My review of "Someone Like You" movie and a book giveaway for you

My Review of Someone Like You (movie)

Today, I have another movie review for you and a giveaway contest at the end of this post! In case you didn’t know, Great American Pure Flix is like the faith-based version of Netflix. It works the same way the difference is in the content that points you back to Jesus Christ and shows you how much The Creator of the Universe loves you!

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

Great American Pure Flix VIP Ambassador program asked me via Momentum Influencers Network to review the movie they are promoting, Someone Like You.

Here’s the synopsis of Someone Like You with words from Momentum: Based on the popular novel by #1 NY Times Bestselling author Karen Kingsbury, Someone Like You is an achingly beautiful redemptive love story. Shocking news hits after young architect Dawson Gage loses his best friend, London Quinn. Now in his heartbreak, Dawson is compelled to launch an impossible search for London’s secret twin sister, twins separated as embryos. But along the way, Dawson never planned to fall in love.

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Now for my review:

This beautiful movie, Someone Like You, is based on a fiction story of the same title. New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury wrote the novel and made it into a movie presented by her own company (Karen Kingsbury Productions).

Someone Like You is more than a sweet second chance romance story. It is a poignant tale of love, loss, heartbreak, family matters, redemption and how God is always in the details.

Sarah Fisher plays two separate but intertwined roles: London Quinn and Andi Allen. She did a brilliant and very convincing job of playing these twin sisters, such a brilliant work that I didn’t realize that it was Fisher playing both women until I did research to write this review! Fisher knows how to be in character in the truest since because London and Andi who never met in this movie, though twins, are very different. London likes to live on the wild side. She’s a go-getter with a daring mind and a vivacious personality. Andi is sweet, smart and shy. But both characters are very beautiful and carry a light. London’s light is her love for life and she’s vowed to never go to an actual church though the stage (theater) is like her church, while Andi’s is the light she carries as a Christian for Jesus Christ.

Jake Allyn plays Dawson Gage. He’s a very good looking architect with a heart of gold and love for Jesus Christ. He’s also a gentlemen and London’s best friend. He always treated her with respect and care. London doesn’t fully realize that Jake is in love with her. I could tell that it broke his heart to hear London’s stories about her boyfriends over the years because he realized she only sees him (Jake) as a platonic friend. It pulled at my heartstrings to see the pain in Jake’s eyes as he realized the love of his life (London) will never see him more than her buddy not her future husband. But it made me smile later on in the film when I saw how Andi was falling for Jake and seeing him much more than a “friend” and he was falling for her too—not because she looked like London but because she’s Andi and he grew to adore everything about her as a woman, friend and individual.

London and Andi never meet each other in this movie. Andi doesn’t even know she was adopted when she was an embryo. Andi spent her entire life up until a pivotal scene in the movie, believing her parents were her biological mom and dad. Before meeting Dawson and hearing the truth from her parents, Andi is living a full life with her family, friends and her boyfriend who plans to propose. But her world comes crashing down around her when she finds out everything she believed about her family was a lie. So she packs up, jumps into her vehicle and with Dawson’s help, Andi searches for the truth. This journey leads her to so much more than the answers she’s seeking; it leads her to a deeper understanding of people, life and true love.

There is tragedy in this movie but I won’t go into details so I won’t ruin the plot for you. However, I can promise you that this film has a wonderfully satisfying ending and everything comes together—tragedy and triumph—in a way that will make your heart smile.

Finally, I’d like to acknowledge what wonderful job Kingsbury and her movie production team did on this film! You cannot tell that they didn’t have help from any popular Hollywood studios. Everything about this movie—the acting, the set design, the hair/makeup/wardrobe, the writing, the plot, the entire cinematography—was remarkable! I believe this movie should win awards.

I think you’ll love this movie. But don’t take my word for it. Go see it for yourself!

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More words from Momentum:

Buy tickets today to see Someone Like You in theaters starting April 2, 2024!

Families everywhere are making plans to see this beautiful love story, based on Karen’s bestselling book by the same name. Someone Like You has a message of God’s healing and hope, love and redemption. And it’s Rated PG! So, you and your kids truly can enjoy a special movie outing together!

Watch the trailer for Someone Like You:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wie1GDo7jbg

Buy tickets to see Someone Like You in theaters:
https://www.fathomevents.com/events/someone-like-you/

Follow Someone Like You on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/someonelikeyoumovie/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/someonelikeyouthemovie

Visit the official movie page for Someone Like You:
https://www.someonelikeyou.movie

Official website for Karen Kingsbury (Author of Someone Like You):
https://www.karenkingsbury.com

1on1 with Sarah Fisher & Karen Kingsbury (Someone Like You) hosted by ScreenFish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsKzhHrHx_Q

~*~

Final Notes:

Enter the giveaway contest via the Rafflecopter link below for a chance to win one signed copy of the book, Someone Like You by Karen Kingsbury. This is limited to U.S. winners only.

Here is the Giveaway Contest link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f8dcb68c494/?

Disclosure:
Many thanks to Karen Kingsbury Productions for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

#SomeoneLikeYouMIN #someonelikeyoumovie, @karenkingsbury, @someonelikeyoumovie

Stories of Love: A Night Divine

Today, we're featuring my author friend Dawn Kinzer's book, 

A Night Divine.

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Book Blurb:

Despite her success, model Camryn Tate longs for something more. She’s lived a life of privilege, lacking for nothing, so why can’t she be content? 

As an outreach minister for an inner-city church, Trace Gardner serves the homeless in Seattle. Although the work is rewarding, he envisions providing life-changing opportunities for the destitute. One problem stands in his way—raising the funds needed for renovations on a building that will house new programs.

One chilly December night, a tragedy connects Camryn and Trace, and the devastating experience spurs her into volunteering with his team. As they share a common mission, they provide more than food—they offer hope. But as Christmas Eve approaches and the two grow closer, secrets have the potential to break someone’s heart.

This story is a sequel to the author’s full-length novel, By All Appearances, but it can be read as a stand-alone.

A Night Divine was originally published in 2020 when it was included in Melodies of Christmas Love, an anthology that included seven new contemporary romances by seven authors.

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Author Bio:

Dawn Kinzer is a freelance editor, and her own work has been published in various devotionals and magazines. 

Sarah’s Smile is the first book in her historical romance series, The Daughters of Riverton. Hope’s Design is the second, and Rebecca’s Song completes the trilogy.

Her first contemporary romance, By All Appearances, is set in the Seattle area. The sequel to that story, A Night Divine, was initially released in the anthology of contemporary romances, Melodies of Christmas Love.

A mother and grandmother, Dawn lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. 

Favorite things include dark chocolate, good wine, strong coffee, the mountains, family time, and Masterpiece Theatre.

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Connect with Dawn:
Website: https://www.dawnkinzer.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawn.kinzer.9/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Kinzer/e/B01M04SD8U
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawnkinzer/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15811132.Dawn_Kinzer
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/dawn-kinzer
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dkinzer9/
Subscribe to Dawn's Author Newsletter and receive her short story, “Maggie’s Miracle” as a gift:
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/rqpuk6vztd

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Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this holiday book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

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Romantic Reads: Together for Good

Interview with Penelope Powell about her book, Together for Good:

Alexis: Why did you write this book?

Penelope: Laney’s character is introduced in A Powerful Voice, book two of the Glen Oak Series. She comes across as a somewhat uncomplicated and easy-going friend. Together for Good peels back the layers of her character and life to show the depth of her faith developed through difficulties. People like that always inspire me.

Alexis: Tell us about your story’s heroine, Laney. What makes her happy? What makes her sad? Describe her looks, personality and heart.

Penelope: She’s lean, taller than average, so somewhat insecure of her not-so-curvy figure, but assured in all other aspects. She values relationships of all kinds, loves to teach, but finds change challenging.

Alexis: Tell us about your story’s hero, Matthew. What makes him mad? What makes him glad? Describe his looks, personality and mindset.

Penelope: Matthew is bookish with a charisma that turns heads. Though smart and funny, he’s grown jaded through his experiences, which makes him a little sarcastic.

Alexis: What is the theme of this story and how does it affect your characters?

Penelope: This story suggests that whether bad circumstances stem from trials, or decisions, God can weave good things into them. Laney and Matthew are challenged to put their trust and hope in God even when life hurts.

Alexis: Why does Laney harbor a secret crush on Matthew?

Penelope: When Laney was a little girl going through a difficult season, Matthew was kind to her. From that she formed an attachment.

Alexis: What prevents Laney from telling Matthew how she feels about him?

Penelope: I think fear of rejection keeps most people from sharing their true feelings. Laney and Matthew are no different.

Alexis: What is it about Laney that made Matthew want to be there for her in the past and why does he push her away now in the present?

Penelope: Matthew is empathetic with Laney’s pain in the beginning of the story. Though years pass, seeing her as an adult isn’t an easy odd transition for him.

Alexis: How does love begin to bloom between Matthew and Laney?

Penelope: Spending time together slowly replaces old memories and conceptions with new versions of the people they’ve become.

Alexis: What threatens to end Matthew and Laney’s love before it reaches full bloom?

Penelope: Like many love stories, miscommunication, misunderstanding, and unrealistic expectations derails their growing interest.

Alexis: What role does faith in God play in Matthew and Laney’s life stories?

Penelope: Both are tested, but events and conversations help each see things from another perspective, and that grows their faith.

Alexis: How did your real-life faith in God impact your storytelling?

Penelope: Facing trials spurred questions about God, which caused me to dig deeper into His Word. Ultimately, that pursuit established me with a firmer foundation of belief and hope.

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

Penelope: I hope readers will be able to look at life’s trials from a more hope-filled perspective by seeing God’s hand in their own stories.

Alexis: If you could step into this story as a professional counselor, how would you counsel Matthew and Laney?

Penelope: First, I would tell them to be honest with themselves and each other, and then give each other the same measure of grace they would like to receive.

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

Penelope: Thank you for the opportunity to share some of my thoughts behind writing Together for Good. I hope it will bless and encourage anyone who takes the time to read Laney and Matthew’s story.

~*~
Author Bio:

Penelope grew up in Tennessee, but has lived in various states and a few countries outside the United States. She holds a B.S. in Business/Political Science and a M.S. in Multinational Commerce from Boston University.

After working in the field of banking and finance, she left to invest her time with her children. Now that they are grown, she is pursing the life of a writer. As an avid reader of fiction and a student of Biblical truth, she combines what she learns into stories of redemption.

A Powerful Voice, A Furrow So Deep, and Together for Good are full length romances published through Anaiah Press, LLC, as well as her Christmas novella, My Christmas Hope.

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Together for Good book blurb:

Having lost her mother in a tragic drunk driving accident, Laney Spence is no stranger to grief and loss. Despite this tragedy touching her life at such a young age, Laney has maintained her belief that God brings good out of even the most difficult circumstances. For her, that good came in the form of her older brother’s best friend, Matthew Jordan.

Kind and compassionate, Matthew helped her grieve—and she’s been harboring a crush on him ever since.

Years later, when tragedy shatters Matthew’s life, Laney is there for him the same way he’d been there for her all those years ago. But they’re not kids anymore. She’s a teacher with little life experience, and he’s a jaded divorce lawyer with a past he’d rather keep secret.

Neither of them can ignore the attraction that blooms, though, leaving them both wondering—is attraction, history, and a shared faith in God enough to keep them together for good, or will circumstances beyond their control drive them apart?

~*~
Buy Together for Good on Amazon

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Connect with Penelope:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PenelopePowellAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@penpowell89
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/penpowell89/
Website: www.penelopepowell.com

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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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Celebrate Lit blog tour stop, featuring Tim Witte's book "Back to God"

Welcome to my blog's stop on Tim Witte (author of Back to God: The Journey of Hope Through a Broken World)'s book tour! I enjoyed reading this book by Witte. I hope that you will enjoying reading this details about his book and reading my review too! 

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About the Book

Book title = Back to God: The Journey of Hope Through a Broken World

Author: Tim Witte

Genre:  Nonfiction

Release Date: January 27, 2020

Back to God: The Journey of Hope through a Broken World is a timeless, grace-filled message from the Bible to bring us back to God. 

Sometimes we long not for escape but to find our way in the midst of the questions burning in our minds. Who can I trust? Do I have meaning? What hope do I have?

In a society where nothing is permanent, technological advances increase our sense of vulnerability, and relationships come and go, we long for one unchanging element in which we can trust and rest in wholeheartedly without fear. We long for hope. 

Author Tim Witte conveys just that with Back to God, offering foundational principles from the timeless truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ: the message of unfailing hope that meets us in our broken world, a promise from the only one who cannot lie and who will not fail, and a powerful word from God to bring us back to God.

Back to God is neither academic nor profoundly apologetic but is a truthful, down-to-earth dialogue filled with illustrations that will resonate with readers who long for true answers from the Bible for life’s biggest problems.

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My Review:

Tim Witte, author of Back to God: The Journey of Hope through a Broken World, is a talented author! I am grateful that I had the opportunity to read and review this book for Celebrate Lit.

Witte’s storytelling skills are so smooth and completely captivating that I thought I was reading the first chapter of this book when I was only reading the Preface! I realized that after I turned the first few pages and saw the Acknowledgments section.

He takes stories from real life like the Columbine High School massacre that happened in Colorado in April 1999, and the fatal Space Shuttle Columbia disaster that occurred in February 2003, and makes them more compelling with a strong human-interest hook. Witte retells each story in a way that tugs at the readers’ heartstrings. His storytelling creates a deeper sense of empathy for the people who lost their lives during those tragic times in American history.

The author proves his point and presents his case for why humankind needs to return “back to God” throughout this book! He supports every claim with verses from The Holy Bible. Perhaps the verse on which this book was founded is Psalm 14:1-3 (ESV):

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;

there is none who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man,

to see if there are any who understand,

who seek after God.

They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;

there is none who does good,

not even one.

The author presents his case early on in this book. It is a case for acknowledgment of and healing from what he calls “spiritual brokenness and pollution.” His findings are well backed by facts, statistics, and of course, the stories that fill the pages of this nonfiction book.

As a reader, I appreciated how the sentences flowed seamlessly into paragraphs and how the perfectly formatted paragraphs neatly filled each page. But it was the author’s fluid storytelling style that kept me turning the pages of this well-written book!

The author addresses deep questions that most people have in common because they are all a natural-occurring part of the human experience: “Who can I trust? Do I have meaning? What hope do I have?”

Witte effectively conveys in his book that we do have hope in Jesus Christ! Nothing that we face in life is utterly hopeless because God promises to never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6) and His Son Jesus Christ walks with us through the mountains and valleys of life here on Earth (Psalm 139:8). Jesus will be here for us until the end of human history (Matthew 28:20)!

This is one the most truth-filled, down-to-earth books filled with messages of faith and hope, that I have ever read! I truly enjoyed this read and finished the book with a feeling of encouragement.

*Celebrate Lit provided me (Alexis A. Goring) with a complimentary copy of this book, Back to God: The Journey of Hope through a Broken World by Tim Witte. My opinions in this book review are my own.

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About the Author

Writer and veteran Bible teacher Tim Witte holds a bachelor’s in Bible and Greek from Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee, and studied computer science at Austin Peay State University.

He lives in northern Indiana with his wife of thirty years. They have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandsons.

Tim enjoys teaching Bible classes at his church, woodworking, barbecuing, and spending time with family.

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Words from the author (Tim Witte):

If I Should Die Before I Wake

Next to a chainsaw, the most dangerous tool you could find in my hand is a rhyming dictionary. The good news is I have not touched a chainsaw for months. The bad news is I recently dusted off New Rhyming Dictionary and Poetry Handbook. My subject is prayer so maybe, with much prayer, I can do more good than harm.

A Child’s Prayer

Writing Back To God made me reflect on the people and events God used in preserving my life and leading me to faith in Christ. Though I did not have a clear understanding of the gospel as a child, my parents laid a good foundation with biblical truths about God and myself. One of my earliest memories is of my Mom stooping beside my bed and having me repeat this prayer:

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep;

If I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

That nightly routine and the words of that little prayer helped establish a Godward orientation to my life. Not every child receives that. I learned some vital truths at a very young age:

• I learned I could pray to God. What a concept! Many PhDs have not figured that out.
•  I learned I was not ready to go to sleep until I had said my prayers. I don’t speak of praying in that way now; it sounds more ritualistic than personal. Yet, it conveyed the priority of praying to God.
• I learned that God could protect me, but I should not presume upon that protection. I should ask for it.
• The third line presents the possibility of death. It would have been bizarre and borderline cruel if, night after night, my mother had said, “Now remember Timmy, you might die in your sleep. Good night!” However, prayer is serious business, and I can talk to God about the scariest stuff.

Additionally, I learned my eternal destiny was not to be taken for granted; it was to be a matter of prayer. Ultimately, God would decide where I ended up.

As one would expect, my prayers became more varied and improvised as I matured. For most of my adolescence, I continued a somewhat sporadic pattern of prayer at night.

Gospel-ignited Prayer

However, the time came while in the Army when I ceased to pray. I recount some of this in Back to God. My life was a sinful mess. The last thing I wanted to think about was what happens “if I should die before I wake.” For prayer to be possible one has to have hope, but I was hopeless. Prayer would only be reawakened in me when another soldier brought me God’s message of hope.

Interestingly, my evangelist started the conversation by asking, “Tim, do you know where you would go if you died tonight?” From there, he proceeded to share the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. That prompted me to read the Bible, and particularly the book of Romans. I was overwhelmed by the astonishing message of God’s grace. Then the flame of prayer was reignited when I read, “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved'” (Rom. 10:13). God heard my cry that day, and now I have the Holy Spirit dwelling in me and teaching me to cry, “Abba! Father!” (Rom. 8:15).

So recited prayers can be powerful tools for instructing small children about themselves and God. Such prayers may help them form a daily habit of praying. However, only the gospel has power to kindle the eternal flame of prayer in our hearts.

A Responsive Prayer

You may want to take cover now as I am about to wax poetic. Understanding the role that prayers can have in teaching important theological truths and the necessity of the gospel to ignite prayer in the heart, I recently composed a responsive bedtime prayer for my daughter and son-in-law to use with their young sons. I patterned it after the prayer my mother taught me, but I filled it with gospel hope.

Child:

As I lay me down, I pray,

Thank you Jesus for this day.

By your grace forgive my sin, 

Make me true and clean within. 

Parent:

Holy Jesus guard your sheep,

For you died our souls to keep.

Keep us trusting in your grace, 

Till we see you face to face.

~*~

                        Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 27

For the Love of Literature, July 28

Artistic Nobody, July 29 (Author Interview)

Inklings and notions, July 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 31

Simple Harvest Reads, August 1 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, August 2

My Devotional Thoughts, August 3 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, August 4

For Him and My Family, August 5

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 6 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 7

Mary Hake, August 8

Blossoms and Blessings, August 9 (Author Interview)

God is Love, August 9

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Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Tim is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! 

Click the link below to enter:

https://promosimple.com/ps/fe35/back-to-god-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Blog's 10th Year Birthday Bash: Christa MacDonald's book giveaway

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

Please welcome my author friend Christa MacDonald.

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 bit more about Christa and her books ...

Author Bio:

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

She began her writing career at the age of eleven, filling a sketchbook with poems and short stories. After publishing a few short pieces in her college’s literary magazine she took a long hiatus during which she embarked on a few different careers, got married, had three kids, and renovated an old barn masquerading as a house. 

Her most recent work, The Redemption Road, finished the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty. She and her family live along the coast of New England.

~*~

Back Cover Blurb for The Broken Trail:

Katherine Grant takes the job at Sweet River Christian Academy hoping a small town in the wilderness of Maine will be a vacation from her high-powered career and a break from the emotional toll of the secrets she has buried deep. 

With the school director on a power trip and evidence of shady dealings, there’s nothing relaxing about it. Maybe it would be easier if she wasn’t so distracted by Captain MacAlister, the local cop she can’t get along with, yet can’t get out of her head. She didn’t trek up to the middle of nowhere to lose her heart.

Mac doesn’t need the kind of trouble he believes Katherine will bring. He’s got enough to deal with from poachers to drug crime. Mac has rules to maintain his faith, like avoiding the pull of an attractive woman who doesn’t fit his life. But when he meets Katherine, he’s drawn in by her intelligence and strength, despite getting burned by her quick temper.

When near tragedy strikes, Katherine reveals her feelings, and Mac doesn’t hesitate to respond. If only their scars, both seen and unseen, didn’t threaten to tear them apart. 

Two wary hearts must soften and two steel wills bend if they have any hope of making it down the broken trail to love.

~*~
Connect with Christa:
Website: www.christamacdonald.com
Newsletter: https://christamacdonald.com/connect-with-christa/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1538432676468229/
Amazon: https://amzn.to/33uk329

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CricketMacD
Christa's book publisher: http://mountainbrookink.com/about-us/authors/christa-macdonald/

~*~

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: Survivors

Never Forget
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” 

–Colossians 1:13-14 (NASB)

January 27, 2020 marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the worst of the six German extermination camps from World War II. One of the most brutal chapters of human history was, if not closed, then certainly dealt a stunning blow on the day the Allied forces took over and released the seven thousand Jews and others still alive there. 

Unfortunately, more than a million people had been killed in that place before it was shut down. Those lives can never be replaced. I cried watching news stories of survivors walking back through the gates of a place that will no doubt always haunt them.

I watched as a woman stood in a gas chamber, reciting the names of people she’d known, and singing a prayer over the dead. She pleaded at the camera that they not be forgotten. Then a man in his nineties told how he had only recently shared with his family that he was a Holocaust survivor. I can’t even imagine how it feels to keep such a secret for so long.

By the grace of God, none of us will ever have to decide how to deal with a tragedy like this in our own lives and I pray for a world in which these horrors never happen again. But as I was reading these verses in Colossians, I was struck by the fact that in the spiritual realm, we who are believers in Jesus are the rescued, released from the captivity of sin, no longer in darkness, given new life in a new kingdom.

So, as a forgiven people, how should we then live in the world? What should our response to liberation be? Do we have an obligation to tell others about our own rescue, so they can come out of the darkness as well? If we keep quiet, how will anyone know the amazing love and grace we’ve been given? We are witnesses to the greatest miracle of history, but if we don’t tell anyone, how does the good news spread?

We can not live in our sins or remain in our darkness. But we can never forget the rescue. God no longer holds our sins against us and promises in Hebrews 10:17 (NASB), “…their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” There is a delicate balance between not wallowing in the past and not forgetting where we came from. With God’s help and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can find that perfect, narrow path.

Only Jesus can save our souls. We can’t, but we must always be ready with a hand to pull someone through those gates, helping them throw off the darkness and step into the light. Never forget each of us has been on the other side of that gate as well.

Let’s Pray: Lord, allow me to use the darkness I’ve been rescued from to bring light to others. I want to be there to share and encourage as we walk this path together. May you use me to help people who suffer, in both body and mind, everywhere I go. In Jesus’ 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: Hope

Had I Not Believed
A devotional by Sharon Musgrove

“I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.”
 –Psalm 27:13-14 (AMP)

In a recent conversation with my sister-in-law, she shared with me a heart-to-heart talk she'd had with her son. In their private moments together, Jan’s twenty-something child expressed a deep concern for the world.

“Mom,” Jan recounted his words, “I’m afraid that the world may not exist when I am your age.”

A resident of San Francisco, my nephew had been experiencing the destruction of California’s Camp Fire. According to National Public Radio’s news coverage on November 20, 2018, the blaze was called “the deadliest and most destructive, destroying more than 13,000 residences, as well as 514 commercial structures and more than 4,000 other buildings.” At that time, the death toll was 83. This fire left San Francisco with possibly the most polluted air in the world at that time.

“He is a worrier,” Jan shared. “But the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

I’ve reflected on that conversation many times, feeling sorrow for such a heavy burden on my nephew’s mind. For him, what began as grief over horrific losses, by worry, had become fear of the end of the world! What an overwhelming feeling!

God shares His love and concern for us throughout Scripture, telling us not to worry. Like a parent to a young child He says, “I am with you.” (Isaiah 41:10 ESV). “I will not leave you as orphans.” (John 14:18 ESV). “I am head over all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11 ESV). He tells us to cast all anxieties on Him (1 Peter 5:7 ESV) because He cares for us.

God gives us a solution to our fear, yet we choose to worry. Worry that grows sorrow into feelings of hopelessness. Rather than giving God our worries, we are choosing hopelessness.

Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology defines “hope” with these words: To trust in, wait for, look for, or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future. This definition shows “hope” as a projection of positive thinking into future events, while hopelessness projects negativity into the future. Hope says, “Better is coming!” While hopelessness mumbles, “Things will never change.”

How do we change our thoughts from hopelessness to hopeful? By choice…by evaluating all the information available rather than just focusing on the negative….by factoring God into the equation rather than excluding Him.

God’s command not to worry indicates that we have control over our minds. So, while we don’t have control over the events of this world, we do have control over how we think of them. We can choose not to worry. We can choose not to despair. We can choose to tell God that we are saddened by tragic affairs but are grateful that He is caring for us as a loving parent for a helpless child.

The Amplified version of Psalm 27:13-14 is wonderfully encouraging in using the words that echo the definition of hope: “wait for” and “confidently expecting.” I love the undertones of confidence! The Bible says, “I would have despaired, but I was too busy believing in God’s goodness.” (Psalm 27:13-14 AMP)

Hope does not ignore that there is ugliness and tragedy in this world. It does not slap a happy face on a sad and frightening experience. Hope looks at the world’s pain and says, “I have the courage to believe in God and He is working this out.” Had I not believed, I would feel hopeless!

I pray for us today, that we cast away worry in exchange for hope!

~*~
Author Bio:

Sharon Musgrove is a self-proclaimed sociologist. The opportunities opened to her, over the years, have led her on a fascinating journey observing human behavior.

She has a diverse background in business, fitness and health industries. This background led her to a unique position writing curriculum and teaching for two private, Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both recovery programs served women primarily from the homeless community.

Sharon has traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the rural Maasai communities. She's been privileged to participate in Leadership camps for maturing young women. These annual camps have a mission of encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often abused young Maasai girls.

Easily identifying personally with the brokenness of the women she's served, Sharon now sees all people as needing more encouragement regardless of cultural or socioeconomic status. Within these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its transformative power has become her passion.

In her leisure time, Sharon enjoys her garden, health food, travel, and a good story. She and her husband, Jeff, make their home in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. They have two grown children. Currently, Sharon is writing her first Christian historical fiction novel utilizing her study, experience, and understanding of self-destructive behaviors.

Let Love Bloom: Dawn's story

Interview with Dawn Kinzer, author of Rebecca’s Song:

Alexis: This is book number three in The Daughters of Riverton Series. What makes it different from the rest?

Dawn: Rebecca started out as a nemesis in the first book, Sarah’s Smile, so readers didn’t like her character very much. In Hope’s Design, the second book in the series, they saw Rebecca begin to change. Like the other novels, Rebecca’s Song can be read as a stand-alone, but I think fans of the series will find it interesting and rewarding to see Rebecca’s character grow and see her own dreams come to fruition after so many struggles. I believe they’re going to love and finally understand her as much as I do.

Sarah’s Smile focuses on forgiveness and finding purpose in one’s own backyard. 

Hope’s Design is about using our God-given gifts and pursuing our dreams. 

The themes of Rebecca’s Song are trusting that God can bring good things out of bad situations and realizing that there’s more than one way to create a family.

Alexis: Why do you call this story "Rebecca’s Song"? What role does music play in it?

Dawn: Music has always played an important role in Rebecca’s life. She’s been her church pianist and organist for years, and music is a way she expresses herself. In the story, Rebecca periodically hums a melody she composed. The tune brings her comfort, but it also becomes an avenue to reach those in the story who are dealing with grief.

Alexis: Rebecca Hoyt, your story’s heroine, is a small-town schoolteacher who lost the hope of having her own family. Why did she lose hope?

Dawn: Because of physical complications, Rebecca was told by a doctor years ago that she would never be able to conceive. That was devastating because she’d always wanted to be a mother. Although she was engaged for a short period of time, her fiancé broke off the engagement when she disclosed she couldn’t have children. At one time, she thought she’d marry a widower with a young daughter and have a ready-made family, but that didn’t work out either. Feeling damaged and less-than, she struggles with believing any man—even someone with children—could love her.

Alexis: Why did you make Rebecca a schoolteacher and not another career in this story?

Dawn: Rebecca has been a schoolteacher in Riverton for ten years. She grew up in the small rural town, and because her desires have always been connected to raising and nurturing children, giving her the role of teacher seemed perfect. Also, during that time period, there weren’t many careers for women to pursue in a town with a population of less than five hundred. Some of the other women in the series work in stores, the local dress shop, or help their husbands on family farms.

Alexis: What is it about Rebecca’s students that she loves?

Dawn: Rebecca loves her students’ innocence, the way they display kindness toward each other, and their hunger for knowledge. She’s passionate about education, so it’s rewarding for her to see students get excited about learning.

Alexis: Who is the rebellious child in Rebecca’s life and how does that child threaten her livelihood?

Dawn: Willie Grayson is a thirteen-year-old boy who recently moved to Riverton with his parents and younger brother. Willie is a bully to the other students, and he refuses to obey Rebecca or do the schoolwork assigned, so she’s forced to suspend him more than once.

When he continues to be disruptive, Rebecca is told that if she can’t control her classroom, a male teacher will be brought in to replace her. The school board is willing to terminate her if something doesn’t change because Willie’s father has donated necessary funds to keep the school running, and he’s advocating for a new teacher.

Alexis: Jesse Rand is the hero in your story. He is a detective who loves to protect people. Why did you make him a detective and not another job description?

Dawn: I needed to come up with a hero whose job would keep him away from home at times and make it difficult for him to raise three children on his own. It was also important that what he did for a career was interesting, somewhat romantic, and included a wealth of possibilities for conflict and tension. The fact that he’s driven to protect people stems from his childhood, and it becomes a factor in his desire to take care of his niece and nephews when they need him the most.

Alexis: What is the one moment in Jesse’s life that changes everything?

Dawn: Jesse’s life changed when his mother died. He and his sister, Addie, were very young. Their father began drinking heavily and was pretty much absent until he also died. So, in order for them to survive—Jesse took care of his sister. He basically looked after her until she married. Although Jesse’s mother had a strong faith and encouraged her children to believe and trust in God, after her death, Jesse felt abandoned by God, and he believed he had to do everything on his own.

Alexis: Why does Jesse blame himself for the death of his sister and brother-in-law?

Dawn: Intellectually, Jesse knows he’s not to blame, but he rides the railroads every day, protecting people from harm. For many years, it was his job to protect his sister. The day they died, Addie and Levi were traveling to a convention with plans to meet him in Chicago. But they were shot and killed during a train robbery en route. He knows it wasn’t his fault, but he wonders if they hadn’t been on their way to see him, or if he’d been on that train, if their deaths could have been avoided.

Alexis: Describe Jesse’s character, goals, and motivation in this story.

Dawn: Jesse is a loner who prefers to work independently on the job. Rebecca even thinks of him as a lone wolf at times, but he begins to change as he spends more time with her and the children. He’s always been very loyal and protective of his sister because he looked after her most of their lives. When she’s killed, it becomes important to him that her children heal from their grief and experience a safe and happy home.

Because he saw injustice in his neighborhood while growing up, and because he experienced what he considers unfairness himself as a child, he seeks justice for anyone who is taken advantage of or who is harmed in any way. Jesse has two major goals in this story—put the men who killed his sister and brother-in-law behind bars and figure out a way to raise his niece and nephews without destroying his career.

Alexis: What is Rebecca’s motivation in this story? Does she fear anything? If so, explain.

Dawn: Rebecca’s world revolves around teaching and being connected to children. Everything she does is influenced by her desire to serve little ones. When her best friend is killed while her children are in Rebecca’s care, she can’t imagine not helping in any way she can to make sure they’re loved and comforted—and that their needs are met to the best of her ability. She wants to make sure that whatever decisions are made on their behalf are the best for them. There is also the fear of getting too close to the children and then having to face the heartbreak of losing them when their Uncle Jesse moves them to Chicago.

On another front, Rebecca is worried that she’ll lose her teaching position if she can’t motivate a challenging student to make some changes. If she loses her job, she doesn’t know what she’ll do with her life. Teaching is all she’s known and cared about.

Alexis: What is it about Rebecca that makes her look beautiful to Jesse? Is there anything that he does not like about her?

Dawn: Jesse is physically attracted to Rebecca. She’s beautiful with honey-colored hair and eyes the shade of soft green moss. But he sees her inner beauty in how she cares for his niece and nephews with patience, compassion, and understanding. He also appreciates her devotion to her students. 

She can be persistent and stubborn at times, which can irritate him when they disagree on something, like whether he should keep his handgun in the home. Rebecca believes it’s too dangerous to have a weapon around children, while Jesse feels that as a lawman, he needs to keep his gun with him at all times. He also thinks children should to be taught a healthy respect for guns.

Alexis: Why is Jesse determined to find the people who killed his sister?

Dawn: If Jesse can find the killers, he believes he’ll be able to find some inner peace. He’ll have done his job, and he’ll have revenge for what the members of the gang did to his sister and her family. Also, Jesse is driven by the need to find justice for those who have been wronged but can’t attain it for themselves.

Alexis: Why does Rebecca guard her heart around Jesse and the children in his family?

Dawn: Rebecca is afraid to open her heart wide to Jesse and the children because she believes she’ll eventually have to say goodbye to them. Jesse seems determined to take the children back to Chicago with him—once he can figure out new living arrangements and hire a nanny. He’s dedicated to his job and has no interest in staying in Riverton with the children. Rebecca’s life is in the small town with her parents, friends, and students. Unless Jesse changes his mind and decides to stay—or falls in love with her—she could end up brokenhearted.

Alexis: What brings Rebecca and Jesse together and what or who threatens to drive them apart?

Dawn: Their common goals to help the children grieve, heal, and eventually move on and live happy lives after their parents’ deaths bring Rebecca and Jesse together. However, they sometimes disagree on what’s best for the children. Although Rebecca understands Jesse’s need to return to his job as a railroad detective, it also frustrates and worries her that he sometimes seems to put his need to hunt killers above the children’s needs. 

Alexis: You put a lot of thought into this story. What makes it special to you?

Dawn: Rebecca’s story has become special to me because of the journey I’ve seen her take throughout the series. When I wrote Sarah’s Smile (Book 1), I never intended to make Rebecca a heroine in the third book. But, I began to see while writing Hope’s Design (Book 2) that Rebecca needed to have some redemption. None of us are perfect, and everyone deserves a second chance.

Like Rebecca, I went through a phase in my life where I made decisions that hurt people. I wasn’t proud of my behavior, and I worked hard to rebuild my credibility. I see that part of me in Rebecca. She’s made some huge mistakes, but she hasn’t run away from them. Instead, she’s stayed in Riverton, determined to make amends. She’s proven to the town that she’s worthy of friendship and respect. I love her for that.

Alexis: What do you want readers to remember most about Rebecca’s Song?

Dawn: I hope they finish the story with renewed hope and trust that when they’re overwhelmed, facing many challenges, or struggling with heartache, God still loves them. It’s often in hindsight that we’re able to see how God has been working behind the scenes to bring good into our lives. I also want readers to remember that the definition of family can mean different things to different people, and a family can consist of any group of people who care about each other

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Dawn! Do you have any closing comments?

Dawn: I appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to join us! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at dawn@dawnkinzer.com, and if you have a chance to read any of the books in the series, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

God bless!

~*~

Author Bio:

Dawn Kinzer is a freelance editor, and her own work has been published in various devotionals and magazines. She co-hosts and writes for Seriously Write, a blog devoted to encouraging and equipping Christian writers. Her personal blog, The Garden of Dreams, focuses on encouraging women to find purpose and pursue their dreams in the different seasons of their lives. 

Sarah’s Smile is the first book in her historical romance series The Daughters of Riverton, and Hope’s Design is the second. 

Rebecca’s Song will be released in May 2018. 

A mother and grandmother, Dawn lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Favorite things include dark chocolate, good wine, strong coffee, the mountains, family time, and Masterpiece Theatre.

You can connect and learn more about Dawn and her work by visiting these online sites: Author Website, Dawn’s Blog, Goodreads, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Sign up through Dawn's website to receive her author newsletter (sent every 2-3 months), and you’ll receive her short story, Maggie’s Miracle (PDF format) as a gift.

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Blurb for Rebecca’s Song:

Rebecca’s Song (The Daughters of Riverton Series, Book 3)

A small-town school teacher who lost hope of having her own family.

A big-city railroad detective driven to capture his sister’s killer.

And three young orphans who need them both.

Rebecca Hoyt’s one constant was her dedication to her beloved students. Now, a rebellious child could cost her the job she loves. Without her teaching position, what would she do?

Detective Jesse Rand prides himself in protecting the people who ride the railroads. But, when his own sister and brother-in-law are killed by train robbers, the detective blames himself. Yet, another duty calls—he must venture to Riverton where his niece and nephews were left in the care of their beautiful and stubborn teacher, Rebecca Hoyt. They need to mourn and heal, but Jesse is determined to find his sister’s killers. Rebecca is willing to help care for the children, but she also fears getting too close to them—or their handsome uncle—knowing the day will come when he’ll take them back to Chicago.

Will Jesse and Rebecca find a way to open their hearts and work together? Or will they, along with the children, lose out on love?

~*~

Buy Rebecca's Song on Amazon

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