Devotionals for the Heart: God can turn your brokenness into beauty

A Good Work
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

It’s hard to be confident in our comparison-heavy society.

Mustering up courage is a monumental feat. Standing your ground in knowing that God is true, faithful and for us, can be a challenge. We can succumb to the challenge more than we realize.

Not that we intentionally succumb, but we allow ourselves to entertain subtle lies from the enemy that erode our confidence in God.

How can we overcome? For starters, we can note the promises of God as we find them in Scripture and record them in an accessible place to go to when the doubts or lies creep in. We need to immerse ourselves in the Truth.

Once we have this going, we can begin to see what God is capable of and is already doing in our lives for His glory. One of those things is working good in us. He is doing a good work in us. He is molding us and making us into the image of His Son. He is sloughing off the rough edges and causing us to shine more brilliant with His light.

He is allowing us to be a broken vessel so more light will shine through to reach more people, the people who need to hear how God is working through each of us. Our story may not be for everyone, but that is God’s decision. We need to be a willing vessel to let Him work in us.

I will admit being a broken vessel is painful. I’ve been in suffering for more than three years and it does not get easier with each passing day. It gets harder. New realities set in, old habits die hard and expectations either go unmet or unnoticed.

But God allows brokenness in us to shine His light brighter. It is when we are weak, He is strong in us. When we admit our weakness and boast about our weaknesses as the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, we boast so the power of Jesus Christ may rest upon us. We admit our brokenness to a lost and hurting world so God can use our vulnerability to minister to others.

Aren’t you more attracted to the one who is vulnerable, weak and honest? Doesn’t the mere message of humility shine forth from one who recognizes God’s work and knows this work is good?

God’s work is good. It may be hard. Even excruciating, but it is good. Our loving Father calls it good. If we look closely at Philippians 1:6, we see that He is working in us. Circumstances can be quite difficult around us, but God will use them to do the good work in our hearts, minds, souls and strength. He is causing all things to work together for our good through Christ Jesus (Romans 8:28).

He is good and does good things for our good (Psalm 119:68). And He is working good in our hearts. That’s a lot of good. I happen to circle the word good every time I see it in my Bible because I want to see it and remember and be comforted in knowing His goodness is here for me.

With God working good in us, one fruit displayed by the Spirit is goodness (Galatians 5:22) pouring out for all to see. By walking in the Spirit and allowing God to have access to our hearts, we in turn can be used as a light with fruit demonstrating to others the good work He is doing in our lives. God is continuing this work and will not be done until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns (Philippians 1:6).

What God has set out to do He will complete, and He will do this in His goodness.

Let’s Pray: Father God, thank You for being good. This is so reassuring in this topsy-turvy world because I can trust in Your faithfulness to be the same, always. May I allow You to carry on the good work in my life and may I truly boast of my weaknesses and my brokenness so Your light will shine brighter to those around. May my thoughts center on You and Your goodness and not on my brokenness because I truly want all the glory to be Yours. In the Name of Your Son, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection: “All Things Are Working” by Fred Hammond. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children and one brand new daughter-in-love, Kerry Sue’s life is very full. She met her husband in college and served in the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the United States of America to raise their family.

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 23 years they have lived on a small farm in Northern California where they have raised many farm animals, along with growing and preserving their food. Kerry Sue’s family farm has been a great source of enjoyment and a place to host many family gatherings. She maintains an open-door policy for dear friends—old and new.

Following and serving Jesus Christ is an integral part of Kerry Sue’s life as well as her family’s.

Whether it’s singing in our church choir, teaching children or leading and lecturing at a women’s Bible study, Kerry Sue loves to demonstrate her love for Jesus by giving to Him in service. She’s been a blogger for more than eight years, a Bible study writer for two years, and a devotional writer for about one year.

Kerry Sue writes about finding God’s Sovereignty in our pain and suffering.

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Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/

Romantic Reads: Borrowed Lives

Book Spotlight on Borrowed Lives by Carol McClain:

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a book about issues that people may struggle with in real life. This will be a short post filled with food for thought!

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Book blurb for Borrowed Lives:

Distraught from recent tragedy, Meredith Jaynes takes pity on a young girl who steals from her. 

 

Meredith discovers “Bean” lives in a hovel mothering her two younger sisters. The three appear to have been abandoned. With no other homes available, Social Services will separate the siblings. To keep them together, Meredith agrees to foster them on a temporary basis.

Balancing life as a soap maker raising goats in rural Tennessee proved difficult enough before the siblings came into her care. Without Bean’s help, she’d never be able to nurture these children warped by drugs and neglect—let alone manage her goats that possess the talents of Houdini. Harder still is keeping her eccentric family at bay.

Social worker Parker Snow struggles to overcome the breakup with his fiancée. Burdened by his inability to find stable homes for so many children who need love, he believes placing the abandoned girls with Meredith Jaynes is the right decision. 

Though his world doesn’t promise tomorrow, he hopes Meredith’s does. But she knows she’s too broken.

~*~
Author Bio:

Carol McClain writes novels about the redemption of the unredeemable. Even her most serious works are laced with humor.

 

She is a consummate encourager, and no matter what your faith might look like, you will find compassion, humor, and wisdom in her complexly layered, but ultimately readable work.

She is a past president of ACFW Knoxville and its current treasurer/secretary. She facilitates Postmark Writers, an offshoot of the LaFollette Art Group. She teaches online courses and is a clinical supervisor for WGU.

In addition to the above, she’s served on the Board of Connections To Recovery, an organization dedicated to keeping addicts sober. She’s mentored recovering addicts, and at one time, had been a foster mother–the complexity and difficulty of that calling proved she was better off writing about it than performing it.

Aside from writing, she’s a skilled stained glass artist and a budding potter.

Carol lives in Tennessee with her husband, kitties, and Springer spaniel, and soon will own a passel of Nigerian Dwarf goats.

~*~

Buy Carol's book, Borrowed Lives, on Amazon

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Connect with Carol:

Website: https://carolmcclain.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.Carol.McClain
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carol_mcclain
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/vansgo/

Devotionals for the Heart: Grief

Season of Grief
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

– Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

I am writing this in a season of grief, during a week that is extremely heavy for me. But I hope this will encourage others. I lost my Mother-in-law two days ago. Tomorrow will be seven months since my grandfather passed, and in two days it will be the fifth-year anniversary since my mother’s passing. I know grief! And the beginning of March will no longer be the same for husband and I.

Losing a loved one is painful, but losing your mother is a void that never gets filled and will never go away. They say time heals all wounds, but I’ll tell you that after you lose your mother, you are never the same.

Although the pain never goes away, God provides the strength and comfort to be able to continue on with life. Day by day, He is with you. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NIV). The strength needed to continue on can only be provided by God. He is the only one who fully understands our pain and grieving has to be one of the worst experiences we endure in this lifetime.

I guess I am writing to say that unfortunately, death is a part of life. We will lose loved ones, our parents, our spouses, and friends because death is the only guarantee in this life. But God is the only one who knows when our time will come. As long as we have a pulse, we have a purpose, and He will push you through this pain. There is purpose for the pain. Push through and continue every day. Even the days you don’t feel like getting out of bed. God is there.

The Bible says in Psalms 34:18 (NIV), “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” This verse has helped me through my grieving seasons and has brought comfort during this one. I know that God is with me during difficult times and through these experiences I am able to relate and help comfort those who are going through the same. Since I’ve already lost my mother, I know the exact pain my husband is feeling right now. I am able to help him get through this difficult transition of living in a world without his Mom.

We go through struggles, pain, difficult times, and challenges in this life and sometimes we don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. But once we overcome that storm, we walk victorious on the other side then we realize how that situation changed us and made us stronger. Don’t give up. This too shall pass.

Let’s Pray: Father God, you know us from the inside out. You know the pain and the struggles we go through and you are the only one who can help us get through these difficult times. You provide the strength and the comfort that we need. You are walking with us when it rains and when the pain seems unbearable, you remind us that you heal us and that we are not alone. Lord, thank you for your peace and comfort and for never leaving my side. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hello, my name is Heidy (Reynoso) De La Cruz. 

I am Dominican-American and I’m passionate about writing! I write poetry, encouraging blog posts about personal experiences and any message that God has stored in my heart. I am working on publishing my first poetry book.

First and foremost, I am a daughter of Jesus Christ. I am also a wife and a mother. I have my master’s degree in Healthcare Administration through Belhaven University’s online course. I have my bachelor’s degree in Science with the concentration of Psychology and Healthcare Administration.

I currently work in the medical field as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, and I’ve been in the medical field for the last six years. I love my career!

My hobbies include writing, reading, watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, traveling, and spending time with my family.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog: https://heidyreynoso.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Read my poetry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidyspoems/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heidyreynoso13
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13

Devotionals for the Heart: Brokenness

Love Anyway
A devotional by Alexis Newlin

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” –John 13:34 (ESV)

There is a lot of brokenness in our nation. Racial clashes, political differences, poverty, divorce, gun violence, injustice; it is everywhere and happening every day.

These are subjects I am afraid to talk about or acknowledge. I don’t watch or read the news often. When I do, I find myself anxious and overwhelmed by it all. When I hear stories about injustice in our country, I get so angry. I hate the brokenness. I wrestle often with what action to take. Sometimes the action that I take is ignoring it but I know that this is incorrect.

Recently I watched a video where the artist expressed how he felt about the brokenness in our nation. It made me sad; even now I tear up writing about it. It was hard to watch as it displayed the brokenness that our nation has struggled with for decades. It is sad that there is so much division, violence and hatred. God didn’t intend for any of this.

Let’s read some Bible verses about what God wants for humankind:

He calls us to love one another: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34 ESV)

He meant for us to be united: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1 ESV)

Division is the plan of the enemy: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25 ESV).

I asked God what my portion is in all of this, because ignoring isn’t an option. God said a few things: Pray. Love others. Speak up.

I will pray that we are united as a nation – despite our differences – and I will pray that all plans from the enemy to destroy us as a nation be destroyed. I will make a choice daily to love others and seek to understand beliefs different from my own. I will choose to see the person, not their color, sexual orientation, economic status, political preference or religion. Even if my voice trembles, I will speak out against injustice.

As children of God, we are called to love anyway. This is how we unite our nation. This is how we defeat division. Today, think of ways that you can love others despite differences. We are so much stronger together. Divided we will fall.

~*~

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

Romantic Reads: Sea Glass Castle

Join me in welcoming one of my new favorite authors, T.I. Lowe, to the blog! 

Her book covers are gorgeous! Confession: I have not actually read her stories yet but I'm convinced by the book cover and blurbs that her stories are amazing! 

She's here today to share the story behind her story Sea Glass Castle.

 Enjoy your time with T.I. today!

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Sea Glass Castle: The Story Behind the Story

A guest post by T.I. Lowe

There is double meaning in the title that gives the reader a clue about the story behind it, and both meanings were the inspiration for this book. As you can imagine a castle made out of glass is considered extremely fragile, and if not enough care is taken it will shatter. 

Life is much the same. The beauty of sea glass is that it’s actually formed from broken pieces that have gone through a turbulent journey in the ocean. It’s perfectly symbolic for my heroine Sophia Prescott’s story. Readers will witness her broken life go through a turbulent journey until forming a beautiful story she never envisioned.

I’m human and stumble a lot more than I let on. The stumble I drew inspiration from for this story is having the mindset of trying to be everything to everyone. It’s not even feasible and I’ve gotten lost a couple of times while trying to do so. I took that struggle and made it Sophia’s. She tries to maintain the façade of having a perfect marriage, home life, and career. Of course, fissures of truth get past her weakening exterior and causes life as she knew it to shatter. She then has to brave rebuilding a new life, being mindful to not make the same mistakes again. 

Our lives may not shatter so drastically as Sophia’s or may even be more severe, but the similar truth here is that it is ultimately up to us to overcome it.

The Bible verse for this book holds a lot of the truths I wanted to share with people. “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NLT)

Sophia has to face some pretty devastating trials, but rises above it for the sake of her child. Her determination to do whatever it took to support her son, which meant humbling herself and accepting a new career path, is absolute inspiration. 

She shows Collin, and readers, that you can overcome obstacles through perseverance and standing firm in your faith. God can and will create beauty from our brokenness if we put our trust in him.

~*~
Author Bio:

Bestselling author T.I. Lowe sees herself as an ordinary country girl who loves to tell extraordinary stories. She knows she’s just getting started and has many more stories to tell.

A wife and mother and active in her church community, she resides in coastal South Carolina with her family.

For a complete list of Lowe’s published books, biography, upcoming events, and other information, visit tilowe.com and be sure to check out her blog, while you’re there!

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Blurb for The Sea Glass Castle:

From the bestselling author of Lulu’s Café ...

Sophia Prescott is still mending from the embarrassment of a highly publicized divorce from a pro football player, and the now-single mother is back in Sunset Cove, surrounded by the supporting love of her family and the Sand Queens. 

Sophia doesn’t think there’s any hope for starting over until an unexpected trip to the pediatrician’s office gives her a second chance after all.

Dr. Weston Sawyer knows all about lives shattering into millions of pieces. His own all but ended when a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and barreled head-on into his pregnant wife’s sedan, killing her instantly and leaving Wes with a soul so wounded that it has refused to heal. 

He packed up and left swampy southern Alabama for South Carolina with the hope of fading into the sleepy coastal town of Sunset Cove. Instead, feisty brunette Sophia Prescott will have him braving something different and entirely unexpected. 

If Sophia and Wes can take the leap to give love another try, they just might find that hope has a way of coming back around and weaving into one’s heart.

~*~

Buy Sea Glass Castle on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or ChristianBook 

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Connect with T.I.:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/T.I.Lowe/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TiLowe
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/T.I.-Lowe/e/B00I4Z5GV6/
Website: https://www.tilowe.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Healing

Fix The Leak: Let God Heal All Your Inner Damages
A devotional by Heather Martin

It was a perfect evening in our home, well as perfect as it could get.

We ate dinner on time, gave the kids baths, had worship, and even had time for a bedtime story. My husband and I could finally have some time to ourselves, so we turned the lights off in our younger kid’s bedroom and tiptoed out into the hallway to breathe a sigh of relief that they had finally gone to sleep, but what was that noise? It sounded like running water!

What could that possibly be? I ran downstairs to see if someone had left a faucet running downstairs in the kitchen only to peek into the breakfast room and find water literally pouring from the ceiling! In full panic mode, I yelled to my husband that we had a flood going on and we got to the bottom of it quickly. It was coming from our guest room toilet on the floor above that was overflowing. Turns out, someone had stopped up the toilet (with toys), flushed it and left it. I ran downstairs to the basement to see if all was well there and found that the room directly below the breakfast room had also flooded! What are the chances? Now we had floors of water damage!

In a panic we quickly figured out how to turn off the water to the house and called a plumber. By the time the plumbers arrived, we were able to stop the water and get most of it mopped up. We called our insurance company and found out that although the outward floors and walls were dry, in order to completely fix the damage, we had to address the water damage behind the walls. To restore things and repair the damage, we had to tear down walls to completely remove all water damage and insure the integrity of our foundation. For the next 6 weeks, because of the water damage, we had open ceilings, exposed wood frames, and dryers blowing on three floors of our house.

Finally, after the floorboards and wall frames were completely dry we had new dry wall, new carpet, and tile installed. The finished product was actually better and more to our taste than these areas of our house before the leak. Ha!

We all have some sort of damage from our childhood, past relationships, self-doubt, and past sins. Instead of addressing the inner damage and root cause, we often fix up the outside with nice clothes, and things, and sometimes force ourselves to smile and act as if there is nothing wrong, all the while we are so hurt and damaged on the inside. 

Here are a few verses that we can say to ask God to heal us from the inside out, say these aloud each day and ask God to help you deal with the damage on the inside:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” – Psalms 51:10-12 (KJV)

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
– Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” – Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV)

Only God can take us through the process of fixing our inner damages.

Let Him in today.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heather Martin was born the last of six siblings in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was raised by an amazing single mother (Rebecca Trotter) and was taught at an early age to love God and how to sing! 

She graduated from Oakwood University with a Bachelor's Degree in Language Arts Education and later received a Master’s Degree in Education from Kaplan University.

Shortly after graduating she followed God’s call to minister. She joined the Stellar, Dove, and Grammy-nominated gospel group Virtue, which was founded by her two older sisters Ebony Holland and Karima Kibble several years prior. Virtue has used their talents to spread the love of God across the world! They have recorded 7 studio albums and have been the recipients of numerous awards.

God has not only blessed Heather professionally, but personally. She met her husband, Dr. Colin Martin, and they have been married for 14 years. They have four children: Colin Jr. 11, Harper 10, Clark, 7, and Charleston 5.

In 2016, Heather started an online blog and vegan and allergen-friendly cooking channel called “Chef Mommy.” Heather (Chef Mommy) has cooked with numerous celebrities and top chefs to spread the news of healthy cooking and lifestyle.

In addition to this busy schedule, Heather enjoys, running, reading, writing and spending time with her family.

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Connect with Heather:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherTMartin
Instagram for Heather: https://www.instagram.com/thechefmommy/
Instagram for Virtue (Heather’s singing group): https://www.instagram.com/virtuegirls
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chefmommyhm

Devotionals for the Heart: Brokenness

Brokenness

A devotional by Nanci Rubin

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."
–Luke 4:18-19 (KJV) 

Most of us at some juncture in our lives have gone through or will go through a crisis, a time of bitter disappointment and rejection. Those are the times when we cling to our friends, family and appreciate the support they give us via love, prayer and standing in the gap until we are over this season of disappointment.

But there are occasions when we face catastrophic events. Events that leave us broken. 

Those times are painful, so painful that it hurts to breathe, you don’t want to get out of bed or see anyone. When we are broken, we are irreparable and can no longer be used. That’s the way it feels and you don’t care. The world can go on without you, all you want is to be left alone because in your eyes, it’s over. And this can be a dangerous time spiritually if we isolate ourselves.

The enemy of our souls wants nothing more than to get us away from the Body of Christ (our church family), distract us from prayer and hope to have us blame God for the horrendous pain we are experiencing. Job’s friends and his wife tried to get him to turn against God. 

They even suggested that Job's plight was his fault, that he must have sinned. No, one doesn’t have to be in sin to have one’s world fall apart.

“In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” –Job 1:22 (KJV)

We live in such a disposable world. When something breaks, we just toss it out and replace it. Unfortunately, many hurting people believe this is their fate when they have been broken. But Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19 that He came to heal the brokenhearted. God has anointed His Son Jesus Christ to heal those of us suffering in brokenness.

Romans 8:24-32 gives us the prescription for healing. The Holy Spirit is interceding to our Heavenly Father on our behalf and praying the Father’s will for our lives. We are encouraged that whom He called he will justify. And not only justify, but glorify. Knowing God and following His Son Jesus Christ gives hope to your heart. 

Read Romans 8:24-32 (NLT):

"We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hopefor it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)"

"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

"For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory."

"What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?"

Closing: 

When you find yourself in a state of brokenness, read Romans 8:24-32 as medicine for your soul. It will heal your heart and give you a hope. 

God loves you and He wants only good things for His children. He is a good, good Father. No matter what you’re going through, you don’t go through it alone. He is right there with you, waiting for your SOS call. Let Him help and heal you.

~*~
Author Bio:

Nanci is a poet and short story writer published in Cypress News, Family Times E-Zine, Free Verse and the Commonwealth of Poetry. 

She belongs to RWA, ACFW, and Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild where she’s enrolled in his novel writing program.

Nanci lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and cats, Romeo and Juliette, along with their newest member of the family, Roni who is a seven-month-old Goldendoodle.

Recently, Nanci completed her debut novel, A Betrayal in Cross Keys. It is an Amish romance that she has placed in her agent's capable hands. The rest is up to God.

Devotionals for the Heart: A Challenge to Remember Who You Are in Christ

Whose Are You?
A devotional by Kristy Horine

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” –1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)

Momma tells the story of how I got my name from time to time.

“I always liked the name Kristine and we knew Robinson was a long last name. So one night when I was sound asleep, your Dad woke me up and said, “Eva! Eva Kristine Robinson!”

“We both liked it, so that’s what we named you,” Momma says.

Eva Kristine.

It just sounds fine, doesn’t it? Perhaps it’s fine because I’ve lived with it for so long that I’m resigned to the name. Perhaps it’s fine because I was named after one of the grandest women I knew growing up: Eva Cundiff Melvin. She was my great-grandmother on Daddy’s Momma’s side. All the grandkids and the great-grandkids called her Ebie. My grandfather Robinson called her Lady Eve.

To me, she was the gourmet chef of burgers cooked to perfection in an iron skillet. She was the dispenser of Fig Newtons that were too expensive for our family to buy. She was the generous giver of “just thinking of you” greeting cards with silver wrapped sticks of Wrigley’s gum tucked inside. She knew all the right forks to use and in what order. She drank her tea in delicate china cups with matching saucers.

And I – the first girl in a long line of grandsons and great-grandsons – had her name. I carried that name everywhere I went. I carried it to family reunions and country church suppers. I carried it to Momma’s homemaker meetings and the occasional trip to the grocery store. I carried it to the garden when I pulled weeds or picked green beans. And, I carried it through the fields I tromped across in search of a lost halter or a stray bunny that might need a home.

I carried it to school with me when I was old enough to go. It was there that I learned how a little girl’s fingers could tremble.

It was a five-mile bus ride from our family farm to the local elementary school. Our bus had to cross two rickety bridges to get to its final destination. When the teachers called roll, they used our full names. When I heard my Ebie’s name, I shot my hand straight as an arrow toward the ceiling. The boys noticed it, too. On the way back home, they sat in the back of the bus, bouncing on the brown plastic seats to the rhythm of the bumps across each rickety bridge. They chanted as they bounced.

“Eva! Eva! Igor! Eva! Eva! Igor!”

Igor? That hunched assistant in Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory?

My face burned with shame. The name of that beautiful woman united in a phrase with a wretched, ugly being? The boys hurled the insults at me and I caught every single one of them. I lost sight of the wonderful woman and focused on the twisted ugliness. I carried those barbs for a long time.

Today, over forty years later, I sometimes struggle just like I did when I was a child. I sometimes forget the reminder that I am adopted through faith into the family of God, because I have repented, believed, and do trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior and my Lord.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
– Romans 8:14-17 (NKJV)

God calls me “daughter”. I call Him “Father”. I have Jesus Christ in my heart. I live by the witness of the Spirit. How, then, can I have this roaring lion in my head? Why do I feel the hot breath of that mangy beast on my neck?

It’s because life on this earth is very much like riding the bus. The bully bouncing on the seat doesn’t want to simply hurt my feelings, he seeks to destroy me and all my adopted sisters and brothers in Christ.

Here is where the Good Father comes in with 1 Peter 5:8 to help us on this ride:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” –1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)

In the Greek, sober means to be calm and collected in spirit. Likewise, the Greek word vigilant means to watch, be cautious, take careful heed. One day, this bus ride of life will stop and we will get off to go to our eternal home.

My Prayer: Abba Father, we still have a ways yet to travel through this life. I pray that for the duration of the ride, You will help us remain sober and vigilant. When the roaring lion makes us forget who and whose we are, give us courage to replace our fear and remind us of the assurance of adoption in Christ Jesus. Impress on our hearts we are truly children of the King!

~*~

Author Bio:

Kristy Horine is a Kentucky writer, freelance journalist by trade and creative by God’s grace.

She writes a little bit of everything including poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. Her professional and creative work has been published in newspapers, magazines and anthologies in Kentucky and beyond.

Kristy founded 3rd Letter Christian Writers in Lexington, Kentucky in 2015. Read more of her work at www.kristyhorine.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: On Prayer

Prayer That Gets Answered
A devotional by Dana McNeely

Sitting cross-legged on the floor with the other eight-year-olds, I watched as the Sunday School teacher placed cutout figures on the felt board. Menacing soldiers held spears at the ready. Pagan-looking priests surrounded an altar. A king and a queen, dressed in purple robes and golden crowns, carried rich gifts for an idol. A white-bearded man, out-of-place in worn shepherd’s garb, pointed an accusing finger at the king.

I loved that exciting story—Elijah fed by ravens, the widow and her son sustained by the never-ending flour and oil, the boy raised from the dead, the fire from heaven, and after three and a half years of drought—RAIN!

Elijah was as staunch and unflinching as any action-adventure hero. And when he prayed, God answered—in miraculous, awe-inspiring ways. I’m inspired by his dramatic spiritual victories, but I’m just an ordinary person—flawed, selfish, and often cranky. How can I expect my prayers to have the kind of impact Elijah’s did?

Comparing yourself to another person’s success is never helpful. Praying down fire from heaven isn’t God’s plan for me, but he’s made clear I should pray for family, friends, enemies, leaders, the poor, the sick, and others he brings to mind. I should ask the Lord to make me a better person and thank Him for everything.

Despite his heroic persona, James 1:5 tells us “Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!”

Earnest Prayer and An Obedient Life

Notice that James says Elijah prayed “earnestly,” There was some quality to the manner of Elijah’s prayer that was especially sweet to God’s ear. The dictionary defines “earnest” as sincere and intense, steady, committed, wholehearted, fervent, deeply felt. Elijah demonstrated all these qualities in his life as well as his prayer.

While others worshiped idols, Elijah proclaimed himself the Lord’s man. He told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”

Elijah lived his life strictly by God’s revealed will. God said, “Go east and hide by Kerith Brook,” and Elijah went. “Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring.” No problem.

“Dwell with the widow woman in Zarephath.” Done.

When God told Elijah to show himself to Ahab, Elijah went. He didn’t shrink from that unpleasant duty, even though the king had been seeking him with evil intentions for three years. Elijah was the Lord’s servant. He was all in.

Prayer That Gets Answered

“O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” – Kings 18:36, 37 (NLT)

· At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah ‘came near’ to the altar—though he was expecting an answer by fire! What faith in God’s power and protection!

· Elijah wasn’t afraid to remind Yahweh of His covenant with the nation of Israel, boldly addressing Him as “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, Israel.” For us today, a covenant relationship is the privilege of a believer to plead that relationship, to remind God that we are set apart for Him because of the blood of Jesus. 

· Elijah’s first request was to glorify God: “Let it be known that you are God.” His second was that the people would know the Lord and come into a right relationship with Him.

The prayer on Mount Carmel reveals Elijah’s strong faith and his life’s purpose—to serve God, glorify his name, and bring people to Him. This is the kind of prayer that gets answered.

For further thought:

Do you ever feel you’ve made a mess of things and have no right to bail you out?

Here’s hope for you. The Bible says, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” ~Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

God wants to answer your prayers too. Don’t be afraid to seek Him!

Other posts about the prophet Elijah ~ Love in the Time of Drought, In the Waiting Room, A Widow, a Prophet, and Provision from God, An Intersection of Time and Eternity, and Ways to Handle Drought, and On the Mountaintop.

~*~
Author Bio:

Inspired by the Bible story of Elijah and the widow’s son, Dana McNeely wondered why the prophet had come to stay with these two. Who were they? What was their life, before? And how did the boy change after dying, seeing the other world … and coming back? 

Dana began research for her novel, “Rain,” which tells the story of the three-and-a-half-year drought from the boy’s perspective.

No stranger to drought, Dana lives in an Arizona oasis with her hubby the constant gardener, two good dogs, an antisocial cat, and migrating butterflies. She writes biblical fiction, cozy mysteries, and has written for magazines and newspapers. Her short story “Death in the Butterfly Garden” appears in SoWest: Killer Nights (2017).

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Thankful Thursday: Fervent Fridays

It's Thursday and I'm thankful for Priscilla Shirer's "Going Beyond Ministries" and her "Fervent Fridays" Vimeo series based on her book!

The full title for Priscilla's book is, Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer. Today, I'm sharing one of her videos from her "Fervent Friday" series.

In this video, Priscilla talks about how to be free from your past. I hope and pray that her God-breathed thoughts on this topic will inspire your mind and encourage your heart.

Enjoy!
#FerventFridays - Week 5 - Your Past from Going Beyond on Vimeo.

Movie Review: Broken & Beautiful

Recently, I saw an award-winning Christian musical film called Broken & Beautiful that was written and produced by Erin R. Dooley. I thought that it was a creative, clever and needed film. It shows audiences the inner and outer struggles of characters that are broken and need Jesus Christ to save their life. Ultimately, the characters learn how when they give their broken life to God, He can make something beautiful out of it.

This movie featured a variety of up and coming Chicago-based actors who used their gift for singing throughout the film because after all, it is a musical. Most of the songs were easily recognizable to music fans that love Contemporary Christian music artists like Tenth Avenue North, Amy Grant, Sanctus Real, Third Day and Toby Mac.

Each of the actors brings more than a unique singing voice to the movie, they deliver a convincing performance of the character that they are portraying. There’s the husband who struggles with pornography and his wife who feels that they should spend more quality time together. There’s the widower who loved his wife but starts to discover that he might have feelings for a man who is gay. There’s the fashionable woman who loves living a luxurious lifestyle but harbors a dark secret that threatens her peace of mind. There’s the porn star that wants to leave her past behind as she goes to church and learns about the One who will never abuse her body or mind. Finally, there’s the young pastor who is tempted to have an affair with a young, unhappily married woman who attends his church. Clearly, this movie has something for everybody as it speaks to real-life scenarios that people in the real world outside of movies deal with personally or have seen happen to people they know.

The stories of the characters in this movie are complex. The lines are clever and filled with emotion that’s appropriate for each scene. The setting of this movie is in a city with a focus on the personal stories of the people who attend All Saints Church. The movie deals with dark secrets, heartbreak, and pain. Screenwriter Erin R. Dooley was not afraid to tackle what the Christian community considers to be controversial issues like abortion and the gay lifestyle. Dooley not only tackles these issues but she offers tangible solutions to these situations. If anything, this movie is a great conversation starter. People from a variety of real-world experiences and backgrounds can appreciate this movie, sit around a table and talk about it.

The moral of the story, according to Dooley is that while the characters put forth their “best efforts to cover their imperfections. It is only when the characters are brought down to their knees that they find healing; that they realize that though we are all sinners, we are all called to be saints.” As a viewer of this movie, I was inspired by its poignant portrayal of the Bible-based truth we all are sinners in need of a Savior and His Name is Jesus Christ. This story wasn’t portrayed in a way that shoves religion down your throat. The storytelling is done in a way that is appealing to the audience and served with a message that should provide good food for thought to people from all walks of life.

If you need a movie that will uplift you and encourage you in your life journey, don’t miss this one.

*Reviewed by Alexis A. Goring, founder of "God is Love" blog

Author Interview featuring Amanda Barratt and her new novel

Let's welcome Amanda Barratt to the blog today! She's here to talk about her new novel, My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York: Adele's Journey. 

I'm on the launch team for this new release (book) and I'm super excited to share this lovely story with you via this author interview with Amanda. Enjoy! 

~*~

Interview with Amanda Barratt, author of 
My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York: Adele's Journey

Alexis: What inspired you to write this book? 

Amanda: We’d planned a family vacation to Niagara Falls. Before the trip, I was reading up on the history of the area, because that’s just what history nerds do. I read quite a bit about the stunts and daredevils, and as I was walking along, looking at the Falls, the idea of a daredevil falling in love with a woman who feared risk, came to me. When Barbour put the word out that they were looking for authors to submit to a destination romance line, my sister suggested I do Niagara Falls and make the hero a tightrope walker. Sisters always know best!

Alexis: Why did you choose Niagara Falls, NY as the backdrop for this story? 

Amanda: Because the location had to be near the Falls, where all the tightrope stunts were performed.

Alexis: Why did you set this story in 1870 and not another era? 

Amanda: The most famous funambulist in the Victorian era was undoubtedly Charles Blondin, who performed at Niagara Falls in the late 1850s. I wanted my hero’s stunts to take place later than that, and not around the time of the Civil War. So 1870 it was!

Alexis: Who is Adele and why is her journey so important in this story? 

Amanda: Adele Linley is basically a Victorian Scarlett O’Hara, though not as feisty, perhaps. She loves her family home in England and needs money to keep it from being sold to pay for family financial difficulties, so she travels to England on the hunt for a wealthy American husband who will provide her the capital she seeks. Ultimately, though, her journey is more than a trip across the ocean, but a deeply emotional and spiritual transformation.

Alexis: How does Adele’s cautious behavior interact with Drew’s reckless abandon? 

Amanda: Adele and Drew have quite a bit of conflict, due to their differing views on danger and risk. Eventually, that conflict reaches a climax…which basically equals lots of fun scenes for me as the author.

Alexis: Drew Dawson is the hero of this story. Describe him. What makes him special and significant to this story? 

Amanda: Drew is driven to take risks due to his need for income to provide for his wheelchair-bound sister. Despite his own lack, he’s kind and generous. He loves the Lord and puts his future into God’s hands.

Alexis: Describe Adele’s relationship with her family. Does she like being the daughter of an English aristocrat? Why or why not? 

Amanda: When the story opens, the family are aristocrats in name only. Adele travels to England with costume jewelry and made-over dresses. Her mother is not a strong person, and her brother a chronic drinker and gambler.

Alexis: How did Drew’s childhood as an orphan affect his drive to succeed? 

Amanda: Drew has known what it is to go to bed on an empty stomach, to fall asleep in a back alley, to struggle and strive. His sister is an invalid, and he seeks to provide her a better life. He’s driven, as it were, by necessity.

Alexis: Who is Franklin Conway and how does he affect Adele’s affections? 

Amanda: Franklin Conway was SUCH a fun character to write! Those who have read the story are cringing right about now. He’s a man rich in capital, but without the social polish required to enter the highest echelons of society. Adele sees in him an answer to her problems—she will provide him the class and propriety of a British wife, and he will use his capital to help her family. It’s a practical solution, but the closer Adele gets to making a final decision, the more she begins to doubt herself.

Alexis: What endears Adele’s heart to Drew? 

Amanda: Drew is the first man who takes the time to truly care about Adele. She’s accustomed to doing for herself and bearing emotional burdens alone; he comes alongside her and takes time to listen and understand. He makes her laugh, shows her she’s special and unlocks a part of her heart she didn’t know existed.

Alexis: What makes Drew want to fight for Adele? 

Amanda: Adele is different than anyone Drew has ever met. She’s a lady living in a world of affluence but has a rare heart of compassion. She challenges him with her questions and encourages him in his quest to care for his sister. She’s both sweet and stubborn and sets him to dreaming of a future with her.

Alexis: What do you want your readers to remember most about this story? 

Amanda: That we can only find peace when we trust and truly surrender to God. Trying to maneuver circumstances and people to get a desired outcome causes stress and bad choices, whereas a true “handing over the reins” to Jesus, brings the greatest security we can hope to have.

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

Amanda: Thanks so much for having me! I hope you enjoyed this peek into My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York. If this interview has piqued your interest, and you’re looking to discover more about the novel and characters, I’d love it if you followed my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/amandabarrattauthor).

Over the next few weeks, I’ll continue to share more about the story, characters, and history behind the novel’s setting.

~*~

Author bio: 

ECPA bestselling author Amanda Barratt fell in love with writing in grade school when she wrote her first story – a spinoff of Jane Eyre. 

Now, Amanda writes inspirational historical romance, penning stories that transport readers to a variety of locales–from the sweeping coastline of Newport, Rhode Island, to the rugged landscape of Central Texas. Her novella, The Truest Heart, finaled in the 2017 FHL Reader’s Choice Awards.

A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, she lives in the woods of Michigan with her fabulous family, who kindly put up with the invisible people she calls characters.

These days, Amanda can be found reading way too many books, watching an eclectic mix of BBC dramas and romantic chick flicks, and trying to figure out a way to get on the first possible flight to England.

~*~

Book Blurb: Journey to Niagara Falls, New York, 1870

She avoids danger at all costs. He makes his living by rushing headlong into it.

Outwardly, Adele Linley’s trip to visit her American cousins is nothing more than a summer vacation. In reality, she’s the daughter of an English aristocrat with barely a penny to her name seeking a rich American husband.

Having grown up in an overcrowded orphanage, Drew Dawson is determined to make a name for himself. He’ll take any honest job to provide for his sister—even crossing Niagara Falls by tightrope.

Adele meets incredibly wealthy and pompous Franklin Conway who takes an immediate fancy to her. But she would truly like to marry for love. When she encounters the mysterious Drew in the garden, Adele is confused by her feelings for someone who is everything she is NOT looking for. Will they both stay the course they have chosen for themselves?

~*~

Buy Amanda's book on Amazon

~*~

Connect with Amanda:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AmandaBarrattauthor
Sign up for her author newsletter on her website— http://amandabarratt.net/

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Words of Faith: Angela's story about God's power to restore

Faith Without Works is Dead
A Words of Faith story by Angela Meyer

“…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
~James 2:17 (NIV)

Families gathered around TV sets and held their breath. The year was 1969. Would man really walk on the moon? They waited and prayed that the astronauts would return home safely after their historic walk.

Spectators around the world hoped for their return. The astronauts had faith.

The engineers built the rocket. Then the astronauts proved their faith by stepping inside the rocket. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped out of the lunar module and walked on the moon. Without faith, the mission would have been dead.

We can say we believe, but until we take action, there is no proof that we do believe. Those are just words. Hebrews 11:6 says that “…without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Promises in the Bible include the “if factor”. Kind of like the “if you jump, I’ll catch you,” we tell our kids at the swimming pool. If they never jump, our kids show us they do not have faith we will catch them.

If we never act on what God has told us, we show our lack of faith.

Instead of seeking first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) and letting God take care of our tomorrows, we try and take care of everything ourselves and end up with a life full of worry and fretting.

Instead of walking by the spirit (Galatians 5:16) and allowing Him to make us new, we walk according to the flesh and find ourselves carried away by lusts and fleshly desires.

Instead of going to Him when we are weary and allowing Him to renew our strength (Isaiah 40:31), we stumble through life spiritually exhausted.

Four years ago I discovered my husband’s addiction to pornography, his online affairs with two women and out of control spending on his addiction. Walking away would have been the path of least resistance. To stay? How do you walk through something like that and come out whole?

I believed I served a God in the restoration business: Restoration of my own heart, my husband’s heart, and our marriage. I chose to walk out in faith, to forgive, stay and get help for our marriage. And God has been faithful. I was able to trust God with the process even when I couldn’t trust my husband.

I would have missed out on a world of blessings if I had not had faith in God. He has done so much to heal us and we trust Him to complete the process. Our prayer is that when people hear our story they will be drawn to our Heavenly Father who heals and makes whole.

Has there been a time when you proved your faith by your actions and saw a difference in your own life or in the life of someone you know?

~*~
Author bio:

Angela D. Meyer, author of The Applewood Hill Series, lives in NE with her husband of 25 years and their high school daughter. Their son serves our country in the Marines. 

Angela enjoys hanging out with her family, reading, connecting with friends and encouraging women to grow in their faith. 

One of her dream spots to vacation is next to the ocean and someday she wants to ride in a hot air balloon. 

~*~
Connect with Angela: 

Website ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Google+ ~ Twitter ~ Newsletter

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