by Lucy | Oct 14, 2011 | relationships |
Desperate circumstances knit women together: One an illegal immigrant. The other, a widow of a border patrol agent. Two women, a baby, and Christmastime.
Desperate circumstances knit women together. . .despite their differences.
One an illegal immigrant. The other, a widow of a border patrol agent.
Homeless, penniless, and pregnant, Isabella Alcantara–a character in Kathi Macias’ novel A Christmas Journey Home–determines to find a way to honor her promise to her beloved husband.
Living on a ranch along the Arizona border, Miriam Nelson becomes furious with God. Her mother and young son try to help her find her faith.
Two widows—one driven by fear and a promise, the other by bitterness and revenge—discover that a beautiful common yearning on Christmas Eve in a barn full of animals and a miracle. Here’s an interview with the novelist.
An Interview with Kathi Macias
Q. How did you come up with the idea for A Christmas Journey Home?
A. I knew I wanted to do a Christmas book. (It is the first of what would become an annual event that my publisher and I were discussing.) I also knew that despite the lighter tone required in a Christmas book, I had to stick to my “brand” as closely as possible: hence, an “issues-related” Christmas novel, dealing with the issues related to illegal immigration.
Q. What was your favorite scene to write in A Christmas Journey Home?
A. I loved writing this entire book, but I think I liked the scenes with Isabella’s old abuelo best, as the grandfather reminded me of my own grandpa and even my dad, both of whom I loved dearly. I love incorporating at least one elderly saint in each of my books. I also brought in a little boy because children can add such a delightful element to any story, and six-year-old Davey certainly does that in A Christmas Journey Home.
Q. What was the most difficult scene, and why?
A. The toughest scene had to be when Francisco and Isabella thought they were finally on the verge of being able to get away from the migrant camp and find a small home of their own, where their baby could be born in relative comfort and safety. If you’ve read the book, you know that isn’t at all what happens. But this heartbreaking scene had to take place to bring the story to its miraculous conclusion.
Q. What is there about you, apart from writing, that many people don’t know?
A. My “road name” is “Easy Writer” because my husband and I were Harley riders for many years.
Q. Who are some of your favorite writers, and are you an avid reader?
A. Absolutely I’m an avid reader. I have always loved books, reading, and words and been fascinated by them. When I ran out of books as I child, I started writing my own. Voila! Look what came of that! As for favorite writers, that’s tough, but here are just a few: Brock and Bodie Thoene, Francine Rivers, Patti Lacy, Athol Dickson, Jim Rubart, and Alan Paton, who wrote my favorite all-time fiction book, Cry the Beloved Country. That book changed my life and inspired my novel set in South Africa in 1989, No Greater Love. I also enjoy reading Brennan Manning, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, Oswald Chambers, and Max Lucado for nonfiction.
Q. What’s on the horizon for you now, so far as future book projects?
A. I am currently finishing up the final book of the three-installment Freedom series (Deliver Me From Evil, Special Delivery, and The Deliverer). Then I will jump into my Christmas 2012 novel (working title is A Home For Christmas) and a novel called Last Chance for Justice, which is part of the multi-author Bloomfield Series with another publisher. After that I hope to get going on a new fiction series, which is still in the discussion/planning stages with my publisher and agent. So life is busy, but most contracts coming my way seem to be fiction right now. I am also keeping busy with very occasional editing projects and some speaking/teaching around the country.
Q. Where can we find out more about you, The Freedom Series, and keep up with your to-be-released books?
A. Please feel free to visit my website at www.KathiMacias.com.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speakers Services (ChristianSpeakersServices.com).
You Are Blessed!
by Lucy | Oct 13, 2011 | biblical counseling, emotions, relationships |
Great men and women of the faith get lonely too. You are not alone. Let your friend know that she also is never alone.
Yesterday I shared five practical solutions to loneliness. In case you missed it, you can read it here.
Keep these solutions in mind as we peek into the life of the apostle Paul as he neared the end of his days on earth.
Was this apostle zealous? Oh, yeah.
Crazy in love with Jesus? Yep.
Lonely? At times. We can learn a lot about dealing with our own loneliness from Paul, a convert to Christianity who proclaimed Jesus EVERYWHERE.
A couple shipwrecks, a bunch of beatings, a few imprisonments, Paul persevered — a bounce to his step — then near his end, he felt lonely.
Deserted by trusted friends, he wrote personal words to Timothy. Listen between the lines to his hurt. The italics are 2 Timothy 4:9-16.
“Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.”
In contrast to to Paul’s eternal perspective, Demas looked to worldly pleasures to satisfy. How often do I do the same? How often do you?
“Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.”
Two more men leave Paul. Have you ever felt abandoned? I think we all have. No fun.
“Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.”
Paul has Luke with him. Only Luke. He needs the comfort of others. Just like me and you.
“When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.”
How telling. Paul is cold and wants his coat. What’s more, he requests his writing materials and quite possibly a copy of the Old Testament in Greek. Even nearing death, he desired to continue to work for the sake of the gospel. No retirement for him.
“Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.”
This man is causing trouble. Paul looks to God to avenge. What about you? When a friend, coworker, employer or family member causes you trouble, what is your reaction? What is mine? Is it in line with God’s desires for me. . .
. . .to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. . .
and to love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37,39)
by Lucy | Oct 12, 2011 | emotions, relationships |
Lonely women have trouble making and keeping friends. Here are five practical solutions to loneliness.
Loneliness comes in as many flavors as ice cream. (It just tastes like mud.)
Single women who feel lonely in their singleness. Married women who feel lonely in their marriages. Women who feel lonely in their infertility. Widows, single moms, women with illness (physical or mental), women whose jobs transplanted them to another part of the country far from family and friends, women who feel lonely in their shame, their fear, their anger, women whose friend has betrayed them.
Here are 5 practical solutions to loneliness. I’ll add more this week. 🙂 If you have a specific question about friendship, please contact me.
- Do not give in to self-pity. Self-pity is a perfectly natural emotion but it cripples. At first self-pitying thoughts are comforting. It is a false comfort, creating more loneliness.
- Believe what God says about you. Don’t listen to the lies the world tells you. Don’t listen to the lies you tell yourself. Believing lies leads to greater loneliness.
- Draw close to the Lord. Among the many ways to draw near to Jesus: Listen to praise music; read Scripture and think on it, asking God for wisdom in applying it to your life; pray; belong to a Christian fellowship.
- Get a physical exam by a medical doctor. What does this have to do with loneliness? Maybe nothing, maybe a lot. If you have a physical condition that zaps your energy, then getting care may make friendships easier.
- Take a risk and show love to others. I remember when our family moved to a new town and I desperately wanted to make friends in my new church. For a month or so the church ladies talked to me, then nothing. Back to their cliques and saying “Hello” to the people. Feeling lonely and deserted, I prayed, “Lord, make the church ladies show me hospitality and friendship.” I looked in my concordance for a verse to nail the church ladies and I found it: “Practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13). Guess what? Our great God handed the verse to me. I impressed on my heart, “Lucy, you show hospitality.” The word “shock” doesn’t begin to capture my surprise. The next Sunday I began to reach out to the church ladies even though I was the new one.
Psst. . .Did you read my short post featuring a friendship song by Nichole Nordeman and Amy Grant? Click here.
A Friendly Question: Can you share a practical solution to loneliness? Please do.
You Are Blessed!
by Lucy | Oct 10, 2011 | relationships
Our furry friends wiggle into our hearts, providing comfort, even help and protection. Every so often they save our lives.
You know the phrase, “A man’s best friend,” referring to his trusty lab, beagle, spaniel, poodle, or mutt.
We women have animals as friends, too, and enough stories to fill a Kindle. I’d like to tell you one of mine. I hope you’ll tell me one of yours.
The day a hamster saved my life
Meet Hammy. A totally unoriginal name, I know. This teddy bear hamster — long, beige fur and requisite black, beady eyes — lived in a fancy hamster house (the type with secret passageways and penthouses) next to my desk on the lowest floor of our family’s tri-level. Her mommy was Laura, my only child at the time. I was just a friend.
Way back in the summer before Laura marched into Mrs. Nelson’s Kindergarten, Hammy became more than a friend. He became our palm-sized hero. Here’s how.
One warm evening, as I wiped the kitchen counters and lost myself in thought, my spirit heard an inaudible voice say, “Check on the hamster.”
“Huh? Is this you, God?”
or am I going looney?
Then again, “Check on the hamster.”
Whoa, now I’m losing it.
I thought, “If this is God, what a weird way to get my attention!”
Seriously? God wants me to check on Hammy?
Nothing against God. Or hamsters. But I had watered the little guy and hand-fed him sunflower seeds that afternoon. I was certain he was napping.
What more did they want?
Fearing that this voice might chatter through the night unless I checked on Hammy, I tossed the rag in the sink and made my way down the seven steps to the lower level and stopped dead.
I smelled something funny: burning wire. No flames, no smoke, only the smell.
Olfactory hallucinations too? God help me.
So I called to my husband. No sense freaking out my daughter. My husband? He enjoys a good laugh. . .and a chance to be my knight in shining armor.
“Hey, Steve, come here and tell me if you smell what I smell.”
I watched his eyes as he came down the stairs. The furrowed brow told me all I needed to know. He smelled it too.
We felt heat behind the wall, the one nearest Hammy. You can guess happened next: a 911 call, a reassuring conversation with our daughter before the fire trucks arrived, and a party on the streets. Nothing brings out good neighbors on a warm summer’s eve like three shiny, red fire trucks.
The fire chief told me we would have had a full-blown fire within days if not sooner had we not called.
I believe in my heart that our house would have gone up in flames that very night while we slept if I had discounted God’s voice and failed to check on the hamster. Thank you, God. Thank you, Hammy.
By the way, Hammy was fine and the recipient of many extra sunflowers seeds of thanks. Why God used Hammy to get my attention, I don’t know. . .other than the obvious: I love my furry friends.
“Where can I go from your Spirit
Where can I flee from you presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
Psalm 139:7,8
A Friendly Question: Has a furry (or feathered or scaled) friend comforted or helped you in some way? Please share a little bit of your story and encourage your sisters in Christ. 🙂
You Are Blessed?
by Lucy | Oct 9, 2011 | emotions, relationships
When a friend is grieving she needs your empathy, your presence, your prayers.
Naomi: “Go back!”
Ruth: “I will come.”
Naomi: “I am hopeless.”
Ruth: “I will carry your burden.”
Naomi: “I am bitter.”
Ruth: “Let’s walk together. Your God is my God.”
You can read the story of these two dear friends in the Old Testament book of Ruth. Both are widows. Both know deep pain. As they journey on foot from Moab to Jerusalem, I imagine Noami, the elder, spoke hard things. Ruth, I suspect, listened and empathized. She understood deep emotional pain.
When I interviewed Dee Brestin, author of the classic The Friendships of Women, on my radio show, she mentioned the several grief-producing Ds, including:
death
divorce
disease
Can you think of another D?
How about “distance”? When you or I move away from family and friends, or they move away from us, we experience loss and the resulting emotions.
3 ways to empathize with a friend in grief:
1. Listen well.
2. Be patient.
3. Offer specific help. Example: Say, “I’ll bring over dinner this week. Is Tuesday or Thursday best for you?” Or, “I’d love to help with the kids. May I take them to the park on Monday afternoon?”
What else would you add to this list?
You can listen to Dee’s warm insights on friendship at my radio page. Click here.
You Are Blessed!
