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Christian Authors Network News

December 2023 Edition

Friend,

Welcome to the Christian Authors newsletter! Our goal is to bless you with inspiration, tips, and opportunities for the next steps in your author journey.

Be sure to read all the way to the end so that you can make the most of the resources that were hand-picked to help you reach your goals.

Our December Theme: God’s Promises

This month, our theme is “God’s Promises,” which captures the unwavering faithfulness of our Creator as both a Promise Maker and Promise Keeper. In all of Scripture, we see the embodiment of God’s commitment as He extends His love, grace, protection, and provision to His people despite their unfaithfulness. But that’s not all! As part of His redemptive plan for all of humanity, we get to embrace and receive God’s ultimate promise—the gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, which forever reconciles us to God and adopts us into His sonship.

All throughout December, we’ll look at the character of God as a Promise Keeper as we contemplate the many promises given to us throughout Scripture. During this holiday season, we’ll also reflect on the joy and hope that is given to us through the birth of Jesus, which allows us to anchor our trust in Him and gives us security for things to come knowing that God was and is and will always be faithful to us.

Your Challenge: Download the journaling worksheet with weekly journal prompts for personal contemplation on the theme of God’s faithfulness and His promises to us. Each week, we’ll ask you to take some time to reflect on the weekly prompt and journal your response. We hope this time of reflection will enable you to celebrate God’s evident faithfulness in your life and continue to put your hope and security in the promises He’s given you that are yet to come.

December Success Guide

2 Corinthians 1:20 tells us, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

We can confidently trust in our God to keep His word because He is incapable of lying and because we have already witnessed the birth of His ultimate promise, a Savior named Jesus. Simply put, God’s promises have yet to fail!

Through the December Success Guide, we’ll come to understand the character and nature of God as our Promise Keeper and meditate on a few of the many promises that He has in store for us as His children. We will reflect the spirit of this season as we look to the story of Jesus’ birth and how it is the fulfillment of God’s greatest promise to His people.

In this month’s guide, you’ll find tons of inspirational text and Scripture, a 3-day prayer focus to keep you grounded in His promises, our monthly challenge, and several journaling prompts for further reflection on this theme.

One-Minute Devotional

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through Him, the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God."

-2 Corinthians 1:20

“He is the Lord our God… He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.” 

-Psalm 105:7-9

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).”

-Matthew 1:18-23

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”

-Galatians 4:4-5

Our God is not just a promise maker but also a promise keeper. From the dawn of Creation, He has been faithful to His word through the fulfillment of promises that He made with His people. From His covenant with Abraham (Gen. 17:4-6), Isaac (Gen. 26:2-4), and Jacob (Gen. 35:10-11) to the redemption of Moses and the Israelite nation (Exod. 6:6-7), God remained steadfast in His love for His people. His love never failed. His mercy never ran out. His word did not return void. 

The promises made and the covenant He created with His people in the Old Testament were many and spanned several generations despite the people’s sin and unfaithfulness to Him. And yet, the greatest promise we have from God is this: the promise of a Savior—God’s own son—who offers us redemption from sin and brings us into reconciliation with the Father (an adoption into sonship). 

At the height of His commitment, God didn’t just promise to save His chosen people but the entirety of humanity. This Old Testament promise is revealed as far back as Genesis, is foretold by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 9:6), and concludes with its fulfillment as evidenced in the Gospels of the New Testament.

In the small town of Bethlehem, a Savior is born of a virgin, wrapped in humility but overflowing with divinity. His name is Jesus and, through Him, the promise of reconciliation, salvation, and Emmanuel—God with us—comes to life.

The birth of Jesus is not just a historical event. It is the embodiment of God's greatest promise—to bring hope, redemption, and eternal joy for all of His people. This promise isn’t just for a select few; it spans through generations and encompasses all the earth. It is a promise for yesterday, today and, also, tomorrow.

This Christmas, as we gather in this season of celebration, let's reflect on the unchanging nature of our God. Let's celebrate the fulfilled promises of our faithful God and look with hope to the future of more promises to come. Let’s look to the manger as a reminder that every assurance— and every yes!—from God finds its fulfillment in Christ. As we exchange gifts, let's remember the most priceless gift of all, our Savior’s humble birth and His future sacrifice for our ultimate salvation. And, let’s rejoice in God’s faithfulness, for every promise finds its amen in the miracle that took place in that lowly manger several thousand years ago!

This Month’s Productivity Tip: Embrace The Power of Focused Time Blocks

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, staying productive can be challenging. But fear not, because we've got a game-changing tip just for you!

During December, with festivities and to-dos piling up, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But carving out dedicated time blocks can work wonders! Set specific chunks of time for tasks, whether gift shopping, work commitments, or personal projects.

Here's how it helps:

🕒 It organizes your day, making tasks more manageable.

🎯 It boosts focus, ensuring tasks get completed efficiently.

🌟 It frees up mental space for relaxation and enjoying the season.

So, grab your calendar, designate focused time blocks, and watch your productivity soar this December! Embrace this simple yet powerful tip and make the most of the holiday season.

Join Us for Monthly Prayer Time!

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20

Join us for our monthly Prayer Time. These are dedicated times to bring our concerns, worries, praise, and celebrations together to the Lord. Join us as we come together and spend time together in the presence of Jesus. We hope to explore together various types of prayer and devotion, such as contemplative prayer, lectio divina, listening prayer, immanuel moments, and more.

The December Prayer Time will be hosted on Facebook Live in the Christian Authors Network Facebook community at 8:30 AM EST on Friday, December 29th. We hope to see you there!

Publishing Secrets: Say Yes to the Call with Tyler Smith (Re-Air)

Guest Tyler Smith shares about making time to write even while juggling many different responsibilities. It can be difficult to push through challenges, remove distractions, and pursue the calling God has placed on our lives, but with God’s help, you CAN do this! No matter how busy or inadequate you may feel at this moment, let Tyler’s story inspire you to do what God has called you to do.

In the Publishing Secrets podcast, Coach Tam brings you behind-the-scenes insights and interviews with mission-driven authors and writers who were once paralyzed by fear. Each episode will leave you empowered, equipped, and excited to write, write, write! Before you know it, your book will be published and you’ll be well on your way to launching a career as a motivational speaker, teacher, and coach like you’ve always wanted. Tune in to Publishing Secrets and finally get moving in the direction of your dreams!

Publisher Spotlight: Hachette Book Group

Hachette Book Group is a premier destination for those seeking stories that stir the soul and uplift the spirit. Known for its commitment to faith-based narratives, this publishing powerhouse has inspired readers far and wide.

From bestsellers to hidden gems, their catalog boasts a treasure trove of literary adventures, catering to every reader's taste and imagination. Explore their website to learn more!

ChristianAuthors.net Member Spotlight

Want to be featured here? Sign up for a free profile on ChristianAuthors.net, and you could be chosen for the monthly author spotlight!

L.Meurell Ball

L. Meurell Ball lives in South Florida with his wife, LaTasha, and their two sons, Letete II and Lucas.

L.Meurell has degrees in Theology and Biblical Studies. He is an ordained minister who teaches courses in Angelology, Biblical Survey, Creation as Science and Eschatology.

An instructor of Biblical Studies, author is added to the many hats that he wears.

"The Two Brothers - Knights of the Rushing Wind" is his first "published" work.

When his sons were small, he came home one evening to find them up well past their bedtimes. They told their mom they couldn't sleep. She immediately recognized this as an excuse to stay awake until dad arrived home from teaching at Seminary. So, for the first time, she let them wait up for dad.

The boys challenged their dad with a declaration that evening saying, "Daddy, tell us a story." This began the two year, nightly ritual of the tales of the Two Brothers Knights of the Rushing Wind.