Blogging at Christian Children's Authors Today

Over at Christian Children's Authors I am sharing a review of the Apples to Apples® Bible Edition game. Our kids love it and we play if often. Hope you'll read my thoughts at http://christianchildrensauthors.com/2014/02/21/product-review-apples-to-apples-bible-edition/ 

Bible Reading Update - 2 Corinthians

Between my writing and family life, I've been very busy lately. I've struggled to keep up with everything, but I hope that changes this week. Here are some of my favorite verses from the past two weeks of Bible reading.

2 Corinthians chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

3:11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

 4:8 - 10 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

9:6-7 ...He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

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/