Interview with Cecelia Lester

I am delighted to host an interview with fellow blogger Cecelia Lester. She writes from her heart on her blog Following My King and I am happy and thankful that she graciously agreed to answer the questions I emailed her. Let's get to know Cecelia a little better...

Please, introduce yourself… anything special we need to know about Cecelia Lester?

Hello Marja, Thanks for having me on your blog. I am happy to be here.  My name is Cecelia Lester. My dad gave my mother a lapel pin that was a little Dutch girl with blonde braids. He called it ‘Cecelia.’ Hence, my mother chose to name me that. I am an encourager, it’s one of my spiritual gifts. One of my local friends sent me a card reminding me. I have a few bad habits that I am trying to break. I am a pack rat. I am easily discouraged by people; but I get my encouragement from Jesus. I am married to my husband,Jim, for 44 years. We have a grown son who lives in Kansas.

How and when did you start your blog?

In planning for the presentation of one of my plays for Good Friday 2007, I was talking to our pastor. I told him I wanted to share my writing with others. He suggested that I start a blog. My first attempt wasn’t very good. I tried to make my blog work on the first site but in July 2008 I moved Quiet Spirit-following my king to Blogger. 

What is your drive behind blogging? What do you hope to accomplish?

My mission statement says: “Quiet Spirit writes with the focus to minister to those who hurt, to them who search for God, and those who wish to have a closer walk with Jesus.”

Your word for 2013 is GRACE. Any reason why you picked that?

Last fall, I reviewed a book by Max Lucado, GRACE: more than we deserve-greater than we imagine. I fell in love with the concept. Several years ago, the church I was in studied Philip Yancey’s What’s So Amazing About Grace? From time to time I need a refresher course in the basics of my beliefs.

You live in Indiana. Please tell us, fellow bloggers, why we should come and see your state.

Our state park system is wonderful. We have park land set aside at different locations throughout the state from Indiana Dunes in the northwest to Clifty Falls in the southeast. Our Indianapolis Motor Speedway presents the Indy 500 the end of May and the Brickyard 400 the end of July or first of August. The fall is a beautiful time of the year in Indiana. The leaves dress themselves in reds, yellows, and golds .

Top three on your ‘places-to-see list…

1.) New England, 2.) Mount Rushmore and 3.) Yellowstone or Carlsbad Caverns (Yes, I like to travel.)

If the whole world could see your bumper sticker, what would it say?

“What would our world look like if we all followed the Golden Rule?”

Do you have any authors or specific books that have been an inspiration to you?

Having worked in a library for a few years, I became interested in several authors: John Grisham, Nicholas Sparks, James Patterson, Beverly Lewis, and Janet Evanovich. (I started reading John Grisham before I went to work at that library.) The first Christian author I read was Catherine Marshall. I have read most of the Left Behind series by Tim La Haye and Jerry B. Jenkins I have on my desk another book by Max Lucado. On my coffee table I have two books by Lauraine Snelling, Ruby and Pearl.

Any words of encouragement to us bloggers?

It is a privilege to read your blogs. It is an honor to become friends with a lot of you. Keep up writing your blogs. 

Thank you Cecelia, for taking the time to tell us a bit more about yourself, your writing and your influences. We truly appreciate your quiet spirit!
Cecelia can be found here:

Website: Quiet Spirit
Weblog: Following My King
Cecelia also contributes a weekly column at Live as if...