Celebrating Love by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

I’m an unapologetic royal watcher.  I’m also an ever-hopeful believer in fairytales. By that, I don’t mean I hold to unrealistic expectations in perfection – but I do believe in the power of love to overcome daunting odds. I suppose that’s the reason why my genre of choice, as an author and reader, is romance.

So, join me for a few moments at the just-celebrated wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (now TRH The Duke and Duchess of Sussex!). The fascinator's, the dresses, the pomp and pageantry, the stunning wedding gown and sparkling tiara! In a blink I was swept into the world of Windsor. The day just sparkled with sunshine and blue skies.

Then came Bishop Michael Curry’s sermon about the transformative power of love.

His words, to my mind, put the ‘Royal’ in this historic event. They got me thinking about the nuances of love, the struggles of love, the victory of love over daunting odds.

Let me share some of the quotes from this amazing, passionate sermon. Truth resonates, so does a level of encouragement I latched on to immediately.

‘We must discover the power of love. The redemptive power of love. When we do that, we will make the whole world a new world.’

‘There’s power in love. Don’t underestimate it. Don’t over-sentimentalize it. Just know it. There’s power in love.’

‘There’s power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will. There’s power in love to show us the way to live.’

‘Imagine our homes and families when love is the way. Imagine our neighborhoods and communities when love is the way. Imagine our governments and countries when love is the way. Imagine our world when love is the way.’

I realize anew, after watching a royal wedding that took me to church, the reasons why I gravitate toward books based on the discovery of love. The stories, the truth of love's power, calls me. Love celebrates the best of who we are and what we can become.

Could anything be more encouraging as we go about our writing journey?

~~~~~

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?

~~~~~

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. Readers laude her work as “Riveting,” “Realistic and true to heart,” “Compelling.”

Her Christian fiction debut, Devotion, earned the Bookseller’s Best Award as well as the Heart of Excellence Award. Her follow-up novel, Forgiveness, earned Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year honors as did her book Hearts Communion. She is also a two-time recipient of the Selah Award for her books Then & Now and Finding Home. 

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. You can connect with Marianne at www.marianneevans.com.

Love Lives After Valentine's Day by Zoe M. McCarthy

Zoe M. McCarthy

Valentine’s Day 2018 was special for me. No, John didn’t buy me a diamond tiara. Last summer, I’d been invited to be part of a Valentine’s Day romance collection of novellas. Cooking up Kisses has been out since the middle of January. Writing my novella and all the ensuing promotional activities have kept love and hearts and kisses before me constantly for the past several months.

Knowing the Cooking Up Kisses collection had released, a local reporter, asked if I would let him interview me for his Valentine’s Day article in a local newspaper. In one of his questions, he asked what was my definition of love.

My answer came easily. I had just published a blog post on how to show love in stories. I researched behaviors heroes and heroines would exhibit if they loved each other. I used behaviors associated with several traits listed in The Positive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Attributes by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.

No attribute showed up for loving in the book’s list. I was forced to decide which attributes fostered loving behaviors. Here’s the list I used: 

• Affectionate,
• Appreciative,
• Charming,
• Courteous,
• Empathetic,
• Gentle,
• Generous,
• Loyal,
• Nurturing,
• Patient,
• Supportive, and
• Trusting.

After perusing the twenty-five to thirty-five behaviors for each of my twelve attributes, I received a picture of what love is. I couldn’t tell a definition of love, but I could show examples of love between a hero and heroine. Not to leave anyone disappointed, here’s the best definition of love I’ve come across.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

How about you, what do you think should be included in depicting love?

About the Author

A full-time writer and speaker, Zoe M. McCarthy, author of The Invisible Woman in a Red Dress, Gift of the Magpie, and Calculated Risk, writes contemporary Christian romances involving tenderness and humor. Believing opposites distract, Zoe creates heroes and heroines who learn to embrace their differences. When she’s not writing, Zoe enjoys her five grandchildren, teaching Bible studies, leading workshops on writing, knitting and crocheting shawls for a prayer shawl ministry, gardening, and canoeing. She lives with her husband in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Zoe blogs regularly at www.zoemmccarthy.com.

Cooking Up Kisses
Five Sweetly Scrumptious Novellas

Cooking Up Kisses (Five Sweetly Scrumptious Novellas)

LOVE ON A DARE BY MARY MANNERS
Alana Mulvaney’s life is in a holding pattern. Consumed by day-to-day operations of the family business, Alana has no time for fun or romance. But a little fun and a whole lot of romance is just what Alana’s sisters have in mind when they learn childhood friend Donovan O’Reilly has returned to town.

HUMMINGBIRD KISSES BY DELIA LATHAM
Toni Littlebird believes that when she meets the man God created for her, she’ll know—and she’ll love him in that very moment.
But then Dax Hendrick roars into Hummingbird Hollow on a noisy, crippled Harley, stinking up the air and chasing away her beloved hummingbirds. One look into the intruder’s eyes and her heart sinks. He’s “The One.” She’d been right about knowing, but wrong about something far more important: She will never love this man!

HEARTS ON THE HARBOR BY ROBIN BAYNE
Cara Peyton is content with her life, her trendy Baltimore bookshop is perfect for her. But when her ex turns up to remodel the store, asking for a second chance, she’s torn and unsure about risking her heart again. Can he convince her to trust him, and God, before the job is finished?

HIS VALENTINE PROMISE BY DORA HIERS
Another Valentine’s Day and Quinn Randolph prefers to spend it with her sweet rescue lab. Who needs men and their broken promises? Especially Pierce Karson’s! Years ago, his desertion shattered her. Now he’s trying to steal the property she targeted to expand her florist shop! Pierce only wants to belong…and for Quinn to choose him. His Valentine Promise…

THE INVISIBLE WOMAN IN A RED DRESS BY ZOE M. MCCARTHY
Candace Parks lives a passionless life in Richmond. The computer programmer returns to the empty family home in the Blue Ridge Mountains solely to evaluate her job, faith, and boyfriend. Her high school crush, Trigg Alderman, who barely remembers her, visits his Gram next door. Sorting her life out? How about nothing of the sort!

Zoe M. McCarthy is a regular contributor to Seriously Write. For more posts by Zoe, click here.

Does Your Life Feel Like Boot Camp? by Zoe M. McCarthy

I read The Red Platoon by Clinton Romesha. This true story of an American military camp in Afghanistan under a horrendous, well-coordinated attack is not for the squeamish on any front. But I’m glad I read it. The soldiers’ gruesome battle, which lasted one long day, lost seven American soldiers and wounded many others. Their day came across to me as a metaphor in four ways for our Christian walk.

Zoe M. McCarthy

1. Successfully bearing harsh treatment in boot camp and receiving additional training and experience are paramount to survival.

Battle of Kamdesh

The surrounded American soldiers, camp doctors, chain of leaders inside and outside the camp, and air personnel (who eventually were able to come to the camp’s aid in helicopters and advanced technical airplanes), were trained physically, technically, and strategically. And many had prior combat experience.

Mistakes happened, but the experienced men were able to function and act under extreme stress because they knew what to do and how to do it. Their preparedness foiled the likely massacre.

In contrast, the Afghan National Army soldiers assigned to the American camp lacked training. Their response to hundreds of Taliban raining down all manner of fire on the camp was to leave their posts and hide.

Christian Walk

When we’re trained in God’s Word and keep our faith through our trials, we become stronger and gain the knowledge and experience to face whatever befalls us and to help others through their hardships. We know what to do and how to do it.

2. When soldiers are experienced, equipped, and prepared for the worst of situations, courage comes naturally.

Battle of Kamdesh

Nothing went smoothly with 300 Taliban shooting from higher ground at 85 American and 35 Afghan National Army soldiers. But repeatedly, the experienced American soldiers put themselves in harm's way, individually or in improvised teams to save the camp. Some begged their leaders to go under fire to try a strategy to rescue others. When called, the experienced soldiers, without question, performed their duties. I was awed by their courage.

Christian Walk

When we’re prayed up, well versed in God’s word, trust God in every circumstance, and obey His command not to be afraid or worry, we can possess unlimited courage when we’re called. Even if our hearts are beating like crazy.

3. When soldiers bond, they love and risk their lives for each other.

Battle of Kamdesh

Much of the time, what was foremost in the experienced soldiers’ minds was to get to a truck or building where their buddies were trapped and out of ammunition. Even for their dead, they risked their lives to keep the Taliban from taking their bodies to use in TV propaganda.

Christian Walk

Our unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ, as branches on Christ’s vine, enables us to love each other in our hearts and with actions. When we pray for and support each other, the Body of Christ is strong. We are also able to love and forgive others and our enemies.

4. When soldiers obey their commanding officers and perform with excellence for their country, they are honored for their faithfulness.

Battle of Kamdesh

Faithful American, Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha sometimes had to force himself to see the wisdom of his commanding officer’s decisions, but he obeyed with respect. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership and actions during the Battle of Kamdesh. This is the USA’s highest and most prestigious military decoration.

Christian Walk

We know Christ’s leading is best, and when we obey, we are faithfully about our Father’s work. God awards us with heaven’s highest honor—our salvation.

When were you prepared to do what God called you to do?

Training in God’s Word and boot-camp trials prepare us for whatever may befall us. Click to Tweet.

Zoe M. McCarthy believes the little known fact that opposites distract. Thus, she spins Christian contemporary romances entangling extreme opposites. Her tagline is: Distraction to Attraction, Magnetic Romances Between Opposites. Her first novel is Calculated Risk. She has two more contemporary romances and a nonfiction book to help writers ready their manuscripts coming out soon. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She enjoys leading workshops on the craft of writing; speaking about her faith; planning fun events for her 5 grandchildren; and exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she lives with her husband, John. 

Calculated Risk
by Zoe M. McCarthy

Learn more about Zoe M. McCarthy at her website: http://zoemmccarthy.com

Calculated Risk

What happens when an analytical numbers man meets a mercurial marketing Rep? Romance is a calculated risk…

Jilted by the latest of her father’s choices of “real men,” Cisney Baldwin rashly accepts an invitation to spend Thanksgiving weekend with a sympathetic colleague and his family. Nick LeCrone is a man too much her opposite to interest her and too mild-mannered to make her overbearing father’s “list.” Now, Cisney fears Nick wants to take advantage of her vulnerable state over the holiday. Boy, is she wrong.

Nick wants little to do with Cisney. She drives him crazy with all her sticky notes and quirks. He extended an invitation because he felt sorry for her. Now he’s stuck, and to make matters worse, his family thinks she’s his perfect match. He’ll do what he can to keep his distance, but there’s just one problem—he’s starting to believe Cisney’s magnetism is stronger than he can resist.

Purchase links for Calculated Risk: http://zoemmccarthy.com/books

Christmas Lights by Mary Manners

Christmas Lights

 

By Mary Manners

 

It's that time of year again...a time for holiday baking and decorating, Christmas carols and lists for Santa, shopping, shopping, and...more shopping??

 

 

When the subject of Christmas gifts comes up, most people think of packages wrapped in colorful paper and shimmery bows, sitting under the Christmas tree, just waiting to be opened.

When I think of Christmas gifts, I think of my dad, who passed away fifteen years ago this holiday season. He was a man of many gifts, including the joy he shared for the traditions of Christmas.

 

Dad loved light—especially the light that brightened a fresh-cut pine tree in honor of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Each December first, like clockwork, Dad piled his family—all seven of us—into our Chevy station wagon and drove us to the tree lot where, shivering in the Chicago-winter cold, we oohed and aahed over each and every tree until we found the perfect one.



 

Once home, with the tree safely arranged in a metal stand and watered, Dad climbed the ladder to our attic (a mysterious place, indeed) where the Christmas lights were stored. He’d lower the battered cardboard box (re-used, season after season) to the floor below and dust it off.

Then my brother and sisters—five of us—gathered ’round him in the living room and waited, eyes huge with wonder, as he carefully unraveled the strands of lights and tested each one. No matter how stubborn the bulbs, dad always managed to get them working.

 

Beautiful, vibrant colors turned the room to a kaleidoscope, dancing over walls and windows with the feel of winter magic. One by one, my siblings and I each took the place of honor beside Dad, helping him to adorn the tree with light. Pine sap clung to our fingers, but we didn’t care. All the while, our hearts soared with happiness and child-like wonder.

Finally, dad gently gathered the Christmas star from the box. Hushed with awe, we waited while Dad chose one of us to hoist to his shoulders for the greatest thrill—placing the treasured beacon of light—the Baby Jesus Star—atop the highest limb. Somehow, Dad always sensed who needed that extra touch of attention, and there was never any argument.

 

With the lights in place (just in time for nightfall—always) we circled the tree and held hands to sing Silent Night. In the earliest years, the tune didn’t always carry and the words were sometimes off, but Dad didn’t care. He knew we understood what the tree—and especially the lights—symbolized…the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. The most wonderful gift of all!

~~~~~

 

Mary Manners is a country girl at heart who has spent a lifetime sharing her joy of writing. She has two sons and a daughter, as well as three beautiful grandchildren. She currently lives along the sunny shores of Jacksonville Beach with her husband Tim.

 

A former teacher as well an intermediate school principal, Mary spent three decades teaching math and English to students from kindergarten through middle grades. While growing up in Chicago and as a student at the University of Illinois, Mary worked her way through a variety of jobs including paper girl, figure skating instructor, pizza chef, and nanny. Many of these experiences led to adventures that may be found between the pages of her stories. Mary loves long sunrise runs—she’s completed three marathons—ocean sunsets and flavored coffee.

 

Find out more about Mary on her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com. “Like” her author page on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

 

~~~~~

 

With Bells On

 

When Emilee Lancaster’s aunt calls her home to Hope Creek for the holidays, Emmy readily agrees to assist with a charity event at the family theater—until she finds herself front-and-center stage with her high school flame, Jayson Taylor. She’s not thrilled about the pairing, but she’s made a promise to her aunt, and unlike Jayson, she keeps her promises.

 

Jayson Taylor makes his living building sets for Dahlia Brewster's Family Theater. When the Christmas show's emcee falls ill, Dahlia asks Jayson to step from the backstage and into the limelight. He's more comfortable working behind the scenes, but the country-singing superstar has always treated him like a favorite son, so Jayson reluctantly agrees. Center-stage at Christmas—especially beside dream-chasing Emmy Lancaster, who once ran off and broke his heart—is not where he planned to be.

 

But God has other plans, and what happens when the curtain falls and the stage lights dim truly reflects the heart of this holiday season.

 

 



When God Gives Us Pearls by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

My husband and I are in the process of selling our home. An adventure, they say. Right-sizing, they say. Well, had someone warned me about the work and emotion involved, I might have applied the brakes and said, “No way, baby!” But God’s in control, so on we go, and all kidding aside, I’m eager to explore this new season in our lives!

One of the treasures I uncovered as I sort and pack is a story I saved from over twenty years ago. Its impact remains, so I wanted to share. The story is titled Foil Boxes & Blue Velvet – Author, Unknown.

My prayer is that it encourages you the same way it encouraged me.

~~~~~

Jenny was a cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, five-year-old Jenny saw them—a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

“Oh, please, Mommy. Can I have them?”

The mother checked the back of the box then looked into the pleading eyes of her daughter. “They’re almost two dollars. If you want them, I’ll think of some chores for you, and in no time you’ll save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday is only a week away and you might get a dollar bill from Grandma.”

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her bank and counted out seventeen pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores. She went to the neighbor and asked if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma gave her a crisp new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel grown up. She wore them everywhere—Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only place she didn’t wear them was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a loving daddy. Every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and read her a story. One night, when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, “Do you love me?”

“Oh, yes, Daddy. You know I love you!”

“Then give me your pearls.”

“Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. You can have Princess—the white horse from my collection. She’s my favorite…but please, not my pearls.”

“That’s okay, honey. Daddy loves you. Good night.” He brushed her cheeks with kisses.

A week later, after story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again, “Do you love me?”

“Daddy, you know I love you!”

“Will you give me your pearls?”

“Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. You can have my doll—the brand new one I got for my birthday. She’s beautiful, and you can even have her little yellow blanket. Please, Daddy, not my pearls.”

“That’s okay, honey. Sleep well and God bless you. Daddy loves you.” As always, he brushed her cheeks with gentle kisses.

A few nights later, at story time, Jenny sat on her bed. When Daddy came close, he noticed her chin trembled, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

“What’s the matter, Jenny?”

Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her hand. There rested her little pearl necklace. “Here, Daddy. It’s for you.”

Tears gathered in his eyes as Jenny’s Daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace and with the other hand reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls. He gave the case to Jenny. He had had them all the time. He was simply waiting for her to give up imitation jewelry for genuine treasure.

So much like our heavenly Father.

Be blessed, friends, and may you always rejoice in the genuine treasure of Christ!

~~~~~

Click to Tweet!

Can you give up dime-store jewels for genuine treasure?

Do you choose foil boxes or God’s jeweled velvet?

~~~~~

Aiden Balfour has always craved stability, independence and security. He’s led a rocky life but always treasured his summers in Northern Michigan with his best summertime friend, Olivia Masters.

Olivia is dedicated to preserving the life she’s known and always treasured at her grandparent’s home high on a bluff overlooking the pristine waters of Avalon. With their blessing, she’s turned the expansive piece of property into a quaint, restful bed and breakfast.

But developers are circling—and they’re led by none other than Aiden Balfour.

Now an ambitious businessman, he’s determined to turn the lake into a tourist mecca. A successful business owner, Olivia is equally determined to stop him...no matter what his hold on her heart.

Can the innocent joy and love of their youth be reclaimed? Can Then…and now…ever be reconciled to a future overflowing with love, and hope?

~~~~~

Then & Now is part of Pure Amore, a Christian New Adult imprint and book of the month subscription service. Find out more at Pelican Book Group!

~~~~~

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.

Connect with Marianne:

Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon ~ Pinterest

Focus on Joy by Angela Arndt

Carolina Jasmine Against a Stormy Sky

An uplifting Wednesday night Bible study collides with one brutal gunman consumed with hate. Nine lives lost. Countless forever changed. A world grieves.

I live in South Carolina, only two hours away from the Holy City — Charleston, South Carolina. I’ve passed that church so many times. I heard that pastor speak in our Senate last month. Tonight, network and cable news reveal every hateful detail of the villain’s murderous plot. Nine men and women who loved the Lord and died as martyrs.

Sometimes we have to look past the pain and grief to find our joy again. Look for that tiny bit of yellow against a vast expanse of gray. Romans 12:21 says, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." The good is there, we just have to change our focus.

Writers are sensitive souls. We grieve deeply when tragedy knocks, whether it is at our door or someone else's. Our souls connect with others across the country, across the world. How can we build fictional worlds when real ones have been forever destroyed? But John 1:5 reminds us, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

You may be facing writer's block today because of the Charleston tragedy, inhaling the information, taking it to heart. Pray for those afflicted by tragedy, but stop watching the news reports. Check out of social networks for a day or two if you need to.

Try pouring your grief into another kind of work. Steven Curtis Chapman was inspired to write Charleston, a beautiful song that reminds us: love overcomes evil with good.

Here's a few other ideas to help you focus on joy:

• Allow God’s love to heal your heart. Wait until you hear your story again. 
• Each one of the Charleston families refused to inherit the hate from that killer. Instead, they offered forgiveness to the man who killed their mother, father, sister or brother. That’s God’s power at work. If hate is filling your heart, pray that you’ll be able to forgive.
• Focus on today, not tomorrow and what-ifs. Focus on the present, not the past or what-could-have-been.
• Seek God’s joy with all your heart. You can find several good online devotions through YouVersion.com (where you can download a mobile app) or BibleGateway.com. 
• If you can’t work through your grief, ask for help. Don’t stop until you find someone who will provide it. Don't let it fester within you.
• Recognize you may need to spend some time alone. It’s hard to do if you have a family, I know. Go to your bedroom. Go to your bathroom! (I remember what it’s like to have a six-year-old following you around.) Ask a friend or a family member to watch your child(ren) for an hour or so. Breathe.
• Take care of yourself. Remember that you’re more than a writer. Don't beat yourself up if you can't write, right now. Just do what you are able.

There comes a time, after the weeping, when we allow God’s power to heal our hearts. A time when we can focus on joy.

About the Author

Angela Arndt

Angela Arndt enjoys writing mysteries set in small Southern towns. Coincidentally, she, her husband, and their three very large dogs (a lab mix, Staffordshire terrier, and a 12 pound poodle) live in the middle of a big wood outside a small Southern town. She would love for you to visit her website, http://www.angelaarndt.com, or her team blog, http://seriouslywrite.blogspot.com.

February Fruits: Love

AUTHOR'S CHARACTER SERIES
FEBRUARY FRUITS: LOVE
NET'S NOTATION TUESDAYS

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
(1 Corinthians 13:1)

Love is a topic worthy of a year’s worth of posts.

The entire thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians spells out love’s virtues.

But let’s focus in on this fruit of the Spirit by paraphrasing the above verse for us writers:

Though I write with the eloquence of humans and of angels, if I don’t have love, I come across as annoying; I produce about as much lasting effect as a toddler banging on a cymbal.

Love infuses our writing, our work, with value.

Love motivates us to reach out to readers, to seek to minister to them.

Love directs our path to story elements which we’d likely avoid (as they’re difficult), if we weren’t directed by love.

Love overrules selfishness.

Love penetrates reader’s hearts with truth paired with kindness. That way it’s easier to absorb.

In the life of God’s authors, love coexists peacefully with hope (“love hopes all things”). Love and hope take hands and feed our aspirations.

Love serves.

Love trusts God.

Love is compassionate.

Love is not bitter.

As God roams the garden of our hearts, does He find love growing there with hope and faith? Let’s ask Him for a greater love for our readers. I believe God will honor that prayer for the sake of His authors' characters, and for the sake of our readers.