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