Devotionals for the Heart: A Life Lesson on the way God works!

God Works Behind the Scenes
A devotional by Monique Anderson

“But, Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” 

–John 5:17 (NLT)

Seeing the images online the next day made me feel so proud to have been a part of something so epic. Picture after picture of each model coming down the runway with their sleek, clean looks gave no indication of the madness that went on backstage just moments prior.

Missing shoes, missing accessories, and even missing models is what adds to the heightened tension and pandemonium backstage at a fashion show. However, given all the stress of the last-minute details that go awry, when the lights go on and the curtain is pulled back, the press, and awaiting audience have no idea that something so streamlined came from something so chaotic.

This is what I imagine the heavenly realms look like when we send our prayers up to God. Imagine all the angels he dispenses to see about us, and them scrambling to get to our needs. I envision them getting held up by the enemy and his angels, and the spiritual warfare that takes place just to see to it that God’s will gets done for his children. Imagine what God’s work looks like behind the scenes. Let’s read this verse from Daniel 10:12-13 (NLT):

“Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.”

I was reminded of God’s unseen handiwork when I was praying for a loved one to surrender to God. I would constantly ask God what I needed to do: Should I show them Scripture? Should I share a sermon? Should I read a devotional with them?

I felt like I received no response from God, and from what I could see, there was no change in the person I was praying for. I was not sure if my prayers were even heard much less getting answered. So, I just continued with my relationship with God in hopes that they would see all that He was doing in my life and be moved to submit to Him.

From my view in the audience, I could not see all the work God was doing backstage.

Until one day, out of the blue, he confessed he was ready to surrender. He said he felt God chasing after him, and he was tired of running. I was stunned, and almost in complete disbelief. It was presented in such a nonchalant manner. I imagined this day being a fall out, ugly cry praise and worship moment. But it was not. It was presented just as neat, and well put together as the models coming down the runway.

Just like the awaiting audience, I had no idea what was happening behind the scenes. I later found out that he was being ministered to by someone he worked with. He said he felt like there was nowhere else for him to run. His journey to Jesus reminded of this song by Casting Crowns called “Even When You’re Running.” God’s love for him was inescapable. My loved one was getting Jesus at home, and in the workplace, but in very subtle ways. I made sure never to pressure him into submission. I wanted him to want Jesus for himself, and that is exactly what happened.

I couldn't tell from where I was sitting that God had been scrambling backstage to bring all the pieces together. I just saw the finished product of a man of God humbling himself before the Lord. This situation reminds me of God’s promise to us in Psalm 91:11 (NIV) which reads, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

Please remember this: From where you’re sitting it may look like no work is getting done. It may seem like God doesn’t hear you and isn't seeing about your needs. But let me remind you that our Heavenly Father is always at work. He’s never not working. We should thank God that we don’t see the mess happening behind the scenes; we just get to be a witness to the final production once He shines His light and pulls back his curtain for the big reveal.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, I praise You and thank you for constantly working in my life, and in the lives of those I care about. I am thankful that my prayers are always received and heard in your Kingdom. I will hold on to the promise of Your Word that says You will command Your angels concerning me. This promise reminds me that even when I don’t see it You’re working. I will continuously sing your praises even while I wait. Father, I love You and thank You. In Jesus's Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Monique M. Anderson is a writer, wife, and bonus mom to a 14 year old. She just recently unleashed her always present yet hidden talent of writing to the masses. She was born and raised in Mount Vernon, NY where she still resides, and serves on the prayer team of her church The Gathering Harlem.  

Monique always felt like God was chasing after her, but never felt the need to surrender. Until that is when life started veering left, and she no longer wanted to steer so she finally gave Jesus the wheel. After forming her relationship with God she always felt compelled to share the revelations that the Word gave to her. She always felt the Holy Spirit prompting her to write, but was afraid of what people might think. So her writing started in her journal. The journal turned into a book, and the book into a blog.

Slowly but surely God’s love started to cast out all fear. She started to consistently update her bi- weekly blog called “Yours Truly, Moe.” Her obedience led to further revelation. God revealed to her that He would use her to help others along their walk the same way God helped her along hers. Since Monique did not grow up in church she always felt intimidated by the Christian life. She thought that she would be losing so much of herself, not realizing that she would actually find her TRUE self.

Since God has shown her who He really created her to be, she now feels it is her life’s work to help those that are taking their first baby steps in this walk with Christ. She is doing so through her blog, and soon to be published book. Monique is excited to extend her reach to podcasts and speaking engagements in the near future.

Her blog is the stepping stone to fulfilling the vision God gave to her – “Sharing God’s revelations so we can all reflect his image and fulfill his purpose.”

~*~
Connect with Monique:
Website: www.yourstrulymoe.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourstruly__moe/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yours-Truly-Moe-140255684101423

Interview with Hope Andrews, heroine of "Hope's Design" (book)

Welcome my friend Dawn Kinzer to the blog today. She's written this lovely story called Hope's Design and wants to give YOU a FREE copy of it! Details on the book giveaway contest are toward the end of this blog post. 

But before you enter the book giveaway contest, take the time to read the blurb of Dawn's book and read my interview with the lead female character in Hope's Design. Her name is Hope. Isn't that perfect? 

Enjoy!

~*~

Blurb for Hope's Design (book): In 1904, Hope Andrews, an aspiring fashion designer, struggles with leaving New York City. But with no job, her parents leaving the country, and an abusive ex-fiancé refusing to accept their broken engagement, Hope doesn’t have much choice but to give into her parents’ wishes that she move far away and live with her cousin indefinitely. 

Talented Benjamin Greene can’t deny his passion for painting, but guilt over a painful incident in his past keeps him from sharing his gift. Instead, he devotes much of his days to helping his younger sibling rebuild a farm inherited from a great-uncle. Only his brother is aware that Ben spends his spare time in a studio on their property.

In the small rural town of Riverton, Wisconsin, Hope and Ben can’t help but be thrown together. But as feelings for each other deepen, tension thickens over how talent should be used. Their mutual passion for art brings them together, but will it also drive them apart?

Character interview questions for Hope Andrews of Hope’s Design:

Alexis: Good day, Hope! How are you today? Are you ready for the interview?

Hope: Hello! It’s such a beautiful spring day, I feel inspired to take my sketch pad outside. But, first the interview. Yes, I’m ready!

Alexis: When the reader first meets you, you’re on a train. Where are you headed and why?

Hope: My journey took me to a small farming community in Wisconsin called Riverton. It’s quite a change from my life in New York City. But, my father left for several years to work on the Panama Canal with the Army Corp of Engineers, and my mother decided to go with him. She has a heart for the families who have joined their husbands and fathers there, and she wants to serve wherever she can. I was planning on marrying Henry Shelton, a prominent lawyer, but when I realized he was controlling and abusive, I broke off the engagement. Unfortunately, he didn’t take it well. My parents have been concerned about my safety while they’re out of the country, and they asked me to stay with my cousin in Riverton.

Alexis: One of the first things we find out about you in Chapter One is that you’re ambitious and want more than marriage and children. You want a career, preferably in fashion design. How did you feel about your friends who were all married in their 20s and bore children, not being able to understand your ambitions?

Hope: I truly support their desires to be wives and mothers. It’s certainly something I want for myself, but I also feel that God wants me to use whatever creative talent he’s given me. It saddens me when friends can’t understand my need for more. Besides finding a way to feed that creative part of me, I’ve always had an independent nature. I believe if I can find a way to financially take care of myself, a marriage will feel more like a partnership. 

Alexis: Why is it your dream to be a fashion designer?

Hope: I’ve always found great joy in drawing and painting since I was a young child. But, my art teachers wanted me to paint like the great artists. It just wasn’t in me. I slowly realized that I could look at a woman’s shape and see how a style might suit her. It all came together for me one day when I helped two neighbors. One girl was quite thin and the other was . . . well, heavier looking. Neither thought themselves pretty, and they’d become reclusive. They were so delighted with what I created—dresses that flattered their shapes—that I knew then what I was supposed to do with my life. Design clothes that helped women feel pretty on the outside so they could feel confident enough to show how beautiful they are inside.

Alexis: I’m sorry to hear that your ex-fiance was abusive toward you. How did you get the courage to end your engagement? Now that you’ve left him behind, what are you moving forward to?

Hope: I credit my parents for giving me the strength to leave that relationship. Although they didn’t know about the abuse until after I’d broken off the engagement, they’d instilled in me a sense of worth and the right to be respected. Leaving Henry has given me the freedom to focus on my own dreams—something he never supported.

Alexis: Who was your closest confidant when you were trying to heal from your abusive relationship? Why did you choose to confide in this person, and how did they help you?

Hope: After my parents, I told my closest friend, Charlotte Ransom, about Henry’s hurtful behaviors. At first, I was embarrassed by the fact that I was taken in by his charm and then had allowed the abuse to go on for as long as I had. My friends thought he was quite a catch. After all, he’s a handsome lawyer with a prestigious firm, and he’s quite popular in high society. I confided in Charlotte so she would understand why I left that relationship and why my location needed to be kept a secret from him. Of course I confided in my cousin, Annie, in Riverton. Both women helped me by being loving and understanding—and believing me.

Alexis: How did your abusive relationship with your ex-fiance affect your mind and heart? Did it hold you back when you first met the swoon-worthy hero of this story, Benjamin Greene?

Hope: After being in a bad relationship, I think it’s difficult for most women to trust men again. Although attracted to Ben, I was also guarded. It wasn’t easy for me to open my heart to him.

Alexis: What is it about Benjamin that draws you to him? Is there anything about him that you do not like?

Hope: From the moment we met, his gorgeous blue eyes mesmerized me. Ben is quiet, but when he speaks, what he relays has meaning. He’s introspective, and he feels deeply. As a Christian woman, it’s attractive to see a man who embraces his faith, but who also struggles with it. To me, it shows that he wants to learn and grow—and be in relationship with his Lord. Ben’s artistic ability draws me to him. His paintings are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen, and they touch my heart in ways that’s difficult to explain.

As for what I don’t like . . . It frustrates me when he has a hard time believing in his great talent, and it makes me crazy when he’s tempted to hide his artistic gift from the world.

Alexis: Benjamin loves painting and you love drawing. They say that it’s not a good idea for two artists to be romantically involved with each other. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

Hope: There are definitely pros and cons. Sometimes only an artist is able to understand the mind and heart of another artist. On the other hand, artistic people are also sensitive, and it can be difficult to hear and accept constructive criticism from someone who thinks they know better. People involved in a romantic relationship or a friendship also have to be careful about not getting too competitive. Because Ben and I focus our talents in different areas, we may find it easier to be supportive of each other than if we were both painters or designers.

Alexis: As a reader, I inferred that Benjamin is a family man who loves helping people in need. When you first learned that he spent much of his time helping his younger sibling rebuild a farm that was an inheritance from a great-uncle, how did you feel? Why?

Hope: The fact that Ben was so loyal to his family and friends warmed my heart. It also showed me how self-sacrificing he could be for someone he cared about. I can respect and love a man like that.

Alexis: The small rural town of Riverton, Wisconsin, is the setting for your story. What do you love about that town? Is there anything you do not like about it? Explain.

Hope: Riverton is a peaceful, pretty town, with a wonderful community spirit. At times, it’s been surprising to see how caring the farmers and townspeople are and how they rally support when someone needs help. However, it’s difficult getting used to having much of your life exposed. Maybe it’s not true, but sometimes it feels like everyone in town seems to know what’s going on in other households. You can’t hide in a crowd like you can in a large city. 

Alexis: As a woman of faith, how does your belief in God affect your life story as you endeavor to follow your dreams?

Hope: It’s so important to me that I use my talents to serve God. I think we’re accountable to use our gifts and not waste them. Even though my desire is to create beautiful clothing designs, I strive to seek God’s design for my life. Because I believe I’m on the right path, I try not to let failure discourage me to the point of quitting. Instead, I try to trust God’s timing, and I keep working at getting better at my craft so I’ll be ready when the door to opportunity opens.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Hope! God bless you.

Hope: Thank you for having me as your guest!

~*~
Author Bio: 

Dawn Kinzer writes fiction because she believes in the power of story to comfort, challenge, and inspire. 

Her work has been published in the Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Backyard Friends (magazine), The One Year Life Verse Devotional, A Joyful Heart: Experiencing the Light of His Love, and featured on the radio ministry, "The Heartbeat of the Home". 

Dawn’s historical romance series, The Daughters of Riverton, takes place in the early 1900s. The setting and some of the characters were inspired by her rural Wisconsin hometown. Sarah’s Smile is the first story in the series, and Hope’s Design is the second. A third novel, Rebecca’s Song, will be released in 2017.

A mother and grandmother, Dawn lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Favorite things that she loves include dark chocolate, cinnamon, popcorn, strong coffee, good wine, the mountains, family time, and Masterpiece Theatre. 

~*~
Buy Dawn's book:
Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, Paperback: http://amzn.to/2cgyjgt
Barnes & Noble – Paperback: http://bit.ly/2gzED5G
Books-A-Million – Paperback: http://bit.ly/2iNfw0g

~*~
Connect with Dawn:
Website - www.dawnkinzer.com
Blog - www.dawnkinzer.blogspot.com
Goodreads - www.goodreads.com/author/show/15811132.Dawn_Kinzer
Facebook - www.facebook.com/dawn.kinzer.9
Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/dkinzer9/boards
Instagram - www.instagram.com/dawnkinzer
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+DawnKinzer
Amazon Author Page - http://amzn.to/2jdkua3

~*~

Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book review: Your Beautiful Heart

Celebrating true beauty in an airbrushed world can be a tough mission to accomplish. But in her book "Your Beautiful Heart," Lauren Scruggs shows the reader through personal stories that take place in real life that looking beyond, well looks, is possible and necessary to your health and happiness.

Lauren works as a fashion journalist and is the founder and editor of LOLO Magazine. She also is the author of Still LoLo, a memoir of her accident and recovery. Lauren shows her readers of "Your Beautiful Heart" that God can take your pain and give you purpose. He can turn your broken into beautiful and use the story of how He changed your life to encourage and change the hearts of people who are hurting. 

This book review was written by Alexis A. Goring, founder of this blog "God is Love".

~*~
Celebrating true beauty in an airbrushed world
(Book review of Your Beautiful Heart)

“Your Beautiful Heart: 31 Reflections on love, faith, friendship and becoming a girl who shines” is a beautiful, real-life story equipped with a timeless message for females both young and old. A book worth every bit of a five-star rating, fortified with a message that’s worth sharing. God’s glory which shines through Lauren’s story has the power to uplift, educate and inspire the world. 

The book is divided into six sections: Your Seeking Heart, Your Changed Heart, Your Obedient Heart, Your Heart for Others, Your Distinctive Heart and Your Heart Looking Forward. Every section of the book contains a minimum of four and a maximum of seven mini-chapters. An introduction sets the scene for sharing Lauren's story and an epilogue by the author closes it.

Just within the first few pages of the Introduction called “An Imprint on Your Heart”, the author Lauren Scruggs identifies a lie and a truth. The lie is from the world of fashion and beauty which tells young women everywhere that “A certain kind of physical appearance equals beauty.” As the reader turns the page, the author refutes that lie with a timeless truth: “God’s love in your heart is your beauty” and the heart of Lauren’s message is laid bare. “This book is about how God’s love makes a person breathtaking,” she says.

In “Your Seeking Heart”, the opening section for her book, Lauren spends two pages pointing out that nowhere in the Bible will you find much attention paid to a person’s looks. No deep description of a person’s outward appearance is mentioned. “And even Jesus, the pivotal person in the whole Bible, is never described in terms of his appearance,” Lauren writes. Therein the author explains her point for I believe the entire book. The point is if looks are not highlighted or touted as important in the Bible then why are we so focused on it in our modern day world?

Lauren drives her message home in the section of the book titled “Your Changed Heart” with a question posed on page 55 of chapter 07 which is called “A Heart that Knows.” Lauren asks the reader, “Have you ever thought of the Bible as God’s voice? As him coming down to speak to you and me and everyone?” Following her on the next few pages, Lauren proves why the thought behind her question is true and on page 57 she so perfectly ends that conversation with this quote, “A beautiful heart wants to know God and gets to know him through his Word.” It becomes clear to the reader as they flip through the pages of Lauren’s book that she not only knows God but loves Him and endeavors to share His love with the world. Such is the story of a person’s life transformed by God’s love. It is a testimony of how God can always turn broken into beautiful and that with God, no pain in your life is without purpose.

God used Lauren’s pain in losing her left eye and hand to launch a ministry. He worked through Lauren to not only bring healing to her own heart but to give Lauren a mission of spreading His love, joy and peace to a broken world through the sharing of her story. God continues to use Lauren as an instrument of His peace through her ministry of writing books and reaching people through her work in the fashion, print media and publishing industries. But God did not stop there! Lauren’s unique story changed her life in a special way when it led to her being interviewed on E! News by host Jason Kennedy with whom she fell in love.

Lauren and Jason Kennedy on their wedding day. Photo credits: Lindsey Brittain and Kat Harris

Later on, Jason wrote the Foreward to Lauren’s book in which he gave a poignant tribute to his now wife which perfectly summarizes the key message of Your Beautiful Heart. He said, “I’ve always been moved by Lauren’s story. She’s been through so much, and her whole life changed on the day of her accident. But then I think, So did mine. Without that day, I never would have met her, seen her gorgeous smile, or known her beautiful heart. I never would have filled her apartment with white tulips and lit candles outside her balcony that spelled “Will you marry me?” I don’t know why God chose this path for us, but I can’t help but be grateful that I got the chance to propose, that Lauren said yes, and that I will be able to spend the rest of my life with a woman who is truly beautiful—not just on the outside, but in every way that matters most.”

There you have it: What matters most is not your looks, what matters most is your heart.