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03 July 2016

When You Can't -- God Can! By Carrie Fancett Pagels




I blogged last week about some packing suggestions for folks with autoimmune or other chronic health issues. I haven't made any more progress with our packing, I confess, but this week I was enabled by God to transport my son up and down the road to the College of William & Mary for an ID Tech Camp. Isn't that a great statue, above? It's in the lovely business building where my son took classes!

To many people, commuting a child may not be a big deal. It didn't used to be to me -- or rather I didn't think it was until during an arthritis flare I fell asleep in the parked car after commuting my then-elementary school aged daughter to horseback lessons. But I've learned since then what some of my limitations are. So in this case, the weekly experience for my son was something I thought -- I will just stay out in Williamsburg all day and drive him back later rather than  thirty to forty minutes up (and returning - for a sum total of about two and a half hours driving for the day). And I did pray about this camp before we enrolled Clark. I quickly discerned that staying all day up in Williamsburg was going to be more physically taxing than attempting a double round trip drive. Hubs also offered to go up and get Sonny if I couldn't. 

To make a long story short -- I don't believe I could have commuted my son up and back every day, twice a day, without God's help. The first three days I did it, praise the Lord! The fourth day, my husband picked up our son afterwards. And on the fifth day, we both drove up together to attend his graduation, during which he received his certificate and they had a "Graduation Ceremony" which was fun!


That same day I learned my novella, The Substitute Bride, was a Maggie Award finalist for Published Authors in the Romance Novella category!!! My book is the only Christian fiction among the five finalists, and again that is just a God thing! Winners will be announced in October at the RWA Georgia conference. The fortunate Maggie winners will receive that gorgeous medallion pictured above left!!!

Tea Shop Folly by 
Carrie Fancett Pagels

My new novella, Tea Shop Folly, in A Teacup Courtship collection (Forget Me Not Romance, July 2016) is about what happens when you can't do something but God can. Here's the blurb:

Almost destitute, Lilly has run out of hope when she inherits her great-aunt’s home -- but it’s not the Tea Shop that a handsome young gentleman thinks it is. Lilly’s inherited house is crammed full of tea cups. Theo, a Soo Locks engineer, visits frequently in the hopes he will find the perfect antique teacup for his mother and is charmed by the lovely 'Shoppe owner.’ Lilly can’t turn the bachelor away when he persistently peruses her aunt’s collection, which she’s trying to pack up and remove from the house. Is the man only interested in the teacups, or in her? When Theo begins referring people to Lilly, and the genuine Tea Shoppe owner sets the police on Lilly for her lack of a business license, sparks fly!
  Maggie Award Finalist The Substitute Bride 

Giveaway: A copy of The Substitute Bride (choice of format) and Tea Shop Folly (ebook only - print releases in August.) Answer this question -- Has God ever done something for you that you knew you couldn't do under your own strength? 

32 comments:

  1. CARRIE, thank you so much for the wonderfully encouraging post! Seems nowadays that nothing I do is of my own strength. Last Tuesday I thought there would be no way that I could spend 45 minutes in an MRI tunnel that reminded me of a casket, without feeling dizzy and panicky. The lady who performed the brain scan remarked at how peaceful and relaxed I was in there. Now THAT was God, and I was so thankful He showed up in a mighty way. I was dizzy when I got out, but not at all when I was closed up in that thing!

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    1. PTL God got you through that awful ordeal! I had those tests -- so loud and I only do the MRI with the open sides. Praying you get good information!

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    2. They didn't have open sides. I felt like a sardine!

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  2. Thank you for your wonderful post, Carrie. I know that God is with me every step of the way as I face the hard realization that my mother has dementia and I am losing her as she was day by day. All I can do is face each day as it comes and with God's help, I will get through it.

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. So sorry to hear that, Melanie. Yes, thank God, He is with us every step of the way and He is with your mom, too. Praying He will give you both strength and peace!

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    2. Melanie, you are our winner of choice of format my Maggie Finalist in Romance Novellas -- "The Substitute Bride" and copy of Tea Shop Folly! Congrats!

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  3. All the time, Carrie - I have been operating on "God's strength" (I have none) since 2013 which was the beginning of serious health issues for my mother, father and aunt, as well as 2 more bouts with cancer myself. Prior to that, I didn't realize how difficult maneuvering even simple tasks and pleasures could become. However, those trials have helped me even better understand and reach out to the problems of others, drawn me closer to Him, and reinforced my trust that He will work all to my good.

    Christian Fiction is a gift God has given to bring me joy amidst the trials - through reading and promoting it, friendship and prayer from authors and readers, and the planning of the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat. Another blessing is the encouragement and inspiration I receive from you and others who have numerous health issues also and accomplish so much. God gives you mighty strength, Carrie - and blesses me through your gifted writing and many other things you do. I'm thankful to Him and to you!!

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    1. I can see how God is working to help you keep on going, Angel Bonnie. And what a blessing that God is granting you your dream of having the CFR Retreat!!! He is so good!!! I get enough strength to do what God has planned for me to do and not much more! I'm blessed by you, too, Bonnie! Hugs!

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  4. God helped me find my strength when I was going through my divorce. I went into a deep depression at the time we separated but God helped me fight my way out of that and helped me to find my inner strength and realize what was best for me.

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    1. That had to have been a difficult trial, Dianne! I can only imagine. Praying God continues to strengthen you and bring peace!

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  5. I found strength I did not know I had on many occasions.


    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. I am always thrilled when God gives me extra strength!

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  6. Really enjoyed reading your post Carrie!! God sure does enable, and if we can't manage, He finds another way! He's not a limited God, is He?!!
    Congrats again on your nomination, that is SO exciting!! I'm also excited to read your new novella Tea Shop Folly!!

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    1. God has no limits, Noela, but sometimes we forget that He can enable us when He has a reason. I know you and I have both experienced this. Thanks so much, I am pleased that this story, that God gave me, has finaled! I hope you'll enjoy the new story. It was fun writing this one.

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  7. Carrie, thank you for sharing this wonderful post. You are an inspiration to me and others as well.

    This brings to mind the verse:
    “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
    2 Corinthians 12:9a KJV

    As for me, all the time, especially since I developed many other health problems starting in 2007. My strength and energy vanished and I have been struggling with that ever since. Some days are a bit better than other days and then some days are far worse...as I am sure you know. Add chronic pain to that and my days have been difficult. But the pain is mostly gone now since I had all those surgeries!...well, with exception of this heel right now. However, my God gives me strength when I need it most!

    Blessings,Tina
    (P.S. I am not entering)

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    1. I love that verse, Tina! It is so true, too! I am so sorry you have gone through all these difficulties. I pray your heel pain will be gone soon. Big hugs!

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  8. Hi Carrie. I could never make it without GOD's help. He is great about that. That Tea Shop Folly sounds like will be very interesting when it's released. Congrats being on the Finalist list. Maxie

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    1. Thanks so much, Maxie! God is so good. I hope you'll enjoy Tea Shop Folly!

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  9. Diana, I recently had a MRI, too....not open (so I was a sardine); I must have quoted every scripture I had ever heard...helped me get through the loud, long time!
    Carrie, you are such an inspiration to me; I have painful issues that are greatly improving (with rehab), but still longing for my ankle, heel, pain to go away and "feel" normal.
    I love this blog!

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    1. Praying for you, Jackie! After five years of barely walking, PTL I can walk again. Thanks for coming by and we love our visitors!

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  10. I had an MRI several years ago, and I remember concentrating on the Christian songs I was hearing through my earphones and NOT opening my eyes. It was a closed MRI as well! Thanks so much for the encouragement, Carrie! God has no limits!!

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    1. You are so right, Betti -- God has no limits! Blessings!

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  11. God is good and can help you through tough times.
    marilyn

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    1. Yes He is good and yes, God can help us through tough times, Marilyn!

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  12. Thank you for your giveaway...it was a rough weekend my granddaughter was sick and then I got sick and we stayed in all weekend in bed. I could have used a couple great reads!

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    1. So sorry to hear about your rough weekend, Carla! Praying you are feeling better soon!

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  13. God gives me strength everyday to get through the tough times. Relying on Him now to provide work for my hubby. TY, Carrie. You are a gem and appreciated. God bless!

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    1. Praying that God will answer all your prayers, Lucy! Especially praying for Him to provide work for your husband! Hugs!! Thanks for your kind words!

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  14. CARRIE, thank you for this timely post! I am relying on Him to bring me through this current trial for His Glory! You are a HUGE blessing!! (((((HUGS)))))

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    1. God never fails. We have to trust His will for us. It isn't always easy. Praying for you, Caryl!

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  15. Thank you for an inspiring and encouraging post, Carrie! Congratulations on finaling, and I hope you will win Maggie Award. I know that all good things in my life happened thanks to God, and I'm thankful.

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    1. Thanks so much for your kind words, Alexa! Yes, God works all things together for our good and all good things come from Him!

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