Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Constantly Kept by Laura V. Hilton

"Yet I am always with you: you hold me by my right hand.” - Psalm 73:23

Laura V. Hilton
I was recently asked in an interview to share a time I felt God’s separation—His departure from my story. I was unclear whether the context of the question meant God Himself stepping back and rejecting it, or the plague of writers known as writer’s block. Ugh, writer’s block. I’m told that comes from not knowing the characters well enough. I am not a plotter. I rely heavily on God while writing, and God knows my characters and the story He wants me to tell, even when I do not.

I stared at the question, not knowing what to say. I have known disappointment when a story I felt close to was rejected by a publisher. I have been saddened by not always achieving the dream for my books I wanted, but I have never known God to leave me or my story.

God’s word brings a promise: “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.’” Hebrews 13-5:6.

God doesn’t ask us to write any of our stories alone. He will never abandon us and will answer our prayers for clarity of words, for guidance of plot, for wisdom in the spiritual application. Jesus is the only one who can honestly say, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46.

His presence may seem faint or quiet at times, but it is never absent. He always stays near, sometimes reaching us through a song, a friend or loved one, another book, His Word, or a walk through the woods while we spend time in prayer and mediation. His Word guarantees that we are constantly kept.

How do you find God’s voice when He seems quiet?

About the Author
Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and three of their children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Laura also has two adult children.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard in April 2015, and The Bird House in September 2015. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.

The Post Card
by Laura V. Hilton
Connect with Laura
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit her blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

The Postcard (from Promised to Another)
David Lapp survived a “code blue” when he was in a buggy/semi truck accident in Seymour, Missouri. Now after extensive therapy he has lingering mobility problems and is still struggling to find his place in the world. Lured away from Webster County by thoughts of closed buggies and a postcard friendship he’s developed with an Amish girl in Jamesport, he moves north, hoping for a fresh start. He finds work in the area tying flies and basket weaving, selling his products in the Amish markets in the Jamesport area.

Rachel Miller dreams of travel, but feels tied to her Amish life. She is being courted by Obadiah Graber, but wonders if there’s more to life. When she sees David’s name mentioned in The Budget, she strikes up a pen pal friendship with David while he’s in the hospital and in therapy, consoling him when he and his girlfriend part ways. She never dreams that David will come north and move into her community. David is still fearful in the buggy, especially in high traffic areas. Feeling he’s called by God to preach, David spends hours in the Bible, but the Amish discourage him, believing their ministers should be drawn by lot. Will David follow his call, even if it takes him out of the Amish church? Will Rachel realize her dream to travel?