Book Spotlight: Chasing Emptiness, Finding Fullness (devotional)

I Chased Success and Found Emptiness
A guest post by Dr. Gladys Childs

Have you ever chased something you thought would make life more full, only to realize it was quietly draining the life out of you?

I have.

A few years ago, I stood at a crossroads that looked impressive from the outside. I was serving as Chair of the Religion Department. I loved my students. I loved the rhythm of teaching. Summers gave me space to breathe and time to be present with my son. My life felt full in the right ways.

Then the Provost approached me about stepping in as Interim Dean of the School of Arts & Letters. I had not been campaigning for it, but the invitation stirred something old in me: leadership, influence, and impact. My husband and I prayed, talked late into the night, and finally decided to try it. We told ourselves it was temporary. If it did not fit, I could step away.

At first, I convinced myself it was working. I avoided the political games of Dean’s Council and met with each dean one-on-one instead. I hired an executive coach. I launched initiatives that protected programs and strengthened morale. On paper, everything looked successful.

But my body told a different story.

I stopped sleeping well. I ate standing up between meetings. My inbox felt like a living thing that multiplied overnight. I would sit in my car before walking into the building and feel a tightness in my chest I could not pray away in five minutes.

Then one afternoon, in the middle of class, a student looked at me and asked, "Do you even want this job?"

The room went still. I said yes. My voice cracked. And in that crack, I heard the truth. I did not want it. I was exhausted. I was slowly disappearing behind a title.

When the permanent dean search opened, everything intensified. Complicated dynamics made applying feel less like ambition and more like escape. I told myself that if I just secured the position, the chaos would settle. The stress would make sense. The sacrifice would be worth it.

I made it to the final three candidates. Then the whispers started. A small group of faculty spread rumors. There were threats of a no-confidence vote against the Provost if I were chosen. What had once felt like an opportunity began to feel like a trap closing in. The Provost called me in and asked me to stay another year as interim, with assurances the permanent role would follow. I sat there, listening, feeling the weight of expectation pressing on my ribs.

And I remembered the words from months earlier. "If you do not like it, you can walk away. You do not need this." So I said, "No." Shock flickered across faces. Some were angry. Others confused. The very people who opposed me celebrated. But when the word left my mouth, something shifted inside me. The tightness eased. I walked out of that building lighter thjan I had felt in months. The “no” was not a failure. It was freedom.

In the quiet that followed, I began to see how subtly I had started chasing fullness in the wrong place. I chose the weight of control over trusting God’s ability to handle any situation. I had carried a weight Jesus Christ never asked me to shoulder. His words in Matthew 11:28–30 came alive in a way they never had before: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I had been yoked to something else. No wonder I was worn thin.

As I stepped back into a simpler rhythm, I began to notice what had been missing. Peace that did not depend on outcomes. Joy that did not rise and fall with performance. Patience returned when I was no longer grasping for control. The fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22–23 was not something I could manufacture through work or control. It grew when I stopped striving.

That season reshaped me. It exposed how easy it is to chase the illusion of security while quietly running on empty. And that is why I wrote my new devotional book: Chasing Emptiness, Finding Fullness: A 45-Day Journey to Spiritual Abundance.

This devotional was born out of lived surrender. It is not a call to try harder. It is an invitation to slow down long enough to notice what we are really chasing and to let the Holy Spirit cultivate what lasts. Each day focuses on one aspect of His fruit, not as a checklist, but as evidence of a life rooted in Him.

If you have ever lain awake rehearsing tomorrow’s demands, wondering why success feels thinner than you expected, you are not alone. If you have smiled through meetings while feeling hollow inside, you are not crazy. And if you suspect God is inviting you to loosen your grip on something impressive, that nudge may be mercy.

Saying no to the corner office did not shrink my life. It redirected it. It opened space for writing, for hosting my tv show, Bare Faith, for walking with others who stand at their own crossroads.

Fullness is not found at the top of a ladder. It is found at the feet of Jesus.

So let me ask you gently: What are you still saying yes to that God never asked you to carry?

The chase can end. And in Christ, true fullness can begin.

~*~
Author Bio: 

Dr. Gladys Childs hosts the TV show Bare Faith, where raw faith and deep pain meet a relentless God.  

Known as the "Truth Doctor," she names the lies standing between people and God’s truth. 

A pastor’s wife, author, speaker, former religion professor, and boy mom, Gladys, speaks with authority, heart, and real-life grit. 

Her new book, Chasing Emptiness, Finding Fullness, offers practical guidance, Scripture, and encouragement to live fully in God’s abundance. Learn more at gladyschilds.com. Follow on Instagram or Facebook.

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Blurb for Chasing Emptiness, Finding Fullness:

Stop chasing what leaves you empty. Discover the spiritual abundance only God provides.

Feeling drained by the pursuit of approval, success, or endless busyness? Chasing Emptiness, Finding Fullness: A 45-Day Journey to Spiritual Abundance is a daily Christian devotional rooted in Galatians 5:22–23. This 45-day Bible study blends short, impactful devotionals with reflective journaling to cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, and other biblical virtues—guiding Christian women and men to deeper faith and spiritual self-help.

With this Christian devotional, you’ll: deepen your faith with daily Scripture and Christian meditations, overcome anxiety and spiritual dryness with practical steps, and grow in biblical virtues through inspiring journaling prompts.

Perfect for Christian women and men seeking spiritual self-help, this devotional leads to the abundant life God intends. Get Chasing Emptiness, Finding Fullness today, and unleash the joy of God’s abundant love!

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Buy this book on Amazon

Devotionals for the Heart: How to approach God for the help we need

We Can Approach God with Confidence
A devotional by Suzanne Felton

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”—Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)

When I was a student in college, I don’t think I ever took advantage of the office hours my professors offered. 

Maybe it wasn’t as common then as it seems to be now for professors to schedule blocks of time to offer their students extra help with course material, advice concerning their majors and future careers, or further discussion about a topic introduced in class.

I know at least some of my teachers offered this courtesy, but I was too intimidated to approach those learned and prestigious men and women face-to-face. I attended classes, listened to lectures, and took notes, but I relied on the textbook and my own capabilities for doing homework and studying for tests.

Thinking back now, I wonder how much more I might have learned if I’d gone to my teachers during their office hours to ask my own specific questions and receive their personal help, or even just to soak up the wisdom of experts in their fields. What incredible opportunities I missed because of my fear, timidity, and pride.

Some people seem to think of God as something like an erudite professor speaking to a large, dark room full of faceless students from a high podium on a distant stage. They attend church services to hear the sermons, and some of them refer to the textbook (The Holy Bible) from time to time. But, like me, they never consider approaching the Teacher (God) personally, even when they don’t fully understand what they’ve heard. God isn’t like that, though. Yes, He is the Maker of the entire universe and Creator of humankind, and His presence reaches to the farthest limits. But He is also a personal God who invites us to come to Him, ask Him questions, and get to know Him. Yes, His greatness is intimidating, but His love is just as great, and He offers it freely all the time.

This reminds me of the Bible story about Nicodemus. He was a high-ranking member of the Pharisees, a prominent sect of Judaism during Jesus Christ’s time on Earth. Nicodemus visited Jesus at night to ask him questions about his teaching. He had heard Jesus speak in the temple, but he wanted to understand more. Let’s read about his encounter with Jesus in John 3:2 (NIV). Nicodemus approached Jesus and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Nicodemus and Jesus went on to have a deep philosophical discussion in which Jesus shared profound truths about himself, His Heavenly Father (God), and the kingdom of Heaven. The record of their discussion includes one of the best known and most treasured verses in scripture: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV). What an amazing tutoring session!

Since Nicodemus waited until nightfall to go to Jesus, it’s likely that he was nervous and timid about approaching him at first. It didn’t take long for Nicodemus to become fully engaged in a meaningful discussion with his teacher, though. He couldn’t fully grasp the truths Jesus imparted to him then, but he seems to have taken Jesus’s words to heart and pondered them after that night. We’re not told what happened immediately after that encounter, but in John 19 we learn that Nicodemus was one of two men who came to prepare Jesus’s crucified body for burial, bringing his own costly spices. Finding the courage to approach Jesus and ask him questions that night had an eternal impact on Nicodemus’s life.

Let’s read what Jesus said about His Father and how He wants to help us. According to Luke 11:9 (NIV): “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

We are invited to come and sit at the feet of the one true living God! The God who set the stars in place and who knows how many hairs are on your head welcomes you and wants you to not only know Him, but to learn from Him and grow in wisdom and faith. He requires no appointment or admission fee for us to enter His Presence. All we need to do is seek Him out, knock on His door, and ask whatever questions are on our hearts. What an incredible invitation! Let’s learn more about God’s invitation to us in Hebrews 4:16 (KJV). It reads, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

As great and mighty and omniscient and unfathomable as God is, He is also approachable and welcoming. His office hours are always open for us. Therefore, let us come boldly unto the throne of grace!

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, You are great and mighty, and loving and approachable. Help us take advantage of your amazing invitation to seek You, knock on your door, and ask whatever is on our hearts with confidence so that we can grow closer to You. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Before the Throne of God Above” by Selah. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Suzanne Felton has been a writer for most of her life, even before she realized it. 

She has worked in a wide range of settings, from non-profits to science labs to government contracts to educational classrooms, all of which involved writing in one form or another.

Suzanne is amazed by the power of words and now uses her passion and experience to help authors and students as a writing coach. Encouraging others to find the words and the courage to share their stories is one of her greatest joys.

Suzanne’s devotionals have been published in periodicals and blogs including The Upper Room, The Love Offering, Keys 4 Kids, and The Swallow’s Nest. She is also a two-time finalist in the Cascade Christian Writing Contest for poetry.

She is a wife, mother, writer, reader, teacher, deep thinker, and sinner saved by grace. Suzanne and her family reside in Northern Virginia, but Suzanne will always call her native South Carolina home.

Married to her best friend for twenty-five years, Suzanne is active in her church, where she and her husband have served as deacons for over a decade. They enjoy watching sports and visiting national parks with their two teenage sons. Suzanne is also an avid birder, easily and happily distracted by anything with feathers.

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Connect with Suzanne:
Website: https://suzannefelton.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l_suzanne_felton
Email address: suzannefeltonwriter@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When God gives you space to struggle

Space to Struggle
A devotional by Tessa Huckstep

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

–1 Peter 5:10 (KJV)

Have you ever heard it said that if you help a butterfly escape his chrysalis, he will die shortly after?

It is difficult to watch the butterfly struggle to push out of its chrysalis. We don’t enjoy sitting back and watching difficulty or suffering. But it is this struggle that strengthens the butterfly and prepares it for the future.

This past year at university, I had a professor who would not answer all my questions. After I asked a question in class she would say, “Hmm, that is interesting. We should explore that.” I knew by the look in her eyes that she knew the exact answer to my question, but she wanted me to figure it out on my own. At first, I was baffled that she would not just answer my questions. Answering questions is what teachers do! But after researching my questions and coming to answer them on my own, I understood why my professor would not just give me the answer. I learned so much more through the process of searching for the answer than I would have if she would’ve given me the answer as soon as I asked the question.

In the career field of Education, there is a certain area of learning that all teachers strive to guide their students toward. As students learn, they move toward things they are capable of understanding, but do not yet understand. In this area of learning, students struggle. However, the place of struggle is the optimal environment for learning to take place. The best learning takes place during the struggle.

I have often been guilty of going to God and asking why He would allow me to struggle. It is okay to ask God questions, but it is not always easy to hear His answers. Sometimes, we struggle because in our struggle we are learning to lean on God for our strength–far more than we would without the struggle. Through our struggles, we are spiritually strengthened and more established in God’s love.

A butterfly must struggle out of its chrysalis in order to survive in its new and beautiful life. As Christians, we are learning to live a new and beautiful life in Jesus Christ. The struggles we go through are a natural part of life, though they can be painful in the moment. Take hope to heart as you remember this truth: After the struggle, you will be stronger and more established in your relationship with Christ than before and you’ll be better because of it.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for the struggles You send our way to strengthen us! Please help us to remember that our struggles are only for a season. You are preparing us for a new and beautiful life. Help us to look beyond our struggle and keep our eyes on You and trust that You are working all things out for our good. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Not for a Moment” by Meredith Andrews. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Tessa Huckstep grew up in rural Illinois. She was born to Christian parents and has known Jesus Christ personally since the age of five. 

Currently, Tessa is attending community college and majoring in elementary education. In the future, she plans to teach in the public school system, hoping to bring the love of God with her.

Tessa enjoys being active in her local church. She serves as a co-teacher for the two-to-five year old class where there is never a dull moment.

It is Tessa’s passion to be a girl after God’s own heart and through her studying of God’s Word, Tessa longs to draw closer to her Savior. Through her writing, she longs to take others with her on this journey of faith.

Tessa loves all things Regency, needlework, and dainty teacups of every size.

When she isn’t writing or studying for exams, she can be found in the kitchen with more flour in her hair and on the floor than in the bowl, though the mess is always half the fun!

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Connect with Tessa:
Blog: https://beautifulbeloved937002841.wordpress.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: Stand Up and Stand Out for Jesus Christ

Out of Place
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” –Matthew 5:16 (NASB)

When was the last time you felt out of place?

When have you felt so conspicuous you were sure that everyone was watching you?

A few weeks ago we went to see our daughter in the marching band at her college’s homecoming game. I’m embarrassed to admit that until we walked through the doors to the stadium, it had not occurred to me to wear something with the school logo or even the school’s colors! This was a weekend trip and I had only packed a few clothes, so I didn’t have any options to change into.

As I sat in the stands with my bright green shirt sticking out in a sea of maroon and gold, all I could be thankful for was that I hadn’t accidentally worn the colors of the opposing team!

My embarrassment eventually gave way to an enjoyment of the beautiful fall weather and an exciting (though losing) football game. This experience made me think about how much my situation mirrored the Christian life.

That crowd of cheering spectators is the world. And me, standing in the midst of it with a shirt that doesn’t match, represents the Christ-follower. It makes us uncomfortable to be different, but Jesus Christ reminds us to be strong in that place. He prayed to the Father for us (Christ-followers) in John 17:15-16 (NASB): “‘I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.’”

Standing in the crowd is good. Standing out from the crowd is even better.

Several Old Testament books were written during and about the time of the Jewish exile in Babylon. These Jews were forced from their land and homes and sent to live among their enemies. The Jews stood out from their Gentile neighbors, just as Christians today stand out from an unbelieving world. But God gave words to the prophet Jeremiah during that time that I believe we should take to heart ourselves. He said, “‘Seek the prosperity of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord in its behalf; for in its prosperity will be your prosperity.’” (Jeremiah 29:7 NASB)

God has created us for this time and this place. While our eternal home is with Him in Heaven, we need to be mindful of our work in this world too. The world we live in will remain broken until Jesus returns to Earth to take us home and make all things right. We should eagerly await His return and promise of restoration. At the same time, we must continue to seek justice, share truth, feed the poor, build the kingdom, and love others here, even if we will never see the perfection of those things in our lifetime.

My grandmother used to say that too many Christians are, “so heavenly-minded that they are of no earthly good.” Let’s do good while we’re here, but never forget that our true home is elsewhere. Don’t be afraid to stand up for Jesus and stand out in this world!

Let’s Pray: Lord Jesus, give me the courage to stand for you, especially when it’s hard. Remind me that this world needs love and justice and freedom. Help me to remember that Your words of truth are the only keys to all those things. Help me to dwell here in the world lightly, always looking forward to being present with You in Heaven. In Your powerful and precious name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume.  

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming.

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two college-age children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting.

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Connect with Glynis:
Website: www.glynisbecker.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckerglynis/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlynisBecker7

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Plan

God’s Plan 

A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

I’m sure we are all familiar with this Bible verse since it is very popular.

It’s a verse that reminds us that God has a plan for each of our lives and a verse that gives us hope, especially when we feel lost.

There have been many moments in my life where I've felt completely lost. Toward the end of my high school career, it seemed like all my friends had their plans all set for after graduation, and I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I couldn't make up my mind because the choices seemed overwhelming, and I didn't know my "interests" or "passions" at that time. Looking back at the first two years of my college career, it seems like it was all a waste. But in reality, it wasn't.

At that period in my life, I didn’t have the relationship with God that I have now, but that doesn’t mean that God wasn’t there for me. God loves us so much that He gave us free will for us to choose. Nevertheless, He always has a plan for us. Again, I started college taking general random classes because I didn’t know what I wanted to study. If it weren’t for the “Intro to Psychology” class I randomly signed up for, I wouldn’t have known that it was a topic that really interest me.

After taking that class, I realized I wanted to get into the Psychology field. But getting pregnant at the age of twenty took me off track for a little. I ended up not taking more college courses. Instead, I completed a medical assistant program with the thought that being in the medical field will provide job security for my daughter and me.

Fast forward to today, I have a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration and Psychology and a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration. I am proud of my degrees because when I look back at my journey, I started with no clue about what to do with my life. Also, looking back, I know that God was with me every step of the way and that without Him, I wouldn’t have the accomplishments I have today. God had this plan for my life, and I am certain that I am in the career field that I am supposed to be because I feel fulfilled.

If you are struggling right now to figure out what you want to do with your life, pray for guidance and trust God. Remember Jeremiah 29:11 because God has a plan for you, and this plan was established long before you were born.

Let’s pray: Lord, I pray for everyone who may be feeling lost right now, unsure of where to go or what to do. I pray that their hearts and minds are opened to you, Lord and that they come back to go so you can lead them and guide them to the plan you have for their lives. Thank you for always being with us and never giving up on us, even when we stray away. 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.

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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: A Lesson Learned about God's Grace

Sufficient Grace
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)

Growing up in church, I often heard a song by Don Moen called “Jehovah Jireh.”

In Hebrew the title means “My Provider.” It comes from Genesis 22, where Abraham took his son Isaac to be sacrificed on the altar, but God provided a ram instead because of Abraham’s faithfulness. According to Genesis 22:14 (KJV): “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.”

Loosely translated, “God provides and sees everything.”

Lately, amid the current troubled times, I’ve been focusing on how God always provides. But it is the second verse in Moen’s song “Jehovah Jireh” that has been on repeat in my mind. The verse says, “His grace is sufficient for me.” I asked God why it was ruminating in my spirit, and He led me to recall a time when I had a personal “all is lost” moment.

It was the day of a mandatory teaching methodology class during my final semester in college. The final assignment was a 25-page paper and to be handed in inside of a red folder. So, when I walked into the class and saw red folders on everyone’s desk, I panicked. I hadn’t even started researching my paper! As a theatre major, I had been performing several nights, which had consumed me both mentally and physically. Without that paper I would not pass the class, which meant I would not be licensed as a teacher after graduation.

I quickly left the classroom and located the course instructor. He was formerly a Marine, strict to follow the rules, and the rule for a late paper meant you had to get a doctor’s note to receive a C passing grade. As I fumbled for words, he turned to me and said, “Miss Canada, you look sick today.” I started to reply, and he repeated himself. In a rare, contrary moment, he showed me mercy and I left without questioning it.

I had a solution, but I wasn’t sick, and the school clinic wasn’t giving out sick notes without symptoms. For three hours, I agonized and prayed to God over what to do, and by the time I arrived at an off-campus clinic, I was running a fever, congested, and had swollen eyes. I felt the clouds of heaven part when the clinic nurse handed me a sick note.

Now, please understand that I don’t condone lying or fraudulent cases. Yet, when I found myself in a dire, life-altering event (that I had gotten myself into) God showed me a level of grace to remind me of Hebrews 4:16 (ESV), “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” And though He is “Jehovah Jireh” it is His grace that will meet all our needs, as God says in 2 Corinthians 12:9a (ESV), “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Rest assured, the next day I locked myself in the 24-hour campus library until my paper was done to excellence, and I still received that circled “C” with a “well done” on the title page with thanks and praise to God because His Grace will always be more than enough for me.

Are you in need of God’s grace today? Let us pray together: “Dear God, you know and see my struggle today. I need your grace that is sufficient for my weakness. Thank you for always providing for and meeting my needs, and for your loving mercy as I lay this burden down at your feet. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.”

~*~
Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter, and theatre director/producer from Northern Virginia, where she teaches television production at her high school alma mater. 

She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is an alumnus of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program.

Mirachelle is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, American Fiction Writers Virginia Chapter, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint.

She is currently working on her first historical fiction novel set during WWII.

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Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan

Devotionals for the Heart: Seek

Seek His Face, Not His Hand
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

– Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV)

You may have heard or know the popular scripture “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV). It’s a promise from God to the exiled people of Judah. This verse is often quoted to high school graduates about their future. Yet, we too should remember that God has a plan for each of us in every season. There is a promise wrapped what God is doing right now – only it might not be what you think or expect.

In the early hours of Good Friday last month, a great mentor of mine, Pastor Kent Jarvis of Akron, Ohio, passed away. He was 58 and died of brain cancer. He was an extraordinary minister who irrevocably changed my view of God and His plan for my life.

This is an excerpt from a piece I wrote about him in 2001 (edited for time):

“My fondest memories of Kent are during choir practice. [However], I used to be intimidated by what I perceived to be his higher level of thinking. Kent seemed so serious and carefully orchestrated in his actions. He was always living “in the present” and I lived “looking toward the future.” On one my weekends home from college, shortly after the end of Sunday service, I was surprised when Kent suddenly walked up to me. We had rarely had face-to-face conversations.

“How are things going for you, Mirachelle?” He asked in his gentle, soothing voice. 

“Oh,” I stammered, “Things are okay. College is good. I am wondering about the future. I don’t know what I am going to do yet, but I am waiting on God to guide and direct me. I want to know His will for my life.”

Kent continued to smile. “Oh, well, that’s good.” Then he surprised me again. “Did you ever consider that maybe God doesn’t want you to worry about your future? Seeking God’s will isn’t what it’s all about. He wants all of us to concentrate on getting to know Him right now, in the present. It’s about getting personal in your relationship with Him. You’ve got to seek Him first, not His will. It’s in seeking Him that God reveals His will for our lives...Seek His face, not His hand.”

Dumfounded, I said something like, “Wow, I hadn’t thought of it that way before.”

Kent went further, “God wants to know you, and for you to know who He is in you. He doesn’t worry about where you will go. As we seek Him, eventually He leads us [there].” 

Later that night, I went to the Lord in prayer and had a vision. I was riding in a car with Jesus, who was driving. He was calmly navigating the road as I noticed everything rushing by, paying attention to everything else but Him. Realizing this, I suddenly stopped and faced him. He slowed the car and pulled off onto the shoulder. 

Having my full attention, He began to speak. We talked together like best friends. I was being filled up with wonder and abundant joy in this moment of oneness, face-to-face time with Him. I felt alive and connecting with The One who knew everything about me, and because He loved me so much, all He wanted to do was to be with me. It didn’t matter where we were or what we were doing. It was just the two of us, and that’s all that mattered.

The true meaning of Kent’s words unraveled my life. They awoke a glorious revelation in my heart that I didn’t need to know what God was doing in my life because most precious to Him was time with me. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13 ESV). I am forever grateful He used Kent, someone I so admired, to show me. What a joy it is now to know that Kent is spending eternity at the feet of Jesus, and I know there is no other place he’d rather be.

Have you spent time with God lately, just you and Him? With no agenda or expectations. No plan or petition. Just face-to-face time with Him. Take time today to let Him pull the car over to the side of life’s road and just talk. Seek His face, and you’ll find all you need.

~*~
Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter, and theatre director/producer from Northern Virginia, where she teaches television production at her high school alma mater. 

She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is an alumnus of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program.

Mirachelle is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, American Fiction Writers Virginia Chapter, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint.

She is currently working on her first historical fiction novel set during WWII.

~*~
Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan

Fall into Love: Lee Carver's story

An Autumn Remembered
A Fall into Love story by Lee Carver

Fifty years ago, my grad school roommate cornered me into a blind date with a guy in her German class. He invited me to the UNC Chapel Hill football game, for which we both had free student cards. I hadn’t been to a single game. I didn’t even know where to park or which section to sit in, but wanted to see a game before the season ended.

At the time, I lived off campus as a graduate biochemistry student and owned my first car. My prospective date had given his VW bug back to his dad because the university deemed that a student didn’t need a work scholarship if he could afford a car, and he worked in the library photo shop. So we’d use my car, and it wouldn’t cost the guy anything to take me. No strings. I accepted.

After the game Darrel drove around, tried to connect with his friends giving a hamburger party which never developed, and we wound up having dinner in an Italian restaurant. The date ran very long, and I had a terrible headache because I’d stayed up sewing until the wee hours the night before. I enjoyed his company and found him the most normal guy I’d ever met—no pretentions, not braggadocios, always polite, and he made no improper advances. At the end of the day, he said he’d call me.

Yeah, right.

But he did. We went to a movie, Bonnie and Clyde. I hated the movie but liked Darrel.

My roommate raved about the beauty of autumn in the North Carolina mountains. Being from South Alabama, I’d never seen the leaves as she described them. We don’t do autumn down there. “You’re going to miss it,” she said. “This is probably the last weekend the leaves will be pretty.”

In many hours of conversation, Darrel had spoken of having gone to the mountains during fall and over Christmas with his roommates in previous years. He knew where to go, and I had the car. So I, who never called men, phoned my new best friend. “Would you like to drive to the mountains with me to see the leaves this Saturday?”

He impressed me by filling the car with gas as we began the most beautiful, glorious drive I’d ever experienced. He bought us a KFC picnic, and we spread out on the deep, green grass in a field beside a little white Baptist church. In the grand setting of the North Carolina mountains dressed for autumn we began to realize we had something special.

"Tunnel of Trees" photo by Lee Carver

Four months after our blind date, I made a lovely wedding dress, my family came up from Alabama, and Daddy, a minister, officiated at our marriage.

Pictured: Lee Carver and her husband Darrel

This year we celebrated fifty years of courtship and marriage, our romantic season from September to February, by driving in search of autumn leaves. We went to Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Kentucky, Virginia—and the best place at the perfect time, Lake Placid, New York. Every day we walked in the crisp air, captured the colors in photographs, and praised God for his craftsmanship. Along seacoasts and in mountains for more than a month, we wrapped ourselves in glorious reds, oranges, and yellows. We held hands as we strolled and stopped for kisses in hidden glens. Red berries hung from flowers and trees along the Blue Ridge Parkway, in botanical gardens, and deep in the wild forests. We feasted our eyes and our souls on God’s creation.

When we’d drunk our eyes full of shimmering fall beauty, we started the drive home to Texas. On the way, we stopped for a week with our son and his family in Maryland, where fall had not yet gotten serious, but the crab was fantastic. During evening prayers the first night with Quinn, his wife Sue, and their three children, a sense of joy settled over my heart. 
This was what our fifty years was truly about: our adult son and daughter and the five precious grandchildren they had given us. Each of them has chosen to live in a loving relationship with God, each accepted salvation through Christ Jesus. Surrounded by their prayers, Darrel and I witnessed and felt the wholeness of our fifty years of love.

~*~
Author bio: 

Lee Carver lived in the Brazilian Amazon for six years, the hardest and best years of her life. 

She and her husband served with a Brazilian organization, formerly MAF-Brazil, in which he flew an amphibious ten-seat Cessna Caravan over jungle area half the size of the United States. 

Their home in Manaus—the largest city in the world with no road to it—was a free guesthouse for missionaries, pilots, mechanics, and medical volunteers. 

She went on missions, speaks the language, and knows the people whose story she tells.

~*~
Blurb for Lee's book Rebecca's Redemption: A nurse seeking redemption for past sins joins a doctor contending against the jungle. Both healers need healing.

Rebecca Singer once was the kind of nurse who partied all weekend and closed the bar with the last karaoke tune. Then she met the Lord and vowed to make up to Him for those wasted years by serving in the worst place in the world. She determined to earn her redemption in the Brazilian Amazon jungle.

Dr. Ed Pierce, a widower with two young daughters, operates a Christian hospital in the Brazilian Amazon. A lifelong believer, he struggles with the tragedy of losing his wife—his love, the mother of his children. When the mission board agrees to hire a nurse, he requests an American who can split her time between the hospital and home schooling his children. 

~*~
Buy Lee's book on Amazon

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Connect with Lee:
Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

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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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Cozy Christmas Reads: Hallee's story

Excerpt from the book "Christmas Star Sapphire" by Hallee Bridgeman:

When Madeline Viscolli arrived a few minutes late at the small auditorium on the east side of the University’s campus, she expected to see a few dozen people already there, but found only one lone man sitting on the floor with his back against the base of the raised stage. Frowning, she glanced at her watch. Surely on the campus of one of the largest universities in Alabama, the Cru program had more than one person involved.

Once called Campus Crusade for Christ, Cru served on college campuses all over the world. Cru provided students with worship and fellowship opportunities in a body of believers – a family away from family. While an undergraduate at the University of Florida, she’d spent hours and hours with her Cru family, and grew into a deeper relationship with God than she’d ever even thought possible. She’d gone on four mission trips spanning a total of eight different countries, volunteered in summer programs, and had developed friendships she knew she would treasure for the rest of her life. Now, pursuing a Master’s degree in business, she found herself on the coast of Alabama hoping to integrate into a new Cru group.

Never shy, Madeline walked into the nearly empty building and marched straight down the aisle. The man looked up from his book and smiled at her. He had light red hair and a goatee that looked nearly blond. As she drew closer, she recognized the logo on his T-shirt from her favorite seafood restaurant in Key West.

“Hello,” he greeted, setting his book aside and standing. Even though Madeline stood just two inches shy of six-feet, she had to look up at him. He smiled warmly and looked directly into her rich blue eyes as he held out his hand. “Joseph Westcott – Pastor Joe – though most people just go with Joe.”

“Madeline Viscolli.” She shook his hand. Even though he kept his grip purposefully light she felt the hard calluses on his palms. Her father, an avid rower, had similar calluses. So, he was a pastor. Why was no one else here, then? “Am I in the right place for the Cru meeting?”

“You sure are,” he answered, his green eyes shining with amusement, “and you’ll be right on time in about fifty-eight minutes.”

“Doesn’t the meeting start at six?” Madeline frowned checking her watch.

“Yes. It does.” He raised an eyebrow. “Still on east coast time?”

Why would he be asking…? Feeling her face flood with heat, she realized. “Of course. We’re in Central Time.”

With a friendly laugh, he gestured toward a cooler that sat on the floor near the stage. “Takes a little while to lose that hour. Water?”

“That would be lovely, thank you.” Accepting the ice cold bottle from him she slipped her bag off of her shoulder and sat in one of the comfortable auditorium seats. “I didn’t get in until just now. Came straight from the airport. I actually scheduled my arrival to coordinate with the meeting.”

“Where you comin’ from, Miss Viscolli?” While he casually dropped the verb much like a native, his accent didn’t sound Deep South to her ear. It made his manner of speaking interesting. His warm smile made it even more interesting.

“I graduated last spring from the University of Florida.” She took a long pull from the bottle, not realizing how thirsty she felt until the icy water hit her dry throat. “I’m going to be getting my Master’s here.”

“Gators? Let me think.” He hopped up onto the stage, facing her. He wore leather deck shoes with no socks and, despite the red hair, had a rather dark tan. “Chris Wilson still the Cru director there?”

Picturing the dark brown face and laughing light brown eyes of Pastor Chris, Madeline smiled. “He is. His wife just had their second baby.”

“He showed me pictures at our annual conference.” He gestured at his T-shirt. “I usually spend a good bit of the summer in Florida myself.”

The calluses on his palm and the tan lines despite his fair complexion had her guessing his hobby. “Do you sail?”

His eyebrows rose in surprise. “How did you know that?”

Madeline shrugged. “Lots of little clues, I guess.” Plus, she could see him, in her mind’s eye, on the deck of a little catamaran, skimming the turquoise waves off the Florida Keys. Her family had a home down there, and she had spent her childhood living in either Boston or southern Florida. Sailboats were just a part of what she considered normal in life.

“Quite observant, Miss Viscolli.” He pronounced her name perfectly, long o sound and all. He looked at his watch. “We have some time before the meeting. If anyone else had their times mixed up, they would have been here by now. Honestly, you should probably eat something now if you’re still on Eastern Time. You’ll be starving in a few hours. Want to grab a coffee and a snack or something?”

“Actually, I think I’ll skip tonight and go find my apartment.” She stood, almost instantly regretting turning down the offer. She suddenly realized she might enjoy getting to know Mr. Westcott better. “I thought I’d have more energy. I just got in from spending the last several weeks in England with my brother and his wife, and I’m a bit jet lagged.” Waving a hand around the room, she added, “Hence the mix-up with the time.” She picked up her bag and slipped the strap over her shoulder. “I look forward to the next few years, Pastor Joe Westcott. Cru has been a major focus of my life since my first day at college. I’m praying I’ll be able to develop the kind of friendships I had in Florida.”

He scooted off of the stage and held out his hand. Without hesitation, she placed her hand in his again.

“It was truly a pleasure to meet you, Madeline Viscolli. I look forward to seeing you again very soon and I’ll be sure to email Chris Wilson and let him know I met you.” He held her hand throughout this tiny little monologue, then gave her fingers a gentle squeeze before he released her grasp. Did he hold her hand a heartbeat longer than necessary, or was that just her jet lagged brain slowing everything down?

~*~

Author bio: 

With over half a million sales, Hallee Bridgeman is a best-selling Christian author who writes action-packed romantic suspense focusing on realistic characters who face real world problems. 

Her work has been described as everything from refreshing to heart-stopping exciting and edgy. 

Hallee loves coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. 

Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide her. 

~*~
Blurb for Hallee's book, Christmas Star Sapphire: Madeline Viscolli finds herself on the Gulf shores of Alabama, where she takes part in a graduate program to earn her MBA. On her first day there, she meets Joe Westcott, team leader for a campus ministry. Despite a mutual attraction, Joe’s personal rule of no romance with any student keeps any kind of deep relationship from developing.

Joe has no desire to have a relationship with anyone, ever, anyway. He left a life of luxury and his family’s business behind to live alone on a sailboat and serve in ministry. Then Madeline walks into the auditorium the week school starts and Joe suspects his personal rules might not apply to this graduate student.

That is, until he discovers Madeline is one of the Viscollis, and that her destiny lay in running her father’s massive corporation. Having rejected wealth and all its trappings since childhood, Joe finds himself falling for the vivacious sapphire-eyed beauty.

Madeline knows she loves Joe, but is not willing to throw away her destiny of taking over at the helm of Viscolli Enterprises.

A Christmas Eve funeral washes all Joe’s plans away. Will their love succumb to the rising tide caused by their differences in lifestyles, or will raging seas calm and allow them to sail off into the sunset?

~*~
Customer Review of Hallee's book (Christmas Star Sapphire):

Rating: 5 stars
Review title: A Must Read This Christmas Season

Once again, Hallee Bridgeman has written a superb Christian novella just in time for the Christmas season! Christmas Star Sapphire is inspired by the Jewell series and continues the storyline of Viscolli family. Madeline, the only daughter of Robin and Tony Vicolli, is being educated and groomed to one day assume the leadership role in the Viscolli empire of hotels and other enterprises. 

In traveling to Mobile, Alabama to work on her Master’s degree at the University of Southern Alabama, she meets Pastor Joe Westcott, the head minister of Cru which is the campus’s Christian organization for college students. Madeline’s feelings for Pastor Joe begin to grow into a desire to know him on a more personal level. Pastor Joe begins to feel the same, but there are two problems. One, she comes from a wealthy family and is being groomed for that life style. His childhood has left a bad taste in his mouth for money and power. Two, she is a student, and he is a staff member. Can Madeline and Joe overcome their pasts to make a life for their future together? Will Joe allow God to heal his heart and guide his life? 

Mrs. Bridgeman is able to present a deeply religious message within the pages of this short read. I recommend this light hearted novella for an enjoyable quick read this season. 

*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

~*~
Connect with Hallee:

Website - http://www.halleebridgeman.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/halleeb
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/halleebridgeman/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/authorhalleebridgeman/

~*~
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Fall into Love: Kimberly Rose's story

A Love That Lasts

A Fall into Love story written by Kimberly Rose Johnson

When I was asked to write a post on how I fell in love with my husband I thought to myself, “I can’t.” How was I supposed to put into words something I didn’t remember doing? That’s correct, I don’t remember falling in love with my husband—it just happened.

I was seventeen when I met the man I would marry. We were both in the same orientation group at college, and as it turned out we had a lot in common, including music, which was my passion. We were in the school’s traveling choir together and had at least one other class together that I can remember—good thing too because I think I spent more time reading the notes he passed me than paying attention to our professor in that class—this was long before texting.

I only remember going on a handful of dates, after all, we were both poor college students so we usually went for walks and talked. To this day that is a part of our daily lives. He proposed two days before my nineteenth birthday, and we married two months before my twentieth birthday, one week after he turned twenty-one.

I know this is supposed to be about how I fell in love with my husband, and up to this point in our relationship, I have no idea. It was only after we were married that I truly began to understand what true love is. Someone gave us a framed picture with 1 Corinthians printed out on it as a wedding gift. I often had to look at the picture and remind myself that love is patient and kind, it is not easily angered and it keeps no record of wrong. Whew! Although this is a chapter from the bible I have memorized, having that visual hanging in my bedroom was a great visual reminder.

Love is a choice, pure and simple. Every day I choose to love my husband. I can’t imagine a life without him. He is still my best friend. I look forward to seeing him when he comes home from work, and I enjoy spending time with him and talking with him on our daily walks.

I wish I could share a mushy story about how I fell in love, but for me, life isn’t like a romance novel. I consider that to be a good thing—we each have our own story and it’s okay to have a story that’s not the norm. I enjoy escaping into a sweet romance story, and I especially enjoy writing them. The Lord has given me an imagination that thrives on dreaming up stories, and He has given me a husband who has helped to teach me what true love is—A Love that Lasts.

~*~
Author Bio: Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child, Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing.

She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.

Kimberly was a finalist in the 2017 Romance Writers of America Faith Hope and Love Readers Choice Award. She holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, WA. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

You can sign up for Kimberly's newsletter via her website at: http://kimberlyrjohnson.com/index.html

~*~
Book Blurb for A Love That Lasts:

Some things just weren’t meant to be—or were they?

Recent nursing school graduate Holly Miller knows from personal experience a slip-up can cost a life. A mistake she made years ago still haunts her. She is determined to stay focused and not allow any distractions in her life—including an old high school classmate she ran into at the hospital who is as handsome as the pastries he bakes are tasty and sweet.

Matthew Cook had a crush on Holly back in high school and is surprised to find she’s working at the local hospital. She’d rejected him when they were teens, but he seems to have her attention now. Can he convince her that she can have it all—including a love that lasts, without sacrificing her career?

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Buy Kimberly's book on Amazon.com - http://amzn.to/2vxtEV5

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Follow Kimberly on Facebook and Twitter: 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyRoseJohnson
Twitter - https://twitter.com/kimberlyrosejoh/

~*~

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"He Is My Hope", a personal essay written by our guest Kara Swanson

Kara Swanson writes "Words that Bring Worlds to Life" and today, she's here to share her story about a personal struggle. 

Enjoy!

~*~

He Is My Hope

A guest post written by Kara Sawnson

Hope.

Its such a simple concept, but one that can change a life. Its presence can keep us afloat—or its absence can drown us in our own despair.

Can hope be found in pain? When your body and your mind are telling you it’s hopeless—can something else give you the assurance that it’s not? That you are never without hope?

These questions swirled around in my head as I curled up on the floor outside my dorm, tears leaking through the fingers that covered my face. My shaking hands clenched a phone that had just made one of the hardest calls of my life. I’d told my parents to come pick me up—that I couldn’t handle college any longer. My body hurt too much.

Can I find hope in this?

So much of my life I’d spent waiting for this moment. For the chance to be someplace where I could find purpose pursuing my dreams—and make lasting friendships. Where I wouldn’t be alone. I’d been alone so often.

Now, I’d never felt more desolate.

How can this be for a hope? For a future?

As the daughter of missionaries, I grew up in the jungles of Papua New Guinea—a small island located above Australia. I spent sixteen years there, watching as His light illuminated a tribe of people trapped in the darkness of an animistic worldview. People who’d lived in fear for so long. I witnessed first hand as their despair was transformed into a hope that could not be shaken because of the One it was founded in. The God-man who spent his own blood for them.

And for me.

He had been with me through the years that stretched on, often times lonely as I was the only English-speaking girl in our tribe. In the constant moves, in the goodbyes and the uncertainties.

He had brought me this far, to this moment, and he wouldn’t just let me fall.

As I sat outside my dorm, having only been able to survive college for three weeks before the symptoms of my disease had grown too overwhelming to function, I clung to that truth. He won’t let me go…He won’t let me go.

That college experience had promised so much more than just a career doing what I loved, it had promised that I would finally not be alone. That I would be surrounded by those my age.

Instead, it turned into another painful goodbye to the fast friends I’d made in that short time. I’d said so many goodbyes, but as I lay in the back of my parent’s van as we drove away from the campus, I realized those goodbyes never grew easier. If anything, they grew worse.

How can I find hope in this?
Dreams shattered. Body broken. Heart torn.

But my soul? My soul still lived.

He has gotten me this far, He has always been my hope—and will continue to be.

Days turned into months, and while my symptoms receded to a steady plateau, they didn’t change enough for me to function normally. Lyme Disease, a sickness received from a tick bite, was very little-known. No clear cure.

But, while my chances of being well enough to return to college the following year dissolved, I began to realize something.

I couldn’t control Lyme Disease anymore than I could control the loneliness I’d felt while in the tribe. I couldn’t control the circumstances that had shaken my plans.

But, that was okay. It had to be okay.

You see, I began to realize that my hope couldn’t be founded in a sense of happiness. If I could only find joy when I felt well, I’d never smile. No, my hope had to be founded in something so much deeper, just as it had been during that stint of loneliness.

That hope had to be rooted in the one who formed me before time, who knew every step and every heartache. Who had wrapped his arms around me when I’d felt alone—and who gave me the strength to rise every morning from bed when my bones felt like they were on fire.

He was my focus. My hope.

The reason I was alive. The reason I had enough brain capacity to write, if nothing else. He was my reason for life—whether or not I ever was cured of Lyme disease.

Because, it’s not about me. It never has been. If my only purpose in life was my own happiness, I’d never be satisfied. It would never be enough. But with Him? With Him I can have a peace that transcends understanding. I can laugh in the pain and stand through the rain. I can trust that every emotional and physical trial is going to be used to bring Him glory. Just as the countless martyred saints in his Word brought Him glory, even in their deaths.

When my focus shifted, no longer on myself but on how I could use my story and my pain for His glory, things began to change. Not all at once, but changing none the less. I was able to relate to those who struggled, because I’d fought that battle. Fight it every day.

Again and again, I saw Him working small, glorious miracles in my life. From the energy needed to volunteer at a week long camp for abused foster kids—to being able to hold a part time job working for an editor, or attending writers’ conferences. You see, even in this waiting period, He had continued to provide ways for me to strive for my dreams. To make a difference. To impact people.

And on the days when it feels to hard to bear, when I want to curl up and cry like that night at College—I remember. I remember that I am not alone. Never have been alone. That my life is a living reminder of His goodness. That my pain could be that salving balm to someone else’s shattered life. That my joy and my happiness isn’t dependent on how I feel. Because His grace is so much greater than that.

I can smile through the tears, because I know that He is continuing to sustain and use me in ways I can’t imagine. That He will give me the strength. He always does.

Because He is my hope.

~*~
Author bio:

As the daughter of missionaries, Kara Swanson spent sixteen years of her young life in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. Able to relate with characters dropped suddenly into a unique new world, she quickly fell in love with the speculative genre and was soon penning stories herself.

At seventeen, she independently published a fantasy novel, Pearl of Merlydia. Her short story “Distant as the Horizon” is included in Kathy Ide’s 21 Days of Joy: Stories that Celebrate Mom. 

She has published many articles, including one in the Encounter magazine. She received the Mount Hermon Most Promising Teen Writer Award in 2015.

You can find her online at readwritesoar.com (soon to be karaswanson.com) or on her Facebook page (Kara Swanson, Author), Twitter (@kara_author), and Instagram (@karaswanson_author).