2nd half of My 602

I wanted to post this writing, but when I read over it, I was struck by how really sad it sounds. I want to say that I’m not at all in a constant state of depression, but I believe I’ve slowly let myself drop into a funk.

 

When I turned 60, I just felt old. As the years have passed, I’ve climbed even farther down the other side of the hill.

 

As people get sick, as others die, as I have more trouble with my own body and Murray with his, I struggle with feeling old and that I don’t have much chance of doing anything special anymore.

 

The other day I thought about how some people seem to do so well in their 70s, still active and going strong. I had an “I may as well be blonde” moment. I thought, “Maybe my 70s will be better.”

 

Then I realized what I was saying. I’ll be 65 next month; I still have half of my 60s left. What was I saying—that I’ll just waste the next five years and wait for things to get better in my 70s?

 

I believe God has given me the hope of changing my life in the 2^nd half of my 60s. Why not work at being more active, more hopeful, happier?

 

I want to work on my relationship with God. I want to be more hopeful about the Bible verses which speak of God’s love and forgiveness. I’m willing to share hopeful verses about those things with others, and I want to encourage myself to believe they’re true for me too.

 

I want to try to do better about my help. Eat better and be more committed to exercise. I’ve let myself get lazy and stay in bed later.

 

And since my injury thirteen years ago, I think I’ve let myself feel more disabled. Before that, I don’t think I ever let myself think I just couldn’t do things because I was disabled. Certainly with our children with disabilities, we encouraged them to find out how they could do things they were challenged with rather than not. But, I believe I’ve allowed myself to be more unable. To let other people do things for me. I don’t want to continue this.

 

I want to be more willing to do things with Murray. Usually if he asks me to go somewhere with him, shopping or out to eat, I say no. I’d rather just stay at home. The other day, he suggested that I go with him this week to look for a new dish washer, and I said yes, without even thinking. If I get really brave, I’ll even tell him that I’m trying to go out with him more, so he’ll think more often of asking me, and if I start to say no, he can remind me that this was my intention.

 

I read something this week about a writer, who has written similar things for forty years. He said he’s trying to write something new and recommends that other writers do that, try to write something different than they’re used to. I love writing, but I’ve gotten really lazy about it. I want to push myself to write more.

 

The negative part of me thinks that I’ll probably give up on most of this. That’s what I usually do. I lose heart and get depressed and don’t expect much of myself. But I’m working at being hopeful. This all happened over a long period of time, so any improvement I see may be slow, and I need not to let that stop me.

 

I don’t do New Year’s resolutions, because I figure that I’ll quit them soon. This time, I’m trying to aim for something for five years. What kind of sense does that make?

 

It makes sense because God’s mercies are new every morning. If I’m feeling low one day, like I’m failing, I can still try again the next day.

 

Lamentation 3:21-23:

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. 

Psalm 30, Wailing into Dancing

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David.

I will exalt you, Lord,

    for you lifted me out of the depths

    and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

Lord my God, I called to you for help,

    and you healed me.

You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;

    you spared me from going down to the pit.

Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;

    praise his holy name.

For his anger lasts only a moment,

    but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may stay for the night,

    but rejoicing comes in the morning.

When I felt secure, I said,

    “I will never be shaken.”

Lord, when you favored me,

    you made my royal mountain stand firm;

but when you hid your face,

    I was dismayed.

To you, Lord, I called;

    to the Lord I cried for mercy:

“What is gained if I am silenced,

    if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

    Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;

    Lord, be my help.”

You turned my wailing into dancing;

    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.

    Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

 

Father God, why should I praise you? Because you rescued me from the ugliness I got myself into. And even when you get mad at me, you are only mad a little while. But what you want to give to me is joy and comfort and mercy. Thank you, Father, for listening to me when I cry out to you. 

Some Special Books to Start the New Year

These books touched my heart.

 

Breath of heaven by Deborah Raney. A story of missionaries in modern-day Colombia. Filled with gripping danger. I found myself praying for the safety of the characters and thanking God when elements of help arrived.

 

The daughter of Auschwitz: my story of resilience, survival and hope by Tova Friedman, Malcolm Brabant and Ben Kingsley. Ms. Friedman, born in Poland in 1938, was one of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz, and when this book was published in 2022, she was one of the few still alive. Her mother repeated to her while she grew up what happened to them, with a goal to keep the memory of the holocaust alive, so that people never forget. This is Ms. Friedman’s goal as well in this book. I am glad I read this book; I believe also we need to keep this history alive and never forget. But it is a hard read. The details are vivid and terrible, in the ghetto, in the work camp, in the death camp.

 

Welcome to the Honey B&B by Melody Carlson. A family is dealing with dementia. I get irritated with the wife and daughter when they get mad at their husband and dad when he messes up. Don’t they realize he can’t help it? Only the thirteen-year-old granddaughter seems to stay patient with him. But then I remember how irritable I can get with people with no good reason. This whole family is struggling with this terrible thing. This is a wonderful story of their love and survival.

 

He Gets Us by Max Lucado. Jesus lived among us, so he knows our struggles and sorrows. And, knowing us completely, he still washes the filth from our feet.

 

Have yourself a Christiansen Christmas and It had to be you by Susan May Warren. I’ve read several of the books in this series. Recently, I found myself reading these two at the same time. These stories involve a large family, struggles with faith, struggles with life shocks and decisions, beautiful descriptions of Minnesota. And, the healing of grace, not just for when we’re saved, but also every day as Jesus walks with us. 

Diamonds From Isaiah, chapter 1:21-26: Make Us Pure

21 

See how the faithful city has become a prostitute!

She once was full of justice;

    righteousness used to dwell in her— but now murderers!

22 

Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water.

23 

Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves;

they all love bribes and chase after gifts.

They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.

24 

Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares:

“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes

    and avenge myself on my enemies.

25 

I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities.

26 

I will restore your leaders as in days of old, your rulers as at the beginning.

Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.”

 

Oh Lord, thank you that you want to make us pure. Our world is such a mess. Our hearts are sick with the horrors around us. Make us tender toward those in need. Create a longing in us for what is right in your eyes. 

Guest Author Interview with Celeste Charlene

I have read many of Celeste Charlene’s books and find much wonder in the faith and beautiful descriptions of Africa in these stories. Thank you, Celeste, for sharing with us.

 

Kathy: Would you give our readers a brief bio? What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

Celeste Charlene is an RN with a Master’s of Science in Nursing who specialized in community health programs for developing countries. She served as a missionary for thirty-two years in West African countries, treating the sick, establishing mobile clinics, teaching health, training village health workers, and evangelizing.

When she’s not writing, she still writes. Not a day passes that she doesn’t write something for one of her books, a devotion for her blog or her Bible study.  She’s written and self-published 29 books in the last 10 years.

Every week or so she likes to remodel a garment she bought at a thrift store or bake a new recipe.

 

Kathy: Can you share a little about your writing journey? Any stories that still make you smile?

 I began writing in a diary when I was eleven and have written every day.

My first book, SHAKEN BLESSINGS, began with a three-month-old infant. The mother died during child birth at a hospital and the father already had eight daughters and didn’t want another one. Since the baby survived and the mother died, people in that area thought the child was cursed.  I took the baby and named her Blessing, hoping to dispel the curse. I started a separate journal about her.

After retiring I submitted my journal of Blessing to several publishers. They said it was an interesting story and they enjoyed it, which told me they had read it. None of the publishers I submitted it to published journals, Christian work, or work for unknown authors.

They suggested I rewrite SHAKEN BLESSINGS into novel form and submit it to Christian publishers, which I did.

I often laugh as I write about the genius twins, who are characters in my first book series that starts with A LITTLE MERCY, and follows with A TRAGIC GOOD, A WAVERING HOPE SCARRED BEAUTY, EXQUISITE ASHES, and BROKEN  SPIRIT. Readers liked that series best, and I’ve continued with titles that start with G-H-I-J-K-L and so on. 

 

Kathy: How do you share your faith with your writing?

My books are women’s inspirational ones with God’s plan of salvation or by showing how a character changes or grows spiritually through Christ’s influence in her life or with a sermon in the story or with a character sharing her testimony. 

I’m a Christian, live a Christian life, and serve God as a Christian in everything every day and my books show that. I attend church faithfully and study the scripture, prepare the lesson and the handouts to teach the weekly women’s Bible study at church. The Bible is our textbook.

 

Kathy: Do you have a writing schedule that works for you? How do you balance your writing with other responsibilities?

I’m a very early riser between 4 and 5. After prayer, Bible study, and devotions. I spend 20 minutes on my treadmill. Then I write about thirty-forty minutes, and then on my treadmill another 20 minutes and write another thirty-forty.   By the time I’ve completed an hour and twenty minutes on the treadmill and three to four hours of writing, I cook lunch. Afternoons are spent running errands, visiting or calling family or friends, or I might have lunch with a friend instead of cook. I normally write 4 hours in the late afternoons and evenings.

This schedule is not cast in stone. I keep it most of the time so I am always ahead of myself.  If a friend or family member needs or wants me to do something, I’m rarely behind and can easily drop everything and take a day off, but even then I still write some that day.

 

Kathy: Where do you find your story ideas?

All my stories came from people, incidents, and places that I’ve written in my journal during the years I spent in Africa. To help keep my missionary friends who are still there safe, I changed the names of all the places and people. You will not find any of the African countries in my books on maps.

 I lived in some dangerous places during treacherous times, in which cameras were banned and no one was permitted to write anything about the country or anything that was seen. Over the years I’ve used these stories and incidents in my novels.

 

Kathy: Tell us about one of your favorite authors.  

I have several favorite authors, and I read while I’m on my treadmill.

God and the authors of His Word, Francine Rivers, Dee Henderson, Victoria Thompson, Terri Blackstock, Jeanette Oke, Irene Hannon, Karen Kingsbury, and Grace Livingstone Hill.

 

Kathy: Can you share with us about your latest book?

FREAK TO FANATIC started out as a biography to answer all the questions people have asked me, primarily “How did a girl like you end up as a missionary?”

It turned into a devotion book, and the last section of it are memoirs from thirteen years in Nigeria.

As a writer I’m what professionals call a “By the seat of your pants,” author.  I lay hands on my computer every morning and pray that the words, thoughts, and messages I write will honor and glorify God.

 

Kathy: Are you already planning your next book?

I’m always writing but God hasn’t given me a specific plot for my next book. It will be the “m” book MAYHEM, MURDER, MADNESS, or MASSACRES. Having worked thirteen years in Nigeria in which there were three military coup d’etats and an increasing Islamic influence in the leadership, I’m familiar with terror and violence. So far I have twelve pages of notes.

 

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL AS A WRITER?

I had no phone or Internet while in Africa.  Some of the “Internet cafes” in the large cities were getting started when I retired. So I’m computer illiterate.

Since I enjoy writing so much and had so many stories from Africa that were hand-written in my journals, I wanted to retire, write books, and give them away.

While in Africa, I forgot that books cost money. Still, I started buying a few of my books to give away. Praise God for helping me give away seven out of every ten books that I buy.  We can’t outgive God. Half the people who read the books later give me a donation, which I use to buy more books to give away.  God is good all the time and good to all of us. Amen.

 PS   I do not advertise or market. but missionaries are easy to find and so am I.

celestecharlene | celestialsafaris.wordpress.com

celeste charlene.amazon.com

Or celestecharlene777@gmail.com

 

 

  

Christmas 2003

More gems from Memoir Notes, from our Christmas letter from 2003

 

Dear family and friends,

 

Here we are, almost ready to start a new year, grimacing at the things we planned to do but didn't.  We hope that you were all able to get done what you hoped, or at least what kept you out of prison.

 

We are proud that Ping-Hwei, 21, is ready for full time work.  He has finished high school, tried a job here and there, and is working with the state and the county job placement services to find a suitable job.  He grows in humor and helpfulness.  He has become a good cook, and also loves to go to the city library.

 

Caleb. 13, in the middle of 8^th grade, is growing into a tall deep-voiced young man, and has a dedication to daily personal Bible study.  The first quarter at school he received Straight A's, and his teachers say he's a great student who always has his hand raised with the answer.  He continues his baritone horn playing, both in the band and in the jazz band.  He loves to read, almost anything, and he's finally at the age where all he seems to think about is girls.

 

Rebecca, 13, 7^th grade, also had shot up in the last year like a Kansas wheat stalk.  She is lovely and capable, and can do whatever she is asked, whether at home, school, or church.  She is in her third year of violin, and based on Murray's talk with the Orchestra conductor, she is a great musician.  She also plays bass keyboard in the jazz band.  She constantly finds projects to do.  She has acquired and stocked a 10-gallon fish tank, and claims that a couple of the fish kiss her hand (okay, Kathy put her hand in the tank, before the evening feeding, and darned if some of the fish DON'T kiss hands).  Rebecca recently planted beans for a science fair project, comparing dirt with fertilizer and worms to plain dirt.  However, Caleb had to pick up and deposit the worms for her.  Her great hope is to buy a sewing machine, so she can hem Murray's pants.  If anybody has one they don't use, send it to the above address, please!

 

Sarah, 11, in the 6^th grade (Aaahhhh!! 3 in middle school at the same time!!)  grows sweeter and more interesting every day.  She is affectionate, enthusiastic, and subject to rapid mood changes.  She tried out for a part with a community theater this year and would have received the part if the production had not been postponed.  We hope she will continue her interest in this area.  She has gone on a hiatus from flute playing, singing in the school choir, and continues to enjoy writing.  When she can't get a ride from Murray, she rides her bike 2 ½ miles each way to school, or else takes the city bus.

 

Benjamin, 6, is in first grade, and his school barely knows what to do with him.  They have never had a gifted, totally blind child before.  He has many interests, including:  piano, computers (mostly exploring programs and seeing what happens if he changes the settings), reading computer manuals, reading his new New King James version of the Bible, continuing his interest in recipes and cookbooks, and reading the advance Braille copy of the math book he will use in second grade.  He enjoys his friends at school and at daycare, and church, and already claims to have a girlfriend and to know who he is going to marry (wonder if it's the same person?).

 

We continue our membership with the Westlake Church of Christ – at the end of last year, we renamed ourselves Hope Christian Church.  We sold our property and started meeting at Westlake High School in March of this year, and construction started on our new facility (2 miles west of the old facility) during the summer.  We hope that construction might be finished by the end of May. 

 

Speaking of Jesus, the Book of Isaiah says,

"Yet it was our weaknesses he carried (when he carried his cross); it was our sorrows that weighed him down.  And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins!  But he was wounded and crushed for our sins.  He was beaten that we might have peace.  He was whipped, and we were healed!  All of us have strayed away like sheep.  We have left God's paths to follow our own.  Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all."  Chapter 53, verses 4-6 

Jesus Is King from the book of Mark, Chapter 1:1-20

 

Matthew and Luke begin Jesus’s story by telling how he came as a baby. Our pastor talked recently about how the gospel of Mark introduces Jesus as king.

 

Mark 1:1-3:

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,

    who will prepare your way”

“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

 

Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one. During Jesus’s time, if a king was traveling, he would send people before him, to make rough places in the roads ready for him to travel them. Isaiah 40:3 predicted that John the Baptist would come to prepare the way for God. John came to prepare people’s hearts and lives to hear from Jesus, God in the flesh.

 

Verses 9-11:

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

 

Jesus’s baptism was his anointing as king. The heavens were torn open, God making a big move. The Spirit rested on him, anointing him as with oil. The Father proclaimed that he loved his son and was pleased with him.

 

Verses 12-13:

At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

 

Jesus didn’t gather an army and go out against the enemies of Israel. He went into the wilderness to fight the worst enemy, Satan.

 

Verses 14-15:

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

 

Jesus said that he was bringing God’s kingdom right then. He invited people to repent, to change their minds, to change what they were following and to turn to believe what he had to say to them. To go a different direction with their life.

 

Verses 16-20:

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

 

Jesus didn’t call the smartest, strongest, most elite to be a part of his kingdom. He chose common ordinary men, fishermen.

 

I want to study the book of Mark with a focus on how it shows Jesus as king.