Act of Kindness)? There are myriad of ways you can give of yourself to others. (see my blog: Making the World a Better Place One Kindness at a Time). Reach out and touch someone's life, and in the process, you'll find your own cares lifting.

Take a Prayer Walk - What's a prayer walk? It's a walk where you commune not only with nature, but with God. While exercising your body, you exercise your spirit as well. Find a place that inspires you and drink in its beauty. (Sorry, city-dwellers. You'll have to search out a park or lawn.) Begin by thanking God for the richness of His creation. Soon you'll find yourself pouring out your heart to Him. And as the prayers go up, the burdens rise with them.

Just Keep Going! - Some days we just want to call it quits. Nothing goes right, and we feel like a hamster spinning his wheel. That's when we most need to rely on the Lord's strength to carry us through. Faith is believing what we can't see. We don't know what the next day will bring, but we do have the promise, that if we're Christians, the Lord's Spirit is within us and will guide us where we need to be. When we can't see what's ahead, we can trust God to gently nudge us in the right direction.

Do you have an idea you'd like to share that helps pull you from the pit of discouragement? I'd love to hear it.

Read more of Cynthia’s writing at: http://puttingonthenew.com/author/cynthiaroemer/

View Cynthia's full website at: http://cynthiaroemer.weebly.com/

Or follow her on: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCynthiaRoemer/ or

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cynthiaroemer