Expect the Unexpected by Laura V. Hilton

Christmas creche

This is the last month of the year and the last post I’ll write for this blog. I’m kind of sad to see it go, but at the same time, an unexpected opportunity to serve God and expand my boundaries sort of dropped in my lap.

Warning: Do NOT pray the following verse unless you mean it. God will take you up on it.

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!” And God granted him that which he requested.” 

1 Chronicles 4:10 (KVJ)

I was warned it was coming. But maybe I didn’t truly believe the ones who’d told me Someday… Maybe. Whatever the case, they were right. And I am sitting here in tears that God is expanding my coast in such a huge way. A seriously frightening way.
I am not adequate. I’m not good enough. Someone else could (and would) do better. How long will it take before people realize I’m a fraud? Normal human reactions. 

Right?

It’s December, and at this time of the year some people celebrate the birth of Christ. Yes, I know He probably was born in April. Yes, I know Christmas is a pagan holiday. 

That is not the point. 

The point is that from the beginning of time God has promised us a Savior. He first promised Adam and Eve in Genesis. People knew He was coming. They were warned.

How many hundreds (thousands?) of years went by with God using prophets, priests and kings to remind His people of the coming Savior?

And yet when He came, He was so unexpected. Angels delivered messages. The angelic choir sang. A star, brighter than any others, lit the sky. 

When God does something, He does it in a BIG way.

And yet, He was unexpected. 

No one was prepared for God’s promised Savior to arrive as a helpless baby, born to a poor couple, and grow up doing all the normal people things. Why didn’t He arrive in a blaze of glory, maybe a fiery chariot, with swords slashing, and a big voice that people automatically would hear and obey?

Well, okay, He kind of did. I don’t know about you, but if an angelic choir appeared to me to tell me the long-awaited Savior was here, I’d listen. I’d be in that group of shepherds trotting into Bethlehem to worship Him. 

And with that in mind, God has also promised that, long after Jesus’ death and resurrection, He would come again. 

This is expected! He promised! And this time, it WILL be in a blaze of glory!

And yet, if it happened today, would you be prepared? Or would He be unexpected? If you are a believer, would you be satisfied you are living your life in a way pleasing to Him? Would you be using the talents He gave you in a way that reaches others for Him?

If you are not a believer, the time is now, friend. He’s coming!

“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans 10:8-10 (KJV)

Lord, I believe. Help Thou my unbelief. Help me to listen to You and follow, wherever You lead. Help us to expect the unexpected. Amen.


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When God does something, He does it in a BIG way. And yet, He was unexpected. @laura_v_hilton #SeriouslyWrite http://bit.ly/SW-Laura

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.

Gratefulness By Laura V. Hilton

"Just Breathe" Coloring Sheet

Thanksgiving is approaching in a couple weeks. I’m kind of excited for it – my daughter will be home from college – and kind of dreading it as my husband will be working two different jobs and I have to work, too or else I’ll never reach my deadlines. 

I was thinking about what to say in my second to final post for this blog (I think) and God brought to mind the verse from Philippians 4:11: 

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

At the end of September, our church had its Fifth Sunday Singspiration and we were told that in order to request a favorite song we had to give a testimony. I think it was designed to work so that no one would request a favorite. 

And then we have me. I am a pastor’s wife. I may hate speaking in public but I can do it. If God gives me something to say. And I have a favorite song. (Insert big smile)

So the song leader looks at me after I request my favorite and says, “You have to give a testimony.” He had a look in his eye that said, “Yeah, she’s going to back out.”

I might have smirked as I stood and made my way to the front. 

The song leader told me I didn’t have to go up there. He knows me so well. 

I said, “It’s sort of an object lesson.”

Sort of, because I didn’t have a clue what I was going to say, just that I had some coloring pictures and God said, “Go.” 

So I went forward and shared how we were having money problems and didn’t know how we'd pay our bills past mid-October. I talked about how it worried me that we'd have to tell the girls that we wouldn’t have Christmas and how God said something to me that my husband always says, “Breathe. Just breathe. I got this.” 

Then I held up the coloring picture that said, “Just breathe.” 

Sure enough, God provided my husband with a second job so we would be able to meet our expenses. 

"As for me, I will always have hope." Psalm 71:14

Then I held up the second coloring page. 

“As for me, I will always have hope.” Psalm 71:14 

And I am still clinging to that HOPE, giving thanks for His provision, and in this time of not-plenty, I'm being content with what He provides. 

God is in control. Breathe. He’s got this. With God everything is possible. Nothing is impossible. 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Let’s give thanks to God right now for providing for our needs. As you pray the prayer below, share with us in the comment section.

Lord God, You are powerful and You are good. Please protect my relationship with You, keeping out anything that would take my eyes off You. Today I give thanks for _____________ 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.

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.”

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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.

Be Alert! By Laura V. Hilton

“Devote yourselves to prayer,
being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

August has been a painful month, in so many different ways. I finished writing a story that I turned into the publisher, and I have no creativity left to start a new one. With a deadline for a novella on September 30th and another deadline for a full-length on December 31st, I had no time to recuperate for a fresh wave of inspiration. But with zero creativity, how could I write? 

I was forcing myself to put words on paper, figuring I could edit them if the words weren’t good, when I got a call from the hospital fifty miles away. It was my husband. He’d been hit by a UFO and broke his neck. Yep, that’s what he said. 

I’m sure I blinked a few times. A UFO? Really? And a broken neck? My husband is a big tease, but surely he wouldn’t kid about this… No, no, no…. It turned out it was just a fracture, but serious enough for a neck brace and an unplanned week vacation, and a UFO turned out to be an Unidentified Falling Object. Would he have a job when this was over? He wasn’t worried, but I was. And how would I function with my husband underfoot? That wasn’t an issue though. I loved having him around. 

A few days later, I get a call from my oldest son. He’s been asked to leave where he was living and could he come home? Um, no. No. NO. Several panic-filled calls later where he informs me he will be escorted off by the police if he isn’t gone by six p.m. and me giving him all the suggestions I could think of, I hear nothing more. But is it over? Not by a long shot. He showed up at ten p.m. with nothing but the clothes on his back and begged us to let him stay just over the weekend. He’ll be gone Monday. “I promise.” 

I reluctantly agree. He hadn’t followed any of the suggestions I gave him during the phone calls. And a week later, he is still here. Not even trying to find someplace. Worse, he’s found all his old friends so any success he had with getting off drugs and alcohol is probably short-lived. Pray with me about this. I can’t go through this again. Or rather, I don’t want to.

I’m getting extremely stressed. Getting stressed-related “illnesses.” Migraines. Shaking hands. Painful skin conditions.

I was mulling over these things this morning during my morning devotions, and I stumbled across a meme that read:

“As you face trouble, remember that Jesus told us to watch and pray,” (based on Luke 21:36).

Hmm. So I looked it up. The actual verse reads: 

“Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man,” (Luke 21:36).

As we write, we might be attacked by Satan’s arrows. We might have unexpected problems, some of them huge. We might not know how to act or react. And we can’t see into the future to see the outcome.

But God. 

Lord God, help us to be alert this day, watch and pray and serve You however You would have us. 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.