Blogging at Christian Children's Authors

Today I'm sharing a review of a bedtime devotional for preschoolers. You can read my thoughts on Bedtime Prayers That End with a Hug! by Stephen Elkins today at http://christianchildrensauthors.com/2014/01/31/book-review-bedtime-prayers-that-end-with-a-hug-by-stephen-elkins/

Writing World Update

I felt it important to write a brief writing update based upon the goals I set for 2014. Here they are again:


Daily Bible reading between 8 and 8:30 a.m. 

Am I reading every day? No, but much more than I was before; usually four or five days a week I read a chapter. I like posting about it here, too. Not only does it keep me honest, it makes me feel like blogging here more often, which helps me to focus on my intention to spend more time promoting myself this year.

Reduce blogging/reviewing duties.

So far so good. the traffic at my other blogs hasn't suffered much. I'm still blogging a few days a week on most of them. If I end up having to close some of the smaller blogs down, then so be it.

Complete the first draft of my middle grade historical, Amelia's Mission, by February 28th. 

This has always been an ambitious goal; made more so by the fact that I spent the past two weekends in classes training to get my real estate license. I still have major studying to do before I take the test, but at least the class time is out of the way.

I decided to go back to the start of Amelia's Mission and really go through it so I could continue. After some cutting and editing, I added 746 more words to it. Right now, I'm on Chapter Six. I also bought two books for research purposes, which I know I'll use again. Plus I borrowed two other books out of the library. These last two should help me accurately depict Amelia's time at the female seminary her aunt is sending her to starting in a future chapter. I'm excited!

Research one new publisher/agent a month.

Between getting the kids back to school, snow days, early release days, and working on book tours, this suffered in January. I'm still hoping tomorrow or Friday I can check this one off January's to-do list.

Write one short story for submission each quarter. 

Because my focus has been on Amelia's Mission, I haven't thought about this one yet. Realistically, I'll have to come up with an idea or work on something I already have in mind by mid-February to meet my goal. We'll see what happens.

Last Week's Bible Reading - 1 Corinthians Continued

Continuing with my reading of 1 Corinthians, which is one of my favorite books of the New Testament. I had class this past Saturday and Sunday, so I didn't read those days.

Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16.

Favorite verses:

12: 4 - 7 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all...

13: 1- 3  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.

13: 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

15: 33  Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

15: 56 - 57  The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

16: 13- 14  Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.

This Week's Bible Reading - 1 Corinthians Continued

I continued this week with 1 Corinthians. The first verses I mention are familiar from last year's vacation Bible school program.

Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. 

Favorite verses:

6: 19 - 20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

7: 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

8:1 ...Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

10:13 ...but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Blogging at Christian Children's Authors Today

Today, I'm talking about The Great Commission at Christian Children's Authors. How can busy families make time to evangelize? Pick up some tips at http://christianchildrensauthors.com/2014/01/17/making-disciples-of-all-nations/

This Week's Bible Reading

Now that I am finished with Paul's Letter to the Romans, I have moved on to 1 Corinthians. My reading time was less now that my work schedule is back to normal after the holidays, but I still managed the following:

Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Favorite verses:

1: 31 ...“He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

2: 4-5 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human[b] wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

 3: 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

3: 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

 4: 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

5: 6-8 ...Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Guest Blogging Today at the Revamped Hot Author Report

My chum, Jamie, in Australia revamped her blog recently and allowed me to write a guest post titled, "Five Things You Didn't Know About Author C.C. Gevry." You can find it at http://www.hotauthorreport.com/five-things-you-didnt-know-about-author-c-c-gevry/

You'll also find our interview at http://www.hotauthorreport.com/interview-with-author-c-c-gevry/

Hope you'll stop by and pay us a visit.

Today's Bible Reading - Romans

Today I read:

Romans chapters 9, 10, and 11.

Favorite verses:

10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Today's Bible Reading - Romans

Today I read:

Romans chapters 6, 7, and 8.

Favorite verses:

8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

8:37-39 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Today's Bible Reading - Romans

Today I read:

Romans chapters 3, 4, and 5.

Favorite verses: 

3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

5:8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Today's Bible Reading

Today, I started my daily Bible reading. Though I still plan to read in the mornings, today, I had meal preparations to take care of, so I read this evening. I'm not sure if I'll be able to do this each day, but when I can, I'll list the verses that I read.

Romans chapters 1 and 2.

Achievements, Regrets, and Looking Forward

Chad R. Allen, editorial director for Baker Books, started his blogging year off with this wonderful post that asked readers the following questions.

1. What Made You Proud?
2. What Do You Regret?
3. What S.M.A.R.T. Goals Do You Have for This Year?
4. What Would Blow Your Mind If It Happened?

This is my list:


What Made You Proud?

I’m proud I submitted more often than I usually do. I submitted a couple of finished projects to two agents and two other projects to publishers.

What Do You Regret?

That I overwhelmed my schedule so much that my writing time this year was less than expected. Thankfully, I began putting plans into place in October to change that for 2014.

What S.M.A.R.T. Goals Do You Have for This Year?

The two most important right now, are: daily Bible reading from 8 – 8:30 a.m. and to complete my middle grade historical by the end of February. I’m a little over halfway through, so I believe I can make it.

What Would Blow Your Mind If It Happened?

It would blow my mind if I got signed by an agent this year. I’ve written six picture books; three of which are ready to submit. I’m in the process of doing some additional market research to see who would be best fitted for them. I also have two other picture book ideas started, but I really want to finish my middle grade book first.

You can read Chad's entire post at http://www.chadrallen.com/2014/01/01/bestyearever/ Hope you'll share your list here or there.