Author Archive

Posted on December 15, 2011 - by Regina

WHO AM I?

WHO AM I?

Who am I, that I should share the glorious news of Jesus’ birth? The GOOD NEWS? The GOSPEL?

I’m sure the shepherds felt the same way. One of my favorite old-time Christmas hymns is “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks,” depicting one of my favorite scenes in Luke’s account:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Luke 2:8-20

Why does this passage touch me so? Because I memorized part of it when I was in third grade, to recite to my Sunday-School teacher who was recovering from surgery. I remember that I wondered at the shepherds – who were, after all, just regular folk like ME – getting the message from ANGELS that JESUS, their MESSIAH, had arrived!

You know they had to be thinking to themselves, “Why me? Nobody’s going to listen to a lowly shepherd!”

Ah, but that’s exactly what Moses thought, wasn’t it? He may have been important once, but now he was just a shepherd.

Can you imagine Jacob, having stolen the birthright from his brother, wondering why God would choose HIM to honor His promise to Abraham to create a great nation?

And then there was Zacchaeus – forever known as a “wee little man” – the tax collector. He was dishonest, held in the lowest esteem for his shady business practices. But Jesus chose HIM to visit for dinner.

So, who am I? There’s a song I love entitled, “Who Am I,” by Casting Crowns, that, to me, exemplifies what the shepherds felt, and what I feel on a daily basis.

God chose us. He loves us. NOT because of anything we’ve done, but because of who HE is. He brought the Good News to shepherds AND wise men. To harlots and tax collectors. To business men and housewives. To mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers.

To you. To me. Why? Because of who HE IS.

May that thought bring you peace this holiday season.

 

Posted on December 1, 2011 - by Regina

CHRISTMAS NOVELTIES

It’s Christmastime and time for a novel,

Time to read about the little King,

To fill the mind and roll out a myst’ry,

Don’t want to miss a thing . . .

 

And that’s the whole point of reading books about Christmas, isn’t it? We don’t want to miss a moment of the joy, the festivity, the FEELING of Christmas!

I haven’t had a lot of time to read in the last few weeks, but I did manage to read a couple of novels that have been on my list for a while. The first is The Great Christmas Bowl by Susan May Warren. It’s a heartwarming read about a mom who just wants to make it the best Christmas ever for her family of grown children, something I’m identifying with more every day! Here’s the blurb:

Marianne Wallace loves the holidays. From dressing the tree to her traditional Christmas dinner, it’s all about creating memories for her family. But when her children begin to leave home – and their traditions – behind, she has one last chance to create a holiday they’ll never forget.

Unfortunately, she’s soon in over her head, and one impulsive decision leads to a string of events that will change the way her family – even her small Minnesota town – sees the Christmas season.

Hint: There will be football, and who DOESN’T like a good football story?

Another favorite that I read last year, and plan to read again this year, is Mary Connealy’s Cowboy Christmas. Full of Mary’s classic “romantic comedy with cowboys,” Annie and Elijah make for a great story of redemption and love. The back cover:

Singer Annette Talbot used her voice to spread the gospel with a traveling missionary troupe. When the Latrells take over and want Annie to dress provocatively and give up singing her beloved hymns, Annie flees to Ranger Bluff, Wyoming, dreaming of uniting with her father for Christmas. But trouble chases her – right off the edge of a cliff!

Elijah Walker’s heart turned as cold and barren as the high plains in December after his ex-fiancee betrayed him and caused his father’s death. But when he rescues Annie out of a freezing river, Walker’s instincts tell him he must help a stranger in need.

With her hermit father retreating to the high country and the Latrells intent on kidnapping her to make money off her singing, Annie may have no way out.

Has Annie hidden the truth about wanted posters bearing her face too long for anyone to believe her now?

Can Elijah overcome the painful past and learn to love again?

Will there ever be peace in their hearts in time for Christmas?

Such a good book!

Right now I’m reading Amy Clipston’s Naomi’s Gift, and waiting in the wings is Susan May Warren’s Baby It’s Cold Outside.

 

A few books I like to read most Christmases are John Grisham’s Skipping Christmas – which by the way, is much better than the movie, although it IS entertaining, and Grace Livingston Hill’s The Substitute Guest. If you get a chance, and just want a nice, tender read, this is the one for you!

 

Joanne Fluke also has some great Christmas cozies, The Candy Cane Murder and The Sugar Cookie Murder, and like a lot of Christmas books, are a little shorter than the average novel, which is great for this time of year! Oh, and Joanne’s books ALWAYS have recipes!!

Happy Christmas reading, everyone.

(more…)

Posted on November 17, 2011 - by Regina

DEAR TEEN ME . . .

Dear Teen Me,

Bless your heart.

Since I’m where I am, and you’re where you are, I see so many things that you have completely wrong, but then figuring those things out are what has made YOU what I am, today!

A few words of advice (I know, you don’t listen much at this point, but hang on to this – you might want to refer back to it someday):

You are not fat. You may think you are, but in years to come, you’ll pull out one of those plaid wool skirts that you wore in high school and wonder how on earth you ever thought of yourself as even “pleasingly plump” as a teen. You’ll figure out that God made you the way you are because that’s the way HE wanted you!

Don’t compare yourself to others. I know, easier said than done . . . Just because other people in your class – a particular favorite cousin, no less –  are valedictorian and you are not, does not mean that you are not intelligent. Remember that one nine-week grading period when you made two percentage points HIGHER than said valedictorian. (And yes, I love you, Cheryl!)

Be open to new experiences – the good kind, that is. When you’re 16, your parents will be called into the mission field. They will inform you that you are moving out of state. You will cry, you will be depressed, you will think your life is over. Guess what? It will enable you to embrace change later in life – much later, but at least you will have that experience under your belt to bolster you. Don’t let it drag you down, now. Pick a Bible verse and hang on to it for dear life. Might I suggest Psalm 37:4? Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” As hard as that time will be, think of it this way – it will make you the pianist you are, today!

Soak in as much of your childhood as you can – it doesn’t last long enough. When your parents suggest an extra day at Walt Disney World in Florida, don’t throw a fit because you have a date planned for Saturday. Enjoy your parents and sister while you can. I know. Sad, huh?

Never forget where you came from. You will be thankful for Facebook one of these days. It will reconnect you with classmates and relatives that you would otherwise have no contact with. You will find out that people at school really did like you, and didn’t think you were invisible. You will find out that part of your heritage is your smile, and the fact that you were nice to people.

And on the tail of that – keep smiling. There will be days when you think you just can’t smile, but you can. Even a small quirk of one side of your mouth will not only make someone else feel better, but will make you feel better, as well. You weren’t put on earth to make yourself happy – you were put here to glorify God and help others to be happy!

Now get out there and be the best teen you can be!!

 

Posted on November 3, 2011 - by Regina

CAPTAIN HOOK

Hooks.

Captain Hook’s hook doesn’t have much to do with the kind of hook I mean, but you might be surprised when he comes up again, later . . .

A hook is that part of a book, television show, movie, etc., that leaves you wanting more.

There’s a great writing exercise that points out just how important those first lines of a novel can be.  Go to a shelf in your library, or your home library, and look at first lines of your favorite novels. It is an amazing, eye-opening activity that certainly made me look at first lines differently.

In my first manuscript, I started out with a dream sequence:

There was restlessness within me as I made my way through the forest.

Since it was based on an actual dream that I had, it was the best way to start the book, right? WRONG. About three revisions later, I came up with this first line:

“Who needs a man when I have a great big hunk of dog to keep me company?”

Which one makes you want to read more?

Hooks aren’t just for the first line of a book. Another area where a hook is important is at the end of a scene – EVERY scene. “Scene and sequel,” or “what happens,” and “what happens next” can either keep your reader with you, or send them scurrying to another novel! Always know where you’re going – but don’t get there all at once.

Back to Captain Hook . . .When we first see him in the Disney version of “Peter Pan,” we know he’s evil, and we know he has a hook. We’re curious, but confident that he lost it in a violent fashion. Must learn more! We find out midway through the story of Peter Pan that Peter was the cause of his losing his hand, and gaining a hook. And of course, since he’s evil, he deserved it, right? Hmmm . . . but then we learn that Captain Hook has but one fear – a crocodile – and not only ANY crocodile, but the one that swallowed his clock AND his hand with it. The fact that the movie ends with Captain Hook being pursued by the croc is not only humorous, but satisfies all those little “hooks” we’ve experienced throughout the story.

If you’d like to learn about hooks from someone who really knows, check out the “Writing Series Index” on Kaye Dacus’ blog. And while you’re there, check out her other topics!

So, got a hook that you’d like to share? (the literary kind, if you please)

Posted on October 20, 2011 - by Regina

MY CUP RUNNETH OVER . . .

Thou anointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over. Psalm 23:5b KJV

Blessings.

David knew both sides of blessings. As a boy, he was low on the “pecking order” at his house. The little brother. The older boys probably called him “sheep boy” when they wanted to degrade him even more.

When Samuel came around looking for the king that would replace Saul, did anybody inform David when daddy Jesse was told to round up his boys and line them up for inspection? Of course not. He was the bottom of the heap.

Interestingly enough, when Samuel had made his way through the entire lineup of Jesse’s sons, God whispered in his ear that there was another one out there, and that he was THE ONE.

When he arrived, probably dirty, stinky, and followed by a flock of sheep, Samuel anointed his head with oil.

The boy who would be king.

I would imagine that it was after this that David, ahead of his time as usual, probably coined the idea of “glass half full/glass half empty.” We know from reading the historical accounts of David’s life and from reading his poetry, that it wasn’t smooth sailing from there.

Saul tried to kill him.

He made bad decisions in leadership that led to adultery, murder, and the death of a child.

His children conspired against him.

He was not allowed by God to build His temple.

And yet he wrote this: My cup overflows.

This tells me more about David and his relationship with God than anything else. He knew that God’s blessings were far and above anything he, in his human condition, could possibly fathom. David understood the foundation of God’s love.

Grace.

Grace says that we get what we don’t deserve. We don’t deserve a relationship with Jesus, but He’s offered it to us. We don’t deserve salvation, but He gives it to all that ask.

David was, after all, a man after God’s own heart. Just like us.

Glass half full? Glass half empty?

Glass running over.

Posted on October 6, 2011 - by Regina

SAME OR DIFFERENT?

This year, at ACFW, I learned that short women would not make good stagecoach drivers. I learned that green beans can be cooked a variety of ways and STILL not be what I consider “done.” I learned that a few minutes of prayer in the prayer room is an amazing way to start a full day.

It was my second conference. I wasn’t as nervous as last year, and I expected it to be similar. It was. It was also different. WHAT was different? The conference? Or ME?

 

What was the same:

• Amazing worship with author Rachel Hauck and company (I still feel sorry for the guy manning the computerized lyrics!)
• Master-of-ceremony duties by the inimitable Brandilyn Collins
• Inspirational sessions with an amazing keynote speaker – last year was “Bug man” novels author Tim Downs, this year premier historical author Tracie Peterson. What an amazing speaker and woman of God.
• Recurring-theme food – last year was asparagus at every meal. This year? Crunchy green beans. This Southern girl likes her green beans cooked DOWN, y’all.
• Wonderful classes that made me stop and think deeply about what I write, why I write, and for WHOM I write.

What was different:

• I went to the prayer room. Jim Peterson was on duty, and everyone who came in, he offered to pray with them, or not, whatever made them comfortable. I prayed alone, but when I left, I spoke to him, thanked him for being there. He grinned and said, “what part of New York did you say you were from?”
• I wasn’t a first-timer anymore. Besides my good friends, I saw others that I remembered, and that remembered me. What a great feeling!
• Instead of rooming with 3 other ladies, I took my husband with me. Last year was more chaotic and fun, but this year was more calm and relaxing – and I needed that.
• I got to eat at the AV guys’ table at the banquet – Yes, seating was a challenge, but personally, I think we ended up at just the right place. Those guys were great!

A few things about the conference made me feel like it was truly meant for me to be there. When Janice Thompson opened the first workshop with prayer, I cried. First, because I was finally THERE, and was going to meet Janice Thompson, one of my favorite authors, and second, because of her prayer. She truly ushered in the Holy Spirit. The name of the workshop was “Plotting Your Fiction Career.” What could have been an all-business, how-to-get-to-the-top how-to course, but it wasn’t. We heard Janice’s testimony about how she was called to write full-time.

That wasn’t the last I heard about plotting. DiAnn Mills’ sessions on “How To Write a Bestseller” focused on plot and how to dig DEEEEEEP within yourself, not just your character, to make your book the best it can be. Susan May Warren’s “Book Therapy Live” took a passage, piece by piece, and did a live critique. Janice’s other session, “A Merry Heart: Writing and Selling the Humorous Novel,” and Susan’s other session, “All Glammed Up,” helped me know how to put some polish on a story.

Needless to say, I’m still in information overload. I’m one of those people who try to glean as much learning as possible from any opportunity. Since I’ve been home, I’ve just today pulled up my manuscript. Would you believe I’ve already found things I want to change?

I was supposed to be at ACFW this year. I was supposed to get those amazing hugs from my sisters in Christ, and fellow-writers. I was supposed to meet the new people I met and with whom I enjoyed a meal, or a bit of downtime between sessions or appointments. I was supposed to grow as a writer, and as a Christian. I was supposed to meet God there, and I did.

There’s an old saying common in the Jewish faith: “Next year in Jerusalem.” For ACFW members, right now, it’s “Next year in Dallas.

What will be different next year?

Posted on September 22, 2011 - by Regina

KIDS . . . GOTTA LOVE ‘EM!

Kids really DO say the darndest things, and DO the darndest things. I can see why Art Linkletter thought to put together not only a book of kid-isms, but a television show!

Here are just a few of the ways my kids have defied not only gravity, but space, time, and sometimes good sense:

• There was the time my oldest daughter, Emily, in kindergarten, I believe, arrived home on the bus just MINUTES ahead of me. I can still picture me in my little car, speeding through the subdivision. I could SEE the bus, but couldn’t catch up with it! She found a safe place to hide, though, until we could roar up the driveway before the bus was even out of sight. She squeezed herself between the storm door and exterior door, and latched it. Oh, did I mention, the storm door was full-view glass? I have wished ever since that I’d had a camera with me that day.

• Then there was the time she forgot to get off the bus. When they got through all the stops with a substitute bus driver, here was tiny little Emily, shorter than the back of the seat in front of her, sitting patiently. “Where do you live, Emily?” to which she calmly replied, “Over by McDonalds.” We didn’t. But McDonalds was new in town, and was HER favorite place to go!

• Ellen managed to get stuck places, due to her penchant for climbing, etc. As soon as she could climb onto my mom’s dining room chairs, she would jump off, flat on her bottom, onto the hardwood floors. Ouch. Then she found the three steps from our kitchen to our den. Yep. She cleared them every time by the time she was three! One of the funniest things was when she got stuck in her doll stroller. She was screaming, and I was running for the camera . . . .

• One of the favorite things my girls ever said to me was this, though. “Take a grip, Mom.” After I stopped laughing, I did.

When I want to have a good time, I just talk to my girls. We usually laugh a lot, usually tease, usually get some pretty good zingers in . . . and they’re my pride and joy! I love watching them grow up . . . and believe me, they’re STILL coming up with funny stories that we’ll share for years to come!

Sorry for the delay in posting!

Posted on September 8, 2011 - by Regina

COFFEE WITH KAYE

Kaye Dacus has been one of my favorite inspirational authors since I read Stand-In Groom a few years ago, then connected with her via her amazing blog at http://www.kayedacus.com. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know her in person, and she’s as much fun in person as in print. 

So, while we’re visiting with Kaye, let’s pretend we’re breakfasting at the Starbuck’s in the lobby of the Indianapolis Hyatt at last year’s ACFW conference, enjoying a muffin (Mine was pumpkin-cream-cheese – YUM) and a Grande coffee (or for Lorna, we’ll offer tea, as well!).

Me: Kaye, how old were you when you started writing, and what compelled you to write?

Kaye:  Even though I started writing when I was a young teen (because I wanted to be able to continue the next day the story I’d been playing out with my Barbies—until one day, I forgot to pick up the dolls and just went straight to the pencil and paper), it wasn’t until I was sixteen or seventeen when I really felt like writing was what I wanted to do with my life. I just didn’t have anyone around me who knew how to direct me. My parents encouraged me, but they weren’t sure how to give me guidance. I had a wonderful Creative Writing teacher in high school and that was when I knew for sure that I wanted to be like him—I wanted to be able to teach others how to do what it was I loved doing so much. But it wasn’t until much later in my life, at the age of thirty when I attended my first writers’ conference, that I truly realized God was calling me to pursue publication.

Me:  If you could set a book anywhere in the USA, whether you’ve been there or not, where would it be, and why?

Kaye: Las Cruces, New Mexico, the city where I grew up. Because it means I’d have to go there to do research (I’ve only been back once in the more than twenty years since I graduated from high school). And if I’m there, it means I have to eat New Mexican–style food, which just so happens to be my favorite kind of food on the face of the planet! Plus, it’s beautiful, charming, and welcoming; it was a wonderful place to grow up; and it’s chock-full of history.

Me:  Cowboys or pirates? Businessmen or construction workers? What kind of man is your favorite pick for a hero in a novel?

Kaye: Let’s see . . .a personal assistant–chef–lawyer–law-enforcement agent–artist–advertising executive–navy captain–pirate. Can one man fit all of those categories? For me as an author it’s less about what he does and more about who he is. Can he make the heroine (i.e., me) laugh? Does he have depth—of character, soul, and mind? Is he someone I want to spend time with? As a reader, because I prefer reading historical romance, I do tend to gravitate toward heroes with slightly more alpha-male qualities. . .but with occasional flashes of beta tendencies, just to keep him balanced (after years and years of reading the Warrior/Caveman type of hero in the general-market romance novels of the 1980s and 1990s). In my contemporaries, I think my heroes lean a little more toward the beta-male end of the spectrum (Dylan in The Art of Romance in particular). But more than anything else, he has to be someone I can fall in love with. Daily. For as long as it takes me to read someone else’s book or to get my book written, revised, edited, and off to the publisher.

Me:  The ACFW conference is coming up in two weeks! I know you’ve been involved in ACFW for a long time and have been an officer in the past. How has the organization changed over the years? How has the CBA changed over the years, in your opinion?

Kaye: The most obvious change in the time that I’ve been a member was when I was serving on the board and we changed the name—and the scope—of the organization from American Christian Romance Writers to American Christian Fiction Writers. (Which seems like it’s a simple, obvious change—but, believe me, we discussed and brainstormed and debated for quite some time before we came up with the idea to change “romance” to “fiction.”) And second to that, also obvious, is the growth the group has seen since I joined in 2001 as member number 120. It’s amazing to see how we’ve gone from forty or fifty people at the first conference in 2002 (Kansas City) to almost twenty times that many last year in Indianapolis—and I’m sure even more will be in St. Louis in a few weeks! (And I have to share—since that first conference in 2002, I’ve only missed attending one, 2009 in Denver, and it about killed me knowing everyone was there having a good time without me.)

The changes in Christian publishing. . .wow! Used to be the only Christian fiction books available were prairie romances with an occasional retelling of a Biblical story in fiction form. But now—spy thrillers and science fiction and epic fantasy and romantic suspense and mystery. . .every genre in the general market is now represented in the Christian market (and thank goodness romance, both contemporary and historical, continues to be popular).

Me:  For those who follow your blog faithfully and see you on Facebook and Twitter, we know you have minions and that they are thrilled to be called such. What is the best part of mentoring new writers?

Kaye:  I’ve shared on my blog about how, twelve years ago, God told me that I will not have children of my own (and given that I’m still unmarried at forty years old, this seems like a no-brainer at this point) but that He would still give me the fulfillment that other women find in motherhood—and He’s done that through the writers I mentor. My minions (a term that came about through a slip of the tongue during a conversation with an agent at ACFW last year) are my “quiver full,” the personal fulfillment for me of Isaiah 54:1: “‘Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; for the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous than the sons of the married woman,’ says the LORD.” And just like any parent, my greatest joy comes from seeing my “children”—my minions—successful in their writing journeys.

Me:  What author, dead or alive, would you like to mentor YOU? Why?

Kaye:  Considering that I’ve loved both her fiction and her nonfiction, it would have to be Madeleine L’Engle. Her book Walking on Water, to which I was introduced in 1999 when it was used as required reading for a college creative writing class, has taught me more about myself as a writer—not so much storytelling or the craft of writing, but the spirituality of being a writer, what it means to be inspired, and how to replenish my soul so that my creativity can continue to flow, even when I’m at my lowest point physically or emotionally.

Me:  What, to you, is the best part of living in a city like Nashville, TN? I’ve always said that if I had to live in a large city, Nashville would be at the top of my list.

Kaye:  Having lived in the Washington DC area before moving to Nashville in 1996, I quickly discovered that even though Nashville has a large population, it doesn’t feel like a big city (except when sitting in rush-hour traffic) because it’s maintained a neighborhood/community feel that makes it seem like a much smaller town. Plus, it’s Nashville! What isn’t there to love about living here? It’s the best of Southern living, yet with the cosmopolitan experience of being a melting pot of people from all over the world (I know very few people who aren’t transplants from elsewhere).

Me:  Why do you write in both Contemporary and Historical romance? Is one easier than the other?

Kaye: You do realize I did two blog posts about this a couple of weeks ago—and still didn’t fully express an answer to this, don’t you? (Yes, I know, but inquiring minds want to know! ) The short answer is: I write both contemporary and historical because I’ve had ideas for both contemporary and historical novels. I also enjoy writing both. While they take the same amount of effort creatively to come up with the storyline and develop the characters, there is more work that goes into writing the historicals due to the higher amount of research (yes, contemporaries take research, too) and making sure I’m using era-appropriate language as much as possible. For me, I like alternating writing them, because one is almost like a palate cleanser for the other. Each challenges me in a different way, and I do truly love writing both.

Me:  You have a new book out, Ransome’s Quest, another coming out in November (Turnabout’s Fair Play), which means you’ve basically completed three series:  Brides of Bonneterre, Ransome Trilogy, and Matchmakers (well, almost). Tell us what’s next for Kaye Dacus?

Kaye: Well, from my point of view, I have completed all three. . .as I turned in TFP in May and finished all edits on it last month (and it’s already in the hands of reviewers through Net Galley). Next for me is another historical series with a new publisher, B&H Publishing Group. This time, I’m taking readers to early Victorian England and featuring Prince Albert’s Great Exhibition, one of the first world’s fairs, drawing millions of tourists from all over the world. The series will be more like my contemporaries in that the books will be able to stand alone, each focusing on a different story. It will also give me a chance to write more of the “sitting room” type of romance novel, which I was able to do with Ransome’s Honor. Each book in The Great Exhibition series will also feature two romances—so hopefully, they’ll be double the fun! The three books will be out in May and October 2013 and April 2014.

Me:  Wonderful! I can’t wait to get started on these, and Turnabout’s Fair Play can’t come too soon, in my opinion!

Now it’s time for me to turn the tables and get some feedback: what question would you like to ask our readers?

Kaye: Imagine you’ve been chosen to star in a film version of your favorite book. What book would you choose, what character would you play, and what actor would you choose to play opposite you?

Tough question, but one I’m sure our readers will have fun answering!  Thanks, Kaye, for visiting with us today! Anyone for a second muffin? More coffee?

Remember, there’s a bundle of inspirational fiction books up for grabs for one blessed commenter over the last two weeks!

Posted on August 25, 2011 - by Regina

SOMETHING ABOUT THAT NAME

Favorite hymns . . . favorite praise songs . . . For a church musician, it’s like asking a mother which of her children is her favorite! Or asking an author which of her BOOKS is her favorite! A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post about my favorite old-time hymn, Victory in Jesus. I could name several more, but that would be a book, not a blog post!

Once I settled down and really thought, it came to me immediately.

There’s Something About That Name.

It’s the song I sang to my babies as I rocked them. It’s the song I turn to when other lyrics escape me, and I just want to dwell on Jesus. His name.

I first remember hearing it when my cousin sang it at church, when it was still a new, “modern” song in the 70’s, and I’ve never let it go. Now it’s in my hymn  book!

Another favorite that I remember segueing into is I Love You, Lord. Then there was God Is So Good, Jesus Loves Me, and various modernizations of hymns – which is a whole ‘nother post that I’d LOVE to get into!

What is the connection between singing from my heart and certain songs that get me “right there?” It’s that intimate, family-relationship I have with Jesus that I wanted, and still want, so desperately to pass on to my children. Dwelling on His name, reiterating over and over that I DO love You, Lord, only draws me closer to the throne of Heaven.

I know that over the course of the last several years there has been a war waging between “traditional” and “contemporary” worship. Funny thing is, worship is simply giving glory to God. It has nothing to do with whether you put a Southern Gospel twang to a song or a modern rap beat to it. It’s whatever draws you to HIM. And more importantly, whatever GLORIFIES HIM, not us. Who knows, in Heaven, maybe souls will discern heavenly choir music in the genre they find glorifies God in their own hearts?

Interesting thought.

Me, I want to hang out with Fanny Crosby, Chris Tomlin, AND the Gaithers when I get to heaven. I mean, imagine it! You think the Gaither Homecoming choir is good? We’ll be in the BEST choir, and all we’ll care about is how much we love Jesus and pointing the glory to HIM!

I call the alto section!

Posted on August 11, 2011 - by Regina

PERFECT SUMMER

First, you have to understand that my life, between the ages of about 9 and 20, revolved around a small farm in Kentucky where my mother also grew up. Interestingly, Mom’s father (“Pappy”) bought the 60-acre farm and old house from my dad’s grandfather when my parents were just seven years old!  Years later, when Pappy passed away suddenly, we moved the mile or so from our small house on the “highway” to the red-gravel road leading to my grandparents’ farm, with my grandmother ensconced in a cute little mobile home next door.

So, my pre-teen and teenage years were spent doing a lot of the same things my mom did in her growing-up years.

When I think of summer, the first thing I think of is the GARDEN. We usually had two. Sometimes they were behind and to the side of the barn, where we could see the cool, shady spot next to the pond, just out of reach of the scorching , clay-infested garden that liked to grow sticker-weeds as much as beans. Sometimes we had one down the lane next to the creek – the one with the bridge where my mom, a daredevil teenager, jumped off and sprained her ankle. Oh, it grew great beans and morning-glory vines, but it also bred mosquitoes, and the way it was situated, between two hills, obliterated any HINT of a breeze.

So, rather than dwell on my less-than-favorite things, I thought of a perfect day.

I’m not sure how many times I did this. It may have just been one time. It may have been a habit that years and activity has dulled. But whatever the case, it stands out to me as one of my best memories of summer.

One day, when I was probably 15 or so, I finished my chores – probably hoeing the garden, picking something, yard work, feeding animals, or cleaning house – and had an afternoon stretched in front of me. Mom liked to keep us busy, but she also believed in kids having time to explore, to play, to THINK. And read. We were a reading bunch at my house.

Anyway, this particular day, in my mind, anyway, was humidity-free, breezy, and cloudless – or maybe it had those fluffy white clouds that make shapes when you stare at them long enough . . . This day I went into the kitchen, found my old first-grade Barbie lunchbox and Thermos, and packed myself a picnic. Peanut-butter-and-crackers, sweet tea, probably a chocolate-chip cookie or two, a beach towel – and a book. Honestly, I think I was reading Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca at the time. Probably that or Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With The Wind. I’ve been known to read both multiple times.

I started out on my trek.

Behind the house and yard, there was a pasture that led down to the large pond, then there was more pasture behind that. On the right was a road-bed (what used to be at least a lane for cows and farm equipment), and back just out of sight of the house, was a tree. A very large, very sprawling Oak. The cows were lounging in the pond, so I knew they wouldn’t bother me. That particular tree was a perfect “leaning tree.” The roots were huge and smooth, the grass beneath was soft, and the only sound I could hear were birds singing and insects buzzing.  It was a place where you could lose yourself in your book, or in the wonders of relaxing in God’s great playground – nature.

If I went back to that place, it would probably be overgrown with weeds, and who knows if the tree is even still there. I haven’t been back to the farm since my family sold it in 1994, but I can walk over most of it in my mind. It was the place that made me know what Gerald O’Hara, in Gone With The Wind was talking about when he said, “It’s the land, Katie Scarlett.”

And even if I never go there again, I carry summer with me any time I think of that perfect day on my Pappy’s farm.