Friday {in focus} ~ Adventure, Not Ease

Mary DeMuth's words ring true whether we're looking at our own lives 

and walk with God or we're writing our characters' lives and walks with God.

No one wants to read about the guy who sits on his couch all day and does nothing.

Unless we give him such a bad cramp in his backside that he must get up and work.

Change his habit.

No one wants to read about the girl who goes through the same routine day in and day out.

Unless we give her a new assignment that will knock her out of her comfort zone.

Shock her.

{Think Never Been Kissed}

No one wants to read about the complaints of a pessimist.

Unless we pair them with an optimist.

Challenge their point of view.

Put yourself and your characters on a mountain top with a new and unique view this year.

Look at the world from a different perspective.

Take note.

After all, God created us for adventure, not ease.

That's why we all have that deep desire and urge to do something beyond our wildest dreams.

We just need to get off the couch, try something new, and leave our fears behind.

2013 in Review ~ What Have You Accomplished?

Recently an author friend of mine posted on her Facebook timeline, asking her followers to consider what they've accomplished in 2013.

Oftentimes, we look at our year and pull out the negative, difficulties, trials, tribulations, mistakes, and failures. Then we make resolutions to be positive, give ourselves a break, find the joy in our trials and tribulations, make fewer/different/or no mistakes, and succeed in some area of our lives. And by mid-January, we've broken our fast, given up, or failed again and decided the heck with it all.

So when my author friend asked for a list of things we accomplished in 2013, I began to look back for all of God's blessings, favor, miracles, and provision throughout the past year. I looked for things that brought me joy, peace, and melted my heart.

Here's what I came up with:

1. I succeeded at being a lot more "in the moment" in daily living, especially with my children. Parenting is the one thing I struggle with on a daily basis. Have I done enough? Have I been enough for my children? Have I encouraged them or have I spent the day yelling about everything they've done wrong? Did I stop working long enough to make eye contact and answer that question? I may not have accomplished this every time, and I may have regretted a thing or two I'd said, but overall, I did much better focusing on my kids this year than I have in years past.

2. God taught me about Epic Grace and making Jesus my Everything ("Everything" was my one word for 2013).

3. I taught for the first time at a writers conference. Thank you, CLASS writers conference attendees for making my first teaching experience a joyful and encouraging one!

4. I was on a panel for the first time in my life. Another moment at the CLASS writers conference.

5. I wrote my first novel ... and finished it! Writing THE END for the first time is a surreal experience. It shocked me that I had an entire book/story in me. Be on the lookout. Working title is Secret Identity.

6. I am so excited to say that I have an agent to represent my writing, as well. Jonathan Clements, you rock! Thank you for taking me on and believing in me.

7.  I moved three times in 12 months. And not just across the street or around the corner. Two moves were across the country. One to New Mexico. One back to the East Coast. The third is almost here ... in January, we'll be heading to South Carolina again.

8. God blessed my editing business and revealed to me that I have a call to be an encourager. I'm thankful for that gift, as it brings me great joy to see others find hope or discover an idea within themselves as God reveals what they need to me.

9. God provided every cent my family needed to do what we needed to do this year.

10. I was published in two different compilations/devotionals: God's Provision in Tough Times and Refreshing Wind.

11. God answered many prayers for healing, blessing, and my personal request to be able to live close to one of my very best friends and my writing mentor, who is also a dear friend.

12. God healed my father from Kidney cancer.

13. I had three authors that I edited win awards for their writing, which I edited. I had a fourth author hit #1 in a category on amazon for her novel that I edited. God has an amazing way of showing us that we are able to do what He has called us to do. I felt like a proud mama hen showing off her chicks. Go Pastor Chip, Cyle, Judy, and Elaine! Whoot!

So, there's my list of thirteen things I've accomplished or God has done in my 2013. I'd love to hear about yours. Either list them in a comment below, or share your link to your blog post about them. Let's find encouragement together in knowing God is for us! Here's to a blessed 2014!

{Minute Meditation} Redemption's Cost

Why should I fear in the days of evil,

When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

Those who trust in their wealth

And boast in the multitude of their riches,

None of then can by any means redeem his brother,

Nor give to God a ransom for him-

For the redemption of their souls is costly,

And it shall cease forever-

That he should continue to live eternally,

And not see the Pit.

- Psalm 49:5-9 (Emphasis mine)

Let's be Honest
I think most of us - if not all of us -  could say that we wish we had a million dollars so we could save the world. We could donate to this charity or that. We could pay off a family member's debt (and our own). We could buy tons of canned goods or toys to hand out to the needy at Christmas time. If only ... we could do so much.

We'd also give God the world to save our loved ones. As if we had the power to do so. Maybe if we love on our unsaved spouses, fathers, mothers, friends just a little harder, a little more, we would see them accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If we served. If we prayed an extra hour today. If we pushed ... invited them to church again.

You're Not My Savior
As I read this week, the verses above jumped off the page at me. God is not looking for a bribe. He's not looking for a ransom. He's not looking for an excuse to give us eternal life upon our deathbed. He has wanted to do so since the beginning of time, when the Word was with God, and the Word was God. We cannot save our brothers and sisters, neighbors, and friends. It's not in our power to do so. No. Only God can save a man. Only God paid the ransom for our iniquities through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Get Out of God's Way
We must remove our Savior mentality and allow God to work in the hearts of our loved ones. Yes, love them with the love of Jesus. Remember that love is gentle, kind, and full of grace. Yes, pray fervently. For the prayer of a righteous man avails much. And yes, invite them to go to church, but don't force their hand. No one likes a pushy Christian who has all the answers to life's dillemas.

You're Not My Provider
Ultimately, it's God who owns the name Jehovah Jireh. It's God who provides even our basic needs. It's God who has blessed us with careers, income, and the ability to give. It's God who puts the food on our tables every day and provides the funds to sponsor that child in Honduras. It would be a true blessing if He poured an abundance of money into our bank account this year. But money isn't the heart issue.

Seek First the Kingdom of God
The question we must ask ourselves is whether or not we are seeking first the kingdom of God, because then all these things will be added unto us. After all, our bank account isn't going to heaven with us. And the next generation may make unwise choices with their financial inheritance. What is important is the treasure we can take to heaven with us. Did we feed those who hungered for the Word of God? Did we live as an epistle that proclaimed the love of Jesus? Did we share our testimony of God's goodness and mercy following us every day of our lives? What eternal inheritance are we leaving behind?

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, let's remember the cost of our redemption. And praise God He was willing to pay the price. Because He loves us so much.

And remember, to Jesus you were worth it all ...

A Book Review ~ Singularity by Steven James

You'll hold your breath through the pages of Steven James' latest thriller in the Jevin Banks series, Singularity.

I was hesitant to read Singularity, because the first book in the series, Placebo, was a little heady for me and not as fast-paced a read as I'd hoped for. Not so with this one. From page one James had me hooked, holding my breath along with his characters (escape artists), and flipping pages. Throughout the novel I waited for the bad guy to cross paths with the good guy and for Jevin to have to escape a situation he may not get out of alive. This is definitely an edge-of-your-seat read.

My biggest concern with Placebo was the amount of information Steven James shared, which continually pulled me from my fictional dream and slowed the read. In this novel, when James must share information to let the reader in on the magician's ability to deceive his audience or to show us exactly what that robotic equipment is capable of doing, it didn't come across as an info dump or snap me out of my fictional dream.

I think he's found his groove and cannot wait for the next novel in the Jevin Banks series to release.

To get your copy, please visit one of the bookseller below:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
CBD

To read my review of Placebo, visit here: Placebo Review

A Book Review ~ Memory's Door by James L. Rubart

 Taking a line from James L. Rubart's latest novel, "That was a ride on the far side of extreme." Memory's Door had me pinned to my seat as I flew through the novel.


The sequel to Soul's Gate, Memory's Door is a journey into battling the spirit of religion that reigns in today's society. But that isn't where it ends. Underneath is the story of forgiveness. And this is the part that touched me the deepest.

I'm a self-proclaimed perfectionist. I like to do things right. I like it when others do things right. And I grit my teeth when I make mistakes or fail. When my sin nature rules, my flesh strong and spirit weak. Which brings me to my personal struggle with forgiving. Sure, I can easily forgive another. It's myself I have the hard time forgiving. Because I know I could have done it better. Because I know the hurt or inconvenience my mistakes have caused others. Because I want to be better than I am. I don't want to accept my human flaws. I want to be more like Jesus.

Page 300 of Memory's Door is my favorite.

"It didn't make sense. Why wasn't Jesus showing him? There was nothing to see. Nothing to see. Nothing." 

Marcus is realizing that God wipes away our sin. Forgiven. Nothing remains. Only Jesus. I cried as I read this on an airplane, stuck between two passengers. Nowhere to hide as I wiped my cheeks with the cuff of my sweatshirt sleeve. It takes a good writer to make me cry while I'm reading a book. I think this is only the second time it's happened to me.

Memory's Door isn't just a novel. It's a call to live free. Free from the condemnation of the enemy, who would have us bound tight and unable to fight for the kingdom of God if he could. It's a call to free ourselves from the mistakes of our past, to have no regrets, and to learn to forgive ourselves as Jesus Christ has forgiven us.

I highly recommend Jim's novels. Every one of them has something significant to say about our spiritual well-being, about the choices we make every day. Memory's Door is now my second favorite. Please read it. It won't disappoint you.

You can obtain a copy of Memory's Door {here}.

PS - That first book that made me cry was Gina Holmes' Crossing Oceans. And my still-all-time-favorite novel of Jim's is Rooms.