Guest 2 Advice I Would Give My Younger Self!
3 AugGuest 2~Advice I Would Give My Younger Self!
I have asked a few of my author friends to be my guest over the next few weeks as they are exceptional friends and Inspirational writers! The authors I have chosen have published books or are in process of publishing their own books.
Please enjoy my Guest Authors as they candidly and openly share a glimpse into their lives. It is my hope that you will be inspired to visit their sites and check out their work!
The theme of the guest blogs:
Advice I Would Give My Younger Self!
May I Introduce to you Author and Friend
Terry Palmer
What would I advise my younger self? The answers are brutal. In that day and age, before political correctness prevented us from actually saying and doing a corrective action, my answers would be right in my face. No soft fuzzy ‘feel good’ approach where we all hold hands and smile and nod as if the world is good and we bask in the glow of humanity. What a pile of… Sorry, my farm background hits me now and then.
Start with the Word of God and you can’t go wrong. It is given to us for reproof and correction and it speaks the Truth! Truth is exactly what my younger self needed to hear, so… I would take my younger self for a long walk, maybe carry a sharp hard stick for emphasis. But I’d use scripture for the attack. The lilies along the side of the house would be a starting point to use scripture.
I think Matthew 6, about 28 – 34 ought to start the ball rolling. You see… My younger self didn’t have a good concept of the character of God. My younger self needed to be in charge, get ’er done, and who needs God anyway… But Truth tells us otherwise. Consider those lilies, how they toil not nor do they spin and yet here they are, more beautiful than a summer day. So as I turn to get right in the face of my younger self. Here is the question. Are you a fragrance without compare as one of these – or do you stink?
The early lilies offer a radiance of colors which is very welcome after the cold winter. They array of orange and red are a treat along the edge of the flower beds, but… In midsummer, the lilies hit their stride. They burst from my flower beds in stunning cascades of color, but still I wait. Sure, some might relax and know that the game is over but not me. .
For the next layer of lilies to open, do so in both beauty and fragrance. It’s the sort of fragrance that You stop as you walk past.
The scent that comes into our bedrooms windows as a soothing tonic is wonderful. I’ve not seen a golden color as this, have you?
So let’s ask that question again. Consider these lilies, how they grow, how they toil not nor spin. Do you get it? Do you know, young man, that God is in control, that God is indeed relevant and wants to know you up close and personal. You need not ‘have to do it all’?
Do you want to or are you willing to ‘put on the clothes of righteousness’ as a good servant of Jesus in order to reflect the ‘fragrance’ of the spirit of God? Or – do you want to offend as a stench to humanity by not reflecting Christ, but something else that is far less? Which will it be young man? Will you shine forth as a fragrant lily – or a skunk flower?
You see that third picture? That could be you. They are cast off Easter lilies saved from the garbage bin and brought out for new life. This cluster represents four years of saving and growing, ready to burst out the Easter story in midsummer. Will you be like them? Will you finally understand the full character of God and trust in him? It only takes a first step of faith. Come on… I have a place to plant your good seed, to grow in the Lord – to become the fragrance that God designed you to be.
Author Terry Palmer lives in northwestern Wisconsin’s vacationland. Plenty of woods, lakes, and streams follow each bend of the countryside. Terry uses long walks in that scenic beauty to understand the nature of God and bring those moments into his writing.
Chronicles of Orm, a fantasy novel series with deep Christian roots, will be ready as an eBook soon. If you like action/adventure with a romantic twist, then Chronicles of Orm is for you. Contact Terry at Fictionbypalmer@gmail.com.
Here is what our editor has to say about Chronicles of Orm :
“Terry Palmer’s The Chronicles of Orm is a perfect blend of excellent and imaginative writing, employing imagery, a cast of well-established and relatable characters, and a page-turning plotline. Deep biblical truths are intricately woven into the words of this story, and while it examines the age-old struggle of mankind caught in the pull of darkness vs. light, it is a fresh take, a new and wonderful perspective that will entertain, enlighten, and encourage all who read it.” ~Autumn J. Conley, Book Editor (autiej@gmail.com)
Advice I Would Give My Younger Self
30 JulI have asked a few of my author friends to be my guest over the next few weeks as they are exceptional friends and Inspirational writers! The authors I have chosen have published books or are in process of publishing their own books.
Please enjoy my Guest Authors as they candidly and openly share a glimpse into their lives. It is my hope that you will be inspired to visit their sites and check out their work!
The theme of the guest blogs : “Advice I Would Give My Younger Self!”
I would like to introduce you to my first Guest Author and Friend Patti J. Smith!
When Christine asked me to write a guest post on the topic, “Advice I Would Give My Younger Self,” I didn’t hesitate, thinking it would be a breeze. Either it was lack of sleep or too few cups of coffee (both, I think) because it took a while before realizing the enormity of the assignment. You see, my younger self was a mess. I should have had Self Will Run Riot tattooed on my forehead rather than the butterfly on my derriere. (Tattoos on women are commonplace now but not in the small-town 70’s.)
Recalling my past antics (and cringing), the advice I would tender would be to listen to your parents, remain close to God, pay attention to the little voice in your head and last but not least … love and respect yourself. Had I done those things I would have avoided decades of pain due to alcoholism and the subsequent consequences … promiscuity, unplanned pregnancies which led to abortion, estrangement from family and multitudes of failed relationships, all leading to a suicide attempt and institutionalization.
Pretty gloomy, huh? Well, don’t pull out the Kleenex … Through the grace and mercy of God, love and support of my family and some very good programs, I was able to climb out of the well of darkness into the light. I followed the advice I would have given my younger self and am nearing eighteen years of sobriety, in a wonderful marriage, active in my church community and became a caregiver to my parents. (Who would have ever imagined they would trust me with their care, let alone move in with me!).
I would be remiss if I didn’t add one more pieces of advice: Forgive yourself. If you can’t, you’ll never quite reach the top of that dark well. You’ll always live in the shadow of remorse and regret and miss out on the joyous and wonderful life God wants you to have.
BIO
Patti J. Smith writes Christian devotionals, light romance, and suspense and her faith crosses over to all genres. She is a member of the Association of Christian Therapists, Association for Life, serves as Regional Coordinator for the Silent No More Awareness Campaign and leads Rachel’s Hope After-Abortion Healing Retreats in San Diego. She publicly shares her story of redemption at a variety of venues, has been a guest on Sacred Heart and Blogtalk Radio and appears in the newly-released documentary, “The Sidewalk Chronicles”.
She and her husband, Michael, live in Vista, CA and have three beautiful granddaughters. Along with writing books, she enjoys blogging, reading and proudly admits to being a diehard Seattle Seahawks fan and Fantasy Football fanatic. Her travel adventures include Spain, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Fiji, South Korea and almost all states – including Hawaii and Alaska.
You can find her books at: www.amazon.com/author/pattijsmith and follow her through the following social media:
Blog: http://gridirongrannyfootballfanatic.blogspot.com/ Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/gridirongranny Twitter: https://twitter.com/gridirongranny5 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/gridirongranny Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/giridirongranny
Click Below to Receive Your FREE Resources When You Connect with Christine!
Christine Gilliam Hornback
Authorartistmomof2 
You must be logged in to post a comment.