There’s Suffering for Doing Wrong; Suffering for Doing Right

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Another shocking announcement! ( That got your attention!) “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World, ” is now out in eBook form. I You can acquire it at all the eBook outlets. It is only $4.99 compared to $19.99 in the bookstores. Help it climb the www.amazon.com best selling list. You can even order it right from this site by clicking on the Amazon icon on the right.

If you want a hard copy with the autograph of the author on it, just click on the bookstore tab at the top of this page to order one. It is only $15.99 plus shipping compared to the $19.99 price in the retail stores.

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I have a podcast here that I did with John Kremer, the marketing guru. He invited me to share unusual places to sell books. Take a listen and hit those streets running: goo.gl/WGTF7

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I had the misfortune of going to my critique group meeting on the wrong night. They had changed the night from Wednesdays to Mondays. I had all my critiques done, and was excited to share with my group. I got to the meeting place, and bought a hot chocolate drink. I waited, and waited. No one showed up.

I was in the wrong. I didn’t keep up on the emails the leader had sent out to catch the change. Make sure you don’t miss your critique group meetings.

Critique groups are very important part of your writing. You learn so much in those meetings, and your work is polished into a much better form for future submissions.

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It is one thing to suffer for doing wrong. The prisons are full of those who have done wrong. It is another thing to suffer for doing right.

When the storm comes, it attacks the assumption that if we do everything that is right we will never suffer.

Think of those who have lost their jobs, not from poor performance, but because of “down sizing.” Think of those who are loving spouses and yet they are dying from cancer.

Even the disciples did the right things and yet the storm hit them and they wondered, “Why the storm, and where is Jesus.” (John 6:19)

Some people feel bad enough to be in the storm, but when they are in the storm alone, it is even worse.

There are sunny days of excitement, and joy, and then there are days of dark clouds and rain. There are days of  t-bone steaks and days of baloney sandwiches.

God has given us a promise:

“God will always give what is right to his people who cry to Him night and day, and He will not be slow to answer them. ” (Luke 18:7) 

Remember:

You are not alone.

You are not forsaken.

You are not unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

I am Blessed to Have so Much Suffering

Thanks to those of you who have been subscribing through the RSS feed. It helps us growing on the Google Search Rankings. Help us to continue to grow by signing up today if you haven’t already. Just click on the icon right after the title to do that.

___________________________________________________________

Another shocking announcement! ( That got your attention!) “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World, ” is now out in eBook form. I You can acquire it at all the eBook outlets. It is only $4.99 compared to $19.99 in the bookstores. Help it climb the www.amazon.com best selling list. You can even order it right from this site by clicking on the Amazon icon on the right.

____________________________________________________________

I have a podcast here that I did with John Kremer, the marketing guru. He invited me to share unusual places to sell books. Take a listen and hit those streets running: goo.gl/WGTF7

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Just a little over a week, and I will be signing books at the Oregon State Fair. It is being held August 24th-September 3rd.

I will be there everyday except Saturday the 1st of September from 10:00am-10:oopm.

Drop by and say hello any of those days. I would love to meet you.

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Thoughts just for you….

We have all faced suffering. I have been through the wringer a few times myself. I could take a couple of hours of writing and share all I have been through, but I am not here to try to invite you to my pity party.

Why do we have to suffer? Why does God allow this to happen to us?

Would you believe me if I said that God allows it to happen on purpose? He often does this knowing that we as Christians will grow even more trough adversity, and therefore, be able to be a blessing to others who may be going through the same things.

I am blessed by having to do so much of this suffering. I am able to witness to others without trying to create thoughts. I can just relate my true story of adversity, and be able to truthfully say, ” I have been there and done that.”

I would be lying if I told you I love suffering. I don’t look forward to it, but I also don’t let it tear me down and make me curse God. I thank God for it, and ask how I can use it to help others.

If you fall into the muck and mire, and many storms come your way, try to focus on God and let Him show you how to use the storms to help others.

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

Above all…never, ever, give  up!

Life is Tough and Then you Die

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I have had an interesting week. I was talking to the neighbor lady, and she told me that her husband had  surgery and wasn’t doing too well, and that she was extremely busy trying to keep things going.

I noticed that her yard was full of weeds. Even higher than my fence. I decided to be a “Good Samaritan,” and go weed along our fence area for her.

Big mistake! The next day there were two “No trespassing,” signs glaring over the fence directed at my back yard.

I realized that I had done the wrong thing. I should have asked first if they wanted help. (Hind sight is always easier!)

I immediately wrote an apology, put it inside one of my books, and placed it on their front porch. (I didn’t think they were in a talking mood right then, and I didn’t have a phone number.)

The signs are still up, and I haven’t heard a thing from my neighbors yet.  

What are we suppose to do? Are we better off to turn our backs on people when it looks like they need help?

Have you had a similar experience?

I think I know the answer to this story. Jesus says to love your neighbors, (even mine) as we do ourselves. We should continue to reach out to others that need help.

I have only had two incidents where the people got upset when I tried to help them. I can tell you hundreds of others stories where people gladly accepted the help and were very thankful.

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Man! The United States Government is going down to the wire on trying to stop our country from going bankrupt. It seems so silly that grown men and women can’t agree enough to save their country from all this stress.

I am not blaming just the Republicans, Democrats or the Independents. I am blaming ALL of them. They need to learn a new word called compromise!

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I am reminding you that my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” is on a special sale right now. It is listed at $19.99 in all the retail stores, but if you order from this site it is only $15.99. The shipping is cut in half as well. A total savings of over $6.00.

It is a books that is very fitting in our current economy. It reaches out to those who suffer from anxiety, fear, depression, self-doubt, hopelessness, addictions, etc. There is certainly many people suffering from at least one of those. If you know of someone who may fit into one of the above afflictions, this is a great book for them.

Life is tough and then you die. That is a hard statement, but my answer to that is: Never, ever, give up!!