Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 91

11 Tips for a Frugal Christmas

JESUS IS THE REASON

FOR THE SEASON!
We live in an over- and self-indulgent society.



Maybe I'm just now noticing this because of my age. Or maybe I've seen an even sharper contrast between the have's and the have-not's because of the horrible economy. Maybe I've glimpsed my own tendencies to hoard stuff that I don't really need.



Regardless of the reason, I've really been convicted about being a better steward of the resources God has lavished on me.



Here are a few things I've done to save money during the holidays:



1. One of my favorite things to do is to find a medium-sized container (don't go too big or you'll feel compelled to fill it), find small useful gifts that the gift recipient will enjoy (EXAMPLES: small lotions, perfumes and bath products; candles, puzzles, books, decorative towels, stationery, sticky notes, pens, toys, etc.), then fill the container and wrap it.



Containers can be baskets, decorative boxes/tins, or a dish. They become part of the gift, because they have other uses. You can usually find inexpensive holiday dishes, such as plastic serving bowls that work well as your gift "basket."



2. If you need filler, use colored computer paper or wrapping paper and run it through a paper shredder.



3. Tissue paper is a less expensive alternative than wrapping paper. If you need something bigger, find a plastic table cloth at a party supply store ($1.50 at Walmart) to wrap the gift in. (You can cut off the excess and might even have enough left over to wrap another gift.) Another solution is to use plain brown paper sacks and decorate them. Better yet, let the kids help you decorate the sacks!



4. Homemade gifts are always a nice touch. On two different occasions, my hubby's family celebrated Christmas with everything homemade--including the decorations. (Special memories I'll never forget.) If creative crafts are one of your talents, put them to use. Or if you enjoy baking/cooking, whip up a batch of your specialties and put them in holiday bags or containers. No time for baking? By the gift recipient's favorite candy and fill up a Christmas mug.



5. My amazing hubby is a great cook. We've been known to give homemade candy, cookies, jelly, bread, cake, snacks, and even salsa as gifts. If you're giving a gift in a mason jar (e.g. for jelly or salsa), you can use pinking shears to cut a round piece of colorful fabric to fit between the lid and the ring to decorate your gift.



6. Does your family have lots of recipes that are special to you? Collect them a put them in a family cook book. You can print the recipes off your computer and use a piece of card stock for the cover. Get the kids involved by letting them draw artwork. The art can be easily scanned into your computer and printed along with the recipes.



7. Want a new outfit for a holiday party, but don't want to pay department store prices? Shop at thrift stores! (My daughter-in-love turned me on to thrift stores, and I'm not sure I'll ever shop for clothes any other way.) Since becoming a writer and sitting on my backside all day, my body has . . . ahem . . . expanded. =0O  Anyway, since I've "blossomed," I really needed new clothes. Instead of heading to the mall, I went thrift store shopping and bought several blouses, two skirts, six pairs of pants, and a jacket for about $70. A whole new wardrobe! (And many of the clothes are better-quality brands than I would've EVER purchased otherwise.)



8. Don't throw away old fake Christmas trees. I used the branches of mine to make swags to hang atop my rose arbors and the entrance to my front porch. Other branches were used to decorate the tops of shelves, adding Christmas greenery to my home.



9. Another option for Christmas greenery is to wait until late November or early December to trim your evergreen shrubs. Not only do these look nice; they smell nice. If you don't have evergreen shrubs, visit stores that sell real Christmas trees. They usually trim the lower branches off these trees and throw them away. A couple of times I've purchases large garbage bags full of fragrant evergreen boughs for $5 a bag.



10. If you live in an area with pine trees, don't throw those pesky pine cones away. Put them in a basket and douse them with cinnamon oil. I even paint some for decorations throughout my home. You can also smear them with peanut butter and bird seed to hang from a tree branch as your gift to the birds!



11. As I was unloading the groceries earlier this morning and thinking about this blog post, I thought of this idea (one I haven't yet incorporated, but plan to). Find a charity you think is doing a good job, a worthy cause that needs financial resources, and e-mail those who normally give you a gift asking them to donate to the charity instead. This is a win-win-win situation. You win by helping others. The giver helps others, too, and can count their gift as a tax deduction. The charity wins through more financial backing.



Christmas doesn't have to be a financial strain. Look for ways all around you to make this the merriest Christmas ever. And remember: Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Promises, Promises

A promise is only as good as the faithfulness of the one making the promise. A promise that doesn't come to pass isn't much of a promise.



God, in His great faithfulness, made promise after promise (many of them hundreds of years before) to the world about the One who was coming. Everyone of those promises came true.



PROMISE: He would be born of a virgin and called Immanuel.

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel. ~Isaiah 7:14



TRUTH: This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit....All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." ~Matthew 1:18, 22-23





PROMISE: He would come as a baby boy, but would also be God.

For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:6



TRUTH: The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ~Mark 1:1



In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~John 1:1, 14



PROMISE: A forerunner would announce His coming.

A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God." ~Isaiah 40:3



TRUTH: In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'" ~Matthew 3:1-3



PROMISE: He would be born in Bethlehem.

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." ~Micah 5:2



TRUTH: So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. ~Luke 2:4-7a



PROMISE: The Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah.

The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until He comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is His. ~Genesis 49:10



TRUTH: A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. ~Matthew 1:1-2



PROMISE: The Messiah would be a descendant of King David.

The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath that He will not revoke: "One of your own descendants I will place on your throne--" ~Psalm 132:11



"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In His days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness." ~Jeremiah 23:5-6



TRUTH: "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end." ~Luke 1:32-33



PROMISE: The Messiah will be the Son of God.

"I have installed My King on Zion, My holy hill."...He said to me, "You are My son; today I have become Your Father." ~Psalm 2:6, 7b



TRUTH: And a voice came from heaven: "You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased." ~Mark 1:11



"The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David..." ~Luke 1:32b



PROMISE: Kings will bow before and bestow gifts on the Messiah.

The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to Him; the kings of Sheba and seba will present Him gifts. All kings will down to Him and all nations will serve Him. ~Psalm 72:10-11



TRUTH: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."...On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. They they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ~Matthew 2:1-2; 11



PROMISE: Evil would try to stop good.

This is what the LORD says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more." ~Jeremiah 31:15



TRUTH: When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and treat mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." ~Matthew 2:16-18



PROMISE: He would be called out of Egypt.

"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My Son." ~Hosea 11:1



TRUTH: When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the Child and His mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill Him." So he got up, took the Child and His mother during the night and left for Egypt where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called My Son." ~Matthew 2:13-15



APPLICATION: God keeps His promises. He is the Only One Faithful and True. We need to live our lives in light of His promises.



Father God, we praise You because You are Faithful and True. Thank You for the promise and fulfillment of Jesus. May we live our lives in the light of Truth.



In Jesus' Name,

Amen                

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Erin Healy (& Book Giveaway!)

I'm delighted to welcome author Erin Healy to WordVessel today. First let's learn a little about her.



Erin Healy applies the left half of her brain to her long-time career as a book editor and the right half of her brain to her new life as a novelist. When right and left halves are working together she is also a wife, mom, and business owner. She worked with many talented fiction writers before teaming up with Ted Dekker to co-author their novels Kiss and Burn. She's the author of the suspense novels Never Let You Go, The Promises She Keeps (Jan 11), and The Baker's Wife (Sep 2011).



[image error] Tell us about your latest book.

The Promises She Keeps is the tale of two women who are seeking immortality. Promise is a young singer who has a terminal illness. She wants fame so that she won't be forgotten when she dies. Porta is an aging art dealer and practicing witch who wants to live forever. When Promise survives a series of freak accidents, Porta comes to believe that Promise is a goddess who can grant her eternal life. Enter Chase, a talented artist with autism who falls in love with Promise and wants to save her from Porta's alluring beliefs. The Promises She Keeps is the story people who discover that the real promise of eternal life is wrapped up not in living forever, but in embracing eternal love.



Where do you write?

I have a chilly office (nice in the summertime, but not so much right now) in the lower level of my house, underneath the room where the kids like to jump and bounce balls. It overlooks my unlandscaped front yard and is painted a dreadful mustard color. At present it's packed with bookshelves, the kids' artwork, an elliptical exercise machine, stacks of papers and manuscripts, a bed for the dog, and heaps of Christmas presents.



What do you have within reach as you write?

A thesaurus, two dictionaries, index cards, my story board, Google, phone, coffee, baby monitor, fleece sweatshirt, earplugs (for when the kiddos are with Dad), and the dog, who keeps my toes warm in that chilly office. He thinks the dog bed at my feet is for him to sleep in. Ha.



What is something readers would be surprised you do?

I often write (type) with my eyes closed so that I can "see" the scene more clearly. Words on the page are so distracting.



Do you edit as you go or wait until completing the first draft? Do you have a certain editing procedure that you follow?

Because I'm a trained editor, it's impossible for me to "turn off the inner editor" as writers sometimes say. My editor is inner, outer, upper, lower, and sideways in my life. I edit as I go, but that's more about keeping good notes than stopping to fix things right away. When I have editorial thoughts, I leave comments in the margins for future reference, just as I would for other authors. Sometimes I have an editorial discovery that requires a fix before I can move on. I rewrote the first two hundred pages of The Promises She Keeps three times before the essential elements took on enough clarity for me to move on. And then, of course, I'm professionally edited by a minimum of three amazing editors (who are not my split personalities).



What did you learn while writing Promises?

I learned the freedom of writing by the seat of my pants. The Promises She Keeps is my fourth novel but the first I wrote without knowing precisely where I was going. I'm a planner and a plotter; I'm an editor who has criticized some writers for writing blind. The surprise of discovering where a story can lead when let off the leash was very exciting.



What is the greatest danger or pitfall in the life of a writer?

Losing momentum, either by being undisciplined or by being obsessed with perfection.



Can you give us one do and one don't for those aspiring to be writers?

Do write what you want. Write from your heart. Stay true to your passions.

Don't publish your first novel. I wish I'd been able to write four or five novels before publishing any of them. Write it, finish it, rewrite it, throw it in a drawer, and write another one. Go back to it later. Much later. Years later. It's the only way to see your novel the way publishers, editors, and readers will.



What are some ways that readers of your books can help you as an author?

Tell me what you think of my books, good and bad. Email me or leave a comment on my website, or write on my Facebook wall (contact info below). Sales numbers aren't specific enough to tell a writer what kind of elements readers love or hate in a particular book. Really, I want to know.



How can readers get in contact with you?

Chat with me on Facebook (erinhealybooks), follow me on Twitter (@erinhealybooks), visit my website (erinhealy.com) or e-mail me (erin@erinhealy.com).



Thanks, Cathy!



My pleasure, Erin! Thanks so much for joining us today at WordVessel.



Readers, Erin has graciously offered one of you a copy of "The Promises She Keeps" when it comes off the press at the end of January. Just leave a comment (with a way for me to contact you if your name is drawn) to enter the contest. I'll announce the winner on Friday, December 17th. 



NOTE: If you're reading this post at Facebook or Goodreads, you will need to visit http://WordVessel.blogspot.com to leave your comment. 

Weekly Winner

The winner of the The Blacksmith's Bravery by Susan Page Davis . . . Nancye!



(Nancye, I'll send you an e-mail later this weekend. Please reply with your mailing address so we can get you your book.)



Thanks to everyone for participating, and an extra BIG thanks to Susan for providing the giveaway copy!

How To Capture A Reader

Ever met someone you really wanted to impress? I'll bet you practiced ahead of time what you would say before you opened your mouth. Am I right?



Introducing readers to a story is much the same.



I've heard some readers say that they give a book fifty pages to catch their attention. Those are the generous, kind folks who really want to like your book. Most people will only read the first page. Some won't read past the first sentence, unless . . .



. . .you give them a reason to keep reading.



Ultimately, all readers want a story that will sweep them away from their ordinary world. The best way to catch their attention is through engaging their emotions with a character, a story world, an action, or a combination of all three.



Something in that opening sentence has to capture the reader's curiosity and resonate with them.



Here are some options to consider when crafting your opening sentence:

A character who wants something badly (Why? Because we empathize with someone who wants something badly.)
A character who intrigues or interests
A shocking action, statement, or thought
Something surprising, or even ominous
An establishment of the setting (It's especially effective to paint the setting with the tone of the scene.)
Let's analyze some opening sentences of existing literary works. Feel free to add more in the comments.

There once was a velveteen rabbit, and in the beginning he was really splendid.

This simple sentence works for me. Why? Because it introduces character--a velveteen rabbit, so obviously a toy--and it shows the story problem, that this poor velveteen rabbit was no longer splendid. We immediately feel sympathy for this toy, because we all know that part of the attraction to a toy is newness. In addition, we've all felt like that rabbit--used up, no longer important. (Amazing that so much can come through in one sentence, huh?)



Here's another children's book example:

I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Who says run-on sentences are a no-no? Again, we get a strong sense of character, even though no one is mentioned other than "I." This sentence is a great example of character voice, and the reader is introduced to the character immediately. By this sentence we can tell the person speaking is young and most likely a boy. And the all-important conflict and story problem is evident. Once more, the reader relates. Who hasn't had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day? The sentence raises questions in our minds: Is the rest of the day going to be just as bad? How is the character going to cope with this horrible day?

When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.

At first glance, this seems almost boring, but there are key words that make us readers sit up and notice this place is not an ordinary setting, and therefore not an ordinary story. Can you find the words? In addition, we're captivated by "a party of special magnificence" that's causing such a stir in Hobbiton.

I have just returned from a visit to my landlord--the solitary neighbor that I shall be troubled with.

Story problem arises in this opening, as well as the character who thinks the thought, both raising questions in the reader's mind. The conflict surrounds one neighbor--even worse, a landlord!--a person that the main character is sure will cause trouble. Character voice is again strong through the use of the word "solitary" and the phrasing of the sentence. Reader empathy takes place because we've all had that one neighbor, or heaven forbid, that landlord, who makes our life miserable, and we know it from the first time we meet them. This book is also a romance, and that important first meeting of the hero and heroine sets the stage for the story.

Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

Everyone who reads this sentence will have questions. Who is the character who thinks these thoughts? How do they know about unhappy families? Personal experience? What made this person's family unhappy?



Let's discuss the following opening lines and discuss what makes them work. And, as mentioned previously, feel free to add your own in the comments.

What can be more devastating than a catastrophe which arrives out of the blue?
When I left my office that beautiful spring day, I had no idea what was in store for me.
Until I began to build and launch rockets, I didn't know my hometown was at war with itself over its children and that my parents were locked in a kind of bloodless combat over how my brother and I would live our lives.
Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.
Later that summer, when Mrs. Penmark looked back and remembered, when she was caught up in despair so deep that she knew there was no way out, no solution whatever for the circumstances that encompassed her; it seemed to her that June seventh, the day of the Fern Grammar School picnic, was the day of her last happiness, for never since then had she known contentment or felt peace.
Who am I? And how, I wonder, will this story end?
Call me Ishmael.
Janice Capshaw liked to run at night.
A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments and gray, steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes.
The undertaker's men were like crows, stiff and black, and the cars were black, lined up beside the path that led to the church; and we, we too were black, as we stood in our pathetic, awkward group waiting for them to lift out the coffin and shoulder it, and for the clergyman to arrange himself; and he was another black crow, in his long cloak.
When Augustus came out on the porch the blue pigs were eating a rattlesnake--not a very big one.
On January 6, 1482, the people of Paris were awakened by the tumultuous clanging of all the bells in the city.
There should have been a dark whisper in the wind.
Kate O'Malley had been in the dungeon since dawn.
A man begins dying at the moment of his birth.
The defense calls James Lee Mitchell III to the witness stand.
I've always wondered what people felt in the final few hours of their lives.
When I first saw my temporary secretary it never occurred to me to flirt with him.
When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
I look forward to your thoughts and comments!

 

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Beth Shriver

Please help me welcome author Beth Shriver to WordVessel. Here's her bio:



Beth Shriver received a Bachelors Degree in Social Work from the University of Nebraska.  She worked as a case worker for Boulder County Department of Social Services before starting a family.  Beth freelanced for local papers in her area and wrote columns and devotionals for magazines.  Beth has been married for over 20 years and has two children.  She currently lives in Texas after a career move from Colorado.  She writes in a variety of genres in both fiction and non-fiction.



Welcome, Beth. Tell us about your latest book.

My latest release is Peace for Parents of Teens, is a devotional for parents of teenagers.



What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of, writing-related or not?

I will be appearing on The Balancing Act television show and on The Morning Show in Florida. I never thought I'd be on a TV show but I believe God really wants this devotional out there for parents to know it's available to them.



Favorite scripture:

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7



Do you have any advice on finding an agent?

I am very blessed to have a great agent, editor and public relations rep to work with. It's all word of mouth and finding who you work well with.



What are some ways that readers of your books can help you as an author?

Again, word of mouth. If you like a story tell others about the book and why you liked it.



What would you like readers to take away from your book?

The devotional I wrote is meant to help guide parents through the teen years. Whether your teen is struggling of you just want to strengthen the bond you have with them this is a great way to get those conversations started.



Why did you choose to write this book?

We had a tough transition when we moved from Denver to Dallas. My daughter didn't transition well and began to act out. When I couldn't find a devotional that dealt with the specific issues we were dealing so I started writing my own.



What did you learn while writing this book?

I'm still learning from this book. What started out to be a way for me to call on God for peace and wisdom ended up being an entire book of thoughts, ideas and comfort for me and now for others as well.



What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

People who are not in the industry have no idea how it works. I had to learn when I first started and continue to as my career takes twists and turns. I guess the thing I wish people most understood is how hard it is to not only write a book but to enter the market and what's involved. It's a tough industry, more than you realize unless you've experienced it first hand.



What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer?

Public speaking and giving talks are both things I never felt comfortable doing but as a friend told me, it's not about me, it's about getting the word out to parents who can find peace froom my devotional. When I put the me back into anything I do involving my writing my nerves start up and I remember it's about Him, not me and I settle back into doing what I need to do.



What are three things you wish you'd known before you reached where you are now?

-How difficult it really is to break into the writing industry and what you have to do to get a book published

-Not to give up, no matter what people say, it's a very subjective business

-To find professionals in the industry who believe in you



How do you reach new readers?

I've learned that Meet and Greets work better than book signings, and book sellers at your local book store can be your best friends. Also, that you have to spend more time at events where the readers are rather than at the conferences where the writers are. Attending your neighborhood book clubs creates a loyal following, and to say yes to your church writing class when they ask you to talk with them about their aspirations to become writers.



How can readers get in contact with you?

www.bethshriverwriter.com









Beth, thanks so much for the opportunity to learn more about you and your book. I pray that God will continue to bless your writing as you minister to others for Him.

Mistake in First Link

So sorry about the extra message. The link I sent out the first time was missing a number. Here it is again:



http://groups.yahoo.com/group/acfwbookclub/surveys?id=2337861



Thanks!

Cathy

A Special Favor To Ask

Hi everyone,



I have a favor to ask. My latest book, A Path Less Traveled, is one of the choices for the ACFW Book Club for April 2011, and I'm trying to round up votes. You will have to join the Yahoo group to cast your vote, but you're free to leave the group as soon as you vote (or stay with the group if you enjoy discussing Christian fiction).



Here's the link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/acfwbookclub/surveys?id=233786



Thanks so much!



Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

Cathy

The Best Kind of Wounds

"Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." ~Proverbs 27:5-6 (NIV)



None of us like criticism. We flare up at any kind of rebuke. But we need to stop and consider the one delivering the message. Is the messenger a trusted friend or are they someone who doesn't necessarily have your best interest at heart?



Also consider the manner in which the message is delivered. Is it delivered with sincere kindness and love, or is it delivered in anger or in a way designed to inflict hurt, guilt and shame?



If I know that someone truly cares about me enough to warn me when I'm headed in the wrong direction, then I can trust their message. If their words are spoken in a way that demonstrates concern, I can then bring those words and myself into the Light for further scrutiny.



As a teacher, I've seen the difference in students who have a teachable spirit and those who think they already know it all. Guess who typically does better in their assignments and in life in general?



The same is true for us. Godly friends are a gift from the Father. When they speak words we don't want to hear, no matter how painful, we would be wise to listen.



Father God,



Thank You for godly friends. Give us wisdom and discernment when we're wounded by the words of others, so that we know whether the words are for our benefit or for our harm. Give us teachable spirits. Help us to be kind and loving friends who are willing to to risk our own hurt to bring help to our friends that are on a dangerous path.



In Jesus' name,

Amen





   

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: "The Blacksmith's Bravery" by Susan Page Davis (& Book Giveaway!)

About the book:



By age twelve, Vashti Edwards was orphaned and working her way west in saloons. Life in Fergus, Idaho, has given her new hope in Christian friends from The Ladies Shooting Club and an employer who turned her saloon into a restaurant. But money's tight, and Vashti tries to get the job she's dreamed of—as a stagecoach driver. Griffin Bane, local blacksmith, is overseeing the stagecoach line and admits he needs more help. But can a woman—even one known to be a good markswoman—handle the challenges and dangers on the trail? And can he brave the beautiful distraction she makes riding alongside him?



Shortly after Vashti earns the right to sit on the driver's box, outlaws target the local stagecoach line. Vashti and her boss, Griffin, turn to the Ladies' Shooting Club of Fergus for extra gun power. Members willing to defend the passengers and mail can ride the Fergus-to-Boise route for free. Throw a little unforeseen mayhem and romance, and you'll find this journey unforgettable.



About the Author:

Susan Page Davis is the author of more than 30 published novels, in the historical romance, mystery, and romantic suspense fields. A native of Maine, she and her husband recently moved to western Kentucky. Visit her website at: www.susanpagedavis.com. You can enter her monthly drawing for books and also read one of Susan's short stories (previously published in Woman's World magazine) on her "Romance" tab.



This week we're giving away a copy of The Blacksmith's Bravery right here. Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.