National Raisin Day

April 30th is National Raisin Day, a day that has been celebrated since 1909. Then, the day was recognized with special advertisements and events. Restaurants, even those in hotels and on steamships, served foods that included the dried fruit. Schools and other government agencies presented educational programs showing the health benefits of raisins.

There's a legend about how the raisin came to be: There was once a California man who started a vineyard just after the Civil War. One year a severe drought hit, and it didn’t rain for a long time. His grapes dried up on the vine. Worrying about what he could do to survive, he decided to take the dried-up grapes to the marketplace and see if they would sell as a Peruvian delicacy. We’ve enjoyed raisins ever since. 

Although several good lessons can come from this story, it can't be true, for the raisin is much older than this would indicate. Even the Bible mentions them. In fact, they were probably around as early as 2,000 B.C. Dried grapes have been enjoyed around the world for many years. Today, nutritionists tell us that raisins are heart-healthy and can lower blood pressure. So eat up to celebrate National Raisin Day.

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You'll Live Forever

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (Psalm 90:12).

On Mondays, I write a general blog about history, foods, arts and crafts, or trivia. In a recent one, I wrote about Ponce de Leon who is rumored to have been searching for the fountain of youth when he explored Florida. Throughout history, people have been interested in remaining young or living forever.

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish; but have eternal life (John 3:15).

But we will live forever! (Just not all on earth.) It's not only Christians who have an eternal life; everyone does. The difference is where you will live it. By accepting Christ as your Savior and living for Him, you're promised a place in heaven with unimaginable joys forever. If you don't, you'll spend eternity in a place of incredible torment and despair. Satan is hoping you'll commit to following him, do nothing so he'll have you, or only give lip service to following Christ.

For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).

For the life of me, I can't understand why someone would not want to belong to Christ - not only because of what it means in eternity but also how much better and richer life is right now. As Paul pointed out, whatever we need to give up to follow Christ is so minuscule in comparison to what we gain. And Christians aren't to selfishly keep this information to themselves. We are to be disciples and share His glory with others. Somehow, I don't think we've done a very good job of telling others how marvelous the Christian life is.

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Learning What Not to Do

I enjoy going to both writers' conferences and book festivals. I've never gone to one that I haven't learned from it. Some things I've heard and seen have been good, but others have not. However, the bad can also provide learning opportunities. I recently attended a Christian event where two things stood out to me from among the authors there.

First of all, I talked with some authors who were discouraged and couldn't understand why their book(s) weren't on the bestseller list or at least selling thousands of copies. In my opinion, they went into writing for the wrong reason. As a Christian writer, I write because I want to glorify God and follow his call on my life, I have stories begging to be told, and I would write even if I'd never be published. It's a part of who I am, and I'm passionate about it.

Then, I heard a number of writers say they wrote, but they weren't readers. I don't understand this, either. In my opinion, you can't be an accomplished writer if you aren't an avid reader, and you need to read widely in the genre where you want to publish. Although I've published eleven books in four years, I've also read over a thousand books during that time. Reading teaches what works and what doesn't work when writing.

I love both writing and reading, and that keeps me positive. When you do what you love, it isn't work at all. I fall in love with my characters and literally laugh and cry with them. Hopefully, I write in such a way, my readers will, too. Touching lives is what writing is all about for me - not just being successful in the world's eyes. Writing is my calling, my passion.

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National Earth Day

Each year, April 22 is celebrated as National Earth Day. It is a day to bring awareness to environmental issues and encourage people to be good stewards of this planet we live on. Although some controversial issues can arise, if we don't take care of Earth to some degree, life on it will not survive. There are Earth Day activities in more than 173 countries.

The idea for Earth Day was introduced in 1969, and on March 21, 1970, Secretary-General U Thant of the United Nations signed the proclamation. In the United States, Senator Gaylord Nelson is credited with establishing the day. Although it's not a national holiday, the day is widely celebrated.

Here are some Earth Day activities you might want to consider and let them carry over into other days as well:

• Join Earth Day cleanup activities in your area
• Use litterbags in all your vehicles; don't throw trash out the windows
• Join or start a community garden
• Hold a recycling drive
• Enjoy nature: picnic, go to a park, hike, camp, etc.
• Buy disposable produces that are biodegradable 
• Conserve energy: carpool, group errands into one trip, wash full loads of clothes, take shorter showers, repair dripping faucets, walk where you can, etc.
• Buy green cleaning products when you can and limit herbicides and pesticides

ENJOY THE DAY!

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Complaining Isn't Godly

... and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5b).

Christians are supposed to be content in Christ, but are we? Do we have our eyes fixed on Him instead of our own situations or worldly pursuits? When we focus on ourselves and getting our needs and desires met, we are never satisfied. We'll never have enough to be content. Selfishness causes many of the world's problems, including stubbornness, pride, greed, conflict, and divorce.

And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled (Numbers 11:1a).

Look at the Israelites when Moses led them from slavery in Egypt. All they did was complain. Even manna from heaven wasn't good enough for them. As a result, they got within eleven miles of the Promised Land and God, fed up with their grumbling, turned them to wander in the wilderness for forty years until the only two of that generation left to enter into the Promised Land were Joshua and Caleb who trusted God and believed His promises. Complainers and grumblers are out of God's will.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Do we really believe this verse? Do we truly believe God wants only the very best for us? Then why would we ever grumble or complain? If we have Christ in our lives, we should be content. In the larger picture, this life is so fleeting and temporary, and we have such a glorious eternity to look forward to. With thankful hearts full of worship and praise, we can live blessed lives filled with peace and contentment beyond anything the world can offer.

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Rejections

I've yet to meet an author that didn't have any rejections. Although the first article I ever wrote and sent to a magazine was accepted, I've had my share of rejections to follow, both for articles and books. However, don't despair. If your work is rejected, you're in good company. Just look at some of them:

• A publisher told Rudyard Kipling he didn't know how to use the English language.
• When George Orwell tried to place Animal Farm, he was told that animal stories wouldn't sell in the United States.
• William Faulkner's book, Sanctuary, was called "unpublishable."
• Louisa May Alcott was told to "stick with teaching."
• Beatrix Potter finally had to publish The Tale of Peter Rabbit herself.

• Harry Potter was rejected 12 times, and series has now made over a billion dollars.
• The Diary of Anne Frank was rejected 15 times.
• The Lord of the Flies by William Golding was rejected 2o times.
• Dr. Seuss's first book was rejected 27 times.
• Mash by Richard Hooker was rejected 21 times, but 4 years after it was eventually published, it became a hit T.V. series.
• Dune by Frank Herbert was refused 23 times.
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle was rejected 26 times.
• Some report that John Grisham's A Time to Kill was rejected 28 times.
• Stephen King received 30 rejection notices before Carrie was published.

• Gone with the Wind was rejected 38 times.
• James Patterson's first book, The Thomas Berryman Number was rejected 31 times.
• The Help was turned down 60 times.
• And topping my list, Chicken Soup for the Soul was rejected 144 times. But the authors didn't give up.

That's the lesson in all of this. A rejection just means that, for any number of possible reasons, one person on one day decided not to use your manuscript. It has no reflection on how good your writing is, how publishable your work might be, or how popular it could be if published. Believe in yourself and don't give up.

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Complaining Isn't Godly

... and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5b).

Christians are supposed to be content in Christ, but are we? Do we have our eyes fixed on Him instead of our own situations or worldly pursuits? When we focus on ourselves and getting our needs and desires met, we are never satisfied. We'll never have enough to be content. Selfishness causes many of the world's problems, including stubbornness, pride, greed, conflict, and divorce.

And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled (Numbers 11:1a).

Look at the Israelites when Moses led them from slavery in Egypt. All they did was complain. Even manna from heaven wasn't good enough for them. As a result, they got within eleven miles of the Promised Land and God, fed up with their grumbling, turned them to wander in the wilderness for forty years until the only two of that generation left to enter into the Promised Land were Joshua and Caleb who trusted God and believed His promises. Complainers and grumblers are out of God's will.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Do we really believe this verse? Do we truly believe God wants only the very best for us? Then why would we ever grumble or complain? If we have Christ in our lives, we should be content. In the larger picture, this life is so fleeting and temporary, and we have such a glorious eternity to look forward to. With thankful hearts full of worship and praise, we can live blessed lives filled with peace and contentment beyond anything the world can offer.

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National Orchid Day

April 16th is National Orchid Day. Orchids belong to one of the largest families of flowering plants. There are actually around 28,000 species of them. Even the vanilla plant is related. Yet, despite this wide range, the orchid flower is distinct and usually easy to recognize. However, they still come in an array of colors and the blossoms can vary.

I've always liked orchids, but my appreciation of them grew when I spent a semester in the Philippines teaching missionary children. Some of the gardens I visited there had such a variety of the most beautiful orchids. The humid, sunny climate with plenty of rain showers must have been ideal for them because I've never seen such healthy looking plants.

Orchids have long been prized the world over by botanists and gardeners. Besides growing outside in some climates, they make lovely corsages or potted plants and have a sweet fragrance that makes them important in the perfume industry. They're easily obtained from florists, garden shops, or even grocery stores. Perhaps you'd like to purchase one to celebrate National Orchid Day.

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Is Impatience a Sin?

Thomas Watson (1620-1666), an early English Puritan theologian says that it is. He states, "Impatience is no small sin...." (The Art of Divine Contentment). It causes us to be discontent with the blessings God sends our way. We think we deserve much more than we are getting when, in truth, we deserve so little. This empty-glass attitude results in an unhappy life. Christ, our Savior, and what he's done for us should be enough to bring us great joy. 

Impatience shows that we don't really have a love for God in our hearts, and that's the greatest commandment of all. Love isn't selfish, and it doesn't look to find fault. As Watson writes, "Love takes everything in the best sense.... If we love God, we should have patience." And we should be willing to wait on his timing. The contented Christian believes God loves them unconditionally and only wants the best for them.

Thomas Watson

Watson goes on to say, "Finally, impatience comes from a lack of humility. The impatient man was never humbled under the burden of his sin." He is too self-centered and often prideful. His wants and desires take precedence over everything else, and because of that, he will never be satisfied. He will always be impatiently waiting for his own wants and desires to be met.

Patience can be learned. Relying on God is an important step, and the Holy Spirit will guide and help you. If we fix our focus on God and all that He's done for us and keep a thankful heart, we'll find that patience comes easier. Maintaining a close, personal relationship with the Master also helps. This brings about a deep, lasting peace that bestows contentment; and if you have peace and contentment, you won't be impatient.

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Advice to Aspiring Authors  

Recently, I did two interviews where the question of what advice I would give to those who wanted to become published authors came up. I've been a published writer for over thirty years if you count publishing magazine articles, and I could come up with tons of advice. However, a couple of things immediately popped into my mind.

First of all, persevere. Persistence does pay off. Writing and publishing is not the right pursuit for those who give up easily, because most writers find many stalls and roadblocks along the way. Even after you're published, the slow progress and ups and downs don't cease. Marketing can have its own set of problems, and success often has to be slowly built instead of sprinting toward you as you'd like. Believe in your work, be stubborn, and never give up.

Then, be determined to never stop learning. During the sometimes lengthy process to publishing and success, keep perfecting your skills as a writer. Continue even after you are published or successful. Like so many of the other important things in life, this is a journey you will continue for life, not a destination you will arrive at and be satisfied and complacent.

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National Cherish an Antique Day

April 9th is National Cherish an Antique Day, and this is right up my alley. With my love of history, I also have a special interest in antiques and probably own way too many, both family heirlooms and ones I've collected over the years because I liked them. An antique becomes cherished because of a personal attachment for whatever reason.

Antiques come in a wide range of categories from store items, medicines, implements, textiles, furniture. jewelry, books, photographs, etc. The variety goes on and on. The photos here are a few I pulled from my collections, but there's so many I couldn't begin to show them all. Many came from my family and kept over many years. Handing items down to children and grandchildren is one of the joys of collecting, and I've done a lot of that already.

Sketch of Tom Dooley

Old family Bible

1940's Tam

What about you? Do you have some cherished antiques? Maybe today would be a good day to dust, polish, or help preserve them. Or handing them down to another family member would also help celebrate the day. Perhaps you could visit a history museum or antique store. If you don't have antiques, just stick around. The things you own now will be antiques before you know it. An item is usually considered an antique if it's over 50 years old. Hey, I guess that makes many of us antiques as well.

Old salve jar

Mercurochrome bottle

  

Luzianne coffee with chickory can

Old ear drops

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Withering or Producing?

So Jonah was exceedingly glad of the gourd." but "when the morning rose the next day...the gourd it withered (Jonah 4:6b-7).

Jonah didn't learn his lesson when he ran from God and had a harrowing experience in the belly of a "great fish." He reluctantly went to Ninevah, but then he got mad when the people there repented and God showed them mercy. Angry and sulking, he stomped out of the city, sat down, and prayed for God to take his life. God questioned why he was acting like a spoiled child, yet He sent a gourd vine to shade and protect Jonah. Jonah appreciated the vine, but the next day a worm gnawed at its stalk, and it withered and died. How like Jonah are we? Determined to have our own way and refusing loving kindness to those we deem undeserving. Like Jonah, we are often blind to our own need for mercy.

But he went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers (1 Kings 19:4).

Elijah had his moment, too. He'd been strong for God when he faced off with Ahab, through the famine, and when confronting the Baal prophets on Mount Carmel. However, when Jezebel threatened his life for destroying her pagan prophets, he ran into the wilderness. Finally, exhausted and depressed, he rested under a juniper tree and prayed that God would take his life. Elijah was not only still worried about what Jezebel might do, but he recognized his only failings when he said, "I am not better than my fathers. "However, God wasn't through with him yet. He sent an angel to minister to Elijah and eventually led him back into service.

A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit therein, and found none, Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also till I dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down (Luke 13:6-9).

If we don't get God's lesson from Jonah or Elijah, Jesus tells us the parable of the fig tree. As the incidents from Jonah's and Elijah's lives show us, God's people are to bear fruit by their obedience. If we love God and others, if we have a strong relationship with our Lord, then we will bear fruit. If we aren't bearing fruit for Him, our priorities are misplaced. 

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