Words of Faith: Beth K. Vogt's faith-infused stories

Faith Infused Writing
A Words of Faith story written by Beth K. Vogt

I ask a lot of questions as I prepare to fast draft a manuscript. Questions like:
· Who are my main characters?
· Where and when does this story take place?
· Who are my secondary characters and how does my subplot tie into the main story?
· What Dark Moment in their past shaped my main characters’ emotional makeup?

Here’s one additional question I ask:
· Where are my characters in their relationship with God?

Yes, my characters are fictional. But as I plot chapters, I often wonder: If these were real people, what would they need to learn about God? 

As the author of my books, I know that my characters have made choices that have hurt them and others. This is all backstory. I also know that in the story I’m writing they’re going to make other wrong choices – or be affected by the wrong choices of others. All of this influences their (fictitious) relationships with people … and with God.

I weave my worldview into my stories, and so my characters struggle with their faith. Sometimes my characters struggle to even accept there is a God who loves them and wants to have a relationship with them.

When I ask the question, “Where are my characters in their relationship with God?” that question echoes back to me.

Where am I in my relationship with God?

God has used each one of my novels and e-novellas to deepen his relationship with me. As a newbie writer, I thought I was merely plotting, writing, and rewriting stories. But God doesn’t waste anything in our lives. As I’ve scripted the spiritual journeys of my characters, God has woven this “where are you” question into my own faith journey. I shouldn’t be surprised. After all, he is the author and finisher of my faith. (Hebrews 12:2)

Oftentimes, God works with the spiritual thread I’ve woven through my characters’ lives. When I wrote my upcoming release, Almost Like Being in Love, I knew that Caron, my heroine, struggled with feeling significant. She sought approval from a certain someone in her life, rather than setting her heart on God’s assessment of her.

God’s “where are you?” prompted me to reexamine my past tendency to seek approval from others, rather than to trust who God says I am – and to be content with that.

However, when I wrote my 2014 release, Somebody Like You, God surprised me with the spiritual journey He took me on. Somebody Like You deals with two twin brothers who are estranged. This was a carefully thought out plot point on my part. Never did I imagine that during the time I wrote this novel that I would become estranged from my own family of origin. Experiencing emotional separation from my family truly broke my heart and made it difficult to write. But because God is sovereign, he was not surprised by this upheaval in my life. I had to trust God as never before during this time as my characters’ struggles became my own.

Now whenever I start mulling over a new story, I anticipate the story unfolding; meeting new characters, devising challenges for them to face, and discovering how they change from the beginning of the book to the end.

But I also know God will use the process to ask the question, “Where are you, Beth?” And by the time my manuscript is finished, I will be changed, too.

~*~
Author bio: 

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” Beth is a 2016 Christy Award finalist, as well as a 2015 RITA® finalist, and two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. 

She continues her destination wedding series with You Can’t Hurry Love (May 2016) and Almost Like Being in Love (June 2016). Visit Beth at bethvogt.com.

Falling in Love with Jesus: Love Casts Out Fear

Today's Falling in Love with Jesus story is written by Natalie Monk.

She's a multi-talented lady with a heart for Jesus Christ! She expresses her passion for Him in her daily living and His light radiates through her as she interacts with people. I know because I met Natalie in person earlier this year! She's pretty awesome! :)

Enjoy your visit with Natalie now as she shares her story about her first love encounter with Jesus Christ.

~*~

Love Casts Out Fear
A Falling in Love with Jesus story written by Natalie Monk

My first love encounter with Jesus was a little scary.

Not what you expected to hear, right?

Eight years old, leaving a revival meeting service, I’d never had any dealings with the Supernatural, so when I grew overwhelmed with thoughts of God and where I stood with Him, fear swamped me. Nothing major had ever disturbed my “normal.”

My whole life I had heard the message of Christ, how He loved the people of the world so much He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave three days later. But things of God were never personal to me.

Why was I so troubled now?

Something was horribly wrong. With me. With my relationship to God.

I didn’t want to talk about it, but to reassure myself, I tugged on my mom’s sleeve and declared to her that I was “saved.” See, I remembered “asking Jesus to save me” when I was three, because that’s what good boys and girls are supposed to do. I said the words. I did the thing. I was okay, right?

Now I laugh at my desperate grasp at normalcy, suddenly blurting that I was okay. I actually believed myself (or I “would be okay, if everyone would just ignore this weirdness and let things be normal again”), but Momma was smarter than that. I’m sure she noticed my pale lips and fidgety hands. She told me we would talk as soon as she bid the church people goodbye.

My stomach churned while I waited. I’d blabbed, now I’d HAVE to talk.

When we climbed up in my Daddy’s farm truck to head home, I slid onto the front seat and between Momma and Daddy. I was hopeful that once I told them I’d done the “saved” thing when I was three, they’d leave me alone about it and things could go back to normal. Maybe we could get a hamburger or ice cream or something—except if I ate anything right then I’d lose it all over those red cloth seats.

Momma asked me to tell her about when I was “saved.” I didn’t have much to tell except that I’d said the “right” words.

Then Momma had to go and ask the hard questions: Was God working in my heart back then when I was three or did I just say the “saved” words because I thought it was something good to do? Did I realize I was born a sinner and needed a savior (the whole reason Jesus came to earth to save us from eternal death and separation from Him)?

That’s when my façade broke down and tears popped up. I told her I didn’t know those things before, but they sure were true now. I didn’t fully comprehend God working so sweetly in my heart, showing me how much I needed Him and how He loved me and wanted me to know Him. (I understand now this was the conviction of the Holy Spirit.)

Momma, being sensitive to the ways of children and knowing how easy it is to “make a decision” to please others, asked me if I thought I needed to pray right then and give my heart to Jesus or if I could wait.

I told her I could wait. Why, I’m not sure. Maybe I still held out hope that I could ignore all this and feel better soon.

Five minutes later I told her I couldn’t wait anymore. I was so bothered inside at not being right with God. I prayed sincerely and asked God to forgive my sins and come into my heart. I didn’t say perfect words at a fancy church altar. In fact, we’d pulled into a lumber company’s dirt driveway—nothing religious about that.

But God was there. He heard my heart. And the burden He lifted from me was so real, the peace and relief so sweet. He changed me then and has been working in me ever since, drawing, pursuing, and persuading me to be more like Him and love like Him. I’ve got a lot to learn, but I’m thankful He’ll always be my Loving Guide.

Do you know Him? 

~*~
Author bio:

Natalie Monk writes historical romance stories of laughter, love, and redemption. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Natalie is currently seeking representation and plotting her third novel. 

Natalie is a homeschool graduate, a piano teacher, portrait photographer, devotional speaker and former post-hole digger. 

She loves sweet tea, book talk, porch swings, and watching musicals and action movies with her family. 

Connect with Natalie:

Website: www.nataliemonk.com 

Twitter: @NatalieDMonk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nataliemonkauthor
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/nataliedmonk