Jen Cudmore's Blog, page 29

2014 Prayers: Standing Firm

Theme: Protection/Success

“God, help me each day to be alert & of sober mind so I might resist the enemy & stand firm in my faith (1Peter 5:7&8). Thank You for the promise that no weapon formed against us will prosper (Isaiah 54:17), and that by Your power & love, we are more than conquerors (Rom 8:37).  I’m so grateful that You give me strength & uphold me with Your righteous hand so I don’t have to be afraid (Psalm 41:10). Thank you for the promise that You will never leave me (Heb 13:5). I’m grateful I don’t have to traverse through this life alone. Because I know we don’t wrestle against flesh & blood, I choose this day to put on the armor of God, that I may stand against the wiles of the devil (Eph 6:12-14).

My Mother, My Hero

This week on the blog tour we’re doing a sketch of our hero. I’ve got many heros, including James MacDonald, Phil Vischer, Russell Wilson, and Jane Austen. But the one I’ve chosen to outline today is my mother.

Mama lived  a rough childhood and I’m always amazed that she turned out sane. She was cycled through several foster homes, and spent a portion of her teen years at a catholic school run by nuns and participating in a Biker gang. After a failed first marriage and a troubled second one, she still managed to raise us kids with a Christian heritage. For all her faults, she loved Jesus, and that is what I remember most.

Mama taught me the value of many things in life.

1)      Laughter – She loved a good joke and her laugh was infectious. She often cracked herself up when telling a story, which made it even funnier.

2)      Volunteering – In my teen years, Mama could often be found helping out at one of the schools. During a bad flood my senior year that closed most of the roads, she couldn’t make it home so she went to the high school, which had been opened for those who were stranded. Mama manned the phones so folks could reach out to loved ones.

3)      Accepting who you are – Mama was a large woman with multiple health problems and no medical insurance. She was the first to call herself ‘fat’ and wasn’t ashamed of her size. She figured God made her that way for a reason and she wasn’t going to fuss about it.

4)      Unconditional love – Our small cabin was always full of people, many of which came and went. Mama called it “taking in strays”, kids who had nowhere to go, or needed to get away from their trouble homes for a while. She never expected anything but a few chores in return. She had such a big heart, I’m surprised she didn’t make dad build onto the cabin so she could take in more people!

5)      Music – In my younger years, Mama could often be found either at the out-of-tune piano she got from a church or strumming her 4 string guitar. She loved singing about Jesus, and we sometimes gathered together for family worship, just for fun. She had been trained in opera when she was young, and I remember that sometimes her voice annoyed me. Now I remember it as one of the sweetest sounds I’ve ever known.

6)      Prayer – I didn’t notice it as much when I was young, but as I went through my teen years I could tell Mama was praying for me and my siblings. I felt it the most when I went to college, and it made being away from home easier for me. She taught me the concept of standing in the gap, a  truth I’ve only just begun to revisit.

7)      Loving Jesus and the Bible – Mama had one of those Bibles that was stuffed full of bookmarks. Most of it was underlined or marked with highlighters, and she wrote notes all over the place. She did a lot of casual counseling with more people than I can count. God gave her wisdom, and I’ll always remember her most used phrases.

“You paint your world with your words, so be careful what you say.”
“God won’t separate you from your ‘friends’; you have to choose to walk away from sinful behaviors.”
“In order to change, capture your thoughts. The rest will follow. PAFT – perceptions, attitude, feelings – it all starts with your thoughts.”
“When you don’t want to do something you know is right, ask God to change your ‘want-to’.

I could probably go on, but you get the idea. Mama was extraordinary, and I wouldn’t be who I am today without her. Although she struggled with Multiple Schlerosis all her life, it was cancer that took her home 12 years ago. I can’t wait to see her again when I get to Heaven! And I can’t wait for my children to finally have the opportunity to know her.

Who is your hero?

2 New Releases!

Willow Ridge Volume 1, the next installment of the Lawmen of Clayton County, is now available on Amazon!

“While hiding from the law in Willow Ridge, a small trapping town suddenly made famous by the discovery of gold, Barrett Walcott develops a reputation of being someone the townsfolk can all count in times of need. But Willow Ridge isn’t the simple community it used to be, and Amelia O’Conner, a long time resident, is becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the influx of miners. The only unmarried white female in the area, she’s displeased with the current prospects for husbands, until two male visitors catch her interest.

Raised in a nearby Indian village, Morning Rain feels trapped by an arranged marriage. After the death of her father, she decides to learn more about the culture of the white man, her father’s people. Over time, she grows more confused over whether to return to her Indian family or stay in town with her uncle and Amelia, as well as Barrett – if he chooses to stay. Barrett lives in fear that his new friends will discover his past, and the stolen money he’s hiding in his saddlebags. When Barrett’s past finally catches up with him, putting the townsfolk in danger, can Barrett protect them, earn their forgiveness, and finally be free from the mistakes of his past?”

For an excerpt of the prologue, click here.

To purchase the ebook Willow Ridge Volume 1, click here. (Paperbacks will be released in a couple months.)

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Also, Volume1 of the San Francisco Wedding Planner is now available on Amazon!

This team project with 6 HHP authors is a series of short stories portraying the daily life of Heather and her small company, Donovan’s Wedding Services.

Heather Donovan has no time for her own romance—she’s busy making wedding dreams come true for other people and trying to reel her lonely and lovesick widowed mom Gloria back from beyond the brink of good taste. Her receptionist, Raul, is as interested in his hair style as he is in the clients. Indigo, the wedding photographer, never goes anywhere without his beret—or his attitude. Toss in Skye, the mommy-track best friend who wants to breathe organic air, Mario, the talented, hotheaded caterer with an eye for the ladies, and a tall, dark, and handsome stranger visiting the office on the eve of the busiest weekend ever, and you have a recipe for disaster. Or love. Or maybe both? Along the way discover how duck-hunter ice sculptures end up as rehearsal dinner décor at an upscale hotel, why the young doctor has a broken heart, and whose will prevails when the photographer challenges a young couple’s vision of the perfect wedding. Does love conquer all?

To purchase Volume 1, in which all the authors contributed a couple pages, click here.

Motivation for Following the Dream: Part 3, Stay Focused

Achieving a goal take perseverance. The road to success isn’t quick or easy. You’ll have days when you feel like giving up. But remember that attitude is everything. You can’t rely on your feelings to guide you.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing some tips for sticking to your strategy. Staying motivated can be tricky. You must be intentional. I’ll give you 4 tips to keep motivated. Stick with it – don’t quit!

In Part 1, we discussed Staying Organized.

In Part 2, we discussed Staying Inspired.

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Stay Focused: Successful people keep a log of their goals and accomplishments.

+ Keep track of how far you’ve come. When you’re feeling discouraged, reminding yourself of where you used to be can help revive your determination. Thank goodness you’re not back there anymore! You don’t have as much to overcome now. Look what you’ve accomplished so far!

+ Jot notes in a personal journal. I have kept a journal for years. What I didn’t realize until recently was how effectively I recorded my personal journey. Every now and then I skim through it, remembering the struggles I went through and how I overcame them. The pride that comes from overcoming the past can fuel your efforts for the future.

+ Carry a list where ever you go so you can easily reference it. This is only something I recently started. The point is to keep it handy so you can remind yourself of where you’re at on the journey. What’s the next step?

+ Remind yourself of the reason you started this journey.  In the midst of the toils of life, we can forget what motivated us in the first place. Go back to the beginning when you wrote down why the dream is important to you. Why are you doing this? What did you hope to accomplish?

Remember:“Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

What other tools can help keep a person focused and motivated on the end goal?

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©Jen Cudmore 2014, All Rights Reserved

Subscribe to my blog or email newsletter on the right side of the page!

 

 

2014 Prayers: Raising Children

Theme: Family

“God, I’m so grateful for the children you’ve given me! Give me wisdom in how to raise them according to Your word (James 1:5). Help me teach them to love Your law. We will talk of Your ways when we sit at home, when we walk along the road, when we lie down & when we get up (Deut 6). Help me to share my spiritual growth with them & talk of all the great things You’ve done in my life.

I pray they won’t forget Your teaching, but instead, keep Your commands in their heart so they may live in peace & prosperity. Let love & faithfulness never leave them; may they bind them around their necks & write them on their hearts, so they will win favor & a good name in the sight of You & man. May they trust in the Lord with all their heart & lean not on their own understanding;  but submit to You so their paths will be straight. (Prov 3:1-6).”

Review by Destiney: The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year …

Title and Author: The Sweet, terrible, glorious year I truly completely lost it by Lisa Shanahan

Short Summary: 13-year-old middle school girl Gemma Stone is sassy, funny and outgoing. In order to get closer to her long-time crush Nick, she takes a risk and joins the drama class with him. While Gemma is in drama, another boy named Raven develops feelings for her. Later Gemma and Raven get really close and she forgets about Nick. While all of this is going on, at home Gemma’s sister Debbie is driving her nuts with her wedding. Debbie is super stressed and worried. In the end, Debbie has a great wedding and Gemma and Raven become super close and Nick remains a close friend.

What I liked about the story: Because it was humorous and romantic. The story was also fund and it kept my attention. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves humor-romance stories.

What I liked about the writing: The novel had humerus sayings throughout the story.

Review by Destiney, age 12

Summary from Goodreads: IN MY FAMILY, when anyone rides the wave of their emotions, we say they’re chucking a birkett. When the emotion drives out all common sense, we say they’re chucking a big one. The telltale signs are: flaming cheeks, shortness of breath, bulging eyes, and a prolonged illogical outburst.

Gemma Stone is convinced that it’s always unseemly to chuck a birkett and that it’s actually insane to chuck one in front of a complete stranger. But that was before she fell for a boy who barely knows she exists, before she auditioned for the school play, before she met the family of freaks her sister Debbie is marrying into, before the unpredictable Raven De Head took an interest in her, and before she realized that at the right time and for the right reason, a birkett could be a beautiful thing

The Value of Family Movie Night

One of my favorite things to do after a busy day is Movie Night with the family.Typically my son and I share the couch while my daughter and husband share the recliner. We root for the good guy, sometimes laughing together and sometimes even crying together. (Honestly, did you see Soul Surfer?That is a tough movie for a mom to endure!)

Now that my children are over, we aren’t limited to animated films. We’ve started branching out to other movies. Most of all, I love the creations of the Kendrick Brothers! If you haven’t seen any of their movies, go hunt them down. They spark great family discussions!

While movie time is great for snuggling (even with the bigger kids), talking over the content is even better. I can take pretty much any movie (or book!) and teach my kids a life lesson. I’ve lost count of how many times we were watching the Disney channel and I stopped to ask my kids “should the mom talk to the dad like that?”

But the Kendrick brothers make it even easier! They take characters who made huge mistakes and show how God can use weaknesses for His glory. They infuse Biblical truths and life principles into each movie, and I get chills every time I watch them.

If you haven’t seen these films, I encourage you to give them a try! It’s important that we support artists who are trying to further God’s work on earth.

Please note: These summaries were taken from their website.

COURAGEOUS: Filled with action-packed police drama, COURAGEOUS is the fourth film written, directed, and produced by the Kendrick brothers. Garnering an A+ Cinemascore rating and premiering as the #1 selling Dvd in the United States, viewers once again have found themselves laughing, crying, and cheering as they are challenged and inspired by everyday heroes who long to make a lifelong impact on their children.

 

 

FIREPROOF: Awarded as the #1 Independent Film of the year in 2008, FIREPROOF is the third feature written, directed, and produced by the Kendrick brothers. Filled with humor and heartfelt storytelling, the story follows the journey of a fireman who fights to win back the heart of his wife, and to learn the true meaning of life-long love. It also features Kirk Cameron as the main character.

 

                                                                         FACING THE GIANTS: This film was written, directed, and produced by Alex and Stephen Kendrick. It brings action, drama, and inspiration to the gridiron. The private challenges of a high school football coach lead him to draw up a new game plan for his team, his family, and his faith. Featuring the viral “death crawl” scene, Facing the Giants has inspired millions of viewers around the world to never give up and reach for the impossible.

©Jen Cudmore 2014, All Rights Reserved

Subscribe to my blog or email newsletter on the right side of the page!

Posts I’ve Contributed To Other Sites — January 2014 Recap

The other day I announced that I now write blog posts for 3 other websites!

I linked them to my social media accounts but I know folks weren’t able to read all my contributions. Here’s your chance to catch up if you missed them!

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Moms of Faith

When you’re waiting on a promise: “…Eventually I began to see that when God tells you to wait, He really means w…a…i…t!”

Mom Vs. Mom: Applying Grace “…Sometimes there is more than one path to a successful outcome because all children and parents are different.”

Rearranging Priorities for a Season: “…My dad’s simple encouragement made me realize I was putting too much pressure on myself. God doesn’t require a set amount of our attention each day.”

 

Real Christian Wives

Are you his help-meet when others are watching? “…After nearly 15 years of marriage, I feel like I know my husband pretty well. But that day, I totally blew it. You see, when it comes to talking about your man, your opinion on any topic that pertains to him doesn’t matter.”

 

Under the Cover of Prayer

My first post will go live on Monday, so I’ll provide that link later. It’s about trying to figure out how to begin a meaningful, consistent prayer time each day.

 

 

Helping Hands Press

I also forgot to mention previously that my publishing typically has posts up each month from all their authors. Be on the lookout next month for my contributions there!

 

Guest: Karen Lange – Author Interview Perks

Interviews are a great way to add interest to a blog post. They offer a variety of angles for a story or article. Reflecting on the interviews I’ve done, I realized that I’ve gained a lot from the experience. These items top the list:

Authors are Real People – I have long held authors in high regard, and rightly so. They are a talented bunch. But guess what? They are more down to earth than I expected. Fame and writing talent haven’t spoiled them. They experience ups, downs, and everything in between. Knowing this sets me at ease, and makes me realize that with creativity and hard work, our goals are attainable, whether it’s a freelance career or published novel.

Everyone’s Work Habits are Different – There is a common notion that writers must write daily. Not so. Some writers crank out thousands of words each day, but for others, nary a word hits the page until the weekend. There are early morning writers, night owls, and ones who snack on chocolate while hitting the keys mid afternoon. You know what? They all get it done, writing in a way that best suits them. And we can too.

It Expands Horizons – Assembling content for an interview stretches me. It is important to create engaging questions that will draw interesting answers and useful info for readers. Brainstorming and examining the writing industry from various angles helps me assemble info, appreciate different viewpoints, and hence, ask better questions.

Sage Advice – Talk about a walking resource library! These gifted wordsmiths could publish volumes. I’ve gleaned valuable insight on freelancing, research, critique partners, character development, publishing, novel writing, and much more.

Encouragement – The heartfelt thoughts of an experienced writer offer candid and wonderful insight. Quotes like “Persevere even when things aren’t going well,” and “Rejection is not fatal,” ring in my ears for weeks after an interview. Gems like these season my perspective and writing, and encourage me to keep moving forward.

Have you ever used an interview for an article or a blog post? If not, I encourage you to try it. It’s a great experience!

Karen Lange is the author of Homeschool Co-ops 101, a freelance writer, and online writing instructor for adults and homeschooled teens. She loves hockey, dark chocolate, and playing with her grandson. Connect with Karen on her  Blog, Twitter, and Facebook.

 

 

2014 Prayers: Set an Example

Theme: Daily Life

“God, Help me make the most of every opportunity so Your glory will shine through my life (Eph 5:16). May I cling to what is good, never lacking in zeal. Make me a doer of the word, not just a hearer (James 1:22-25). Far be it from me that I should sin (1Sam 12:23). In everything may I set an example by doing what is good. Let me show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so those who oppose me may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say (Titus 2:7-8).”