Isaiah 9:6- Christmas Hope

As we come upon the celebrations of Christmas over the next few days, my heart is heavy for so many friends and loved ones-some I know well, some just I've heard of. It seems there has been much heartache this year, much of it recent. As I thought of these, I was reminded of something I wrote in a Christmas card we sent that first Christmas after Pruitt died. He's on my mind often, but especially at this time of the year, and as I continue to write on my book.

So, in thinking of these things, I'd like to share what God said to me from the verses in Isaiah, and pray that He will be all those things to so many who are hurting- whether its because they are having the first Christmas without their loved one, they are struggling with an illness, maybe their husband is serving our country overseas, maybe a dream has been shattered or still unmet, or maybe they just feel lonely. May the God of hope be so very present in their midst.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the goverment will be on his shoulders. And he will be called WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE." Isaiah 9:6

As we come to this time of year, we hear this verse often. For those mentioned and as a reminder to myself, I pray that God would be a COUNSELOR to us when words aren't there from others. I pray He'd be our PEACE when we have questions and decisions to make. I pray we'd know that He is a MIGHTY GOD, even when we don't understand and question "why?" Most of all, I pray we'd know that He is our EVERLASTING FATHER, and because of that, we have the hope of heaven.

May you and yours have a blessed Merry CHRISTmas!!

Writer's Block

It's been a crazy few weeks, and as I looked back over blogs, it must have been a crazy few months, since I haven't blogged since October.

One of the things I was SO looking forward to over Christmas break, was getting back to my writing. I've just read a message from a published author, and the process that she gives to get started seems depressing, as she stated herself.

As I read, I felt more and more discouraged.

No, I don't have writer's block. I know exactly what I want to say, and how. But now I feel this book dream has been "blocked" some how. Is it an unrealistic dream?

The lady's message also said I need to have a platform- a specific audience for my book. My audience would be anyone who knows of loss- more specifically, the loss of a child. A loss brings about so many different feelings, some that one may not even realize until experiencing it. My goal in writing is not only to share our story, but to bring glory to the Lord for His work in the midst of suffering. Not only that, but His work in my life through this time.

In this book, I relate the process of grief to "games," as I try to figure out how to live life after such a loss. I think anyone with any kind of loss can relate somehow- because loss is loss, no matter what kind.

I just want to use our experience for the glory of God, whether that means speaking about it, writing about it, or just trying to live everyday in the freedom of Christ. In doing so, I want to make much of Him.

So, on that note, I think I'll get back to that book. I think I'm chapter 8- one of the hardest chapters yet.