A Really Good Day

We call this day "Good Friday." It always seems funny to me to celebrate the day Jesus died a horrible death on a cross and call it "Good."

But it is.

That is the day our sins were washed away for good. Past tense. Were washed away. For Good.

I guess today really is a good day, even for Jesus, because it's the day we became good enough to spend eternity with Him. I think He likes that too. In fact, He gave His life for the idea.

So have a very GOOD Friday!

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And to prepare you for the celebration of the Resurrection, I want to share a music video with you, by a wonderful group I only just found out about today. I hope you love them as much as I do. If you can't see the imbed, try this link. Here's The Western Den:

ADD Spells Red

As many of you know, I’ve published a novella based on a modern-day retelling of Beauty and the Beast. This is part of a larger project with my critique partners, June Foster, Gail Pallotta, Vanessa Riley and Mildred Colvin. Today, June Foster is going to share a little of what she learned about ADD while researching her character, Red, for her novella, Red and the Wolf. Oh, how I relate!

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ADD Spells Red

Do you find yourself constantly late, overwhelmed by everyday jobs, forgetful, or disorganized? Are you ready to tear your hair out? Don't go bald. You might be struggling with Attention Deficit Disorder which affects adults as well as children. As an adult, the more responsibilities you have in your life, the greater the struggle.

In my fairytale novella Red and the Wolf, which is based on Little Red Riding Hood, Lilly Hood is a journalist who struggles with ADD. In doing research for her character, I discovered some interesting facts including the most common symptoms.

ADD adults can "zone out" even in the middle of a conversation. They're not trying to be rude but just can't help it sometimes. They might be reading the most fascinating book yet find it hard to focus. Frustrating. Overlooking details and finishing a task, another ADD symptom, can be a detriment to one's career. Lilly Hood, reporter for the Daily Scoop in Fairwilde, Alabama, would agree.

If you know someone who has begun multiple projects that remain unfinished, it's possible your friend could be plagued with ADD symptoms, since procrastination is another issue. Poor self-control and reckless or spontaneous behavior without regard for the consequences is an additional indication. In Red and the Wolf, heroine Lilly Hood displays one more common symptom—she can't keep her mouth shut. She constantly delivers a stream of words and conversation, especially when boyfriend Hunter Woods is trying to kiss her. What's she afraid of?

In doing research, I discovered an interesting concept. ADD adults can channel their symptoms into positive outcomes. There's hope. Since ADD people are high-energy and good brainstormers, they are capable of working long hours on a task. They always have a surplus of ideas, creativity, excitement, and interest to add to the mix. Too, they are flexible, results-oriented, and independent. So there is a bright side to Attention Deficit Disorder. Just ask Lilly Hood when she's not afraid to climb a tree and text her boyfriend for help after she's pursued by a vicious bear in the forest.

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June Foster is a retired teacher with a BA in Education and a MA in counseling. June has written four novels for Desert Breeze Publishing. The Bellewood Series, Give Us This Day, As We Forgive, and Deliver Us, and Hometown Fourth of July. Ryan's Father is available from WhiteFire Publishing. Red and the Wolf, a modern day retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, is available from Amazon.com. June loves to write stories about characters who overcome the circumstances in their lives by the power of God and His Word. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who find freedom to live godly lives.

Red and the Wolf

Newspaper reporter Lilly Red Hood forgot her dinner date with handsome Hunter Woods, thanks to ADD she's had since childhood. In Hunter's absence fellow reporter Wolf Skinner moves in with less than honorable intentions. When Lilly gets lost in the Alabama forest, which of these gentlemen will be her hero?

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Other posts you might like:

When You Don’t Fit the Mold—By Rachel Phifer

D is For Dyslexia—By Molly Noble Bull

I’m Dyslexic—By Jane Perrine

Blog Tour

You may have noticed I haven't had a new blog post up in a bit. That is not to say I am not blogging. Believe me, I am blogging--just not here. I have been very busy on what we writers call a "blog tour" in order to promote my novella, At the Edge of a Dark Forest. I didn't mean to neglect you ;o).

If you'd like to see what I've been blogging about, here are the links of the tour so far:

March 3^rd—“Ink from an Earthen Vessel”—Ada Brownell

            An interview about “Minions for the Mighty”

March 14^th—James Callan

            Hippotherapy (therapy with horses) for disabled veterans

March 17^th—Seriously Write—Annette Irby

            An Empty Vessel and a Tree—How God shows up in my manuscript

March 20^th—Sweet South Blog—Natalie Monk
 

            Interview of Carly from At the Edge of a Dark Forest


 March 26^th—Writing Prompts Blog—Jennifer Hallmark

            Three Questions Wednesday

March 26^th—Roxanne Rustand, All Creatures Great and Small

            Hippotherapy (therapy with horses) for disabled veterans

March 31^st—Peering Through Life’s Window—Gail Palotta

            Author Interview talking about inspiration for the novella, At the Edge of a Dark Forest

April 3^rd—Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud

            DoesYour Man Slay Dragons for You?

April 6^th—Overcoming with God—Carrie Pagels

            Author Interview talking about how God prepared me to be the mother of a son with autism.

If you'd like to see the rest as it comes along, check out the Events/Blog Tour tab above. I will be sharing more here very soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

 

A Prosthesis That Fits Closer to the Bone

 

Check out the BioDesign High Fidelity socket:

 

 

Why am I doing a blog post on a prosthetic socket design?

Three reasons.

1) It's the prototype design I used in my novella, At the Edge of a Dark Forest.
2) It's really cool, and ...
3) It's a great metaphor for how we should be as members of the Body of Christ.

Ha! I knew I could make it relevant!

When I started researching prosthetic products for my main character, Carly Rose, to be introducing to her counterpart, Cole Harrison, I knew nothing of what the typical amputee experiences while using prosthetics. I wanted to find something innovative, that Carly could be a part of, so I looked for hands with fingers that could move more naturally, and products that claimed to have the potential to help an amputee sense texture and heat. Believe it or not, there is research being done on these, but it is bulky and would not have worked in my story.

What I didn't expect to find was a product that though it appears to be a simple design enhancement, could dramatically impact the maneuverability of its users. That's what the Hi-Fi socket design does, and more.

Think about it. If you are wearing a plastic bucket fit to your thigh, around the flesh, it will move with your soft tissue. And some of us have more soft-tissue than others. This leads to instability, rubbing, burning, sweating, as well as less controlled movement. BioDesign's High Fidelity socket pushes the soft tissue away and attaches closer to the main structure of your body--the bone. No extra movement. Less sweating due to openings, no rubbing and therefore no burning. It seems so simple, and yet so extraordinary.

This is how we want to be in the Body of Christ. We don't just want to be holding onto the soft, fleshy part of His Word. We want to be fastened to the bone. Less movement equals more stability, less friction, less burning, fewer sores.

And more maneuverability!

Many think that in following God's Word it limits us. But like the old bucket-design socket, without God's guidance, yes, we will move a lot, but we will wobble and need to use more energy to do daily tasks. As a member of the Body who is attached closer to the structure, the movement is stable, guided, and therefore more functional--more productive.

Doesn't that sound better to you?

When God Calls You to Release Your Gift

Exodus 2:3 (NIV) “But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.”
 
Authors often talk about how their manuscript is like a baby and when they release it for the world to read—and criticize—it’s like sending their child into the wilderness.

It’s hard!

So, when I clicked on that link that sent my novella, At the Edge of a Dark Forest, out to be published and offered for sale on Amazon, Smashwords and all its distributors, my fingers actually shook.

But I did it!

I kept musing about my “baby” out there with no one to shelter it, and it made me think of Moses’ mother …

And all of you.

Moses’ mother had two choices:

Keep her son, risking he be murdered by the king of Egypt

OR

Let him go … allowing him to do the work for which God made him.
She released him to the current of the Nile. That’s what I needed to do with my manuscript. I needed to let it go and do the work God intended for it.

I have a confession. I LOVE my story. I really do. I write for me—the kinds of things I love to read. But I don’t expect the world to love it the same as I do. However, I know God has planned for it to touch someone somewhere. I hope I get to hear from those people who are touched. It encourages me to continue in God’s work.

The same goes for you, dear reader. God has requested you release your baby—the ministry He’s called you to. If you don’t, it will die. Given to Him, it will live, and grow, and blossom. Don’t hold onto the gift He’s given you. Give it away. Because when you do, He will not only protect it and nurture it, He will give you infinitely more!

Other posts you might like:
 
Dark Forests and Military Service
 
Let Him Steal Your Show
 
How Many Talents Do You Get?

Prayers for Those with Autism

One of my most read posts, and consequently, most commented on, is “Can God Heal Autsim?” It seems many people are dealing with this issue and would like answers as to what God’s role is in the whole affair. I’m not going to tell you the answer because I don’t feel there is only ONE. God deals with each and every one of His Creations differently. He made us unique. He will treat us as such.

Still, I know God CAN heal autism. I also know that He can do miraculous things THROUGH autism, as He has for my family. Either way, it’s best for all of us if we invite God into the process of our lives so He can work as He deems best. To trust in HIM.

In the above mentioned post, I ask my readers to pray for my son (who has autism), and I promise to pray for their afflicted child, as well. And I do. Many have left comments to tell me of their children. Others have emailed me. So today, I’m going to do that again.

Out loud this time!

Please join me in praying for these children, their families and the many others struggling with this disorder. Pray for healing, pray for patience, pray for resources, pray for answers. Pray that we see God in the process and know that He is Good.

Pray! It’s the most powerful thing you can do!

…

Dear Lord,

We thank you that you are an intimate part of each of our lives. Not You and a crowd of believers, but You and ME, You and Bridgette, You and Hannah, You and Des, You and Aida, You and Rebekah.

You and each and every one of us—individually. You treat us as the unique creation we are, not as others want us to be.

We thank you that you watch over our needs and give us what is best. We thank you for the many others who commented on the previous post with thoughts, prayers and resources—Albert Soo, Hannah Lim, Thomas Wagner and those who did not leave their name. We thank you for the many who have prayed. We praise you that you created believers who care!

Please, dear Lord, we ask that You will continue to show Yourself in our lives, that you will bless all our children and cause them to know You as well. We ask that You will give us the resources for the jobs you have mapped out for us.

Give us peace, give us guidance, give us Your Joy!

Lord, please show us how to pray for our family. The Bible tells us Your Holy Spirit translates our groans into prayer. I’m groaning Lord! Know my heart. I know You do. Thank You for that.

And as always, Lord, I pray you will heal my son. I pray You will give him words to speak so he can tell me all that is on his heart. I pray for all the others who are dealing with the troubling effects of this disorder. I pray for those who’ve requested prayer from me and my readers, those who have the disorder: Matthew, James and Rashad, and the many who did not leave a name. I pray these families will see Your work in their lives today and know it is REAL.

I pray this in Your Holy Son’s name, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior!

Amen.

Blogs You Might Love

The internet is full of blogs. Have you noticed that? It used to be that if you had a blog, everyone read your stuff. But today, there are so many to choose from it’s hard to find the right one for you.

Recently, I’ve found a few that I enjoy, and a few I feel provide something a little different, so I added them to my blog list. Today, I want to highlight them.

Though I read a lot of blogs about writing, this is my MINISTRY blog, so I will not be highlighting the writing ones. If you’re looking for writing information, go to my Writers/Readers blog at InfiniteCharacters.com.

So here are some of my favorites:

Cross and Cutlass—This is fiction author MaryLu Tyndall’s blog. MaryLu writes swashbuckling stories, and has recently decided to complete her Christian Pirate (that’s right, I said Christian Pirate) series. Intrigued? You’ll have to check them out to see. This blog is a bit of a mix of things. She sometimes features good fiction/non-fiction books, tells us about her research or highlights something important from the Bible that is relevant to the day. I love her expression of faith, mostly because she seems to have a deep understanding of the necessary balance of Truth and Grace.

A Girl Like Me—This blog was started by the wives of two of the members of the Christian Rock Band, Tenth Avenue North—Heather Owen and Kelly Donehey. What I love about this blog is the HEART for young women who are struggling in life and in faith. It provides love, acceptance, AND a firm foundation for those who have questions or may have strayed and need a way back home.

SammyA.—This blog is a bit lighter than the one above, though it serves much of the same purpose—helping those who may not understand the message of the Bible and need a non-threatening means of understanding it.

Sacred Outfitters—I just found this one recently while searching for information on preparing Christians for college. Jeff Baxter, the host of this blog, has written about that very topic. What I like about this blog is that it gives firm, in-depth information for those who are ready to dive deeper into the foundations of their faith and want to be able to share it with others.

Everyone’s Story—This is my friend, Elaine Stock’s, blog. She highlights a number of Christian authors who share inspiring stories of God working in their lives.

For other great blogs, check out my sidebar under “Check it out.” I hope you find something that will inspire you.

Other posts you might like:

How the Story of Rudolf Is Like the Body of Christ

C.S. Lewis on Fiction

March of the Minions