Spring into Love: Jenna Victoria's devotional about her book

At the Crossroads
A devotional written by Jenna Victoria, author of Love Among the Lilacs

In my latest release, Love Among the Lilacs, several characters encounter challenges that put them at a crossroads. Do they turn left, towards anger, resentment, and defeat? Do they turn right, towards hope, strength, and resilience–embracing the difficulties of life?

It says in Joshua 1:9, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

My heroine, Mollie Wright, needs to choose whether or not to forgive her stepbrother Bryce and mother Lucille for deep emotional wounds. Will she remain hopeful when circumstances point her towards being homeless again?

The hero, attorney Sean Grady, had his heart broken by his fiancé and younger brother, who left town together five years before. Professionally, he protects elderly clients from abuse and financial losses by ruthless relatives. He wears his mistrust of others like a shield. Will he forgive and forget or allow his heart to thicken into granite?

Bryce Wright is treading a dangerous path with his ‘gangsta’ friends. His latest theft pulls Mollie and Sean into a no-win situation. Will he repent and turn himself in?

We’ve all been there. Crossroads prompt us to choose the right path, or the wrong one. My own no-win situation occurred in May 2012, with a diagnosis of recurrent metastatic breast cancer. A mastectomy, radiation, lumpectomy, re-radiation and continual chemotherapy followed. I will be receiving chemo every 21 days until Jesus calls me home.

I could have chosen to blame God, to turn bitter and move away from Him. Instead, undergirded with strength from the Holy Spirit, claiming the truth in Joshua 1:9–I moved even closer to Him. At first, my confidence and faith was all “head knowledge.” I was like the father of the mute son in Mark 9:24: “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

Eventually, gradually, through consciously choosing that “right path” over and over - even when I didn’t feel a connection or felt my words were echoes in my empty room - my closeness with the Lord blossomed into a core heart knowledge. In time I experienced the truth and promise found in James 4:8, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” 

Today, my head and my heart are in alignment, and at perfect peace, despite my circumstances.

The most brilliant of diamonds come into being only by intense pressure and high heat. Pastor Greg Laurie is quoted as saying, “Suffering does not create character, it reveals it.” 

May your own trials and crossroads reveal a heart willing to experience whatever is in store, remaining in faith and expectation of His provision.

In Him,

Jenna Victoria

*All Scripture in this devotional is quoted from the King James Version of The Holy Bible.

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Author bio: 

Ever since her grandfather co-created Twinkies, Snowballs, and Hostess cupcakes for Intercontinental Baking Company, circa 1955, Jenna has yet to taste a cake she hasn't liked.

Jenna writes books for readers who enjoy sweet and compelling romances, and also for those who look for her “fiction that feeds your faith” titles. 

She writes happily-ever-after romance and romantic suspense stories with a Christian worldview. Her stories emulate those she enjoys reading, ones with a heroine who is in grave danger and a hero who is smart enough to get out of her way as she kicks butt and takes down names. Jenna also enjoys stories that feature satisfying fairy-tale-endings.

Jenna's clean romances won’t put you into a diabetic coma, and her faith-based romances aren’t preachy or unrealistic. It is her glad purpose to glorify God and His sacrificial love through His Son, Jesus Christ through books that illustrate hope and peace in unbearable situations. Her first triple negative breast cancer diagnosis in 2012 has led to surgeries, radiation, reoccurrences and incurable metastasis. Still, Jenna continues to praise God and trust His oversight in her life, and she continues to write more books.

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Blurb for Jenna Victoria's book: Bookkeeper Mollie Wright knows about living on the streets, and her purchase of sweet Lilac Cottage is a dream come true. She is determined to stay and fight when a legal error puts her ownership at risk. 

Attorney Sean Grady never wanted his great-aunts to sell their cottage in Westchester County, New York, so when a paperwork snafu puts the deal on hold, he moves swiftly to evict the pretty, feisty squatter. 

Mollie finds unexpected allies in Grady Cove neighbors and a member of Sean's own family but knows the clock is ticking. 

Will a theft and her past secrets force a showdown to heartache, or will Mollie and Sean discover home is truly where your heart is? 

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Buy Love Among the Lilacs on Amazon

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Connect with Jenna Victoria:
Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/author/jennavictoria/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/jennavictori
Facebook - www.facebook.com/jennavictoriaauthor/
Blog - http://bookishbydesign.com
Book Review Blog - www.jennavictoria.com/category/on-jennas-shelf-reviews/

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