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Discovering Jesus…This Season
“What does your platform look like?” I looked around to make sure nobody heard my response. “I don’t have one.” The young publisher looked at my children’s book synopsis and my motivational story before returning them to me. “You need to work on that,” she said kindly. “You won’t find a traditional publisher that will take your stories without social media followers.” My heart sank. How do I do it? Where do I start? It was my first Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers’ Conference, and it was exciting and overwhelming all at the same time. That afternoon I attended a class where the speaker said: “A platform is a way…
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Do you know how to Rest in Motion?
My life was turned upside down almost three weeks ago when my dad died unexpectedly. Even though my gratitude for him not suffering is immense, my heart is limping from that chunk that was ripped off when he left. Right now my family and I are trying to navigate through this storm that took us by surprise. It’s time to practice what a fishing trip taught me a long time ago: How to rest in motion. Except this time it’s God’s edition.…. Blue skies kissed the clear ocean water in the horizon. I grabbed my sunscreen, beach towel and camera and picked a spot on the front of the boat.…
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Deseo o Esperanza, esa es la Pregunta
“Feliz Año Nuevo!” Los gritos de celebración y los abrazos entre familiares y amigos invadieron la casa de alegría. “Hagan un deseo!” gritó alguien.” ¡Esperemos que el 2023 sea un buen año! Me levanté tempranito en la mañana, me hice una gran taza de café y me acomodé en mi sillón preferido con mi Biblia y mi cuaderno. Dos palabras me quedaron resonando de la noche anterior: Deseo y Esperanza. Me pregunté cuál de las dos era la más apropiada para recibir el nuevo año, así que decidí consultarle a Google. Deseo: el la acción y efecto de desear (anhelar, sentir apetencia, aspirar a algo), (Oxford Languages). Esperanza: es la…
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To Wish or to Hope, that is the Question
“Happy New Year!” Our family and friends sang in unison as we slammed the door on 2022. “Make a wish everybody!” someone chanted. “Let’s hope for a great 2023!” Early the next morning, I plopped in my favorite chair with a gigantic cup of coffee, my Bible and journal. Two words resounded from the night before: “wish” and “hope.” I wondered which one was the best to use to usher in the new year, so I went to Google. Wish is to have a desire for (something, such as something unattainable, unlikely to happen. (merriam-webster.com) Hope as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; a…
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¿Qué Pasa cuando lo Único que Queda es un Árbol Vacío?
“Feliz Año Nuevo!” Nuestra casa explotó entre gritos de buenos deseos, risas y abrazos cariñosos. Me encanta celebrar el nacimiento de nuestro Señor con fiestas y regalos, pero después de un mes entre luces y decoraciones estaba lista para guardar todo y limpiar mi casa. Me levanté temprano el día siguiente para quitar todo lo navideño, dejando el árbol, por último. “Falta uno,” dijo mi esposo, apuntando al árbol. Era un adorno en forma de un nacimiento que se encontraba escondido entre las ramas. “Pobre árbol,” añadió. “Anoche era el centro de atención, tan iluminado y decorado. Ahora que ya no tiene adornos ni luces, no es más que un…
