Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 75

Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests

The parable of the talents, depicted in a 1712 woodcut. The lazy servant searches for his buried talent, while the two other servants present their earnings to their master. Artist unknown. [PS-US]

Jesus told his disciples this parable:

"A man going on a journey

called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.

To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one--

to each according to his ability. 

Then he went away.

Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,

and made another five.

Likewise, the one who received two made another two. 

But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground

and buried his master's money.

"After a long time

the master of those servants came back

and settled accounts with them.

The one who had received five talents came forward

bringing the additional five. 

He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. 

See, I have made five more.’

His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. 

Since you were faithful in small matters,

I will give you great responsibilities. 

Come, share your master's joy.’

Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said,

'Master, you gave me two talents. 

See, I have made two more.'

His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. 

Since you were faithful in small matters,

I will give you great responsibilities.

Come, share your master's joy.’

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 

'Master, I knew you were a demanding person,

harvesting where you did not plant

and gathering where you did not scatter;

so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. 

Here it is back.'

His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant!

So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant

and gather where I did not scatter? 

Should you not then have put my money in the bank

so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? 

Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. 

For to everyone who has,

more will be given and he will grow rich;

but from the one who has not,

even what he has will be taken away.

And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside,

where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'"

Matthew 25:14-30

The Seekerville bloggers are praying for YOU and for our entire blog community. If you have any special intentions that need additional prayer coverage, leave a request for prayer in the comment section below. 

Please join us in praying for the United States--and the world--during the current rise in Coronavirus cases. Pray for the sick and suffering, for businesses and schools to remain open, for people to be able to work and for our economy to prosper.
We are so grateful for all of you—for your friendship and your support! 

May the Lord bless you and your families and keep you safe.   

Weekend Edition

 

  



If you are not familiar with our giveaway rules, take a minute to read them here. It keeps us all happy! All winners should send their name, address, and phone number to claim prizes.  Note our new email address and please send your emails to Seekerville2@gmail.com







Monday: Missy Tippens brought us a post with tips for battling brain fog and a book recommendation. The winner of Focus: How One Word a Week Will Tranform Your Life is Pat W!
Wednesday: Ruthy spread her wisdom and lead a discussion on How do You Juggle Holidays and Work?
Friday: Beth congratulated the 2020 winners of The Christy Award! Join the celebration and discussion on the 2020 event impacts and virtual conferences.


Monday:  Jan Drexler asks a serious question: Does evil have a place in Christian fiction? Don't miss your chance to be part of this conversation and be entered in a drawing for a book from Jan's list of published books!
Wednesday:  Debby Giusti will be providing a "Thanksgiving Reflection for 2020" and a giveaway. Be sure to stop by to get into the Thanksgiving swing! Gobble, gobble, gobble! :)  Friday: Winnie will be by to discuss 








Missy Tippens has devotionals included in another collection from Guideposts! The new  2021 All God's Creatures Daily devotions for Animal Lovers  is up for pre-order now! Animals are God's gift to humans. They are instruments of His Grace blessed with a special gift for comforting us when we are down, filling us with joy at just the right moment, and encouraging us on our walk of faith. In this collection you'll be blessed by daily true stories shared in devotionals by different authors.


For more info on the formats available and to purchase  All God's Creatures , click here.




Her Secret Song is on the November ECPA Bestseller list!http://christianbookexpo.com/bestsell...#





Holiday Book Marketing Made Quick and Simple by L.A. Sartor at Book Brush blog
Using the 1-3-5 Rule to Simply Your Writing Life by Lisa Jordan at Learn How To Write A Novel
How to Write a Bestseller During NaNoWriMo by Lewis at The Novel Smithy

5 Components of a Perfect Scene by CS Lakin at Live Write Thrive
Are You Growing as a Writer? by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors
5 Ways You're Smothering Your Reader in the Opening Scene by Janice Hardy at Fiction University
10 Impressive Author Website Designs to Learn From  by Patricia D. Eddy  at Book Brush blog

Am I an Author Yet?  by Tari Farris at Learn How To Write A Novel
Should I Edit as I Go, or Save the Editing for Later? by Rachelle Gardner

5 Random Ways to Trim Your Manuscript by Kathryn Craft at Writer Unboxed

The Christy Award 2020 Winners

In a year when everything feels topsy turvy, many of us are turning to stories (whether reading or writing them) to help us make sense of the world or simply cope by escaping our present reality for a few moments. Even the most contented solitary bookworm among us has felt the tremors of disaster or heard the rumblings of controversial headlines in 2020, it's inescapable. 
The world shouts at us to fear, hate, and divide... yet we, beloved friends, not only have the gift of story but we have the security of knowing and being known by the Author of all stories. Past, present, future, and eternity are in His hands and so are we. Whether you reach for a book or a pen, remember that God crafted and created each one of us for His purpose and glory. 
Be still. He's whispering to His chosen ones through His Word, through songs, through stories, through fellow believers... you were made with purpose and for a purpose. Glorify Him in fulfilling it. Be encouraged and edified, fellow believers! Love wins and Jesus is on the throne.

Okay, y'all it's time to let our hair down and celebrate story! I don't know who left that soapbox sitting out but I am not taking it home with me, I'll never get a moment of peace with that thing around. 
Can we just say BRAVO to The Christy Award and The Art of Writing Webinar Series organizers?! That was some tasty lemonade if you know what I'm sayin'! If you were an attendee or a participant of either event, I want to hear all your thoughts and experiences! 
I don't think I can fully express my gratitude to the 28 authors, 58 judges, The Christy Advisory Board, organizational team, sponsoring publishers, partnering booksellers, and extraordinary people behind the scenes dedicated to honoring excellence in Christian fiction. 
If it's starting to sound like I won an award, I obviously didn't but I DO get to read a lot of fabulous books and that's kind of the same thing without all the writing! Clearly, I need to wind down soon so without further ado or shenanigans, join me in congratulating The Christy Award winners of 2020!
Young Adult 
The Means That Make Us Strangers by Christine Kindberg (Bellflower Press)
Visionary 
Hidden Current by Sharon Hinck (Enclave Publishing)
Historical 
The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke (Tyndale House Publishers)
General Fiction
Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
Historical Romance
The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron (Thomas Nelson)
Short Form 
A Christmas Haven by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall (WaterBrook)
First Novel  
A Long Time Comin’ by Robin W. Pearson (Tyndale House Publishers)
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller 
The Girl Behind the Red Rope by Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
Contemporary Romance 
Now and Then and Always by Melissa Tagg (Larkspur Press)
Book of the Year
Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)


Beth Erin is a Christian fiction enthusiast who works too hard and doesn't read nearly as much as she'd like to. You'll occasionally find her on Faithfully Bookish and on social media but mostly she's happily plugging away in the back office at JustRead Publicity Tours. Beth is passionate about promoting authors and their entertaining, encouraging, and redemptive stories. Plus she's kind of goofy when it's past her bedtime.

Some Ho! Ho! Ho!'s of Christmas and Publishing

FIRST!!!!! Happy Veterans Day to all of our current and former military! A special shout out to my uncles Jack and Larry who both fought in WWII... My sister Ronnie, USAF Captain Veronica Herne who was an army nurse in Vietnam. Brother Terry Herne, this man's army. Brother Sean Herne, USMC: Semper Fi, Sean. Brother-in-law Sgt. Dan Blodgett, U.S. Army... And to all who served: Thank you!

And now we return you to our regularly schedule program:

The holidays have long been a slow-down tradition in publishing. From Thanksgiving until post-New Year's Day, the time lag from publishing houses to authors s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s out and if you were waiting on a contract or edits or acceptance/rejection, you were likely to wait until, well...

Let's just say you're likely to wait. 

There are multiple ways to handle this time lag.

You can wring your hands...

Watch the clock move slowly toward the new year...

Take up knitting or backgammon....

Study French. 

Or roll with it. And if you can't name any French-speaking authors, my guess is that most of us roll with it.

But does that mean time off?

Not necessarily. And probably not if you want to be a career author instead of an occasional writer. That's a self-awareness choice. But either way, I go into the holidays with a few solid tips to keep my holidays lovely, peaceful, Christ-centered and filled with the fun things I like to do with my family.

I NEVER HAVE DECEMBER DEADLINES. When you have to pick deadlines sometimes two years in advance, I learned years ago to avoid the holidays for deadlines. From mid-November to around January 8th, I don't schedule a deadline because why mess up the beauty of the holiday season with a deadline that doesn't need to be there? Isn't that the beauty of being self-employed? I want my Christmas season to be prayerful and filled with lovely church services, time with grandkids, making gingerbread houses, cookies, planning parties (well, maybe not this year, dagnabbit!) and 

I aim to work ahead of the curve. Farm season makes that a challenge because the farm has grown exponentially the past two years, but it can be done. Sometimes it's simply a matter of sitting yourself down and writing something... I have learned to never put off writing. It comes first every morning and that keeps me on schedule. Ahead of schedule, actually. And then I have no need to panic. Ever. (Confession: panicky people tend to annoy me, so when folks start goin' on their deadline fussin' online or wherever, I just kinda wanna smack 'em because they've got a job that hundreds of other people would give anything to have and they mess with it. Stop fussing. Turn off the whining. And work. We now return you to your regularly scheduled Ruthy program.)

The holidays are special. They're beautiful. But they also mess with normal schedules (not Covid related) and I try to remind myself that when I worked at school... when I ran my daycare... when I sold wedding gowns... when I waited tables... no one gave me six weeks off. NO ONE.

So that's how I treat my writing. It's not something I shelve when I get busy. Contracts dry up real quick when that happens.... It's something I treasure, twelve months of the year.

So tell me, how do you juggle holidays and work? 

I've got two copies of "Finding Her Christmas Family" 

and I actually have time in November to go to the post office, so you'll actually get them! Leave a comment below and I'll tuck your name into the cranberry orange relish dish! And right now I'm listening to coyotes calling behind my house. 

I love living in the country!!!!!

Multipublished, award-winning and bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne has published over sixty books and is living her dream every single stinkin' day. :) Email her at loganherne@gmail.com or friend her on Facebook (with all the other crazies, darlings) or stop by her website and check things out. 

Four Tips to Better Focus During Brain Fog

 Missy Tippens

 

Admission time. I’ve had trouble focusing for most of this calendar year. I’m not talking about a typical blank moment, where you walk into a room and can’t remember what on earth you went in there for. (Please tell me I’m not the only one who does that.)

 

No, I’m talking about bigger focus problems. Maybe you’ve felt it too… Staring at a screen and finding words fail you, as if your brain is void of synapses. Moments where you can’t summon the energy to string together a sentence. Getting online to look up something, and an hour later signing off, and then realizing you never made it to the website you'd planned to visit.

 

Or maybe you’ve done the opposite during the pandemic. Maybe if you were fortunate enough to stay at home, you wrote like crazy as an escape. But while not in your story, you found it difficult to focus on real life.

 

And what about your One Word? If you’re a person who chooses one each year to focus on, do you remember yours? In my planner, there’s a place to write your One Word each week. About April or May, I realized I had stopped filling in that blank, and I had to go back and look mine up. I couldn’t even remember it for certain. Mine for this year is PURPOSE. Obviously, I lost mine a bit.

 

Then I heard about a little book called Focus: How One Word a Week Will Transform Your Life by Cleere Cherry Reaves. It sounded like exactly what I needed. So I ordered it.

 

When it arrived in September, I immediately opened it and looked at the first word.

 

Diligent.

 

Ouch. I immediately thought God was hitting me upside the head, trying to tell me to work harder and push through the brain fog.

 

But then the author said that diligence didn’t just mean working hard. That our translation of the root word has lost the connection between diligence and delight.

 

Delight.

 

She went on to say that the person who delights in their work is displaying the character of God.

 

Reaves left us with this…

 “Focus Tip: This week when you find yourself in a hard situation, whisper the word diligence and walk through it—don’t run from it. Try to find the meaning behind it and remember Who you are ultimately doing it for.”

 

Y’all, her words were a balm to my soul. You can read the excerpt at the “Look Inside” feature at Amazon. The words I’ve focused on so far have really spoken to me, and have actually strengthened my understanding of my purpose. I began to find joy again in the writing, because my perspective had changed.

 

If you’re a fan of having a One Word to focus on each year, you might enjoy focusing on a new word each week. You might want to try Cleere Cherry Reaves’s book.

Today, I wanted to share my own Four Tips to Better Focus:

 

--Take the focus off your lack of focus! Don’t get stuck in your head. It’s like insomnia. The longer you lie in bed, the more you worry about losing sleep, and the worse the insomnia gets. Experts say that after 20 minutes, you should just get up out of bed and do something relaxing before trying again to sleep. I have a feeling this same method can help with focus. If you’re staring at the screen, don’t keep sitting there, fretting. Get up. Do something else for a while, and then try again.

 

--Start your work day with prayer and Bible reading. Let God direct your steps. Then start your tasks with diligence and delight!

 

--Recruit some help from your family, writer friends, or critique partners. Ask them to check in to see how you’re doing with your goals. Maybe encouragement—or even a gentle push—is exactly what you need.

 

-- If your struggle to focus is unrelenting, consider talking with a counselor. Often, a professional can really help.

 

Today, I’m giving away a copy of Focus: How One Word a Week Will Transform Your Life. Please let me know if you’d like to be entered (U.S. only this time, please)! Also, please share with us your tips for focusing!

[P.S. Any links today are for convenience only. They are NOT affiliate links.]

 

 

, a pastor’s wife and mom of three from near Atlanta, Georgia, made her first sale to Harlequin Love Inspired in 2007. Her books have since been nominated for the Booksellers Best, Holt Medallion, American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Maggie Award, Beacon Contest, RT Reviewer’s Choice Award, and the Romance Writers of America RITA® Award. Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com,https://twitter.com/MissyTippens and http://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers.

 

 

Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins,
1822, by William Blake, Tate Gallery. [PD-US]

Jesus told his disciples this parable:

"The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins

who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 

Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 

The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,

brought no oil with them,

but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. 

Since the bridegroom was long delayed,

they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight, there was a cry,

‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 

The foolish ones said to the wise,

‘Give us some of your oil,

for our lamps are going out.’

But the wise ones replied,

'No, for there may not be enough for us and you.

Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’

While they went off to buy it,

the bridegroom came

and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. 

Then the door was locked.

Afterwards the other virgins came and said,

‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’

But he said in reply,

‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Therefore, stay awake,

for you know neither the day nor the hour."

Matthew 25:1-13 

The Seekerville bloggers are praying for YOU and for our entire blog community. If you have any special intentions that need additional prayer coverage, leave a request for prayer in the comment section below. 

Please join us in praying for the United States--and the world--during this Coronavirus outbreak. Also please pray for our country and for peace to reign.
We are so grateful for all of you—for your friendship and your support! 

May the Lord bless you and your families and keep you safe.  

Weekend Edition

 

  



If you are not familiar with our giveaway rules, take a minute to read them here. It keeps us all happy! All winners should send their name, address, and phone number to claim prizes.  Note our new email address and please send your emails to Seekerville2@gmail.com







Monday: Mary Connealy talked of Launching a current series...revising the new series...creating the future series...all at once! The winner of a $20.20 Amazon card is TBA.
Wednesday: Mindy Obenhaus shared some tips for Keeping Your Head Above Water even when life becomes overwhelming.
Friday: Cynthia Herron was our guest today with a great post on Using Our Voice to Share Powerful Stories. The winner of a print copy of His Love Revealed is Vince!


Monday:  Are you a fan of choosing your One Word each year? Missy Tippens will be sharing about a new book she's discovered that you may love! Don't miss it. (P.S. She also plans to give away a copy.)
Wednesday:  Ruthy is our hostess today!  Friday: Beth will bring our post today.


And... since last week, Pam Hillman has added another Christmas novella
for your reading pleasure.  The Evergreen Bride originally came out as part of the
12 Brides of Christmas collection.
Click here to purchase Destination Christmas
Click here to purchase The Evergreen Bride


Fun with logos!


Cover Reveal - Coming March 2021!

He didn’t realize he wanted a family… Until he suddenly became a single dad. 

After his sister’s death, rancher Mick Ashford’s determined to ensure his orphaned niece, Sadie, feels at home. And accepting guidance from Christa Slocum is his first step. But just as Christa and Sadie begin to settle into Mick’s heart, Sadie’s paternal grandparents sue for custody. Now Mick must fight to keep them together…or risk losing the makeshift family he’s come to love. 

Preorder here


Missy Tippens has devotionals included in another collection from Guideposts! The new  2021 All God's Creatures Daily devotions for Animal Lovers  is up for pre-order now! Animals are God's gift to humans. They are instruments of His Grace blessed with a special gift for comforting us when we are down, filling us with joy at just the right moment, and encouraging us on our walk of faith. In this collection you'll be blessed by daily true stories shared in devotionals by different authors.


For more info on the formats available and to purchase  All God's Creatures , click here.







How to Write Better Romantic Chemistry and Tension by Savannah Gilbo More Ways for Authors to Run A/B Split Tests by Candee Fick at Book Brush Blog
The Power of Chiastic Story Structure (especially in a series) by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors
Beyond the Five Senses: Six Powerful Tricks to Enhance a Sense of Place by Jonelle Patrick at Writers Digest
What Kind of Marketing Plan Will Work for Us? by Siera London at Jami Gold
Secrets to Successful Self-Publishing: Invest in Your Team by Laurisa White Reyes at Fiction University
The Power of the Sticker by Sarah Sundin at Learn How to Write a Novel
Support Your Local Bookstore by Steve Laube
10 Ways to Get a Stuck Story Moving Again by Janice Hardy at Writers In The Storm
Four Ways for a Writer to Think Like a Reader by Sarah Sally Hamer at The Write Conversation

Using Our “Voice” to Share Powerful Stories

by Guest Cynthia Herron

 

Hi Seekerville friends ~ Great to join you again today! It’s been a while. 

Settle in. We’re hunkering down for the long haul. But stay with me! Pssst…There’s a giveaway at the end!

Since I last visited, I’ve had my fingers to the keyboard, meeting deadlines and writing books. Speaking of books, today I wanted to touch on something that a reader recently shared with me—I love your voice! You give me warm fuzzies through your word pictures!

Huh? I do? Well, thank you!

Sometimes, an author’s “voice” is hard to describe.

No kidding, right?

I never really thought that much about it when I jumped back into writing ten or so years ago. I established my tagline early—Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction—and I just kind of went from there.

I write in the same vein that’s uniquely me. I’m a simple, unpretentious Ozarks’ gal who grew up the hard way and learned at an early age the true importance of wealth. Not the material kind.

With that in mind, I pen heartwarming, second chance stories with complex, quirky, lovable characters. I blend nostalgia, simplicity, and homespun with twenty-first century reality.

Writing in our own voice isn’t imitating others. It’s staying true to our brand and who we are at our core. That doesn’t mean we put ourselves in a box or erect glass houses that limit us. 

When driven by passion and story, writers’ fictional worlds resuscitate lackluster reality. Our words (and worlds) infuse inspirational oxygen into ordinary life.

In other words, we take the mundane—normal day-to-day chores, work, and perhaps, the boring—and add the wow factor. That unique spin that’s intrinsic to us. (Our voice.)

But let’s dig deeper. 

Maybe it will help to describe “me” so you understand what I mean. In other words, let me share some insight into my“voice.”

Now you might guess that family is very important to me. So is my heritage and the region where I was born and raised. The Ozarks are where “my people” are. 

When we’re children, I don’t know that we can fully appreciate our roots. In fact, I’m sure we can’t.

Things like culture, heritage, family history, and geographic locale aren’t on our “live in the moment” radar.

Children live in the now.

A child’s world is immediacy. It’s Mama’s smile at breakfast. Daddy’s hug as he leaves for work. It’s macaroni and cheese, crayons and coloring books, and stinky socks on a summer day.

Little ones don’t think in terms of tomorrow. They understand the concrete—the tangible. The things that adults so often take for granted.

I once heard it said, “I loved being a child. Though I didn’t realize it then, those years were the best years of my life.”

As I’ve matured, I understand that statement and I fully embrace it. (My experiences have given wings to my voice.)

In the present, I have a full and happy life. I know Jesus. I have a loving family, my health, and a beautiful home.

Despite this, life hasn’t always been fair, kind, or easy.

I’ve worked hard.

I’ve survived loss.

I’ve known heartache.

Just like you.

The learning curve’s been chock-full of twists and turns.

 

I’ve grown from where I’ve been, and I’m thankful for the journey and how my roots and milestones influenced me and the stories I write. (Again, this is voice, friends.)

Let’s dig even deeper.

As a youngster, growing up in the Ozarks was an interesting mix of old and new. Life meandered along at a steady, but snail-like pace. Change in some areas arrived slowly, while in larger towns, transformation was more obvious.

I grew up in one of those smaller regions where “new” and “different” had to be mulled over and left to simmer for a while. A long while.

At the little elementary school I attended, most of us shared similar backgrounds and breeding. There was a rump roast sale on Fridays at our local market, and church on Sundays was the town norm. Our mamas and daddies were hard workers who knew the value of a dollar and waste was a foreign concept.

Where I lived, summer was less about boredom and more of an adventure. There was always a bike to ride, a fort to build, and cousins to visit.

We had a drug store that had a real soda fountain, a hardware store that sold everything from A to Z, and a department store that boasted bib overalls for the men, and dresses and aprons for the women. (Yes, it’s different now. But that was then.)

Each business establishment was locally owned and operated and closed on Sundays. Big box stores and shopping meccas hadn’t arrived yet and neither had the hustle and bustle of life in the fast lane.

In the Ozarks along the expanse of old Route 66, the hills and hollows were lush, green, and scented with honeysuckle. Folks who lived in the nearby, little niches were self-made, salt-of-the-earth, not-afraid-to-get-their-hands-dirty kind of people. They were passionate about God and country, family and friends.

Though I no longer live in the same town where I grew up, my little neck of the woods is still a subtle blend of yesteryear and today. Time has given way to progress, and our growth and change reflect this, but our culture is still unique and our heritage the same.

Now, think about your past. Your present. Your future. Think about the lens with which you view life. Write your story from that perspective using your own voice, because your voice is the most powerful persuader.

In my recent release His Love Revealed, book two in the Welcome to Ruby series, I used my beloved Ozarks as the backdrop to introduce you to new friends in the region where no one is a stranger. 

There’s always room at the table for “just one more,” and to make you feel at home, we’ll even let you wash a dish or two. No need to wear your fancy duds. Just come as you are and limber up those arms for a big, ol’ bear hug! (COVID can’t last forever!)

Writers, please give us a sense of your voice. Please share what makes you “you.” Drop a snippet of your current WIP in the comments. We’d love to get to know you!

Readers, what draws you to an author’s voice? What great books have you read lately that define what you mean?

Leave a comment for a chance to win a print copy of His Love Revealed. (Due to postage, U.S. readers only.) 

 

*** 

Author Bio

Cynthia writes Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction from the beautiful Ozark Mountains. A hopeless romantic at heart, she enjoys penning stories about ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. His Love Revealed, book two in the Welcome to Ruby series released October 2020.

“Cindy” has a degree in psychology and a background in social work. She is a member of ACFW, ACFW MozArks, and RWA. 

She is a 2020 Selah Award (Double) Finalist, a 2017 ACFW Genesis Finalist, a 2016 ACFW Genesis (Double) Finalist, and a 2015 ACFW First Impressions Winner. Her work is represented by WordServe Literary.

Besides writing, Cindy enjoys spending time with family and friends. She has a fondness for gingerbread men, miniature teapots, and all things apple. She also adores a great cup of coffee and she never met a sticky note she didn’t like.

Cindy loves to connect with friends at her online home. She also hangs out on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

For love, fun, and encouragement ~

Sign up for Cindy’s monthly e-NEWSLETTERS

 

Keeping Your Head Above Water

by Mindy Obenhaus

Life can be overwhelming. There are days/weeks/months when it seems the hurrier we go, the behinder we get. Some days you feel as though you’re barely keeping your head above water. Still, you press on, going through the motions, treading water like there’s no tomorrow because if you don’t, you might go under. Frustration turns to panic, and you grow weary from the struggle because no matter how hard you try, you’re not making any progress.

Let’s face it, our schedules are busy. We are multifaceted people who wear many hats—child, spouse, parent, employee, caregiver, chauffeur, and the list goes on. We have families to take care of, to-do lists a mile long, deadlines to meet. Throw in all of the uncertainty this year has piled on and it’s no wonder we find ourselves struggling to stay afloat.

I don’t know about you, but in times like that, I’m often my own worst enemy. I become so focused on the struggle that I forget I have other options. That instead of merely trying to keep my head above water and drifting with the tide, I can choose to be purposeful.

How?

Float – I know this seems counterproductive when you’re busier than a one-armed wallpaper hanger but hear me out. When someone is in danger of drowning, floating gives them an opportunity to catch their breath, conserve energy and consider their options. But first they have to stop flailing.

We can’t shrug our duties, but in the midst of the chaos, we can pause to reevaluate. Waiting at a stoplight? Talk to God and ask Him to show you if everything on your to-do list is imperative or are some things simply desires. The Bible encourages us to “be still and know.” Sometimes we don’t know because we refuse to be still. Yet that stillness is where we renew our strength. That doesn’t mean you have to carve out a big chunk of time. Simply keep the conversation going. God is always there.

Once we’ve had time to catch our breath, we’re ready to…

Swim – Unlike treading water, swimming means progress. But it helps to know where we’re going. That we’re headed in the right direction. So, we want to…

Be deliberate – Make a list, then contemplate the most efficient way to tackle that list. And don’t forget to cross things off as you complete them. Nothing energizes me more than seeing that I’m actually making progress.Be realistic – Know your limitations. Just because you have the time doesn’t mean you’ll have the energy to bake those six dozen cookies for the church bake sale. Remember, it’s okay to say no. Be flexible – You know what they say about the best laid plans. It’s better to expect the unexpected and be pleasantly surprised than to be blindsided. Building flexibility into your plans helps reduce your stress level should those unexpected things pop.Be prayerful – God is our strength when we are weak. He’s the calm in the midst of our storm. Whatever task you’re facing, you’re not alone. Call on Him and He will answer.

As we head into what is, typically, the busiest time of the year, this post serves as much to encourage me as it does you. Unless you’re using it as a means of exercise, treading water involves expending a lot of energy for little to no gain. And the older I get, the more determined I am to work smarter, not harder. I don’t want to get nowhere fast. I want to move forward prayerfully and purposefully, savoring all God has in store along the journey.

Do you ever feel as though you’re treading water in the sea of life? What helps you stay on task without overextending yourself?

Award-winning author Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, two sassy pups, countless cattle, deer and the occasional coyote, mountain lion or snake. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking and watching copious amounts of the Hallmark Channel. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com  

Launching the current series....revising the next series...creating the future series...all at once!

 I've written a blog post about a four (or five?) book pile up before.

Right now, for fun and excitement...I'm in the middle of a NINE BOOK collision.

Yes, it was foggy on the interstate...or something.

Before I start talking about how hard my life is (pathetic Mary strikes again!!!)

I'm going to show you a new TOY I have.

I now have a logo. Or a brand. Or maybe a monogram. Or a...Erica? What would you call this?I ask Erica because her niece helped me with it. And by HELPED I mean she did it all. But I ADVISED HER! So that's my part of this.She gave me three versions'. Red, Black and White, and White and Black. So now that I've put up my BRAND, I'll tell you what's up with three series all colliding at once.First of all...I'm now publishing THREE books a year for Bethany House.I've been doing TWO for a while, but frankly the down time, I was causing trouble.All the charges have been dropped and my record expunged, so ignore it and let's move on!
But book #3 of the Brides of Hope Mountain series came out this month. Her Secret Song

Book #3 for Brothers in Arms, my next series, was turned in October 1st. That's Love on the Range. (no cover or buy link yet)No cover or release date for that yet.
Revisions for book #2 of the next series, Brothers in Arms are due November first. Yikes, that's now!Okay, as I type this it is NOT November 1st. But I'm turning it in before Monday.Book #2 is A Man with a Past.Also in this image below is Braced for Love, book #1 of the series

And I've just been contracted for the NEXT series...as yet unnamed.But I'm calling it...The Lumber Baron's Daughters.So I'm writing book #1 of that.It's the first book of a three book series.There is SO MUCH TO DO.I am, in effect writing an opening to THREE books.But it's okay because I'm mostly a shut in so what else do I have to do, huh?If you could see how I typed this...titles wrong, erase, rewrite, book #2, no that's book #3. Wait, I put the title for book #1 on book #3.
YEESHSo then, you ask, do I ever accidentally write along about the three lumber baron's daughter and make them live on a snowy mountain top cut off from the world by their grandmother's fears?No I do not.
But I occasionally forget my grandchildren's names.And my phone number.And where I left my glasses.I seem to deal well in the imaginary world. It's the REAL world that trips me up!!!I gotta get that book turned it. Yikes.So do you get your worlds mixed up?Do they collide?For some reason (oh, yeah, I wonder what reason)I seem to be using the word DAGNABBIT as an expressionYou know, like instead of UhOh...or WOW!
I wonder how annoying that is for My Cowboy.He put up the bail money so it isn't too bad.Tell me if your worlds collide.Leave a comment to get your name in a drawing for an Amazon gift card worth:$20.20

http://www.maryconnealy.com