MISS MARPLE AND ME

My microcosm of the world in the nursing home reminds me of St. Mary's Mead. Because it's so small, you see, I get to know the people pretty well.

The most interesting to me, if the saddest, are the people whose minds aren't healthy. What is left of the core of the person they were ten, twenty, thirty years ago?

What I find comforting are the people who love the Lord. Many here claim faith (we are the buckle of the Bible belt, after all.) But in several it shines through, as refracted as a prism, in different colors and lights and not at all perfect. But glorious in beauty.

First of all there is a songbird. Her mind is the most far gone, but she loves to sing praises to the Lord, to tell of His salvation, to love little children. She always has a chuckle and a laugh and a "praise the Lord!"

Our calling bird (aloha-oy, oy, oy) can carry on an ordinary conversation at times. At other times, she's cussing and fighting mad, and I'm not sure how much is her ornery nature and how much is dementia. But, oh, the joy of listening to her singing her heart out, hymn after hymn after hymn. Today God reminded me that when I sing with her, singing together because we both love the Lord, He's right here with us. I need people like her, her urge me to praise the Lord.

One of our newer residents loves to give benedictions. I don't mean a formal blessing. But she makes a point of seeking each resident, steepling her fingers and pointing them at her new friend, and mentioning something she has seen that she likes about that person. I haven't heard her mention Jesus. She doesn't need to. She shows it by the love that flows from her.

What do others see in me? I don't know. I pray that they see the Lord in me, His love. That the four of us, together, will be light and salt that testify to the love of God and His grace and offer of salvation.

MOTIVATION: WHY DO I WRITE?

That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. (Matthew 13:13, MSG) 

(Caveat: I know that The Message is a paraphrase and not a translation. This verse reads quite differently in the NIV and the KJV)

Do you ever feel like a second-class citizen for preferring to read or write fiction over nonfiction? Because they're just made up stories, after all, not real "truth."

Almost two thousand years ago, the disciples asked Jesus the same question: "Why do you speak in parables? Why do you tell stories?"

Jesus's answer gives me all the motivation I will ever need to write (and read) Christian fiction: "to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight." 

Some authors, notably John Grisham, do write for that dream, the "crossover market." 

Other authors, while I am unaware of their faith, write strong stories of morality or portray Christians in a positive light, such as Dick Francis and Sue Grafton.

My books have been read by Hindus, Muslims, and Atheists--who wanted to read more. (oh, yes, Christians, too, of course!)

I pray that my stories will create readiness for the gospel. 

Take heart, fiction writers. We tell stories for the same reason Jesus did. 

***Please leave a comment, with your email address,  for a chance to win one of my books.To increase your chances, do any of the following and let me know in a comment on this blog (one chance for every action taken):

• Check out my new blog, http://mydailynibble.blogspot.com/. Leave a comment,
• Follow either blog (1 or 2 chances) 
• Answer ether of these questions: What book have you read that has "created readiness" in your heart? or How have your books created readiness in others?

PUZZLE ANSWERS

Did  you have fun with my picture puzzle last week? I did!

The pictures for are for the proposed cover art for my upcoming historical romance, Golden Dreams. The teaser for the book reads "He won't let love end her figure skating dreams the way an accident shattered his. Will their quest for Olympic victory stand in the way of true love?"

Got it yet? No?

Who is she? Several people identified the picture as Sonja Henie. True, but I meant the character in the story. She is a figure skater, an Olympic hopeful. Amada, thanks for going the extra mile, guessing at a fabulous skater, outgoing, strong, but with trust issues.  (You pretty much nailed Winnie on the head!)

Who is he?  This one was a lot harder to guess, I admit, but a few of you came close.  They are not skating partners; rather, he is her coach. So those who said dancing partner, sweetheart or  fellow Olympic hopeful (he would have competed in 1928 except for a career-ending injury) get credit.

Where is it? The Olympic venue is Lake Placid, New York. The building is a grist mill, which in the story has been converted into an indoor ice skating rink. The story takes place in Vermont. (no one guessed Vermont, but that was hard, I'll admit)

When is it? This answer could have been clear to the observant reader. A couple of clues existed to this: the dress pattern, the years Sonja Henie reigned on the ice, the dates of the Lake Placid Olympics--this is during the 1930s, specifically, 1931-1932.

**There are five winners from last week, out of 55 "chances" earned: Connie R., Nutty Artist, Cheryl, Kay M., and Amada. If you do not receive an email from me, please contact me at belovedfranklin (at) hotmail (dot) com.**

**for a chance to win this week: Head over to my new blog, a daily devotional called "My Daily Nibble" ( http://mydailynibble.blogspot.com/ ). If you read, leave a comment, or sign up to follow - let me know on this blog. Triple chances available. Please be sure to leave your email address.**

NEW BOOK COVER

Voila!  Proof that It Is Well With my Soul is on its way this summer!  (July 2013 pub date)

It Is Well With my Soul contains fifteen devotionals based on lines from the beloved hymn, as well as related prayers, quotes, and Bible verses.

BOOK GIVEAWAY PICTURE PUZZLE

I sent the pictures below to my editor this week, for her use in creating the cover art for Golden Dreams. 

Today I am giving you a picture puzzle with four questions. Who is the heroine? Who is the hero? I mean occupation, role in the story, personality - whatever you want to include. I don't mean the identity of the person in the picture. What decade or year does the story take place? Where is it--the setting of the story, either the state, region, or building?

For guessing, you earn an extra chance at a book. For each correct answer, you get an extra chance.

P.S. To win, you have to leave your email address in your comment.

Who is my heroine? What year is it?  Use the top two pictures to decide.

Who is my hero? What is his relationship with the heroine? Use two middle pictures.

Where is the story located? Both geography and type of building. Use bottom 2 pictures.

***THE WINNER OF LAST WEEK'S GIVEAWAY IS KAYM! KAY, GET IN TOUCH WITH ME AT belovedfranklin (at) msn (dot) com FOR DETAILS!***

HAPPY NEW YEAR

This has been a year of new beginnings for me personally.

Biggest of all is, of course, is the change to living in a nursing home.  I didn't expect the decline in my health, nor the two hospitalizations. But God has brought me, and it has become a shelter and a time of great blessing, to me and through me to others.

2012 has also seen a new beginning for me in nonfiction, with the first contract for a complete nonfiction book written by me: It Is Well with my Soul, a series of devotions, prayers, Bible verses and quotes on different phrases from the beloved hymn. I believe God wishes to continue and increases that calling, and am working on a nonfiction proposal.

2012 saw a new beginning of Heartsong under Harlequin's management--and my renewed association with the book club. My three books in the Maple Notch Dreams series, a continuation of Maple Notch Brides, will all be released in 2013.

In fact, next year I expect to have six books in print--the most in a single year for me.  Given the challenges 2012 has brought, I consider that an enormous blessing.

Life in the nursing home has brought a certain maturity and wallowing in spiritual gifts--a recognition and ease that spills over into my writing and thinking.

2012 is the first time one of my books has shown up on the top 20 in any category on Amazon: since River North Publishing put all six of the Texas Trails books on sale for one week at a time, both of my books have stayed below in the top 30 for two months.  For one heady day or two, I was even in the #1 spot.

This is not a new beginning, but my first-ever book, Romanian Rhapsody (2005), now for sale in a Kindle edition, continues to sell well.  It is a little gem of a book which continues to minister to people (and yes, perhaps I am suggesting that you buy it.  Join the trend.)

My son has a new job, my granddaughter Jordan started preschool for the first time, and Isaiah is growing up strong and healthy. My daughter-in-law says he sees color when he listens to music--like his Grandma (or, as he called me, "mamam.")

All in all, God has fulfilled His promise that He has more books for me to write. Now I also feel His promise that He has nonfiction books for me to write (as well as my beloved fiction). This year could have been the worst--and instead it has been the best.

Praise the Lord with me. I can't way to see what 2013 will bring.

**Last week's winner is Patti Shene.  Double (or triple) your chances for a win this week by answering one of both of these questions: What is your single most memorable moment from 2012? What is your great  hope for 2013?**

CHRISTMAS SACRIFICE

How can I stand up before God
    and show proper respect to the high God?. . .
Would he be moved if I sacrificed my firstborn child,
    my precious baby, to cancel my sin?

Micah 6:6-7, MSG

Following my read-through-the-Bible schedule, already past Isaiah's prophecies about Emmanuel, even past Micah's prophecy about His birth in Bethlehem, I wasn't prepared for this zing from the prophet's vision.

Would God be moved if I sacrificed my first born child to cancel my sin?

In the chapter, God is building a case against Israel, calling the earth the jury. "How have I wronged you? Remember all the things I have done for you!"

Although God is addressing the nation, Micah takes the question personally and seeks an answer. How do I show proper respect for the most high God? He proposes the sacrifice of his firstborn child to cancel his sin.

God gives him his answer--Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously—take God seriously. (Micah 6:8, MSG)  One of my favorite stop-and-think verses of the minor prophets.

The sacrifice of Micah's innocent, precious child would not cancel his sin.

The sacrifice of God's innocent, holy, precious child would.

Did Micah's question stab God's heart? Did He look down the road, about seven centuries later, when He did sacrifice his firstborn? Did His heart wrench when He told Micah about Bethlehem--the place that would both welcome His Son to the world, and then drown in sorrow at Herod's cruel slaughter?

God knew Christmas was coming before He put Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.

He made that sacrifice--for us.

Join me in praising Him this Christmas.

**Reminder: I will give away one of my books for every five comments left on my blog. Earn an extra entry by answering the question: What is the best Christmas present you have ever received?**