Romantic Reads: The Promise Keeper

Welcome Sherri Stewart to the blog! 

She's here to talk about the inspiration for her book, The Promise Keeper. 

Enjoy this glimpse behind the scenes of her story!

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The Story Behind The Story of The Promise Keeper by Sherri Stewart:

Does God have one special person for you? That was what Jonathan believed in The Promise Keeper. He believed that God was interested in the details of our lives, just the same as a really good father is in his children’s lives.

Luke 12:7 says, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” This seems to point to the fact that God is intimately acquainted with our lives. However, Meadow, the object of Jonathan’s love, isn’t so sure. While she believes that God knows us, she’s not quite sure that He involves Himself in the minutiae of our lives. That is the question of the book.

At the start it seems as if God has brought Jonathan and Meadow together. They are two American strangers that hold the same ticket to a seat at a concert in London. Coincidence or Providence? They spend time with each other, and Jonathan is amazed at how many other coincidences occur. Yet when Meadow spends her last few days on a field trip to see the castles before she returns to the states, Jonathan receives some other providential signs that he should go after her. But where? To which castles?

This brings up another issue about God’s concern with the details of our lives. If He has one special person for each of us, how hard are we supposed to work to find that person? Jonathan seems to be working way too hard, and things don’t go as planned. So should he give up or keep trying to find her?

I’m not a chick flick fan, but I do enjoy a few: Julia Roberts in My Best Friend’s Wedding, Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality, Megan Ryan in You’ve Got Mail, and Kate Beckinsale in Serendipity. People who don’t have God in their lives have no trouble believing in coincidences, karma, destiny, and serendipity, but I believe if we ask God to lead, He will.

I know a man who prayed about finding a wife, and he believed God would direct his path, so he took his cues from his daily readings in the Bible. When he read that Isaac’s wife would come from the south riding on a camel, he took that to be his promise from God. Years passed and he forgot about it, until he found himself on a blind date with a gal who showed him pictures of her trip to Egypt, and you guessed it. They’ve been married for forty years.

If you liked the movie An Affair to Remember or Serendipity, you may like The Promise Keeper.

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Author Bio:

Sherri Stewart loves a good suspense novel, especially one that challenges her faith. 

She proves that it’s never too late to achieve a dream. Her careers as teacher, principal, flight attendant and immigration lawyer have provided fodder for her books.

She's a member of Word Weavers International, ACFW, and the California Bar.

A recent widow, she lives in the Orlando area with her dog, Lily. 

When she's not writing or teaching, you'll find her walking the Disney parks for exercise and thinking through plot lines or planning her next trip to settings for her book.

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Blurb for The Promise Keeper:

Meadow meets Jonathan by chance when they end up with the same seat ticket to a concert in London. Chance or something more? Thus begins a whirlwind fairytale in London and in Wales.

But all good things must end when Meadow returns to Atlanta and Jonathan heads back to law school in New York. They promise to keep in touch. Jonathan believes that providence has brought them together. Meadow’s not so sure, but they promise to meet at Christmas on the rooftop of Cardiff Castle in Wales in two years if they’re not already spoken for.

Will Jonathan keep his promise? If you enjoyed Serendipity and Sleepless in Seattle, The Promise Keeper is the book for you.

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Buy The Promise Keeper on Amazon

Little Lamb Book Spotlight on Gracie Lou Wants a Zoo by Shelly Roark

Interview with Shelly Roark about her book, Gracie Lou Wants a Zoo:

Congratulations on writing this book, “Gracie Lou Wants a Zoo” for children! 

Let’s talk about it …

Alexis: What inspired this story?

Shelly: My daughter, Gracie, was the inspiration for Gracie Lou Wants a Zoo. She has always loved animals . . . and is just a tad headstrong and persistent. Bless her! We’ve never seen an animal that she didn’t ask to take home. Our home has been blessed with a hamster, cat and two dogs, but it isn’t enough. Gracie literally wants a house packed with critters!

I remember one day after saying ‘no’ for the thousandth time to a new pet, I said, “Gracie Lou you won’t be happy ‘til you have a zoo!” The phrase stuck in my head and I decided it was a great way to share a lesson on patience and trusting God’s timing.

I’ve often told Gracie that God created her for a purpose and that she would see her dreams come true in His timing. Gracie is a teen now and plans on becoming a veterinarian. So, the book concludes with a look into the future possibilities when you trust in God.

Alexis: When you were a child, did you want your own zoo just like Gracie Lou?

Shelly: I’ve always loved the zoo. Our local zoo was one of my favorite family outings as a child. We always visited the local zoo on our family vacations as well. As an adult, I continued to take my own children throughout their young years. However, I must admit that I’m not really an animal person. That’s why Gracie heard “no” so many times! I admire people who are animal people and was always fascinated by zookeepers who were never hesitant or unafraid among wild animals.

Alexis: Gracie Lou is the star of this story. Describe her personality. Share her dreams. Has she always had such a heart for animals?

Shelly: Gracie Lou is a headstrong gal with a soft, gooey inside—her tremendous love for animals. She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to ask for it! However, she needs a little lesson in the value of patience and trusting God for her future. She also needs to understand that a “no” from Mom and Dad isn’t the end of the world!

Alexis: What does Gracie want to be when she grows up? Why?

Shelly: Gracie Lou most definitely wants to be a veterinarian or something that allows her to care for and love on animals of all sizes and shapes.

Alexis: How long has Gracie had her pet turtle, George, and why does she want him to have friends?

Shelly: George is Gracie Lou’s sidekick. He’s really the only pet that her parents feel can be kept in their small apartment. George loves Gracie Lou and she loves George!

Alexis: Why won’t Gracie’s parents allow her to have more pets?

Shelly: Gracie Lou and her parents live in the city in a small apartment. Her parents don’t think there is enough room for her to have any other pet but George.

Alexis: How does the real-life lesson of learning how to trust God’s plan, apply to this story?

Shelly: In the story, you see that Gracie Lou’s dream and passion for animals will be fulfilled when she discovers God’s plan for her life as an adult. She becomes a veterinarian. Our current circumstances are not the end of our story. God has a great plan for your life and you can often glimpse it when you consider your passions and talents. However, you must be patient and understand that you still have a lot of growing to do before you get there. God loves you and will guide you.

Alexis: What is one of the faith lessons that Gracie learns in this story and how does it help her in life?

Shelly: Gracie learns the importance of patience and trusting God. She learns that we don’t always get what we want immediately and that’s OK. It’s not the end of the story.

Alexis: What role does your real-life faith in God play in your storytelling?

Shelly: I’m a simple girl and love simple faith lessons. Childlike faith is a very powerful thing! I’m so blessed when God turns the light bulb on during real-life interactions that allow me to explain principles of faith from Scripture to children. I’m blessed and strengthened with these simple stories that God speaks into my heart!

I also think stories are such a great way to explain eternal concepts. Jesus used parables so effectively. My favorite parts of Scripture are the stories! I still get new inspiration from biblical stories no matter how many times I read them.

Alexis: What message from this story do you hope resonates with the children who read it? 

Shelly: My hope is that God will use this story to give parents the opportunity to discuss faith with their children. There are a few different aspects of faith and life in the story that might open the door to a deeper discussion between parents and children—patience, obedience, trust, God’s plan and purpose.

Alexis: What life lessons have you learned about faith in God and trusting His plan over your own?

Shelly: Gracie Lou’s passion is animals. Mine has always been writing and storytelling.

I’ve seen how God has worked throughout my life to grow and nurture that talent and desire for his purposes. I went to college to earn a degree in journalism and worked for a decade in the newspaper business. God then opened the door to work for ministries using the skills I had gained through my early career.

Now, I am blessed to tell the real-life stories of people whose lives have been transformed through different ministries across the country. I’ve told the stories of ministries that provide Bibles to those who have no Scripture in their own heart language. I’ve been able to shine a light on the plight of orphans and victims of tragedy.

The stories God has given me to share has even saved the lives of preborn babies. I’ve been blessed for more than 20 years to write these inspiring stories and raise funds for the ministries that make all these efforts possible. Today, I write for Focus on the Family. God knows the future and we can trust him to shape and mold our talents and passions for his purposes.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview!

~*~
Author Bio:

Award-winning author Shelly Roark has been writing professionally for almost 30 years—from early years as a newspaper reporter to ghost writer for ministries and non-profits. Today, she is a senior copywriter for Focus on the Family. 

Her debut children’s picture book—The Bubble Who Would Not POP!—received four national awards, including Gold in IBPA’s 2018 Benjamin Franklin/Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Children’s/YA) and the 2018 Silver Medal Illumination Book Award. Shelly’s second children’s book, Gracie Lou Wants a Zoo, received the 2020 Silver Medal Illumination Book Award.

Shelly and her husband Geoff live in Texas with their three teens.

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Blurb for Shelly’s book:

What kid wouldn't want her own personal zoo?

Gracie Lou wants nothing more for her pet turtle, George, than for him to have friends. But Mom and Dad insist that their city apartment is too small to house a monkey, or a duck, or a giraffe, or an elephant. They say she needs to be patient and trust in God's plan, except Gracie Lou's not sure she can wait that long.

After a wild night spent with a houseful of rowdy zoo animals give her a lesson in the value of patience and God's perfect timing, Gracie Lou learns that God has a great plan for her . . . if she can just wait for it!

Written by Shelly Roark, award-winning author of The Bubble Who Would Not POP!, Gracie Lou Wants A Zoo is a delightful message of God's love for all of His children, especially those who have ever wondered about His plan for them.

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Connect with Shelly:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shelly-Roark-Author-263783447351979/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyroark_author/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Shelly_Roark/_saved/
Website: http://shellyroarkauthor.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: Conflict

Jesus in the Conflict
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 

–Romans 12:2 (ESV)

Since the beginning of creation, our world has been defined by what is active and reactive.

In uncertain times it takes but one voice to claim the spotlight and stir up those willing to listen and then act based upon what they hear. Some join the crowd, while others flee it. Believers in Jesus Christ fall prey to the internal struggle and want to give in or give up. The constant barrage of information, imagery, and conflicting voices leads to desperation, confusion, lack of understanding, and forced reactions full of fear, anger, and resentment. All hope seems lost among the burden to make sense of things and bring the world back to right.

Does this sound familiar? It should. In the book of John, we read of the wondrous things that Jesus does near Jerusalem. The people welcome Him, follow Him, and seek after Him for His miracles. Thousands testify of His great love. Then a sudden a new, less public, voice spreads the rumor among them in John 7:25-26, “Isn’t this the man they were trying to kill? Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah?” Enter Doubt. Confusion. Fear.

The rumors continue to permeate into the people’s hearts. They question their belief in Jesus. What they thought was true becomes twisted into constricting lies. They go out again to seek Jesus but return to their homes manipulated by condemnation of public eyes. Enter Indecision and Division.

Hope is diminishing as the crowds grow restless and accusatory. Yet, it’s all going according to God’s plan for salvation through His son, Jesus Christ. And it is by Jesus’s example in the garden through prayer, reaction, and action (Mark 14:32) that He offers the way through the chaos of conflict.

Silencing the rest of the world, Jesus goes to a Gethsemane with his disciples to pray and seek the Father (God). He takes His trusted friends further in with Him as he faces deep distress (Mark 14:33) to where “His soul was overwhelmed to the point of death” that He asks them to keep watch for Him. Going further into His struggle to accept God’s will, Jesus asks for God’s mercy, that the cup of death would pass from Him (Mark 14:36). Then, He yields to God’s will and not His own. Finally, when He returns to find his friends sleeping, He wakes them with the final warning to watch and pray so they would not fall into temptation (Mark 14:38) as “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 

Only after returning a third time, though everyone was still resting in their own weakness, does he proclaim his readiness to accept that the hour of decision has come (Mark 14:41).

What then can we do when we find ourselves facing the chaos of the world when conflict rises? We can follow Jesus’s example. By way of through the garden of prayer and seeking God, He was prepared to die (to his own will) and accept dying on the cross of Calvary so that we might have life – and life eternal!

So, when we face the problems of the day, let us:

1. Pray and seek the Father (God), through His Son, Jesus, and by way of the power of His Holy Spirit. Repent of any sin in your heart and lay all burdens at the foot of the cross where they are covered by His blood that cleanses us from sin.

2. Ask others you trust to pray and watch over you by interceding on your behalf. Thereby, standing united in Christ with one purpose.

3. Ask God for His mercy over the situation and all who are involved.

4. Yield to the will of God, believing that He knows what is best in the situation and will produce an outcome that is according to His plan.

5. Keep watch and continue to pray, so that you are not tempted to react in the flesh as the world does, but are led by His Spirit with wisdom and truth.

6. Finally, proclaim your acceptance of the will of God with praise and thanksgiving, giving all glory and honor to God because of the victory that is given through Christ Jesus.

By following Jesus’s example, we can rise above the conflict, renew our hearts and minds like Jesus, and having passed the test by seeking and accepting God’s will, we are transformed by His Spirit to receive was is good, acceptable, and perfect in His heart.

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Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter, and theatre director/producer from Northern Virginia, where she teaches television production at her high school alma mater.

She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is an alumnus of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program.

Mirachelle is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, American Fiction Writers Virginia Chapter, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint.

She is currently working on her first historical fiction novel set during WWII.

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Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan

Devotionals for the Heart: The Pit

Reminders from the Pit
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.”
–Psalm 40:1-3 (NASB)

When my daughter was in high school, she took the opportunity to play flute in the pit orchestra for the spring musical. If you have any experience with musical scores then you know that especially for large productions like that, each musician is only given the notes he or she needs for a particular instrument.

For weeks and weeks they practiced the music as an orchestra, until it was time to add in the vocalists. She came home one day and said, “I didn’t even know some of those pieces had words!” Layering the vocals on top of the orchestra created a blend that made the music she was already enjoying even more spectacular. It became brand-new and exciting again.

Being in the “pit” also means that the musicians can’t see the actors. They can hear what’s going on, but have to rely on their conductor more closely than they might otherwise in order to keep pace and make the performance as enjoyable as possible for the audience.

Many stories in the Bible have characters who have landed themselves in a “pit,” either literally or figuratively. Think Joseph (Genesis 37), David (1 Samuel), Elijah (1 Kings 19), and Jonah. Sometimes it was someone else’s action that led them to the pit, like Joseph’s brothers selling him to traders; sometimes it was the person’s own doing, like the choice of Jonah not to follow the Lord’s leading.

In those most difficult moments, down in the pit, they needed to believe that they were playing a part that only they could play, and that God knew what the end would be. Each of those men relied on God and eventually something beautiful came from their situations.

As believers we are very much like those musicians in the pit. We have a partial score of what God (our conductor) is doing in the world. We only see what He shows us, but we need to trust that He knows the beauty that is to come. We need to keep our eyes on Him intently, watch for His leading, trusting that in the right time, as we walk with Him, He will lead us and our fellow players through this life: an exhilarating performance.

And someday, when glory comes, the opening night will surely be one for the ages!

Let’s Pray: Father God, please show me how to trust You more than I do today, to let You lead the way even if I can’t see where I’m going. You will bring beauty from ashes and order from chaos, because that is Who You are. Be with me today. I pray in Jesus’s holy name I pray, Amen.

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Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume. 

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming.

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two teenage children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting. You can find her at www.glynisbecker.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should always listen to God's direction

Go Right
A devotional by Alexis Newlin

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Since COVID-19 started, I now take drives to explore the mountains in my town so I can satisfy my travel bug and connect with God through nature. I’ve lived in California for almost seven years and there is still so much I haven’t discovered yet. That is one positive in this quarantine time.

I am so thankful that I am surrounded by so many places that I can explore in under three hours. Each time I take one of these drives, I come back feeling grounded and refreshed, having spent a bit of time out in nature with God.

Last Saturday, I revisited one of the backroads that my friend mentioned to me a few weeks ago. The mountain road is curvy, tree-lined and covered with wildflowers before it cuts through a beautiful valley. The sights on this road are absolutely breathtaking, and because of its sharp curves, you have to go slow or you will plunge off the edge of the mountain. The slow speed allows you to really take in all the beauty around you: wildflowers, large oak trees, birds singing, cattle grazing in the hillside. It’s now one of my favorite places to go.

At the end of this drive, there is a fork in the road. If you choose left, that will lead you back to town in about 20 minutes. I’d gone left three weeks ago and it was a beautiful drive. Now there was an option to go right, but I’d never gone that way before. I was a little afraid of getting lost and I didn’t want to accidentally end up three hours away from home.

I heard a whisper from God. “Go right.”

I was scared to go right. I knew what was to come if I went left since I’d gone that way before. So I went left.

The urge to go right became stronger. I felt like God was saying, “Alexis, if you turn into this turnout, you can still U-turn and go right.”

I knew that urge would not go away until I decided to go right. Swallowing my fear, I pulled into the turnout, made a quick U-turn when it was safe and headed right.

I am so glad I did.

Not only was the drive beautiful, it ended at a marina of a very large lake I’d never seen before. I couldn’t go onto shore because the lake was closed, but from my parking spot I got to take in a beautiful view: crystal blue water with mountains as a backdrop.

If I had listened to my fear and continued to go left, I would have missed out on discovering this lake. Taking a different path, the one that God chose for me, ending up being better than my original plan.

That often happens in my Christian walk. I don’t know about you, but I am not a big fan of the unknown. I like routine, I like to know what lies up ahead so I can plan and weigh my options. I like to be in control.

However, none of that exists in the unknown. Walking in the unknown plans that God has for us, takes a lot of trust and faith.

Faith that God knows what is best for us.

Faith that He is always with us, especially when things are hard.

Faith that although we think we may know the way, God always has a better way.

When God calls you to take a new path or leads you into the unknown, remember these verse from Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV):

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

We may think we know the best way, but friend, God always knows better.

Trust Him.

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Author Bio:

Alexis is a 36-year-old lover of Jesus, loose leaf tea, roller coasters, writing stories and going on adventures. Originally from Marietta, GA, Alexis now resides in Fresno, CA.  

You can always find Alexis outdoors enjoying a walk in her neighborhood, scoping out the newest food truck, hanging out with friends or planning her next trip.

Her church, The Revival Center, and family mean the world to her. They have supported her through the loss of her mother and her own cancer diagnosis.

Alexis enjoys encouraging others by reminding them not to look at what they see, but to always look to God, who is working in the unseen.

Alexis currently writes for several online ministries and launched her first podcast – The Brave Podcast – in January 2020.

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Connect with Alexis:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apeachincali/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/apeachincali
Podcast: http://thebravepodcast.buzzsprout.com
Website: www.apeachincali.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Pure Gold

Refined as Pure Gold
A devotional by Patrick E. Craig

"And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass." 

~Revelation 21:21 (KJV)

A friend of mine who was a missionary once told me an interesting story. When he was in South Africa he visited a gold mine. There he was able to watch the process by which the miners extracted the gold from the ore that was dug from the earth.

First, they crushed the gold-bearing rock into manageable chunks. Then they put it into a huge caldron where they began to heat it. When the ore melted, the impurities floated to the top and they were scooped off. Then the operator turned up the heat and more impurities floated to the top—again to be scooped off. This occurred over and over until the process of purification was completed.

Once the operator was finished my friend asked him how pure the gold was. The answer: "99.9 percent pure." Steve asked another question. Is that the purest it can get?" The operator answered, "Yes. 99.9 percent pure is the purest gold we can ever get in this world."

My friend asked one last question. "If it was 100 percent pure what would it look like?" "Oh," the man said, "it wouldn't be yellow anymore. The yellow color is the impurities that are left in the gold. No, 100 percent pure gold would be perfectly clear, like glass."

There are two things that come to mind here. First of all, when we look at gold in this present life, it is the wonderful, gleaming yellow color that captures us. That's why we call it "Gold". It's that lustrous golden color that has caused men throughout history to do anything to possess it. If we stumbled upon a trove of gold that was clear like glass we would probably pass it by even if it were right before us. And doesn't that reveal us for what we are—natural born sinners who are drawn to the impurities of this life while we often walk right by those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, or of a good report?

The second thing that comes to mind is our future. When this life is over and we stand before the Lord, He will finish the refining process, the fiery trials as it were, that he began on the day we said yes to him. And when He finishes, all the impurities will be gone and we will stand transparent before him, as transparent as the golden streets of heaven, purest gold and clear like glass.

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

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Author Bio: 

Patrick E. Craig is a lifelong writer and musician who left a successful songwriting and performance career in the music industry to follow Christ in 1984. 

In 2011 he signed a three-book deal with Harvest House Publishers to publish his Apple Creek Dreams series. His current series is The Paradise Chronicles. The first book in the series, The Amish Heiress, a romantic suspense novel, was published by Patrick's company, P&J Publishing, in August of 2015 and remained on the Amazon Top 100 best sellers list in three categories for seven months.

The second book in the series, The Amish Princess, a historical romance novel, was released in December of 2016 and was on Amazon's Hot New Releases for over a month. Harlequin recently purchased the print rights for both books for their Walmart Amish series. Patrick also just released Cracking The Indie Egg—A Recipe For Publishing Your Own Book and it is available in most major digital bookstores.

Patrick and his wife Judy, make their home in Idaho. They have two married children and five grandchildren. Patrick is represented by the Steve Laube Agency.

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Connect with Patrick:
Website - www.patrickecraig.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PatrickECraig
Twitter - https://twitter.com/PatrickECraig
Amazon Author page - http://tinyurl.com/n6sfagg

Devotional: "Get Going!" by Laura Thomas, author and encourager

“Get Going!”

A devotional by Laura Thomas

“The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” ~Exodus 4:11 (NIV)

Here we are at the beginning of another year—fresh ideas, clean slate, goals set, action plan at the ready, all optimistic and raring to go! Or not…

Are you starting 2017 with a stammer? Beginning the year with “but” and “can’t” and “how on earth am I going to achieve anything?” For most of us, we have our fears and doubts when it comes to thinking ahead—whether it’s for work, relationships, ministry, home, or studies. We fret about failing and worry about what others will think. But we are in good company—Moses had similar issues back in the day.

Public speaking was Moses’ worst nightmare—perhaps you can relate? His palms got clammy just thinking about it. He stuttered and stammered at the best of times, and yet God wanted him to go and speak with Pharaoh, the most powerful man in Egypt. God even performed miracles right in front of Moses’ face, and Moses still had a truckload of excuses why he wasn’t the man for the job.

Honestly, when I read that Moses saw a stick become a snake and then a stick again, followed by his own hand turning leprous and then miraculously being healed before his very eyes, I wonder what was wrong with the man! Surely he could see that God is mighty and capable of anything—including helping Moses with a speech or two.

And then I look in the mirror and realize that I am a Moses! I experience God’s goodness and have seen the miraculous occur in my own life (maybe not of the snake variety, but my own mini-miracles just the same) and still I doubt that I am able to do what God is asking of me. I am forgetting who God is, just like Moses did. Do you ever suffer from “not enough” syndrome?

How often we are faced with something God desires for us to do, and we simply don’t feel up to it. “I’m not brave enough, strong enough, a good enough leader, singer, writer, wife, mother, student, or friend. I don’t have enough qualifications, life experience, patience, money, or like Moses, speaking abilities.”

We may feel we don’t have enough, but how wrong we are! WE HAVE GOD—Creator, Alpha and Omega, Eternal King…isn’t that enough for us? Do we truly believe that the One who made our mouths can give us the right words to say? That the One who formed our bodies can give us the energy we need to go where He sends us?

If we are open to God, He will bring us challenges galore, as we are part of His plan. Let’s not waste time debating with Him! Remember whom it is we serve—the all-powerful God of Heaven and Earth who is the Lover of our souls. Let’s draw our strength from Him, and step out in faith and obedience.

The Message version of the Bible puts verse 12 (of Exodus 4) like this: “So, get going. I’ll be right there with you—with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.”

God is right there with us, too. We are enough because He is enough. All we need to do at the start of this New Year is to “get going”.

Ready?

~*~
Author bio:

Laura is a published Christian author with a heart for inspiring and encouraging readers of all ages. 

She is truly multi-genre—with a published Christian teen fiction trilogy, marriage book, children’s stories, devotionals for Union Gospel Press, musings on her blog, and she now has a literary agent representing her Christian romantic suspense novel.

Laura is English and Canadian, married to her high school sweetheart, mom of three, passionate about faith and family, and chocolate!
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Connect with Laura:
Website - www.laurathomasauthor.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Laura-Thomas-183771121724664/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Laura_Thomas_/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lauracthomas/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/lauracthomas/