Merry Christmas

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, hope you have family around you, plenty to eat and maybe something fun in your stocking., (If you've been good) most of all the love of Jesus Christ in your heart. This is the season to celebrate his birth. If you believe otherwise, God bless you, I know and understand what you are saying. However, the Christmas Carols are so beautiful and powerful they bring tears to my eyes and when people celebrate they are bringing Christ to the forefront of people's minds that may not have him there otherwise. Some people will accept Christmas Carols and Christmas Stories when they will not listen to preaching. If they won't let you in otherwise this may be the way to get someone to listen.

John 8:32

I ran across this in my daily readings and found it interesting. Thought I might share it.

Printer version   John 8:32 (32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  King James Version     Freedom is what Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are ultimately about. God's freeing Israel from bondage in Egypt is the object lesson that we are to apply spiritually. truth and freedom go hand and hand. This is why the Christian world is in the condition it is in. The vast majority of Christians do not really mark the death of Jesus Christ in the way that God commands us to observe it. They may be very much aware of it, and it is a large part of their teaching: They understand that Christ died for our sins. But they miss its full importance, its full impact because they do not observe the Passover. Thus the lesson is missed. Truth and freedom go hand in hand, but truth will produce freedom only as it is used. That ought to be self-evident. We can know something is true, but if we fail to use it, what good is it? Its value is worthless unless it is used. Freedom and truth come to those who press on. Freedom, the kind of freedom that God is involved in bringing us into, comes progressively, not all at once. These are lessons from the Days of Unleavened Bread. It took the Israelites seven days to get to and across the Red Sea. It took them another forty years to get into their own land, into their inheritance, the Promised Land. Their freedom was progressive. There was a time when it began, but if they had never continued on the way, they would never have had their own land, never have had their inheritance, never have been free. This is a large part of the object lesson: We have to continue. If we continue, then we will truly be a disciple. We will understand the truth, and we will become free. The truth of God shows us the real values of life because it shows us what we are to give our life to. John W. Ritenbaugh

My Trip

I'm getting ready to leave for a writer's conference in Kansas City in two days. This will be the farthest west I've ever been.  Up to now Indiana was it.  I'm not well traveled. I'm also not good with important people, such as "real" writers, agents, publishers etc. I will feel like the country bumpkin in the big city, I'm sure. It will be fun though to feel like one of those "real" writers for a few days.  Who knows maybe I'll meet someone that can help me with my writing. That is the point of going so chances are I will learn a lot. Keep me in your prayers.

A New Day

Every day is a good day. Sometimes bad things happen during that day or the weather could be dreary or even scary sometimes.  But the day itself is good and even the bad things happen for a reason.  This is a time to look into our lives and see just what is there, good things and bad things.  Time to do a little 'fall housecleaning'. Let's sweep out some of those things that are hanging on that don't need to be there. Maybe try on a new attitude.  That is a difficult one.  I know that I tend to become complacent in my attitudes. I think, well that's the way I feel about it so everyone else can just deal with it.  I'm thinking maybe I'm the one that needs to 'deal with it' and quit being so stubborn.  When I start digging deep within myself for understand about what it is that makes me act and react the way I do it seems to come down to the insecure person I thought I left behind a long time ago.  I guess I keep inviting her back in because she seems to be at the bottom of a lot of my problems.  I've tried to banish her one more time.  I feel empty, as if something is missing.  I guess that's why I keep inviting her back in, to fill the empty space.

Payday

I just received an email from Pubit, (Barnes and Noble) that today is payday and my account will be credited with my earnings on my two books that are available there by e book.  I have two books published and it was a simple matter to transfer files to Pubit for sale.  The payday was a big one by the way $16 but hey it didn't cost me anything. Now if I can get the word out about the books to people who read electronic books maybe I'll get another payday someday.  The titles are "Frost Love Lost Love Found" and "Frost The Lost Ones" you can find them on Pubit either by name or by searching my name (Marilyn Clarke)  They are only 4.99 and are fun books to read..  They are also available on Amazon for e book form.  Printed version is available from www.Lulu.com  or directly from me.  Printed version from me is $11.00 plus $4.00  shipping for a total of $15.00 per book. They are a little higher from Lulu but they do take credit cards, at this time I don't.

“He that loves a book will never want a faithful friend, a wholesome counselor, a cheerful companion, an effectual comforter. By study, by reading, by thinking, one may innocently divert and pleasantly entertain himself, as in all weathers, as in all fortunes.”

- Barrow

Great Weekend

Well the fun filled weekend is over except for the resting.  Jeff, Courtney, Kailyn and Ellie were here.  Ellie and I played with dolls, fun, and Kailyn and I made fudge, yum. So good to see everyone, wish we could live about a half hour drive from Mentor, Ohio and about a half hour drive from Camby, Indiana. Anyone know of a house for sale in that area? Understand the requirements are about a half hour from each.  Well another day to work tomorrow.

Tired

I worked today, a very busy 12 hr shift.  When I left work I went to the grocery store.  The parking lot at the store was so full I had to search and search for a parking spot, all the while saying to myself, if it's this crowded inside I don't want to be here.I went anyway!  It was crowded but not as bad as the parking lot indicated, I guess a lot of the cars were from the ball game next door.  Bad for business I would think when the parking lot is that full I'm sure there were others who thought 'I'm not going in there'. At least I have it done now even though I'm exhausted.  Think I'll go on to bed and worry about everything else I have to do tomorrow. Night all!

Going overboard

I was reading a couple of Bible verses this morning that made me think, thinking is good, at least most of the time. Anyway it seems the Pharisees had 1521 regulations just for keeping the Sabbath.  I'm sure they were sincere in their actions and thoughts. Just trying to make it clear what you can and can't do beyond a shadow of a doubt. They had become so wrapped up in their doctrine they forgot what they were originally there for. Ultimately God has what we call common sense and wants us to have it too and remember what the Sabbath was originally actually for, for worship and communion with Him.  Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath much to the Pharisees displeasure.  Their precious rules and regulations had been broken, their doctrine shown up for what it was.  Let's don't get so wrapped up in rules that we can't enjoy communion with God and his creation.
 Matthew 12:9-14 and Mark 3:1-5

It's Wednesday

I'm saying it's Wednesday with a positivity (not a word) I'm not feeling.  Last night I sat and debated with myself whether it was Tuesday or Wednesday. Finally decided it was Tuesday last night ... so it follows today is Wednesday.
 We have two Pomapoos, little white hairy dogs that are half Pomeranian and half Poodle, they each have their own little personality but they share their idolization of Jesse and I.  It 's nice to have someone who thinks you do no wrong, even when you forget to fill the water dish occasionally. (but not for long)
.  I gave them both a haircut Monday night, it took about five hours total.  I would stop every little while when they got disgusted with me pulling on their hair.  I might do Abby's head then do Ziva's feet then stop for ten minutes. (Yes I am a NCIS fan, it's on right now) finally after five hours they were done, (sort of) they have a few stray pieces that got missed but they look cooler if not stylish, and it grows out amazingly fast.
The thing is they prance around as if they have the best haircut ever because Mom did it for them and they have already forgiven the hair pulling, they tend to matt with that long curly hair. They have a great level of forgiveness.  We should take lessons from dogs, Love what is given to you, forget the hurts people cause and forgive quickly.

Good Morning

Good morning everyone, I've been writing on the third in the series of my books about the female deputy in the fictional WV county of Matson. She has grown and added friends and family since she first became a deputy.
The first book is Frost Love Lost Love Found. The second book is Frost The Lost Ones.  This book is not titled yet and I need help with the title.  Frost...Lost, I don't think so.  Frost Eternal, maybe. Frost Forever, again maybe.  Frost Love Forever Yours?  I'm lost in this.  I usually just name them and go on.  This one is staying just out of my grasp.

Frost First Love Last Love ended up being the title.  After that  came Julie's Story then The Lies My Mother told, and then Sons and Daughters finishing with Full Circle, The House on River Street.  There are two books out of series, the first one is Every Other Wednesday, The Lunch Club and the Second  is titled Imposter.  There is a cookbook written for the Avalanche CEOS Club Called Avalanche CEOS Hard Candy Christmas and one done for the VFW Auxiliary called VFW Auxiliary  Best of the Best Cookbook.  I've been busy, not, I could have done twice as much if I weren't so lazy.

Forgot to mention my book of short stories, 25 Temporarily Twisted Tales.