Susan and I want to wish all of you a very, merry Christmas. We’ve had a blast doing the blog this past year and meeting with many of you at conferences, or chatting in email. Your individual notes and comments to us have been a great encouragement.

Those who have been clients, we do appreciate you and pray good things for you writing! For everyone’s writing.

The publishing industry may be making changes as the economy quakes, but our God is not surprised or caught off guard. He’s well aware and even better, in control.

We cannot judge our publishing success or opportunities by the world, but by Him. He can make a road way in the wilderness, a river in the desert. Keep your heart and mind on Him, and be comforted by His peace.

As people fear the world and it’s economy, we have such a great opportunity to touch them with the Light within us, through our words and stories. They will be hungry for words of hope.

I recently had a non Christian reader tell me she felt such hope after reading “Love Starts With Elle.” How great to spread the love and fragrance of Jesus across the country to a woman I’ve never met.

God has a plan and destiny for all of us. In Matthew 16, Jesus said to Peter, “I give you the keys to the Kingdom.” Wow! Jesus HAS GIVEN us the keys to His Kingdom. He’s given us His robes of righteousness. What are we doing in pauper clothes? Worry, doubt, fear, pain from the past, hopelessness.

Let’s put on Jesus and His righteousness. He has such great love and desire for us, not only to fellowship face to face, but to walk out the destiny He’s had in mind since the foundation of the world.

Think of when you held your first child. Didn’t you dream? She’s going to be a prima ballerina, or a prize winning scientist. Or, he’s going to be the next Babe Ruth, or a best selling author.

Jesus has those same dreams and plans for us. Better yet, He is able to bring them about! I’m not talking about digging around our own souls and presenting to Him a product of our selfish ambition. I’m talking about standing before him, arms wide, head back, eyes closed, heart toward Him and saying, “You are so good, so good, I can trust you with my life and destiny. What do you have for me to do. I’ll do it.”

He’ll hear you, answer and launch you on an amazing journey. 

Don’t be afraid of being hidden, or to be seated at a table in the back. Jesus cannot resist a humble, unoffended heart.

Let’s commit to seek Him wholeheartedly in ’09. Be unoffended by friends, family, church, government. But seek Him.

We have some exciting things coming up in ’09. Susie and I will list our 2008 writing lessons. You’ll be amazed at what we learned. Like, “Duh, you didn’t know that?” 

Also, interviews with agent Steve Laube and editor Ami McConnell. Find out why she calls authors “Rock Stars.”

Merry Christmas!