Devotionals for the Heart: True Beauty

God’s Standard of Beauty
A devotional by Jamie De Silvia

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”—1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)

I don’t have to tell you that the world values outward beauty. Society’s unrelenting standard of beauty slams against our self-image every day, making us feel self-conscious about our bodies and our age. We are surrounded by these worldly ideals and images in ads, music, television shows, and social media.

In addition, we often have people in our lives who can't stop talking about their bodies (and perhaps ours, too). Sometimes certain people in church who mean well may say that our bodies should be smaller to be worthy of God’s love and approval. Some people who also mean well, admonish us to care for our bodies by staying fit and slender because the Bible says that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). However, the context of 1 Corinthians 6 is not health, fitness, or physical beauty, but keeping our bodily temples free from sexual immorality! These verses cannot be used to imply that God expects us to maintain a certain body size, BMI, or physical appearance.

Consider God’s own words on the subject. “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV) The Bible clearly states where female beauty comes from in our anchor text above (1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV). Our beauty does not come from outward appearances. It doesn’t originate with our hair texture and style, creative and shiny accessories, or fashionable clothes because God intends for our beauty to come from within. It is worth noting that weight and body size are not mentioned at all in this passage either. If the Lord valued a particular body size, wouldn’t it be mentioned here, where the criteria for beauty are outlined so clearly?

The belief that our bodies must look a certain way to glorify God is completely inconsistent with His praise of inner beauty over outer appearance. It’s right there in the Bible. God values the unfading beauty of your inner self. He knows that physical attractiveness fades and bodies change over time, but inner beauty shines and becomes brighter as we are transformed by the Lord year after year.

God is cultivating a gentle and humble beauty in us as we become more and more like Jesus Christ who is the most humble and gentle One of all. God is also developing a quiet beauty in us, as we learn to trust Him more completely and have less need to complain, worry, or control.

Beloved, it’s time to let go of the world’s standard of beauty and embrace the inner beauty that God values. If He wanted you to pursue a smaller body without rolls or wrinkles, He would have said so Himself. Give yourself permission to live life and serve Him in the body you have today. Let Him cultivate an inner beauty in you that continues to shine in the years to come.

Let’s Pray: Lord, it’s easy to get caught up in the world’s standard for outward appearances and beauty. Help me to shift my focus to the inner beauty You’re cultivating in me. Help me to let go of the fears and insecurities I have about my body. Those thoughts dominate my mind and don’t leave enough room to focus on walking with You. My body is good because You made it and dwell in it with Your Holy Spirit, which shines forth with an unmatched beauty. Thank You, Jesus! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Perfectly Loved” by Rachael Lampa featuring TobyMac. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jamie De Silvia is an author and speaker from Southern California with a passion for helping women connect with the heart of God. She hosts the “Pressing In” podcast.

 

Jamie has authored two devotional books: Come Hear the Song of the Shepherd (a 30-day devotional journey through Psalm 23), and You Shall Be Praised (a 40-day devotional offering a fresh perspective on Proverbs 31).

You can find her on Instagram and Facebook daily, offering encouragement to help you draw closer to Jesus Christ.

Jamie is married with two adult daughters and a teenage son. She is also a homeschooling mom who enjoys oil painting, playing games with her family, and savoring a good chai latte.

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Connect with Jamie:
Website: https://jamiedesilvia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiedesilvia/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiedesilviaauthor
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamiedesilvia
Email: jamie@jamiedesilvia.com

The story behind a NEW book by Becky Beresford that releases today!

Join me in wishing my author friend, Becky Beresford, a "Happy BOOK Birthday" because her debut nonfiction book (She Believed HE Could, So She Did) releases into the world today (March 5, 2024) and it's going to be amazing! In fact it already is. 

But don't take my word for it, read all about her story in the post below.

~*~

The story behind the book by Becky Beresford: 

I never thought I would be a serious writer, let alone write a book like the one God has asked me to write.

After working in ministry with women for five years, I got married and quickly became pregnant with our oldest son. I was used to meeting face-to-face with women and discipling them over a cup of coffee or in a small group setting. But motherhood (especially mothering a little one with special needs) soon proved to be a new season where I couldn’t pour into women like I once had. With the passion still in my heart, I asked God to either remove my desire for ministry or to somehow make a way for ministry and motherhood to coexist. He responded with a third option, something I had never considered before. The Lord expanded my idea of ministry and showed me that discipleship could also take shape in the form of writing, and now He was asking me to write for Him!

With shaky hands I sent my first blog post out into the world in 2015, not knowing if anyone would see it or if they would want to read what I wrote. Little did I know the plans Jesus had for the words He was inspiring. People began to respond and relate to the messages God was laying on my heart to communicate. And so, I decided to pursue the idea of writing an actual book. 

After three years of trying to publish a separate book that is not She Believed HE Could, So She Did, I felt worn down to the bone. Not only was I receiving rejection after rejection from publishers, my life was full of overwhelming circumstances, all of which left me feeling like a failure. With special needs parenting, financial strain, health issues, loss, and a marriage on the brink of divorce, I came to the end of my own strength and sufficiency. I tried hard to believe I could handle whatever life threw my way—that if I could just keep my head afloat a little longer, then everything would be okay. Instead of relying on God as my source and security, I kept taking matters into my own hands. Jesus had to show me I didn’t have to be the savior of my story. It was never my job to have, but His.

During this hard time I had a sign on my writing desk from my husband with the popular saying “She Believed She Could, So She Did”. But the more I stared at the statement, the more unsettling it became. Did I really think I could hold everything together and be enough for everyone always, including myself? I was weary from trying to do it all, a state many of us find ourselves in today.

But God never intended for His Daughters to live with the burden of carrying the world’s concerns or trying to make everything happen. Instead, He wants to bring us back to the message of the gospel where we come to Jesus in our weakness and allow His love, truth, and strength to empower us to face trials. We don’t need to believe solely in ourselves when there’s a God who is able to do immeasurably more than anything we could imagine or think. We can take a deep breath and lean into the care and capacity of Christ.

This is why I wrote She Believed HE Could, So She Did. It goes against the grain of culture’s popular self-empowerment mindset, but also challenges similar sayings within the church. We need to go back to the Bible and see what God truly says. I pray the message found within this book’s pages will inspire women to stop striving according to society’s standards and in turn, surrender everything to the God who can. 

True freedom is possible when we ground our whole selves in the Good News.

~*~
Author Bio:

Becky Beresford lives in North Carolina and is happily outnumbered by her husband and three wonderful boys. She is an author, speaker and coach with a Master's Certificate in Spiritual Formation and Discipleship from Moody Theological Seminary. 

Becky loves encouraging God’s Daughters to embrace Christ-centered empowerment through the truth found in the gospel. Her work has been featured in large online communities including Crosswalk, (in)courage, iBelieve, HuffPost, DaySpring, and she recently became a writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries’ First 5 writing team. 

Becky’s book with Moody Publishers, She Believed HE Could, So She Did, releases in March.

~*~
Buy Becky's book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Target

 
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Connect with Becky:
Website: https://www.beckyberesford.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becky.beresford/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beckyberesfordauthor
Sign up for Becky's Empowered Email Tribe: https://www.beckyberesford.com/sign-up

PureFlix Review: Saved by Grace

My Review of Saved by Grace series:

Today, I have a review of a new show for you that is coming to PureFlix starting this Nov. 6! In case you didn’t know, PureFlix is like the faith-based version of Netflix. It works the same way but the difference is in the content. PureFlix content always points you back to Jesus Christ and shows you how much The Creator of the Universe loves you!

Pure Flix is a one-stop shop for faith and family-friendly movies and shows that you can confidently stream in your home with the entire family. With new premium and exclusive original entertainment choices every week, Pure Flix streaming service has the largest variety of high-quality, curated, positive, encouraging, wholesome movies, series and kids' content in one service. Pure Flix is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, alongside AFFIRM Films.

Pure Flix VIP Ambassador program asked me to review the new series "Saved by Grace." I watched every episode in the month of October 2022 before it was made available for viewing on Pure Flix this Nov. 6. This show is incredibly well-done, engaging and amazing! I’m eager to share my review with you. First, I’d like to describe the storyline in the words of talking points from Momentum then I’ll share my thoughts (review). 

Talking Points:

Angels are amongst us and God has sent them on a mission to intercede on behalf of whispered prayers. Every encounter presents a new opportunity to change your approach to life. There are no chance meetings or coincidences in life.

The new Pure Flix Original Series “Saved by Grace” is sure to inspire and encourage with its message of hope that there is a larger plan at work through God’s handiwork and that we are not alone in our struggles. There’s a lesson for everyone in “Saved by Grace” because it explores different seasons of life and how our reactions and actions can ultimately change the path we are on. 

“Saved by Grace” shares stories from everyday life and shows what happens when we offer and accept forgiveness. This show explores the kind of impact that day-to-day interactions can have, even if we don’t realize it at the time. In each episode, viewers will see how we can heal and overcome the past and that change in our hearts is possible to move forward. 

Now for my review: 

Reminiscent of the hit TV show, Touched by an Angel, this new PureFlix series "Saved by Grace" offers a fresh and unique spin on how God sends His Angels from Heaven to be His hands and feet here on Earth. This show will remind you that you're never alone, God loves you and He will always provide for your every need.

The actors for "Saved by Grace" who star in every episode are: Jennifer Taylor (Grace) and Cameron Arnett (Jeremiah). They do an amazing job playing the angels "Grace" and "Jeremiah"... a job so good that you might for a moment actually believe they are the real deal!

Each episode of "Saved by Grace" presents its own challenges in the storyline and brings about unpredictable plot twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat, eager to know how it will all work out. All of the actors (not just the angels) deliver a superb performance in each episode. I felt drawn into the story from the start of each episode an invested in the characters. 

Food is a favorite feature in each episode, so much so that it made me hungry. The producers really paid close attention to every detail that makes up this wonderful new series and it shows!

"Saved by Grace" is a series that will touch your heart and resonate with you long after it's over. It will also introduce you to Pure Flix, prompt you to join and watch it again and again! And once you’re a member of Pure Flix, you’ll find more content to view that will encourage your heart. So don’t delay, join today!

Here's the website link to where, starting Nov. 6, you can watch Saved by Grace:
https://www.pureflix.com/movie/saved-by-grace-series

See the "Saved by Grace" trailer:
https://youtu.be/YeDQ4ZaOh28

Watch the Momentum Influencers Interview conducted by Jean Thomason featuring Cameron Arnett who plays the angel named "Jeremiah", and Jennifer Taylor who plays the angel named "Grace". Here's the link: https://youtu.be/0-MvRwVTk80

#SavedByGraceMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Devotional Book Spotlight and Giveaway hosted by Rachael Adams

The Inspiration Behind “A Little Goes a Long Way”

A guest post by Rachael Adams

During a dinner conversation with new friends at a writer’s conference, I had an epiphany moment. I was sharing my background and ministry with my mealtime companions as we were getting to know one another. I told them about hosting The Love Offering podcast, where I interview others about how they are living out the greatest commandment. Trying to get to know me better, one woman asked if I ever hosted a solo show. After a brief pause, I responded. “No. I haven’t done a solo show because I doubt what I have to offer.”

How ironic, right? I host The Love Offering podcast and yet I question my own contributions.

Once I returned home, I continued wrestling with this tension in my heart. I wondered if other women were struggling in this area too, so I polled my podcast listeners about how much they felt they had to offer God and others. On a scale of one to ten, with one being nothing and ten being a lot, the average answer was a three. When asked if they believed their contribution mattered, 83% responded no. I had hypothesized this would be the case, however, these findings were even more startling than I presumed.

Would your response be similar? Do you question whether your contributions matter, too?

We want our lives to count, but feel minuscule like our ordinary, everyday moments will never amount to anything. We take stock of the families we were born into, the towns we grew up in, and the positions we serve in, then determine that they are of little value. If we aren’t careful, we can start to believe that who we are, where we are, and what we are doing doesn’t really matter.

But friend, nothing could be further from the truth. Despite living in a culture where bigger is seen as better, I've discovered that a significant life is actually simpler than we think. A quick prayer between errands, a meal shared with family, or a short text to a friend means something in God’s kingdom. We can affect others while standing in the check-out line or sitting on the game-field sidelines, while walking the dog or talking to a colleague at work.

Contrary to how you may feel, every little thing you do can go a long way in God’s hands. Through my devotional A Little Goes a Long Way: 52 Days to a Significant Life, I hope to help you believe that when you partner with God, He can use even the most minute things to affect eternity in ways beyond what you can imagine.

If you are longing for significance and questioning whether your contributions matter, I’d love to help you realize how important what you do is and how significant you truly are. It isn’t about doing more but trusting in the value of all the little you are already doing. Grab your copy of A Little Goes a Long Way and watch God take your everyday actions and transform them for His eternal purposes. A significant life is simpler (and smaller) than you think.

~*~
Author Bio:

Author of A Little Goes a Long Way and host of The Love Offering podcast Rachael Adams hopes to help women realize their God-given purpose and significance.

She and her husband, Bryan, run a family business and farm in Kentucky with their two children, Will and Kate, and two dogs.

Her work has been featured on Crosswalk, iBelieve, Today Parenting, and YouVersion. Connect with her by visiting rachaelkadams.com, by searching @rachaeladamsauthor on social media, and by tuning in to The Love Offering podcast every Tuesday on your favorite listening platform.

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Blurb for A Little Goes a Long Way:

A significant life is more simple than you think.

 

In a culture where bigger is seen as better, it’s easy to wonder if your quick prayer between errands or the short note you text a friend means anything in God's kingdom.

Contrary to how you may feel, every little thing you do can go a long way in God's hands. 

Partnering with God unlocks the eternal significance of the smallest act. In fifty-two devotions, Rachael Adams exemplifies this empowering truth and shares personal stories of how God values each deed, practical actions for lasting impact, and encouraging prayers that reveal how much your contributions matter.

Watch God take your everyday actions and transform them for his eternal purposes.

~*~

Buy Rachael's book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christian Book, and Walmart

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Connect with Rachael:
Website: https://www.rachaelkadams.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachaeladamsauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachaeladamsauthor

~*~
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: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Devotionals for the Heart: Gratitude

A Grateful Heart
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.” –Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)

A few weeks ago we went to see the local high school’s spring musical. This was the first live production we’ve attended since February 2020 and it was everything I wanted it to be: energetic, fun, funny. It was a hand-clapping, toe-tapping, hum-under-your-breath good time. We saw many people we knew and chatted with friends we hadn’t seen in more than a year. I was grateful to be there.

But the greatest wave of intense, almost overwhelming gratitude came to me at the strangest time that evening. When I left the theatre at intermission and stood in line—a relatively long line—for the ladies’ room, I was overcome. It felt so normal! I have stood in a lot of lines at concerts, conventions, supermarkets, or movies, but never have I ever thought it was a blessing in disguise. Usually it’s just a nuisance. But the normality of waiting in a long line with so many strangers was a beautiful thing and I admit that I breathed a prayer of gratitude.

I love it when a circumstance that could be a source of grumbling and complaint suddenly becomes something different. A change in perspective can take the mundane and possibly annoying and turn it into a holy moment. I believe shifts like those are the Spirit’s way of reminding us that He has always been in the business of turning ashes into “a crown of beauty.”

These verses in Isaiah were the prophet’s words to Israel at a time of exile, judgement and hardship. But these are verses of hope, letting the people know that God would not only bring them through their circumstances, He would ultimately bless them in ways they wouldn’t imagine.

Their ashes would not only be removed from their foreheads but He would put a crown in their place.

Their mourning would not just be over, but they would be given a “joyous blessing” instead.

Their despair would not just be gone, they would break out into “festive praise.”

Aren’t those wonderful promises? Our world has been through a lot over the last year and we might feel tempted to lose hope. But don’t. God sees us. Jesus knows us. We’ve been given the Spirit as the ultimate Comforter and He wants us to take advantage of it. Run to Him and He will give you the comfort, strength, peace, protection, and help that you need.

Let’s allow Him to walk us through these hard times, but never forget the last part of those verses: the Lord plants us as oaks “for His own glory.” He blesses us for His own glory. He deserves all of the “festive praise” for whatever blessings He gives us.

Especially the blessings that come when we least expect them.

Let’s Pray: Father God, thank you so much for those quiet moments where You show up in unexpected ways. Thank you for blessings and promises we can hold onto on hard days and the ability to share those blessings with others. Allow us to be used by You every day. You deserve all praise and honor and glory always. In Jesus’s 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 teenage children.

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

You can find her at www.glynisbecker.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Why God's servants should not conform

Nonconforming Servants of God
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 

–Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

Humans are social critters. We like to form groups, clubs, tribes, alliances and then define who’s in and who’s out. Anyone who attended a public high school in America can probably remember the cliques of their day and what was required for membership. Band geeks, nerds, jocks, whatever your crew was, even if it was just you and two others, there was always a code of sorts. Maybe it was dressing a certain way, talking, having the same hobbies or extracurriculars, but belonging meant conforming.

We still have our tribes and clubs as adults, but we also have cultural and societal norms influencing how we live. There’s a great deal of social pressure to conform to what the majority of people around us think is the “correct” way to live. In our age, we have to add to that the pressure from media, everything from Facebook, to movies and television, YouTube, and TikTok. We’re continually being told how to behave, what to consume, what to think.

God calls his children out of the world and all its influences. Instead of being focused on ourselves, He calls us to focus on Jesus and to live our lives as witnesses to his Grace and Mercy. And it’s not easy. Living according to God’s will makes no sense to a world that glorifies the self-indulgent. The temptation to give just a bit here and there, going along with the world, is pretty strong. In the United States and other wealthy nations, we’re insulated from sacrifice by the comforts of our daily lives. We indulge ourselves. We dull our spiritual senses with platitudes and watered-down works. We don’t give of ourselves; we write a check to someone already doing the work while our lives are unchanged, unbothered by God’s great commission.

I’ve noted in these troubled times that some of that comfort has been stripped away. I’m not as complacent as I was before. Life and death feel far more immediate. It’s like waking up from a comfortable doze to see the house on fire. It feels more urgent to share the Gospel. Far more critical to seek God’s will. Have you felt that too?

It’s time to shake off the drugging influence of the world’s creature comforts as well as its influence and remember whose we are. We need to allow the Spirit to renew our minds and change our perspectives, and then dedicate our lives to living our faith.

~*~
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.

My Blog's 10th Year Birthday Bash: Pamela S. Meyers's book giveaway

Welcome to the 25th day of my blog's birthday bash!

Please welcome my author friend Pamela S. Meyers.

She's here to give away one of her books!

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 Pamela and her book ...

Author Bio:

Pam has written most of her life, beginning with her first diary at age eight. Her novels,

set in and around her hometown of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, include Surprised by Love in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; Safe Refuge, and Shelter Bay, Books One and Two in the Newport of the West Series.

Pam resides in northern Illinois with her two rescue cats. She’s an hour or so away from Lake Geneva where she can be found researching and nosing for new story ideas. 

~*~

Back Cover Blurb for Tranquility Point:

Hannah Murphy is determined to make the summer of 1916, the best it can be before she heads off to law school in the fall. Like her mother and grandmother before her, she is inclined to “break the mold” when it comes to societal expectations of a young woman of means. Her mother was the first woman in town to wear bloomers, and Hannah becomes the first to ditch swim dresses in favor of a practical swimsuit that allows freedom to move through the water.

At the first gathering of the summer, she reacquaints with tall, handsome Ted Bauer, also an aspiring attorney. Ted, who is of German descent, had a huge crush on Hannah when he was in eighth grade, and she was in sixth. He’s no longer the gangly boy she remembers and is quite appealing. With Geneva Lake as their backdrop, their summer romance escalates, until the dark cloud of the Great War can no longer be ignored. 

Although the U.S. has not yet joined the fray, people of German descent are seen with mistrust, and Ted enlists with the British Army to take the heat of discrimination off his family. With the future on hold, Hannah bids her fiancé farewell as he goes to war. 

Only God knows if she will ever see him again or if they will ever be able to recapture what they had those few short summer months.

~*~

Connect with Pamela:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamela.meyers

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pamelameyers

Website: https://pamelasmeyers.com

~*~

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: Identity

I am God’s daughter
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

When my daughter was five, she was desperate to dye her dark-brown hair a vivid golden blond, swap her chocolate-colored eyes out for blue, and lighten her olive skin to a fair peach. (She also wanted to change her name, but that’s another story entirely.) In my mind, she should have been immune to these things, but already, the games had begun.

You know, the comparison games. The games many of us start to play as preteens and sometimes never stop.

“Why can’t I have curly hair like her?”

“Why can’t I have straight hair?”

“Why can’t I be curvy?”

“Why can’t I be less curvy?”

What is wrong with us? We’re all so desperate to fix these supposed flaws we believe we have, think if we can just change this or disguise that or get rid of X, Y, Z, or Q then everything will be perfect. Perhaps we think we can alter our identity, change our path.

At the root of all this is a misguided perception that somehow, someway, we don’t measure up to some ideal standard. Somehow, we fall short. Somehow, we are not good enough.

However, one look at Scripture tells us this is all an awful lie.

When God created the universe, He made the heavens and the waters over the earth, the plants and the trees, and said it was all good (Genesis 1:10, 12). He made the day, the night, and the stars above, and said it was good (18). He made the fish, the birds, and all the animals and said it was good (21, 25).

But when He made humans? That was exceptionally special.

Genesis 1:27 says God created human beings “in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them” (NLT).

That to God wasn’t just “good”—it was “very good” (31).

We know this is true. So why do we think negative thoughts about ourselves and how we were made? Why do we think we were born with the “wrong” hair color?

Why did God make me short, or have broad shoulders or hips?

Why I born deaf, or with a heart condition, or nearsighted?

No matter how God made us, we can rest assured it was by design. God didn’t “mess up somehow” or “make a silly mistake” when He made us. Every bit of God’s design for us was intentional.

And He made every single one of us in His image.

That is profound!

Not only are we made in His image, but we are also known completely by Him—and loved exactly how we are. Scripture is filled with those reminders.

Psalm 139-13-16 says, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (NLT).

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’” (NLT).

This same God—THE God, the One and the Only, the Alpha and the Omega—knit us, formed us, planned our future, and loves us completely and wholly.

And God doesn’t scrimp! I’m His daughter, and I know: He doesn’t make junk.

It’s time we remembered how very much He loves us and how perfectly created we are… just the way we are.

We need to love ourselves just as God loves us.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden.

She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, and a member of the Wholly Loved Ministries team.

Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Faith

The Power in Our Faith
A devotional by Patrick E. Craig

"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" ~Hebrews 9:13-14 (KJV)

One of the great dilemmas of the Christian faith is the spirit of unbelief that seems to permeate the lives of many Christians. We come to church and hear great teaching, we read the Bible and appreciate the truths therein, but then we live our lives as though the Word of God is merely a collection of myths and stories: ancient wisdom penned by prophets and psalmists who were men of a bygone age that really has no relevance for today except to encourage us that there is a better way to live if we can only follow some set of rules that will please God.

Take, for instance, the text at the beginning of this devotional. The writer is saying that the old Hebrew sacrifices that were performed daily to cleanse the Jews of the defilement caused by their sins were only capable of purifying them on the outside. But the sacrifice of Christ has the power to cleanse your conscience—that is, to purify you not just on the outside but on the inside, too. What does that mean? The fact of guilt and the feelings of guilt have both been dealt with forever and now we have complete unhindered access to God!

But somehow we miss the point. We no longer need to perform “dead works” to come to God as the Jews did in the old Tabernacle. What we don’t seem to “get” is that Christ has performed the work that purifies us once and for all and we now live in a permanent state of access to the throne. Yes! We really do!

My point is that if we actually understood what this means then we would not be constantly either hiding from God because we feel guilty about something we did or running to counselors or self-help books to find the answer. 

The answer is right before us and it is found on every page of the Bible. The answer is Jesus Christ. He is the purifier, the 13th step of every 12-step program, the healer and the access grantor. Take a leap of faith today and lay hold of this truth. Jesus has done all the work that is necessary for you to live a whole and happy life. Now go out and live it!

"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)

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Author Bio:

Patrick E. Craig is a lifelong writer and musician who left a successful songwriting and performance career in the music industry to follow Christ in 1984. 

In 2011 he signed a three-book deal with Harvest House Publishers to publish his Apple Creek Dreams series. His current series is The Paradise Chronicles. The first book in the series, The Amish Heiress, a romantic suspense novel, was published by Patrick's company, P&J Publishing, in August of 2015 and remained on the Amazon Top 100 best sellers list in three categories for seven months.

The second book in the series, The Amish Princess, a historical romance novel, was released in December of 2016 and was on Amazon's Hot New Releases for over a month. Harlequin recently purchased the print rights for both books for their Walmart Amish series. Patrick also just released Cracking The Indie Egg—A Recipe For Publishing Your Own Book and it is available in most major digital bookstores.

Patrick and his wife Judy, make their home in Idaho. They have two married children and five grandchildren. Patrick is represented by the Steve Laube Agency.

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Connect with Patrick:
Website - www.patrickecraig.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PatrickECraig
Twitter - https://twitter.com/PatrickECraig
Amazon Author page - http://tinyurl.com/n6sfagg

Devotionals for the Heart: Perfect Love

Perfect Love

A devotional by Sara L. Foust

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." ~1 John 4:18 (KJV)

It’s February and this is a blog about love, so I feel it is my civic duty to discuss Valentine’s Day. But, maybe, not in the way you expect me to.

Americans spend an astounding amount of money on Valentine’s Day related items. A whopping $20 million. Yes, you heard me . . . million! Yet, there are all sorts of television episodes of our favorite comedies and drama that detail the woes of Valentine’s Day and spending it (gasp!) alone.

I must admit, I am a fairly simple woman. I’m not a shopper. I don’t place a whole lot of value on material possessions, because, frankly, my husband and I have never been able to afford a great amount of the ‘extras.’ So, maybe I am not the one to say Valentine’s Day isn’t that amazing of a concept. I honestly cannot remember the last time my husband and I celebrated with more than a card or some candy. And that’s okay. Most of the time.

Sometimes, though, I look at all the extravagant romance and feel a little left out. People maybe younger than me discovering blossoming relationships who dine out frequently and just have that “look”—you know what I’m talking about. Our lives are crazy busy and we have five young children depending on us. That doesn’t leave much time for romantic dinner dates or even time alone just the two of us (or time alone by myself for that matter . . . you get the idea here). Maybe you have the same situation in your life. Or maybe you are single and have the innate fear of being alone on Valentine’s Day so often portrayed on funny TV shows. Or maybe you are a widow or widower mourning the loss of the love of your life. Or maybe you love Valentine’s Day and celebrate with enthusiasm each year with a spouse who is equally enthused. That’s amazing...if that’s you.

I say all this to say, yes, Valentine’s Day can be an admittedly lonely time of year. But, it doesn’t have to be. Worldly love is a wonderful thing. The love we have for our spouses, children, parents, friends, and extended family is beautiful. And we, as evidenced by the spending budget for this holiday, pour ourselves into this human-human love. However, it is far from perfect. There are glitches and differences of opinions, hurts, forgotten dates, and sometimes fights. There is a lot of growing required to love another human being, and sometimes as flawed people, we don’t do a very good job of it.

God’s love is never like that! His love is the most wonderful, all-encompassing, forgiving, patient, perfect love ever known to the universe. He is incapable of being imperfect, and, therefore, the love He showers down on us is always perfect. In every situation. For every need. At every moment in life. There have been times when I’ve had to remind myself when I’ve felt lonely or sad about the lack of romance in my life, that I am covered by the greatest, most powerful love available. I am never alone. I am never forgotten. I am never not loved. And I find that once I focus on that incredible fact, the worries about the lack of romantic moments in my life fizzle away. I am loved by a King! What more could I want?

~*~
Author Bio:

Sara writes Inspirational Romantic Suspense from a mini-farm in East Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and their five homeschooled children. 

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Tennessee Mountain Writers.

Her debut novel Callum's Compass won second place in Deep River Books' 2017 Writer's Contest. She also has a story, “Leap of Faith,” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. Sara finds inspiration in her faith, her family, and the beauty of nature.

When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading, camping, and spending time outdoors with her family. To learn more about her and her work or to become a part of her email friend’s group, please visit www.saralfoust.com. SaveSave

Interview with Christine Lindsay, author of Sofi's Bridge

I'd like to introduce you to Christine Lindsay, author of Sofi's Bridge. The book just released today! In it, she's written on the topic of how people deal with grief. She also touches on the subject of mental illness and how society has evolved in dealing with those who have "nervous" problems. She does all of his through her new novel, Sofi's Bridge.

I hope that you will enjoy my interivew of this talented author.

*Questions by Alexis are in bold, answers from Christine are not in bold.

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Alexis: Why did you decide to make your heroine, Sofi, a debutant?

Christine: I wanted to counterbalance the life of a wealthy character against one who is financially poor. True joy and satisfaction in life doesn’t necessarily come from financial wealth. Sometimes money brings its own challenges.

Why does Sofi feel so fiercely that she must protect her sister?

Sofi grew up caring for her younger sister because their mother (a simple farmer’s daughter) never adapted well to being the wife of a wealthy man. Sofi’s mother lost a part of herself in the process so that she wasn’t the mother she should have been, causing Sofi to step in and be more to her sister than was good for all of them.

How did Sofi’s dad die? How is that detail significant to the story?

Sofi and Trina’s dad drowned when Trina was sailing with him in what used to be called the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Sofi’s Bridge is about how different people deal with grief, and the stages of grief. For example, some people struggle with survivor’s guilt, while others might self-medicate themselves like Sofi’s Mother does when she is prescribed laudanum for her nerves.

But Sofi’s Bridge is also about how Neil gives up his life in order to take care of his bereaved family back in Ireland.

Why would Sofi’s sister Trina need to be admitted to a sanatorium?

Trina is suffering from what we today call Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Back in 1913, the whole science of mental health was making huge breakthroughs, as my character Neil notes about lectures he attended by psychiatrists Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. At that time it was not unusual for people, women especially, to be admitted to an insane asylum for bad nerves. Sofi’s Bridge touches on that new awareness regarding mental illness at the beginning of the 20th century.

Where in your fictional story world are the Cascade Mountains located? Describe the look and feel of that mountain area. What makes it special?

The Cascade Mountains is a real place in the northern, central part of Washington State and going up into Canada. I live about an hour’s drive from the Cascades, and one of my favorite places in all the world is the alpine meadows in a park on the Canadian side of the Cascades.

One of my favorite scenes has my characters sitting in that alpine meadow where the peaks of blue-tinted glaciers seem close enough to touch. The flowers are native only to great heights and create a carpet of color from red Indian Paintbrush, blue lupine, white daisies, and so many more. Up there, all you hear is the silent rush of the wind. It’s like touching the sky.

Neil Macpherson, a gardener, wants to protect Sofi and Trina. Why? What’s his motivation?

Neil has a similar personality trait as Sofi. He too is a caregiver, a nurturer, which are traits found in many nurses and doctors. The downside to that trait is Neil can’t help himself from helping others even to his own detriment. No matter what is happening in his life, he will always do his best to uphold his Hippocratic oath.

What is it about Neil that attracts Sofi?

His caring heart, the tender way he tries to help her sister. But it is also his belief in Sofi’s intellect. In a time when a wealthy society frowns on women working for a living, Neil encourages Sofi to pursue the labor of her heart. He knows how fulfilling it is to do the work that we feel created to do, and how devastating it is to not be allowed to do that work.

What is it about Sofi that makes Neil’s heart melt?

Whenever Neil talks to Sofi he feels he is talking to an intellectual equal, and also that she has no biases about people. He wishes with all his heart that he could tell her the truth about himself, believing if anyone could understand it would be Sofi.

Why does Sofi have trouble trusting Neil?

He is masquerading as a gardener, hiding his true profession. Whenever she asks him, and sometimes pleads with him, he will not tell her why he left Ireland, nor why he is no longer practicing as a doctor.

You’ve got quite the plot twist with Neil’s secret! How does his secret affect the story?

One the plot lines in Sofi’s Bridge is how people deal with grief. The character flaw that both Neil and Sofi share is that they feel they are the only ones who can save the ones they love, and thereby give up their own lives in the process.

What’s the “act of faith” that bridges the “distance that separates the lies from truth and safety”? Tell us what you can without giving away the plot.

The bridge in this book is a metaphor for the bridge of Jesus Christ, only Christ can safely take people by faith to a life with God the Father. But the “act of faith” is different for each person in this story.

Sofi, already a believer, must learn to trust God and take up the labor He has inspired within her, no matter how physically dangerous that work may be. Neil’s act of faith will be recognizing that his own attempts to save the ones he loves has created a web of lies that have only made the situation worse.

How does your journey as a woman of faith play into this story?

There were so many reasons for Sofi to not pursue her dream, and being a Christian writer these days is a difficult journey. I gave up an excellent career as an administrative assistant at a local Christian university to pursue my writing full-time. This was an act of faith on my part. Yes, there has been financial loss, but I get such delight when a reader is encouraged in their faith because of something I wrote. Much of my journey trusting God for my creative life as an author comes through Sofi when she talks about building bridges.

What did you love the most about writing Sofi’s Bridge? Why?

As I mentioned in the previous question, trusting God for the creative labor He placed in my heart is what I love most in this book. So many of us—men and women—have a certain labor that makes our hearts sing. Sadly in life, we don’t all get to do the work that gives us the greatest fulfillment, but as in all things, we can look to our wonderful God and trust Him for the desires of our heart.

What was the most challenging part of writing this story?

With a complex mystery twist, it was a bit challenging in places to make all the characters’ actions and motivations plausible, but I believe I made it. 

What was your go-to food or beverage while writing Sofi’s Bridge?

I’m Irish born, so my go-to beverage is always a pot of Irish Breakfast tea, or good old Red Rose orange pekoe.

What do you want your readers to treasure about this book?

I want readers to be encouraged that often the dreams in our hearts have been placed there by God. Ask the Lord if that secret dream in your heart—such as mine was to be a writer—was put there by Him. Then trust your heavenly Father to help you toward that goal. Keep in mind, that often it is the journey toward the goal that is important to God and not necessarily success as seen by worldly standards.

~*~
Author bio:

Christine Lindsay is the author of multi-award-winning Christian fiction. Tales of her Irish ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in Colonial India inspired her multi-award-winning series Twilight of the British Raj, Book 1 Shadowed in Silk, Book 2 Captured by Moonlight, and explosive finale Veiled at Midnight. 

Christine’s Irish wit and her use of setting as a character is evident in her contemporary romance Londonderry Dreaming and her newest release Sofi’s Bridge.

Aside from being a busy writer and speaker, Christine and her husband live on the west coast of Canada. Coming August 2016 is the release of Christine’s non-fiction book Finding Sarah—Finding Me: A Birthmother’s Story.

Please drop by Christine’s website www.ChristineLindsay.org or follow her on Amazon on Twitter. Subscribe to her quarterly newsletter, and be her friend on Pinterest , Facebook, and Goodreads.

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Buy Sofi's Bridge:
Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Pelican Book Group

Safe Havens and Open Hearts, book review of "A Friend in Me"

Safe Havens and Open Hearts 

Review of book A Friend in Me: How to be A Safe Haven for Other Women
Book written by Pamela Havey Lau
Review written by Alexis A. Goring 

Heartbreak, hope, forgiveness and restoration are all part of Pamela Havey Lau’s new book, A Friend in Me: How to be A Safe Haven for Other Women. But the most important thread found through the stories and pearls of wisdom for women shared in Lau’s book is this: the value of women—young and old—connecting with each other and sharing their life experience in a way that provides support, relief and hope for those who have not yet reached certain stages in life.

“The longing for a mentor, for someone who has gone on the journey before you and stops, or at least slows down, and takes the time to walk alongside of you, is a rare thing. I think Pam is that kind of person. She deftly describes the unfortunate chasm that can arise between generations of women and then, slowly, builds a bridge over it. She painfully describes the “groans” on both sides and the hope that awaits when we meet each other on that bridge.” – Nancy Ortberg writes in the Foreword for Friend in Me: How to be A Safe Haven for Other Women.

As the reader journeys through the 198 pages of this book, they not only meander over the metaphorical “bridge” mentioned by Ortberg—they relate to the stories and are encouraged in their life journey. Most importantly, women readers are reminded that they are not alone. Lau proves this fact page-by-page.

On page 193 of A Friend in Me, Lau writes, “Love restores. Love repairs. Love supports. Love encourages. Hebrews 3:13 reminds us to “encourage one another daily.” That call is still for you and me today. Love lies at the center of God’s character, and every time we answer the call to love women well, we become safe havens for them—this is what comforts them, encourages them; this is what makes us happy and sets our hearts free. What are we waiting for?”

It’s a question worth pondering, answering and setting a plan in motion to effect change.

A Friend in Me is a book purposed to bring together women who can offer each other much needed advice on life, support and agape love. Its message is of high importance in today’s society when we’re so connected yet so isolated.

Statistics show that 232 million people use Twitter every month and 1.3 billion people used Facebook last year. Clearly, we are a very “connected” society worldwide. Yet is it possible to be so connected yet feel so all alone?

Women want to connect with other women and seek mentors who have been there, done that and are willing to share the roadmap. Lau’s book is like that roadmap showing how women can not only be a safe place for women in the earlier stages of life but can be teachers and mentors who offer advice, comfort and understanding.

Through her book, Lau explores ways women need to use to initiate relationships with other women and have real conversations about faith, forgiveness, vocation and other matters of the heart and life.

“I’m praying for a movement around the globe for women to find satisfaction, healing and safety in closer relationships with the women God has placed in their lives,” Lau said in a press release.

Now it’s up to the readers led by God to help make Lau’s prayer and hope for women around the world, to come true.

A Friend in Me is most definitely a book to share with all the women in your life. It is beautifully-written and difficult to stop reading until you reach the final page. So if you’re looking to connect with other women and be encouraged through your struggles in life, this is a book for you.

*Litfuse Publicity Group sent a complimentary copy of A Friend in Me: How to be A Safe Haven for Other Women, to Alexis A. Goring, in exchange for an honest review.