Thursday, June 26, 2014

HOW TO CONVERT KNOWLEDGE TO ACTION -- by Guest Jessican Everingham



Today I got angry about cheese.

Yes, cheese. Let me explain. 

This week I need to make a decision about my job. The problem is, I need another one. I’ve got a few options and I need to decide which will be best. It’s not an easy decision…and I hate making these decisions. Fear that I’ll make the wrong choice is paralyzing. But that’s okay, because I know I can trust God…right?

The cheese incident would say otherwise.

Maybe I’m not as good at trusting as I thought. It surprises me all the time how I can know things, but not really know them. You know?

There’s plenty of things I know about God in my head, thanks to my Christian upbringing. I know that God is faithful, I know I should forgive, I know it’s wrong to lust.

Does knowing mean I always do the right thing?

Well, if knowing was the same as doing, I’d also eat green vegetables, wash my car (15 months without a wash and counting!) and have regular dental check-ups. So, the short answer is, no.

The thing is, I also knew that head knowledge was different to heart knowledge. But it’s not till I’ve started experiencing it as an adult (I’m 22) that I’m realizing just how far apart they really are.

I’m also comprehending why regular time with God and other Christians is so important. I can know this stuff about God back to front and upside down, but when a crisis hits and I go into a tail spin, I need someone to throw a bucket of cold water on me and remind me of God’s truth.

So the morale of my cheese story? (To be honest, we even had other types of cheese in the fridge. It’s just that the one I bought was all eaten. *Feeling embarrassed. )

Well, number one, don’t let a cheese preference affect your emotions.

Number two, excessive feelings about cheese may indicate a deeper problem.

Number three, recognize that knowing things about God is easy. Living them is hard. Don’t be surprised when life experience starts to bite.

Number four, to help pry the teeth of life experience off your forearm, try jamming a Bible in its mouth. If that doesn’t work, open the up the Bible and read it. Then ring a mate to come help. It really makes a difference.
*
Jessica Everingham is an Australian journalist, boarding school mistress, blogger and aspiring author. When she’s not wrangling teenagers or chilling with her housemates, she’s usually bashing away at the keyboard of her computer. Join her in her journey with God at the blog Jessica Everingham Writing. 

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Thursday, June 19, 2014

I WANT tO GO & I NEED a SONG---by Guest, Caryl McAdoo

God gives me songs; lyrics and melody at the same time. I never know how they’ll sound. Mostly praise and worship, but fun family ones, too. Each grandsugar (have fourteen) has their own song, and three mid-grade River Bottom Ranch Stories co-authored with my husband have several songs I sing when we go to visit elementary schools. An orphan colt, a rooster, the guardian Pyrenees, and a little raccoon who talks to trees, all have songs.
 
Fast forward to ACFW Conference 2013; between registration (alone, staggering) and Indianapolis airfare and motel, attendance seemed impossible. My Howard editors I’d not met emailed a Saturday dinner invitation, and my agent was taking her authors out Friday night. I wanted to go so bad. I talked to my husband about driving (from Texas) and staying at a Motel 6 just to meet everyone.
 
Guess what arrived! An advance on VOW UNBROKEN! After praying, Ron said I should go. Miracle number one! I paid registration and made reservations and signed up to pitch a completed dystopia, STARFISH PRIME, to Kim Childress at Zonderkidz. I wanted a new song, but what for an end-of-the-age story for mid-graders?
 
On the flight, God gave me a chorus, but once we arrived, the excitement began. Frankly, I didn’t think of it again. Kim’s appointment came Saturday afternoon. In a workshop—just THIRTY MINUTES before—the Lord finished the song! Miracle number two! I ran out and sang it into my phone so I wouldn’t forget, then sang it for Kim. God always amazes me.
 
Lyrics: 
“Angels unaware,
you may never know that they are there,
but they come to help you on the path
 that you should go.
And I know.
God sends His angels unaware.
 
Chorus He can count the stars! He hung Jupiter and Mars!
He made every bird and butterfly – as different – as you and I!’
 
2nd verse When you feel afraid,
 remember that God’s love will never fade.
He will never leave you or forsake you.
This is true.
And I do.
Believe in angels unaware.
 
3rd verse You are His desire.
He longs for you to set your heart on fire
so that you can live your life in peace and
 joy and love.
From above.
God sends His angels unaware.    

Christine here: Thank you, Caryl, for being my guest on my blog today. Your wonderful effervescent faith shines through your words.
 
 
ABOUT CARYL McADOO:
   
With nine titles released by four publishers, Caryl McAdoo now enjoys a thirty-year, overnight success with her historical Christian romance VOW UNBROKEN set in 1832 Texas from Simon and Schuster’s Howard Books. The novelist also edits, paints, and writes new songs. In 2008, she and her high school sweetheart-husband Ron moved from the Dallas / Ft. Worth Metroplex to the woods of Red River County. For more than ten years, four grandsons have lived with Grami—as Caryl is also known—and O’Pa. The couple counts four children and fourteen grandchildren life’s biggest blessings believing all good things come from God. She hopes that her books will minister His love, mercy, and grace to all their readers. Caryl and Ron live in Clarksville, the county seat, in the far northeast corner of the Lone Star State.
 
Susannah Baylor reluctantly hires Henry Buckmeyer to help her along the Jefferson Trace, the hard stretch of land between her Texas farm and the cotton market, where she's determined to get a fair price for her crop. It's been a long, rough ten years and the widow's in danger of losing the land her husband and his brother left to her and the children, but she needs help to get both her wagons safely to Jefferson. 
 
She knows Henry's reputation as a lay-about and is prepared for his insolence, but she never expects his good looks or irresistible, gentle manner. Soon they are entwined in a romantic relationship that only gets more complicated because Henry doesn't know God the way she does. 
 
Dangers arise on the trace--but none as difficult as the trial her heart is going through. Will Susannah and Henry's love overcome their differences? And will she get her crop to market and sale it for enough to save her farm? In this heartening and adventurous tale, a young woman's fortitude, faith, and heart are put to the ultimate test. 
 
WHERE YOU CAN BUY VOW UNBROKEN:
 
 
 
WHERE YOU CAN CONNECT WITH CARYL McADOO
 
 
 
Twitter

Sunday, June 15, 2014

CARRYING ON THROUGH UNCERTAINTY by Guest Alexis A. Goring



Hope in My Heart: Carrying on through uncertaintyby Alexis A. Goring 

God has taught me to give thanks in ALL circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18) because no matter how dire a situation may appear, God is working behind the scenes to bring it all together for my good (Romans 8:28). 

My current situation in which I am determined to praise my way through is filled with uncertainty concerning my career path. I’ve experienced ups and downs in my journey to be a creative professional but what keeps me going is knowing God gave me these dreams for a reason and His plans will prevail. Whether those plans turn out exactly as I dreamed or better, I have faith God will make it happen in His perfect timing.

Meanwhile, as I’m “in the waiting” (reference to one of my favorite songs by Christian music artist Vicki Yohe), I am determined to praise God in the hallway as I wait for him to open the next door. 

It’s not easy, trust me I KNOW. But I am encouraged by people who believe in me and my God-given talents. I am motivated when I reflect on my journey thus far and see the awesome ways in which God has led me. So I’m trusting God with the outcome.

Trusting God with the outcome ultimately builds HOPE in my heart because I know God knows what He’s doing not just in penning my life story but in creating yours! So if you’re struggling today or tomorrow with a circumstance that threatens to destroy the hope in your heart, know and rest on these simple truths: God loves you (John 3:16). God believes in you (James 1:2-8). God will bless you (Ephesians 3:20).

Ultimately I believe that God’s plans for me and you are good. How do I know? Because the Bible tells me it’s true! Read for yourself God’s message to you in Jeremiah 29:11 which says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I encourage you to listen to a song on this very topic of carrying on through uncertainty: 

“He is With Us” by Love & The Outcome (Official Music Video), http://youtu.be/qYLoigK4WSI

God bless you!
Love, Alexis




 Hope in My Heart is a collection of short, heartwarming stories with characters in need of hope.
In “Love Unexpected,” a car crash brings commitment-wary Sebastian and career woman Chandra together. Neither is looking for romance, but those around them see the potential, and Sebastian and Chandra discover that sometimes love shows up unexpectedly.
Christmastime is the setting for the middle story, “The Best Gift.” Christina desires to lose ten pounds so she can fit into her dress for her sister’s wedding. Jordan wishes her mom would stop trying to marry her off. And Joshua hopes to be reunited with his ex-girlfriend but eventually learns that the best gift this Christmas will be the restoration of his relationship with God.
In “Peace and Love,” three characters living in a metropolitan area are desperately searching. Elle, a starving artist, aspires to become a paid professional. Eric, a divorce attorney, wants to resolve his issues concerning his parents’ divorce. Kristine anticipates finding her birth mom before she marries Derek. All characters pray their searches will conclude this holiday season and fill their hearts with peace and love.


ABOUT ALEXIS A. GORING:
Alexis A. Goring is a college graduate with a degree in print journalism from Washington Adventist University in
Takoma Park, Maryland. Writing is her passion. She hopes that her stories will touch hearts, bring smiles to faces, and inspire minds to seek God whose love for humanity is unfailing.


Where you can Purchase HOPE IN MY HEART:
BarnesandNoble.com, http://bit.ly/1mGHW95
Books-A-Million.com, http://bit.ly/1kLQviX
Christianbook.com, http://bit.ly/1heBcjV
Crossbooks.com, http://bit.ly/1it47eJ

HOW TO CONNECT WITH ALEXIS A GORING:
Official Author page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexisAGoring
Twitter handle, @pennedbyalex