Chance to Win a Couple of Christmas Books

Do you like Christmas stories? 

Rose Allen McCauley visited my blog on Sunday and we're giving a free download of her new book to someone who comments on her guest post or tonight's post. I'll draw for the winner Sunday, and so far the odds are very good. Along with Rose's book, you can win a copy of my Christmas Shaker book, Christmas at Harmony Hill. (An autographed print copy.) If you don't have an e-reader, Rose says her book will soon be available in print as well. So answer one of the questions on the post tonight and join in the giveaway fun.

The Greatest Christmas Story

The greatest Christmas story is straight from the Bible in Luke and Matthew. Luke tells about the angels giving the Good News to the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks about the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger and Matthew has the story of the visit of the Wise Men. In spite of every church Christmas pageant you've ever seen, the Bible doesn't say how many wise men came to visit Jesus, only that they brought three gifts. But three works pretty well when you're assigning parts for those Christmas plays at church. 

Did you ever have a part in a Christmas play at your church?

Maybe you were a shepherd or a wise man or an angel in a Christmas play. Could be you were picked to be Mary or Joseph or even one of the sheep or other animals. I love Christmas pageants. I don't think I was ever an actor in one, but I've helped with a lot of them with my kids and the other kids in the church. 

I want the kids to tell the old, old story every year wearing those fuzzy, too long wise men and shepherd robes. I want to see the angels draped in white sheets with tinsel halos and cardboard wings that always end up a little crooked before the great announcement is finished. At our church gathering tonight, we were saying how little girls were always the angels. Yet in the Bible any time an angel is actually named, it's a man's name and often described as men, like the men Abraham fed in the Old Testament before they told him he would have a child in the next year and Sarah, eavesdropping, laughed. In spite of all that, we decided we couldn't imagine little boys doing the angels' parts in our Christmas pageants. They much prefer the shepherd role or bringing the gifts. 

What's your favorite carol?

My husband says all the carols are hard to sing and I guess he's right. He's the singer in the family. I just try to make a joyful noise and maybe that's why I like "Joy to the World." It probably is the easiest carol to sing. You can belt that one out pretty good.  But I like them all. They tell the Christmas story in song. 

I hope you get the privilege of having the Christmas story told to you by a cast of children. I've seen many and I have never been disappointed in the story they tell. 

Remember, leave a comment to have a chance to win Rose's download and a paper copy of my book. And make sure to include a way to contact you. 

As always, thanks for reading.

Author Rose McCauley Shares Some Thoughts with Us

 My Friend, Rose

One of the best things about writing Christian fiction is the people I meet. Not only readers, but other writers as well. Rose Allen McCauley is one I feel blessed to count among my writer friends. 

Rose has a generous heart and even before she was published herself, she was always ready to support any area writers with her presence at book events and with her encouragement and prayers. She started a blog to give shout-outs to her friends walking the writing trail. 

Now it's her turn to have a few shout-outs herself with her second book, Christmas Grace, now available for readers. Read on to see what Rose says about prayer and how the Lord often gives us the desires of our heart.

Thoughts on My Second Fiction Book Being Published

By Rose Allen McCauley

I want to share a prayer I wrote a few years ago based on this verse: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14

“Thank You, Lord, that I can be still and let you fight my battles for me. But, just as the Israelites had to step out on faith and leave Egypt behind before You performed the miracle of parting the Red Sea for them to cross, help me to do as You lead.

I wonder if part of “be still” is to help us to listen to You so we follow Your lead daily in whatever task You put before us. As a writer, I cannot expect to be published if I never put words to paper—or my hand to the keyboard. A student cannot expect to pass a test if she never studies. A farmer cannot harvest a crop if he doesn’t first plant it.

We need to listen, then do our best as we follow You, and wait and trust You for the outcome. Then we will know that it is You who has accomplished it and who deserves all the glory. In Your Son’s precious Name. Amen.”

Writing my book Christmas Grace has caused me to think a lot about God’s grace, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year. He gives us the desires of our hearts, and gives us the abilities and health to perform them. If we don’t receive what we desire, then perhaps He has a better lesson for us to learn or to share with others. I am so happy that because of His grace and mercy and love, we can be assured He knows what is best for us, and trust Him for the results.

I give God the thanks and glory for letting me write this story, and pray that the readers will be blessed as they think about and experience His grace.

Check out Rose's New Book, Christmas Grace

Grace Buchanan and Chris Fisher were best friends for sixteen years...until he fell in love with her other best friend, Terrie. Chris and Terrie married after high school, then she died three years ago.

A renewed friendship soon awakens stronger feelings in Grace and Chris. Can they both let go of the past long enough to claim the future God has for them?

Books are available online at Amazon for Kindle readers now and soon will be available in paperback.

More about Rose Allen McCauley:

Rose has been writing for over ten years and has been published in several non-fiction anthologies and devotionals. This is her second Christmas novella. Christmas books are her favorites. A retired schoolteacher who has been happily married to her college sweetheart for over four decades, she is also mother to three grown children and their spouses and grandmother to five lovely, lively kids! You can reach her through her website and blog at www.rosemccauley.com or on twitter @RoseAMcCauley and FB at https://www.facebook.com/RoseAllenMcCauley?ref=hl

Thanks for visiting us, Rose, and for sharing your prayer. 

Now Rose and I want to know do you enjoy Christmas stories? Leave a comment to win a free download of her story if you have a Kindle or a Kindle reading app plus a copy of my Christmas novel, Christmas at Harmony Hill. I'll draw a winner next Sunday.