Devotionals for the Heart: God cares about the desires of your heart

The Desires of our Hearts
A devotional by Hannah Benson

“You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.”

—Psalm 145:16 (ESV)

What desire do you have on your heart?

As humans, we naturally want so many things: a satisfying or well-paying job, a family of our own one day. Honestly, you could fill-in-the-blank with anything.

We know God loves to give us good things and bless His children, so at first glance, this verse might seem to contradict reality. After all, we don’t always get what we want when we want. Sometimes, we don’t get what we want at all. What gives?

Notice what this verse says: “[God] will satisfy the desire” not “God will give us everything we want.” It’s so hard to want something specific and be told “No” from God. Maybe you’ve been there or are still there. I get it. I’ve also been there. I often wonder why God says “No.” Why can’t I have what I want? And while we’re at it, why can’t I have what I want now?

The truth is, God is sovereign, and there could be a variety of reasons why He says no or makes us wait. If He were to give us everything we wanted when we wanted, then we would be the gods over our own lives, and we’d have no reason to trust Him. In other words, God would be a genie to us. Second, He could be protecting us from unseen harm. Other times, God might say “No” because He was better plans in store for us. Or maybe, it’s simply not a “No”, but a “Wait.”

I believe that God will give us the desire of our hearts if they are aligned with His will for us. If our wants are not aligned with His plan for us, then He will change our hearts to want what He wants. Even though it’s so hard to surrender our plans, God truly does know best. After all, His plans are for our good, to give us a future filled with hope, and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11).

As a young child, I had specific desires God laid on my heart, dreams that looked impossible to achieve. I prayed so hard every day, faith filling my heart, yet not seeing any answers to my prayers. Eventually, I gave up those desires to God, fully surrendering them to Him. It wasn’t until years later that God brought those dreams to life again, resurrecting what I’d laid to rest, and showing me that He does fulfill the desires of our hearts. It may not be in our timing (most of the time it probably isn’t), but the desires of our hearts are there for a reason.

And even if I don’t get what I want, I have found that whatever I want pales in comparison to the desire of knowing and loving Jesus. That, more than anything, is the deepest desire of my heart. Often, God will ask me to surrender a desire or a dream. Sometimes, it means truly letting go because it’s not His best for me, but other times, it’s because it’s not time yet. When my heart is “empty” and longs for something else, it’s then that God steps in and fills the void in my heart, reminding me He’s the only One who can truly satisfy me anyway.

Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV) says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

The desire of truly knowing and loving Jesus Christ and walking with Him will always be met.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Father God, it’s so hard for me to believe that You will fulfill the desires of my heart when there are so many unanswered prayers and unmet wants in my life. But I know, more than anything, that You are the ultimate desire of my heart. I know that desire will be met even if in life I don’t get what I want. Thank You for the truth of Your love! In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “The Secret Place” by Phil Wickham. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Hannah Benson is a Jesus-follower who’s passionate about sharing the love of Christ with others. 

From the time she could hold a pen, she was writing. But it wasn’t until she was sixteen that she began to follow God’s calling to pursue writing seriously. Hannah is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). In addition to fiction, she also writes devotionals and has been published on other websites. Her prayer is that her readers leave deeply encouraged and more in love with Jesus.

When not writing, Hannah also enjoys being involved with local theater companies, with a primary focus on Biblical theater. She wants to show the love of Jesus through the creative arts.

You can read more of Hannah’s writings on her blog or on her Instagram where she strives to write content that leaves others feeling encouraged.

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Connect with Hannah:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hannah-Lynn-Writer/100073790792576/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlbensonwrites/

Devotionals for the Heart: Christianity and matters of the heart

Decorations of a Christian
A devotional by Tessa Huckstep

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” –Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

How do you decorate your house? Do you go all out for Christmas? Do you keep decorations simple throughout the year, or do you find yourself constantly changing the decor?

As I am writing this devotional, we are in the middle of preparing for Christmas. Decorations are everywhere–lights, garland, poinsettias, and nutcrackers. Christmas decorations are special and I always feel sad after Christmas when returning these beloved treasures to storage until the next Christmas season. However, as we look to the next year, I want to start thinking about a different kind of decoration.

I love the spiritual metaphor of our hearts resembling a house. Jesus Christ knocks on the door of our heart and when we open the door, we accept Him as our Savior. Jesus Christ, coming to this Earth to be our Savior, is what Christmas is all about. When you let Him in, He stays and lives in your heart. When I surrendered my whole heart to Jesus, I handed over the keys to each and every door in my heart. He is the ultimate decision maker in every area of my life—including when I need to decide what decorations I put up in my heart.

The three verses from the Bible book of Colossians at the beginning of this devotional list the decorations that a Christian should put up in their heart. The King James Version says that we are to put on mercy, kindness, humbleness, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, forgiveness, and charity–these are the things which beautify the heart and life of a Christian. We could choose not to put up these decorations in our hearts for the coming year. We could choose to put up decorations of envy, hate, bitterness, strife, unforgiveness. But if we do choose to put up negative decorations in our hearts, it will depress and disappoint us. 

Have you ever walked into a house that was decorated poorly? How did it make you feel? How does walking into a beautifully decorated house make you feel? A beautifully decorated atmosphere always makes me feel welcomed and at peace which is exactly how others will feel around you when you put up the decorations of Colossians 3:12-14 in your heart.

As we put away Christmas decorations and look to the coming year, let us not neglect the decorating that needs to be done in our hearts. Decorating is intentional, takes time, and requires effort. Choose the decorations of your heart carefully. Remember, Jesus Christ is now the owner of your heart so decorate in a way that will please Him and make Him feel welcomed.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for entering our hearts and dwelling with us. Please help us to remember that our heart is Your home and we are to decorate it as You see fit. Help us to choose our decorations wisely and keep them throughout the coming year. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Always Be My Home” by Rachael Lampa. Listen to it here.

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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: When you need God to give you a new heart

Give Me a New Heart, Lord
A devotional by Dr. Jessica B. Turner

“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” –Ezekiel 11:19 (NIV)

Have you ever experienced a moment with the Lord where you are head over heels in love with Him? You promise to give Him your all and to live a life of surrender to only find yourself stumbling over the same old sins that used to rule your life, mere days after this powerful encounter with God?

I know I have. I also remember it leaving me beaten down and convinced that I was incapable of true transformation. I suspect this is one of the biggest lies the enemy tells us. If we aren’t careful, we may believe him and give up on following God altogether.

While there are many testimonies out there displaying radical transformation that occur within a moment, I’ve discovered that it’s much more likely to experience a more drawn-out process of change.

But what if you are someone who feels as if you are constantly falling into the same transgression? You know your actions bring you farther away from God, yet you can’t seem to muster up the self-discipline to break the cycle of this specific sin. This “thing” you battle with is an idol in your life, claiming a piece of your heart.

This division is what leads to a life that feels more like a roller coaster than a joy ride. Not because everything in life is perfect and easy. We know as believers we are promised to face trials (John 16:33, James 1:2-4). More so because we are unable to control the way we respond to such challenges and when things get too hard, we lean on what makes us feel better. Because we are human, comfort typically comes in the form of over-indulgence, destructive habits, and toxic relationships.

If you relate to this, you are not alone! In my own experience, my coping mechanisms were rooted in years of unaddressed trauma. Even after realizing this and seeking counseling to help me process why I did certain things, I still struggled with turning to God as my source of everything. It wasn’t until I truly invited Jesus Christ into my heart that lasting change occurred. He took a heart that I was convinced would never be whole and made it new. He softened places that had been hardened for years and brought forth forgiveness. Jesus did what only He could do and, in the process, filled me with the Holy Spirit so I could walk in this transformed life.

So, if you are still carrying a heart that is tied to your past, find comfort in knowing that Jesus is in the business of giving out new hearts! Hearts that are so in love with Him that you no longer rely on the things that used to bring you down. Hearts that invite you to be His hands and feet through how you love others.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for the restorative hope that can be found in receiving You as my Lord and Savior. Touch my heart, Lord. Make it new. Cut all ties that are leading to a divided heart and direct my devotion to You and only You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and strengthen me to live a transformed life. Use me to be a light unto others, sharing hope that can overcome any suffering. I love You and I trust You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Create in Me a Clean Heart” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Dr. Jessica B. Turner is a wife, mom, and LSU graduate with a degree in veterinary medicine. 

After practicing small animal medicine for six years, she traded in her stethoscope to become an online wellness coach, motivational speaker, and writer with a passion for mental health advocacy. This major life change was sparked after Jessica struggled with postpartum depression soon after she birthed her twin girls.

Along with Jessica’s career change came the discovery of who Jesus Christ really is and how He was the missing piece for her to be able to move forward in past trauma that she had suppressed for decades. Jesus walked alongside Jessica as she underwent a transformation like none other.

God transformed Jessica’s life from a broken mom who struggled with depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and PTSD from witnessing an attempted suicide, to using her experiences to make her a powerful vessel for Him. To this day, God enables Jessica to touch the lives of others through her often unfiltered, yet inviting form of storytelling.

Throughout this process of refinement, Jessica has shared her life story with the world through her social media platforms, in-person events, blog posts, and podcasts. She values the gift of transparency and has discovered that what so many people need to know is that they are not alone. Jessica has walked in their shoes, and she wants the world to know that Jesus is walking with them as well.

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Connect with Jessica:
Website: www.jessicabturner.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicabturner/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicabturner/

14 Days of Love: Her Next Dance

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a book by my author friend Susan C. Fischer.

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Book Blurb for Her Next Dance:

Outspoken attorney and single mother, Lauren Miller, is trying hard to earn a living in a firm where her boss takes over her cases and has no respect for her.  

Her only escape is in taking dance lessons with single dad dance instructor, Marco Gonzalez. 

Although she senses a possible attraction to Marco, she struggles to trust him, remembering her ex-fiancé who abandoned her. 

Will Lauren and Marco's passion for dance turn their friendship into love?

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Author Bio:

Susan Fischer is an author, Christian Mediator, and speaker. 

She leads a worship service in her community and is active in several other ministries and groups.

Susan has a Juris Doctor degree from Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University College of Law) and has practiced law in both Michigan and Florida for over 30 years.

She has a son and daughter in law who live up north and she currently resides in Bradenton, Florida, near a dance studio and her favorite beach.

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Buy Susan's book on Amazon

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Connect with Susan:
Website: www.susanfischer.org
Email: info@susanfischer.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.fischer.7186
Twitter: https://twitter.com/susancfischer

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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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14 Days of Love: Say It's For Good

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a book by my author friend Teresa Tysinger.

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Book Blurb for Say It’s For Good:

Is a decade enough time to heal old wounds? 

Professional chef Leah Spencer is level-headed, responsible, and practical, so moving home to Laurel Cove, North Carolina to care for her ailing father was an easy choice. All he wants is for her to find love like he had with his late wife—before he leaves Leah all alone. 

Desperate to ease his worries, as well as her own fear, she breaks character and creates a fake relationship with the one man in town who likely wants nothing to do with her. The one man she’s ever truly loved.

Jasper Bowdon has successfully avoided commitment ever since his heart was broken a decade ago. When casual dating grew tiresome, he decides to take a break from women to finally figure out what he really wants. Why, then, does he agree to a pretend relationship with the very woman who’d ruined him in the first place? And why is he left wondering if it could all be part of God’s plan to heal them both?

Love and friendship get a second chance in this final installment of the Laurel Cove Romance Series. Books in this series are stand-alone and can be read and enjoyed in any order.

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Author Bio:

Teresa Tysinger is an author of Southern Contemporary Romance inspired by grace.

She writes on the fringes of being a wife, mom, and full-time communications and public relations professional.

Teresa loves coffee, traveling, and loves almost every genre of music.

Born in Hawaii, raised in Florida, and educated in North Carolina, she now resides in Texas with her husband, daughter, and dog.

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Buy Teresa’s book on Amazon

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Connect with Teresa:
Website: https://teresatysinger.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teresatysinger_author/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teresatysingerauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16536072.Teresa_Tysinger
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/teresa-tysinger

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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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14 Days of Love: An Orphan’s Hope

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a book by my author friend Christina Miller.

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Book Blurb for An Orphan’s Hope:

He trusts her with his new daughter.

But his wounded heart is another matter…

Twice left at the altar, preacher Jase Armstrong avoids commitment at all costs—until he inherits his cousin’s three-day-old baby. Pushing him further out of his comfort zone is Erin Tucker, the nurse for his live-in octogenarian boss, and her lessons on caring for an infant. 

But can Jase open his heart enough to see the family forming around him?

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Author Bio:

Christina Miller’s idea of a perfect day involves a southern beach, a stack of books, and a glass of sweet tea. 

Years ago, she left her job as an RN to work in the church her husband pastors. She also became a writer—and sometimes she gets to write on the beach.

Christina is a Love Inspired author, Bethany Global University (Bloomington, Minnesota) graduate with degrees in theology and missiology, church secretary, worship leader, and children’s ministry teacher.

When she doesn’t have her nose in a book or her toes in the sand, you might catch her visiting an antebellum mansion, opening her early-American home for Dinner Church, or teaching at a women’s conference. Christina lives on her family farm with her husband of thirty-three years.

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Buy Christina’s book on Amazon or Love Inspired or Barnes and Noble

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Connect with Christina:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinalinstrotmiller
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CLMillerbooks

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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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My Blog's 10th Year Birthday Bash: Julie Lessman's book giveaway

Welcome to the 17th day of my blog's birthday bash!

Please welcome my author friend Julie Lessman.

She's here to graciously give away a total of 10 ebook copies of her stories to five winners! Each of the five winners will receive a copy of Isle of Hope and A Light in the Window.

Enter the book giveaway contest via the Rafflecopter widget the end of this blog post. Only residents of the USA are eligible to receive a signed paperback copy of this author's books. International residents will only receive ebook copies due to costs of mailing books outside of the USA.

Let's learn a little bit more about Julie and her books ...

Author Bio:

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, and Silver Lining Ranch series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 21 Romance Writers of America and other awards. 

Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-20, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. Her independent novel A Light in the Window was an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner.

Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers titled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. Contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com.

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Back Cover Blurb for Isle of Hope: 

Can a wild girl gone good rebuild bridges with a good boy gone bad?

She’s the girlfriend serving up temptation. 

He’s the pastor’s kid bent on serving God.

Till tragedy separates them for eight long years. 

Now she’s a woman of faith, back to make amends to the father she defied, the boyfriend she deserted, and the best friend she betrayed. 

But can a turning of tables—and hearts—lead the way back to “hope” for them all?
                                                                              
                                                                                 ~*~

Back Cover Blurb for A Light in the Window:

One Woman. Two Men.

One stirs her pulse, the other her faith.

But who will win her heart?

Marceline Murphy, a gentle beauty with a well-founded aversion to rogues, catches the eye of two of Boston’s most notorious. Patrick O’Connor and Sam O’Rourke are best friends with a bond like brothers … until they meet one woman neither can have.

Overseeing St. Mary’s Christmas play—A Light in the Window—Marcy wrestles with her attraction to both. But when disaster strikes, she’s destined to discover the play’s message firsthand. For although two men have professed their love, only one has responded to the light in the window.

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Connect with Julie:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieLessmanAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/julielessman
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/julielessman/

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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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Devotionals for the Heart: Tough Love

Tough Love
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” 
– Luke 6:32-36 (NIV)

One of my most favorite passages in The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is this description of the Christian going to his local church: “When he goes inside, he sees the local grocer with rather an oily expression on his face bustling up to offer him one shiny little book containing a liturgy which neither of them understands, and one shabby little book containing corrupt texts of a number of religious lyrics, mostly bad, and in very small print. When he gets to his pew and looks round him he sees just that selection of his neighbors whom he has hitherto avoided.”

As Christians, we need to rub shoulders with fellow believers in what is a safe place and let them challenge us to love like Jesus. It’s one of the strongest arguments for regular church attendance. The best churches have pews filled with the high and the low, the meek and the mighty, the community leader you want to befriend and the weird guy who hangs out at the gas station and that you try not to make eye contact with. Within our church family we’re supported, encouraged, and coached to love one another. What a better place to build your Christian muscles?

As the verse above makes clear, God loves the unlovable and He expects us to do the same. Jesus died for criminals, haters, adulterers, sinners. He died for us; we are the unlovable. Whatever we think of ourselves, we are no better than the worst of humanity. We’re all sinners. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). It’s tempting to think that you were always a ‘good person,’ living a ‘good’ life, that you’ve been able to avoid the curse of Original Sin. Nope! You’re not good now and you never were. However, there is hope when you become a follower of Jesus Christ.

If you’re a Christian (follower of Jesus Christ), then you’ve been redeemed and your sinful heart has been turned to Jesus and your wayward feet are on the path to glory. But don’t forget that you didn’t deserve it! You didn’t lift yourself out of the well of sin you were in. Maybe your sin didn’t feel that bad to you compared to others, but God doesn’t pick up a yardstick to measure out your sin and give you a break if it’s not ‘that bad.’ 

Because He is an infinitely Holy God, our smallest rebellion against Him deserves the most severe punishment. But it pleased Him to sacrifice His Son (Jesus Christ) so that He could display what True Love really is.

We need to love radically, like God does. Generic, worldly love isn’t enough.

And God doesn’t stop there. He wants us to love those who hate us, as well as those that we have ‘hitherto avoided.’ Loving our enemies isn’t just the absence of nastiness, it’s active love, and a big part of that is sharing the Gospel.

Don’t let your heart be turned from fellow sinners who need the same mercy and grace that has been shown to you. Remember your own story; the unbearable weight of your sins that you felt when you were confronted with them, and the panic of not knowing how to get rid of that weight. And remember what it was like when you were given the option of receiving that free gift that would take that weight away forever – repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Don’t leave someone in their sin; show them the path to God’s redeeming grace.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christa MacDonald is a 2017 ACFW Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction.

A native New Englander, she was inspired by her travels through the north woods of Maine to write The Broken Trail, which would become the first in the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

Christa's writing focuses on the real-life challenges of the modern world, love’s sometimes crooked path, and the redemptive power of Grace.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty.

She and her husband live with their three kids, two cats, and one dog along the coast of New England. Connect with Christa at www.christamacdonald.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Christa's thoughts about our human heart

Matters of the Heart
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” –Mark 7:20-23 (NIV)

One of the biggest fallacies in modern thinking is the idea that human beings are basically good and that when someone does wrong, it’s because they were taught to do so or influenced somehow. “He was a good kid until he started hanging around the wrong people.” 

While it’s true that friends can influence each other to do terrible things, that’s not the whole truth. Evil exists. I often say that anyone who doubts original sin needs to spend time with toddlers. They’re terrible people: selfish, mean, and hot-tempered. They have to be taught to be nice. How many times do you hear a mom correcting her children to be kind, don’t tease your sister, and don’t harass the cat.

In the verse above Jesus has just been explaining that it’s not the food we eat that makes us unclean, it’s our hearts. Most of us go through life without committing any of the big sins in deed, but boy, if someone could read our thoughts … It’s tempting to think that it’s the world that influences us to do wrong. But this is a complete misunderstanding of sin and the fall. It’s in us to do wrong. But for the Grace of God, we are all capable of great evil. It’s why we so desperately need Jesus.

The world is full of temptations and bad influences. While these may facilitate our sin, maybe even amplify our sins into ones of deed and not of thought, they are not the source. Our hearts are. What can we do? Face the fact that the sin is in you, repent, put your faith in the saving Grace of Jesus Christ and lean on Him for the strength to turn from the path you are on and walk in the light.

As parents, we often see our children struggle with sin and we focus on the temptations we see leading them astray. It’s hard not to call out their video games, friends, or social media for encouraging their sinful behavior, but we need to get to the source, their heart. 

Jesus met people where they were, led them to feel the conviction of their sin, and then forgave them. Our kids, our families, our friends, and our communities need to know the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We all need to resist the distractions our culture offers. These are targets that are tangential. We need to reach hearts.

The Bible clearly tells us our primary work is spreading the Gospel. Christ-followers need to be actively sharing the Gospel in our communities, in our circle of friends. That doesn’t mean you have to find a street corner and start preaching or handing out tracts. Ask God in your prayer time, how you can actively share the Gospel in your day to day life then be open to the Holy Spirit leading you to act or to speak. 

We don’t have to save the world. 

We need to tell the world of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christa MacDonald is a 2017 ACFW Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction.

A native New Englander, she was inspired by her travels through the north woods of Maine to write The Broken Trail, which would become the first in the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

Christa's writing focuses on the real-life challenges of the modern world, love’s sometimes crooked path, and the redemptive power of Grace.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty.

She and her husband live with their three kids, two cats, and one dog along the coast of New England. Connect with Christa at www.christamacdonald.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Vanity

Vanity Plates: Inspiration or Indictment?
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

One of the most thrilling experiences of my life was catalyzed by a bumper sticker. It asked a simple question, “What ever happened to the dreams of your youth?”

I passed the car and began cataloguing some of my youthful dreams that I had allowed to slip into the recesses of my mind. By the time I arrived at home, I had chosen one to fulfill. Skydiving. I did it.

Recently, I was similarly riveted by a vanity license plate, on a car. It simply read “NMYHRT!” I don’t know what the driver had in mind when she chose that tag. My mind immediately began searching for cognates in my memory. Songs from youth began to resonate in my mind. There’s within my heart a melody…”, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart…”, But the song that goes, “Lord, I want to be a Christian, in my heart…” resonated in my being. My car became a sanctuary as I rehearsed those songs in my mind.

Later in the day, I thought about the biblical line in Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) that says, “For as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” Building upon that refrain, I remembered a paragraph that I had memorized from the book by James Allen “As a Man Thinketh.” The quote was, “The outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state…Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.”

Flowing from that stream of consciousness, I then reflected on another biblical line from the Gospel of Matthew 12:34 (KJV). It says, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” It means that what ever thoughts reside in the recesses or forefront of your consciousness, will eventually be manifest in your speech, deeds and maybe even subconscious/reflex actions.

I then remembered a line that my father reiterated in my youth when he exhorted me to clean up my room. He would say, “People can tell a lot about your character by looking at your horizontal spaces and your closet.” My suits, sport coats, pants, shirts and ties are hung in an orderly manner. The suits and shirts hang from light to dark, left to right and my shirts similarly. Old clothes in good shape are donated.

Recently, I found a suit and a few shirts that had small holes in them. Moths? I discarded them. My desk, well, I know where everything is, most of the time. Regularly, I must clear my desk, file what is important and discard what is not.

All of this ruminating was prompted by those 7 characters on the rear bumper of a car. Now I think, was it inspirational or indicting? I think both because it forced me to think about my thought life and how badly I need to attend that closet. What is on the horizontal spaces of my consciousness? What is on yours?

If what is in my heart is reflected by who I am, what I have and if what I am experiencing is the product of my thoughts, I have some work to do. We all do.

Join me in a new quest! Let’s examine and if necessary, reorder the closet and horizontal spaces of our interiors. Discarding old, tattered or destructive mindsets may give us more spiritual and emotional energy.

Embracing and exploring some of the ideas and dreams that lie as eggs in the ovaries of our souls, may restore fertility, verve and productivity in our lives.

Enthusiasm is catalyzed in the uncluttered soul. What’s in your heart?

~*~
Author Bio:

Chaplain Anderson served for 20 years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. Over 26 years of active duty, he was promoted through the ranks from Seaman Apprentice (E2) to his final rank as Commander (O5) in the Chaplain’s Corps.

Prior to his Naval career, Chaplain Anderson pastored in the Allegheny East and Potomac Conferences of Seventh-day Adventists. His undergraduate preparation for ministry was completed at Columbia Union College (WAU) in Takoma Park, Maryland. He has subsequently earned four graduate degrees–a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, a Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland and a Masters of Sacred Theology in Religion and Culture from Boston University. His Doctor of Ministry degree was conferred by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Chaplain Anderson also completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also holds certifications in Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Civil Mediation, Alternative Workplace Dispute Resolution, Temperament Analysis, Marriage Enrichment, Workforce Diversity, and is a certified Life Coach.

Christmas On My Heart: "Merry Christmas, Amor" by Cindy Flores Martinez

The Story Behind Merry Christmas, Amor by Cindy Flores Martinez:

My story, Merry Christmas, Amor, was originally published as part of Melissa Storm’s First Street Church Romances Kindle World a little over a year ago. Back then, it had another title: Love’s Second Chance. The story was much shorter, it didn’t have a Christmas theme, and the male lead character’s name was different. After Amazon closed its Kindle Worlds program and unpublished its books, I decided to rewrite the story. Explaining the inspiration behind Merry Christmas, Amor would mean going back to the previous version.

When I sat down to write Love’s Second Chance, which is now Merry Christmas, Amor, Melissa Storm had chosen me to be part of her team of authors that would help launch her Kindle World series. I had read the first book in her First Street Church Romances series, and it played a huge part in inspiring my story. I had always written romantic comedies or sweet romances that had a bit of humor in them but I decided to try something more serious this time around. Instead of writing the simple characters that I always wrote, I decided to write those that had deeper problems.

Esperanza De La Cruz was the first character that I created. She’s a young Latina woman whose family is broken, whose life is a mess and who finds strength through her faith in God and her relationship with Him. The name Esperanza De La Cruz means "Hope of the Cross."

I chose that name on purpose because I wanted that message to shine through. I took time creating all sorts of problems for Esperanza because I wanted to show how she’s okay despite everything. This is so true for me in my own life. Despite the problems that come along, I’m okay because of my relationship with God but it wasn’t always that way for me. I didn’t find Christ until just years ago and so I know the difference between going through life with God’s presence and power and going through life without Him.

Being that the series was Christian Romance, I needed to create a love story. That’s when Deputy Nuñez came along. His name was different in the first version but he’s still the same person. When I began figuring out his storyline, I had already decided that Esperanza’s father had committed a crime, which is a great source of pain for her. He’s in prison for intoxicated manslaughter. So I wondered, what if Esperanza’s love interest has strong feelings against crime? Better yet, what if he’s law enforcement? It would create a unique kind of conflict, especially if she hides her problems from him because she doesn’t know him well enough yet.

The overall main theme in the story is forgiveness. Esperanza’s father has hurt her tremendously because of his actions but she has forgiven him. Everyone in the story has forgiven someone in some way. Esperanza’s mother Milagros, which means “miracles”, has forgiven her husband. Deputy Nuñez’s mother Alma, which means “soul”, has forgiven her abusive ex-husband. Can Deputy Nuñez forgive his father who was abusive toward him in the past? How can someone forgive what seems impossible? That’s the question that Merry Christmas, Amor explores.

The story isn’t all about family problems, though. It takes place in the fictional small town of Mulberry Shores during the most wonderful time of the year—Christmastime. There’s a Christmas tree lighting ceremony on an idyllic Main Street that’s beautifully decorated. There are a few quirky characters and a bit of humor as well. The love of family and friends—and a little bit of Mexican culture—are also woven into the pages.

~*~
Author Bio:
Cindy Flores Martinez is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes Christian Romance. She has an MFA in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Screenwriting. Her debut novel, Mail-Order Groom, started as a screenplay and movie project, which she shopped around Hollywood, New York, and other parts of the world. You can learn more about her at www.cindyfloresmartinez.com.

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Book Blurb for Merry Christmas, Amor:

It’s almost Christmas, and Deputy Nuñez isn’t in a festive mood.

Esperanza De La Cruz isn’t, either, after having left the only home she’s ever known to work at the daycare in the small town of Mulberry Shores. 

When her car and belongings are stolen, Deputy Nuñez comes to the rescue. 

Slowly, she begins to thaw his frozen heart.

~*~
Buy A Merry Little Winter (boxed set), in which Cindy's story "Merry Christmas, Amor" is featured on Amazon,  Barnes and Noble, or Kobo

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Connect with Cindy:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cindyfloresmartinezauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorCindy
Main website: www.cindyfloresmartinez.com
Another website: www.sweetromancereads.com

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Falling for Books: Gail's book

The Story Behind the Story Kiss Me Once Again by Gail Kittleson:

When Glenora Carson’s story began to build in my mind, I really didn’t anticipate writing a romance. This World War II story evolved into just that, however.

Never a big fan of the genre, I’ve always wanted stories to be more complicated. What’s there to figure out if you know from the outset that the guy gets the girl in the end? Well, maybe I had a thing or two to learn.

During World War II, everything was complicated. When you’re worried that a brother, sister, or parent may not return from battle, that’s complicated. The whole setting burgeons with complications.

Egotistical commanders may make haphazard decisions that lead to needless deaths. The enemy may flip his tactics and surprise a unit counting on him to act like he always does. This occurred in North Africa when Rommel shocked American commanders by reversing his course.

On the home front, wild things can happen, as well. In Glenora’s case, just when she thought she had most things managed, her father’s health began to decline. Worry about her brother Red’s ship being struck by a typhoon in Nakagusuku Wan, or Buckner Bay, near Okinawa Island, most likely had something to do with that.

Time has dragged on since then, with no word about Red. Is he still alive? If he ever comes home, will he be able to marry his high school sweetheart and take Glenora’s place at their father’s garage? That was his plan before December 7, 1941, but so much has happened in the interval.

For one thing, Glenora has been filling his spot there...will she have to continue wielding her wrench and pliers for the rest of her life? She’s already sacrificed her college scholarship and dreams of teaching home economics to keep the garage open.

Then, out of the blue, a convalescing soldier named Hank returns to town. With his bent for mechanics, his uncle volunteers him to help out at the garage. Thankful she can now devote her time to organizing the books, Glenora attempts to add more figures to the “paid” column.

Relieved of crawling under broken-down tractors and farm trucks to diagnose and fix problems, Glenora can now pay more attention to her other tasks such as housekeeping, gardening, and contributing to the war effort in every way possible. When her mother died a few years ago, all of these responsibilities fell to her—there simply aren’t enough hours in a day.

Hank brings relief with him, but also another complication. Back in 1941, when her beau went down with the USS Arizona, Glenora buried her dreams of romance and having a family of her own. Hank’s presence in the shop urges those dreams back to the surface, but he seems bent on his own dream of studying under the G.I. Bill as soon as the war comes to an end.

On top of that, he’s kind, honest, tenderhearted, and a good worker. If that weren’t enough, he also has a way with her dad.

This is where my plot led me...right into the complications of romance! 

I hope you like this old-fashioned World War II story.

~*~
Author Bio:

Writing from northern Iowa, Gail delves into World War II, such an intriguing era. 

When she’s not researching, writing, or editing, she facilitates writing workshops and classes or hangs out with her husband and grandchildren. 

While she normally writes historical women’s fiction, her latest release (officially available for purchase on December 7, 2018) takes readers into the world of romance.

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Book Blurb for Kiss Me Once Again:

Glenora keeps her heart under lock and key.

No one ever accused Glenora Carson of being a breathtaking beauty. Her talk, gangly figure and angular face are more solid midwestern stock than Hollywood glamour. But Joe liked her. He even told her, “You’re the one for me.”

He gave her a locket with his picture inside, to remind her of him while he was away, serving his country on the USS Arizona.

After December 7, 1941, Glenora shelves her dreams of attending college on the scholarship she was offered by Iowa State University, locks her heart away and focuses on holding down the home front by helping out the family business – Carson’s Garage. 

The grease-stained overalls didn’t do much to compliment her female figure, but they cover her female heart well enough. That is, until Hank Anderson, a wounded warrior back from battle, walks into the garage and into Glenora’s life.

Is an old maid’s future Glenora’s fate, or will Cupid throw a wrench in her plans? 

~*~

Buy Gail's book on Amazon

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Connect with Gail:
Website - http://www.gailkittleson.com/
Facebook - www.facebook.com/GailKittlesonAuthor
Amazon Author Page - http://amazon.com/author/gailkittleson
Twitter - www.twitter.com/GailGkittleson

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14 Days of Sweet Stories: Susan's book "Echo Canyon"

Blurb for Echo Canyon, a book written by Susan Page Davis: 

Iris Perkins is told she will be married soon to a man she despises. A chance visit by two brothers and a beautiful woman from the other side of Echo Canyon gives her hope. For Edward Sherman, venturing into Utah with his brother to buy horses is risky. He only wants to find the livestock they need and get back to Fort Bridger, until he meets a frightened young woman in need. He’ll do anything he can to save Iris, even race against the man determined to marry her.

Review of Echo Canyon written by Sarah Walton (under the name “Dale Yancy” on Amazon):

5.0 out of 5 starsLoved it!

By Dale Yancy on January 14, 2017

Format: Kindle Edition

I loved the character of Iris, a girl left alone in a desperate situation and being forced to marry a man she doesn’t love. She is resigned to her fate until she meets a young man who gives her hope of another life beyond what she has known. Echo Canyon is an interesting look at Mormon polygamy in the 19th century, and the fight of a young woman to chart her own course in life. Great read!

Excerpt from Chapter 1 of Echo Canyon:

Iris was nervous the day Elder Whipple came home. He avoided looking directly at her when he greeted his family, then spent half an hour in the parlor with his wife, Louise, with the door closed. Iris could hear their low voices as she mixed the biscuit dough for supper, but she couldn’t make out the words. The council had met for three days, and she wondered what decisions they had made for the community.

The Whipples’ daughter-in-law, Annie, kept the churn going. She and Iris worked in silence. No one spoke much at the Whipples’ house.

Iris wished Annie were more talkative and friendly, but she always looked frightened and tired. When Iris spoke to her, she answered with as few words as possible. Her husband, young John Whipple, was just as quiet. No one seemed happy here, and Iris thought the dry, bleak land drained them of life and joy.

The door to the parlor opened, and Elder Whipple stepped into the kitchen. He walked over to Iris and stood for a moment, watching her knead the dough. “You’ll be going to Brother Zale’s place tomorrow.”

Iris found it suddenly hard to breathe. She looked up at his bearded face. “I don’t understand.” Hadn’t she pleased them here? She’d worked hard. She didn’t want to be shuffled off to another family that might not treat her as well. She didn’t know the Zales, and they might be farther from the mainstream of communication within the sprawling community of Saints, making it harder for Iris to seek out news of her own family.

“The men who went looking for your father’s outfit returned yesterday. They didn’t find any trace of them. It’s been three months since they set out, and nothing has been heard from them, Miss Perkins. The council is assuming the party is lost.”

“Lost?” She let that sink in.

“That’s the conclusion they’ve reached. It could be hostile Indians, or lack of water … It could be anything. The search party traced them about sixty miles southwest, but after that the ground was rocky. They didn’t find any more evidence of a camp or anything like that.”

She gulped and met his level gaze. “Or a struggle?”

“No. Nothing.”

Iris nodded. It was so stark, so unsatisfying. This was her father they were talking about! Her brother, too. They had left with three other men at the end of May, to seek out ore deposits for the good of the community. Lead was needed, and iron, and of course anything more precious. They were to have reported back in a month, with a map of the places they had been, showing the location of any minerals or other features of interest to the Saints.

“You need to be incorporated into a family, Miss Perkins.”

“But I—” She hesitated, looking up at him cautiously. “Couldn’t I stay here as part of this family, sir?”

He sighed. “The council feels it’s time you were wed.”

She caught her breath. “But my father—”

“Your father is likely dead, Miss Perkins. Others must make decisions for you now.”

Iris tried to swallow the huge lump in her throat. “Please don’t do this. At least give them more time. They might have been delayed, or lost the trail, or gone farther than they anticipated if they were finding promising ore samples.”

Elder Whipple shook his head regretfully. “I’m sorry. My wife and I would like to keep you on, but it’s impossible. Most young women your age have been married two or three years. It’s your duty, my dear.”

A gentleness crept into his tone at the last, and the heat of a flush crept up Iris’s neck. She had often felt the elder’s eyes upon her as she worked and had decided he meant no harm. He and Mrs. Whipple did insist that she put in long days, but that was necessary, and it was expected of all.

“I could serve you and Mrs. Whipple for a while longer.”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry. It’s not possible.”

Why not? she wanted to cry. But she held her peace. One didn’t talk back to the elders.

Was it possible Mrs. Whipple wanted her gone? Iris had maintained a formality with her host and his son, so that no thoughts of impropriety could arise. Was her work not enough? She did far more than Mrs. Whipple each day. The older woman was worn out. She moved slowly and plugged away wearily at her housework and gardening. Annie did her share, but she was slowing down now, with a baby coming in the late fall. Iris could be a lot of help when the little one was born.

“I’ll take you there tomorrow,” Mr. Whipple said. “Be ready at first light.”

~*~
Author bio: 

Susan Page Davis is the author of more than sixty published historical romance, mystery, and romantic suspense novels. 

She’s a winner of the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award, the Carol Award, and the Will Rogers Medallions, and a finalist in the WILLA Awards. 

A Maine native, she has lived in Oregon and now resides in Kentucky.

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Buy Susan's book Echo Canyon on Amazon 

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Connect with Susan:
Website - www.susanpagedavis.com
Twitter -  https://twitter.com/susanpagedavis
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/susanpagedavisauthor 

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