Thankful Despite by Cindy K. Sproles

I looked around my office and sighed. What a mess. Books stacked knee-high, papers separated in every vacant spot on the desk. My to-do list had been shoved from the refrigerator door to the living room to the bedroom … ending up in my office. Moving it didn’t seem to make it go away.

Cindy K. Sproles

The news roared from the downstairs television: attack on London, Barcelona, Brussels. I leaned against the door frame and bowed my head, “What next, Lord? What next?”

I used to love the holidays. Thanksgiving brought laughter and fun. Having tons of food and family was something I looked forward to. It seemed years ago when life was much simpler. My office wasn’t overrun with work, and the most the news had was the anticipation of the newest Macy’s Day parade floats. Now the holidays are dampened by disaster and sadness.

I kicked a box out of the way and made a split-second decision. I’m going to praise God despite the mess. I realized the world was doing to me just what Satan wanted it to do – drag me down. If it could blare the horrors of the news events at me, overwork me, AND make me miss my children worse than I normally do, then I was caving in to the sadness of sin. Satan was winning.

The writer of the Psalms must have realized this same thing. Chosen by God as the future king of Israel, David was just a child. God didn’t crown him and set him on the throne. Instead, he was sent back into the fields. There he learned about the hardships of life. Danger. Trust. And complete dependence upon God. There David found peace in praising God despite the trials.

These last few days I’ve spent the hard moments saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” And as I prepare for Christmas, I’ve decided to come before Him with thanksgiving and praise. True thanksgiving and praise.

When you feel the weight of the world bearing down this holiday season, rejoice in the Lord. Shout aloud to the Rock of your salvation. Go before Him with thanksgiving and praise. Great is His faithfulness. Strong is our praise. Let your thanksgiving be filled with praise.

About the Author

Cindy Sproles is an author and speaker. She is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries and the cowriter of the popular He Said, She Said Devotions written with her cofounder, Eddie Jones. She is a novelist and best-selling author. Cindy’s devotions and articles are published in Christian newspapers across the eastern seaboard, including having been used to represent legislature for protection of the elderly. She is a speaker to women’s conferences addressing not only the heart of women, but also their biblical responsibilities to their families.

She is the mother of four adult sons and lives in the mountains of East Tennessee with her husband. Cindy can be contacted at www.cindysproles.com or by emailing cindyksproles@gmail.com.

Liar's Winter
by Cindy K. Sproles

Liar's Winter

Lochiel Ogle was born with a red-wine birthmark--and it put her life in jeopardy from the moment she entered the world. Mountain folks called it "the mark of the devil," and for all the evil that has plagued her nineteen-year existence, Lochiel is ready to believe that is true. And the evil surely took control of the mind of the boy who stole her as an infant, bringing her home for his mother to raise.

Abused and abandoned by the only people she knows as family, Lochiel is rescued by a peddler and given the first glimpse of love she has ever known. The truth of her past is gradually revealed as is the fact that she is still hunted by a brother driven to see her dead. Unsure if there's anyone she can truly trust, Lochiel is faced with a series of choices: Will she continue to run for escape or will she face her past and accept the heartbreaking secrets it reveals? Which will truly free her?

Set in the wild and beautiful Appalachian Mountains of nineteenth-century East Tennessee, Liar's Winter is an unflinching yet inspirational exploration of prejudice and choice.

Buy From: Amazon

Originally posted on He Said, She Said, November, 2015. 

Writing Thankful by Heidi Chiavaroli

Heidi Chiavaroli

Two weeks ago, I thought I knew all about being thankful. I mean, I thank God every day for the blessings of my life—a home, a loving husband, two kids who make me laugh when they’re not making me pull my hair out, a warm bed, a sweet dog, and of course my salvation.

And those are good things—amazing things—to be thankful for. But why should I stop there? This past week I read Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts. I’ve heard wonderful things about this book, but never picked it up until now.

I shouldn’t have waited.

This is not a book review, it’s a life review. My life. As I reviewed the last thirty-three years of my existence, I realized I hadn’t lived thankfulness, I hadn’t lived fully.

Voskamp claims that we unwrap joy when we give thanks. And she’s not talking about just giving thanks for the visible blessings we perceive. She’s talking about searching out thankfulness, giving thanks in the trials and situations we wouldn’t normally find thanks in.

I tried this the other day when Son #1 threw a Styrofoam ball in anger at Son #2. Instead of letting my anger—what I often perceive as righteous anger, but is really quite lacking in righteousness—take hold, I stopped. I thanked the God of the universe for these two boys who grew within me and who I love with a crazy kind of love. Then I thanked God for balls—Styrofoam or otherwise. Silly? Maybe, but the simple act of thanksgiving snuffed out the act of knee-jerk anger. I was able to deal with the situation with a bigger picture in mind. I know I won’t do this perfectly all the time. But if I could consciously remind myself to be thankful in all things, I know I would live joy.

What about writing? Too often I find myself groaning over much-sought-after results. When is the last time I was simply thankful for the ability to write? The ability to string words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, paragraphs into stories? What an awesome privilege to make stories out of nothing, to learn about myself and humanity in the art of a story.

For as Voskamp says, “Why doubt the dare to fully live? Now and right here. Why not let all of life be penetrated by grace, gratitude, joy? This is the only way to welcome the Kingdom of God.”

I hope this Thanksgiving is especially meaningful as you ponder what true thanksgiving is all about. I invite you to join me in writing thankful. Blessings!

****

Heidi Chiavaroli writes History Woven in Grace. She is a wife, mother, disciple, and grace-clinger. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and has finaled in the Genesis contest and My Book Therapy’s Frasier contest.

Being Thankful For A Writing Community by Phyllis Keels

At this time of year, we drag out the china, baste the turkey, and gather around the table with friends and family. It's a special time to ponder God's provisions. God provides special blessings for writers, too. Today, author Phyllis Keels shares something she is thankful for when it comes to writing. -- Sandy

Phyllis: You know what I like about the writing community? Well, a whole lot of things, but the thing I like the most is its collaborative and not competitive nature. Do you see it too? I see it all the time.

• Experienced writers who willingly share what they’ve learned with others who are just starting out.

• Celebrating with another writer who, after years of hard work, hears good news from an agent or publisher.

• The eagerness of writers to share resources, and offer their time to review or critique another writer’s work.

There are so many examples of this collaborative nature of writers. I’ve been the recipient of more generosity from them than I can count. I’ve also been blessed to be in a position to give these things to others.

That is probably why we do it. The joy of passing along what we have learned, things that save someone else the pain we went through. It’s what we do for our children. We want them to learn from our mistakes, so they will be better than we are.

This collaborative approach is a beautiful picture of how the body of Christ is supposed to function. No competition, just a willingness to share, and the desire for others to excel, to shine in using their gifts. What it really shows us is the truth that those who humble themselves will be exalted.

When we place someone else’s need above our own desires (perhaps to guard our time, or to be successful); when we offer help to someone else, then we elevate that person above us.

Jesus said that if we do this, we will be in a place of honor. Our Heavenly Father Himself will honor us. Even though we do not do these things for the honor of it, it is perfectly acceptable to be grateful for this honor from the Lord. In that moment of being grateful, we are passing the honor onto the One to whom it really belongs – the Lord Jesus.

That is the heart of thanksgiving.

This year, I will take time to be thankful for every writer who ever helped me, to each one who shared what he or she knows, to all who offered valuable time and gave it freely.

In this way, I can offer praise to my Lord who loves me, and blesses me so richly every day of my life, by making me part of this giving community of writers.

So pull up a chair around the table and share with your fellow writers how God has blessed you in your writing this year. 

~~~

Phyllis Keels is an award-winning author, as well as a speaker, an illustrator, and a woman after God’s own heart.

In her writing and speaking, she calls women to a deeper level of honesty and intimacy with our Lord Jesus Christ as they learn to cling to Him in life’s valleys.

A deaconess of her church, Phyllis teaches Bible study, speaks, and is watchful to use any opportunity to minister to hurting women of all ages.

Phyllis’ passion is that others may also know the Lord is faithful, and that Jesus is intimately aware of our suffering. She proclaims our Heavenly Father’s promise that He is indeed near to the brokenhearted.

A full-time writer, speaker, and business owner of The Gifted Writer, LLC, Phyllis lives in North Carolina, with her son and two really big dogs.

You can read more about Phyllis or follow her:

·         Website: www.PhyllisKeels.com

·         Twitter: @PhyllisKeels

·         Facebook Author Page: Phyllis.Keels

·         Goodreads: Phyllis Keels

·         Pinterest: www.Pinterest.com/PhyllisKeels

·         Blog: www.TheGiftedWriterLLC.com