Merry Christmas to All

December 2011 already. Hard to believe.

This past year has been full and it's finally coming to an end. I have all my presents finished and ready to go.

As I wrap each one, I pray that the person receives it with joy.

It's a busy time for everyone and we have many sick ones in our midst. Many are out of jobs and need medical help. The prayer chains have been busy and we are kept on our toes in this area of our lives.

We also have had a lot of friends who became widows and it seems there is never enough time to help enough. Jim's Marion House Soup Kitchen fed over 600 people last Friday. I worked in the basement with incoming clothing, warm winter pieces that are much needed this time of year.

The weather has been cold and the falls are iced. We are by the fire of the Holy Spirit spreading our hands in praise and receiving His warmth and encouragement. He uses our friends and loved ones.

Won't you join us these year as we lift less fortunate up to Him for comfort?

I'll serve hot chocolate with peppermint, tea, or coffee...whatever helps comfort you. If you need prayer, email me at coloradopolly@yahoo.com.

I'm thinking of each of you special ones in my life and reminding my Father of you and your needs. He loves each of you so very much and so do I.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Resources

Right after I had surgery, I found myself a brown recluse spider who loved me. As a result I've been down again. Slower recovery than I expected! No...I did not do this for attention!!! I was super full of energy and decided to do some weeding in my flower bed.

I want to take a moment today to let you know that God hasn't forgotten you and He will always be faithful to what you need as a called writer for Him.

One word He has taught me lately and that's humble. He began to remind me of all the people in my life that He has provided me to grow and stretch. Mostly people who listen to his call to love, hug, call, encourage, and love unconditionally.

Grace Bridges, Splashdown Publishing. Have you ever been to the top of a huge slide hovering over a swimming pool? Once you put your foot into that fast falling water, well, there is no return is there? That's this company, Grace has added another genre to her company. She is ever moving forward and her determination is such a good example of never giving up.

Linda Harris, editor extraordinaire. She always says, "You can do this, now do it!"

Tiffany Colter still growing and expanding her company, check her out, she's always willing to help and answer your questions.

Gretchen Ricker has a heart to help writers take the next step forward and is starting a new company, look to this for further information in the future. It will have a unique twist to it and I can't wait.

Congrats to Denise Holmes who is the new director of WFTJ. Words for the Journey. We will miss you Michelle. You've been a great inspirational leader. :) Thank you from many of us.

Tiffany Stuart, growing by leaps and bounds and ready to take on the speaker's world, you won't be sorry once you've listened to her. She has wisdom beyond her age. Encouragement to keep on keeping is her middle name. :)

Chris Richards, constantly seeking the Lord's face, ready and willing to support who ever needs it.

A new publishing company...DWB which stands for Dancing With Bear. Marie McGhea is the owner and refreshingly different.

Bobbie Shafer who is the ultimate encourager and I appreciate her care.

Jan Parrish, well what can I say about Jan. She's just always there for me.

Signing off for now with a lot of love and gratefulness in my heart for all of you.

Heart Help

Perhaps it's time to take a look at our personal writing lives and examine everything about ourselves. Health is a major thing to consider. Remember the choice you make...makes you. :)

What's this got to do with writing? Well, if you aren't getting enough oxygen, your brain becomes fuzzy and you are fatigued most of the time.

I'm keeping this short today. I'm just out of surgery for a blocked artery in my heart.

PLEASE NOTE: Women's symptoms are different than men's. Here were mine for over thirty years. They started out one or two at a time until...it was almost too late. Let me clarify something; my heart or chest never once hurt. I've had several major surgeries and it was never caught.

Fatigue, shortness of breath, nothing in particular set off the symptoms. Sometimes I would be watching TV or in bed. Lots of mis-diagnoses happened over the years. About a year before blockage was finally discovered I experienced severe pain in between my shoulder blades. It was as if someone had hit me there with a two-by-four. Then my throat seemed to swell up and I couldn't breathe. The way a person with an asthma attack would describe what was happening. Then I got excruciating pain in my jaws, cheekbones, and running up my temples. The pain shot out through the top of my head and I was left with a bad headache. I never get headaches so this was new for me.

So, my precious female doctor caught it and today Praise the Lord, I'm still on earth for my 61st Birthday on August 1st. I'm still writing too, but for the moment I'm sitting by the falls and letting the spray cool me. Doc says no driving and must rest for about three weeks. That's hard for me to do. I love my family, gardening and writing. But now, I visualize finally being able to break 100 on the golf course.

Praying for all of you this fine day in the Lord Jesus. :)

Love, Paulette

ACFW 2011 Retreat in Colorado

I've been way too long in posting. I had a slow recovery from the hernia surgery in January and it didn't succeed. Then, I took a bad fall. But I'm still here to cause trouble until Jesus calls me home.

This past weekend, I was blessed to be able to go to the ACFW 2011 Retreat in Colorado. The place was beautiful and only two exits from my home.

Cecil Murphy taught and we had a great time with some very serious thoughts and some "fun" things to do as well. He is author or more than 150 books. One of them being 90 DAYS IN HEAVEN and we studied out of KNOWING GOD KNOWING MYSELF.

Cecil challenged us to dig deeper with the Lord and allow ourselves to become more transparent.

He made some good points that I'd like to share with you. Come and sit under a pine tree with me, feel the light spring breeze and ponder these thoughts. Take what is yours, throw what doesn't apply into the breeze, and send it forward and upward. I'm praying for/with you.

1-What we do doesn't determine our value. What we are determines our value.

2-To find your author's voice you need to discover who you are.

3-Writing gives readers access to your private world. (That's a scary truth.)

4-There's nothing wrong with being who you are. (How refreshing is that?) :)

5-God uses both our strengths and weaknesses.

6-You are more important than what you do or don't do. (We all really need to hear this at times.)

Now, take up your cross, dust yourself and walk on the path that Jesus has called you as a unique individual for His purposes. He's with you every step of the way.

Help me Lord during those time when it's dark, take my hand and guide my steps in Jesus Name.

Amen.