Good-bye Malaise; Hello Positive

Malaise --- noun: malaise; plural noun: malaises

a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or uneasiness whose exact cause is difficult to identify.

The year is now is her third month and I realized I haven't posted much on this blog. While I have a hundred excuses, one is that I've started spending time at Medium.com where I got my profile completed and my page up and running. I've been faithfully posting and gaining readership and followers. If you've got a page there, please follow me and I'll reciprocate. Also my happy news is that I've become a writer for Devotable. Devotable publishes devotions, and so far, three of mine have made their debut. So if you'll head over to Medium.com, to see what I've been up to, I'll be happy and grateful.

The truth is, this year I'm all about staying upbeat and grateful. Times are hard. Our country and the world are in sad states. I absorb news to keep informed and sometimes I have to step away and nourish my soul. Instead of letting malaise win me over, I want to look up, be still before God, and write more. I've always believed that writing is healing and healing is what I continue to need.

I hope you'll join me!

Guest Blogger Rose Chandler Johnson!

Today I welcome Rose Chandler Johnson to my Patchwork Quilt blog. Rose's new book, God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea has just been released from Lighthouse of the Carolinas.

Rose, good to have you here! I have a few questions for you today. What inspired you to write your devotional?

Rose: I was writing every day in a spiral notebook. After a while I had written so much, I thought to myself, "Hey, I could turn these into devotions." So, that is what I did. I wrote one or two per week, every week for a year. After a year, I chose from them to compile the devotional. I transformed it into a journal because like yourself I’ve always journaled and I’ve experienced its benefits. I’ve used it with students as well. I think the journal component makes it more memorable and allows readers an opportunity to go deeper and apply their faith.

Alice: Who do you want to reach with your book? Which audience?

Rose: This devotional is uniquely appropriate for working mothers, but also for anyone who wants to put their Christianity into practice in their everyday moments.

Alice: What is your favorite kind of iced tea? Flavored? With sugar or without? Do you make iced tea?

Rose: Yes, I make tea every day at home. I drink at least two quarts of sweetened iced tea daily, and I use only a half cup of sugar in that. I like tea so much, I can’t really say I have a favorite. The brand I’m using at home the most is Luzianne. I prefer it with a slice of lemon.

Alice: Can you share an excerpt from your book with us here?

Rose: Yes, and thank you for asking.

A Life of Service

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it" Matthew 16:25 (KJV).

Well I remember the time, some twenty or so years ago, when my little children revolved around me like the planets circle the sun. I felt like I was holding them all in place, but God was holding us all. He was ever present.

One especially exhausting day, as I was changing a diaper, and hurriedly juggling many tasks, I said aloud in exasperation, "I don’t have a life!" Without hesitation, in an instant, the Lord responded emphatically to my words. In my spirit, I heard, "No, you don’t have a life. Didn’t I tell you that whoever will save his life shall lose it, and whoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it?" These words came directly to me, personal and real—interjected into my train of thought by a voice of authority.

At that moment, I knew the Lord had spoken to me. I realized I was doing exactly what the Lord wanted me to do; I was taking care of the needs of my family. My service to them was not an obligation, but a holy calling, a vocation to serve the needs of those in my care. Jesus became a “servant to all” taking on the "form of a servant" in his earthly life. His service was love in action. His selfless love, for our redemption and God’s glory, is a model for all believers. It is with this same spirit of service that we can dedicate our lives to His service, and by so doing, we are strengthened to give of ourselves to others, in our families and beyond, as we go about our everyday lives.

Alice: Rose, where can we find you online?

Rose: Twitter: @rechanjo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rose.c.johnson
Blog: Write Moments with God; http://www.writemomentswithgod.blogspot.com

Thanks, Rose! Readers, be sure to get a copy of God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea: Experiencing God in the Midst of Everyday Moments! And leave a comment below to encourage Rose as she embarks on her newly-published journey.

Available from Amazon.

Available in print from your local bookstore, online, or from the publisher.

Join this blog and enter to win a copy of Getting Out of Bed in the Morning

Mornings. Darkness. Bleakness. Life can be daunting.

So it was for me when my four-year-old son Daniel died in February 1997. I wanted to die, too. And if my broken heart wasn't going to kill me, then at least, I wanted to stay in bed. But I was six months pregnant and had a six-year-old daughter and a 15-month-old son to care for. Mornings started early. When Elizabeth was born three months later, they seemed like the extension of countless sleep-deprived nights.

Perhaps you know what it's like to struggle. Maybe you have experienced a loss that keeps you from wanting to participate in life.

Getting Out of Bed in the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache addresses the toil of life, the heartache, the grief and loss. Known as a companion through grief, this little devotional was created to bring comfort to those in pain.

"I lie down and sleep; I wake again; because the Lord sustains me." ~ Psalm 3:5 (NIV)

I'm offering a free copy of Getting Out of Bed in the Morning.

To be eligible to win, follow these rules:
1) Join this blog by following it (add yourself to the link on the right)
2) Post a comment in reply to the question: What helps you get out of bed in the morning?
3) Include your email
4) Offer good in the USA only

Giveaway contest ends April 1 and that's no joke!


Thanks for joining me here!

Book Review: Straight Pipes

Devotions for bikers---I wasn't sure whether or not it was appropriate to laugh. I imagined a bunch of burly men and women tearing through a town, tossing beer cans as they sped. I guess I never associated these being the types that would stop to pray or ask God for wisdom. (I know, I do have my stereotypes.)

As I read Straight Pipes: Devotions for Bikers by Barbara Ann Derkson, I decided that it was okay to laugh at myself, and in the process pause to enjoy the richness of her words. With clear explanations and in an easy-to-read style, Barbara gives insight into many biblical passages we might have once glossed over. This devotional has words of wisdom for us all. One paragraph that spoke volumes to me is: "Has God called you to a place where your encouragement is needed? Look around. It won’t take long for you to find a hurting soul or someone floundering in their faith. Are your doors open? Can people call you when they need a word of encouragement or prayer?"

Yes, I thought, may I never be too consumed with myself to seek ways to reach others through a word of encouragement.

Barbara's devotional can be ordered here. Pick up a copy today!

Book Review: Psalms, The Sunrise of Hope

The psalms became very real to me after the death of my son Daniel in 1997. Daniel was four and had cancer. His death devastated me.

It was in my despair that I found the beauty of the biblical psalms.

There are psalms of despair, anguish and fear, as well as psalms of praise, expectation, and hope. It is my hope that you'll dig into Bob Saffrin's Psalms, The Sunrise of Hope and discover what reading the psalms can do for your spirit. Bob unveils much about the psalms and their meanings. At the end of each chapter he concludes with a Life Lesson, and a chance to consider and discuss. By pondering on the questions he asks, readers can reflect on their own spiritual journey.

Perhaps one of the aspects that I found most comforting about Bob's devotional is that he stresses God's love for us. What a privilege to be loved by the creator of the universe!

"Oh, LORD Our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" Psalm 8:9.

You can pick up an e-copy of Bob's Psalms, The Sunrise of Hope by clicking here.

Faith Matters: Book Review

"Are you as close to God as you would like to be?" asks Carol Round in her devotional Faith Matters.

Carol Round is the type of person who takes her faith seriously. She wears a cross around her neck to remind her of what Jesus did for her on that old rugged cross 2,000 years ago. She also keeps a daily prayer journal to keep her in tune with what she's learning throughout the seasons of her life.

Each selection of Faith Matters begins with a scripture verse and then a short text where Carol expands on the meaning of the verse by using an anecdote from her life. Some are self-explanatory, with titles like, Get off the Pity Pot, Called to be an Overcomer and Fully Rely on God (F.R.O.G.). Carol writes each one in an upbeat style. She doesn't sugar-coat a believer's walk with God. She knows there are trying days.

For Christians, it’s not so much a question of whether we’ll have to face a trial but a matter of when.~ Carol Round in Faith Matters

For a sound, positive way to start your day, pick up a copy of Faith Matters. The book is also available in Kindle format.