New Year's Resolutions

Many people make New Year's resolutions, but statistics show they usually aren't successful. Only about 8% of the resolutions made around January 1 are kept. In fact, so many people have failed to keep them that only about 45% of Americans make them anymore.

But what if your resolution centered around your faith? What if you allowed the Holy Spirit to guide you in what you needed to work on during the coming year? And what if, instead of trying to live up to that resolution on your own, you relied on God's strength and power - you allowed Him to take control? 

I think we sometimes view setbacks as failures and see failures as permanent. Jesus didn't. Look at how he dealt with the people most others considered failures - tax collectors, beggars, prostitutes, etc. He not only ate with tax collectors, like Zacchaeus, but He called one to become His disciple (Levi who became Matthew). He told of Lazarus, the beggar, who sat a the rich man's gate and of others who won favor by their humble, kind spirit. And, look how He dealt with the woman at the well. He offered her living water if she would accept who He was. When the Pharisees were about to stone a woman caught in adultery, He saved her with a simple statement and then said He didn't condemn her but to go and sin no more.

I've talked with Christians who've become discouraged with their failures. They're ready to give up trying. But if they ask forgiveness, their sins are wiped away, and they get a new start. If you'll let Him, God can even use your failures for good. If you're willing to learn, you can become a better person each time. Don't think you have to live a sinless life. Surrender to God and live by His direction and His grace in this new year!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

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End-of-the-Year Writing Review

I recently read an article about assessing your writing over the past year. However, it only talked about evaluating the business side of things. Although, this is important, too, I tend to value the writing process more, and I certainly don't think that part should be ignored. I look at things like output, genre, series or standalone, traditional publisher or indie, how few mistakes are in them when published, ways I can improve, etc.

In evaluating my own writing this year, I'm pleased with my output. In a year and a half, I've released six books. I also have two in the works, and it would be possible that I have eight books published in two years. My two years for the print versions will be up toward the end of March, and I hope to maintain this volume in the coming year. 

I did an informal survey of which of my books my readers liked better. One hundred percent of those responding said my historical ones, although some said they read and enjoyed both the historical and the contemporary. As a historian, I don't mind that, but I wonder if it's because most inspirational readers tend to prefer historicals or if I attracted those readers more. I will certainly continue to write more historicals, but I do enjoy a break from the intensive research when I write a contemporary. I plan to keep an eye on this issue. Right now, I have only published one contemporary, but I'm getting ready to release a contemporary trilogy.

I've also wrestled with whether to write more standalones or books in a series. Both have done well for me, but When Winter Is Past, my indie, standalone historical has sold the best overall. It sold well over a hundred kindle copies in December, and that's not counting the print editions or ebooks from other vendors. However, my Appalachian Roots series will always hold a special place in my heart. I also wrestle with whether to publish a book myself or go the traditional route. I've done both and can see advantages and disadvantages to each one. With Summer's Songs is another of my indies. I know many well-known authors who have gone indie. and I guess authors need to assess this for themselves, since each situation is different.

Evaluating my writing and looking for ways to improve is an ongoing process for me. I still struggle with trying to get out an error-free book, and with some adjustments to the way my editors and I handle things, we're getting close. I've been accused of being a perfectionist, but I don't think that's true. It's important to me to give my readers the best book I possibly can, and I don't plan to change that. That may be one of the reasons all my books average five star reviews on amazon.

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The Donner Party Tragedy

On December 26, 1846, some of the Donner Party resorted to cannibalism to survive. The group of emigrants lead by George Donner and James Reed had set out for California in May of that year. They experienced several delays and didn't reach the Sierra Nevada range until November, when they were trapped in an early snowfall.

Their food supply ran dangerously low, and in the middle of December, a small group set out on foot to find help. In the meantime, a rescue party from California tried to reach them, but they were unable to get there until the middle of February 1847. Of the 87 pioneers, only 48 survived to reach California. Many of the survivors had survived by eating those that died of starvation or the weather. As the story spread, many of the survivors were harassed or ostracized, and some felt guilt for years.

But the Donner Party became a warning for those traveling west not to take chances with the terrain or weather, and to make sure they made it through the mountains in plenty of time. I included mention of this twice in my next book being published traditionally. It's current title is Through the Wilderness, and it's set on the Oregon Trail. Here are the two excepts: 

            Time slipped away, and some worried they were behind schedule. Everyone remembered hearing of the Donner Party and what had happened to them when they became trapped in the heavy snows of the western mountains. Some of them had turned to cannibalism to stay alive. Jacob hoped this group of wagons could make up some of the time they’d lost in the days ahead.

and much later -

(Cover will be changed)

            As they neared Barlow Pass, another problem presented itself. The temperature dropped even more, the wind picked up, and heavy, dark clouds began to move in.

            Jacob remembered what Obadiah had said about snowstorms in this area, and he remembered the earlier Donner Party. Although this road hadn’t been opened at that time, the wagons in the Donner Party had become stranded from heavy snows which made travel impossible, they had also been caught in a mountain snowstorm. Most of them died and the survivors had resorted to cannibalism to stay alive. It was an even more frightening story, considering this group’s present circumstance. Jacob watched the skies.

            “Hit’s agoin' a snow,” Obadiah forecasted. “Hain’t no doubt about hit.”

            The questions were “when” and “how much.” A whiteout hit right before they got to the pass. The wind swirled the falling snow so that no one could see where to go. They camped on the road leaving enough room between the wagons to build fires. At least this part wasn’t so narrow, and that made the situation less threatening. If such a storm had hit on Devil’s Backbone, Jacob didn’t know how they would have survived. He felt sure they wouldn’t have. 

(As with all my books, all my profits will go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.)

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"Love Came Down at Christmas"

Most of you are probably familiar with the concept. The lines actually come from a poem by  Christina Rossetti first published without a title in 1885. All Christians are aware that Christ was born because of love for us. It was the beginning of God's plan to make a way for fallen humanity to live in Paradise with Him after they die.

However, God's plan and love encompass so much more than this. He wants to have a close, loving relationship with us right here, right now. He wants to bless our lives, guide us in what's best, and have us live lives of joy near Him. It's not just about understanding that Jesus came as a baby so we could eventually go to be with Him in Heaven, although this is wonderful enough in itself. It's also about experiencing a life with our Lord in the present.

This is why God created Adam and Eve in the first place, for special companionship. It's why He gave them the gift of free will. But they chose to sin and had to leave the Garden of Eden, bequeathing all of us a sinful nature. As sinners, we cannot be in the presence of Holy God. Therefore, to reestablish the original closeness, Jesus came and carried all our sins to the cross, so we can experience God as He meant for us to. All we have to do is accept what Christ did for us. Yes, Jesus came down at Christmas with unconditional love so great and magnificent we can hardly conceive it.

Love came down at Christmas.

Love all lovely, Love Divine,

Love was born at Christmas, 

Star and Angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,

Love incarnate, Love Divine,

Worship we our Jesus,

But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,

Love be yours and love be mine,

Love to God and all men,

Love for plea and gift and sign.

                 - Christina Rossetti -

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Writing of Christmas

Through the years, there's been many books set during the Christmas season. Perhaps one of the most famous ones is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. In it, Ebeneezer Scrooge learns what having the Christmas spirit is all about, a lesson for us all. "I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time, a kind, forgiving, charitable time, the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers...." "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol).

Christmas must have been special to Dickens, because he also wrote about it in other works. Here is a quote from The Pickwick Papers: "Happy, happy Christmas, that recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!"

Plenty of other writer have addressed Christmas too. Here are just a few: 

• "Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling" (Edna Ferber).
• "Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, and genial flame of charity in the heart" (Washington Irving).
• "Somehow, not only for Christmas But all the long year through, The joy that you give to others Is the joy that comes back to you (John Greenleaf Whittier).
• "Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection" (Winston Churchill).
• "Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas" (Dale Evans).
• "Love came down at Christmas; Love all lovely, love divine; Love was born at Christmas, Stars and angels gave the sign" (Christina Rossetti).
• A good conscience is a continual Christmas" (Benjamin Franklin).
• Don't let the past steal your present. This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone" (Taylor Caldwell).
• "I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow).
• "Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?" (Dr. Seuss).

Have a very merry Christmas and happy reading and writing!

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A Traditional English Christmas

Part Two: Decorations

Evergreens have long been used as Christmas decorations in England, but the Christmas tree, borrowed from Germany, didn’t become widespread until the 1800’s. Holly, however, involved ancient folk customs. Medieval people believed that holly had magical powers that would drive away demons. Unmarried women would tie a sprig on their beds to keep the evil spirits from coming near, and they thought the spirits were especially active around Christmastime.   

Mistletoe involves even more superstitions. The Druids used it in sacrifices to their gods and believed it had sacred, magical powers. When they came in the vicinity of mistletoe, people were forbidden to fight. The occupants of a house displaying it were required to give shelter to those who asked, even if the person was an enemy. The Celts believed it had miraculous healing powers. In the eighteenth century, mistletoe became part of a kissing ball hung from the ceiling, and party-goers would play games under it. A kiss under the mistletoe meant lasting friendship or a deep romance.

Using candles at Christmas is such an ancient tradition that no one knows when it started. They were also used during ancient celebrations commemorating the winter solstice. We know they were used in medieval times as a symbol for the Star of Bethlehem and Jesus being the Light of the World. Candles became a part of a traditional English Christmas and in other parts of the world too. And, as you can see, all these decorations play an important part in American Christmas traditions and history as well.

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Mary and Joseph

We don't know much about the background of Mary and Joseph. We do know that they both could trace their lineage back to the house of David (see Matthew 1 & Luke 2). Actually, Matthew tells us more about Joseph's ancestry, and Luke gives more of Mary's. Because Joseph was of the house of David is why he and Mary had to go back to Bethlehem to register for taxes as Herod had proclaimed. 

Although not many details are given about the couple, Bible scholars have pieced together some probabilities based on hints and what we know of the culture at that time. Mary was likely young, perhaps in her mid-teens. Joseph may have been quite a bit older than his wife. The fact that the Bible never mentions Joseph after their visit to the temple in Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve but mentions Mary several times after that adds credence to this theory. Most biblical scholars believed Joseph had probably died.

We also know that Joseph was a carpenter by trade. At this time, that would have meant a skilled craftsman in both wood and stone. Jesus learned the trade from Joseph and practiced it until he started his ministry around age thirty. Then He had a kingdom to build for His Heavenly Father.


We can tell a lot about Mary and Joseph from how they reacted to Mary becoming pregnant while betrothed but not married. Betrothal was a very binding agreement back then, and Joseph knew it wasn't his child, so he believed the logical thing - that she had been with another man. However he didn't want Mary disgraced, or worse, stoned to death, so he decided to put her away quietly. This could have even meant that he would see to her well-being.

But notice that when Gabriel appeared to them, both Mary and Joseph believed what the angel said, even though what he said was pretty incredulous. Without a doubt, both had strong faiths and wanted to submit to God's will no matter where that took them. They were willing to face false assumptions, unfair accusations, and public ridicule to follow the path God laid before them. Perhaps this made getting out of Nazareth and going to Bethlehem for a while even more attractive. And, of course, they ended up going to Egypt after Bethlehem to escape Herod's search for the Baby in order to kill Him.

Have you ever stopped to think about what a hard situation Joseph and Mary found themselves in. Expecting a child out of wedlock was much more condemned back then, and since he didn't accuse Mary of cheating on him, everyone would have assumed Joseph to be the father. However, pleasing God was much more important to them than pleasing man. May it be so for us too!

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