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Theme for 2024: Abound in Hope
On our Christmas card last year, we included Romans 15:13. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (NKJV, emphasis added). Our God is a God of hope. What a marvelous thought! This short list of “hope” stories from the Bible come to mind when I think of ways God has provided a lifeline of hope to people in the past. Today, the God of hope still calls us to abound in hope. If you’re like me, I often struggle to dwell in hope versus fret in the worries of…
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Mistakes Aren’t the End of the Story
Searching for love in all the wrong places. Scarred from the past. Damaged goods. Those phrases describe how Jayna’s story begins in Hold Your Breath. Her story was uncomfortable to write at times, and yet I felt compelled to write it for the reader who relates to Jayna: someone who feels “less than” and needs to know her true worth. That true worth is what private investigator Liam Bracken tries to help Jayna see as he points her to the One who redeems and restores. Liam reminds me of the person Jesus describes in Matthew 25:35-36. “…for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you…
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Encouragement for the Unseen Mother
Last Mother’s Day was not easy for me. I had suffered an early miscarriage in March, and when May rolled around, the loss remained raw. Still, my husband and I went to church, and I tried not to cry through the songs. Many churches give away a little gift to mothers, and ours was no exception. Volunteers handed out hundreds, if not thousands, of carnations as we exited the service. I wasn’t going to take one. I had no baby in my belly or child clinging to my hand. A volunteer handed me one anyway. “I’m not a mother–” I faltered. I was, really, but I didn’t want to explain.…
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The Secret to Anticipating Christmas
Back in August, my husband caught me humming, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Although James loves Christmas, he’s more of a put-the-tree-up-after-Thanksgiving guy. His brows arched. “Are you humming what I think you’re humming?” I held up my hands and grinned. “That’s what you get for having a wife who sings in the choir.” He had the song stuck in his head a day later. You’re welcome. My fellow musicians understand that Christmas practice begins about the time Hobby Lobby puts up its holiday décor—or way too early for most people. For vocalists and crafters, though, we need this time to prepare, to anticipate the season that’s coming. But…
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Finding Perspective on the Benches of Beech Mountain
Last month, James and I traveled to Beech Mountain, because two of our friends held their destination wedding there. This was my first visit back since dislocating my shoulder in March, and I felt incredibly grateful for how far I’ve come in the healing process since then. Still, I knew my limitations. One of our favorite hiking trails involves some climbing, and on this trip, the path was muddy and slippery. I encouraged James to hike anyway while I opted to read on the shores of Lake Coffey, a lovely fishing lake surrounded by a boardwalk. Benches dotted almost every angle of this lake, and I chose one to spend…
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Book Buzz on The Revisionary
Even though The Revisionary released in 2017, it remains increasingly relevant to our times. After all, living in 2020 has somewhat felt like living in a dystopian novel (where anything that can go wrong probably will go wrong). That said, my desire in writing The Revisionary and the other two books in the trilogy was to show hope through dark circumstances. Specifically, my characters find that hope by rediscovering America’s heritage. I want my readers to walk away feeling inspired to press on and do what’s right even if they’re swimming against the popular current. I’m honored to share an excerpt from this latest book review. For more details and…
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20 Verses When You Need Encouragement
Hello, friends. Has anyone else felt like she can’t catch a break? The last month has had its share of challenges for me, and I know I’m not alone. Today, I want to share some of my go-to Scriptures that speak encouragement to my heart. I hope these verses will be balm on any other soul that is feeling discouraged or dry. The promises are in no particular order. I encourage you to look them up in your own Bible (I used the New King James version), and consider the rich contexts as well. #1: Perfect Peace – Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.…
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Ruth: Overcoming Others’ Expectations
Yesterday, I had the privilege of talking with the ladies of Connersville Baptist Temple during their women’s ministry event. We unpacked the topic of expectations, dealing with our own and the ones that other people place on us. Whew, letting go of unhealthy expectations and learning to embrace God’s is so refreshing and liberating! One of the Bible characters we examined was a woman named Ruth in the Old Testament. She was able to overcome the negativity surrounding her heritage and bloom into the woman God designed for her to be. Ruth’s Backstory Ruth was a Moabitess woman, and the Moabites did not have a G-rated history. In fact, there…
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Book Trailer for The Reactionary
Cue dramatic music! The book trailer for the finale to The Rogues dystopian trilogy is here. The driving beat reminds me of the purpose behind this book and the motivations that propel the characters themselves. That driving force is hope. Hope for justice Hope for personal liberty Hope for family restoration Hope for love Hope for national reunification Hope for meaning and identity outside of circumstances Hope for truth that transcends the individual Hope for eternal assurance and salvation Dystopians aren’t known for hope, but this one is. Enjoy the official trailer for The Reactionary, available on Amazon.
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Revolutionary Love
Love perseveres in spite of obstacles. Love gives without any guarantee of receiving. Love sacrifices until it hurts and then sacrifices some more. If I told you those themes are part of my latest novel, you might guess I’m a romance writer, right? Well, they are, but guess again. The Revolutionary is a dystopia. Wait. Dystopia? You mean one of those futuristic novels so dark they make the problems of our own world look like a walk in the park? Yes and no. Though dystopian novels have certain bleak characteristics, I think that setting paints the perfect contrast to the hope characters are fighting (and sometimes dying) to gain. How…
