Updates

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Chris

Just a quick note to let you all know where things are.

You know I have been querying Palace of Twelve Pillars since the end of August.  Here are the numbers on the 14 queries that have been emailed:

Five rejections

Five still waiting for responses

One accepted and I rejected

And two have asked for and recieved full ms

With a third one asking for a ms and synopsis as well as a synopsis of Palace of Three Crosses and Sanctuary of Nine Dragons. This one just happened today and I never expected the publisher to be interested in all three novels, since I only went in there pitching one novel. But she asked if it was a stand alone, I told her yes, although there were to other books that could make it into a series. When she asked the progress of the other two, I about fell off my chair. So long story short, I now have someone looking at the whole series and have to get my butt in gear with a synopsis and getting the third one finished. Things are hopping now.

I’ll keep you posted.

Christina Weigand

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Elizabeth: Mother to a Prophet

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Chris

 

Both were just in the eyes of God, blamelessly following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. They were childless, for Elizabeth was sterile; moreover, both were advanced in years. (Luke 1: 6-7, NAB)

 

Introduction:

I have a group of writer friends and we share all our successes as well as our disappointments. We have all been at this game for several years now and have had all different levels of success. Mostly I am very happy when one of the others succeeds, but there is always a small niggling of jealousy because I feel as if I have not had the success they are now celebrating. Then the guilt sets in as I realize I do have successes that are different from that of my friends. I then need to return to my prayers and realize that God will give me successes in His time and to share in the celebration and not engage in the jealousy.

 

In The days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. (Luke 1:5)

Read and Ponder: Luke 1: 5-7

 

Elizabeth and Zechariah were people of God. Both descendants of priestly families, they held to their faithfulness in spite of the fact that God had given them no children. Never, even in her old age did she give up on God. She accepted whatever plans God had for her life.

 

Question to Ponder:

  1. Do I graciously accept God’s plan for my life or do I try to plan my own life?

As we enter the last two weeks of Lent, let us ponder how we react to God’s calling in our lives. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

All for the Glory of God,

Christina Weigand

Excerpted from Women of the Bible: A Study by Christina Weigand

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Desert Journeys to Bountiful Ends

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Chris

 

On this weeks Lenten Journey I welcome Margaret Realy. Please read and ponder Margaret’s journey and feel free to share your Lenten journey in the comment section below. Please check Margaret’s blog http://prayer-gardens.blogspot.com

The Lord will guide you always               

Desert

And give you plenty even on dry land.

He will renew your strength,

And you shall be like a watered garden,

Like a spring whose water never fails.

Isaiah 58:11

 

I often come to Lent with a particular focus and purposefulness that may be lax during the rest of the year. A desire grows in me during the week preceding Ash Wednesday to be of greater service, to aid others financially and to pray more personally with Our Lord. I gather my reading materials, prepare my home altar and consider to which charitable organization in the area I will offer my time.

This year Lent came to me hard and dark. My friendship with my housemate was strained to the point of near collapse due to my extended unemployment and I was forced into a situation of downsizing a household of over twenty years into three rooms. I would have to navigate through this desert carefully.

I cleaned out attics of memories, emptied closets and drawers of favored items. Boxes of books were picked up by a local bookseller in hopes of some monetary gain. My little station-wagon was filled repeatedly and to capacity with goods forSt. Vincent’s Society, and black garbage bags lined the driveway full of items with no further use.

I prayed through the hardness and darkness with an intensity I had rarely experienced. All the challenges of our Christian call to forgiveness, mercy and charity lay at my feet; I knew what I had to choose.

This experience invoked a profound sense of humility that was accompanied by deep gratitude. In an odd way I felt humbled that God would walk so closely with me. As I struggled to change my perception of isolation I came to recognize it as a grace-filled solitude, a solitude that allowed embracing the gifts that aloneness with Him would bring. I was especially humbled by and grateful for a friend who was willing to support me financially.

The journey through parched land continues. Dramatic changes and unfamiliar scenery are often jolting. But we can be confident that Our Lord will guide, strengthen and renew us through every challenge we experience.

Margaret Rose Realy grew up near 8 Mile & Woodward just outside Detroit, and for several years lived with her maternal grandmother where the love of gardening flourished. This love of plants led her to writing and speaking about the solace found in a garden. Sharing her experience as a gardener she writes a bi-weekly newspaper column. She is currently working on a second manuscript about creating Christian gardens. Margaret dedicates her volunteer time to developing and maintaining gardens of prayer and memorial at St. Francis Retreat & Conference Center, DeWitt, Michigan. She has an older dog, a mini-pin named Lily, a long haired silver cat named Meadow, and recent addition, a miniature tabby called Georgia; all are rescues.

Please check Margaret’s blog http://prayer-gardens.blogspot.com  for more of a stroll through the garden.

 

All for the Glory of God,

Christina Weigand

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Bathsheba: The Beloved Wife

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Chris

 

Adonijah, son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon. “Do you come as a friend?” she asked. “Yes,” he answered, and added, “I have something to say to you.” She replied, “Say it.” (1 Kings 2: 13-14)

Read and Ponder: 1 Kings

2: 13-25

Here we see the relationship between mother and son is one of great love and respect. Bathsheba must have been aware of the laws of her time and knew the answer to her request would result in someone’s death. Yet, she had the courage to approach her son and know that with the help of God he would make the right decision.

 

Questions to Ponder:

  1. Am I willing to place my life in God’s hands during times of turmoil and trust him to lead others and me in the right direction?
  2. Do I willingly accept the God’s decision and follow through with the consequences put forth by God?

 

 

 

Conclusion:

A powerful man misused Bathsheba. She had no say in what happened to her. Her only control was in her response to the situation. She chose to take God’s way by forgiving David and learning to love him. God saw Bathsheba’s choice and we see her rewards throughout 2 Samuel and 1 Kings.

Untenable situations also confront us. God has placed us there for reasons only He may know. It is up to us to lovingly handle the situation and turn to God for his help and guidance.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to be more like Bathsheba and lovingly forgive those who have transgressed against me. Let me find my strength and compassion in you. Amen.

All for the Glory of God,

Christina Weigand

Excerpted from Women of the Bible: A Study by Christina Weigand

 

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Take Up A Cross

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Chris

 

Welcome to this weeks installment of Lenten Journey. This week the guest blogger is Joseph Wetterling. Come along and share a small part of his Lenten Journey. Please feel free to share your journey in the comments below and check out Joe’s blogs at  joewetterling.com, hokaipaulos.com, and baptizedimagination.com.

Take

Take Up A Cross

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)

 

When you’re a Catholic man, turning 33 can be as sobering as any of the big decade birthdays. That particular age invites certain uncomfortable comparisons to another 33-year-old. “Okay, by now, Jesus had founded the One, Holy, Catholic, andApostolicChurch, instituted the Sacraments, and saved mankind from sin and death. And I’ve done… what?”

 

It’s a sobering comparison but not quite a fair one: despite how I act at times, I’m not actually God. I’m at a bit of a disadvantage here, if we’re going to compare. However, the heart of the question is still valid – and it’s especially on our minds during Lent: What can I do with my life to honor God?

 

Jesus gives us the three-step answer:

  1. Deny yourself
  2. Take up your cross
  3. Follow Him

 

We seem to do well with the first point during Lent. We know we’re supposed to give stuff up. That’s what Lent is all about, right?

 

We give up gossip or foul language. These are things we shouldn’t do in the first place, and stopping for 40 days can be a more manageable first goal.

 

We give up chocolate or Facebook or coffee (or drinking coffee while gossiping on Facebook). These aren’t bad things in themselves, but by giving up small, easy things, we train ourselves for later denying the big, difficult things.

 

We’re pretty good at giving things up, but Jesus doesn’t stop there. Yes, He gave up many things – food, money, power, sex – but He also picked things up. He picked up a big wooden cross and walked down the road with it. We’re called to do the same thing, to pick something up, as well as put something down. When the coffee or chocolate or keyboard is out of our hands, we have room in them to pick up the cross.

 

Like the small things we give up, the cross we take doesn’t have to be a big one, especially not at first. It might be a cross of patience with someone I don’t like, or labor for a charity. It might be a cross of humiliation, because I need to say I’m sorry. It might be a cross of time given to my family or of money for someone in need. Whatever my cross, it’s something I won’t want to pick up. It’s something laying there right in front of me, and it’s been put there, for me, by Him. (cf Eph 2:10, James 2:14-17)

 

He never promised it would be easy. After all, once we’ve picked up that cross, the last step is to follow Christ. We know where that road leads. It leads to bigger crosses and to Calvary. He’s walking toCalvary, and we’re going with Him. We’re going to the cross.

 

But let’s remember, as well, that after Lent comes Easter. BeyondCalvary, it’s that same road that takes us Home.

 

 

What cross has God put in your path? Is there something that’s good, difficult, and requires you to love? Will you take it up today to follow Him?

 

 

Lord Jesus, help me to love like You.

 

 

 

Joe Wetterling is a professional instructor, catechist and blogger, and a proud homeschooling dad. He lives in New Jerseywith his wife, son, and a very laid-back cat. You can find him online at joewetterling.com, hokaipaulos.com, and baptizedimagination.com.

All for the Glory of God,

Christina Weigand

 

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