Who Do You Think You Are?
A personal essay by June Foster
I love to write characters who find healing in their lives after discovering their identity in Christ. Graham Maier from Lavender Fields Inn could never quite please his father. Greg, Graham's brother (and his dad's favorite), always took first place in the Maier home. Greg was a better athlete, made friends more easily, and as an adult entered a profession his father admired. So Graham grew up believing he didn't measure up to his parents' standards. I could relate.
Here's what happens so often. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world and many of us grow up without the affirmation we need. Other people, or even our loved ones, point out our faults. If they're spoken in love, that's one thing. But sometimes the criticisms are harsh and destructive. And we tend to internalize what they've said.
But here's the good news that Graham learned. There's One who's opinion is more valuable than rubies, silver, or gold. When we become grounded in what God says about us, we can walk in freedom.
God declares us not guilty of sin. "All are justified freely by this grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." ~Romans 3:24
We don't have to live life under a burden of disapproval from others. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." ~Romans 8:1
We are brand new people, different than we used to be. "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" ~2 Corinthians 5:17
We are blameless in His sight. "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." ~Ephesians 1:4
So here's the good news. We are adopted as God's dear children. "In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ." ~Ephesians 1:5
Graham learned a secret. Instead of striving to please his earthly father, real peace came when he realized what God said about him and how much his Heavenly Father valued him.
~*~
Author bio:
I love to write characters who find healing in their lives after discovering their identity in Christ. Graham Maier from Lavender Fields Inn could never quite please his father. Greg, Graham's brother (and his dad's favorite), always took first place in the Maier home. Greg was a better athlete, made friends more easily, and as an adult entered a profession his father admired. So Graham grew up believing he didn't measure up to his parents' standards. I could relate.
Here's what happens so often. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world and many of us grow up without the affirmation we need. Other people, or even our loved ones, point out our faults. If they're spoken in love, that's one thing. But sometimes the criticisms are harsh and destructive. And we tend to internalize what they've said.
But here's the good news that Graham learned. There's One who's opinion is more valuable than rubies, silver, or gold. When we become grounded in what God says about us, we can walk in freedom.
God declares us not guilty of sin. "All are justified freely by this grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." ~Romans 3:24
We don't have to live life under a burden of disapproval from others. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." ~Romans 8:1
We are brand new people, different than we used to be. "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" ~2 Corinthians 5:17
We are blameless in His sight. "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." ~Ephesians 1:4
So here's the good news. We are adopted as God's dear children. "In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ." ~Ephesians 1:5
Graham learned a secret. Instead of striving to please his earthly father, real peace came when he realized what God said about him and how much his Heavenly Father valued him.
~*~
Author bio:
An award-winning author, June Foster is a retired teacher with a B.A. in Education and M.A. in Counseling.
In 2013, June's book Give Us This Day was a finalist in EPIC's eBook awards and in 2014 a finalist in the National Readers Choice Awards for best first book. Ryan's Father was one of three finalists in the published contemporary fiction category of the 2014 Oregon Christian Writers Cascade Writing Contest and Awards. Deliver Us was a finalist in COTT's 2014 Laurel Awards.
June has written several novels for Desert Breeze Publishing: The Bellewood Series, Give Us This Day, As We Forgive, and Deliver Us, and Hometown Fourth of July. Ryan's Father is published by WhiteFire Publishing. Red and the Wolf, a modern day retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, is available on Amazon.com. The Almond Tree series, For All Eternity, Echoes From the Past, What God Knew, and Almond Street Mission, are available at Amazon.com as well. Misty Hollow was published by Helping Hands Press.
June enjoys writing stories about characters who overcome the circumstances in their lives by the power of God and His Word. Recently, June has seen the publication of her books, Christmas at Raccoon Creek and Lavender Fields Inn.
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Blurb for June's book:
Love grows amid the flowers in the magnificent Rockies at Lavender Fields Inn, but romance can be deceptive at times.
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Blurb for June's book:
Love grows amid the flowers in the magnificent Rockies at Lavender Fields Inn, but romance can be deceptive at times.
Wren Tabor hopes the cool Colorado air at Lavender Fields Inn will heal her aching heart after her former boyfriend betrays her. When she literally bumps into handsome accountant Graham Maier, the painful memories from the past begin to fade. But after she sees Graham kissing another woman, she figures no man can be trusted.
Graham Maier needs to prove to his father he's as capable as his brother Greg. The Rocky Mountain Anglers' Tournament at Gold Pan Lake will give him the chance. But he must win first place. After he meets Wren, a woman like the unnamed girl who's occupied his dreams, he can't understand why she suddenly won't speak to him.
Can Wren learn to trust men again? Can Graham understand how valuable he is in God's sight?
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Buy June's book on Amazon
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Connect with June:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/vjifoster
Website - www.junefoster.com
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Thanks so much for featuring Lavender Fields Inn today, Alexis. I hope many will take away the truth of how valuable they are to God.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being my guest, June! :) Take care and God bless you.
DeleteAt some point, we have all wrestled with our value in God's eyes. I sure know I have. What a great reminder that each of us are precious in His sight.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with you because we've ALL been there. But thankfully, God loves us ALL unconditionally! He's such a GREAT God! :)
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