Our Ways versus The Lord’s Ways by Cindy Williams

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer. 29:11

"The End." We write those sweet words at the end of our story and breathe a sigh of relief… maybe post it online or celebrate with friends. We’ve plunged our characters into danger, immersed them in intrigue, struck them with love. They’ve been driven with purpose, fixed on their goals.

But what if you get to the end and realise that all their plans, all the things they were so concerned about, all the situations that drove them to achieve or fight or flee were not what the story was about at all!

This is the case with my new book, The Silk Merchant of Sychar. It is based on the John 4 account of the Samaritan woman at the well: a woman who had had five husbands and was currently with a man not her husband.

In the culture of her time marriage and children brought honor and security. Yet this woman had married and lost one man after another – five times! Imagine what thoughts occupied her mind. When she went out to the well, was she thinking of Jesus? Was she planning to do something great to please God? I don’t think so. She was coping with life in all its messiness.

Yet God used this woman as one of the first evangelists for Jesus. She was so excited after speaking to this Jewish man that had told her ‘everything she ever did’ that she rushed back to town to tell everyone. As a result, the town leaders invited Jesus to stay – a radical move as there was no love lost between Jews and Samaritans. He taught them for two days and many believed.

The Lord works the same way in our life. We may be trying to live a life pleasing to God or simply trying to get through the day. We may be doing the things we think He wants us to do and writing the words we feel called to write. Yet when the Author of Life planned and created us perhaps He wove in a few fine golden threads that He uses to His glory without us even trying, or maybe even knowing.

The Lord knows the plans he has for us and when we finally get to meet him we may be amazed at what seemingly insignificant events in our life bring a smile to his face and the words to his lips: "Well done good and faithful servant."

"...when the Author of Life planned and created us perhaps He wove in a few fine golden threads that He uses to His glory..." #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

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Cindy Williams is an Australian author. For over twenty years she spoke and wrote about

healthy eating. Now she writes a more varied diet – of history, health, food and faraway places.

Exercise is her stress relief. Prayer is her sanity. Coffee and croissants are her downfall.

She writes stories of flawed women who battle injustice, and sometimes find romance.

She reviews for the Historical Novel Society, blogs for International Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers, and teaches scripture in schools.

Her first novel, The Pounamu Prophecy, was short listed for the 2016 Caleb Prize.
One woman, five husbands and a weary rabbi at the well who
knows everything she ever did.

The day after they bury her husband Leah Marcellus loses her
baby. A widow and childless, what man will want her now?
Her father arranges a second marriage – a profitable business
arrangement – sealed on Mount Gerizim, the holy mountain
where every true follower of Yahweh worships. But Leah’s heart
belongs to another. Her passion only brings trouble - jealousy,
murder and lies.

Leah’s skill at the loom and the secrets of dye – the woad, the
murex and madder – brings her renown among the Roman
women of wealth.

Yet death and betrayal soon steal her security. Leah is determined
to protect her family ... at any cost.

From the olive groves of Samaria to the bloodied sand of a
Roman stadium to the exquisite silks brought from the East,
The Silk Merchant of Sychar weaves colour into the biblical
account of the woman at the well.

On Those Days You Wonder Why… by Hannah Currie

My debut YA novel, Heart of a Royal, releases 15 October 2019. There’s something so ridiculously exciting about being able to say that. Not only because it’s cool in its own right (my name is on the front of a book!!!) but because it’s a miracle. Really. One of those things where God did what only God could do.

I’m an introvert, well-accustomed to the fight against anxiety, have a chronic disease which limits my strength and live on the opposite side of the world to the majority of Christian publishers. I set out on this road to publication almost a decade ago with no publishing contacts, a tiny platform and very little chance of ever making my way out of anyone’s slush pile. It was disheartening, to say the least.

And yet, every time I wondered if it was time to give up on my dream of being published, God would send along someone to give me hope.

A rejection, with a personal note from the agent telling me what I’d done well. A competition judge saying they couldn’t wait to read the whole book. A text from a friend complaining that an early draft I’d sent her had kept her up all night reading – the night before she was heading off to Olympic trials. A hand-written note from my 95-year-old Grandma, whose memory is failing but still prays for my writing and wanted to let me know. The time I knelt beside my bed one night, crying and begging God to give me some direction only to wake up the next morning to an email, totally out of the blue, from a multi-published author who’d been an anonymous judge in a competition I entered and wanted to encourage me and ask if there was any way she could help me figure out what next.

I knew God was faithful before I started writing but looking back, over almost a decade of writing and sending out proposals and not knowing what the next step would be until it was right under my nose, I couldn’t possibly doubt it.

He is faithful, and he is the God of the impossible. One look at my book and I’m reminded of that.

Whatever you’re facing today – an empty page, a rejection, a character who won’t behave, the letting go of a dream, more expectations than you can handle or one of those million-and-one things that’s just one too many to deal with – God is faithful. There is hope. God still does miracles. He’s held you before, he’s still holding you now. You aren’t forgotten. Your dream still matters. Where you are today is not the end. God is still writing your story just like he’s writing mine.

And I, for one, can’t wait to read it! 

Where you are today is not the end. God is still writing your story just like he’s writing mine. #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

~~~~~~

Aussie author, Hannah Currie, loves God, family, people (in small numbers, let’s not go crazy here!) and writing. A book nerd from birth, she knows firsthand the difference a good book can make in a person’s life. Even, and especially, fiction. She and her husband live with their three adorable kids in sunny Queensland, where it really is beautiful one day and perfect the next. Except, maybe, during heatwaves. They’re not so fun. She loves to connect with readers at www.hannahcurrie.com.

Who Do You Think You Are? by Betty Thomason Owens

“Who do you think you are?”

I heard that question, most often with a negative connotation, several times during my childhood. OK, many times. My mother used to say it when I’d overstepped my boundaries. I learned an important lesson. Soap does not taste good.

These days, I still contemplate this question from time to time. Who do I think I am? When another book releases, I’m worrying about how it will be received and whether I’ve overstepped my boundaries this time. Do I really know what I’m doing? Will my readers discover I know nothing and wonder why I think I can call myself a writer?

Who do I think I am? In my own opinion, I daily fall short in so many ways. But during those times, I’m reminded of 2 Corinthians 10:12-18. Verse twelve says, “We’re not, understand, putting ourselves in a league with those who boast that they’re our superiors. We wouldn’t dare do that. But in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point.” [The Message Bible]

This verse alone is powerful, but the next few verses really drive the point home. I believe all writers (Christian writers in particular) should study this passage. “We’re not barging in on the rightful work of others, interfering with their ministries, demanding a place in the sun with them. What we’re hoping for is that as your lives grow in faith, you’ll play a part within our expanding work.” [10:15-16]

In short, we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others, or even ourselves, for that matter. What we do, what we accomplish, should be for God’s glory. If it’s not, it’s empty and vain. That doesn’t mean we can never be commended and praised for our accomplishments, it just means we should take it as praise to the Almighty, Who has given us this wonderful gift.

“If you want to claim credit, claim it for God.” – [10:17].

So, who do I think I am? I believe I am an ambassador, delivering the message God has placed on my heart. I hope the work that I do (what I write to share with others) brings glory to Him. I hope that I can continue to grow and learn and work, as He gives me strength.

Who do you think you are?

What we do, what we accomplish, should be for God’s glory. via @batowens #SeriouslyWrite #Faith #amwriting

~~~~~~

Betty Thomason Owens considers herself a word-weaver, writing stories that touch the heart. Besides her work on the KCWC planning committee, she also leads the Louisville Area ACFW group and is a co-founder of the multi-author Inspired Prompt blog. Married forty-four years, she’s a mother of three, and a grandmother of eight. A part-time bookkeeper at her day-job, she writes for Write Integrity Press, and has seven novels in publication. You can learn more about her at BettyThomasonOwens.com. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

She's waited too long. When Tom proposed last year, Annabelle wasn't ready to open her heart

to another man. Pain still held a thin crust around it. Time has healed her heart, but with a new woman in town, one who clearly has her sights set on Tom, does it matter if Annabelle's heart is ready to love again?

Folks in town are keeping a close eye on their pharmacist, hoping to be the first to hear the good news. He’s been courting the widow Cross for nigh on two years now. Annabelle Cross better wake up and put her dancing shoes on. Mr. Tom is prime real estate.

Drift back into the simple, country life of Tennessee in 1957 with this sequel to award-winning ANNABELLE'S RUTH.

“A 1950s Clean & Wholesome Romance”

Annabelle’s Joy – Kinsman Redeemer, Book 3

Genre: historical romance

Author: Betty Thomason Owens

Release Date: August 7, 2019

Amazon Buy-Link: https://www.amzn.com/B07TXQRKG3/ 

How to Persevere in Your Writing Journey by Christopher Wells

 As writers, we write for an audience. We want to be read by the masses. As Christian writers, another important reason we write is to influence others for the cause of Christ. In today’s challenging market, with so many books being published by so many authors, the goal of having our work read by a large audience can be a daunting one. The competition is fierce for every pair of eyes.

When you aren’t reaching as many people as you would like with your writing, or when your investment of time, effort, and money isn’t giving you the return you had hoped it would, you can end up being discouraged. It is in those times that you need to have the proper perspective if you are to persevere.
I’m reminded of the story of a young boy who went to listen to an itinerant preacher – a guy named Jesus. The boy had brought his lunch with him. It wasn’t a huge lunch, just five small loaves of bread and two fishes. But then he saw a need. There were thousands of people who had come just as he had – only they hadn’t brought any lunch for themselves, and they were hungry.

This young man overheard some of the adults talking. He heard this guy named Jesus say, “You give them something to eat,” to his followers. The followers looked at the huge crowd and were unsurprisingly astonished at Jesus’ request.

The little boy wasn’t sure if what he had to bring to the table would help all that much, but he wanted to do something. He looked down at the lunch he was about to start eating, and he looked around at the thousands of hungry people around him. And then he did something amazing. He could have simply thought, I’ll just turn to this woman sitting next to me and offer to share my lunch with her. At least that will be something. But that’s not what he thought. He thought something radically different. He thought to take his lunch and give it to Jesus. And that made all the difference. Jesus took that small offering, blessed it, and used it to feed over five thousand people.

At times on our writing journey, our influence may seem small, and the goal of being used to reach the masses with our writing may seem remote, if not downright impossible. Don’t underestimate God’s ability to take the five loaves and two fishes that we have to offer in the form of the words we have written and bless it to accomplish something amazing.

You have the ability to brighten someone’s day with your writing, to help guide them down the right path, and in the best of all possible cases, to be a part of the process that leads them to eternal life through Jesus Christ. It is a privilege and an honor.

Don’t despise the day of small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10).

Share your work.

Have faith.

Keep writing.

You have the ability to brighten someone’s day with your writing, to help guide them down the right path... #SeriouslyWrite #Faith #amwriting

~~~~~~

C.L. Wells is an indie author who writes in a variety of genres including murder mystery, YA, and paranormal fiction. He is the founder of Creative Writing with a Mission – an organization committed to positive creative standards and supporting worthy causes that help make our world a better place. Murder at Rendsburg Resort – the first book in the new Jill Pemberton Mystery series – is available now for pre-order on Amazon.com. The ebook version is scheduled for release on August 26, 2019 and is also available in paperback. To learn more about C.L.’s books or about Creative Writing with a Mission, visit www.fictionwithamission.com.

When Life Comes at You Hard by Jennifer Haynie

Face it. If you’re a writer furthering God’s kingdom with your words, no matter the way you’re published, via the traditional or indie route, you will face opposition. Promise. I wish it weren’t so. I wish we could all write and that things go smoothly. They don’t.

My most recent novel, Exiled Heart, which came out on March 12, is a perfect example. It was my first novel many years ago via a traditional publisher. When the publisher went out of business a couple of years ago, I got my rights back and decided that Ziad’s story needed retelling in my more, updated style.

I worked hard on it, cutting 16,000 words, sharpening the writing, and crystallizing the issues surrounding this beloved character. My cover designer created one of my favorite covers.

When I came back from a writers’ retreat at the end of February, the fun began.

Within three hours of my return, I found out that my mother-in-law was in the hospital. Thankfully, what was first thought to be serious has turned out to be a result of a cold / bronchitis sickness that has swept through my part of North Carolina. Still, it rattled me a little.

Things at work shifted dramatically. My boss is leaving by the end of the month along with the position he occupies, meaning more work for the rest of us. Things are unsettled, and I worry about the morale of my coworkers. It feels low, and it worries me.

Finally, my print book and e-book went up on Amazon as planned except that for the hard copy, they mismatched the product descriptions—everything needed for someone to buy a hard copy. Thankfully, the e-book link functioned as intended from day one. I found this out two weeks ago after an exhausting day at work.

I’ll be honest. It’s been a struggle to push through this particular round of opposition, which has been fiercer than normal. I like to joke with my husband that maybe this will be my break-through novel because of it. I need to remember three things, as do all of us when facing opposition when writing.

• God is sovereign. Nothing happens that He does not allow. That doesn’t mean only good things will happen. The tough things are what grow our faith. Those are what teach us to rely on the Creator and not on ourselves.
• It’s during these tough times that we must run to Him and seek wisdom and comfort in Scripture. This is when daily immersion in His word helps. In those words of the Bible comes the strength we need to get through those tough times.
• Will this season of opposition pass? It will. And I will trust that God will work things out for His glory and not my own. As it does, I pray that Exiled Heart touches many lives.

What have been times of opposition for you, and how have you pushed through them?

~~~~~~

After being an avid reader of suspense fiction for most of her life, Jennifer Haynie began writing and publishing suspense novels in 2012. She has now written over five indie suspense novels. In her spare time, she works for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, enjoys working out, anything outdoors, and loves traveling. She currently lives outside of Raleigh with her husband and their two Basenji dogs. Her website is www.jenniferhaynie.com.

Even If There’s Only One by Heather Norman Smith

Every once in a while, I wonder if it’s all worth it. Does it really matter? I pour my heart into story after story, day after day, and, begrudgingly, into the platform building that’s apparently required to “make it” in publishing. I long to share my words and to somehow make a difference in the world, for Him, but it often feels like I’m spinning my wheels.

Then I think of the Good Shepherd—how He left the other sheep behind because there was value in one soul. Just one was worth saving, worth reaching. And it makes me realize that, if all the time and emotion I invest in creating a book only benefits one person, it was worthwhile. It can’t save their soul, but if it brings joy, if it illuminates the love of God in the smallest way, then it’s worth the effort. And that’s true even if the person receiving the blessing is me.

Your art will never be in vain. Your words will never be useless.

God the Creator has a purpose in the gifts He’s given you, whether it’s to bless millions or only one. It’s worth it. We may not sell millions of copies of our books, and the story may not be life-changing for the reader, but if it merely entertains for a brief while, that’s enough. It’s possible that God will use the words in ways you never see, but rest assured, it’s worth it.

Keep writing, trusting Him to use the gift to bless whom He will—even if there’s only one. 

~~~~~~

Heather lives in the Piedmont of North Carolina with her husband, their three children, and several pets. Her first novel “Grace & Lavender” released 3/1/19. Her second, “Where I Was Planted”, will be releasing sometime in the summer. Along with Christian Fiction, she enjoys writing devotions, children’s stories, and songs, and she loves singing about Jesus as well. You can visit her at www.heathernormansmith.com.

What If Only One Person Reads My Books? by Morgan L. Busse

This is a thought that crosses my mind at least once a year. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out if you’re doing what you’re supposed to as a writer. Doubt is always there, lurking in the back of your mind. My rankings are down, should I still be writing? My royalty check makes me blush, should I still be writing? I feel like I’m letting my publisher, agent, etc… down, should I still be writing?

Is anyone even reading my books?

So as I was once again re-evaluating if I should be writing (aka, I’m not feeling like I’m successful and wondering if my life would be better served doing something else), I had this thought: what if only one person ever reads my books? Then I took it a step further. What if what I was writing was meant for just one person? That God wanted me to spend my lifetime writing multiple series for a person who I will never meet, but someday would need to read my books because through those books God would change them? And not just one book, but God would use all of my books to help that one person?

Would it be worth it?

Would it be worth all the hours I pour into writing, the sacrifices I make so I can make time to write each day, the other “good things” I could be doing, but instead I am writing? Honestly? In my flesh that thought makes me cry. Just one person? But as I pondered this thought, I realized that God would do that, because of that one soul.

When we think of God doing above and beyond what we can imagine, we think of grandiose plans and ideas. But what if God’s plans involve a lonely writer, writing her heart out for the rest of her life, then connecting her books to one person who needs to read those books—every single one of them—and by reading them, comes to know God?

That’s exactly how God would do things, because to Him the value of a soul is priceless. He would do anything to reach another person, including using the lifetime of a writer and all of her books to reach that other soul.

This thought plagued me over and over again for a few weeks. What if only one person ever reads my books? And not just one book, but will read everything I will ever write, and by doing so will connect with God? Is that worth it?

Yes.

That’s not to say sometimes I wish I had more to show for my writing, but when my focus is on God, it’s then I believe that what I’m doing is not in vain, even if it might be for just one person. After all, every soul is precious to God. And that makes writing worth it.

How about you? Are you struggling with what you’re doing? Do you wonder if it’s worth it or do you want to throw in the towel? I can’t tell you yes or no, but I can tell you anything you do with hands held up to God is never fruitless, even if you don’t see the results.

~~~~~~

Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of numerous award-winning Christian fantasy and steampunk novels including her latest novel, Mark of the Raven, from Bethany House. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel. You can find out more about Morgan at www.morganlbusse.com

Making a Difference by J.E.B. Spredemann

Do you ever wonder if you’re making a difference as an author? I know I do. Sometimes authorship can seem one-sided, but we must remember that it isn’t. As a matter of fact, books have the power to touch lives in ways we may never know—for good or bad.

As a Christian author, my desire is for readers to draw closer to the Saviour through my books. Whether it be meeting Jesus for the first time or learning more about His goodness and grace, I want to have a positive influence in someone’s life.

I believe that authors have a unique opportunity—the chance to reach thousands (or millions!) of people we may never meet, and have an impact on their lives. Isn’t that thought overwhelming? And exciting?

I think of my book An Unforgivable Secret, which tackles a tough topic. After about a year or

so after its release, I decided to make it available to readers for free. Free, you say? What value is there in that? Much, I believe. Have you ever eaten a free sample of something at Costco or Trader Joe’s, then go on to purchase it? If you’re like me, if you really liked it, you not only purchased the item that one time, but continue to do so. So, by offering me a small sample once, I’ve now probably spent hundreds of dollars on their products. Not bad advertising. It’s the same with books. If someone reads just one and loves it, chances are, they’ll go on to find other books you’ve written.

Anyway, back to An Unforgivable Secret, my free book which now has over eleven hundred reviews. Yes, you read that right! But the number isn’t important to me, although it is nice. J What’s more important to me is the life-changing potential. Consider this reader’s response, “I really related to this character. I cried out to God while reading it.” Or this one, “The message in this book will bring inner healing to all who have experienced the loss of a loved one.” Or this, “I was greatly blessed by reading this book. Thank you for your beautiful words of hope.”

Wow! To think that God would use me—an introvert who isn’t so great at talking—to touch someone’s life.

I’d like to encourage you (and myself) today to keep on writing what God places on your heart. We may not see the results until we’re on the other side of eternity, but God gave us our gifts for a reason, and that’s to bring glory to Him. With all my heart, I pray this is what my writing will do. So if you’re discouraged in your writing journey at the moment, don’t give up! God has a plan and He will see it through. Let’s just do our part and leave the results up to God, and you never know how you may make a difference in a reader’s life.

Blessings,
J.E.B. Spredemann
Different Amish Fiction

www.jebspredemann.com

J.E.B. Spredemann seeks to pen compelling stories that captivate readers and bring glory to GOD. She has authored over two dozen Amish fiction titles in her can't-put-down writing style, two of which have won awards. She resides in Indiana Amish Country with her family on a former Amish farm where the documentary Breaking the Silence was filmed. "...Spredemann weaves a thread of love and intrigue into a quilt of faith and values." - reader review

Hannah has a good life. A beautiful home, a loving husband, and a wonderful Amish

community are only a few of her daily blessings. But she has carried a heavy burden for years: a secret that no one must know. When tragedy strikes, her secret threatens to be revealed, jeopardizing everything she’s ever loved. Will Hannah be able to face her greatest fear and find God's purpose for her life?

My latest release: Blurb: One woman's search for answers...One little girl's fight for her life...Will they both find a miracle this Christmas season? Joseph and Anna Bender find fulfillment in raising their family and helping out at the local homeless shelter. When their oldest daughter falls ill, can they learn to trust God--even if He denies their petitions to save their little girl? Candace Dixon's life in California is about to be turned upside down as she discovers the truth of her past. When her job as a wedding planner brings her to Pennsylvania Amish country, she gets much more than what she bargained for. Can a young Amish girl help her discover what she's been missing? Find faith, hope, and love in this heartwarming Christmas tale.

A Season of Pruning by Marissa Shrock

Deep down, I always thought getting the contract for my first novel was too easy. I spent five years learning to write fiction. When I was ready to seek publication, I found an agent and had an offer from a publisher within less than a year. A year and a half later, my young adult, dystopian novel was released and went on to final in a major award.

But sales were low, and my publisher refused to buy the sequels. My agency purged its client list, and I didn’t survive the cut. The career that’d once seemed so promising was dying before it’d had a chance to live.

As I walked this difficult road, I concluded that God was using this painful experience to prune away attitudes and junk in my life. The good news is that when God prunes, it’s to make us more fruitful (John 15:2).

I learned I should never compare my season of pruning to someone else’s season of fruitfulness. Comparisons are easy when we meet and become friends with other writers. As we celebrate our friends’ successes, we secretly wonder why contracts or massive amounts of sales aren’t happening for us.

God showed me all authors write one word at a time, and those words matter to him. Just because he chooses to bless someone else with more talent, more contracts, more money, more awards, and a bigger platform, doesn’t mean that what we’re writing isn’t important. It’s humbling when expectations don’t match reality, and when God’s plan isn’t what we expected.

Though this experience was difficult for me, God has been faithful and has provided a way for me to share my stories. I’ve indie published the sequels to my debut novel and have moved on to writing cozy mysteries.

Though I’m excited by the new possibilities, I remind myself daily that my novels will be what God wants them to be. He’ll take my books where he wants them to go, and he’ll do the same with your work as well.

  

~~~~~~

Marissa Shrock loves to read a variety of genres, so her own work includes dystopian thrillers and cozy mysteries. She’s the author of the Emancipation Warriors Series and the Georgia Rae Winston Mystery Series. Her debut novel, The First Principle, was a Carol Award Finalist. Marissa enjoys playing golf and traveling to new places, and her home is in Indiana.

Worry, Prayer, and Faith by Laura V. Hilton

In a recent message I heard, a member of the congregation suggested, “Prayer is bringing your worries to God. Faith is leaving it there.” It hit home. Hard. I’m pretty sure I whimpered in pain as my foot was stomped on. An almost audible voice queried, “Are you listening, Laura?”

Um. Yeah. I heard the words. I understood the words. But putting them into practice? 

Practical Prayer

In my experience, God doesn’t show up in a magical way when I pray about something. I pray for months. Years. Decades. And it doesn’t seem God hears. My oldest son went to a “revival” where the “minister” said he prayed for money and he woke up the next morning with the exact amount of cash under his pillow. I’m not sure what denomination this “minister” was, or whether my son misheard, but God hasn’t ever done that for me.

No. He’s responded with a loan from a friend. Or a small gift from a church member. He responded by having a creditor hold the bill for a week or two, or by giving us an additional job At the same time, I have to be fair… He always provided.

And my son? I’m still praying and waiting for God to move while he rediscovers all his old friends, the joys of being unemployed, and bad habits. No miracle there either. Just more heartbreak as I discover hidden activities that have recently come to light. “God, why don’t You answer? How long, oh Lord…” I cry with the Psalmist.

The Struggle

In my current story, the hero and the heroine struggle to find where God is when their prayers seem to go unanswered. Or are answered in the most wrong way possible. “Ummmm . . . . God? No. That’s not what I had in mind!” They, like me, are struggling to take their worries to God . . . and leave them there. Eventually, they will learn that God is hearing their prayers and guiding their steps even though it doesn’t seem like He is. 

Write what you know, right? 

Help My Unbelief

An acquaintance has seen fit to share with me that my son’s decisions to walk in the ways of the world are the direct result of my passion for writing Christian fiction. My God-given gifts and abilities have forced God’s hand, and He is punishing me by taking my son and giving him to the devil. 

The God I serve would never “give” someone to the devil. It isn’t His will that any should perish. The God I serve used parables in the Bible to illustrate a point. I don’t think He would punish me for trying to serve Him the way He called me. The definition of a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. 

All I can do is keep being honest. Yes, Lord, I am having trouble with the faith part. 

“I believe, Lord. Help thou mine unbelief.”

I may never see my son turn from his ways while I’m on this earth, but I can say with the psalmist in Psalm 37:25: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”

Click to Tweet

Give me the faith to know that You hear me and will answer in Your time. Amen. @laura_v_hilton #seriouslywrite http://bit.ly/2NgFLuB

God, thank you that I can bring my worries to you in prayer. Give me the faith to know that You hear me and will answer in Your time. Amen. 

For more posts by Laura V. Hilton, click here.

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.

Laura V. HIlton

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.

See below for information on Laura's latest, The Christmas Admirer. 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 blog: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Laura_V_Hilton or @Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

Firestorm

Firestorm by Laura V. Hilton

   

Bridget Behr and her family migrate from the bustling Amish community where she grew up in Ohio to the mostly unpopulated Upper Peninsula of Michigan after a stalker breaks into their home. While her father and brother try to find work in the area, the family is forced to reside in a borrowed RV until the house and barn are rebuilt. While Bridget is hoping for a fresh start, she’s afraid to trust anyone—even Gabriel, the overly-friendly Amish man who lives nearby. Bridget thinks he’s a flirt who serial dates and doesn’t even remember the girls’ names.

Due to not enough construction work in his Florida community to keep him out of trouble, Gabriel Lapp has been sent to Michigan to work. His father is desperate for his son to settle down. When the family walks into Gabe’s home in the middle of a thunderstorm and he discovers their circumstances, he offers to help with construction. For Gabe, the beautiful girl he teasingly calls “the recluse” once he discovers she doesn’t attend youth events, confuses him like none other.

As Gabriel and Bridget grow closer, they realize there is more to a person than meets the eye. Just as Bridget is finally settling into her new life, and perhaps finding love, tragedy strikes. Now Bridget and her family must decide if they should move to another Amish community, or dare to fight for the future they’d hoped for in Mackinac County.

Quitting Time? by Janet Sketchley

Ever feel like giving up? Me too. Often. I’ve even quit a few times, but my imagination always gets me started again. Through the long, unpublished years, I struggled with motivation, but mostly with “am I wasting my time?”

I knew God had given me a gift to write fiction, but there was a lot of second-guessing. Discouragement is insidious, and I wondered why I was spending such a huge amount of time writing fiction—for nothing. Eventually I decided to write anyway, even if it was just for me, and to enjoy the gift. I still hoped it would sell, so I could share my imaginary friends with the world.

Once I was published, and then decided to continue on as an indie author after my publisher closed, the temptations to quit changed. But they haven’t gone away.

Sometimes when the little voices ask, “Do you really want to keep doing this?” my only answer is “It’s better than cleaning toilets.” But then a character or plot point will surprise me, or a reader will tell me that something I wrote touched them, and I’m re-energized. Plus, God brought me this far. It would be ungrateful—and disobedient—to quit or to give less than my best. When it’s quitting time, He’ll tell me.

Looking back, I can see times where God positioned me in a spot to be encouraged to keep on. Perhaps most memorably, when I was at a very low, pre-published ebb, He nudged me into attending the 2012 Write Canada conference. I was feeling discouraged and directionless, but the conference challenged me to renew my sense of wonder and to carry on.

So I took that and ran, right?

No, I forgot and got discouraged again. Here’s the part I love: instead of letting me sulk, God got my attention while I was listening to Peter Furler’s song, “All in Your Head.” I’m sure that song was written for more important assignments than my writing, but God used it to challenge me. If you like rock music and need a bit of encouragement, here’s a YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VillmIj5SE

If you love writing, keep persevering. Even when it’s hard, and even when there’s no recognition. When God gives us a gift, He wants us to use it. And to leave the results up to Him. Some of us may become multi-published, best-selling authors. Others may publish a single book or article. Others’ words may only reach an editorial assistant deep in a publishing house. Or maybe the act of writing, listening, revising, will help others of us to work through issues we’re struggling with personally.

He will use our obedient words, in His way and in His time. May we persevere, so we’ll one day know the joy of hearing “well done” from the Master.

When have you been most tempted to quit? How does God encourage you to keep going?

~~~~~~

Janet Sketchley is an Atlantic Canadian writer who likes her fiction with a splash of mystery or adventure and a dash of Christianity. Why leave faith out of our stories if it’s part of our lives? You can find Janet online at janetsketchley.ca. This summer, she’s celebrating the release of her suspense novella, Unknown Enemy.

Creativity in His Image by Linda W. Yezak

My favorite Bible study guide so far is Beth Moore's The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, or, as I call it, Encountering God. This study is about the One True God revealed in His many titles that illustrate His attributes, characteristics, and personality. Beth's comments on page 28 of the study guide caught my attention and imagination:

Man's vast creativity and capability to spin a tale or unveil a mystery is just another part of how humans are created in the image of God. He is the master storyteller, weaving a thousand story lines together over the course of 66 books and many centuries.

As a writer, this just made my day. It confirmed my belief that creating worlds and people is Godlike—just as Godlike as healing the sick, judging the accused, ruling the nation. Just as Godlike as loving the unloved and unloveable, having mercy, understanding the misunderstood.

We have these abilities because God has these abilities to a degree far higher than we can possibly imagine. Doctors know about the human body only a miniscule portion of what the Creator of that body knows, but God shared His knowledge with them in order that they may heal others. Righteous judges can make righteous judgments based upon the wisdom the wisest Judge provides them. And so on throughout my examples: We can do what we do because He does it. He does in purity and perfection what we, in our humanness, tend to pervert, but still, we obtain our ability to do it at all because we are made in His image.

We can create and write and bring people to laughter or tears, joy or shame, because He gave us a tiny part of the creativity He possesses. Because we are made in His image, we are able to do to a minute degree what He does in an infinite degree.

We are not gods and we certainly aren't anywhere near God, but because we are created in His image, we have His qualities in us. Just think about it—the Creator/Possessor of Heaven and Earth gave His creative abilities to us.

Be encouraged in the knowledge that you were created in His image.

Have you had a special experience when it was driven home to you that what you created was God-inspired, that He pretty much used your fingers to type the story?

~~~~~~~

Though we don't do giveaways on Seriously Write, Linda wanted you to know she's running a special giveaway during her blog tour for Ride to the Altar. When you comment on any of the blogs in her tour, your name goes into a (figurative) cowboy hat in a drawing for the items in the photo: "a signed print version of the series, a 16-ounce Christian cowboy mug, a horseshoe picture frame, a Ph. 4:13 stretch bracelet, a cute set of magnetic page markers, and a Texas Rubiks cube." Tomorrow (7/26), she'll be visiting with Linda Glaz. 

Linda W. Yezak lives with her husband and their funky feline, PB, in a forest in deep East Texas, where tall tales abound and exaggeration is an art form. She has a deep and abiding love for her Lord, her family, and salted caramel. And coffee—with a caramel creamer. Author of award-winning books and short stories, she didn't begin writing professionally until she turned fifty. Taking on a new career every half century is a good thing.

Website: http://lindawyezak.com

Newsletter: http://dld.bz/CoffeewithLinda

Facebook: Author Page

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lyezak/

Twitter: @LindaYezak

Amazon Page: http://dld.bz/LWYAmazonPage

Goodreads: Linda W Yezak

Establish the Work of My Hands by Michelle Shocklee

Way back in January 2010, my sweet agent at the time, Les Stobbe, sent me an email about pinpoint prayer. I hadn’t heard of pinpoint prayer, but one of Les’s clients, Will Davis, Jr., had recently published a book on praying big. Davis’ stance is that while prayers like “Bless Tom” or “Be with Sue in her time of need” are nice, they aren’t meaty. Pinpoint prayer goes beyond that.

With that in mind, I set out to pray bigger regarding my writing career. Using the word career for that period in time is a bit bold, because I’d only published a few magazine articles and a story in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book. I’d written a couple novels that Les was shopping around to editors, and though we had some interest, no one had offered a contract.

During my devotions one morning, I read Psalm 90:17: “May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.” The words leapt from the pages of my Bible to my heart. Here was my pinpoint prayer! It spoke directly to what my desire was for myself and for my writing. I desired God’s favor. I also realized that my work as a writer needed divine help if it were to be established.

I began praying the verse each time I sat down at my computer to work on a project. I also pondered the verse itself. What did God’s favor look like as far as my writing goes? My dream was to be a multi-published fiction author, but was that’s God’s plan? I decided I wanted God’s favor, no matter what it looked like. Next, I thought of what it meant to have one’s work established. Would my work be established if I had thousands of devoted readers? Or was it more simply the hope that my words would make a positive difference in the life of the person reading them, be it on a blog, a magazine article, or a novel? My heart told me the latter was what I truly desired.

Did God answer my pinpoint prayer? Yes! In his timing and his way, of course. Soon after I began praying that verse, I discovered that my inspirational blog was reaching people in countries I knew I would never visit and some I’d never heard of. I also sold several more stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul. In 2016 I signed my first book contract, followed by two more in 2017. My prayer hasn’t changed. I still ask that God will grant me favor and that he will continue to establish the work of my hands. Even this little blog post is an answer to that prayer!

Are you praying for your writing? I’d love to join you. If you have a special verse or a prayer need you’d like to share, feel free to post it in the comments.

~~~~~~

Michelle Shocklee is the award-winning author of The Planter’s Daughter and The Widow of Rose Hill, the first two books in the historical romance series The Women of Rose Hill. Her novella, To Heal Thy Heart, is included in The Mail-Order Brides Collection. With both her sons grown, she and her husband of thirty-plus years enjoy poking around historical sites, museums, and antique stores near their home in Tennessee. Connect with her at www.MichelleShocklee.com