Posts Tagged ‘Thankful’

Posted on January 31, 2012 - by Shannon Vannatter

Charity–Love Put into Action

I Corinthians, 13: 4, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind;” KJV

Charity is love in action. Love in action is kind. To me, being kind in marriage is to think of the other person’s feelings. When I’m tired, stressed, or have a headache, it’s easy to take my discomfort or displeasure out on my husband. I mean, he’s not going anywhere. Even more reason to be kind. God gave me someone who sticks with me through thick and thin. He deserves my kindness.

If my husband is having a bad day or a problem at work, I try to support him, think of his feelings, and help get him through it. Now that he’s a full time pastor, at least he has fewer irritants. We have so much more together time and family time. A blessing, but it’s even easier to take our frustrations out on each other since we spend more time together.

Kindness is a good rule for life in general. Maybe the lady behind you at the grocery store with ten items in her cart scowled at you. You figure because your cart is loaded down and it takes too long for the cashier to ring up your items, even though your cart was half unloaded before the scowling lady got behind you. But consider what her life might be like. Maybe she has three kids at home and only enough money to pay for the ten items in her cart.

I learned this lesson of putting myself in other’s shoes a few years ago. I traveled with several people to a convention. One lady bragged about everything she and her children had done for the entire hour and a half long drive. After we dropped her off on the way home, I commented, “Is it just me or did she invent everything and if she didn’t, her kids did?”

A kinder lady than I, replied, “Maybe she has low self esteem, so she tries to build herself up in other’s eyes.”

Knocked me off my high horse. I felt about an inch tall. But I learned my lesson.

My son consistently complains about a kid in his life. The child experienced a life altering incident several years ago. When my son complains, I remind him what the other child has been through and ask him how he’d feel if that happened to him. Yes the child probably needs a spanking and nobody does it. Instead, they coddle because of what happened, but my son can still be kind.

So the next time, your spouse comes home railing about his or her day, the guy behind you lays down on his horn because you didn’t put the pedal to the metal as soon as the light changed, or the bank puts your deposit in the wrong account, try putting yourself in the other person’s place. Aren’t you glad you don’t have your spouse’s job? Maybe the guy behind you is taking his wife to the hospital because she’s in labor. Maybe the bank clerk is distracted because her sick child is with the babysitter instead of Mommy. Or maybe they’re just grumpy. Even so, love in action is kindness.

Posted on December 6, 2011 - by Shannon Vannatter

The Best Laid Plans

Our Christmas season is even more stressful and hectic than usual this year. My husband is transitioning from bi-vocational pastor to full time pastor. This transition affects our finances, our lifestyle, and his mental peace. It’s scary to put your finances in the control of a hundred people. Christians are just people. Humans. Our finances are in the control of a hundred humans. Yes, I earn a little with my books now, but publishing is very inconsistent. My income would get us on food stamps fast.

This was our plan. We had some spendable money in savings. Grant needed time off after leaving the dental lab where he’s been a technician for 26 years. We planned for him to have two weeks between his last day at the lab and his first day at the church. Two weeks with spendable money. At the time, since Heartsong Presents was ending in December, I didn’t have any deadlines. We were going to relax, spend some time together, and enjoy ourselves.

We planned a trip to Texas for Thanksgiving. In Rodeo Dust, my hero’s ranch is in Aubrey and he rodeos at the Fort Worth Stockyards. We decided to stop in both places for book signings. It was perfect timing since Aubrey was having Christmas on Main—a festival with booths, crafts, and lots of people milling about. Aubrey’s city secretary got all excited and put my signing in several newspapers. It was during the day, so I could be at Fort Worth that night. Then we’d go on to San Antonio to see family. We wouldn’t have to worry about funds and we’d do some Christmas shopping when we got back.

Reality turned into a mixture of good and bad:

• Heartsong Presents extended the line.
• My car went kaput. The bill $1200.00.
• The booksigning in Fort Worth didn’t come together.
• Grant ended up with three checkless weeks off instead of two.

I’d cried over my two seemingly dead books, so miraculously having them resurrected was a blessing. Suddenly, I had a deadline, plus edits. But I had to work during Grant’s time off.

Our spendable money had dwindled. At least we had the money to get my car fixed, but we had to limp to Aubrey since it had already been in several newspapers that I was coming. We couldn’t afford to go on to San Antonio.

In the two weeks after we got back, we couldn’t Christmas shop or even eat out much.

How it turned out:

It was an awesome day in Aubrey. Nancy Downes, the city secretary had outdone herself with a 4′ by 8′ poster of me and the book. It was much bigger than it looks in the picture. The people treated me like royalty. My signing was in Moms on Main, the restaurant where my characters eat after church in books 2 and 3 of the rodeo series. I got to eat a yummy Philly Cheese Steak sandwich there and see where the peanut festival is held, which is in all three books.

For Rodeo Dust, I’d written blindly, since I’d never been to Aubrey, so Nancy critiqued my scenes to make sure I had Aubrey right. It was great meeting her and the Murrays who own Moms. They bought 30 copies of Rodeo Dust to sell in their restaurant and a small Christian bookstore bought copies also. In the end, I sold 58 books, some at full price and some for resale.

Though I sold books, the trip cost way more than I made. But the research was priceless. Actually being in Aubrey was so worth the trip. I can capture so much more for book 2 and 3 since I’ve actually been there. The Christmas tree decorated with American flags at the top of this post was in Moms. It’s definitely going in book 3.

The family member we were going to see in San Antonio ended up in the hospital during the very time we’d planned to be there for our visit. It would have been nice to be with her in the hospital, but it wouldn’t have been a very good visit. She’s fine, but still tired and sore, so having company would have been an added stress once she got home.

My contact from the Stockyards e-mailed me the week we got back. She’s missed my e-mail, but said I was welcome any time. Oh the irony.

We spent the two and a half weeks after the Texas trip with me working and Grant bored. But every year, our son gets a week out at Thanksgiving. With Grant off work, we got to share it as a family this year. And I worked after they were in bed at night, so I enjoyed the week with them both.

An added bonus, Saturday was the annual Christmas parade where we live. Our church always enters a float.

In 2009, our huge, 8′ by 16′ King James Bible won second place. In 2010, our blue lit city of Bethlehem won 1^st place. This year, we had a live nativity in blue lights on one end. An empty cross, Roman soldiers and mourners in the middle with red spotlights. Then a red carpet leading up golden stairs guarded by sword wielding angels at the foot of the throne where Jesus sat. We won first place again. Our prayer is always that we touched souls with our message. The banner along the side of the float said, “Believest thou this?”

Our horizon isn’t any less hectic. Grant went to the church today for his first week as full time pastor. I still have half a book to write by January 16^th. I’m trying to get the first draft done by the 20^th when our son gets out of school for Christmas break.

• Tonight is our church association pastors and wives dinner.
• Tomorrow night is our ladie’s prayer group Christmas party.
• Wednesday night is church.
• Thursday night, we’re loading up in the church van to drive 45 miles and see a live nativity and city of Bethlehem.
• Friday, my family is going to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Christmas concert. Our 7 year tradition.
• Saturday, my guys are going with the church to Branson to see The Miracle of Christmas. I’m going 45 miles to a book signing I’d already committed to before the church trip came up.

So things aren’t perfect in Arkansas this year. But life is good. We’ve prayed for Grant to go full time at the church for several years and never dreamed it would happen this soon. I have two more books coming out in 2012. We should have more family time since Grant only has one job. And in the end, we have to put our finances, stresses, and peace on God’s shoulders and trust Him to handle it all for us.

Posted on November 8, 2011 - by Shannon Vannatter

A Letter to My Teenage Self from Shannon

Dear Teenage Shannon,

Be yourself. Stop trying to mimic others. They’re not any cooler than you are, so stop feeling bad about yourself. God made you the individual you are. 

Don’t worry so much about what others think of you. Your audience is an audience of one. It only matters what God thinks of you.

You don’t have to dress immodestly to get the boys’ attention. They’ll notice, no matter what you wear. And if it takes immodest clothing to attract him, he’s not the kind of boy you need. (Your parents won’t allow it anyway, thank goodness.)

Stop being embarrassed by your parents. Some day, you’ll be in their shoes and realize how wise they are. And how much they love you. 

Start an exercise program now. That way, it’s second nature and when you’re older, it will already be part of your routine.

Don’t go to cosmetology school. You’ll only waste your parents’ money and get stuck doing your mother’s hair for life. Hairdressing isn’t glamorous. It’s hard, nasty, and exhausting. Stick with your first instinct: computers.

Even better—they’re books. Those stories in your head that you never know what to do with. Don’t wait until you’re thirty-three to figure that out. 

The move to rural Arkansas. Stop fighting it. Embrace your new home. You’ll grow to love it, never, ever want to live anywhere near a city again, and meet the love of your life there.

In fact, you’ve already met him. That new boy that lights your fire–the rumors are true–but be patient, God is working on him.

Pay more attention to young boys. Someday you’ll have one. The things he does and dirt he can find will astound you. 

Always remember. No matter what happens or what life throws at you, you’ve got Jesus to get you through.

Posted on September 27, 2011 - by Shannon Vannatter

Singing Praises of ACFW

I sing ACFW praises every chance I get. What an awesome organization. What an awesome conference. Put together by an awesome God. This year, I met Lynn Coleman, founder of ACFW. We chatted about how she wanted to start a Christian writing group to support and uplift one another, with no competition or jealousy. Like most things, ACFW started small as American Christian Romance Writers.

I discovered it by google in 2004. By 2005 when I attended the conference in Nashville, the name had changed to American Christian Fiction Writers. Though I’d been to numerous local conferences, writers’ group meetings, and workshops, ACFW made me realize I only knew the basics about writing.

ACFW goes deep in helping writers improve their craft. So deep, it boggles. I always get brain freeze and have to sort through what I learned when I get home. And yes, even though I’m published and an old hand at working with editors, I still learn from ACFW.

I had so many appointments, interviews, and meetings, I only got to go to four workshops this year. But I still learned. I’m not sure what yet, haven’t had time to sort it out. Oh, I did learn that the voice that tells me I’ll never get another book published when I don’t have a current contract or deadline, that’s the enemy and he tells all writers that. Now I know to ignore him and press on.

ACFW is also about having friends along for what can be a very solitary journey. I took the solo route until 2008. Though I’d been to the conference for 3 years, I stood on the fringes and wished I had someone to hug and cry over like all those other writers. In 2008, I met Linda from my local zone and rode with her to Minneapolis. I met my critique partners face to face, met their friends and Linda’s friends. We all went out to dinner together and had so much fun. The next year when I met them, I hugged and cried over them.

Lorna is my designated shoulder for phone calls or in person. Lorna and I have traversed our getting published journey together. When my husband is at work—I call Lorna and blubber over disappointments or triumphs in writing. When my husband isn’t at ACFW—he hasn’t been able to come since 2007—I blubber on Lorna over disappointments and triumphs. Lorna is getting soggy.

Linda is my designated roomie. We often dance in our room over triumphs. Dawn is my designated can’t find her writing friend. I once called her husband at home in Iowa trying to find her in the hotel so I could get the pie I left in her room. This time, I called a friend at home also named Dawn in my quest for Dawn’s room and went to the wrong room looking for Dawn.

Brenda, my other critter, is much better in person than in bobble-head form. We’ll look forward to seeing her in Dallas. Maybe we can wish her there. Kim and her sweet southern accent were missed this year, but Regina brought her husband. I wonder how many times did I say, “I love to hear him talk.” I also got to connect with Shari again. The only problem is there’s never enough time to spend with my writer friends.

ACFW is the highlight of my year. The knowledge to gain, the friends to hug, the contacts to be made. The kind of place where I can walk up to the keynote speaker–who is always way above the realm I live in–and thank them for what they said to inspire or encourage me. Knowing that all those writers sleep-walking through the conference totally get me. They hear voices too—not only their characters’, but God’s.

Posted on August 16, 2011 - by Shannon Vannatter

A Wondrous Beauty I See

I’m a traditional kind of gal. I like traditional weddings with poufy dresses dripping in lace and satin, pastel colors, and V-shaped bouquets instead of round hand-tied. I love traditional print books where can run your hand over the smooth cover, turn the pages, smell the printing press, and have the author sign it. I love traditional hymns, holding the book in my hands, seeing the music notes—though I can’t read them—printed with the words, and knowing that thousands upon thousands of Christians have sung them for hundreds of years.

It doesn’t make sense for The Old Rugged Cross to be my favorite hymn. I don’t like the cross. I love the cross and what Jesus did there for me, but I don’t like it. I prefer to think about the resurrection part. Yet without the cross, there could be no resurrection.

When I was in the fourth grade and schools could still get away with such things, all of the students assembled in the gym to watch a movie about Jesus. Sitting cross-legged in the floor, when it got to the beating and crucifixion, I kept my eyes glued to my lap. The teacher came over and asked if I was okay. I assured her I was fine, I just couldn’t bear to watch.

Years ago, my husband and I went to see The Promise, a musical play of Christ’s life, in Branson, Missouri. Midway through the performance, the actor who plays Jesus carries his cross down the middle of the audience. We were close to the aisle. I literally sobbed, my shoulders shook, and I could barely stand to look in his direction. I’ve never seen The Passion of the Christ. From what I’ve heard, I know I can’t take it.

So singing about the old rugged cross where Jesus was crucified should be my least favorite thing to do. But I love the words, love the melody, love the timelessness of it.

Does your favorite hymn or inspirational song fit your other views or contradict what you normally love?

Posted on October 26, 2010 - by Shannon Vannatter

Surrender the Details

Our ladies prayer group at church set a goal of thirty shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Some of us have struggled financially this year. Some could only afford to fill one box, some no boxes, and some several boxes. We decided to all buy however little or much we could, then bring our gifts to the church and fill the boxes together. We ended up with a closet full of donated toys, jewelry, crayons, coloring books, school supplies, and hygiene products. 

Before everyone arrived to fill the boxes, we decided we didn’t have enough items for older kids. Some people had donated money, but the treasurer hadn’t arrived yet, so we didn’t know how much. On faith, a couple of us went shopping and ended up spending more than we thought we should. When the treasurer arrived, the donations amounted to almost exactly the money we’d spent.

By the time we ran out of boxes, another donation had come in to pay for more. Another shopping trip only brought in four more boxes. Apparently several of the churches in my town are participating in Operation Christmas Child. Once we find more boxes, we should be able to fill a total of fifty.

We didn’t make any plans on who would buy what, how many, for a boy or girl, or what age group, but it all worked out above and beyond our goal. See what happens when you surrender the details to God?

Posted on August 31, 2010 - by Shannon Vannatter

More Than I Can Imagine

My life has been so blessed. A perfect childhood with loving, nurturing parents. The saving grace of Jesus Christ. A wonderful, supportive, Godly husband. A son who at age eight already knows Jesus, and more about the Bible than I do. A growing church with a church family who loves us. A writing career. People reading the stories God placed on my heart. Readers who take the time to let me know they enjoyed my book. But even with all this, I look forward to an even better life. This is my shortest post ever, but I can’t think of a better way to say it, than to share this video. Can you imagine?

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwzItqYmII

 

Posted on November 26, 2009 - by Marlene (aka Marlo)

Rocky Road

Kneeling beside my bed and thanking God was never a childhood ritual. For the longest time, God and I had a rocky relationship. What was I supposed to thank Him for? The food on the table? The roof over my head? Both came at a heavy price, and that price was a never ending fear gripping my heart every time my father lost his temper. Couldn’t God see that growing up in an abusive house hurt way worse than a hungry belly? I understand that trials and tribulations are part of growing up, but no pre-teen should ever have to call the police because her father pushed her mother down a steep staircase and pulled a gun at her. That messes up a child’s psyche and it impairs her ability to trust or believe in anyone or anything. Many nights, I prayed to wake up in a real home.

As a teenager, I found solace in books.  My books were my friends, they let me escape, if only in my imagination. Then, I finally left for college. I was sixteen, but I felt like I was forty.  Then, something amazing happened. I met that nice young man with soft brown eyes. He became my best friend and the first person I told about my past. He listened when I talked, and he held me tight when I cried. With him, I learned to trust again. There’s a quote that goes something like “God gives us good friends to compensate for the family we grew up in.” If that’s true, God owed me many friends…many very good friends. Little did I know, but for the next thirty years, God placed so many good friends on my path that they filled all the holes, cracks and gaps in my life and restored my faith.

Did God and I ever make peace? Yes, but as stubborn as I am, it took a while.  As a child, I thought I was alone in that dark tunnel. It wasn’t like God was shining a bright beacon or waving a big neon sign at the end of that tunnel. In retrospective, I may have underestimated Him. Through adversity, He taught me to fight back, to value life. He gave the courage to stand up for what was right, to keep moving forward even when I wanted to give up. The woman I became wouldn’t exist without the little girl I once was. I believe God knows that, and I’m thankful for the lessons learned.

So, did God ever answer my little girl’s prayer and give me a real home?  Yes, and it’s a lovely home where my children grew happy and safe and where I wake up every morning looking into soft brown eyes. For them, I am forever in His debt.

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!

Posted on November 25, 2009 - by Dawn Ford

The Wide and Broken Road.

One night before I drifted off to sleep, I wondered what my life would have been like if I hadn’t surrendered my life to Jesus. That night, I had a dream. In this dream I stood before a wide and winding road. The road was full of rocks, cracks and debris. Also on this highway there were hundreds, even thousands of people trudging along, some with blank faces full of sorrow and frustration, other’s eyes focused on the flashing billboards that held promises of wonder and glory. These messages were full of lies, but all were pretty and pleasing to watch. Along the highway there were dozens of broken homes, businesses bursting with gluttony and greed, darkness and danger were concealed behind deceiving facades.  Storms flew at the travelers, winds blew them over, and debris kept blocking their path. I saw many who fell down, only to pick up more burdens as they continued along.  Many people were sick, some were hurt or injured, but all were full of despair.

            Beside me I felt a presence, an arm that comforted me. Tears fell from my eyes as I looked at my companion. I didn’t recognize Him, but I felt that I knew Him. He smiled down at me, his face wet from tears as well. He pointed to a sign on my right that said, “The Road Less Traveled”. I turned to look behind me and I saw my brothers and sisters in arms, all wielding flaming swords and singing the songs of praise that I so love. Along this road there were signs that held truthful sayings, words of encouragement and loving sentiments. The storms waged around us as well, but standing together we were sheltered from its fury. I looked back to my companion and he said simply, “Call to them, let them know there’s a better way. Reveal to them this road, and be sure to tell them about Me”, then He was gone.

            Standing at the crossroads of the broken road and the road less traveled, I called out to the passers by. Most ignored me, some looked at me angrily, but only a few stopped for a short while to listen. Once in a great while I actually got someone to turn away from their trek and begin to walk down the road less traveled.

            I wondered why so few people saw how much easier it was to travel “The Road Less Traveled” way. There were no potholes, no cracks in the foundation or debris along the way. Yes, there were times we on this road we fell. When that happened, the co-travelers would rally around that person and help them to get back up and dust themselves off. There were exits off of the less traveled road and there were a few that grew tired of the scenery and took that exit. I watched as they entered again, the wide and broken road. There they took back the burdens they once had left behind, and fell victim to the storms which raged around them. Unbelievably, they spoke fondly of the scenery and the lies, all as the darkness surrounded and engulfed them.

            I awoke to find my pillow damp with tears. But they weren’t only tears of sorrow. I realized how much emptier my life would have been, how full it is now. I am most thankful this season, and always, for those who stand beside me on The Road Less Traveled, and for a Savior who found a way to call me off that wide and broken road.

Posted on November 24, 2009 - by Shannon Vannatter

List of Thanks

             I wish my prayers were more like my seven-year-old son’s. He hasn’t learned to ask yet, only to thank. “Thank you Lord, for this house. Thank you Lord, for this food. Thank you Lord, for my mom and dad, Pa and TaTa, Grandma and Grandpa, Mamaw and Papaw. Thank you Lord, for our church and this whole world. Amen.”

             I start out well. “Thank you Lord, for my family and our health. Thank you Lord, for our church. Thank you Lord, for all the blessings you give us daily. Thank you Lord, that readers will read my books soon. Lord, please let my words touch lives and glorify you. Lord, please let our church grow and be a beacon in our community. Lord, please give me wisdom and patience to raise my son to be a Godly man.”

             See where I veer off? As my list of ‘please let/give’ piles up, they’re perfectly good and Godly aspirations. But, I wish I could just concentrate on the thank you’s. There are so many more than I voice. So, I’m making a list.

I’m thankful:

 * for my perfect childhood with wonderful parents who loved, nurtured, and protected me. They’re still my biggest fans.

 * for my wonderful Godly husband, the only guy I ever dated and who still makes my toes curl. Not just because of those eyes, but the soul within. Once a pothead, now a preacher. A man with a passion for God. And what a great father.

 * for my son, already saved, and such a great kid. I often get compliments on his behavior. He has common sense, something I’ve prayed for from the time he was still in my tummy.

* that my family is healthy and happy.

* for my house. Though, it’s not exactly my dream house, it’s warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and nothing leaks.

* for plenty of food on the table. Though we’ve had to tighten our belts lately, we’ve never gone hungry.

* that we live in America, the best country in the world. Land of the free, home of the brave. I hope it stays that way. Oops, veering into please let…

* for our new church building. For three years, we met in a tiny, former beauty shop. The building isn’t what makes a church, but we have so much room now. And we’ve grown. We used to run about 45 on Sunday morning. Now, we run anywhere from 60 to 70.

* that my editor approved my content edits. What a load off my shoulders. And I’m hoping that since I now know I can do it, the next time won’t be so stressful.

* Book #2, which I’ve already signed the contract for, is flowing.

* that most of my family members are saved. I’m still praying and working on the few who aren’t.

* for our wonderful family Thanksgiving gathering with turkey, dressing, and all the fixin’s. We pray and give thanks before our meal and remember from whom all blessings flow.

* for my Christian writing friends. My family and friends love me, but they don’t really get me, like my writer friends do.

* for my church family. Always willing to support, lend a helping hand, or take some of the load.

* for one completely worldly thing. My laptop, for obvious reasons.

            My list is in no particular order and I have much more to be thankful for, but it’s a good start.

            How do your prayers go? Lists of thanks or lists of please let? Do you remember to be thankful on a daily basis or just at Thanksgiving or when something really great happens?