Unexpected Christmas Hero

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Title

Unexpected Christmas Hero

Author

Kathi Macias

Publisher

New Hope Publishers, 2012 

My Review

by Carley Cooper

Unexpected Christmas Hero by Kathi Macias is about a young woman and her two small children who loose everything and become homeless after her husband suddenly dies.  It’s a story that touched my heart like no other.  Josie Meyers struggles against the elements, trying to come up with enough food to keep herself and her children alive, and a daily battle to find a place to sleep indoors.  She also has a battle inside; with her faith.  Does God really hear her?  Is He listening?  Does He care?  Her trust issues extend to those around her as well, especially now that she’s homeless and living on the streets in the dead of winter.  Then she meets Rick; a homeless man who is rich in Spirit and shows the love of Christ to everyone he meets; but Josie isn’t sure he can be trusted.  Then her family receives the most incredible miracle on Christmas Eve. They discover the true meaning of friendship and Christmas in a very Unexpected Christmas Hero. 

Kathi Macias takes us into this world of homelessness in a way that made my heart want to reach out and help.  There are elements in the lives of homeless people that the rest of us do not even consider.  There was a time when I believed that homelessness was a possibility in my own future.  But thankfully, just like Josie Meyers, I have people that love me enough to step out of their way to help those in need simply because it’s what Christ wants us to do.  A meal, a bed to sleep in for a night or two, a ride some place, a few dollars, a simple gift like a disposable cell phone, or a prayer can change the whole world for someone in need.  Who are you going to be a hero for this Christmas?  

My Over-all Rating

Author Interview
Homelessness is a tough topic for Christmas. What inspired you to use that as the basis for your annual Christmas novel?I’ve been involved in homeless ministries, to one degree or another, for decades, so I’m not new to this area of ministry. But I’ll admit that I had never considered writing a novel about it until someone in my family, who had personally experienced homelessness at one time in his life, suggested it. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed the perfect theme for a Christmas novel. After all, at Christmas we celebrate the birth of our Savior, who was pretty much homeless at that particular point in time and was born in a stable because there was no room for them at the Bethlehem Motel 6.

Despite having previous ministry and even personal experience with the homeless, were there still some difficult times for you as you researched and wrote this novel?
Absolutely! I always try to climb inside the skin of my characters, and when I thought of myself as the young mother Josie, attempting to care for and protect her two small children while living on the streets, I wept. There were times when my own children were little that we didn’t have a lot of material things and almost never had enough money at the end of the month, but we always had a roof over our heads and never wondered where we would find our next meal. When I consider that approximately 25 percent of the homeless in America are families (either single or dual-parent) with small children, it breaks my heart.

Can you give us a brief synopsis of Unexpected Christmas Hero?This is a story about a young family—husband, wife, two small children—who seem to be living the American dream. But when the husband dies unexpectedly, the wife (Josie) not only has to deal with that loss but quickly discovers that they are destitute. Her husband had lost his job some months earlier but didn’t want to worry her, so he hid it from her, hoping to find another position. He didn’t, and eventually ran up all their credit cards, took out a second mortgage on the house, emptied their savings, and even cashed in his life insurance policy. It doesn’t take long until Josie and her children lose their home and find themselves living on the streets, depending on the charity of others to survive. Then they meet Rick, a homeless Vietnam vet who takes them under his wing and, in a most surprising and sacrificial way, becomes their unexpected Christmas hero.
Tell us about the “story behind the story,” which involves the man on the front cover.
When the publisher sent the designer out to find someone to pose as Rick, the homeless vet in the book, he spotted a man on the street who looked amazingly like him. He asked the man—whose name is Willard Parker—if he would pose for the book cover. The man readily agreed and then explained that he truly was homeless and hoped having his picture on the cover would somehow help him find his family, particularly his grown daughter. We are doing our best to stay in touch with Mr. Parker and also to spread his story across the Internet and on radio/TV in hopes of fulfilling his dream to be reunited with his family. If anyone looks at the picture on the cover and/or recognizes the man’s name (Willard Parker) and knows the whereabouts of any of his family, we would truly appreciate it if they would contact me at ezyrtr@ca.rr.com so we can take the necessary steps to try and make this reunion happen.

Where can people find your book?
It’s available on any of the main online venues (Amazon, ChristianBooks.com, Barnes & Noble, etc.) and many stores nationwide.
Can you give us your website info?
Sure! You can find me at www.kathimacias.com or www.boldfiction.com. I’d love it if people would stop by there and check out all my books, as well as the video trailers that go with them. They can also sign up to receive my weekly devotional, or check out where I’ll be speaking in the near future. Above all, click on “contact” and send me an email. I’d love to hear from them, and I promise to answer.
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I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview and/or book review on my blog. CSS Virtual Book Tours are managed by Christian Speakers Services (http://ChristianSpeakersServices.com).

———– About Kathi Macias ——— 

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored nearly 40 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences. She won the prestigious 2008 member of the year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) at the annual Golden Scrolls award banquet. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al.

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Think Your Home is Safe? Think Again!

~~ John 3:16 (NASB) ~~  For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

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by Carley Cooper

Photo by Carley Cooper
July 2012 - All rights reserved

Picture this: you’re exhausted, the world is way too loud and demanding lately, and you finally arrive home.  Ahhhh.  Peace, comfort, and your own bed!  This describes the average multi-tasking busy person in our North American society. 

What if your Home was a Painful Place?

For some, home means being controlled, isolation, insults, depression, walking on egg shells; and often threats or horrible violence.  Church family can be vulnerable to snakes slithering in as well.  Even in God’s house the enemy can put himself in the midst of the worship, destroying relationships.  Lots of people have negative experiences with church, resulting in changing churches, or stop going completely. 

I used look forward to ‘Church Day’ all week long.  Three years ago I found a church that is unique, solid in the Word, and accepted me into their midst.  For the first time I was learning how to be part of a community and how to develop a relationship with Christ.  After a while there special friendships formed; one in particular stood out.  Then, I had some bad side effects from a new medication, which caused some problems.  The next thing I knew, my ‘solid’ friendship changed without warning.  He became someone I didn’t know and hurt me; leaving me to feel confused, alone, rejected, and judged.  Turning to others made things worse when I heard “Sounds like a pity party.”  My tears stopped in therapy when Doc said (while shaking a finger) “See, that’s proof that they don’t understand Bipolar Disorder.”  Others changed the nature of our friendships without discussing it; thinking I wouldn’t notice the subtle changes.  Doc said, “It’s blaming the victim.  You did nothing wrong.”  Behind closed doors, my friend said he misses me; yet won’t make a connection in public.

God does not Waste Anything; Ever. 

I’m left not knowing who or what is real.  I ran out of service crying on Sunday morning because looking at him, not seeing any compassion was just more than I could bear in that minute.  Doc says he is “taking up residence” in my mind, but “not paying any rent.”  The friend I was sitting with said it appeared I had a panic attack.  Maybe.  I’ve had them before.  I told God I was sorry for disappointing Him, and myself.  But, I am aware I am in this season for a purpose.

Nothing Compares to the Joy of Knowing Jesus.

After service on Sunday someone said ‘You have a very soft heart.’  It’s often gotten me in trouble.  I try showing him kindness at every opportunity because that’s what we are called to do, but my questions go unanswered.  Doc says that I am subconsciously relating this to the abuse in my past because control was taken from me.  Part of me concludes I have to live for me; ignore pain.  How do I do this in a manner that is godly toward others?  Going backward, now, is about as desirable as the other guy’s donuts after having Timmy’s, or settling for mediocre lover after having mind-blowing sex;  or worse, shopping for large sizes after living as a skinny person.  I’ve experienced all of these things.  The enemy says a hard heart will protect me.  It’s tempting.  But I’ve learned to love following Jesus.  Letting Him go would be even more painful.   

God will Always Answer Prayer.

I can’t help but wonder; why don’t our lessons stick the first time?  ‘Standing back’ I can see a repeat of certain lessons in a cycle that resembles the BPD cycles.  Are they related?  Probably; in part, anyway.  The enemy is distracting me and using my disorders to his advantage.  I prayed, again, for some enlightenment.  God sent me these messages:

• “Redemption can only come to those who are lost.”  ~Stuart Mclean on the Vinyl Cafe
• “As we learn to laugh more and cultivate our God-given sense of humor, patience and the ability to deal with the difficult relationships in life will flourish.” ~ Mary Sutherland
• “Be true to what God has put in your heart and don't look to the left or to the right.  Stay focused on what God says.”  ~Joel Osteen Ministries
• “Do you serve God or do you serve your feelings?  Believe the Word of God over and above your feelings.”  ~Joyce Meyer Ministries

You Will be Victorious!

In an abusive household, the goal is to stop it or escape.  Many abused women need help to get out safely (If you are in a violent situation and need some instruction; contact me and I will email you an ‘Escape to Safety’ plan.)  We are called to have a church family, to socialize and worship with like minded people (Hebrews 10:25 NIV).  Even Jesus went to church regularly (Luke 4:16 NIV).  I don’t want to be one to leave because I don’t have motivation to hold my ground until the darkness ends.  I’m tougher than that.  So are you!  I know I am a member of Christ’s body; and I can’t be a functioning, productive member if I cut myself off from that body (2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV).  The world is filled with churches full of flawed people.  It’s why Jesus came; to save us from our errors.  In church family the only danger is the enemy who has slithered in through a back door. 

Like my biological family, I love my church family even though they make me nuts sometimes.  I know it is where I’m called to be.  I got a very specific message from God one day, that said “God’s grace is enough to fix a friendship even when one of those hearts doesn’t know it needs to be changed.”  I know my heart needs changing.  It not easy to admit or submit to; but I am willing.  God’s grace will cover the rest.  This tells me I don’t need an escape plan; I need a pest control plan which is clearly laid out for me in God’s Word.  The season is difficult, but I’ve learned:

• if I don’t admit I’m lost and submit, I can’t be saved. 
• Friendships, like any other relationship worth having needs to be tested to see if it is real.  If not, I have to let it go.  It is not one I should have in my life anyway. 
• I have to stop relying on emotions, the disorders I have, other people and wanting to please them.  I have to follow Jesus.  He will show me who I am to befriend, confide in, and invite into my heart.  When the time is right, it will all make sense and be worth the journey.   

Let’s Pray

 ~~ Dear God ~~   Thank  you for the dark times, because without them I would not realize how beautiful the Light really is.  Jesus came and died for me so that I wouldn’t have to worry about following escape plans or pest control programs.  Please help me to let go of pain and trust that Jesus will never let me down.  In Jesus name, AMEN.

Now It’s Your Turn

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When the Impossible Happens

Microsoft Office Copyright Free Images

~~ Mark 9:23 (ESV) ~~  And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

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by Carley Cooper

There’s a song by country music singer, Joe Nichols, called The Impossible.  It’s been going through my mind today.  The lyrics remind me of how I’m feeling about some circumstances in my life right now.

The Impossible

My dad chased monsters from the dark,

He checked underneath my bed.

An' he could lift me with one arm,

Way up over top his head.

He could loosen rusty bolts

With a quick turn of his wrench.

He pulled splinters from his hand,

And never even flinched.

In thirteen years I'd never seen him cry,

But the day that grandpa died, I realized:

Unsinkable ships sink.

Unbreakable walls break.

Sometimes the things you think would never happen,

Happen just like that.

Unbendable steel bends.

If the fury of the wind is unstoppable,

I've learned to never underestimate,

The impossible

An' then there was my junior year,

Billy had a brand new car.

It was late, the road was wet,

I guess the curve was just too sharp.

I walked away without a scratch.

They brought the helicopter in.

Billy couldn't feel his legs.

They said he'd never walk again.

But Billy said he would an' his mom and daddy prayed,

An' the day we graduated, he stood up to say:

Unsinkable ships sink.

Unbreakable walls break.

Sometimes the things you think would never happen,

Happen just like that.

Unbendable steel bends.

If the fury of the wind is unstoppable,

I've learned to never underestimate,

The impossible

So don't tell me that it's over.

Don't give up on you and me.

'Cause there's no such thing as hopeless,

If you believe:

Unsinkable ships sink.

Unbreakable walls break.

Sometimes the things you think would never happen,

Happen just like that.

Unbendable steel bends.

If the fury of the wind is unstoppable,

I've learned to never underestimate,

The impossible

I’m tempted to ask you if you have ever felt like you’ve been in an impossible situation.  However, I know I don’t have to ask you that.  I know you have; because we all have at some point in our lives.  Life seems to have a way of backing us into a corner leaving us to feel like there is no way out.  There’s no solution possible to the problem. 

Right now I’m feeling very hurt, angry and even betrayed by someone I love dearly.  I don’t claim to be innocent in the situation.  Just the opposite; I blame myself for everything.  It’s left me completely disoriented, confused and grieving in the worst way.  I see that a friendship that I knew for sure was completely solid and immovable, no longer is.  It’s left me wondering if it ever was solid; was it ever real in the first place?  Was I misleading myself this whole time?  What else or who else in my life am I deceiving myself about?  I opened myself up to this person and left myself in a completely vulnerable state trusting this person totally, and it backfired on me.  I was rejected because of my brokenness.  Then, to cloud the issue even more for me I found out that confidences were broken; and my most broken parts have been shared with someone who was not invited into the situation.  Nothing looks clear to me anymore.  I am not sure who or what I can trust.  I knew with absolute certainty that this friendship was real and solid.  I counted and depended on it.  I was wrong.  At the moment, I no longer trust my own judgment on anything.  It’s left me feeling like I can’t trust that the sky is indeed blue or that the grass is in fact green; let alone who is telling me the truth.  Of course all this, in itself, causes even more emotional turmoil through a truck load of guilt, because I keep thinking that others have problems so much worse than mine.  I should just let it go and forget my feelings.

There was another situation once where I knew something was impossible.  I knew with absolute certainty that God would never keep me separated from my dog, Casey.  I knew that I would be able to bring Casey home to live with me where he belongs once my living situation was settled.  I made very important life decisions based on the fact that Casey is definitely coming home.  If I thought for one instant that he wasn’t I certainly would not have chosen the options I did.  I was trusting God; keeping my faith in Him without any weakness in it.  I wasn’t budging an inch in my faith!  Except it didn’t happen.  Even though I had medical support that I need him and my lawyer said that the law is on my side, Casey can’t come home now even if the circumstances changed; because it’s in his best interest to stay where he is.  He’s blind now and his last sighted place is at my friends house; which was meant to be a temporary solution until I could put myself in a position to bring him home.  Not only that but her dog, Snowy, has succumbed to her instincts to become Casey’s new eyes.  Little Snowy guides Casey around the back yard, the house, and keeps him from wandering onto the road.  Whether I like it or not now, Casey needs them more than me.  Casey’s needs have to come before mine.  He is staying where he is.  I love him enough for that.     

Another time when I underestimated the impossible was many years ago when I dated a guy, that I’ll call, Brian (not his real name).  We dated for about six months.  I was so head-over-heels in love with this guy.  He felt the same about me.  He treated me like a queen.  One day we were downtown and stopped at a hotdog vendor where he bought a jumbo hotdog for us to share together.  I mean, literally, together.  He was eating from one end while I was eating from the other end.  We giggled our way through it the way we giggled our way through everything we did together.  When we got to the center we ended with a kiss. 

A couple of girls walked by as we were eating and saw us.  One said to the other “See, that’s what being in love is all about.  That’s what I want.” 

It made me feel good.  Brian and I looked at each other smiling, but didn’t say anything.  We didn’t have to.  We knew what she meant, because we felt it.  It wasn’t long after, that he ended the relationship.  I was so in love with this man.  It was so real to me; more than anyone else that I had been with.  This was the same guy that took me on a grocery shopping date.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Grocery shopping date, and I could not have had more fun at anything if I tried.  I had a blast!  How could something that real, be fake?  Yet it ended, so therefore I know it wasn’t real and never was. 

Thinking about the impossible being possible; at this time in the year, I can’t help but think about the impossible feat that Jesus accomplished for us at Easter.  He willingly put Himself through punishment, humiliation,  suffering, sacrifice, betrayal, and much more that we are not even capable of imagining.  He died, fought death and came back to life again after three days.  He went through all this because He loves each one of us that much.  If I could go back in time, knowing what I know now I would not make the same decisions that I have made so far.  I would choose very differently.  I would not open up so much to someone that I thought was a friend.  I would not let my living situation be such that Casey couldn’t come home; even if I knew about his future blindness.  I would alter my course to avoid going through these pains.  But Jesus is eternal.  He’s outside of time.  He knew what was going to happen.  He already knew that we would sin against Him and we would need to be saved; yet He did went through all that pain and suffering for us anyway.  He loves us that much.

All these events in my life leave me with the same questions; How could my judgement have been so off?  If my judgment is that off on something that important, then how can I know that anything around me or anyone I interact with is real or trustworthy?  Where does it end?  Where do the boundaries start and stop with trust?  I honestly don’t know.  My vision has been clouded with much pain; and is made even more so through the filter of Bipolar Disorder and the medication cocktail that goes along with that.  The only thing I know for sure that I can trust is Jesus.  I will sit and wait for His direction; even then, I may have to ask Him to confirm and reconfirm His instructions to me.  I will have to pay extra close attention to every detail for a while to make sure I know when He’s directing me; to make sure that it’s not the enemy taking advantage of my vulnerability to lead me astray.  It is overwhelmingly difficult to concentrate and focus, but when nothing else looks clear; when I don’t know what is real and what isn’t around me, I know that I have to focus on Jesus.  I know that He is real and as long as I focus on Him nothing is impossible.

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Joe Nichols – The Impossible

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~~ Dear God ~~  Thank You for the impossible feat that You accomplished through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus on the cross for us.  Thank You for never giving up on me, even in spite of my brokenness.  Please help me to clearly see Your direction in my life; to clearly see the enemies attempts at misdirection, and open my heart to true forgiveness of those who have hurt me.  Especially, help me to forgive myself as well, Lord, so that my heart is completely free to focus on You.  ~In Jesus name, AMEN.

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JOE NICHOLS lyrics are property and copyright of their owners. "The Impossible" lyrics provided for educational purposes and personal use only.

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Angels from Heaven

~~ Psalm 91:11-14 (NIV84) ~~  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.  “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

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by Carley Cooper

(Adapted from a post entitled “Angelsfrom Heaven”, that I wrote and originally published on December 20^th, 2011 on my other site,  TinRoof Sundae)  - This article is the first in a series about angels. 

Photo by Carla Cooper
One of many Angels in my collection
All Copyrights Reserved

Angels.  We see them in all sorts of places.  Plus, they seem to come in all shapes and sizes; much like people.  I’ve seen pictures of them as tall and thin wearing long flowing white gowns.  Some are males and some are females; all with beautiful large wings.  Then there’s the chubby little ones with cheeks so cute that you just want to pinch them.  But we don’t ever really see them in the realm of our real world.  Or do we?  There are many people out there who have stories that cannot be explained any other way. 

God has assigned us angels that are with us all the time; kinda like body guards that stick with us for life.  The only difference is that they’re not about to clobber someone on our behalf like the body guards that we see in the movies.  They just protect us from getting hurt or killed before our time.  I think that God also send angels to us for special occasions.  A little bit like a special assignment case when we are about to get ourselves into some seriously big trouble that’s just too much for the regular guards to handle alone.  Or maybe it’s a case that calls for a special agent due to a situation that the regular guys just aren’t trained to handle.   

I also believe that God also uses people for some of these special assignment cases.  Why pull an angel away from somewhere else, or from Heaven; if He can just use one of the people that are already here?  Sometimes God can use other people in our lives to fill in as an angel in our lives when we need them the most.  You know those times when a friend gives you something, or unexpectedly does something for you, at exactly the moment you need it.  Have you ever said, or had someone say to you “Oh, you are an angel!  Thank you so much for this!”  Well, that’s it exactly.  They are an angel sent by God at that moment.  They may not realize it, but God has used them to be your angel.

For me, one of those people is the pastor at my church.  Pastor Henry has helped me in more ways than one person deserves from another.  Some days I really would feel lost without him.  A few weeks ago; before the holidays, I decided on a Christmas gift.  I really wanted to give him something special.  It was a collection of four small glass angel ornaments with touches of gold trim.  I thought it was very appropriate considering how I felt about our friendship; and all that he’s done for me.  The collection, was a beautiful set; but I looked at them and thought “it’s not enough.  It needs to be more personal.  Maybe I should buy something else.”  I thought about it for a while, and decided that I would write a poem to go with the angel collection; to tell him how much he helps me and how much I appreciate it. 

I've written a lot since I discovered my talent for writing words and my love of the craft.  However, I had never in my life attempted poetry.  I had absolutely no idea if I could do it at all.  I sat down one evening after dinner to write a poem for Pastor Henry.  For several hours, I dribbled many words and phrases onto my keyboard; but nothing that made sense.  I tried writing something funny, then something serious, something that rhymed, and something that didn’t.  After a lot of frustration; and even more laughter at what I was writing; I decided that poetry obviously was not my gift!  But it was still bothering me.  I needed to see this through to the end one way or the other, or it would make me crazy.  I don’t like leaving things unfinished.  So, I prayed about it, and suddenly the words started to come together and they made sense.  At about midnight, that night, I finished this poem.  Let me know what you think. 

Angels from Heaven
by Carley Cooper

A stranger willing to say a prayer,
or a puppy with lots of kisses to share.
A friend who loves enough to sit in silence,
and a pastor with an endless patience.
All are angels sent from Heaven,
to help those like me that’s for certain.

This fancy package that comes from my heart,
is especially for you with my thanks to impart.
Four little angels are contained within,
each a characteristic of our friendship akin.
Lectures, advice, and guidance you extend;
my angel, my pastor, my counsellor, my friend.

I had planned on going to the church office the next morning, a few days before Christmas, to fulfill my own little tradition of taking in the huge gift basket filled with lots of homemade Christmas treats to the staff.  I do this because I love all those in the church office so much for all the work that they do for the church, for Jesus and for me.  I figured it was the perfect time to deliver Pastor Henry’s Christmas gift. 

So, I delivered it right on schedule.  I walked into his office with a big smile and a very cheery “Merry Christmas!”  I gave him the gift and said that he could choose to wait and open it at Christmas, but I really was hoping to see his reaction.  I sat down.  He opened it.  He read it.  Then he said something like "Wow, that's nice.  Thanks".  

Hmmm!  It wasn't quite the response that I had hoped for.  I really had expected a little more enthusiasm.  So, I sat and looked at him for a few seconds, waiting for something more.   Then he responded with "I'm not going to look at you because if I do, I'll cry".  HA!  I knew it!  He was very touched by it; which made me very happy.

Oh, and just for backup I also gave him a batch of deviled eggs... one of his favorite treats!  My Grandmother told me “A way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”.  Granted, Nanny meant it in terms of finding a husband; but I figured that I could apply that theory to this situation as well; just in case the poem wasn’t a hit.   

The reason that angels come in all shapes and sizes like people, is because sometimes they are the people!

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~~ Dear God ~~    Your works and Your ways are more than we could ever hope to comprehend.  Thank You for those that You put in our lives, in our paths; that help save us and guide us in Your direction.  Please use me to be someone’s angel so that I may help them in the same way that others have helped me.  In Jesus name, AMEN.

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