MY NEW WEBSITE/BLOG

MY BLOG HAS MOVED!

YOU CAN NOW FOLLOW CYNTHIA ROEMER'S WRITING JOURNEY AT HER NEW WEBSITE/BLOG HOME: http://cynthiaroemer.com/

YOU MAY ALSO FOLLOW HER ON HER FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE.
AND ON TWITTER.

LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU JOIN ME.

GOD BLESS!

NEW YEAR | NEW PERSPECTIVE

"Therefore, if anyone

is in Christ, the new

creation has come.

The old has gone, the

new is here!"

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

    

Well, you've weathered the busyness of the holidays. Now it's time for New Year'sresolutions. I'm not talking about the losing weight, more exercise sort. I'm referring to renewing your heart. What can you do this year to become more Christ-like? Who can you bless?

Consider for a moment your weak spots. Come, now. We all have them. One of mine, for instance, is patience...or lack of, I should say. I find I lose patience when things don't happen on my time schedule, or the way I hope. Often I grow frustrated and tire of waiting.


Writing requires huge chunks of time--time I often don't have. Life just seems to get in the way. It's then I have to remind myself the Lord is in control. It's His time schedule I need to be concerned with. He wants the best for us. We can trust Him to work things for our good.

This year it is my prayer that, instead of growing impatience when obstacles come, I'll take my frustrations to the Lord and allow Him to show me how to spend my time His way. It's all His time anyway, isn't it? It's all in our perspective.

When our plans get interrupted, we need to see it as an opportunity. How can I use this interruption as an opportunity to serve the Lord? Instead of fuming over interruptions to your plans, look for ways to make a difference in someone's life.

~Pray for those who cross your path.

~Consider your time God's time.

~Be committed to making each day count for Christ...no matter what He sends your way.

Blessings to you in the New Year!

Read more of Cynthia's work at: http://puttingonthenew.com/author/cynthiaroemer/

View Cynthia's full website at: http://cynthiaroemer.weebly.com/

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

SO THANKFUL CHRIST CAME IN SUCH A HUMBLE WAY TO SHOW HIS LOVE FOR ALL MANKIND.

"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

(Luke 2:10-12)

BLESSINGS TO YOU THIS CHRISTMAS AND IN THE COMING YEAR.

TAKING SOME TIME OFF TO CELEBRATE WITH FAMILY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

INSPIRATIONAL AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH GAIL KITTLESON

On this 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, I had the privilege of interviewing Inspirational WWII author Gail Kittleson this week. I hope you are blessed by her writing journey.

It's great to have you, Gail. How long have you been writing? 

I’ve been writing since adolescence, when poetry was my favorite genre.

What/who inspired you to write?

I’d have to say my middle school and high school teachers. Mrs. Morford, a dyed-in-the-wool grammarian, even inspired me to love diagramming sentences. Goes to show how much influence one instructor can wield. I even used this teacher in my novel.

How neat! You write Historical Christian fiction set during World War II. What interests you about this particular time period? 

Everything about World War II interests me, even the atrocities that can really depress a person. Just last night, I was re-reading about Operation Jedburgh, which sent Americans trained by the OSS into France before D-Day. Some of them suffered terribly in the effort to aid the Resistance.

But their accomplishments changed the course of the war. They blew railroads, blocked roads, destroyed Nazi truck tires, and performed myriad other acts of sabotage to hinder the movement of the Waffen SS and Das Reich (Hitler’s ferocious tank battalions) from their winter refitting in the south to Normandy.

It’s no fun pondering the agony of having one’s eyes gouged out by the Gestapo, but the German atrocities only highlight the bravery of those who willingly took the risk.

Can you give us an overview of your new release, In Times Like These?

This story, starring a young Iowa farm wife, Addie Bledsoe, came out in April. Addie faces her own battles with her volatile husband Harold, who longs to join the Army, but cannot due to his father’s stroke. As the Pearl harbor attack ignites war sentiment across the nation, Harold takes out his fury on Addie. Oh, he's too tuned in to others' opinions to hit her physically, but sends emotional and mental blows from every direction.

Who is your favorite character? Why?

 Aside from Addie, whose make-do attitude and irrepressible positivity win my respect, I think Jane, Addie’s down-the-road neighbor, is my favorite. Her brand of practical philosophy, honed through a lifetime of hard knocks, rings true to Addie far more deeply than any platitudes or pat answers others might pose. And her flower garden sends a message to everyone who passes her simple farmstead--in fact, that's what attracts Addie to stop by for their first conversation.

Jane is as tried and true as George, the rural mailman who displays loyalty in the midst of dire times. Perhaps surviving World War I has something to do with Jane and George’s indefatigable resilience and humor. Can you imagine enduring not just one, but two World Wars?

No I can't. What is the main message/theme you hope to relay to readers?

Sometimes finding one’s voice takes time. Childhood trauma, broken promises, and false teachings about faith can sidetrack a person in this vital pursuit. Often, we may not even realize we haven’t found our voice—perhaps we’ve allowed others’ voices to fill that void.

But slow as it may seem, this path to discovery is worth all the effort required. When the truth begins to dawn on us, we hear the first faint sounds of our voice rising from the depths of our soul. We face a frightening choice, then. Will we allow our voices to be heard, no matter how what we have to say might upset the status quo?  

Throughout this process, our faith grows, for our voice is a part of being made in our Creator’s image. The many ups and downs of Addie’s story and the encouragement she receives from her best friend in London, Jane, George, and even her mother-in-law have encouraged my readers. One of them has earmarked the novel, and says it’s helping her through a thorny relationship.  

 That's wonderful! Do you have any advice or tips for aspiring authors?

Pay attention to the voice within you. Many times we seek guidance from outside, but I’ve learned that often, our true polar star has been with us all along, and awaits discovery.

Thanks, Gail! It's been great.

Thanks so much, Cynthia, for having me visit. 

http://www.gailkittleson.com/
www.facebook.com/GailKittlesonAuthor

http://amazon.com/author/gailkittleson

HOPE AT CHRISTMAS | CELEBRATING CHRIST

"For to you is born

this day

in the city of David

a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord."

(Luke 2:11)

One of the best parts of Christmas is the spirit of hope and expectancy it holds. Children eagerly await the gifts and filled stockings of Christmas morn. Excitement fills their bright-eyed faces as they rise early to see if the coveted gifts they've hoped for are there beneath the tree.

But for those of us who are Christians, the true hope of Christmas came in the form of a tiny baby born in a stable. Jesus' humble birth changed everything. His coming gave us the hope of Heaven, a priceless gift that only He had the power to give.

This Christmas, I pray you'll join me in celebrating not only Christ's birth, but in giving thanks to God for His perfect plan of redemption and grace. Without Jesus, there can be no Christmas. Without His sacrifice for our sins, there can be no hope of Heaven.

Now, we wait in hope of Christ's second coming which will usher us home. Like children at Christmastime, may we live each day in expectancy, watching for His appearance, with hearts that are ready to meet the Savior.

May you have joy and hope this Christmas season as you celebrate with family and friends.

Read more of Cynthia’s writing at:

http://puttingonthenew.com/author/cynthiaroemer/

View Cynthia's full website at: http://cynthiaroemer.weebly.com/

Or follow her on: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCynthiaRoemer/

                         https://twitter.com/cynthiaroemer

THANKFUL HEARTS | EXPRESSING OUR GRATITUDE

"I will praise God’s

name in song and glorify him

with thanksgiving."

(Psalm 69:30)

Each Thanksgiving my family has the tradition of sharing thoughts on what we're thankful for. Yet I have to wonder, are there more practical/beneficial ways to express our gratitude to God?

Matthew 25:40 says, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

So then, when we bless others, we bless God.

I started brainstorming ideas of how we can show God our gratitude instead of just telling Him. {Show verses tell. Sounds like something a good writer is trained to do.}  =)

Soon I'd compiled a list of ways we can express our gratitude to God by touching the lives of others. Here's my top 20 picks!

 1) Spend some quality one-on-one time with your spouse.
 2) Hug your children.
 3) Send a Thinking of You card to someone on your heart.
 4) Share a meal with someone who can't or isn't able to return the favor.
 5) Pray with someone who's hurting.
 6) Offer to take a shut-in on an outing.
 7) Give to a worthy charity.
 8) Be someone's hands or feet.
 9) Send a care package to a missionary or military person.
10) Invite someone who has no place to go to your Thanksgiving gathering.
11) Volunteer.
12) Smile at a stranger.
13) Lend a helping hand to someone who's struggling.
14) Visit someone in a nursing home or assisted living.
15) Be a listening ear to someone.
16) Reach out to someone who's lost a loved one.
17) Share the gift of laughter.
18) Help someone in need.
19) Show forgiveness toward someone who has hurt you.
20) Tell someone thank you!

Do you have an idea to add to my list? I'd love to hear it!

Read more of Cynthia’s writing at:

http://puttingonthenew.com/author/cynthiaroemer/
View Cynthia's full website at: http://cynthiaroemer.weebly.com/
Or follow her on: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCynthiaRoemer/

                         https://twitter.com/cynthiaroemer

HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR WRITING IDENTITY? by Guest Blogger Jan Cline

Today Jan Cline shares insights from her writing journey. I hope you are as blessed.

Like many writers, I struggle to find my place in this crazy writing and publishing world. Starting out, I had no idea how big a world it was, or that I had jumped into a vast sea of aspiring writers just like me.

Then I caught sight of the big fish – the multi-published, best-selling, popular published authors. I even got to know many of them when I founded and directed a writer’s conference for several years - some of the most talented, enjoyable people I’ve ever met. I found myself on the edge of their circle and thought I was where I belonged. I knew it would only be a matter of time before I could really be a part of that identity as a traditionally published author.

Didn’t happen.

My heart’s desire is to be a novelist. I started late in life, so I worked hard, studied the craft, networked, did social media, and attended conferences. I did everything I knew to do, everything I was advised to do.

But I lost my writing identity. I lost touch with most of the inner circle I hoped to join. So I decided to self-publish. It was a long difficult process and did not produce the Indie-published author identity I thought it might.

I was back to square one. Where is my writing identity?

Ted Dekker in his book The Forgotten Way explains that we will never find our true peace and happiness until we know who we are and who our Father is. When we know all of that with our whole heart and mind, we will be secure in an identity that no one can take away, not even our self.

I must write in the light of my true identity, not for any other reason but to please the One who placed in me the desire to write. He has already decided if I will ever be traditionally published, or who my friends in the business will be or not be. I just need to do what is before me by His design, leaving the rest to Him. I have to align myself with His agenda.

Have you forgotten your writing identity? Your true identity? What has been the one thing that you strive to accomplish in your self-made identity?

May you find the forgotten way.

Blessings, Jan

Jan Cline is an author and speaker from the Pacific Northwest. She also teaches at writers groups and conferences. She is the mother of 3 and the grandmother of 7. Her debut historical novel released in March 2016, Emancipated Heart.

www.jancline.net

janclineauthor@gmail.com