Christmas & Writing, Holiday Cheer

Hey, y'all,

Hope you all have your Christmas shopping done and are ready for take off to intricately and decoratively wrap those marvelous gifts. Or maybe they're already packed and ready to ship off to Brazil, Europe, Canada, Marlyland... Maybe you've bought all your presents from one store, like Herbergers, Wal-Mart (like I usually do, haha), or K-Mart. Maybe you've just made all your presents this year. Family gatherings, lush dinners, big surprises, happiness all around. That's part of Christmas, but what it's really about is celebrating Christ's birthday and how He came into the world, born in a manger, to pay for our sins and fulfill His amazing and wonderful will for our lives.

I wish I was writing a book about Christmas, but there could be Christmas in it, I suppose. I've done a lot more writing lately. The Lord has helped me grab plenty of time to finish off my book "Greatest Is Found." This book is about a woman who falls in love with her neighbor across from her. However, when they begin to go forward in their relationship, the couple begins to realize the man's parents will play a certain part in their lives to make them think about their lives in a brand new light. They're soon headed on a dangerous mission that will literally cost them their lives. I'm so excited to finish off this book, edit it, and then hopefully finish my Japan book then. I'm still debating on whether or not I should write that book of mine set in the early 1900s that will end in tragedy. Should I or should I not write it? That is the question, haha.

Well, as I'm rambling on, let me tell you that I can't wait for Christmas. I get to spend it with family and see the joy on their faces as they open their gifts. I get to go to church, especially, to celebrate Christ's birth. Getting new stuff isn't as important as who you get to share this Christmas time with, and all of you remember that. I know you might be fighting to get the best thing at the store for your loved ones, or make sure your stuffing is just right this year, or make sure you remember to send those Christmas cards to all your relatives and friends. What I like to incorporate best in my books when I write is not just that God is with you, watches over you, and has a plan for everyone's life. It's not just about that or how amazing he is. It is ALL ABOUT that. It's ALL ABOUT Christ and what He has done for us, and how amazing He is because of that. Think about it, where would Christmas be without Him? It wouldn't be Christmas. It would just be Mas. And what a lame title, huh? Haha. We wouldn't have the freedom and ability or even the money and resources we need to celebrate Christmas without God. Without Him, it would just a big, empty, black space. There would be no world. No nothing. Just absolute silence, just how it was before Creation. I hope y'all get my meaning here. Yes, family traditions are wonderful and cool. Our own family has them. But I thank God every year for these wonderful blessings He's given us and how we wouldn't have these traditions without Him. We wouldn't have this family to spend Christmas with if it wasn't for Him. :)

As I finish my writing for the rest of this year, I plan to keep my focus on God and His amazing blessings in my life. What amazing plans He must have for me! For all of you! Have a very Merry Christmas everyone, a good rest of 2011, and an amazing New Year start of 2012!! Wow!! God is sooo great. :)

MONTHLY QUOTE: "Surely there is something in the unruffled calm of nature that overawes our little anxieties and doubts; the sight of the deep-blue sky and the clustering stars above seems to impart a quiet to the mind."--Jonathan Edwards

WRITING TIP: Think of the peace this Christmas season that Christ brought to the world when He was born in a manger, and plan your book accordingly.

TA!!! TTYL!! :D GOD BLESS!!! :D

JMG~~ :)