DEVOTIONS: He calls me Daughter.

By Leila Halawe | @LHalawe 

Daughter. He called me daughter.

As I stood at a prayer and worship night at church, arms stretched high with tears streaming down my face, I cried out to God. I opened up my heart to Him, showing Him all the hurt and anger and bitterness and heartache and resentment; I showed Him all the ugly that was withing me and in that moment, He whispered the word, 'daughter.'

Daughter.

Despite my rants and rages and the ugliness that was in my heart, He did not turn away; He drew near and He drew me near to Him and called me daughter. When others would have walked away, He came closer still. God did not shy away from my anger or hurt, He did not look away in disgust like some of us may have done. Instead, He leaned in and called me daughter. 

Daughter. I am His Daughter. I am His Child.

In that moment, God reminded me of a couple of things: firstly, I had lost sight of Him. It is so easy for us to forget God; to carry on with life and forget to take time to look into the eyes of Jesus and just be. In our flawed human state, we so easily forget that He is with us in the everyday moments of life. and so we go on without Him until we hit a stumbling block or a ditch and we find ourselves crying out to Him. Secondly, I had forgotten who I belonged to. I was the daughter of the Creator of the universe. Since the moment He created me, in this very moment now, and for all eternity, I was and am and always will be the daughter of the Creator of the universe. The King of kings and Lord of lords. That is who I belong to and that is where my identity comes from.

In a society that tries to shape our identity be telling us how to be and who to be and what to be, we need to remember that our identity is found in Christ, the One that created us and died for us. We have all had hurtful words spoken to us or over us. Maybe it was your parents as you were growing up telling you that you were a mistake. Or maybe it was the schoolyard bully picking on you while others looked on, or your teacher telling you that you would never amount to anything. Or it could have been your partner telling you that you were unlovable as they walked out the door. I'm not sure what it is for you but I can tell you this: when God looks at you He does not see a mistake or someone who is unworthy or unloveable, He sees His Child. He sees His son. He sees His daughter. And He looks down on you with a heart loves you more than you could ever comprehend.

Today, as you go about your day, take a moment and remind yourself that He is calling you Daughter. Or Son. And lift up your eyes and heart to your Heaven Father knowing that He loves you.

Note: This post was also published on Looking In.

Leila (Lays) Halawe is a Sydney based coffee loving nonfiction writer and blogger. She has published a short devotional, Love By Devotion, and shares her views on life and faith via her blog page Looking In . You can connect with her via Facebook at Leila Halawe Author  and via Twitter at Leila Halawe.

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Why Romance?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day. A day of roses and romance and restaurants and all things that celebrate the wonder and glory of love...(cue violins, followed by gagging)

I have an admission. Despite my best efforts my husband and I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day. He thinks it's ridiculously commercialised, and can't really see the logic in paying a premium for roses and restaurant meals which would be priced normally a day later or before. (I mean, come on...really? That happens?)

That doesn't mean he doesn't love me; he just doesn't like societal expectations that say a man's love for a woman is proved by how many red roses he gives her. Um, how about his love being proved in the 14 hour days of sweat and pain as he labours to earn money to put food on the table for the wife and kids living 8 hours away? How about the love proved when a couple chooses to stay together after tragedy, when they practice forgiveness as they battle with selfishness and pride? Not glamorous enough? Not romantic enough?

Maybe I'm a trifle cynical, and for the record I do think relationships are worth investing in with nice meals out and special times away (so if you're celebrating Valentine's Day today I hope you have a wonderful time!). But sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the fantasy element of what a loving relationship looks like (hello Facebook boasts posts), and we can mix up the hard yards of love with the fantasy elements of romance.

I recently asked readers on my Facebook page why they read romance books. Answers ranged from wanting 'to live vicariously through the story' and 'gives hope that this could be a reality' to liking novels 'that make you think and encourage you to make changes in your own life' and 'reminds us what true love is and shows how powerful godly relationships are.'

I know it's easy to get swept into the fantasy element of romance novels - as a historical romance author that's (partly) what I aim to do! But I think the challenge as a romance writer is to balance the fantasy with aspects of reality, the grit of personal and emotional challenges, so that what we present our readers is not an impossible dream, but something that gives a healthy approach to loving others in this day and age.

After all, eventually the roses wither, the chocolates are eaten, the memories of that meal out (with dozens of other couples) fade. But the relationships built on faith and trust and forgiveness and self-sacrifice and God - the marriages that last 40, 50 years - these are the real love stories, built on principles that can't be bought, that sing a louder song to this world and celebrate the wonders of love in a lasting way.

Over to you: Have you read a romance novel that challenged you to make changes in your life?

Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband she has pastored a church for ten years, and worked as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher. 

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her Regency novels include The Elusive Miss Ellison, The Captivating Lady Charlotte, The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey, and Winning Miss Winthrop, all available from Amazon, Book Depository, Koorong, etc

Let's connect! Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Book Review: Congo Dawn

Blurb

Melbourne secretary Anna Emerson's life is turned upside down when a stranger hands her a plane ticket to the Congo. The newly independent country is in turmoil, Simba rebels are on the move - but the invitation holds a precious clue to the whereabouts of her estranged father.
Dan Miller signs up as a mercenary commando to fight the Communist uprising. He supports the cause, but that's not really why he's there. A devastating tragedy has taken all meaning from his life, and he's got nothing left to lose. In the Congo, Dan's belief in the war begins to crumble. 

Anna heads deeper into danger as she travels from a grand colonial mansion to an abandoned hotel on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, to a leprosy mission in the jungle and beyond. Their two paths collide through circumstances more extraordinary than fate.

Inspired by real events, Congo Dawn combines epic drama with an intimate journey into the heart of a fractured family, as two characters, in search of people they lost, at last find a way to come home. It is a landmark novel about good and evil, and the inexhaustible power of love.

Review

This story begins in Melbourne, Australia, in 1964, with a young woman, Anna, who seems to have a rather ordinary life. The story soon moves to the Belgian Congo, Africa, where Anna finds herself in anything but an ordinary life. As she seeks to reunite with Karl Emerson, the father she hasn’t seen since she was a child, she becomes embroiled in the political, violent and terrifying life where unrest and civil war, poverty, oppression, and leprosy are part of the every day.  Anna’s character is of a brave, yet vulnerable woman, who discovers parts of herself she’d never anticipated as she meets and befriends the mysterious Eliza, then a compassionate and selfless missionary couple who work with lepers. She faces her deepest self and greatest need when confronted with the most extreme danger and fear.   

Anna’s journey unfolds between episodes of another story, that of Dan, a divorcee, safari leader from South Africa, who has been invited to join a Commando unit in the Congo to help the National Army fight against communist rebels. Dan’s past is evoked as he moves back to places he’s known in his younger days. While he is haunted by his memories and pain, he does not turn back from the mission he has committed himself to. He is a natural leader, with WW11 experience. His understanding of the men in his unit, the effects of war on individuals on both sides of a conflict, his ability to make life and death choices, and his integrity make him a very powerful and appealing character.

Some of the atrocities Dan and his special force unit face are horrifying and hard to read, yet there is a realism and depth to the writing which gives balance and perspective to these events in the history of the Congo and make it compelling reading.  

Although this is not a Christian novel and there is no apparent bias in the writing towards or against Christianity, some of the characters are portrayed as deeply spiritual, committed missionaries, whose dedication and faith are inspiring.  

The connection, past or potential, between the two main characters, Anna and Dan, is unclear until three quarters of the way through the book, which was a little frustrating but also intriguing. It is a love story but not a romance, so not for those who are looking for a light fantasy or feel good escape from reality. Quite the opposite. It seems very thoroughly researched and based on real events which demand the reader’s reflection and consideration. This is a story that I believe would be every bit as compelling for a male reader as a female and I’d highly recommend it.  

Carol

Carol writes historical novels based on her family ancestry in Australia from the First Fleet. They include the Turning the Tide series; Mary’s Guardian, Charlotte’s Angel, Tangled Secrets and Truly Free. Two of her earlier novels, Suzannah’s Gold and Rebecca’s Dream, were re-released by EBP.  Next of Kin was released in 2015 by Rhiza Press and the sequel, Beyond the Fight, was released in 2016. You can see more about Carol and her novels on her website, her Amazon author page or FB author page.

www.carolpreston.com.au

www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston

www.facebook.com/writingtoreach

Lucy's review of "Where Wildflowers Grow" by Gail Gaymer Martin

Hi! Lucy Thompson here :) with my review of Where Wildflowers Grow by Gail Gaymer Martin.

Genre: Christian contemporary romance.

“Falling in love can be wonderful, but for Sandy Fisher and Clay Burdett, it is more like a steep mountain climb. Sandy returns to her hometown concerned about her widowed mother’s health and to heal from her job loss and her broken engagement. Though discouraged, her attitude and determination never falter, and when her car acts up and the only mechanic in town gives her the runaround, she’s determined to win the battle. Clay, scarred by his childhood, left his promising career and moved into the small town to bury emotions and guilt involving the death of his wife. But life continues to be empty, and when he meet’s spunky Sandy who challenges him and awakens his spirit, he faces his wasted life unless he conquers his past. Like opposite poles, Sandy and Clay are drawn together, seeking something deeper and more meaningful than their past choices. Yet they continue to doubt until truth softens their hearts as sand softens clay.”

This book was a quick holiday read for me. I did laugh at a few parts and even teared up once. A great reminder about God’s timing in relationships. I like this quote from the book: “You have to nourish love, work at it”. I liked the wisdom and verses shared throughout the book.

The story tended to lag and I found myself skimming to get to the more important bits of the story. It also could have benefited from a more thorough edit. I found at least five errors—and I don’t consider myself the best proofreader.

I brought this book, but wouldn’t read it again. I’d give this a bare 3 out of 5 stars.

If you like light, holiday reads then this is the book for you.

Bio: Lucy Thompson is a stay-at-home mum to five precocious children by day and a snoop by night, stalking interesting characters through historical Colorado, and writing about their exploits. She enjoys meeting new people from all over the world and learning about the craft of writing. When she can be separated from her laptop, she is a professional time waster on Facebook, a slave to the towering stack of books on her bedside table, and a bottler, preserving fruit the old fashioned way so she can swap recipes and tips with her characters. Her home is in central Queensland, Australia, where she does not ride a kangaroo to the shops, mainly because her children won’t fit. ;) 
Represented by Chip MacGregorof MacGregor Literary, she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America.

Review: The Viking Stone by Nick Hawkes

Blurb

Adam Hollingworth’s dreams are shattered by the death of his fiancé. The demons of grief pursue him as he journeys from Australia to England to hide amidst the marshes of the Thames Estuary, an area renowned for its secrets and its smuggling.

An old man and his beautiful niece introduce Adam to the world of old wooden boats and the mysteries of the marshes. Together, they reignite Adam’s passion for life. Now, Adam must fight to keep himself and the people he loves from being murdered. Whether they survive will depend on his ability to use a remarkable secret of ancient Norse navigation—the Viking Stone.

My Review

Another well written novel by Nick Hawkes, though it didn’t draw me in quite as much as his previous novel, The Celtic Stone. The historical aspects of The Viking Stone were not as deeply explored but the local fishing history of Vikings and Danes along the Essex coast was interesting and does underpin the core of the story. For anyone into boating, both ancient and modern, there are fascinating insights and exciting incidents and descriptions. Some of it was a little technical for me but gave me a sense of the adventure and the dangers inherent in sailing. There are great descriptions of fishing villages and the coastline of Essex which provide an effective visual context for the story.  It is clear that Nick has done his research well and/or has quite a vast knowledge of boats and sailing and the area which is the setting of the novel.  

I enjoyed the sensitivity and passion in the character of Adam, who takes a teaching job in England in an attempt to revive his interest in life after the terrible loss of his fiancé. His journey through grief and the reawakening of his desire for a loving relationship with Edward Bryson’s niece, Claire, was gentle and touching, though a little at odds with his almost impulsive and reckless passion in regard to rock climbing, and the energy and aggression which explode from him when wrangling with drug smugglers or protecting those he cares about. His approach to teaching and the wisdom he portrays in motivating young boys to learn is inspiring. So Adam is a complex and appealing character from whose point of view much of the story is told.

The older man in the story, Edward Bryson is also a character easy to love and enjoy. His is more a mentoring role in Adam's life and the kind of character anyone would want to have around if they were needing a wise and caring supporter in a time of trouble or grief. 

I didn’t feel there was as much insight into the character of the females in the story. Both Claire and Margaret, the woman in a second developing romance with Adam's fellow teacher, Gareth Price, were a little more of a mystery to me in regard to their motivations and feelings. Even though parts of the story were written from their POV, as a reader I felt I was coming to understand the women mostly from the perspective of Adam. Perhaps that was Nick’s intention as Adam is the main character and his journey is the main focus of the story. Or perhaps it’s understandable that male characters are easier to portray deeply for a male writer. Both romances are woven through the story at a slower pace than female romance lovers might want, but there’s good balance of adventure, male bonding, danger and near-death experiences to keep a range of readers interested.

While the story does not have any overt Christian content there is a subtle sense of God's presence and of calling out to God in the midst of pain and trouble. A satisfying ending to the story left me feeling it had been a good read, a portrayal of internal and interpersonal struggles resolved and of inspiring human values and attitudes. 

Carol Preston  

Carol writes historical novels based on her family ancestry in Australia from the First Fleet. They include the Turning the Tide series; Mary’s Guardian, Charlotte’s Angel, Tangled Secrets and Truly Free. Her earlier novels Suzannah’s Gold and Rebecca’s Dream have been re-released by EBP. Her new novel, Next of Kin, was released this year by Rhiza Press and the sequel, Beyond the Fight will be released in April, 2016. You can see more about Carol and her novels on her website, her FB author page or her Amazon author page. 

  

www.carolpreston.com.au

www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston

www.facebook.com/writingtoreach

Book Review: The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron

Blurb
Manhattan art dealer Sera James watched her world crumble at the alter two years ago, and her heart is still fragile. Her desire for distraction reignites a passion for a mysterious portrait she first saw as a young girl - a painting of a young violinist with piercing blue eyes. In her search for the painting, Sera crosses paths with William Hanover - the grandson of a wealthy California real estate mogul - who may be the key to uncovering the hidden masterpiece. Together Sera and William slowly unravel the story behind the painting's subject: Austrian violinist Adele Von Bron. A darling of the Austrian aristocracy of 1942, talented violinist, and daughter to a high-ranking member of the Third Reich, Adele risks everything when she begins smuggling Jews out of Vienna. In a heartbeat, her life of prosperity and privilege dissolves into a world of starvation and barbed wire. As Sera  the secrets behind the painting, she finds beauty in the most unlikely of places: the grim camps of Auschwitz and the inner recesses of her own troubled heart.

My Review

Sera James is an art dealer with a broken heart. In this beautiful story the reader is taken on the journey of Sera’s healing. It’s a journey not only to love, but to wholeness and renewed faith. This part of the story is told with tenderness and, while quite predictable in some ways, it also holds some real surprises. William Hanover in particular is a character I found surprisingly endearing. There's a great sense of mystery and intrigue in the search Sera and William undertake for a long lost painting. The story of Sera and William is set in modern times, in a modern city, and Kristy Cambron creates the setting and atmosphere for this couple’s relationship very realistically.

This setting is in stark contrast to the atmosphere of the story about Adele Von Bron, whose life portrays all the tragedy and agony of World War 11 and the concentration camps. The historical aspects of the novel are well researched and very sobering. Adele’s story is heart-wrenching. The horror of the concentration camps is incredibly evoked in Cambron’s writing. I felt the pain of the prisoners, the injustice, the cruelty. The pathos and depth of struggle to survive is very moving. But the greatest beauty of this novel is its ability to the evoke a sense of hope, faith and love, as Adele and other prison inmates are able to worship God with their arts, in the midst of the terror and fear.

The two stories are woven together beautifully. Moving between them creates a sense of anticipation that keeps the reader turning the pages. It also breaks up the darkness of Adele’s story and I found it a relief at times to go back to Sera’s search for the painting she longs to see again.

There were times in the early stages of the story when I found the spiritual aspects of both Sera’s and Adele’s journey a little forced, but as their characters were developed more deeply this became more authentic. The character of Omara, who becomes a mother figure to Adele, is truly inspiring. I found the passionate search for something that has been lost spiritually symbolic, as was the relentless faith of some of the characters despite the seeming hopelessness of their circumstances. 

This is much more than a search for a painting. It is also a search for love and for God. It is a story of second chances, survival and hope and I found it truly engaging and very impactful. It is not a story for the faint-hearted. The romance is satisfying but costly and there are some surprises along the way which are intriguing. Something for everyone.

Carol writes historical novels based on her family ancestry in Australia from the First Fleet. They include the Turning the Tide series; Mary’s Guardian, Charlotte’s Angel, Tangled Secrets and Truly Free. Her earlier novels Suzannah’s Gold and Rebecca’s Dream have been re-released by EBP. Her new novel, Next of Kin, is soon to be released by Rhiza Press. You can see more about Carol and her novels on her website  

www.carolpreston.com.au

www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston

www.facebook.com/writingtoreach

Book Review A Single Breath

A Single Breath by Lucy Clarke

Blurb

When Eva’s husband Jackson tragically drowns, she longs to meet his estranged family. The journey takes her to Jackson’s brother’s doorstep on a remote Tasmanian island. As strange details about her husband’s past begin to emerge, memories of the man she married start slipping through her fingers like sand, as everything she ever knew and loved about him is thrown into question. Now she’s no longer sure whether it was Jackson she fell in love with - or someone else entirely … The truth is, it was all a lie …

My Review

I was intrigued by this story which drew me into the mystery right from the beginning and kept me wondering to the final conclusion, which is shocking at yet totally believable.  The novel is a great reflection on what happens when a person begins to tell lies, how the first leads on to more and more until life is a tangled mess - in this case one there is no escape from. The challenge in regard to truth telling, it’s costs and the devastation which follows when the truth is skirted around or avoided, is prominent throughout the story, as its complexity grows.

The main characters, Eva, and her brother-in-law, Saul, are well rounded and likeable. It was easy to get deeply involved emotionally with this story because the points of view of both these characters are handled very well. The romantic aspects of the relationships are tender and sensitive. The story will definitely appeal both to those who love romance and to those who like mystery. The pace of the story is good. I didn’t feel there were any parts which dragged and side stories about Jackson’s father, Dirk, and Eva’s best friend, Callie, only add to the  intensity of the main story. To say anything about other characters would give too much away in regard to the plot, which I thought was incredibly well developed.

Most of the story unfolds on a small island off Tasmania and Lucy Clarke describes the environment beautifully and brings it alive to the reader. It’s clear she researches her setting well and also has a good understanding of the diving which Eva and Saul do off the island beach. The ocean, its moods, beauty and terror are woven into the story in graphic and tantalising images. Readers should be warned there is a small amount of bad language in the dialogue, but I was able to accept this as realistically evoked, given the dramatic nature of what was being dealt with by characters.

Lucy Clarke lives in the south of England and travels widely to research for her writing. This is the first of her novels that I have read, but I have already downloaded her other novel, The Sea Sisters. Both are available through Amazon.

 Carol Preston  

Carol writes historical novels based on her family ancestry in Australia from the First Fleet. They include the Turning the Tide series; Mary’s Guardian, Charlotte’s Angel, Tangled Secrets and Truly Free. Her earlier novels Suzannah’s Gold and Rebecca’s Dream have been re-released by EBP. Her new novel, Next of Kin, is soon to be released by Rhiza Press. You can see more about Carol and her novels on her website  

www.carolpreston.com.au

www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston

www.facebook.com/writingtoreach

Unconventional Gifts of Love

By Rose Dee

In days of old, men would write poetry to their beloved, or pen prose to make the heart sing and swoon. Artists would paint pictures. Romantics would send flowers. All these gifts were intended to delight and entrance the beloved.  My beloved has recently delighted me with a somewhat unconventional gift of love: A deck.

Since we began building our bush camp, I have wanted—desired—a deck. A place where I could sit and while away the day. A place where I could write, read, or work. A place just above the bird bath where all the native animals would come and visit me. The best view in the camp.

You can imagine my delight when I arrived at the camp last week and my deck was sitting waiting for me, complete with its own bench seat, nibbles table, shade sail, and flower pots. My husband (along with his good mate, a big believer in the attributes of outdoor spaces) had spent countless hours  constructing my new deck.

My new place of peace couldn't have come at a better time for me. I was feeling very down, and the sight of my deck lifted my spirits. But my spirits were also lifted by the gift of love, the thought and effort the boys put into the job. It was a great sacrifice and I felt as though my husband had really heard me, and set out to show me he loved me.

Gifts of love come in many forms. Sometimes they are the obvious ones, and sometimes they are outside the expected. For me, no poetry, flowers, or other grand gesture would come close what my husband made for me—my deck, my own little part of the world to enjoy.

Have you ever received an unconventional gift of love? Please share it with us in the comments. 

About Rose Dee 

Rose, who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, was born in North Queensland, Australia. Her childhood experiences growing up in a small beach community would later provide inspiration for her first novel, Back to Resolution.

Her novels are inspired by the love of her coastal home and desire to produce exciting and contemporary stories of faith for women. Beyond Resolution and A New Resolution are the second and third books in the Resolution series.

Rose’s debut novel Back to Resolution won the Bookseller’s Choice award at the 2012 CALEB Awards, while A New Resolution won the 2013 CALEB Prize for Fiction. She has also released The Greenfield Legacy, a collaborative novel, written in conjunction with three other outstanding Australian authors.

Rose resides in Mackay, North Queensland with her husband, young son, and mischievous pup, Noodle.

Book Review Broken Melody by Trudy Adams

Broken Melody by Trudy Adams

 Cover blurb     Seventeen year-old Danae Blackburn has never known love. After being fostered out at two, the family that chose her gradually reduced her to brokenness and a life of fear. For a long time there is only one thing she can turn to – the piano, at which she is amazingly gifted. Torn between a dysfunctional past and a promising future, Danae struggles against everything that threatens her identity –the love of a friend, the challenge of a competition, the possibility of change. At first, the only thing that helps to weaken her defenses is the beauty in music …

My review

I found this a truly moving story about a young woman’s battle with abandonment, abuse, the search for love and a sense of self-worth. Written in the first person, Danae’s journey is told in a very real and moving manner. Her character is well developed, believable and engaging. The characters around her; friends, mentors, those who believe in her, as well as those who torment and abuse her, are equally engaging and real, even though the reader has nothing of their POV. I thought this was very well accomplished.

Danae’s relationship with music, through the learning process, the discovery of her giftedness, its healing power, is beautifully presented and authentic. It suggests Trudy Adams has a good knowledge of music or has done her research well.  A quote from the book that I loved was; Music’s not meant to be understood, only relished. It is its beauty, not its mechanics, that heals.

I also thought the journey in relationships, both with her friend, Kristin and with her step sibling, Kirra-lea, was sensitively written with a genuine understanding of the struggle to trust, to love and to be loved, that would be present in the life of girl so damaged in childhood.

Trudy has written in a way that arouses deep feeling in the reader. The story hides none of what should outrage us about the mistreatment of children, but also leads the reader towards the hope of good coming out of bad, and the place faith in God plays in such a journey. The genuine ups and downs of this journey are gripping and give the story intrigue and tension that keeps the reader turning the pages.

I believe this story is one that will challenge and move any reader, but would be particularly  inspiring for anyone who has experienced foster parenting or mistreatment as a child. The Christian message is authentically present but not forced or overdone and I believe a non-Christian reader would benefit equally from the message from this book without feeling preached at.

Broken Melody is available on Kindle through Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Melody-Trudy-Adams-ebook/dp/B00DRQZAPY/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1394580379&sr=1-3&keywords=broken+melody

From Even Before Publishing

http://www.evenbeforepublishing.com/index.php/our-books/fiction-books/104-broken-melody

And all good book stores.

Carol writes historical novels based on her family history, set in the early colonial days of Australia. You can see more about Carol and her novels on her website, Amazon page or FB page. 

www.carolpreston.com.au

www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston

www.facebook.com/writingtoreach

The Christmas Story

By Carol Preston

As Christmas approaches there’s a plethora of Christmas stories bought to our attention. Books to buy, movies to see; mostly focussing on family togetherness, holiday fun, the generosity of the human spirit; all great things, but often skirting around the central story of Christmas. 

I recently heard a speaker from the Dickens Society talking about the stories which Charles Dickens wrote about Christmas; A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, to name a few. A Christmas Carol, perhaps the most well-known, has been read and re-read, modernised, seen on stage, screen and DVD. I wonder if it’s better known and paid more attention than the real story of Christmas – the birth of the Saviour of the world.

Could there be a more compelling, moving, joyous story than that of Jesus’s birth? Especially when we know that it’s a never ending story, a life-giving and life-changing one for millions upon millions of people.

There are many beautiful aspects of the Christmas story which can be explored and applied in novels, movies, poems, pageants, plays and song. Themes of forgiveness, joy, grace, acceptance, love, reconciliation, peace can be brought to our attention in beautiful, challenging and moving ways. These are the themes I want to write about in all my novels, in the hope that a reader will be challenged to seek God.

However, Christmas gives a special opportunity to speak to hearts and minds that at other times of the year might be quite closed to these ideas. Many hundreds of people will sit at a Carol’s night in a park and sing songs about the baby Jesus, the Saviour of the World; people who may never talk of such things in their everyday life. People who don’t usually go to church will attend a Christmas service and hear the Biblical story, or watch a Christmas pageant, or gaze on the nativity scene. No doubt God’s spirit can do wonderful things with such an opportunity.   

I love this quote from Dicken’s Christmas Carol. “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present and the Future. The spirit of all three shall strive with me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” 

How wonderful if more people could really honour the Christmas story – the coming of Christ to a broken world – all year, and allow His spirit to bring new life to them all year round. I pray this Christmas, the central truth of His story will begin in the hearts of many who have not really heard it before. 

Carol's novels are historical fiction, based on her family ancestry in Australia, dating back to the First Fleet.

You can find Carol on her website  www.carolpreston.com.au

Or on her FB author page www.facebook.com/writingtoreach

Or see her books on www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston