My book is off to the printer!

In the spring I reached an agreement with Westbow Press to self-publish my first book - "Hope Upon Hope - Encouraging Words When Your Life Needs a Lift."

Westbow has very specific instructions for self-publishing; I didn't know there would be so much detail - size of book, size of font, cover work, inside design and the list goes on and on.  

First stop for the book is the Content Department; they will make sure that the material I've wrote is in keeping with their editorial guidelines.  From there it will go to Design and when they have put together a mock up of the book, I'll get a chance to review and make sure I'm satisfied with what they've done.  After that the book gets printed and the finished product will land on my doorstep.  I must say, I can't wait to see how all this turns out.

Westbow has an online store from which the book can be purchased.  There is a possibility that the book will be available on Amazon.  I'll know more about distribution in a few months.

I thank the Lord for this opportunity and my dear, sweet wife for her belief that I should move forward with getting my book published.  I'll keep you friendly readers posted on its progress.

Martin Luther's Morning Prayer for Children

Thank you God, through Your dear Son

That with the Spirit, three in one

You kept me safe all through the night

And I awoke to see the light

Be with me throughout the day

Let nothing evil pass my way

This life on earth, I live for You

My soul and body and all things

I trust to You, You are my King

Your holy angels keep me near

The evil one I will not fear

Amen. 

Note: I haven't been able to confirm that Luther actually wrote the above prayer.  It may be that someone else took Luther's Morning Prayer, found in the Catechism, and wrote a simple version that children could memorize and use.

Why do we want more?

It's silly, isn't it, to think that if we just accumulate enough "stuff" (whatever kind of stuff you like) we'll somehow be happy and content with our lives.  I've had some interaction with "stuff" and "stuff" has never comforted me when I've been sad or offered wise advice when I was troubled.

In the Large Catechism, Martin Luther brings the focus back to where it should be - to God.

What more would you have or desire than God so kindly promising to be yours with every blessing and to protect and help you in all need.

1st Commandment, paragraph 41 

No nobler prayer

"Therefore, there is no nobler prayer to be found upon earth than the Lord's Prayer.  We pray it daily (Matt. 6:11) because it has this excellent testimony, that God loves to hear it.  We ought not to surrender this for all the riches of the world.

Martin Luther, "Large Catechism," part 3, para. 23, "Concordia, The Lutheran Confessions" 

How to defy gravity

 "Let our Father be in heaven; join Him there through your words.  Defy gravity and stand beside Him.  That's the action of God in prayer."

The sainted Daniel Paavola, "Our Way Home," page 37

Time for a little break

I will be taking a little break from the blog for the next 10 days.  I'll be doing some traveling - fulfilling a bucket list item for my dear, sweet wife.  

The good news is that I have finished all the work on my book and I'll will be forwarding everything to the printer and hope to receive some kind of timeline on when they might have the book ready.

Looking forward to reconnecting with you on July 1st.  God's blessings!

God Delights In Us Too

The delight and pleasure of God are in His beloved Son, and that is where we are too.  What is ours is His; what is His is ours.  So God delights in us too.  If our hearts would take this in, Martin Luther said, they would burst for joy in a hundred thousand pieces.  In a world that is given over to sin, death and the devil, there is one point where the delight of God dwells.  "This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased."  That is where we are in solidarity with Jesus.  With Jesus there is God's delight.  God, Christ, you -- all together like one thing.

"Selected Sermons of Norman Nagel" page 44