Karen Jordan BLESSED

TAKE A BREAK: BE STILL!

2012-02-09T14:57:45Z

Did you know that February 9 is "Read in the Bathtub" Day? I hope you enjoy emmysue20's YouTube featuring "Be Still" by Selah and the following article by my CLASSy friend, Linda Gilden.

Take a Break

By Linda Gilden

I held the dripping book by one corner. Water poured from between its pages. How could that have happened? Until this moment I had never even gotten a cover wet.

For years the bathtub has provided my favorite literary getaway. Preparation for bath time means gathering the essentials: a glass of cold water, one towel for drying, a small one for drying hands occasionally, a flashlight, eyeglasses (a fairly recent addition to the list), and a good book.

You may not be a bathtub reader but finding a daily time for yourself is important and reading enhances that special, individual time. Making the effort to have personal time each day has great benefits.

Keeps you grounded. The best way to start every day is with a personal time of devotion. Making a connection with God when you first get up gives you a solid foundation for the day. This time may include Bible reading, your favorite devotional book, and a time of meditation and prayer.

Recharges your “batteries.” We were not created to go and go and go. We need a break. Life is busy if not frantic for most of us and burnout lurks just around the corner. A few minutes away from the family, workplace, and the demands that go along with them gives you new strength, energy, and perspective to face your day.

Provides a time for enjoyment. Everyone needs to have a little fun every day. Reading is one of my favorite pastimes. So relaxing with a good book, whether in the bathtub, under a tree, or wrapped in a blanket in the recliner gives me a few minutes of enjoyment and entertainment.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Linda Gilden is an author, speaker, editor, and writing coach. She has written hundreds of articles as well as the Love Notes series, Mommy Pick-Me-Ups, and has ghostwritten or contributed to over three dozen books. Directing the CLASS Christian Writers Conference in Abiquiu, NM, she encourages others to clearly communicate God’s love to the world. Linda lives in SC with her family – a great source of speaking and writing material!

In March, the CLASS website will release news of the 2012 Christian Writers Conference: www.classeminars.org. Come meet Linda and the rest of the CLASS faculty there!

This article content is provided free of charge by the author through Kathy Carlton Willis Communications.

YouTube/emmysue20

Photo/LindaGilden

2012 Karen Jordan

EXPERIENCING GOD'S PRESENCE?

2012-02-08T12:22:43Z

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20 NIV).

Photo/KarenJordan

2012 Karen Jordan

DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE: "WHO IS YOUR HUDSON?"

2012-02-07T13:58:50Z

YouTube/setapartlife ("Depraved Indifference" by Eric Ludy)

2012 Karen Jordan

WRITING YOUR LEGACY STORIES? WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE

2012-02-06T12:01:00Z

What memories do you recall of your hometown?

Recently, one of my lifelong friends from high school posted this YouTube, "Twenty Years Ago," on Facebook. And it reminded me of my hometown, Silsbee, Texas.

It's been quite a bit more than two decades since I moved from my childhood home. So this song really took me back in time.

My husband Dan and I grew up in the same town in Southeast Texas. So, even though he's a few years older than me, we share a lot of memories of our hometown. Not only were we both born in that small Texas town, our parents grew up there, too. So, a lot of our relatives and friends still live there. And we still make trips back there when we can.

Both of our children were born in Southeast Texas, too. But since we moved away when they were young, they only remember the holidays, summer vacations, and fun times with their relatives there.

Some memories are difficult to embrace--like the death of loved ones or mistakes from our past. But I've discovered the importance of recording some of my memories, especially since both of my parents are gone now. Writing down some of those narratives bring healing to my soul. Plus, if I don't write some of my family stories down, I know that they will be lost forever.

I wish I would have recorded some of the stories my mother and dad told me long ago. But at the time, I didn't see the value of recording them. I still hear them when I go back to Silsbee for wedding, reunions, or funerals. So, I'm trying to work out a plan for jotting down more of those stories that I do remember.

I hope this video helps you to recall some of the stories from your hometown, too. And I'd love to hear all about them. So, I hope you'll share them with us here on BLESSED. Be sure to leave a comment below!

Keep writing!

YouTube/RareCountry2 ("Twenty Years Ago" Kenny Rogers)

What memories came to your mind as you watched this video?

2012 Karen Jordan

REAL-TO-LIFE LOVE STORY INSPIRES DIANNE CHRISTNER'S NOVEL, SOMETHING NEW

2012-02-03T12:00:00Z

A real-to-life love story inspired the setting for Dianne Christner’s Plain City Bridesmaids series.

This small Ohio town is where she met her husband, and their romance has lasted more than forty years. Christner writes in the Amish fiction subgenre, bringing authenticity from her Amish and Mennonite heritage.

Friendship and Romance. This fictional series is a continuing story of friendship between three Mennonite women, each book highlighting the romance of one of the heroines.

Something New just released and is a perfect Valentine’s Day romance.

Reluctant to give up her hard-won independence, Lil Landis must leave her friends at the doddy house and return to the family farm to care for her depressed mother.

Lil is ashamed of her humble farm roots and plain clothes. She wishes her family attended a more progressive Mennonite church. But one thing that is not plain is Lil’s flair for cooking. She dreams of becoming head chef and hopes this talent will get her far away from the farm that is sinking into debt and keeping her from following her lifelong goals. When her dad’s livestock gets sick, the new veterinary student catches her eye.

Fletch Stauffer attends a liberal Mennonite church. He has dreams of his own, which take him undercover at the Landis farm. As Fletch is drawn deeper into deceptive ambitions, he finds himself falling for spunky Lil and at odds with his dream. Will determination and mistrust cloud their thoughts until their goals—and love—disappear?

According to Editor Becky Durost Fish, the author writes with sensitivity and humor. She deals honestly with difficult subjects but never loses sight of the hope and faith that keep her characters moving forward despite their struggles.

Christner welcomes readers to visit her website. She also blogs about writing and the Mennonite lifestyle at plain girl romanticizing.

Plain City Bridesmaids series:

Something Old
Something New

Something Blue - Aug, 2012

Dianne Christner writes Christian fiction. Her works include a dozen novels, mostly historicals. She resides with her husband in Phoenix, Arizona, where they enjoy the hot desert sunshine. Christner writes full time and keeps a blog plain girl romanticizing on writing and the Mennonite lifestyle. She attends Christ Church of the Valley and enjoys interacting with readers, writers and family. She has two children and five grandchildren.

Member RWA, ACFW, CWOW (Christian Writers of the West), NAPW (National Association of Professional Women)

Website/Blog: www.diannechristner.net

Photos/DianneChristner

2012 Karen Jordan

TELLING THE STORIES (BEHIND THE SONGS) THAT MATTER MOST

2012-02-02T12:00:00Z

What are some of the songs that matter most to you? I'm a big contemporary Christian music fan. So, a lot of my favorites come from that genre, and I post a lot of them on this blog.

I love to hear the stories behind the songs that I love the most. That is why I am so excited about Steven Curtis Chapman's "Songs and Stories Tour" with Andrew Peterson and Josh Wilson that is coming to Central Arkansas this coming Friday night. I hope to see you there!

Dr. T. W. Hunt, author of The Mind of Christ, first introduced me to some of the stories behind the traditional hymns that I've sung all my life several decades ago. And I still love hearing stories behind our modern-day spiritual songs. Some artists, like Kari Jobe and Steven Curtis Chapman, record the stories behind their songs on YouTube.

I hope this short video reminds you of some of your favorite songs. Then, take a minute to brainstorm about some of the songs that matter most to you. Chose one song and record some of your memories and some details of that song.

Do you remember any of the lyrics? Try to find a recording of the song and play it. When did you first hear it? Who or what even comes to mind, when you think of it? What memory or story comes to mind?

What are some of your favorite songs? Do you know the stories behind the songs that matter most to you?

YouTube/SCCchannel

2012 Karen Jordan

HOW DO YOU CATCH A RABBIT?

2012-02-01T12:00:00Z

Q: How do you catch a rabbit?

A: Stand close to the trap and act like a tree!

Corny? Yes! But cute, right?

Reminded me of this joke:

Q: How do you catch a squirrel?

A: Climb up in a tree and act like a nut.

Photo/KarenJordan

Did this photo remind you of a story from your own life? Be sure to write it down!

2012 Karen Jordan

DISTRACTIONS: FOCUSED ON FOOD?

2012-01-31T12:00:00Z

If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes … (Matthew 6:25 MSG).

Are you focused on food these days? Yesterday, I mentioned a few things that distract us from seeking God first, like clothes, food, money, friends, or our circumstance. Today, let's focus on food.

Food, food, food! Why am I always focused on food? Either I'm overeating, dieting, or trying to feed someone else! There is not one day of my life that I don't focus on food at some point. But how do I know when my worries about food distract me from my spiritual focus?

Needs. While we were seminary students, I first discovered how to deal with my own worry about food. We lived on a much lower income than most of our family and friends at that time. Sometimes we didn’t even have enough money for the food that we needed for our family.

Miracles. God captured my attention, as I saw Him provide in miraculous ways for some of my friends. Groceries would be left on their doorsteps. Money for food would arrive in the mail. Or they would discover some random source of free food--like day-old bread or vegetables discarded from the grocery's produce department.

Tips. Intrigued by my friends' stories, I talked to God about our situation. And I discovered many tips for stretching my food budget with recipe ideas and coupons. My friends and I found that we could all stretch our food budgets by sharing our resources. When we gathered together for a meal, each family would bring their menu contributions.

Manna and quail. In Exodus 16:4, “God said to Moses, ‘I'm going to rain bread down from the skies for you. The people will go out and gather each day's ration. I'm going to test them to see if they'll live according to my Teaching or not’” (NLT).

I joked at times about identifying with the Israelites in the wilderness as God provided manna and quail for them to eat. But as I experienced God’s providing for my own family, like He did for His children in the Old Testament, I searched for more answers to my everyday problems in the Bible.

Traditions. Before my seminary days, I never thought about asking God to provide for my family's needs--especially our food--although we did teach our children to express their thanks before our meals. So, I examined my past mealtime prayers and Thanksgiving blessings. Could they simply be a family or religious tradition? I realized that I had never offered my mealtime prayers with a heartfelt gratitude for God's blessings.

Diets. I still struggle with worry and my spiritual focus in the area of food from time to time. Even now, as I try to eat a healthier diet, I realize that I must stop and ask God for direction every day--sometimes moment-by-moment--as I seek answers to my problems and needs in this area of my life.

Clothing. I hope you will join me again soon, as I examine another possible distraction--clothing.

Photo/JenniJordan

Have you ever worried about your food? What did you learn?

More "Distractions":

What are you thinking?

2012 Karen Jordan

DISTRACTIONS: WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

2012-01-30T12:00:00Z

Take no thought for your life. (Matthew 6:25 KJV).

What distracts you from seeking God? Sometimes I let the cares of this world, money, or other desires distract me from remembering my blessings. I’m always being tempted in some way.

For the next few days, I want to look at some of the things that tend to distract us from seeking God first in our lives. The Bible encourages us to “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else …” (Matt. 6:33).

Matthew 6 gives us some great examples of how we tend to get distracted by things, like food or clothing, money or lack of money, friends or lack of friends, and difficult circumstances.

As I identify with all of these issues during the next few day in my blog posts, I hope you will think about your own life to see if you can relate. This study has helped me to examine why I continue to struggle with worry and stress in certain areas of my life.

So, tomorrow, I will examine the area of food. I hope you will join me.

Photo/KarenJordan

What distracts you from seeking God?

More "Distractions":

What are you thinking?

Focused on food?

2012 Karen Jordan

FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH

2012-01-27T12:00:00Z

In the Ring

by Anita Agers-Brooks

Sometimes life just kicks you in the gut. Sometimes you deserve it, sometimes you don't, but regardless, it still hurts.

Lately, the air around me surges thick with spiritual warfare. I get through one thing, and then BAM, something else hits. One moment I seem down for the count, but then Jesus whispers in my ear, "Get up, don't quit, come on Rocky, give 'em the ole one-two."

Okay, well maybe He doesn't say it exactly like that. What He does say is, "Be strong and of good courage. Don't give up, I'm in your corner, get back up and brush yourself off, because I've trained you to be a winner, not a loser."

It isn't easy to roll onto my skinned knees, crawl to a stand on weak and wobbly legs, and hold my bruised and bloodied fists in varying modes of defense and offense as the enemy and I square off yet again. Every day the bell rings, and we come out fighting.

With determination, I swing until it's time to go to my corner. I get brief opportunities to catch my breath, swish my mouth, and let my Trainer blanket the cuts with binding salve. Once I’m revived, He sends me into the ring with renewed energy, and a go get 'em pep talk. I fight again. It’s been this way from the start.

When I first accepted God's call, I said, "Lord, put me on the front line, and I'll battle for you." I was so enthusiastic, and I meant every word. I still do.

A lot has happened since then. My faith has been tested through trial, tribulation, wilderness temptations, and persecution. If Satan can’t get a direct hit, he punches me in the kidney, or blindsides me from behind. How does he do it? He hits family and friends, anyone I care deeply for. He’s a wily opponent, and knows exactly where my weak spots are.

His strategy is simple; study my life to pinpoint the most effective attacks in advance. With stealth, tactical decisions, and methodical plans, he pushes me into corners. Gloves up, I bare the blows and cry out in pain. But his plan has a fatal flaw. He miscalculates the power of faith in Jesus Christ.

In weakened desperation I rasp, “Lord, how will you get me through this one?” His strong, steady voice reminds me, “I’ve never left you. I am here, and I won’t leave you. You cannot lose, because I cannot lose. The battle belongs to me.”

Like Nehemiah 8:10 I say, "The joy of the Lord is my strength,” and I push myself off the ropes. “That’s it; get up, don’t give up,” the Lord shouts.

WHAM, another blow to my cheek. SPLAT, our fists clash in sword-like combat. WHOOSH, my upper cut connects with his mid-section. Blood splatters cover the floor. On and on we go, round after round. I am tired, but I am not sorry for this battle. I am honored, I am humble, and I am victorious; not because of anything I do, for the war surely belongs to my Lord.

Sometimes life hurts. I will praise Him, even when it does. I will not give up. His joy is my strength. This is life in the ring; I live to fight every day.

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith" (1 John 5:4 NAS.

YouTube/dontask2015

2012 Karen Jordan

THOUGHTS FOR THURSDAY

2012-01-26T12:00:00Z

Thoughts for Thursday

by Linda Miller

I’m not running a race with the rest of the world,

I have nothing significant to prove.

I am only running a race with myself,

In the unending effort to improve.

I have no major axes to grind,

No popular causes to proclaim.

I just want to be a better version of me,

Not an embarrassment to my family name.

I will never be written in a history,

As an outstanding person of note.

I can only hope someone, somewhere,

Will understand the words that I wrote

And know that they came from a place in my heart,

Too deep for me to explore.

So God brought them up from my subconscious mind,

And turned them loose, when He opened the door.

Photo/LindaMiller

2012 Karen Jordan

Wordless Wednesday: A Writer's Dream

2012-01-25T12:00:00Z

Photo/KarenJordan (Arkansas Author Carla Killough McClafferty)

What is YOUR Dream?

2012 Karen Jordan

Writing Your Family Stories: Family Photos

2012-01-24T21:17:30Z

Have you ever discovered an old family picture and wished that you knew the story behind it? The following questions might help you discover an important family story that you can share with the next generation!

People. Can you identify the people within the shot? If not, do you know anyone who can? Can you write a description of that person? Who else might have been around when the shot was taken?

Places. Do you know where the picture as taken? Can you describe the place or the area at that time? Do you know anything about the history of the area? What do you know about that area now?

Time. When was the shot taken? What time period? What was going on in the world at that time? What changes have taken place since that time?

Events. Do you know what event was taking place when the photo was taken? Can you tell what season of the year it was taken? What events might have been happening around that time?

Story. Does the picture reminds you of a story? What came to mind as you thought about the people, places, or event that might have been taking place when the photo was shot.

Questions. You might think of even more questions that you need to ask yourself about the photo that would help you capture an important family story.

Brainstorm. Take a moment and write down your thoughts about your picture. You could even include the picture when you preserve your story—in a scrapbook, on your computer, on a blog, in a notebook ... the possibilities are endless!

Legacy Stories. Don't miss your opportunity to preserve your family history by composing a written legacy of your family stories, as you identify the details and stories represented by your family photos.

Photo/JordanFamilyPics

Did this photo remind you of an person, place, or event from your own family history?

2012 Karen Jordan

REFLECTIONS FROM A RED SKY

2012-01-23T13:48:29Z

"Red sky at night, what a delight. Red sky in the morning, cloudy and storming." (Matthew 16:2-3 ISV)

As I looked over from my computer screen, I focused on the breath-taking hues of the sunrise revealed over the horizon. And I recalled the captivating shades of crimson and pumpkin in the sunset on my drive home the previous night.

Jesus called attention to a red sky in Matthew 16:2-3 in response to the religious leaders of His day, who had asked for a sign from heaven to confirm His authority. And He explained, "You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, yet you can’t interpret the signs of the times?" (ibid.)

Often I miss the signs of the times in our world today, too. But today, the sunrise and the sunset reminds me of another promise from Jesus, "I'll be with you ... day after day after day, right up to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:15 MSG).

YouTube/theaftersvideos

Are you trying to interpret the signs of the times? Or are you focusing on the promises in God's Word?

2012 Karen Jordan

ARKANSAS AUTHOR SHARES RESEARCH WITH VILLAGE WRITERS

2012-01-20T12:00:00Z

Arkansas author Carla Killough McClafferty will share how she researched her book about George Washington with the Hot Springs Village Writers' Club on Monday, January 23, at the Home Plate Café, 5110 North Highway 7, in Hot Springs Village.

McClafferty’s McClafferty describes her book, The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon, as “C.S.I. meets the Biography Channel.” The book deals with the question, ”What did George Washington really look like?” To find out, Mount Vernon gathered the world’s leading experts to create three life-like figures of the man at the ages of 19, 45, and 57. Half of the book details the making of these figures, and the other half is a biography of Washington.

Carla Killough McClafferty is an award-winning author of nonfiction books including The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon, In Defiance of Hitler: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry, Something Out of Nothing: Marie Curie and Radium, The Head Bone’s Connected to the Neck Bone: The Weird, Wacky and Wonderful X-ray, and Forgiving God. Her newest book, Tech Titans, will be published this spring through Scholastic.

McClafferty, a popular public speaker, has presented at venues including Mount Vernon, Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown National Battlefield, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the U.S. Consulate in Marseilles, France. www.carlamcclafferty.com

Village Writers’ Club members and guests will also enjoy an informal read-around at 11:15 a.m., followed by a “Dutch treat” lunch at noon and author Carla Killough McClafferty's program, ”The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon."

For reservations (required), contact Joyce Anderson—(501) 922-9077. For more information, check out Hot Springs Village Writers' Club online at http://www.villagewritersclub.com.

2012 Karen Jordan

ARKANSAS AUTHOR ELIZABETH CARROLL FOSTER HONORED

2012-01-19T12:02:00Z

Author ElizabethCarroll Foster, an Arkansas native and member of the Hot Springs VillageWriters’ Club, was honored by the Military Writers of America in their Dispatches publication as Author of the Month of December for her memoir, Follow Me: The Life and Adventures of a Military Family.

The National Association of Professional Women, 2010-2011, also featured Foster as “Woman of the Year.”

Follow Me. MWSA Dispatch reviewer, Charlene Rubush, recommends Foster’s memoir, “Her story will resonate with many who have lived a life in the military … It is a testament to the bravery and courage of the distaff side of military life, and a validation of their many sacrifices.”

Southern Winds A 'Changing. Foster, a journalist and newspaper editor before turning to fiction, sets her novel, Southern Winds A’ Changing, “at a time when racial tensions were alive in the South, the lives of two women-one a school teacher and one an African American sharecropper-become forever entwined.”

Musings, Mutterings, and Aw Shucks: Collection of Short Stories, Essays and Features, Foster's newest book, is a collection of fictional short stories, non-fiction essays and features highlight eclectic characters, embellish true experiences, and illustrate unconditional love, disappointment, and friendship. Some stories share poignant, as well as occasionally witty instances that allow readers to reminisce about holidays past, sympathize with middle-aged women unwittingly caught up on the cusp of the Women’s Liberation Movement. One story allows readers to empathize with young single mothers, another to love a golden retriever just as he loves his master. The stories are a glimpse into both imaginary and real-life worlds that share a perspective on life, love, and the pursuit of happiness.

For more information about author Elizabeth Carroll Foster, visit http://elizabethcfoster.blogspot.com.

2012 Karen Jordan