Sarah L. Frantz's Blog, page 12

Ducks!

On Christmas Day my sil presented me with a glass jar with a rubber duck glued in the center- he went on to explain they had hidden 200 numbered micro Santa glass ducks around our house!

The kids went crazy finding them here, there, & everywhere!Walking in to my bathroom I spy this little guy…125!

My engineer hubby created a grid…

We keep finding them…. !

QUACK!

Ma’am

What do you do with a full heart? My pastor and his wife drove us to Louisiana and back over two plus days- pulling in to my driveway at 1:30 something this morning. Fog-laced highways, Christmas songs, praise music, conversation the background amid return reflections…

Before heading out… prayer requests for smooth travels, blessings over their family, consolation through our fellowship… I wanted to hug her 80 year old husband’s neck, tell him thank you for their friendship again, commend him for his faithfulness in caring for his increasingly bed bound wife these last 4-5 years. Teaching me not just with his words, but by example.

She was a green thumb and taught me a thing or two about plants, gifting me one that is still thriving (no thanks to me, Snake plants are nigh indestructible). I took a Christmas tree-shaped lavender, its aroma a small picture of the praise she always carried to her Creator. Chimes for her husband, a more lasting memorial wind song.

Several of you saw the small nativity I made… modge podge and words of God gluing Word to wood. It was the only nativity I had, having given my set away during our move last April.

Our son was able to return to light duty at work which changed his plans to fly home for Christmas this year. In a flurry, I shipped his gifts, stocking stuffers, the small Word of God nativity I had made, and some other festive things to let him know how very much he was loved & would be missed.

For a moment the space where the nativity had sat on top of my writing desk-upright piano sat forlorn… then a box of our new books unexpectedly arrived, Ben Avery’s Speculative Fiction Anthology, A Time For Everything. I filled the space with a grateful heart for every unexpected gift the Lord gave this year. A. Time. For. Everything. Indeed.

But her husband had one last request from Judy to give to me, a nativity set.

I had already been crying… I cried more. So much more. The Lord knew before I sent mine to my son the hole that would be left. Not just for the things seen, but for the absence of family members, friends. He knows everything. When I unpacked my car this morning and brought it inside, nestled in the box was a familiar Christmas card silhouette of the Three Wise Men on their journey.

I turn it over looking for the sender thinking to return it… it was me and Lane.  

Tears of gratefulness over our Lord’s tender care of Ma’am, her husband, her sons, grandchildren, great grandchildren- and all who came to her memorial service! He is oh so near to the broken hearted.

Thank you for your prayers for our Christmas journey and thank You, Lord, for Ma’am.

Monday Morning Washing in His Word

Christmas haiku inspired by Dwell advent, Week 3 (Rachel Fahrenbach, 2023)

Anchored by Your peace

Tethered by His mighty joy

Moored by my Lord’s hope

A Time for Everything

Hardcover now available here!

Monday Morning Washing in His Word

Dwell advent, Week 2

(Dwell by Rachel Fahrenbach, 2023)

Hope, Peace, Christ candles-
Underneath are always and
in all ways His arms.

A Time for Everything: A Speculative Fiction Anthology Inspired by Ecclesiastes 3

We have a new book!

A TIME FOR EVERYTHING is an anthology of 28 stories that challenged us to create a sci-fi/fantasy scenario based on titles taken from Ecclesiastes 3!

Ben Avery is the mastermind behind this lovely project which he edited and published through his company, Onward and Upward Media.

Here’s some numbers from this book:

500 pages of speculative fiction content!
28 stories reflecting the 28 statements from the Ecclesiastes poem
29 authors (one story had a writing team)
2 sets of parent/child writers (the aforementioned team are father and son, and a mother and daughter each submitted a story
28 different perspectives
28 different visions
28 different styles
28 different settings, etc.

Infinite thanks to Ben Avery who followed through on his vision and invited me to his first anthology project!

If you are interested, you may purchase the book on Amazon here!

It would make our day if would give the writers a follow while there! And if you are on Goodreads, please come give me a follow there as well!

I will be hosting a Christmas give-away soon!

Monday Morning Washing in His Word

December breaks and I am in awe how quickly this year passed with all its profound changes.

During advent season, I will be posting a Christmas haiku as part of my advent reflections in place of my normal couplets. Quiet reflections on His promises & finished work.

One of my grand babies turns 1 and ingredients for spice cake gingerbread cottages rise to the top of my to-do list. Scone baking and spice cake cottages for Christmas Day decorating fall swiftly behind. Flour, sugar, chocolate chips, hazelnut cream, cinnamon… my dreams aswirl with confectioner delights.

But today… I read of another swirl of activity… not timid and quiet, but cataclysmic. His words issue action… as a vortex of atoms dance in response to His command.

Genesis births time

Love letter written by God

His care whole & good.

Thank you, Father, for Your first provision: Our home.

The winner is…

Everyone!

My friend, My, won the physical hard copies in our Thanksgiving drawing! I am popping them in the mail today!

For everyone else, Rachel has graciously given me a code if you would like a free copy of her e-book version of Dwell! (Just enter SARAHF in the code box)

For anyone interested in holding a physical book in your hand, you may purchase your copy(ies) here:

Paperback of Dwell: An Advent Study & Liturgy

Paperback of Dwell: Advent Celebration Guide & Liturgy (for groups)

A hardcover option is also available but will not ship for 4-5 weeks.

Cheers!

Dwell by Rachel Fahrenbach

Today is release day for Dwell: An Advent Study & Liturgy.

Rachel has released an individual study as well as a group guide available on Amazon.

With a slightly different nod to a traditional advent, Rachel has designed the readings to begin the first Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2023.

What’s different you might ask?

Rachel’s use of seven pillar candles and her weaving together scriptural truths & liturgy with a thread of fiction.

This study enriches our senses as we engage in the lighting of the candles and consider the truths of God’s dwelling with us from Genesis onward.

In the spirit of the Christmas season I am giving away one set of this book release!

Merry early Christmas!

Just respond with the word DWELL if you would like to be entered. I will announce the winner on Thanksgiving Day!

Immanuel, God with us.

Monday morning washing in His word

1 Chronicles 12

Kingly fellowship,

Surrounds David

Mighty warriors,

Come forward

Arrow nockers,

Stone throwers

Spirit speaks,

“We are yours, O David; and with you, O Son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to the one who helps you! For your God is the one who helps you.”

NRSV

Triumphant words

Rejoices, resounds

And I think of Jesus and how David was a type of Christ.

And how we, a mighty host of unlikely warriors, are the throng surrounding Him in this present wilderness able for battle. The battle of prayer, worship, and praise. Putting action to truths for the pure motive of loving Him!

He is a mighty King! He is trustworthy friend! He is kinsman redeemer!

“We are yours, O Jesus; and with You, O Son of God! Peace, peace to you, and peace to the one who helps you: For your God is the one who helps You.”