Less than two weeks to go until the election and like many Christians, my heart is heavy with concern for our country. I could easily fall prey to watching CNN 24/7 and keeping myself all rattled with worry. And knowing that there are a large number of Americans who don't seem to place a priority on basic morals and values, and who are easily swayed by the eloquence of a speaker, could keep me fretting all hours.
But lest we forget, our great country was founded on Christian principles. I believe that is why God has chosen to abundantly bless our nation for the past two centuries, because we have put Him first. However, in the past few decades or so, many of us have turned our hearts away from Him, causingHis hand of protection to pull away from us, as a country...and it should. God deserves to be first in our lives, not a forgotten last.
Nevertheless, He is still on the throne. For those of us who know the Lord personally there is nothing to fear, no matter who gets elected. God is still in control and it will go the way He wants it to go, period. Our part is to pray. Pray for the elections. Pray for whomever gets elected and pray for the lost to seek Him...before it's too late.
God bless you and God bless America.
Prayerfully submitted,
Connie
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Fest Draws Near...
I have been consumed with Backwoods Fest preparations for days now: gathering decorations for our booth, making signs, price stamping hundreds of books and ordering thousands of new bookmarks. While I've held dozens of book signings in the past, this one is different - I'll be there 3 days in a row and there will be thousands of people. Thankfully, I only live 15 minutes away and can go home each evening; lots of vendors either camp there or get motel rooms. But, there is nothing quite like the atmosphere of the Backwoods Fest - very rustic and earthy with bluegrass music, kettle cooked food, and even an outdoor church service on Sunday morning for the workers/vendors. Who knows, maybe for once I'll actually get my fill of the fest - but don't count on it!
I did learn that the new Christmas book that I've contributed to (Christmas Through a Child's Eyes) will be released in time for the festival, but not the new Chicken Soup for the Soul: Empty Nester's. I will be taking (autographed) orders for the Empty Nester's book, though, and I'll pay the shipping. Also, if by some miracle I sell out of books at the fest, I will take orders for each book and pay the shipping for them, too.
In the meantime, my agent (from Hartline Literary Agency) told me that the proposal for the new boomer humor book I'm working on has been making it's rounds to various publishers. It is about one-third written, so I'll have that to finish writing after the fest.
If you're looking for books to challenge you to come up higher in your Christian walk, I can highly recommend two books by Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness and The Pursuit of Holiness. I seldom re-read books, but these two I definitely will!
Enjoy these fleeting autumn days (that white stuff will be here before we know it), and...hope to see ya at the fest!
Connie
(Proverbs 3: 5-6)
I did learn that the new Christmas book that I've contributed to (Christmas Through a Child's Eyes) will be released in time for the festival, but not the new Chicken Soup for the Soul: Empty Nester's. I will be taking (autographed) orders for the Empty Nester's book, though, and I'll pay the shipping. Also, if by some miracle I sell out of books at the fest, I will take orders for each book and pay the shipping for them, too.
In the meantime, my agent (from Hartline Literary Agency) told me that the proposal for the new boomer humor book I'm working on has been making it's rounds to various publishers. It is about one-third written, so I'll have that to finish writing after the fest.
If you're looking for books to challenge you to come up higher in your Christian walk, I can highly recommend two books by Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness and The Pursuit of Holiness. I seldom re-read books, but these two I definitely will!
Enjoy these fleeting autumn days (that white stuff will be here before we know it), and...hope to see ya at the fest!
Connie
(Proverbs 3: 5-6)
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
On the Cover of a Magazine...
Hey everyone,
I had a family member get after me for not announcing that I am on the cover of a magazine. So, Now Hear This: I am on the cover of the current issue (August 2008) of The Christian Communicator.
There. I announced it! :-)
Seriously, if you don't subscribe and would like to read the article, drop me an email and I'll email a word file to you of the article.
In His Service,
Connie
I had a family member get after me for not announcing that I am on the cover of a magazine. So, Now Hear This: I am on the cover of the current issue (August 2008) of The Christian Communicator.
There. I announced it! :-)
Seriously, if you don't subscribe and would like to read the article, drop me an email and I'll email a word file to you of the article.
In His Service,
Connie
Sunday, July 27, 2008
The Brevity of Time
The slowest two months out of the year (when you're a kid, anyway) was always November and December; you counted down the days until Christmas. But as an adult, January and February are the ones that drag on for me. And for most of us the quickest two months out of the year have to be June and July. One day school is out and parents scramble to find sitters while anticipating vacations, the next day, or so it seems, they are shopping for school supplies.
As a matter-of-fact,I always thought that the new year should begin the first of September. I mean, even as a kid the first day of school WAS a new year; new teachers, new classmates, new clothes, new school supplies, sometimes even a new school. Why not make September 1st the beginning of the new year? It makes more sense.
It's the end of July right now and there's something distinctly different in the air as fall approaches: a crisp, earthy scent. And there are different sounds in the air, too; crickets and cicadas blend their shrill chirps and screeches, announcing the lazy, hazy days of summer are coming to a close. It's time to get the books out - it's time to get back into the habit of studying again. I, too, still have a desire to "go back to school" every fall or attend a writer's conference. Hopefully that urge to learn will never disappear.
How I long to hold onto these next few weeks - if only there were a way to bottle them up for those ice-covered, frigid days of February. With each passing year, everytime I mention how fast time flies, I hear myself sounding more like one of those seniors that I used to roll my eyes up at.
Speaking of flies - there's one in my office.
I guess I did find something about summer that I won't miss...
Blessings for your summer,
Connie
As a matter-of-fact,I always thought that the new year should begin the first of September. I mean, even as a kid the first day of school WAS a new year; new teachers, new classmates, new clothes, new school supplies, sometimes even a new school. Why not make September 1st the beginning of the new year? It makes more sense.
It's the end of July right now and there's something distinctly different in the air as fall approaches: a crisp, earthy scent. And there are different sounds in the air, too; crickets and cicadas blend their shrill chirps and screeches, announcing the lazy, hazy days of summer are coming to a close. It's time to get the books out - it's time to get back into the habit of studying again. I, too, still have a desire to "go back to school" every fall or attend a writer's conference. Hopefully that urge to learn will never disappear.
How I long to hold onto these next few weeks - if only there were a way to bottle them up for those ice-covered, frigid days of February. With each passing year, everytime I mention how fast time flies, I hear myself sounding more like one of those seniors that I used to roll my eyes up at.
Speaking of flies - there's one in my office.
I guess I did find something about summer that I won't miss...
Blessings for your summer,
Connie
Thursday, June 12, 2008
After the Writer's Conference, Now What?
The 2008 Columbus American Christian Writer's Conference has come and gone. As usual I loved the atmosphere. At Christian writer's conferences we are all on the same team, pulling for each other. Our unified goal is to build the Kingdom of God and to be the best writers we can, for God's glory.
I've been to a few secular conferences, and while I always learn how to improve my writing, I am usually disappointed in the attitudes of most of the writers. They seem almost secretive about what they know, not wanting to build their competition.
Anyway, suffice it to say, I was a fish in water this weekend.
After each conference I attend my creativity screams to be unleashed. The problem is, not only was I gone for several days at the conference, but prior to the conference I (like the rest of you) was very busy preparing for it.
Most of us have a zillion things waiting for us at home that have to be done. Our creativity has to be put on the backburner for a little while.
So, what to do?
Quickly scour your notes while the info. is still fresh, and find those gems of article/book ideas and jot them down. Organize your list by those projects that you are the most passionate about, or that have an upcoming deadline. Write as much info. about each one as time permits, then assign a date beside each one to finish them. Try to carve the time needed, a little each day, to meet those deadlines.
As we learned at the conference, as long as we pray, we are patient, and we are persistent, we will achieve our writing goals .
Writing for His glory,
Connie
I've been to a few secular conferences, and while I always learn how to improve my writing, I am usually disappointed in the attitudes of most of the writers. They seem almost secretive about what they know, not wanting to build their competition.
Anyway, suffice it to say, I was a fish in water this weekend.
After each conference I attend my creativity screams to be unleashed. The problem is, not only was I gone for several days at the conference, but prior to the conference I (like the rest of you) was very busy preparing for it.
Most of us have a zillion things waiting for us at home that have to be done. Our creativity has to be put on the backburner for a little while.
So, what to do?
Quickly scour your notes while the info. is still fresh, and find those gems of article/book ideas and jot them down. Organize your list by those projects that you are the most passionate about, or that have an upcoming deadline. Write as much info. about each one as time permits, then assign a date beside each one to finish them. Try to carve the time needed, a little each day, to meet those deadlines.
As we learned at the conference, as long as we pray, we are patient, and we are persistent, we will achieve our writing goals .
Writing for His glory,
Connie
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