When I saw this trailer for the first time, I got all emotional. 

It struck a major chord.

Especially that scene. The one where Prim’s name is picked.

All of a sudden, she’s destined to go to the arena and fight to the death. 

And we see this little girl – this skinny little bit of a girl – and we know she doesn’t stand a chance. She’s not strong enough. She’s going to die.

Then comes that emotionally charged moment.

When Katniss, Prim’s older sister, screams, “I volunteer!”

You see, somebody has to go. A tribute is required. Prim is destined. 

But Katniss takes her place.

And all of a sudden, there is hope. Because while Prim was weak and didn’t stand a chance. Katniss is strong. We know she could win. 

Katniss takes Prim’s place. 

Katniss sacrifices herself so Prim can live.

Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

Let’s Talk: Have you watched or read The Hunger Games? Does that scene make you as emotional as it makes me?

I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it.

Because I have an idea that will hopefully:

• Bring God glory
• Bless others
• Create buzz 

There is something incredibly beautiful about these stories. 

God bringing beauty from pain. God bringing life from that which feels dead.

So many people have stories like this. And every single one touches something deep in my heart. It’s no surprise, then, that I would explore this theme in my debut novel. It’s no surprise that the very title speaks to this truth.

That the snowiest of winters bring about an abundance of wildflowers come springtime.  

Nature’s testimony that God can use what seems dead and cold and lifeless to bring about something breathtakingly beautiful. 

While reading your comments, an idea was born….

An idea that would celebrate the work God has done and is doing. I want us to shout it from the rooftops. And I want to offer much, much hope to those who are currently going through a barren season in their life. 

The Idea

Every Friday in April, a guest is going to share their real-life “wildflowers from winter” story. 

Four amazing women who I greatly respect and deeply admire. Four women who are living testimonies that God can bring beauty from the deepest of hurts. I can’t wait for you to read their stories.

The Celebration

Then, on May 4th, I’m inviting you to share your “wildflowers from winter” story.

Not on my blog, but on yours. If you don’t have a blog, no worries. You can post your story on Facebook.

I will gather all the links and put them together in one blog post.

Everyone who participates will be entered to win a $50 gift card to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Christianbook.com (winner’s choice). 

To be entered, all you have to do is:

• Write about a time God brought beauty from a painful situation in your life or in the life of somebody you know.
• Include a link to my blog or my Wildflowers from Winter book page (your choice). 
• Publish your post on Thursday, May 3rd or Friday, May 4th. 
• Email me the link (katie@katieganshert.com) or paste the link in a comment. 
• If you don’t have a blog, you can post your story on Facebook and link to my blog.

I have some copies of my book I’d be happy to give away on blogs. So if you’d like to host a give away when you post your “wildflowers from winter” story, just let me know! 

Spreading the Word 

There are people who are grieving or depressed or hurting and they wonder if life will ever be good again. This could be a great opportunity to lift our voices and offer them hope.

There are so many amazing stories out there. Real life stories that need to be told.

Would you consider telling yours?

And would you  help spread the word?

On Facebook. On Twitter (#WildflowersfromWinter). Even emailing this post to friends or family. 

Easy Tweet suggestions:

• Has God brought beauty from something painful in your life? Offer hope to others: http://bit.ly/HrFmid #WildflowersfromWinter
• Celebrate hope and healing on May 4th! God can bring great beauty from pain: http://bit.ly/HrFmid #JesusTweeters

I hope this will be a great time of celebration. Make sure to tune in next Friday to welcome our first guest as she talks about hope after abandonment.

Let’s Talk: How about a blast from the past? Remember 3 C’s? I’d love to read any cares, concerns, and celebrations you have today. If you have any questions about this post, please ask them here.
 

God is passionate for His glory.

Scripture tells us that He is zealous for his holy name. (Ezk 39:25) 

I have a confession.

This used to make me a little uncomfortable.

Because when it comes to us, seeking our own glory, being intensely interested in our own fame and honor, is…well…off-putting. We usually call these people egomaniacs or narcissists. 

I was using the motivations of the human heart to understand God and it wasn’t working. 

But then, one Sunday morning, our worship arts pastor said something that stuck.

God’s glory is our good.

I’m pretty sure I spent the rest of the sermon pondering that truth. Rolling is around in my mind and in my heart.

God is jealous for His glory because His glory is good.

His glory fills us with awe and wonder. 

His glory leads us to repentance and faith. 

He deserves all praise and all honor. And in the act of giving Him what’s due His name, we are brought to life.

Because the zeal He has for His glory goes hand in hand with the passionate consuming love He has for us.

Let’s Talk: Have you had any epiphanies lately? Has anyone said anything that struck you as profound and filled with truth? If so, please share!

On Friday, I’m announcing something I’ve been super excited about. It’s one of those things that could be really GREAT or it could flop. Won’t know until I try! Make sure to tune in for the announcement!

Jeff Goins says we shouldn’t be afraid to write ugly.

His words resonate. Probably because in this crazy, beautiful online community it is so blasted easy to put up fronts. To over-censor. I know I’m guilty. Because writing our ugly side, sharing it with the world. That’s a scary thing. 

But it’s also liberating. 

So here we go….

“Would it be accurate to say you seek attention and approval?”

Um.

The question was asked by my social worker. We were going over the results of my psychological assessment.

Right about now, some of you might be thinking. Social worker? Psychological assessment?

Ryan and I are adopting. Part of adopting involves a home study, which is where the social worker comes into play. And part of that home study involved a 600 question (yep, you read that right) psychological assessment. 

When she read that particular result, all I could do was laugh. 

Because the day before, I was having a day. 

These days don’t happen every day. They don’t even happen most days, thank the good Lord. But some days. 

Some days, I struggle. Some days are ugly. Some days I crave approval.

Here’s the thing about me. When I’m having one of these days, approval is like crack. I want more, and more, and more until I’m a strung out mess. The best thing for me to do on these days is ban myself from Goodreads and any other potential review sites. 

The best thing for me to do on these days is shine the light on somebody else. Not because I want them to return the favor. Not because I’m such an awesome, encouraging person. But because I need to get out of my own head. I need to remind myself that none of this is about me. 

The day before our social worker read me that result, I was having that kind of a day.

So I emailed my good friend Wendy Paine Miller. I told her I was feeling desperate. It was a day filled with insecurity and doubt and neediness. I told her I couldn’t wait until Jesus returned so He could take all the ugliness out of me.

And Wendy responded in that very poignant Wendy-way of hers:

I think the coolest thing about faith, she said, is that He got rid of the gunk already for us. It’s embracing that–living in that. Ah, freedom. 

I needed that reminder.

Because although I gave my life to Christ eleven years ago, embracing God’s grace is not a one and done thing. It’s a daily activity. A daily embracing. Something we need to remind ourselves every single morning when we open our eyes and face a new day.

The gunk is gone. We don’t have to let it control us anymore. We are a new creation and there is victory in Christ.

I love that truth.

I cling to that truth.

Especially when I’m having an ugly day.

Let’s Talk:  Do you ever have ugly days? What do you do to fight them?

I’m posting over at Melissa Tagg’s blog today. If you want some very practical tips for marketing yourself and your books, hop on over!

I’m giving away a copy of my book on my Facebook Page. All you have to do is give me a Would You Rather question. The thread is pinned up on the top and the comments are highly entertaining.  

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. -Exodus 13:17-18

When I came upon those verses the other day, I had to smile.

Because so often, this is my experience with God. 

I want the short cut.

I want the quickest route.

Yet God takes me on the long one. Through the wilderness. 

And while I tap my foot and drum my fingers and wonder what in the world is taking so long, He knows what I can handle.

He’s leading me to the Red Sea.

He’s getting ready to reveal His glory.

Let’s Talk: Is something in your life taking longer than you’d like? Do these verses encourage you?

Many people go to their graves with God’s unplayed music still inside them.

My church handed out these devotionals a few weeks ago. I found this quote inside. I don’t know who wrote it. I only know that the words have stuck with me. 

Let’s Talk: What does that quote mean to you? How can we play God’s music today?

*photo by shadowzelda3

So often, I catch myself setting my heart on an outcome rather than God.

So often, I catch myself praying for gifts when the Giver wants to give me Himself.

Here’s the thing. 

We can pray for a thousand outcomes. God can give us every single one. And somehow, we can still end up miserable. Unsatisfied.

Which is why I want my prayers to change more and more.

From…

Lord, can you give me this? 

To…

Lord, can you give me You?

If insane success will draw me closer, then that is what I want.

If failing will draw me closer, then that is what I want.

If waiting will draw me closer, then that is what I want.

If finding myself in a place of mediocrity will draw me closer, then that is what I want.

I won’t lie. These are scary prayers. Because of course I want to be successful. Nobody sets out to fail. 

But I’m learning that when we set our hearts on God, we always win. No matter the outcome. 

Because He is the source of all joy and all peace and all hope and all comfort and all strength.

My heart’s cry is that I would learn more and more to go to that source. To ask for the Giver. No matter the gift.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. -Psalm 73:26

Let’s Talk: Are you placing your hope in an outcome or are you placing your hope in God? Whoa! How’s that for a convicting question? At least it convicts me. Please tell me I’m not the only one it convicts!

*photo by weddingmusings
 

This theme unfolds all around us.

God bringing beauty from pain.

God breathing life into that which feels dead. 

It’s a running theme in my debut novel, Wildflowers from Winter.

It’s a running theme in adoption.

Every single one is born out of pain. Out of sadness.

It starts with frightened pregnant teenagers who don’t want to be mothers. It starts with houses steeped in addiction and abuse and neglect. It starts with countries afflicted by war and poverty and AIDS. It starts with parents who die and governments that devalue life. 

Orphans exist because our brokenness is real and pervasive. 

Yet God uses what is broken to reveal His glory, showcase His mercy, bring about healing, pour out His blessings, knit together families, and draw hearts closer to Him.

Beauty from pain.

Life from death.

It’s a truth that resonates deep in my soul.

Nothing is too broken, too tattered, too lifeless, too painful for the Master Craftsman.  

Not me.

Not you.

Not any choice we have made.

Or any circumstance we find ourselves in.

He can use it all to sculpt that which is beautiful and that which is breathtaking.

All we have to do is let Him.

Let’s Talk: Tell me about a “beauty from pain” story in your life or in the life of someone you know. 

In case you missed it, Southern Writers Magazine had me as a guest on their blog yesterday. I wrote about Love Delivered. Come say hi if you get the chance! 

The other day, I came across these words from Paul:

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  -Philippians 4:11-12

Wow.

Talk about challenging.

Because seriously, content whatever the circumstances?

You mean as writers, we’re to practice contentment whether we have an agent or not? Whether we have a book deal or not? Whether we’re having a good experience with our publisher or not? Whether we have good sales or poor sales? Whether we’re writing in obscurity or writing in the spotlight?

You mean as adoptive parents, we’re to practice contentment whether we are happy with our agency or not? Whether we get a referral when we’re supposed to or not? Whether we bring our child home as scheduled or not? Whether our little ones adjust well to their new lives or struggle to bond?

Really?

God’s word says yes.

He wants us to learn contentment in every circumstance.

Because He knows something that tends to go right over our heads. At least mine.

Circumstances don’t bring contentment.

They might bring temporary excitement or happiness, but those feelings quickly fade. If we hinge our contentment on the hope of better things to come, we’ll never be content. 

We’ll forever live under the assumption that if we could just get an agent, or just get a book deal, or just earn out our advance, or just win an award….

We’ll forever live under the assumption that if we could just get that referral, or just get our travel plans, or just hold our child, or just help them adjust… 

Here’s the thing.

There will always be one more “just”.

Which is why these verses are worth remembering.

For writers. For adoptive parents. For pretty much anyone who lives and breathes and strives.

The source of our contentment is not our circumstances.

Does this mean we’re supposed to put on a happy face and smile when times are crummy? Does this mean that we’re not allowed to vent or cry or struggle?

Of course not. Even Jesus wept when his friend Lazarus died.

It just means that at the end of the day, God wants us to rely on His strength. To rest in His grace. To trust in His goodness. To put our hope in His promises.

Through every situation. Through every season of life. Whether good or bad. 

Let’s Talk: What area of your life do you struggle with the most in regards to contentment?

Jealousy.

Joy.

Two conflicting emotions that often come hand-in-hand.

For the unagented writer who finds out her blogging friend just got “The Call”.

Joy. Jealousy.

For the unpublished novelist who finds out his agency mate signed a three-book contract.

Joy. Jealousy.

For the struggling author whose debut buddy made the best-seller list for the third time in a month.

Joy. Jealousy.

The Joy-Jealousy war is not exclusive to writers.

It seeps into many a heart.

Like the older sister who’s been trying to have a baby for years and hears her younger sister is pregnant.

Or the young lady who must sit through another bridal shower while she has yet to find Mr. Right.

Or the guy whose cousin gets the job of his dreams while he remains unemployed.

Or the prospective college student whose best friend gets accepted into a great college while she opens another rejection.

These are common emotions. This joy and this jealousy. 

One lifts. The other tears. Both are strong.

We can’t control the jealousy.

But we can embrace the joy.

To smile and celebrate the good news we wish could be ours. The jealousy doesn’t make the smiling and the celebrating fake. It’s far from fake. And the more we focus on the emotion that lifts us, the less we are controlled by one that tears.

Let’s Talk: Do you ever struggle with jealousy and joy? Which emotion do you embrace? How do you do it?