“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”
― Haruki Murakami
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| Laura V. Hilton |
- Job loss from wage earners in the family.
- False accusations that take away all education worked toward.
- All the vehicles in the household breaking down at the same time.
- The septic system failing and the whole thing needing to be replaced.
- The water line to the house breaking—in the property. Our expense.
All those things have happened, just as I reach the spiritual application part of a story—a clear attack to keep my mind focused on the things of the world, worry about how we’ll pay for or survive the latest trauma when I needed to keep my thoughts on the things of God.
So, how do we keep writing the message when life and Satan seem determined to keep us from it?
I have discovered that if you deliberately make an effort to keep your mind on God, He will come through for you. Sort devotionals in the bathroom (the type you pick up at the back table at church). A Bible and devotional beside my writing desk. Bibles and devotionals in my children’s homeschool bins. Bibles and devotionals stacked on my bedside table. Lots of prayer time. Praise and worship music or hymns playing in the background when you are trying to keep your mind on God. I can’t write with music on, but it helps to bring me back into His presence when I am weighed down with adversity.
“If the road is easy, you're likely going the wrong way.”I have also discovered that the more fiery darts thrown at you during this time, the stronger the faith message is. The more it resonates with readers, touching their heart where it hurts.
― Terry Goodkind
And sometimes, as Mark Lowry says, the portion of the scripture you turn to the most is… “And it came to pass.”
God is able to get you through the waters and the fire. He’s able to support you and your writing every step of the way. But in order to thrive and flourish in adversity, your focus needs to be on God.
Colossians 3:2: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
“It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley
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.
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/
Swept Away
Sara Jane Morgan is certain she’s
lost Grandma at the Annual Heritage Festival, when Grandma goes wandering off
on her own. Sara Jane finds Grandma hiring Andrew Stevenson, a broom maker and
handyman to do some home repairs to her cabin to get it ready to sell.
Grandma’s memory often malfunctions, and Sari is determined that this summer
she’ll spend quality time with her adult granddaughter, teaching her a family
tradition which has been observed in the Appalachians for centuries—she wants
to make a Ballad Quilt, one Sari started as a teenager. Grandma also wants to
see Sara Jane settled, and she thinks the broom maker is the perfect match. The
entire process will unearth long buried memories, and challenge Sara Jane in
ways she’s never imagined. Will they come through both the match-making and the
quilting projects intact? Will Andrew sweep Sara Jane off her feet or get swept
under the rug?
The Snow Globe
Victor Petersheim has left the
Amish and works on a river boat on the Mississippi River, spending three months
on the river then having three months off. During his off-work months he
returns home to his Amish community and helps out on his grandparents’ farm.
When he returns home after his most recent absence, he discovers his grossmammi
has developed health problems and they’ve hired Esther Beachy to be a “mother’s
helper.” Victor is unsettled by this woman living in their home, but has to
accept it. Esther loves listening to Victor’s grandmother’s stories and while
puttering around in a store while the grossmammi’s in the hospital, she
discovers a snow globe that depicts an area where the Petersheims used to live.
She buys it as a gift for the grossmammi to cheer her up during her
hospitalization. Victor is touched by Esther’s gift and her care for his
grossmammi, and strives to be friendlier. Will Esther’s gentle heart draw him
back to the community? Or will he return to the river once again?
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