Thankful Thursday: Earth is NOT Our Home

It's Thursday and I'm thankful that Earth is NOT our home.

"Why?" You may ask. Allow me to explain.

I don't think you have to look far these days to see signs of trouble. It's clear that with the state of the world and human affairs today, life is getting more complicated and more unpredictable. Mother Nature is having mood swings (hot weather in months that are supposed to be cold, cold weather in months that are supposed to be hot) and people are getting more comfortable with disrespecting each other. It's sad.

Lately, I've realized that I've been so busy trying to establish myself as a career professional and secure a place for me in this world that I've forgotten one Bible based truth: Earth is NOT our home.

So where is our home? If you're a believer in God and a follower of Jesus Christ then you know that Heaven is our true home. As Christians, we are just passing through which is why God advises us in His Word (The Holy Bible) to not get too comfortable here on this planet Earth.

According to The Message Bible, God advises us, "Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives" (1 Peter 2:11-12, MSG).

I love the Bible book of Hebrews, especially Chapter 11 of Hebrews. I call it “The Faith Chapter” because it shows us how our spiritual forefathers like Abraham followed God without question. They had full faith in where He was leading. Abraham literally packed his bags and took his family on a journey to a destination unknown just because God said, “Go.”

I want to have the faith of father Abraham to the point where my life is summed up simply as, “God sent, she went!” I want to follow Him to the ends of the Earth. I want to serve Him with all of my heart and be a willing and true vessel for His purpose. I want to be one of His servants who He uses as an instrument of His peace. I want to, as St. Francis of Assisi said, be used as an instrument of God’s peace. Honestly, in our modern times on this Earth, I think it is a prayer that every Christ-follower should pray to God.

Let’s read St. Francis’ prayer. He said: “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.”

A lot of times when life on Earth makes me overwhelmed, discouraged or too depressed to pray, I ask God-fearing friends to pray for me. One of those friends is an older lady who wakes up early in the morning every day to pray for everyone on her prayer list. Recently, I reached out to her in my distress and her answer to me was simple. She told me, “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ.” And honestly, it upset me because it felt like she was bypassing my pain with Bible-based advice and for the rest of the day, I silently stewed, thinking that she doesn’t know what I’m dealing with or she wouldn’t say that to me. I’m hurt! I’m in pain! I’m overwhelmed! I’m oppressed and depressed and THIS is what she tells me? BUT God started working on my heart and I realized that though her advice seemed simple, it was the perfect answer because only God can give me perfect peace.

It’s like this song by Laura Story:

So my dear friends, as this world gets crazier and the weather becomes more unpredictable and you’re feeling too overwhelmed to function, keep your eyes on Jesus Christ because only He can give you perfect peace.

Please remember that if you believe in the Creator of the Universe (God), Earth is NOT our home. We are, like our spiritual forefathers mentioned in The Faith Chapter, “waiting for the city with permanent foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10, ISV).

Heaven is our home. It’s a place free of sin and sorrow. No more death, depression, oppression, despair, injustice or inequities. The day is coming when God will make everything right. Until then, let us as my prayer warrior church friend says, “Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.”

God bless you!

Love,

Alexis

Spring into Love: A story about abuse and God's healing power

Interview with Jo Huddleston, author of Tidewater Summer:

Alexis: Does the title of your book have special significance? Explain.

Jo: The story in Tidewater Summer equates the turbulence and danger of the ocean’s tidewater to the heroine’s recent experience of physical abuse at the hands of her fiancé.

Alexis: What is the theme for your story, Tidewater Summer?

Jo: Tidewater Summer is a story of renewal from brokenness.

Alexis: Rose Marie Henley is your story’s heroine. What qualities make people like—and strongly dislike—her? Describe her looks, personality, and heart.

Jo: Rose has brown eyes, she’s a brunette, and is tall and athletic. Her personality is subdued, damaged from the physical abuse she has encountered. Before the abuse, her heart was full of love that she shared with her fiancé, her parents, and longtime best friend.

Alexis: Why is Rose seeking solitude?

Jo: Rose is seeking solitude to escape additional abuse from her former fiancé, and to heal from her wounds.

Alexis: What, in her heart of hearts, does Rose really want?

Jo: When the story begins, Rose wants only to be alone. As the story continues and her character grows, she becomes more receptive to others.

Alexis: Rose was in a romantic relationship with a man who was physically abusive. Why did you make him abusive? What were the challenges of writing those scenes?

Jo: I find visits to beaches have a cleansing effect, a balm for whatever ails you. My premise was to write a story about a woman who visits a beach to get over a traumatic event in her life. The most traumatic event humans usually experience relates to their relationships. Tidewater Summer is the result of my story's premise and imagination.

Alexis: How does Rose’s ex-boyfriend’s abuse impact her life story?

Jo: The abuse Rose experiences fill her with fear, she’s broken and confused. Where romance is concerned, Rose must find a way to deal with the past in order to move on in the future. 

Alexis: Rose’s Great-Aunt Clara opens her beach home to Rose for the summer in North Carolina. What moves Rose to take it? How does staying there benefit her life?

Jo: Rose has fond memories of many family vacations spent at her Aunt Clara’s beach house in South Carolina. It is a stable place of safety. 

Alexis: Frank Sutton is your story’s hero. Why does Rose think he’s “over the top handsome”? Describe his looks, personality, and heart.

Jo: When Rose meets Franklin Sutton, she isn’t looking for another relationship and only regards his physical appearance—blond hair, blue eyes, tall—that she describes as over-the-top handsome. Frank is a patient, godly man, a true Southern gentleman. He senses Rose has been treated badly and is gentle in his approach to her.

Alexis: Despite her attraction to Frank, Rose doesn’t want a man in her life. Why?

Jo: Rose has thankfully escaped marrying her abusive fiancé. Her physical and emotional wounds are raw and she doesn’t want to give another man the opportunity to do to her the same as her former fiancé.

Alexis: Frank is smitten with Rose. What does he see in her that enthralls him?

Jo: Frank senses Rose’s hurt, her victim personality. He wants to protect her, care for her, help her recover. Her brown eyes almost mesmerize him.

Alexis: What does it take for him to win her over?

Jo: Frank must break through her defenses and convince her to open her heart to trust him.

Alexis: What do you want readers to remember most about Tidewater Summer?

Jo: God didn’t create us for self-reliance or isolation. Scripture says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Those in the New Testament church relied on close friends or brothers and sisters in Christ for support—bearing one another’s burdens! If we share our burdens, our load is not as heavy, and with a lighter load, we know relief.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Jo! Would you like to share closing thoughts?

Jo: Alexis, thank you for having me on your blog for a visit.

~*~
Author bio: 

Jo Huddleston is a multi-published author of books, articles, and short stories. 

Novels she has written include her West Virginia Mountains series, her endearing Caney Creek series, and her standalone novel, Tidewater Summer. These are sweet, Southern historical romances. 

Jo is a member of ACFW and the Literary Hall of Fame at Lincoln Memorial University (TN). 

Learn more at www.johuddleston.com where you can read first chapters of her novels and novellas and also sign up for her mailing list.

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Book blurb for Tidewater Summer: Will Rose find the solitude she seeks during her island summer or is solitude what she really wants? 

A compelling story of one woman’s pursuit of restoration from physical abuse at the hands of her fiancé. Rose Marie Henley’s Great-Aunt Clara convinces Rose to spend the summer at her South Carolina beach house.

Aunt Clara’s handyman sends his nephew to repair Rose’s water heater. Last year Rose would have been excited to see his over-the-top handsome nephew, Frank Sutton. But now she doesn’t want any man in her life again.

Frank has an instant attraction to Rose. Can he break through her defenses? He’ll do anything to protect her, but will she open her heart to trust him?

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Buy Jo's book on Amazon

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Connect with Jo:

Website and blog (Read novel first chapters here): http://www.johuddleston.com

Sign up for Jo’s mailing list: http://bit.ly/1ZFaZwG

Amazon Author page: http://amzn.to/2cfSroU

Facebook Author page: http://bit.ly/2aqFEeT

Facebook personal page: http://on.fb.me/1Ubic69

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1QAPtFv

Inspirational blog: http://bit.ly/1QAPRnr

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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. 
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Music spotlight: The Prayer

Interview: Vannetta Chapman, author of Anna’s Healing

Welcome another teacher-turned-author to the blog, Vannetta Chapman! She's written a book called Anna's Healing and she's ready to share it with you! 

Read Vannetta's author interview below this message AND enter the book giveaway contest through filling out the Rafflecopter widget toward the end of this post, for your chance to WIN a copy of Anna's Healing.

Sounds exciting, doesn't it? Enjoy your time with Vannetta today! 

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Alexis: Anna’s Healing starts a new collection written by you. What is the name of that collection and why did you choose Anna’s Healing as the first story?

Vannetta: The collection is Plain & Simple Miracles. It’s a collection instead of a series, which means that the stories are all standalones, but they take place in the same community setting. I wanted Anna’s Healing to be first because we’re introducing the community through the eyes of a young girl who is visiting and unsure where she fits in. Also, there was an e-book only novella titled Brian’s Choice which actually came out before Anna’s Healing. 

Why did you choose to write about an Amish community in Oklahoma? Is it purely fictional or is your story based on real-life people? 

The community exists, but the place I call Cody’s Creek is actually called Chouteau. I wanted to write about a place closer to where I live. Since I’m in Texas and we only have one very small Amish community, Oklahoma seemed like a good choice. The story itself and the people are fictional.

Why did you choose to make family and love the theme of this new collection?

Some of the most important and influential relationships occur within our families. When Christ tells us to “love your neighbor as yourself,” I believe that starts with your family!

How much time did you spend writing Anna’s Healing? What was the most challenging part of the writing process?

I’m on a fast deadline for these books, so I believe I wrote it in four months. The most challenging part was figuring out where to take the story after Anna is healed.

Let’s talk about your three main characters (not including Anna): Chloe, Jacob and Ruth. Describe the strengths, quirks, flaws, and deepest desire.

Chloe is Englisch—she is standing on the outside looking in. She’s a reporter and she strikes up this unusual relationship with a young Amish woman. I like how I was able to provide an outsider’s perspective through Chloe.

Jacob is not your typical Amish male. He’s restless. He isn’t ready to settle down, and so he travels from one community to the next, helping with planting and harvesting. When he lands in Cody’s Creek, he has no idea that God has a completely different plan for his life. I loved the development of this character as he learns to put the needs of others before his own.

Ruth is a cornerstone of this story. She’s 89 years old and shrinking, but she’s a giant in the faith. It’s Ruth’s love and faithfulness that leads to Anna’s healing.

Let’s talk about your heroine Anna. When the reader first meets Anna, what is she doing? What does Anna love? What does she dislike? What is the reason for her sickness and what impact does her miracle healing have on her community?

We start this story with Anna trying to find her place in Cody’s Creek. She’s agreed to live with her aunt for a year because she can’t find a job (or a man) to suit her. Anna loves her family, but she feels like the black sheep. Then she’s injured during a tornado. Why Anna? Why now, when she’s in the prime of her life? Why is she healed, not immediately, but many months later? These are all questions we grapple with in the story.

What is the moral of the story?

That God’s grace is sufficient, regardless our circumstance.

As a woman who believes in God, do you think He still can heal people miraculously just like he did for your fictional character Anna? Why or why not?

Yes, I do. Like many believers, I don’t understand why God heals some and not others. We have people in our family with what is called a “dread disease.” Why us? Why now? These are all questions that believers struggle with. In the end, I can only trust and believe that God’s grace is sufficient.

What do you love the most about writing Amish fiction/romance?

I love their down-to-earth attitude. After meeting so many Amish folks, it’s a joy for me to write about their lifestyle.

As a writer, what is your go-to-food or beverage when you’re on deadline?

Coffee. Always coffee. And occasionally chocolate!

What’s next for you in your publishing dreams?

Joshua’s Mission (book 2 in this collection) releases January 1. I adore this story, which centers around Amish participation in missions, something few people know about.

Thank you for the interview, Vannetta! Please leave a question for my readers to answer that will qualify them to enter your book giveaway contest.

What is your go-to-food or beverage when you’re feeling pressured?

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Author bio:

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She has published over 100 articles in Christian family magazine and received more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Her novel, Falling to Pieces, was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award finalist. A Promise for Miriam earned a spot on the June 2012 Christian Retailing Top Ten Fiction list. Chapman was a teacher for 15 years and currently writes full time. She lives in the Texas hill country with her husband. For more information, visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com 

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Book blurb:

Anna’s Healing is the first book in a brand-new collection from popular author Vannetta Chapman. These stories of love and family and Amish community in Oklahoma tell of the miracles that can happen when lives are lived in service to God and to one another.

When a tornado strikes the farms surrounding Cody’s Creek, Anna Schwartz’s life is changed forever. She suffers a spinal cord injury and suddenly finds herself learning to live as a paraplegic.

Three people—Chloe Roberts, Jacob Graber, and Ruth Schwartz—join forces to help Anna through her darkest days. Chloe is an Englischer who writes for the local paper. Jacob has recently arrived in town and stays on as a hired hand at her uncle’s. And Ruth is her grandmother, a woman of deep faith and a compassionate spirit.

Then one morning Anna wakes and finds herself healed. How did it happen? Why did it happen? And what is she to do now? Her life is again turned upside down as the world’s attention is drawn to this young Amish girl who has experienced the unexplainable.

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Buy Vannetta's book:

Amazon - http://amzn.to/1RqDHwK
Barnes & Noble - http://bit.ly/1j95G95
Christianbook.com - http://bit.ly/1L1EakO

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Connect with Vannetta:
Website - http://vannettachapman.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VannettaChapmanBooks
Instagram - https://instagram.com/vannettachapman/

Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/vannettachapman/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/VannettaChapman

The Story of Jesus Christ, a Christmas devotional relevant all year

Christmas Eve is today which means Christmas Day is tomorrow, at least here in the United States of America. But if you live in Australia or Asia, you are already celebrating Christmas Day because where you live the date is Dec. 25, 2014. Isn't it amazing how one side of the world is living in today and the other side is already witnessing tomorrow?

What's even more amazing is the story of Jesus Christ. He came into this world in the form of a baby to give us life. Not only to teach us how to live every day life for God but to show us the way to heaven so that at the end of humankind's story here on Earth, we can have a chance at eternal life.

What better way to celebrate the holiday season than to remember the reason for the season (Jesus Christ)? Today, I invite you to read a devotional written by Katheryn Maddox Haddad, a woman with a heart for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Take it away Katheryn! 

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The Story of Jesus Christ: A Christmas Devotional

Written by Katheryn Maddox Haddad

The adjustments Jesus had to make for us. They were infinite.

He gave up his spirit body that could be everywhere in the cosmos at once, to be confined in a human body that could only touch, see, and hear a few feet in any direction.

He gave up his throne for an animal’s feed trough. He could have at least been born in the holy temple. But that was not enough. He had to give up everything.

He gave up glory for swaddling bands. He could have brought with him a halo; he preferred to become, in every way, one of us.

He gave up the admiration of angels for no one even noticing his birth except for dirty, smelly shepherds. They couldn’t even stay very long to worship him.

He gave up streets of gold for streets sometimes littered with putrid garbage.

He gave up the protective love of his Father to be chased by an evil king until his parents had to flee their own country to protect him.

He gave up the tree of life so he could wander the hills without even a place to lay his head so he could give people his bread of life.

He gave up most of his powers most of the time so he wouldn’t make us feel too inferior. He could have called lightning down on sinners. He held his powers back and only used them to prove who he was ~ the Prince of Peace.

He gave up angel songs for weeping.

He gave up tranquility to be tortured on a cross. How easily he could have willed himself down from it. He knew he had been born to die.

He had never been born before. He had never died before. It was only by doing both that he could overcome death for us, and give us new birth.

All this he did for his enemies, sinners of the world ~ all of us.

It is beyond our comprehension to fathom what he gave up. It is beyond our grasp to understand. God put his words in a human body for awhile so he could walk the earth with us. Such love. We are awed.

All we can do is fall at his feet and whisper, “Thank you.”

~*~
About the author: 

Katheryn Maddox Haddad grew up in the north and now lives in Arizona where there is no snow. She lives with her palm trees, cacti, music, and a computer with most of the letters worn off.

With a bachelor’s degree in English, Bible and social science from Harding University and part of a master’s degree in Bible, including Greek, from the Harding Graduate School of Theology, she also has a master’s degree in management and human relations from Abilene University.

Her newspaper column appeared for several years in newspapers in Texas and North Carolina ~ Little Known Facts About the Bible ~ and she has written for numerous Christian publications. For several years, she has been sending out every morning a daily scripture and short inspirational thought to some 10,000 people around the world.

She spends half her day writing, and the other half teaching English over the internet worldwide using the Bible as text book. She has taught some 5000 Muslims through World English Institute. Students she has converted to Christianity are in hiding in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Uzbekestan, and Palestine. “They are my heroes,” she declares.

Katheryn is a member of Christian Writers of the West and American Christian Fiction Writers, and is also an energetic public speaker who can touch the heart of audiences.

Her books include Applied Christianity, Inside the Hearts of Bible Women, The Holy Spirit in 365 Scriptures, Revelation: A Love Letter From God, Worship Changes Since the First Century, Worship the First-Century Way, The Best of Alexander Campbell’s Millennial Harbinger, and Christianity or Islam: The Contrast. Her Inspirations Under the Thinking Tree is a series of short reads on numerous thoughtful topics. She has also written two books on genealogy.

Connect with Katheryn:

Official website, inspirationsbykatheryn.com

Webpage about Star Song: http://inspirationsbykatheryn.com/historical-novel-about-jesus

Pinterest board for Star Song: http://www.pinterest.com/haddad1940/book-1-star-song

Video about Star Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6-gaxUF-d0

Amazon for adult’s version of book Star Song, http://amzn.to/1sQHrtV

Amazon for child’s version of Star Song: http://amzn.to/1ETiDZP

Barnes and Noble for all books: http://bit.ly/1ql2BVS