The Disney princesses messed me up. I confess I had quite a fascination with them when I was growing up (after I finished my Princess Leia phase, that is). I was going to be as beautiful as Aurora and I was going to have a grand adventure like Belle. And I was going to be a singer like Ariel. Or …
Not long ago I was scrolling through social media and found myself disheartened. Photo after photo slapped me awake with immodest images, crude language and innuendo. Worldly philosophies permeated the newsfeed. “Follow your heart.” “Never take no for an answer.” “The best thing we can do for our daughters to show them how to be happy.” The more I saw, …
Each year I pick a word to meditate on…I know. The whole concept can seem a bit hokey, but for wordsmiths, this concept is an exhilarating gem. It’s a way for me to stay focused on God, and His character, throughout the ups and downs and crazy distractions that mark each year. Past words of the year have been bold, …
“I’m dreaming of a White Christmas, just like the ones I used to—” Eli punched the scan button of the car radio dial with a little more force than necessary before curling his fingers back around the steering wheel. Static mingled with the broken sounds of passing Christmas tunes, news radio, and twangy country ballads. From the backseat, Joshua sighed. …
Last night, I sang a solo in church entitled “Be Born in Me”. It’s a haunting and beautifully composed set of lyrics woven around the thoughts that might have spun through young Mary’s mind and heart as Gabriel revealed the news that God had chosen her to give birth to the long-awaited Messiah. Here is a portion of the lyrics: …
There are so many traditions I adore about Christmas…hanging stockings over the fireplace, caroling, and reading Luke 2 as a family on Christmas Eve. Of course, the crazy thing about traditions is that growing up, we usually accept them and rarely question them until the habit becomes truth in our mind. As one person put it, “Tradition is peer pressure …
I’m delighted to have Leanna Sain on the blog today. When I heard about the premise for Leanna’s upcoming release, I was instantly intrigued. We cared for my grandmother for many years while she battled dementia so I easily connected to Leanna’s heart. I hope you enjoy her as much as I do. Welcome, Leanna! We suspected it for months…maybe …
“Ugh! Why’d you have to put dandelions in your story? I hate dandelions!” I’ve heard the sentiment several times from adults when they hear the title of my latest novel Where Dandelions Bloom. My only response is a smile and an internal snicker. Their attitude is the whole reason why I chose that resilient little flower for the story. Several springs …
Over this past week, a YouTube recording surfaced of John MacArthur sitting on a panel playing word association with other so-called Christian leaders. When Beth Moore’s name was thrown out, MacArthur replied, “Go home.” Other guests went on to call her a narcissist and the panel responded with a slew of reactions, both with reasons why they didn’t support her …
I love everything about the creative process. From spinning a story world into existence, breathing characters to life or muddling through their spiritual and emotional transformations, I find the entire journey exhilarating. I even love the grueling grind of editing. (Most days, at least.) Even with the exhilarating side to creating, writing is a tough gig, especially when you consider …