According to Thy Will

And the angel said unto her, Fear not Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS (Luke 1:30-31).

Mary must have been a special, godly person to have been chosen by God to be the earthly mother of His Son. The Bible tells us that she had found favor with God. She would get to be the mother of the Messiah, the long-awaited, promised One who came to be the Savior of the world. But what a responsibility! And how would it have been to have a son who is perfect when you are not?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35).

However, she was promised from the very beginning that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and I'm sure He was with her through all that she would face, and she faced some trials. Not long after Jesus was born, the family would have to flee to Egypt to escape Herod's jealous wrath. And I can't even imagine watching the child you had birthed and raised be abused and crucified. 

And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:38).

Mary served the Lord. Anything He asked of her she would do -- even this astounding request of a virgin birth. She must have known she would face ridicule and rejection. She could have even been stoned to death, but she trusted God and wanted His will to be done. We should do the same and be just as faithfully committed to God as this teenager was. There are many important lessons to be learned throughout the Christmas story.

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 My Last Book in the Series

Fruitcake by Fran is my last book in the Old-Timey Holiday Kitchen series. I have five books in it. Walnut Cake by Wylene published on December 6, 2021. I published Sauerkraut Cake by Sophie on September 13, 2022, and Forget-Me-Not Cookies by Fern on October 25, 2022. This year, I released Upside-Down Cakes by Dana on August 29th, and Fruitcake by Fran will publish on December 5th. It's been a great series, and I've loved writing each book.

Many people don't like fruitcakes because they've had the dry ones baked and packed as cheaply as possible. I don't like those either. However, my mother made her own, using different fruits and nuts, and they were delicious. I included one of her recipes in the back of the book.

In Fruitcake by Fran, Francisca Quinn learned to bake and make fruitcakes from her deceased mother, who had worked for the Collin Street Bakery. Fran changed the recipe to suit herself and sold them as part of her baking business. When she meets Trent Jones, she tries not to give in to her attraction because most Texans don't like her Mexican heritage on her mother's side. However, his persistence makes her think he might be different, but will his high-society parents accept her? Read the book to find out what happens. 

Link to Fruitcake by Fran

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Happy Thanksgiving! 

Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name (1 Chronicles 29:13).

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A Bakery and a Book

A well-known Texas bakery plays a part in one of my upcoming books. The Collin Street Bakery was founded in 1896 in Corsicana, Texas, by German immigrant August Wiederman along with the help of Tom McElwee. Corsicana is located about fifty miles south of Dallas.  In 1914, the Ringling Brothers Circus was in the area, and their performers ordered a large number of fruitcakes to be shipped all over the world, so the bakery established a mail-order business, and they became known for their fruitcakes.

In Fruitcake by Fran, Fran's mother worked at the bakery. When her mother died, Fran improved on the recipe her mother had changed and established a fruitcake and baking business of her own. Also, at the end of the book. I included my mother's recipe for fruitcake. I always thought it was much better than any others I've ever tasted, and I love how moist it is.

In Fruitcake by Fran, Fran experiences some prejudice and discrimination because her mother was Mexican, and it affects her business and relationships. When she meets Trent Jones, she tries to forget him because he's from high society, and she knows that could bring countless problems. However, Trent has other ideas, and I think readers will enjoy their story. The book will publish on December 5 and is available for preorder now. Check it out and reserve your copy.

Link to a Fruitcake by Fran

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Verses of Thanksgiving and Praise

Being thankful is specifically mentioned in the Bible 32 times and being grateful 157 times. Praising God is talked about over 250 times. It is obvious that we should live with a thankful heart all the time.  Sometimes, it's good to let the Bible verses speak for themselves:

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1 Thessalonians 5:18.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:17).

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God (Philippians 4:6).

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever (Psalm 136:1).

Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name (1 Chronicles 29:13).

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name O most high: (Psalm 92:1).

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:20).

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands (Psalm 100:1)

Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord (Psalm 150:6).

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Writing Rhythm

I've already published fourteen books in 2023, and I have two more to go before the end of the year. They're all multiple-author projects. I have to laugh at myself when I wonder how I built such a hectic writing schedule, and I've promised myself to never do this many in one year again. Great opportunities came along, and I accepted some of them. There were others I could have written for, but I did have the sense not to schedule more than two in any one month.

I've developed a routine that allows me to keep up. I write intensively for two to three weeks and get a rough draft finished. Then I take a week off from writing new material to edit a previously written manuscript and get caught up in other areas. I always do about six of my own edits on each book before I send it to a professional editor. Using this method, I have been able to stay about four months ahead which gives my editors and Audible narrators time to work. Interestingly, I've had to have two or three editors because one couldn't keep up.

I love writing, and it amazes me that I haven't burned out on it even with the rigorous schedule this year. On the off-weeks, when I'm not writing on a new manuscript, I miss it. However, I am looking forward to less pressure next year. Right now, I have eleven scheduled which is still a lot. I've vowed to never write more than twelve in one year again, but I think eleven will be it for 2024.

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Beyond the Lion's Den

Most of you likely remember the biblical story of Daniel in the Lion's Den. I grew up on stories like this as I'm sure many of you did. However, it always amazes me how many different lessons a story like this teaches. The story in Daniel 6 tells us that King Darius had appointed Daniel as one of the three presidents in the Persian Empire, and he was the most favored one. In essence, he was second in command, and the other Persian leaders became jealous of him, so they conspired to get rid of him. They had the king sign a royal statute that no one could petition any god for thirty days, except for the king, whom they viewed as a god; and if someone did, he would be thrown in the lion's den to be devoured.

Daniel had no intention to stop praying to God as was his custom. He didn't try to hide it but prayed in front of his open window, facing toward Jerusalem as he always had. His adversaries had him arrested, and according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, a royal decree could not be overturned. Although hating to do so, King Darius was forced to have Daniel thrown into the lion's den. But notice what the king said to Daniel. "Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee" (Daniel 6:16). Throughout his time in the Babylonian and now in the Persian Empire, Daniel had already been a strong witness for his God. First King Nebuchadnezzar and now Darius recognized God's mighty power.

The Bible tells us that Darius didn't sleep any that night because he was so concerned about Daniel. He also fasted the whole time. He got out very early the next morning to check on Daniel. "And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel. O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, who thou servest continually, able to deliver you from the lions?" (Daniel 6:20).

The Bible recounts Daniel's answer and what happened next.  "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and before thee, O king have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, and their children, and their wives; and the lions had their mastery of them, and brake all their bones to pieces or even before they came at the bottom of the den" (Daniel 6: 22-24).

But that wasn't all. Reading what happened next brings the good kind of emotional chills. "Then king Darius wrote unto all the people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble with fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end." How many people came to know God because of Daniel's faithfulness? It appears that King Darius certainly did. May our testimonies be as strong in a world that definitely needs them.

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Lily: Christmas Quilt Brides.

I grew up in the Appalachian Mountain region from a long line of crafters. Before I began writing full-time, I was an avid quilter, selling them at craft fairs and giving them to family. I love quilts, and my favorite part of the whole process is quilting the layers together. I do it the old-fashioned way, using a traditional large quilt frame the way my ancestors did. I normally quilted around twelve stitches per inch, which is rather fine, but I could do more if I tried. I often made four to six quilts a year, even while teaching and spending over twelve hours working on school activities most workdays.

I studied quilts, went to quilt museums, toured history museums with quilts, and browsed huge Amish markets in Pennsylvania. I collected quilt books, patterns, and boxes and boxes of fabric. I went to classes, studied quilts, and even appraised them. Therefore, when a recent opportunity came to write in a multiple-author quilt-themed series, I jumped at it.

I expected the novel would include my main character actually quilting, but the character-driven novel didn't work out that way. However, Lily loves quilts, and two of them are pivotal in moving the story to its conclusion. I hope readers have as much fun with the story as I did. Lily: Christmas Quilt Brides will publish on November 17 and is on preorder now. Be sure to check it out. It will be available on Kindle, KU, print, and Audible.

Link to Lily

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 Chilling Words

The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish (Proverbs 10:28).

Isn't it amazing how the Bible often speaks to us and our times just as it did to the prophets and their times? All through the books of the prophets, such as Ezekiel, Amos, and Hosea, God gave warnings as to what would happen if His people didn't turn from their increasingly wicked ways and seek His righteousness. Many of these speak directly to our country and our world today.

"Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way . . ." (Hosea 10:13). How much does this address the situations we see around us today? How many lies are being perpetuated? How much wickedness is growing throughout society? Think of how much is accepted today that would never been tolerated in our grandparents' time. How many things do you see happening go against God and His Word?

It concerns me that more Christians aren't taking a bold stand against sin and wickedness and declaring God's truths. But if each of us would do that in our own lives, in our own families, we could make a difference. We need to make sure we are bringing up a new generation that will love, worship, and follow God. We need to be Christ-centered, Christ-focused followers no matter what is going on around us. Let's stand solidly on our Rock.

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