Springtime - A Season of the Spirit by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

Allow me to push back the hands of the clock by a couple of weeks. For a number of reasons, I ached for a spirit boost. Much weighed me down, and I longed for rejuvenation. For pure joy.

So, there I was, a 50-something, playing a spirited game of ‘chase’ through the backyard with a chattering, giggling 14-month-old. My grandson dropped by for a grandpa and grandma visit and the day was picture perfect. A glimpse of spring in all its glory. I sat next to my grand-joy and watched in fascination while he plucked grass blades and explored little sticks with the high-beam focus of a scientist on the brink of great discovery. Then, just as quickly, he looked to the sky in wide-eyed wonder as he examined the cotton ball clouds and bird life. His absorption and happiness froze me still for a time.

I fell into a much-needed sense of awe that has lingered in my soul and carries me now through a somewhat dark period of unexpectedly burying a dear and close family member.

I close my eyes and see his unencumbered joy as soft breezes skimmed his skin, sifting through his hair. He found delight by simply bouncing on his bottom in the cool, sweet grass. His smile and laughter, and even his singing, carried to us while we took him on a stroller ride through our neighborhood.

His reaction to the world around him left me thinking about passion, uncomplicated happiness, and that spontaneous burst of happiness that can take a soul by storm and lift you high.

Jesus advised: Focus on the moment. Don’t re-hash the past or fret over the future (of course, I paraphrase here… ::smile!::) We’re not in the past any longer, and only God knows the future. Live for now. Savor every blessing that comes to life in every season of your life.

Those moments, that truth, is helping me to find ‘spring’ – not just in the changing of the seasons, but in the attitude of my heart as well. Happy Easter season, friends, and tell me, how do you find and celebrate your own Resurrections? 

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Marianne Evans is an award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create. Devotion, earned the Bookseller’s Best Award as well as the Heart of Excellence Award. Hearts Communion earned a win for Best Romance from the Christian Small Publisher's Association. She is also a two-time recipient of the Selah Award, Then & Now for Best Contemporary Romance and Finding Home for Best Novella. Marianne is a lifelong resident of Michigan and an active member of Romance Writers of America, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President.

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Amy Monarch is a tireless volunteer at the Dupont Rescue and Recovery Center, an establishment for the destitute founded by her mother. There, Amy has kept her identity a carefully guarded secret. She is actually Princess Amelia Marguerite Louise DeLaGrande of Remeth. Working at Dupont offers the opportunity to serve in blessed disguise.

Fresh into a promising career in commercial real estate brokerage, Patrick Sawyer returns to the picturesque isle of Remeth intending to reconnect with his collegiate study abroad friends and figure out 'what's next' in his life. Since his father's passing, the world he knows leaves him uninspired. He volunteers at Dupont during his visit and becomes enchanted by Amy.

But Amelia is trapped within a silken web. When she reveals who she is, Patrick pulls back. He's not interested in royalty--at all--but how can she ever break free? How can she find a way to service and God's plan for her life? Most of all, how can she reconcile the call she feels toward a remarkable man who may be 'common,' yet is 'uncommon' when it comes to matters of the heart?

Spring Is Just Ahead by Laura V. Hilton

Laura V. Hilton

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3

Where I live, spring is struggling to make an appearance. Jonquils, the very first lovely flowers of spring are blooming. The trees are still brown and leafless, the grass is still dead, leaves still cover the ground in the woods, but the beautiful jonquils brighten the dull, dark landscape with the promise of new life.

Spring is coming! The birds are even singing this message as they return to our woods and build nests for their babies The bright red cardinals, the beautiful black and white chickadees, the bluebirds all come to sit on our deck and eat the birdseed that we put out for them.

I just finished writing a story (releasing in the fall of 2016) that started out rather dark. Much darker than most of my books. Both the hero and heroine had gone through some major issues and were struggling as a result. Was there any hope? Would the darkness go on forever? Would the sun ever shine? But then toward the middle of the book, tiny glimmers of hope began to break through. Yes, spring is just ahead! The darkness is just for a season! Come to the light…

The theme of the book is Romans 8:38-39: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The characters of the story went through it all, but ultimately discover that truly, nothing is able to separate us from the love of God.

We are in the middle of the Lent season, for those who observe that. The church I attend doesn’t give it much attention, but Lent focuses on the days leading up to the crucifixion, death, burial, and ultimately the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus went through a literal hell as He prepared the way for our sins to be forgiven and for us to spend eternity with Him, someday. The dark days of Lent are still tempered with the glimmer of light, of hope, that the Lord will triumph over the darkness.

There’s a song the youth group used to sing when I was a teen. I don’t know the name of it. But the lyrics went something like: “It’s cold outside, rain coming down; trouble it seems is all around… Summer its seems was long ago, the sunny days have turned to snow, but don’t dismay, on this winter day, because you know spring is just ahead, things come alive that once were dead, and that’s the way it is with the spiritual man. You can come alive in the way of the Lord…”

He will see you through, too, no matter how grim your situation looks. Keep your eyes on Him and see the blessings He is pouring out. The Redeemer lives, my friend, no matter how out-of-control your life may be. Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.

Thank you, Lord, that You offer a glimmer of light in the darkness. A promise that spring – and Your kingdom – are just ahead if we persevere.

About the Author

The Bird House
by Laura V. Hilton

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, 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/

The Bird House

Twenty–year–old Greta Miller's daed has been injured in a farming accident during the summer. The supportive Amish community tries to help out, but Greta and her sister must work outside the home to make ends meet, and so Greta rents a booth at the farmers' market. Because Greta is still in her rumspringa and free to explore the world, her family selects her to sell her homemade jams, jellies, and preserves to Englischers. Josh Yoder wants to court Greta, but years ago, he made the mistake of rejecting her during a seemingly innocent game; which resulted in him leaving the Amish. Three years later, he's back, but Greta wants nothing to do with him. Josh struggles to fit in and rebuild relationships he destroyed. Knowing Greta's family needs help, he steps in, hoping to win her back. When Greta admires one of his birdhouses, he gives it to her, hoping that it will open the door to more. But as their friendship begins to grow, a series of unfortunate events pull Greta away from the Amish, leaving her rejected by those she loves. Will Greta get beyond her family's distrust and return home? Will she prove her innocence? Or will she remain outside her Amish community?

The Stories In Their Faces by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

The Easter season has inspired me to consider the way my writing has evolved over the years. At the intersection of the pew and the main aisle of my church, I found a purpose. I found the means by which to fulfill a call on my heart that existed long before I was fully able to acknowledge it, or put God’s plan into motion.

Ever since middle school I considered myself a writer. I’ve always gravitated toward words, scenes and images that would bring emotions to life. Furthermore, I fell in love with the idea of…love.

My first publications were secular. I wrote for Kensington Publishing; after that I was contracted by The Wild Rose Press for a book titled With This Kiss. When I worked my way through edits on that story, something struck me, something  some might refer to as a ‘game changer.’

The end of that secular romance was decidedly Christian, and left me thinking about the fact that, for the longest time, I had wanted to write Christian fiction and romance, but didn’t feel worthy, or like I had a suitable story to tell.

God made use of that yearning. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, He was leading me straight to where I am now. The craving to write never left me, even through the fits and starts of contracts/no contracts – raising kids/maintaining a corporate job to help raise and college-fund said kids…

I went to church one fateful Good Friday—a service at which I’m always emotional and overwhelmed by Christ’s love and sacrifice—and noticed so many different things. Ushers readily helping the disabled, people gathered to honor the season, our friends and family giving us hugs, kisses and well-wishes as we served at Mass and joined our long-time worship community at the altar of God’s greatest gift.

During communion I found myself drawn once more to the people who filed forward. Most of them were strangers to me. That didn’t matter. I saw their faces. I saw individuals. I saw…stories. I saw them the way I hope and pray Jesus sees me while I live and love, struggle and savor, succeed and fail. I thought of them in a context of pure, unencumbered love, a people full of God’s hope and promise.

What greater gift could I have ever been given as a writer? From that moment on, I stormed the gates with my pen and my heart, and the gift of words He gave me from my youth. I determined from that point on to craft stories that I pray will do Him some form of humble praise and homage. As this season of rebirth and warm, sunny promise reminds me, this life, this journey is all about Him. It’s all about God’s kingdom being revealed and shared.

Where are you seeking renewal? Whatever your hope, always remember: You are cherished…you are loved. Alleluia!

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At theintersection of the pew and the main aisle of my church, I found a purpose.

Alwaysremember: You are cherished…you are loved.

Seekingrenewal? Find it in the faces, and stories, of the people around you. 

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Marianne’s latest release, Date Night, is part of the new Pure Amore imprint at Pelican Book Group! Pure Amore is a ‘book of the month’ subscription service featuring Christian romances centered on the concept of pre-marital purity and abstinence that doesn’t surrender one moment of the thrill to be found when two people fall in love!

Check out Date Night and the other wonderful Pre Amore titles at:

http://pure.pelicanbookgroup.com/

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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.

Readers laud her work as: ‘Riveting.’ ‘Realistic and true to heart.’ ‘Compelling.’ Devotion, earned the prestigious Bookseller’s Best Award from Greater Detroit RWA as well the Heart of Excellence Award from Ancient City Romance Authors. She also earned wins for Best Romance from the Christian Small Publisher's Association and the Selah award for Best Novella.

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

Connect with Marianne: Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon ~ Pinterest