Monday, October 19, 2015

The Harvest Season by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans
Changing seasons, harvest time, bounty, an explosion of vivid, heart-stirring colors.

You know, fall is my favorite season; here in the Midwest, as our trees give way to the darkness and cold of winter, there’s a final symphony God plays against each wind-blown leaf as it tumbles onto the dark, damp green grass. That symphony is: Change.

I’m in the midst of writing a series about an Indiana farm family, so I’m particularly interested in the way God shapes and moves through our Earth. Also, I’m in what feels like an overdrive season of change at the moment (which should make my WIP that much more realistic, right…???), so the autumn season of 2015 has hit closer to home than usual. Change is exciting, but it can also be draining, ridden by anxiety, and when change comes to life across multiple circumstances, like at home, on the job, and in my personal life, I’ve had to consciously remind myself to go still, not panic, and hang on for God’s ride.

Our home is up for sale. We had a tremendous flurry of activity. No offers yet, and the activity, naturally, is tapering. Panic sets in; I fall to my knees. Writing deadlines loom but I’m called away from my computer all the time now in deference to house showings. Fear and frustration build as fresh word counts die a slow and painful death. The tapestry of people and circumstances at work ever evolve and shift. I’ve had to remind myself that endings are really only beginnings in disguise. Opportunities. Fresh roadways to the path God has designed for me.
 
That’s the encouragement I hope to pass on today, and it’s a lesson I’ll be continuously urging myself to embrace: I must relax into the situations I can’t control. Yes, I’ll make every effort to create the best outcomes possible, of course, but forcing matters only tends to crush my hope and optimism. Pray. Pray, pray, pray. Then, surrender to whatever plan and will God has in store. It may be to something thoroughly unexpected, but, God’s Word is truthful and faithful; therefore, the pathway will lead to what is good. Always.

I’m praying with you and for you, friends, and leaning into seasons of change—and the promise of a bountiful harvest—right along with you.

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All she wants for Christmas is her Master’s Degree. All he wants is a one-way plane ticket back to Los Angeles. 

Tiffany Zelling’s mission is to become a crisis therapy counselor using specially trained animals as comfort tools. She's focused on reaching the end of her school career, and nothing will stand in her way—not even a fantasy-world attraction to colleague Mitch Alexander. 

After a year as interim Director of East Coast Operations Mitch's tenure has been a resounding success. Now, he’s set to return to California and lay claim to a well-deserved promotion. He can’t wait to leave behind the cold and snowy darkness of Manhattan, but when corporate bullying and a massive snowfall throws him together with Tiffany Zelling, Mitch wonders if heading west is his best future. 

As two hearts build a pathway to love, goals shift and evolve. But as Christmas joy and hope move through the streets of New York, critical decisions must be made. Can their lives truly meld? Can Christmas at Tiffany’s be God’s answer…for them both?

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Marianne Evans is a multi-award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction with over twenty titles to her credit. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create.

Happily married and the mother of two, Marianne is a lifelong resident of Michigan who is active in a number of Romance Writers of America chapters, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President.

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