Writers probably don't say "Thank you" often enough to our readers.
I've treasured each person who has read one of my books, followed my blog, received my Book Buddy newsletter, or even wanted to follow my occasional Twitter updates.
I'm so sorry I haven't been able to keep up with this blog in recent months.
I have LOVED communicating with you through this forum. But sometimes life takes turns we don't expect.
Until I'm able to get back to sharing devotional musings here, if you miss hearing from me, please feel free to explore various posts from the past several years, and dig around on my website.
For those who have followed this blog - THANK YOU. Just wanted to let you know, I'm still here, God is faithful, and I hope to get back to this one day. :-)
HUGE blessings on your day! Thank you so much for visiting!
His,
Sharon Hinck
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
A Challenging Question
I love chatting with various bloggers about the writing life. Blogger Annette Irby just posted a new interview she did with me at her site.
You can find a question no one has asked me before, that I found very challenging . . . and see how I answered it by visiting her post.
Thanks for letting me visit, Annette!
Blessings,
Sharon Hinck
You can find a question no one has asked me before, that I found very challenging . . . and see how I answered it by visiting her post.
Thanks for letting me visit, Annette!
Blessings,
Sharon Hinck
Monday, April 20, 2009
Contentment
It seems to me that self-pity lurks in the space between the things we long for and the reality we live.
Often that longing is triggered by comparison to others.
I always thought of myself as fairly content. Oh, I might feel a bit curious about what it would be like to have someone else's level of beauty, talent, wealth, or success. But it didn't often tug me too persistently.
Yet recently I've found a new way that the ugly sourness of self-pity has tried to invade my thoughts. Lately I've been confronted with the comparisons between what I once had, once could do, once was - and new realities and limitations. And suddenly, attitudes that I never thought were my most prevalent temptations are gibbering at me.
Okay. It's a new challenge.
I might remember being able to take a ballet class . . . but slowly walked a mile instead. I can look at the gap between the longing and reality and feel sad or angry.
Or I can celebrate that I walked.
I dream of spring cleaning my house, but was able to do two loads of laundry. I can focus on the things still undone, or be grateful for those clean clothes.
I long for boundless energy to chat with friends, garden, write, organize, teach. But if instead I'm able to answer an email today, or compose a blog post, that is a gift.
During times of significant losses, as I've laid down things that were precious to me, I've found that God's love for me filled the empty places. My daily reality is just as rich with blessing because He is there. I want to learn to focus on that truth, instead of focusing on the gap between longing and reality.
And I suppose that's where we all do battle to live in contentment, whether we're tempted to compare to others, an ideal, or our past circumstances.
Contentment sounds like such a deceptively mellow, easy-going word. But some days it takes fierce, stubborn courage to walk in it. I'm embarrassed at how poorly I've done that recently. But I know God can change my heart.
For any of us facing a painful loss - job, relationship, ability, health, plans, purpose, circumstances - I pray for God to breathe the courage of gratitude into our hearts and keep nudging our focus back to Him.
How about you? Are you generally a pretty contented person? What tends to make contentment difficult for you? What helps you beat off the temptation of self-pity?
Often that longing is triggered by comparison to others.
I always thought of myself as fairly content. Oh, I might feel a bit curious about what it would be like to have someone else's level of beauty, talent, wealth, or success. But it didn't often tug me too persistently.
Yet recently I've found a new way that the ugly sourness of self-pity has tried to invade my thoughts. Lately I've been confronted with the comparisons between what I once had, once could do, once was - and new realities and limitations. And suddenly, attitudes that I never thought were my most prevalent temptations are gibbering at me.
Okay. It's a new challenge.
I might remember being able to take a ballet class . . . but slowly walked a mile instead. I can look at the gap between the longing and reality and feel sad or angry.
Or I can celebrate that I walked.
I dream of spring cleaning my house, but was able to do two loads of laundry. I can focus on the things still undone, or be grateful for those clean clothes.
I long for boundless energy to chat with friends, garden, write, organize, teach. But if instead I'm able to answer an email today, or compose a blog post, that is a gift.
During times of significant losses, as I've laid down things that were precious to me, I've found that God's love for me filled the empty places. My daily reality is just as rich with blessing because He is there. I want to learn to focus on that truth, instead of focusing on the gap between longing and reality.
And I suppose that's where we all do battle to live in contentment, whether we're tempted to compare to others, an ideal, or our past circumstances.
Contentment sounds like such a deceptively mellow, easy-going word. But some days it takes fierce, stubborn courage to walk in it. I'm embarrassed at how poorly I've done that recently. But I know God can change my heart.
For any of us facing a painful loss - job, relationship, ability, health, plans, purpose, circumstances - I pray for God to breathe the courage of gratitude into our hearts and keep nudging our focus back to Him.
How about you? Are you generally a pretty contented person? What tends to make contentment difficult for you? What helps you beat off the temptation of self-pity?
Monday, March 02, 2009
Why I Love Lent
Many of my Christian friends don't come from a tradition that follows a church-year calendar, but in my denominational background I always loved the special seasons of Advent and Lent.
Over the years, my husband and I have prompted things to give up as a family during Lent, or other times encouraged our children to each chose something individual. (The kids sometimes offered to give up broccoli or homework, but I digress).
We've given up television, pop, candy, shopping (only buying necessary groceries and nothing else), and various other things...and added disciplines of more Bible reading time, prayer, and giving.
I find I'm so easily distracted by the bright shiny things of life, that I need times where I can focus more effort and attention toward my walk with God. Fasting of various kinds can really help.
This year, I decided on Ash Wednesday to give up something that I enjoyed daily - Facebook and Twitter. I had no idea that many folk around the country where doing this, too. After I posted my note saying "Stepping back from Twitter and Facebook for Lent - see you after Easter" I received a call from Molly Millet, who was working on an article for the St. Paul Pioneer Press on this topic. You can read it here:
Pioneer Press Article
I love knowing that so many people are interested in putting God about some of the treats or distractions of life.
And that's truly why I've always loved Lent. Because no matter how uncomfortable some days become (whether I'm longing for a can of pop, chocolate, or a game of Scramble on Facebook) there are so many blessings. The thing I'm missing becomes a trigger to remember all Jesus suffered on my behalf, and I learn that while I thought I was totally committed to God, He can draw closer still as I focus more time and energy on Him each day.
Anyone else giving up something during Lent?
Blessings,
Sharon
Over the years, my husband and I have prompted things to give up as a family during Lent, or other times encouraged our children to each chose something individual. (The kids sometimes offered to give up broccoli or homework, but I digress).
We've given up television, pop, candy, shopping (only buying necessary groceries and nothing else), and various other things...and added disciplines of more Bible reading time, prayer, and giving.
I find I'm so easily distracted by the bright shiny things of life, that I need times where I can focus more effort and attention toward my walk with God. Fasting of various kinds can really help.
This year, I decided on Ash Wednesday to give up something that I enjoyed daily - Facebook and Twitter. I had no idea that many folk around the country where doing this, too. After I posted my note saying "Stepping back from Twitter and Facebook for Lent - see you after Easter" I received a call from Molly Millet, who was working on an article for the St. Paul Pioneer Press on this topic. You can read it here:
Pioneer Press Article
I love knowing that so many people are interested in putting God about some of the treats or distractions of life.
And that's truly why I've always loved Lent. Because no matter how uncomfortable some days become (whether I'm longing for a can of pop, chocolate, or a game of Scramble on Facebook) there are so many blessings. The thing I'm missing becomes a trigger to remember all Jesus suffered on my behalf, and I learn that while I thought I was totally committed to God, He can draw closer still as I focus more time and energy on Him each day.
Anyone else giving up something during Lent?
Blessings,
Sharon
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Unemployment
Job loss is hitting several of my friends and their families. It stirs fears I've tried to bury - of the challenge our family has gone through several times with long stretches of unemployment. The experience is so potentially isolating and frightening, that when I wrote my first contemporary women's fiction story a few years ago, I chose unemployment as the major dramatic conflict for the family.The Secret Life of Becky Miller is full of Becky's whimsical day dreams and desire to do something big for God as she tries to hold together her "super mom" ideal. But some of her bravest scenes involve quiet choices to support her husband after his job loss, instead of give way to panic.
Right now, Christian Book Distributors is offering copies of the novel at their site for $2.99! Now that's a great gift in a time of tight family budgets.
Here's an excerpt:
We continued to pray as December moved along. I'd always been good at pinching pennies, but now I had to squeeze them and wring them out.
Selling the van brought in some money and lowered our car insurance. Kevin swallowed his pride and admitted to broader circles of friends that he needed a job. He called it networking, but I knew he believed it was begging. I saw the strain growing in him as each day passed.
My fear grew at the same pace as our pile of bills. Kevin swung between honest discouragement and a more frightening self-containment and withdrawal.
My attempts at cheerleading sometimes slipped into nagging. "Have you checked the bulletin board at the unemployment office again? Did you go through today's paper? What about the Internet? Did you submit your resume to companies that way?" No wonder he seemed more irritable every day. I hadn't realized how much strain his job loss could put on our marriage.
No matter how much I reassured him, he admitted he felt like less of a man.
No matter how confident his swagger as he headed out for another interview, I worried we'd lose the house and end up in a cardboard box on skid row.
We both put our best faces on for each other, but the effort was pushing us apart.
---
Whatever job situation you are facing today, I pray that God will send you reassurance that He cares about you deeply and is absolutely capable of providing for you.
Blessings!
Sharon Hinck
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Minnesota Readers and Writers...
...Come chat with me!
Saturday, February 21st, 11:00 a.m.
I'll be signing Stepping Into Sunlight at the
Northwestern Bookstore
Cobblestone Court, Burnsville, MN
I love visiting with readers and other writers, answering questions, talking about good books, sharing ideas, and connecting one-on-one. I'd love to see you!
Blessings!
Sharon Hinck
The Secret Life of Becky Miller (2007 ACFW Book of the Year - 2nd place, Lit category)
Renovating Becky Miller (2008 Audie Award Finalist, ACFW BOTY finalist)
The Restorer (2008 Christy Award Finalist, ACFW BOTY finalist)
The Restorer's Son (ACFW Book of the Year Winner, Romantic Times 4.5 stars, Reviewer's Choice Award - Road to Romance)
New Releases:
The Restorer's Journey
Symphony of Secrets
Now Available:
Stepping Into Sunlight
Thursday, February 05, 2009
A Spoonful of Empathy
Lately I've had a few challenges in my life. I've tried to be brave and patient, and I work on focusing on things I'm grateful for.
But today I mentioned my struggles in an email to a friend. When she emailed back she said, "I can't imagine how frustrating that must be!" Her empathy literally reached out of the email and hugged me.
As much as I have tried not to be a big sympathy-seeker, I confess I was about a quart low and needed a good infusion of compassion. Her words were exactly what I needed.
Lord, help me offer precious spoonfuls of empathy to my hurting friends today, as this precious friend gave to me. Help me stop myself before offering advice, explanations, or empty comparisons, ("at least your problem isn't as bad as XYZ. Could be worse.") Let me simply wrap my friends in love and say, "I can't imagine how painful that must be. I'm sorry it's so hard. I care." Thank you for my friend's example today, and how much it warmed me. Amen!
Blessings!
Sharon Hinck
But today I mentioned my struggles in an email to a friend. When she emailed back she said, "I can't imagine how frustrating that must be!" Her empathy literally reached out of the email and hugged me.
As much as I have tried not to be a big sympathy-seeker, I confess I was about a quart low and needed a good infusion of compassion. Her words were exactly what I needed.
Lord, help me offer precious spoonfuls of empathy to my hurting friends today, as this precious friend gave to me. Help me stop myself before offering advice, explanations, or empty comparisons, ("at least your problem isn't as bad as XYZ. Could be worse.") Let me simply wrap my friends in love and say, "I can't imagine how painful that must be. I'm sorry it's so hard. I care." Thank you for my friend's example today, and how much it warmed me. Amen!
Blessings!
Sharon Hinck
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