My Blog turns 10 this August 2020! You are invited to the celebration!

 

Dear Blog Friends,

My blogging journey on "God is Love" began when I published my first post on August 2, 2010. I shared a song "I Still Want You" performed by Tramaine Hawkins.

Holley Gerth, one of my favorite writers who used to work for DaySpring Cards (company), was the first and only reader to comment on my first blog post! She made my day!

Since then, I've discovered my "voice" as a blogger and God connected me with wonderful people who now provide most of the content for my blog through guest posts, stories and author interviews.

Over the years, many of my guest bloggers have become good friends. And you (my blog readers) have also become special to my heart. I hope that my "God is Love" blog has been and will continue to be a blessing for your heart.

Now that my blog is turning 10 years old in only two days, I'd like for you to help me celebrate this amazing milestone!

My author friends who have been guests on my blog over these past ten years, have graciously agreed to help me celebrate my blog's birthday! They want to celebrate this milestone by giving away some of their beautiful books!

Every day in August 2020, there will be a book giveaway contest that you can enter via Rafflecopter. One of my author friends will be featured each day here on my blog. All of the info you need to know about their book(s) that they're giving away will be in the daily blog posts this August.

This grand giveaway event starts on August 1 and will end on August 31. The winners of each book giveaway contest will be announced on my blog by September 2, 2020 and they will be connected with the authors via email so that the authors may send their book(s) to the winners.

I say "book(s)" because some of my author friends have offered to give away more than one book! One of my author friends has agreed to give away 10 e-books! Other authors have agreed to give away at least one, signed paperback copy.

I am SO excited to celebrate my blog's 10th birthday! I hope you are too.

May God bless you and keep you!

Love,

Alexis A. Goring, MFA
Founder of "God is Love" blog

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Will

Remaining in God’s Will
A devotional by Temeka Borden

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” 

– Matthew 6:9-10 (KJV)

One of the most common questions I receive is, “What is God’s will for me?”

Typically, when I am asked this question by my readers and viewers, they are asking in regard to a major decision they must make such as a relationship/marriage, a career opportunity, et cetera. To questions such as these, I typically respond by encouraging the reader to invest in some real “God time” so they can get the answers they need, although I know some are looking for me to give them a more specific answer. 

In fact, I remember one reader telling me her entire situation regarding her boyfriend and asking what she should do. It’s almost as though she knew the right thing to do, but she was hesitant to do the “right thing.” I felt as though she wanted me to give her an answer different from the “right one.” However, I responded by saying, “I can’t answer that for you, but if you pray about it, God will show you the answer.”

God Time 

I know it’s not easy making certain decisions, which is why I constantly discuss the importance of prayer, worship, meditation, and studying our Bibles. Doing so helps “unclog” our ears so that we can hear the truth. Doing so helps soften our hearts and humbles us so that we obey God. Doing so helps clear our minds so that we are not deceived and distracted by our freshly desires.

Prayer, meditation, and Bible time (God time) is not a chore. God time is not something we just check off our list. This time is precious. It shows God that He is first in our lives, that we truly love Him, and that we are committed to continually developing our bond with Him.

Prayer

You may notice I keep mentioning “God time.” This precious time may entail various things to various people. However, for me and as already mentioned, it involves prayer, meditation, and studying the Bible.

Regarding prayer, another question I commonly receive is, “How should one pray?”

Well, I wrote a separate post regarding that topic, and one thing to note is that we should always ask that God’s will be done, as stated in Matthew 6:10. God knows what is best and it is in His will that we find continued protection and direction. Our flesh can get us into trouble. Allow me to write that again. Our FLESH can get us into trouble!

Our flesh clouds our vision of what God wants in our lives, and it is so important that we keep our flesh under subjection. God sees things that our flesh (or natural eyes) cannot see, including any hidden dangers. For example, we may be presented with an opportunity, and to the natural eye, that opportunity may seem perfect. However, behind that opportunity may be much grief, pain, and sorrow. Again, there may be hidden dangers that we did not see or consider, and we place ourselves in positions where we face hurt that could have been avoided had we listened to God. Thankfully, we have a compassionate, forgiving Savior who rights our wrongs, but also expects us to learn from our mistakes.

Look, we have all been there at one point in our lives. We allowed flesh to dictate our decision. We rushed into a decision. We allowed people to pressure us into a decision. We wanted something so bad that we convinced ourselves that something was God approved (and it wasn’t), and we ended up making the WRONG decision. However, hopefully, we learned. We healed. We allowed the hardship we endured as a result of our decisions make us stronger, and we committed to working on getting better aligned with God.

Remember, if we receive a “no” from God regarding something our flesh wants, His intent is not to hurt us. Quite often, it’s His method of protection. So remain under God’s protection. Remain in the will of God. Trust His wisdom and let Him lead you in all things!

~*~
Author Bio:

Temeka Borden, better known by her pen name “Positivity Inspires,” is an author, speaker, minister, PharmD, multi-state licensed pharmacist, founder and owner of Positivity Inspires, LLC, and most importantly, a servant of the Lord. 

She was introduced to Christ at a very early age and was raised in the church. Her ministry focuses on encouraging Christians to love God first, to love all people, to continually strengthen their bond with Christ, and to study His Word, and live His Word daily.
​
Dr. Borden has been blessed with a variety of gifts, and she has gained much professional experience in a variety of settings. She also has served in administrative roles in the professional and church settings.

In addition to obtaining her PharmD, she also obtained her bachelor's degree in biology (minor in English), and she is working on her third degree. What's more, as stated in her words, “I completed a specialty pharmacy residency that prepared me for the workforce and made me a force to be reckoned with.” She is a long-distance runner, a drummer, a singer, and she has a strong “fashion sense.” She also can read and type at almost supersonic speed in some instances.

Dr. Borden loves to learn and is constantly looking for new ways to challenge herself.

She loves God and she loves people. She is “crazy about her family,” and she adores her friends. She strongly encourages others to show kindness, respect, and love to everyone. She loves and welcomes diversity and flourishes in culturally diverse environments.

Dr. Borden loves to laugh and loves to make other people laugh. She also is passionate about giving back to the community. Her favorite sayings are “Speak Up!” and “Watch God Work!”

Devotionals for the Heart: You are a masterpiece created by God!

God’s Masterpieces

A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“For we are His workmanship, created by Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” –Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

When I was young, my Grandma taught me how to Cross-stitch.

She was an expert with a needle and embroidery thread, and I spent happy hours going through her thread box, choosing colors, and then learning how to make beautiful stitches. Her handwork was exquisite and every time I look at an art piece that she created, I’m reminded of the Great Craftsman of my life.

In Ephesians, Paul teaches us to walk in Christ. He reminds us of our beginning—we are God’s workmanship, His handiwork. As we take a close look at our hearts, we see some characteristics that really don’t remind us of the Lord’s creative genius, and yet the psalmist proclaims in Psalm 139 that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Every fiber of our being was deliberately and intricately designed by the Author of life. Even when we sin, He knows our every thought, and He remembers why He created us. On top of that, He forgives us when we ask Him, and He sets us back on the good path He’s chosen for us.

As our Savior, Christ Jesus created us for good works. These aren’t the petty little deeds we do in hopes of receiving a pat on the back from other people. Good works are actions of the heart, created by the Lord and presented to God as sacrifices to glorify Him. We don’t need to win a Nobel Prize or some great humanitarian award—we simply love our neighbors as we love God. If we show God’s love and mercy to those we meet, then we’re on the road to completing that for which He’s made us. With an open heart to serve others in humility, we obey our Lord’s commandment. Loving others like we love the Lord is our highest calling, and He sees our hearts.

Before we were even born, God set His plan in motion. His design is for us to be the lovely canvas where His perfect plan blossoms. In His hands, our lives make sense. Even when we’re heartsore and afraid to hear the latest pandemic reports, we turn our eyes to Jesus and are comforted by His words, “You are My workmanship, and I have something good for you to do.”

How do we know what to do? The best answer I’ve heard these past few months is, “Do the next right thing.” Choosing to serve the Lord by serving our brother is always the “next right thing.” We have a divine responsibility to lavish good on our fellow sojourners. We’re all His workmanship! It’s time for us to act like we understand what it means to be His creation, and His handiwork.

It doesn’t matter if we’re from French Guiana, Canada, or Brazil, just as it doesn’t matter if we hail from Indiana, Georgia, or Oregon. What matters is that we’re a product of God’s own heart. Every one of us is His design. We’re exactly as He created us to be, and the beautiful thing about God is that He always sees what He plans. What if my life doesn’t look like it’s going according to plan? Not to worry. A repentant heart brings us right back into His perfect place, and His perfect peace. With good works for us to do with our next step, or with our next breath, we reach for His hand. Our Good Father always knows the way. We trust in Him.

In our living room, a framed counted cross-stitch holds a prominent place. In the center of the shadow box, it says, “His Name is Jesus,” and around the sides are the many names by which our Lord is called.

Every time I look at the beautiful handwork, I’m grateful for the connections I have to my friend who embroidered it, my grandma who taught me to appreciate hand crafted art, and especially, to my Wonderful Savior who created me for His good works. Contemporary Christian music artist Steve Green sings this beautiful song based on Philippians 1:6 (ESV) where the Lord says, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.” Listen to the song on YouTube for free! Here's the hyperlink.

What an astounding privilege it is to be one of the myriad colors of thread in His great creative work. Hallelujah! Thank You, Heavenly Father (God)!

~*~
Author Bio:

During this time of quarantine, Karen enjoys reading, writing, and connecting with friends and family via phone calls, texts, emails, blogs, live-streams, and video conferencing. 

She is grateful that the Lord has provided so many ways for humankind to stay in community, even when we are all hunkering down in our homes.

Karen says, “In this unprecedented time, we know that He has prepared us for such a time as this! To God be all the glory!”

You can reach Karen by emailing her at this address: klmarstaller@gmail.com

Romantic Reads: Lean On Me

Welcome Pat Simmons to the blog! 

She's here to share the story behind her story, Lean On Me. 

~*~

The story behind the story of Lean On Me by Pat Simmons:

Thank you, Alexis, for allowing me to share my thoughts about my newest release Lean On Me.

From the beginning, I wanted to toy with a premise of a mystery lady on the run. Aunt Tweet’s character was somewhat shaped on the antics of my grandmother when I was her caregiver.

If I wanted my grandmother to reach her late nineties like her mother (my great-grandmother), I had to become her caregiver. The gamut of emotions I experienced were unexpected.

I couldn’t understand how this woman who had known me all my life didn’t recognize me. How this independent woman who worked on the railroad and purchased a boarding house to help others had become helpless. The memories of Grandma Jessie living with me are forever etched into my mind, my children’s, and my husband’s.

Originally, the Family is Forever series was penned the Caregivers. This pearl of a story was tucked away in forgotten files. The year I contemplated I would no longer write, the Lord reminded me of the caregivers series proposal that had been dormant for seven years. “Someone needs to hear from Me,” Jesus (Christ) had said.

I guess, the timing hadn’t been right. Maybe, because in the mid-90's, nursing homes and assisted living facilities met all the needs of seniors. Then things shifted. Once again, multi-generations were living under one roof, and roles reversed between child and parents.

Now according to the Family Caregiver Alliance website, more than forty three million people are caregivers annually. How could I dismiss this journey as a back story?

As a Christian romance author, I want the reader to embrace the emotional connection, but be inspired that if they would find themselves in such a scenario that God would be with them.

Lean on Me is more than an undying affection for a loved one who is mentally slipping away. It’s about love. Commitment. Hope. Tabitha Knicely is not a typical damsel in distress.

Marcus Whittington is more than a handsome hero. He becomes her fierce protector, because he soon learns every caregiver needs a caregiver. Once a misunderstanding is cleared up, and each flaw is exposed, a sweet romance has the making for a movie with a happy ending until the next time Aunt Tweet escapes.

Sometimes, not all the time, but every now and then, an act of kindness reminds us that God sends the right person at the right time for us to lean on.

~*~
Author Bio:
Pat Simmons is a multi-published Christian romance author with more than thirty-five titles. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth who is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. 

She is a three-time recipient of the Romance Slam Jam Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance. Pat’s first inspirational women’s fiction, Lean On Me, with Sourcebooks, was the February/March Together We Read Digital Book Club pick for the national library system.

Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country. 

She has converted her sofa-strapped sports fanatical husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and administrative assistant who is constantly on probation. They have a son and a daughter. 

Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Visit her online at www.patsimmons.net.

~*~
Book Blurb for Lean on Me:

First in an emotional African American Christian romance from acclaimed inspirational author Pat Simmons featuring a tender-hearted heroine who puts her family first and a misguided hero who needs a little nudge to realize that sometimes all you have to do is believe.

No one should have to go it alone ...

Tabitha Knicely believes in family before everything. She may be overwhelmed caring for her beloved great-aunt, but she would never turn her back on the woman who raised her, even if Aunt Tweet's dementia is getting worse. 

Tabitha is sure she can do this on her own. But when Aunt Tweet ends up on her neighbor's front porch, and the man has the audacity to accuse Tabitha of elder abuse, things go from bad to awful.

Marcus Whittington feels a mountain of regret at causing problems for Tabitha and her great-aunt. How was he to know the frail older woman's niece was doing the best she could? 

As Marcus gets to know Aunt Tweet and sees how hard Tabitha is fighting to keep everything together, he can't walk away from the pair. Particularly when helping Tabitha care for her great-aunt leads the two of them on a spiritual journey of faith and surrender.

~*~
Buy Pat’s book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

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Connect with Pat:
Website: http://www.patsimmons.net
Pinterest: pinterest.com/patsimmonsbooks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/patsimmons
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/patsimmonsauthor
Facebook Group Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/patsimmonsreaders/
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/patsimmons

Devotionals for the Heart: Words

Old Words
A devotional by Glynis Becker

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

Sometimes the words won’t form. When life is hard, or chaotic, or not understandable, it can be hard to express our feelings in conversations or in writing. Sometimes I find it’s impossible to even pray, usually during the times I need prayer the most.

In addition to the Bible, our family has found great comfort for the last few months in an old copy of The Lutheran Book of Prayer. There are prayers for every morning and evening, special prayers for certain seasons of the year, prayers for the sick, during an epidemic, during a war and more. We gather in the evenings together to pray and rather than feeling like we need to find words within ourselves, we can turn to prayers penned many years ago and used to comfort generations of Christians since. I appreciate the time and care someone put into writing down these prayers and how helpful they continue to be.

The world we live in is constantly changing, building and exploring. Hundreds of new products and services and discoveries are presented to us every day. It can be easy to throw out something old and dusty in favor of the newest and shiniest item. But we have to remember that not everything new is better and not everything old is irrelevant.

I’m absolutely not against progress. I love computers and convenience. My degree is in mechanical engineering so I’m not against new inventions! But I fear we forget to give credit to the foundation of the things that came before us and fail to realize how much they can still help us today, just the way they are.

The words of Scripture were written down over centuries to give us a glimpse into the heart of God. They are meant to teach, comfort, rebuke, and save us. How grateful I am that God gave those words to so many people, so long ago, and breathed His own Spirit into them, that they are still living and active for us today.

What words of comfort do you need to hear today? Is there a Bible verse that is particularly meaningful for what you’re going through? Or maybe the words of a Christian who came before us? Even if the words are not Holy Scripture, they can be inspiring and encouraging to us as much as when they were when they were written down. Let’s find some good words to read, pray, or share with someone today!

Let’s Pray: Gracious God, comfort me with Your Spirit today so that I may be a comfort to others. Give me words of love and kindness and grace and peace to know deep in my own soul and to share with the world you created and love. In Jesus Christ’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: Weakness

What’s Your Weakness?
A devotional by Amy Odland

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. –2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

How many of us would be quick to raise our hand if we were asked the question “Who would like to have Christ’s power rest on them?”

How quick would we be to raise those same hands if it was mentioned that in order for that to happen, we need to immediately start boasting about our weaknesses? And to do it gladly? I don’t know about you, but I for one don’t like to run around “gladly” mentioning my shortcomings to everyone I interact with each day. As a matter of fact, I am not happy at all to volunteer that I have a quick temper or am short on patience most of the time. How about you? Do you enjoy confessing you struggle with anger or addiction or are eyeball-deep in pride and self-absorption?

None of us like to look bad in front of others. While some of us find it easy to not care what others think, most of us spend a great deal of time and energy keeping up appearances to those around us. We cover our sins as best we can until we can’t anymore and they sneak out. Our kids definitely do this (as we did before them); they can keep up appearances for the most part while at school or with the grandparents, but as soon as they get home with us, the “real” kid shows up pretty quickly.

We learned fairly early on as parents to use the “Ask the Teacher” trick to point out this discrepancy between public vs. private behavior: when they’ve been misbehaving at home – whether by not doing chores, fighting with siblings, or just generally not listening to me or my husband – we ask them if we should talk to their teacher about getting some advice on what we could do to get them to listen better at home. We ask, “What would your teacher say we should do? Your teacher doesn’t ever say you act like this at school, so maybe we need to get some suggestions from your teacher.”

Once the threat of tarnishing their “perfect” reputation with the teacher is out there, they shape up awfully quick at home.

The fear of what others think of us controls us whether we realize it or not. What we maybe don’t even realize is how it also affects if Jesus Christ’s power can work through us or not. If we’re listening to the opinions of those around us and spending our time worrying about our image more than we are listening to and spending time with God, the power of Christ will not rest on us as it should. If we’re focusing more on outward voices and input, we have less energy and time to focus on the inner influences of the Holy Spirit. We have less of Christ’s power to get us through our day.

So how do we boast more about our weaknesses and allow God’s grace to be sufficient in all we do? Here are a few ideas:

We should admit when we’re wrong.

Apologize when we’ve messed up.

Give the benefit of the doubt more than we do.

Be slow to judge.

Be quick to forgive.

Be able to say “I don’t know.”

Focus on the needs of others.

Find ways to make others feel important or special.

Look for opportunities to help the oppressed or hurting.

Seek counsel for help with addictions or strongholds.

We don’t have to shout our weaknesses from the mountaintops for all to hear. We can share with trusted friends or trained counselors, those we know are safe and helpful. What we definitely aren’t supposed to do if we want Christ to overlook and forgive our weaknesses, is walk around with an attitude of unwillingness to overlook and forgive the weaknesses of others. His power will rest on us in great ways if we humble ourselves, pray, and seek His ways.

Do you have a weakness you feel God calling you to gladly boast about today?

~*~
Author Bio:

Amy Odland has been serving in church ministry as a volunteer leader for over 16 years, in various worship, prayer and women’s ministry roles.

Her passion for helping women stems from her own struggles and lessons learned in her journey as a Christian since first deciding to follow the Lord in 1994.

Amy’s priorities after her faith include her family — husband Rick, and their four kids — as well as extended family who all live close in proximity and the many friends she’s made over the years.

In addition to a love of teaching and helping her husband with the bookkeeping for their many businesses, Amy has recently expanded her stay-at-home work to include leading author’s book launch teams for publishing companies like Baker, Revell, Barbour, and Lifeway.

She also enjoys teaching new authors about platform building, self-launching, and online marketing.

~*~
Connect with Amy:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/amyodland
Instagram: https://instagram.com/amy_odland
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amy_odland
Website: https://amyodland.com

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Plan

Trust God’s Timing And Plans
A devotional by Julia Wilson

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

God has a plan for your life and He has a plan for mine. Sometimes He reveals His plans many years in advance. Other times, we do not even realize that we have glimpsed the plan for our future.

Let me share with you the plan that God showed me though I did not realize it at the time and I was too young to even know about God. My twin brothers are three years younger than me. This event happened before they were born. I do not know how old I was.

I remember my Mom dressing me in an all-in-one winter suit and my parents popping me in the car. We drove somewhere. We got out of our car and walked. I remember seeing a bridge across a river with rows of houses either side. I felt drawn to that place.

Bewdley in England (Photo Credit: Julia Wilson)

The longing for that place with the river, the bridge and the houses never left me. As I grew up I would constantly question my parents, asking, “Where did we go?” The answer never changed: They had no idea where it was nor did they know what I was talking about.

I got married, had a family and we lived in four different houses in three different towns. The sense that I desired to go back to that place never left me. I walked my children to school every day. It was about a mile and a quarter up to school and back. I did it twice a day.

One day as I was walking to collect my children, I rounded Beales Corner (as I always did). Suddenly, it was as if the scales fell from my eyes as I looked ahead.

There was the river with the bridge and the houses either side! The place I had been longing for all my life was the place I now lived, and had lived in for several years. Wow! I had done that walk so many times yet never seen it like I saw it that day. Years and years of yearning to return … and yet, I was already home.

Bewdley in England (Photo Credit: Julia Wilson)

I do not know why God put that desire on my heart as a very small child. I do not know why I did not recognize the place of longing the first time I walked to school. But what I do know is God was with me, even when I was too young to know Him. He planned my life out. He put a desire in my heart. And He fulfilled that yearning all in His timing.

I never need to worry about my life because God holds me in His hands. God holds us all in His hands and in His heart. Even when we do not know God, God knows us. He loves us and He cares for us.

If you do not know my caring and loving God, you can know Him today. You can trust His timing and you can trust His heart.

May I lead you in a prayer to help you get to know God?

Let’s Pray: Dear Jesus Christ, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust You and follow You as my Lord and Saviour all the days of my life. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

My name is Julia Wilson but I also go by Christian Bookaholic. 

I live with my husband and five cats in a small town in Worcestershire on the banks of the River Severn (England). We have four grown up children and three granddaughters.

I have always loved reading and have always been surrounded by books. I used to work as a teaching assistant for special needs in the local high school. Ill health forced me to stop working in December 2015. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (known as M.E.) and fibromyalgia. I now have plenty of time to read and review books!

Our eldest son set up my Christian Bookaholic blog. I review every book I read. I read over 300 books a year. I read Christian and mass market. I prefer stories set from 1850 onwards. My favourite type of books to read is stories set in WWI and WWII, and Russia under Czar Nicholas II.

I am a historian, having a Combined Humanities degree where I majored in History and minored in English. I also love swimming. I only learned how to swim in 2017 and go swimming four mornings a week for 90 minutes before breakfast, it keeps my joints going.

I am also a crazy cat lady. I absolutely love my cats. I have grown up with cats and cannot imagine life without them. My dream is to own an old fashioned seal point Siamese … but not while we have our young rescue cat as she hates other cats!

I love God and love going to a large lively church called Lifecentral. I cannot imagine life without God. He gives a peace even when life does not. He guides my life. He is my Rock.