Saving Time

The Bible declares: 

A man's heart devises (plans) his way,

but the Lord directs his steps.

--Proverbs 16:9

I firmly believe that planning your life--along with God's direction, is the best way to travel through our time here on earth. Granted, not everything can be foreseen: the unexpected happens, plans change, and our life in general changes. But there are some simple ways to save time and keep stress at a minimum. 

1. Spend time in the morning in devotions. This is a quiet time, reading the Bible (and/or devotional books, encouraging books), meditation, reflection and prayer. This will lead to not only listening to God's encouragement and instruction for the day, but strength for what the day brings. A willing, steady, obedient heart is much more pliable to God's will.
   
2. Set goals for the day. Whether you homeschool children, work outside the home, volunteer, or have a quieter (?) day at home all day, goals will help you keep focused on what you want/need to accomplish. Obstacles and changes in the day may upset your plans, but don't let that UPSET you. Realize that life is uncertain, at best, and lean on God to direct your path as you handle your life.
   
3. Take a few minutes in midday, if at all possible, and relax. Walk, read a few pages of a good book, nap, get to a quiet place and study nature...whatever relaxes you, do it! It will give you a break from the daily toils and infuse you with a bit more energy for the rest of the day.
   
4. Try to accomplish one special--extra goal a day. By that I mean, make a list of things you'd like to accomplish whether losing weight (walk! do light exercises, cut out a certain food), catching up on a project (fifteen minutes is something!, making calls (parents? a friend you've lost touch with? sending a card of encouragement, etc.), home projects (cleaning one shelf at a time is not un-permissable. Do it!, walk the dog, work in the garden for fifteen minutes, ride a bike, etc.  Whatever the special goal is, doesn't matter. Small or large, fun or serious, it's important. This will give you personal satisfaction in obtaining something that seems impossible as far as time goes. 
   
5. Try to eat a healthy but delicious evening. Crock pots are life savors. If you have a family, this is the time to share the good times of the day. Make it a simple, enjoyable time whether for yourself or family or friends.
   
6. Relax. Work on a project, Finish up a few, easy tasks of the day, prepare for tomorrow, soak in a tub, read, listen to music, watch the sunset, whatever you can do to prepare for a good night's sleep. End the day with thanks. 
   
7. If you can, get the sleep you need. Soothing music, soft lights or dark, warm covers (or cool, depending on what you need) and pleasant thoughts create an atmosphere of relaxation. Figure out what works best and get into the routine an hour or so before bedtime.
   

Not everyone's life can revolve around what I listed, but figure out what works for your lifestyle. Some people like less structure, and that's okay. You make your plans and follow in God's steps. 

Some quotes for good admonition: 

• “Be careful to make a good improvement of precious time.”  David Brainerd
• “Time is your most precious gift, because you only have a set amount of it.”  Rick Warren
• “Serve God by doing common actions in a heavenly spirit, and then, if your daily calling only leaves you cracks and crevices of time, fill them up with holy service.”  Charles Spurgeon

Happy day! 

WEEK'S GIVEAWAY:

A Flute in the Willows

Both rebels in their own way, Josie and Jerry Patterson must figure out how to keep the other's love...and keep the German enemy at bay.

She has two loves—her skating and Jerry, her husband. But when he returns home looking like a skeleton trying to return to life, she's scared. What happened in Germany to change a man so much? Has another woman captured his heart?

Jerry has vowed to let Josie live her own glamorous life...especially after what happened in Germany. But when his wife's life is threatened, Jerry realizes he can't stand by and do nothing. Jerry has to risk all for the very soul and life of himself—Josie.

These two damaged, rebellious people learn the hard way that leaning on God instead of their own selves and abilities is the only true way to love and happiness.

Check it out on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1492661357&sr=1-1

 Comment on any post now through March 25th to get your name in the drawing! Winner will be announced in the March Weekly Windup. Paperback giveaways are for U.S. residents only.

About Carole:

Besides being an active participant in many writing groups, Carole is an award-winning author and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance, and whimsy into her books and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Word Sharpeners: https://wordsharpeners.wordpress.com/

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

New Year, Fresh Start

Did you set some goals for this year? Are you planning on improving your actions, your duties, your work, your life?

 

Two things have impressed me recently (once again).

1. The simplicity of "just doing it."
2. The brevity of life.

I received some encouragement the other day from a friend: encouraging me to write every day. Didn't matter whether it was ten words or a hundred or 5000.

Just write.

Last year was hectic, to say the least. Many times inspiration was lacking. The desire to write when I knew I needed to finish the manuscript, that it was overdue, that I was procrastinating, was overwhelming. Instead of finishing two or more novels, I barely managed to complete one.

So: 

• come high water or whatever, I plan on getting the words down. I allow the overly cautious editor inside me, to hinder my work, and I know that. But one thing I learned while finishing this latest book, is to push through. Edits will find the plot holes, the grammar mistakes, and most anything else that needs refining. 
• I must keep the determination. Don't let it flounder when I just don't want to write. Get something down!

With the loss of a dear friend late in 2017, the deaths of others I've known, the events in the world, and the realization that everyone ages, even the grandsons, I'm determined to love a little more, be more understanding and patient, provide more acts of kindness and serve God with a deeper devotion. 

So, I will strive to:

• think before I speak. Disregard comments that will get me nowhere, or improve the situation, in giving my opinion
• Hug a little more and say "I love you" quite often.
• Take time out to show others small acts of kindness. I want to look for ways to provide effective gifts of generosity, and thereby, bringing smiles and a bit of encouragement to others.
  

Can I do what I want to do here?

Perhaps. Maybe. I hope to, and with determination and God's help, I believe I can! 

Wishing you a very Happy and blessed New Year!

About Carole:

Besides being an active participant in many writing groups, Carole is an award-winning author and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance, and whimsy into her books and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Word Sharpeners: https://wordsharpeners.wordpress.com/

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

A Writer's Resolution

Elaine here, hoping everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Are you ready for 2017?

Like everyone else, I’ve resolved to be better during the New Year. Eat healither. Exercise more. Stop a bad habit. One thing I’ve learned from past failures is how important it is to have someone hold me accountable. Other than God, of course, because we’re always accountable to God.

Since I lost my dear husband this year, I don’t have him to hold me accountable. So for my writing resolution, I’m asking you, our STT readers and writers to hold me accountable.

My writing resolution for 2017 is to publish a new series of three books I’ve been working on for years. These books began before I started writing Christian fiction. They were standalone secular stories, and Harlequin was interested in one of them, but I couldn’t bring myself to agree with their terms. It isn’t because they were erotic. They were clean romance, but missed the mark of what I wanted to say.

For years these stories simmered on the back burner as I waited for the Lord’s direction. I revised, adding some sermonizing, but preaching isn’t my gift, and my characters didn’t sound authenic. Most of my inspirational themes come across as witnessing. Christian characters overcoming the world’s difficulties through their faith. I revised again, but that didn’t work either.

Then I realized these stories were more like parables, circumstances everyone can relate to, but with an overreaching theme that teaches a moral. I don’t know why I’d never noticed it before, but every one of these plots had the same theme—people deceived by the wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The obvious title of my series became The Wolf Deceivers. Though the villain in each book is known by the POV character and the reader, the people are deceived. In the first book, set in Scotland in the 1770s, the clan is deceived, and the chieftain must fight the villain to save his people. In the second book, set in Regency England, the London aristocracy is deceived, and the heroine must fight the villain to regain her reputation. In the third book, set in the post Civil War South, the ex-Confederates are deceived, and the hero must fight the villain to achieve peace.

I’m amazed at how easy the edits are now with this new perception, and I take that as my green light from God that I’m on the right track. I might even be able to promote these books to the secular audience. After all, Jesus used parables to speak to those who didn’t have the spiritual perception to see or hear.

At any rate, now that I’ve shared my resolution, I’ll be more likely to carry through, and it will be a lot easier than sticking with my diet.

Thank you for being my witnesses, and since I’ll need comparable books about wolves in sheep’s clothing, if you’ve read a book with such a villain, please mention it in your comments. The first book I remember reading with this type premise is Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier, but I'm sure there are many more in both Christian and secular genres.   

Do you like audiobooks? Comment on any post through Dec 31 to get your name in the drawing for Stephenia McGee's audiobook version of Leveraging Lincoln.