Cheryl's Blog

A Christian Blog by Cheryl Woodson

Welcome to the blog of Cheryl Woodson, Christian author and storyteller. This space is dedicated to sharing faith-based reflections, personal insights, and stories rooted in hope, healing, and God’s unwavering love.

Through each post, Cheryl writes honestly about life’s unexpected seasons—moments of waiting, restoration, loss, and redemption—and how God remains present through them all. Whether you’re seeking encouragement, spiritual growth, or a reminder that your story still matters, this blog is written to meet you right where you are.

All Posts

What I Learned From Weaving Scripture Through Two Decembers

After exploring the different ways Scripture appears throughout Two Decembers, I keep returning to one conclusion: The Bible doesn't need a novelist to make it powerful. It needs a novelist to respect its power. Respect its timing. Respect its weight. Respect the reader’s intelligence and the character’s humanity. When I got out of the way and let the verses do what they have been doing for millennia — meeting people in their need, speaking truth into chaos, offering a handho

Cheryl Woodson

Oct 13 min read

When Love Reminds Us What God’s Word Says About Us

There are some memories that don't return because we deliberately search for them. They return because something—or someone—awakens them. For Natasha, that moment comes when she sees Nick for the first time after the accident. He is standing before her, scarred by what happened, yet unmistakably the man whose blue eyes and smile once made her heart respond before her mind could catch up. And then he holds out the flowers. “These are for you.” The bouquet is almost identical t

Cheryl Woodson

Sep 273 min read

Angels We Almost Missed: Seeing God in Ordinary People

Some of the most important people in life arrive without announcement. They do not always look holy. They do not always say something memorable. They may not even stay long enough to explain who they are or why they were there. Sometimes they pass through a moment, do what needs to be done, and disappear before gratitude has time to form. That is part of what makes Hebrews 13:2 so striking: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained an

Cheryl Woodson

Sep 224 min read

A Mother’s Voice and the Inheritance of Scripture

One of the subtler scriptural threads in Two Decembers runs through Nick’s family — specifically through his mother, Sahnta, and the Proverb she has instilled in him: “Guard your heart, for the condition of your heart will establish your direction.” This is drawn from Proverbs 4:23–25, and it operates differently from the other verses because it arrives not as Natasha’s survival tool but as Nick’s inheritance. I think receiving scripture in this way is particularly compelling

Cheryl Woodson

Sep 173 min read

Scripture As A Lifeline

Not every Scripture moment arrives softly. Sometimes the Word of God comes like a whisper in the quiet. Sometimes it waits in the background for years, tucked into memory, underlined in an old Bible, repeated by someone we loved. And sometimes Scripture drops into the middle of panic. Matthew 11:28-30 in Chapter 1 of Two Decembers is functioning as emergency equipment — the oxygen mask that drops from the ceiling when the cabin pressure fails. Fiction has an obligation to sho

Cheryl Woodson

Sep 124 min read

When Scripture Enters Through the Side Door

One of the passages I return to most often when thinking about how scripture operates in Two Decembers is the poolside scene where Nick tells Natasha, “Give and it will be given back to you.” Natasha has never heard Luke 6:38. She doesn’t know she’s hearing it in the moment. She is sitting poolside in the Santa Monica morning sun, drinking the best iced coffee she’s ever tasted, across from a man whose blue eyes and dimples are making it difficult for her to maintain the prof

Cheryl Woodson

Sep 93 min read

When Less Says More

The first principle I discovered — through practice rather than theory — is that scripture in fiction must function the way a character functions. It must arrive at the right moment, say the right thing, and then step back and let the story breathe. This meant that every verse in Two Decembers needed to earn its place the way every scene must earn its place — not by its inherent importance, which is infinite, but by its dramatic necessity. This approach required restraint tha

Cheryl Woodson

Sep 53 min read

When Scripture Meets Story

There is a moment in every novelist’s process when you must decide how much weight your story can bear. A love story can hold quite a lot — desire, loss, jealousy, reconciliation — but scripture is a different kind of cargo. It is ancient, authoritative, and carries its own gravitational field. Place it clumsily in a modern narrative and it will crush everything around it, turning characters into mouthpieces and dialogue into sermon. Place it precisely — at the exact juncture

Cheryl Woodson

Sep 13 min read

Exploring Faith, Identity, and Transformation: Insights from Two Decembers

Faith often feels like a quiet thread woven through the fabric of our lives, sometimes tested, sometimes strengthened. The novel Two Decembers offers a rich exploration of faith, identity, and transformation through its characters and themes. It invites readers to reflect on how faith can endure even when memory fades, how personal struggles shape spiritual growth, and how music and reconciliation play vital roles in our journey. This post draws on key discussion questions in

cheryl6656

Aug 263 min read

Finding Authenticity Through Fiction in Two Decembers

Books often offer more than just stories; they can become lifelines during moments of doubt and change. Two Decembers is one such novel that reaches beyond its pages to touch the heart of the reader. This story is not just about characters finding faith and love—it is about the authentic journey of spiritual transformation that I experienced firsthand. This authenticity shines through in the prose, inviting readers to explore their own questions about faith, trust, and growth

Cheryl Woodson

Aug 183 min read

The Architecture of Memory in Dual-Timeline Narratives

Memory shapes how we understand our lives, especially when trauma disrupts the flow of time. In Christian fiction romance, stories often explore themes of recovery, rebirth, and reclamation through characters’ journeys. Two Decembers uses a dual-timeline structure to reflect this complex experience of memory. By alternating between Natasha’s present-day recovery and the joyful courtship before her accident, the story invites readers to live inside her fragmented recollections

cheryl6656

Aug 113 min read

When Faith Meets Fiction: The Subtle Power of Scripture and Music in Two Decembers

If there is one quality that sets Two Decembers apart in the current landscape of Christian fiction, I believe it is this: the novel never preaches. Faith in Christian fiction often risks feeling forced or overly didactic, but Two Decembers stands apart by weaving scripture into the story with a gentle, natural touch. Scripture enters the story the way it enters life — quietly, unexpectedly, and exactly when it is needed most. And often when it is least expected. This approa

cheryl6656

Aug 43 min read

Characters Beyond Archetypes in Two Decembers: Exploring Faith and Humanity

Faith stories often fall into familiar patterns, with characters who fit neat roles: the saint, the skeptic, the broken soul redeemed. Two Decembers breaks away from these molds, presenting characters who breathe and bleed with real emotions, struggles, and contradictions. This novel invites readers into a journey where faith is not a simple answer but a complex, living experience shaped by trauma, doubt, and love. Natasha’s Complex Journey Natasha stands out as a character w

Cheryl Woodson

Jul 263 min read

Why This Novel, Why Now

Christian fiction stands at an interesting crossroads. Readers are hungry for stories that honor faith without sanitizing the human experience. They want characters who wrestle with God the way Jacob wrestled the angel — not politely, not gracefully, but with the kind of desperate, full-bodied struggle that leaves a permanent limp and a blessing in equal measure. Two Decembers was written in that wrestling ring. Natasha Stewart doesn’t arrive at faith through a tidy conversio

Cheryl Woodson

Jul 203 min read

Two Decembers: How Surrendering Transformed a Dark Storyline into a Christian Fiction Novel

The seed for Two Decembers arrived in the way so many sacred things do — not with thunder or spectacle, but quietly, planted in a dream one spring night in 2022. I didn’t recognize it for what it was at the time. I was searching for a purpose in my life, secular by choice for the better part of my adulthood, building my house on sand and calling it a foundation. But God is patient with the seeds He sows, even when we are careless with where they land. The quiet moment where a

cwoodson67

Jul 123 min read

Embracing Resurrection Joy: How Has God Transformed Your Life This Lent

Easter Sunday marks a profound moment in the Christian faith—a celebration of resurrection, renewal, and hope. It invites us to reflect deeply on the journey of Lent, a season of fasting, prayer, and transformation. This time, God has emptied us of old burdens, filled us with His grace, and used us for His purpose.

cheryl6656

Apr 33 min read

Lent Week 6: From Surrender to Resurrection

As Lent draws to a close, I pause to reflect on the journey these past weeks have taken me on. I began by examining my choices, releasing distractions, and creating space for God to work in my life. Along the way, I learned to replace old habits with life-giving ones and to offer my words, actions, and gifts for His purpose.

cwoodson67

Mar 252 min read

Prayer Hands in the sunlight thru the window

Lent Week 5: Small Habits. Real Transformation.

As Lent continues, I’m reminded that transformation rarely happens through one big moment—it happens through small, intentional choices made day after day. This week I want to slow down and live with greater purpose. I’m paying attention to the habits I practice, the gratitude I express, and the ways I connect with God through prayer and trust. Lent invites me to live intentionally, allowing even the smallest actions to shape my heart and draw me closer to Him.

cwoodson67

Mar 182 min read

Lent Week 4: Willing & Ready

As Lent continues, I realize that faith is not only about what I release or what I fill my life with — it is about how I live. This week, I choose to be available. I want my patience, my listening, my service, and even my forgiveness to become ways God works through me.

cwoodson67

Mar 112 min read

Lent Week 3: Daily Decisions, Eternal Impact

In the first weeks of Lent, I examined my habits and began letting go of what distracted me from God. But empty space is never meant to stay empty. This week, I choose to fill that space with intention — with Scripture, service, gratitude, encouragement, and quiet moments that make room for His voice.

cwoodson67

Mar 42 min read

Encouragement for Every Season

As a Christian author, Cheryl’s heart is to point readers back to truth, grace, and the quiet ways God works behind the scenes. You’ll find reflections inspired by Scripture, everyday life, and the themes woven throughout her book Two Decembers—faith, family, perseverance, and hope beyond the hard moments.

Pull up a chair, take a deep breath, and stay awhile. May these words encourage your heart and remind you that no season is wasted when God is writing the story.