Cheryl Grey Bostrom's Blog, page 11

Eagle Day

They called as I walked the dogs. Chittered as I filled the wheelbarrow with firewood. Soared overhead in mating aerials.

Finally, I relented. Erased calendar scribblings. Rescheduled everything.

A sapphire February day beckoned—and eagles were posing.

When God’s your stylist.

“But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool . . . And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.”

—Matthew 5:34, 36

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Remodeled. (Bald eagles’ nest. See this year’s addition?)

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.”

—Mark 2:22

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When going bald is the very best thing.

(Adolescent baldie).

“Praise the Lord, my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

—Psalm 103:1-5

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Some were a little shy.

And behind them all, a bigger picture.

.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.”

—Psalm 121

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Essays for Eyes

Set a timer? Check your secondhand?

For the next minute or so, refuse distractions and do this:

Ask for insight, or a holy word, just for you,

Rest your eyes on a pic or two, your mind on a caption and verse.

Wait.

Listen.

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Pot O’ Gold.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish…”

—2 Peter 3:9

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When kids get the leftovers.

(Juvenile bald eagles.)

“Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.”

—Genesis 15:11

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Bubble Bath.

“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth . . . “

—2 Peter 3:13

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P.S. If you’re arriving here through WordPress Reader or social media and you’re curious about how the writing of a novel unfolds, I invite you to join me as I write my next one.

I’m sending play-by-play emails every Saturday to those of you who’d like to follow progress on my new book. They aren’t lengthy. Some weeks, maybe only a line or two, but I’m sending things like word count updates, writerly musings, angst, and joys. And you’ll be among the first readers to receive my opening chapter.

These aren’t posted online anywhere.

They’re letters.

To you.

May I send them to you?

RSVP me ( Cheryl@CherylBostrom.com ) with your email address, then check your inbox on Saturdays.

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Thanks for stopping by, friends. So glad you’re here.

Watching Nature, Seeing Life: Through His Creation, God Speaks.

RSVP?

Yep. My next novel’s in the works. After months of research and character sketches, plotting, and praying, the manuscript’s underway, with 7,000 words down, 78,000 to go. Of course I’ll relay details here in my blog—but only later—as the story approaches publication.

However . . .

If you’d like to follow progress of my book-in-process and be among the first readers of the opening chapter, you’re invited! I’m sending play-by-play emails every Saturday to those who ask. I’ll give you word count updates, writerly musings, angst, joys. They won’t be lengthy. Some weeks maybe only a line or two.

Nor will they be posted online anywhere.

They’re letters.

To you.

May I send them to you?

RSVP me ( Cheryl@CherylBostrom.com ) with your email address, then check your inbox on Saturdays.

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Draped.

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow . . .”

—Deuteronomy 29:29

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Birth of Violets.

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Drenched.

“He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven…”

—Acts 14:17

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Happy birthday, Mamba and Rosebud.

Ten years ago, on February 11, 2012, Mama Lu delivered you and your littermates—all fourteen of you. Twenty-one hours of labor for seven boys, seven girls. She earned a motherhood medal, and we’ve been chasing you ever since.

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Thanks for stopping by, friends. So glad you’re here.

Watching Nature, Seeing Life: Through His Creation, God Speaks.

My True Love Gave to Me . . .

They arrived as gifts to me, these scenes, from my Beloved.

And to you, from yours.

In the scent of daylight.

“Your love is like a morning cloud . . .”

—Hosea 6:4

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In the tint of birdcall.

“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”

—Song of Solomon 6:3

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In the taste of wind.

“But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.”

—Job 32:8

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In the song of dusk.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

—James 1:17

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May you know His kiss everywhere, friends. Thanks for stopping by.

Watching Nature, Seeing Life: Through His Creation, God Speaks

When I Write

Community: you need it. As do I. And for those of us whose work is often solitary, connecting with others becomes all the more crucial to well-being of body, mind, and soul.

I know that, though I don’t join gatherings much. I live in the country, far from family. Take pictures in unpeopled places. Write a lot—alone.

So when author, blogger, and essayist Charity Singleton Craig asked if I’d join a handful of fellow Redbud Writers Guild authors to share thoughts about our writing lives, my yes was immediate.

I’ve grown to love this community of women. Their words have blessed me, and I trust they’ll do the same for you. Whether you jot lines on greeting cards, compose historical epics, or write anything in between, I invite you to feast on the insights they share below.

When I WriteDownload

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And now, dessert:

Guardian?

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

—Psalm 91:11

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Beyond the fray. (See ’em?).

“Set your minds on things above…”

—Colossians 3:2

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This way?

.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.”

—Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

.

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.”

—Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG

.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.”

—Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

.

Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

—Proverbs 3:5-6 AMP

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Thanks for visiting, friends. Good to be with you.

Watching Nature, Seeing Life: Through His Creation, God Speaks.

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BOOK NEWS: SUGAR BIRDS TURNS 6 MONTHS OLD THIS WEEK!

To celebrate, the ebook will be on SALE internationally and throughout the USA for .99—ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3 !

You can buy it HERE!

(And look what showed up in AudioFile Magazine this week!)

Sugar Birds audiobook: on sale HERE

Dance a Little.

The children start it.

A squirm in one’s chair

at dinner,

a shout as plates clear,

a tug by small hands

on my elbow, his shirt.

Then a parent picks tunes,

volume up,

and we oldsters join them all

to whirl, laugh, sing.

To dance.

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Other times, outdoors, it’s just God and me, dancing.

When heaven takes the lead.

“Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!”

—Psalm 149:3

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When you can’t help but jig.

“And David danced before the LORD with all his might.”

—2 Samuel 6:14

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Do-si-do.

“‘Comfort, comfort my people,’ says your God. ‘Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone

and her sins are pardoned.'”

—Isaiah 40:1-2

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Accompaniment.

(Trumpeter swans, adagio.)

“Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: ‘Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed . . . ‘”

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Thanks for dancing with me today, friends. Even though. Regardless.

Watching Nature, Seeing Life: Through His Creation, God Speaks.

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Sugar Birds, in paper, ebook, and audiobook: available HERE

Time Out for Pics

A little interlude for you this week, friends.

A moment or two to set worries on the shelf

and take your eyes and heart outdoors . . . and into the Word.

Here you go:

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Coming and going.

“You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.”

—Psalm 139:5 NLT

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Roar.

“He lifts his voice, the earth melts.”

—Psalm 45:6

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How to change course.

“Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.”

—Isaiah 30:21

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Setting pace.

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

—Hebrews 12:1

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When you’re in deep.

“When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place.”

—Psalm 118:5

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Because seasons take time.

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.”

—Psalm 130:5

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Temporary housing.

“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

—John 14:2

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Wood on the fire.

” I remind you to fan into flame the gracious gift of God, (that inner fire . . .)

—2 Timothy 1:6 AM

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Thanks for visiting my world, friends. So glad you stopped by.

Watching Nature, Seeing Life: Through His Creation, God Speaks

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P.S. If you’re looking for a read that will return you to summer, you might like Sugar Birds, available in paper, ebook, and audiobook. You can order it HERE.

Twelve Things a Day

Our latest storm reminded me of a woman in labor,

her cloud uterus contracting in a windy blizzard of delivery.

The baby?

Snow. Inches and inches and inches of it, covering our landscape with a blissful reduction of competing details.

A pure newness. A beautiful, calming simplicity.

Unlike my cupboards and drawers.

The contrast between them and the pristine view

outside my windows

nearly sent me into a flurry of my own.

But since I don’t have time for Kon-Mari contractions,

I decided to pitch twelve things a day.

Pass items on. Or throw them away.

It’s working.

The storm’s passed in a couple of drawers already.

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Now, a few snow pics for you, posted earlier this week:

How not to start a year. .

“Walk in wisdom . . .making the best use of the time.”

—Colossians 4:5

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How to wear a snowfall.

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“Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee. . . ”

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Happy New Year, friends! So glad you’re here.

Watching Nature, Seeing Life: Through His Creation, God Speaks.

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Get Sugar Birds’ audiobook HERE !

Creeds

Each of us operates according to a creed:

a set of beliefs or aims.

No exceptions.

Sometimes we acknowledge our creeds.

Sometimes we don’t.

Nonetheless, our creeds

fuel our decisions,

direct our actions,

propel our hopes or our despairs, and

shape how we interpret the world.

Creeds stall us, freeze us,

trap or liberate us.

For good or ill, they set us in motion,

often from behind the scenes

or from somewhere deep.

They either lie to us or tell us the truth.

Whoa.

Best if we ferret them out, don’t you think?

Best if we know what drives us?

I was nineteen, wild with heartbreak and hungers,

when God swapped my old way for grace and

brought me to his family.

Me, his newborn, swaddled in love

and a new creed:

NICENE CREED

We believe in one God,
      the Father almighty,
      maker of heaven and earth,
      of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
      the only Son of God,
      begotten from the Father before all ages,
           God from God,
           Light from Light,
           true God from true God,
      begotten, not made;
      of the same essence as the Father.
      Through him all things were made.
      For us and for our salvation
           he came down from heaven;
           he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
           and was made human.
           He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
           he suffered and was buried.
           The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.
           He ascended to heaven
           and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
           He will come again with glory
           to judge the living and the dead.
           His kingdom will never end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
      the Lord, the giver of life.
      He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
      and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
      He spoke through the prophets.
      We believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic church.
      We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
      We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
      and to life in the world to come. Amen.

*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places

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God-washed.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

—Isaiah 1:18

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Burdened.

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you…”

—Psalm 55:22

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“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

—Philippians 4:8

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Merry Christmas, friends. I’ll be back with you on January 8.

Watching Nature, Seeing Life: Through His Creation, God Speaks

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P.S. In a surprising, wonderful announcement this week, I learned that Sugar Birds was selected for one of THESE:

Mindshare: Pics and a Podcast

Ever heard the term “MINDSHARE”?

I only have so much of it. So do you. Limited slices of mind pie to spend during our precious, finite waking hours.

Because of mindshare, we only open certain emails. We delete a lot. We multitask. We scramble through our days. In our crowded hours, we sometimes miss doing things that really matter.

Some say that each ad or idea or post or product has a scant eight seconds to claim one’s attention online. Eight seconds to capture a sliver of that precious mindshare pie.

Clamor, clamor.

Wearying, isn’t it?

Today I bring you a few photos that I hope will bolster, not deplete, your beautiful minds and hearts. I hope you soak them in and let them—and their captions—replenish you.

And in this interview on Dropping In with Diane Dewey, I hope you glean more nourishment.

Blessings, friends. I’m so glad you’re here.

Baguette, baking. .

“. . . But my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.”

—John 6:32

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Anticipation.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

—Psalm 27:14

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Lee side.
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

—Psalm 91:1

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Watching Nature, Seeing Life: Through His Creation, God Speaks.