When I Write, I Feel His Smile by Elizabeth Goddard

Posted on October 7, 2017 by bethrachg

Recently, I was getting ready for church, staring at my makeup mirror to paint my face, listening to worship music. One particular song opened up my soul and inspired my heart with great love and adoration for Him–worship in its truest form. I can’t ever truly show Him how much I love him–but He knows, and it’s not nearly as much as He loves me.

I found myself wishing I could sing like the woman belting out the notes in the worship song. I’ve always wished I could sing and be part of a worship band. I pictured myself singing to the Lord.

At that moment, I knew I had His ear, so I asked Him, “Why didn’t you make me a singer, Lord? I would be singing about you and to you constantly. All the time I’d be worshipping you. For that matter, why didn’t you make me a dancer? I’d love to dance for you.”

A voice like a gentle breeze blew across my heart. “I made you a writer.”

Oh my.

Of course. Of course you made me a writer and I AM writing about you all the time. You made me a prolific writer. I can’t describe the joy that filled my heart. A renewed sense that I’m right where I’m supposed to be in Him, and He is using me for His purposes. There is no greater pleasure than that.

I finished getting ready and headed over to the church. (We live in a parsonage next door) Snatched up a devotional booklet–admittedly something I never do. As I sat in the pew, I thought about how I never read those devotionals so there must be something in there for me today since I grabbed one. I turned to the dated devotional and sure enough, I found these words. “My writing is a form of worship.”

Leave it to the Lord to confirm His words to me.

God: I made you a writer . . .

Me: I can feel you smile when I write . . .

Remember, friend, God made you for a purpose. There’s no greater joy than fulfilling His purposes.

Some of you can remember the inspiring movie, Chariots of Fire–the story of runner Eric Liddell who ran for the glory of God.

He said this, “When I run, I feel his Pleasure.”

Watch the clip and be inspired.

Elizabeth Goddard is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than thirty romantic suspense novels and counting.

Read her latest release, Double Exposure. Double Exposure Final “You will feel God working throughout this whole book.” — Amazon Reviewer

Posted in Elizabeth Goddard, Uncategorized | Tagged Chariots of Fire, Christian fiction, inspiration, romantic suspense, Worship | Leave a comment

Oh, Those Bridges

Posted on October 6, 2017 by judithmccoymiller

Along with my daughter, I made a trip to northern Iowa to visit family. I’ve traveled I-35 South many a time coming home from the Amana Colonies. On each of my many trips, I’ve seen the signs to stop and visit the Bridges of Madison County as well as the John Wayne home in Winterset, Iowa. Until yesterday, I’d never taken the time to stop. And though cloudy, the sun popped out often enough that I thought the forecasters were wrong about those terrible thunderstorms they had promised and I didn’t worry too much about racing toward home. When the exit number appeared, we turned off and didn’t have to go far before we caught sight of the first covered bridge. It’s called the Imes Bridge and was constructed in 1870 and it is situated at the outskirts of St. Charles, Iowa.

We stopped at the old Presbyterian Church which is now a visitor center and picked up a map in order to locate the remaining five bridges. Now, for those of you who know me, that map was pretty useless. And I have to tell you—my daughter has inherited my sense of direction which means we both get lost trying to fight our way out of a paper bag. Still, we felt adventurous and, map in hand, drove down the highway while scoffing at the fellow who’d told us it would take a couple of hours to visit all six covered bridges. A couple of hours? We giggled and agreed it couldn’t take more than forty-five minutes—an hour at most.

On our way to Winterset, we missed the turnoff for the Holliwell Covered Bridge, but vowed we’d catch it on the way back. (Needless to say, we never found that road again). We finally drove into Winterset where one of the bridges was supposedly located in a park. When we didn’t immediately find it after circling the town several times, we stopped for a photo-op at the John Wayne statue and also took a picture of his home. Once again, we circled the town and then decided to stop and asked directions—the map was no help. Soon we arrived at the park and located the Cutler-Donahoe Bridge which was constructed in 1870 (same as the Imes). While there, we saw a sign pointing up a road to “Clark’s Tower or King’s Castle.” Need I say more? We couldn’t pass up a castle.

The road was narrow, winding and far higher than we’d anticipated, but we finally made it. Although a bit small to be called a castle, we were impressed to find it sitting up there all by itself and both of us climbed to the top of the tower for a look around. With trees in bloom during the spring or fall, I’m sure the view is amazing. Once we made the downward ascent, we stopped at the Cedar Bridge, since it’s the only one you can actually drive through. Although it was constructed in 1883, it was destroyed by arson in 2002 and a replica was dedicated on October 9, 2004.

By this time, we’d used up more than two hours and decided our scoffing had been misplaced. We also decided we weren’t going to make it to the remaining three bridges. We didn’t see Roseman Bridge which was the bridge used in the movie, The Bridges of Madison County, but we get a picture of the rock bridge that was in the film. After stopping at a grocery store for yet more directions on how to get back to the highway, we headed off to I-35. You’ll remember I mentioned thunderstorms had been forecast. Well, we ran straight into a horrific thunderstorm. I couldn’t see a car length in front of me for a period of time, and then we were held up in traffic TWO times due to accidents. It was a very long trip home, but I’m glad we took time to visit the bridges and take pictures with “The Duke.”

May you find joy as you take time to experience a piece of history and the beauty of God’s creation. ~Judy

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Bring your Bible…and your Faith

Posted on October 5, 2017 by Louise M. Gouge

Old Bible Today is Bring Your Bible to School Day. Sponsored by Focus on the Family, this movement began in 2014 with eight thousand students. Last year 356,000 students participated. At their website, www.Bringyourbible.org, parents and students can learn how to join in, how students and teachers can legally share their faith, and how they can let their light shine in this dark world. According to the commercial I just saw on television, the theme song for the day is “This light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” The website also has helpful, fun videos to emphasize the movement.

The courageous young Christians who participate today and who carry their Light every day give me hope for the future of our nation and our world. In today’s anti-Christian culture, I recall that it sure was easier to be a “public” Christian when I was in school a hundred years ago. (Just kidding. It was only 55 years ago.)

As I considered and prayed for today’s event, I realized how the principles the participants champion should also apply to my writing life. But we fiction writers work alone for the most part, so how can I let my light shine as I sit here by myself in my office at home? Here’s an idea:

John Jakes, bestselling author of North and South, says: “Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.”

So, who am I? What do I believe? As a Christian, I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and only Savior of the world (the “world” includes me). Psalm 27 says, “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?”

Therefore, according to Jakes’s principle, I should create my stories with the purpose of showing readers how the Lord Jesus Christ can become their Light. Through faith in Him, I have eternal life in heaven, and I have found peace and contentment in the here and now. Now I want to share my faith with others through my writing.

Does that mean that my stories should be filled with characters who preach the Gospel in every other paragraph? Who speak “christianeze,” terms that only churchgoers find familiar? Probably not. Anything that sounds like “my way is better than your way” isn’t going to win anyone to Christ, and it certainly isn’t going to win any fans to my work. No soul is ever saved through beating a person over the head with a Bible. Like the students who are carrying their Bibles to school today, I need be real. I need to speak naturally through my written words, through my characters, to show my readers that Jesus is real and relevant today.

Author Cheryl St. John once told me, “The whole faith element comes completely through my characters’ viewpoints, behaviors, their beliefs and faith, and their trust in God.” Best-selling author DiAnn Mills says, “Inspirational writing is more about the writer than the book content: you can take the christianeze out of the story, but you can’t take the Christian out of the writer.”

The old writers’ adage, “Show, don’t tell,” can apply to both students living their lives before their classmates and writers who infuse their stories with who they are.

Today I pray for Christian students across this country to have the courage to carry their Bibles to school and to live their faith before their teachers and fellow students. Today as I begin work on my next book, I pray that my words and stories will show people that a life lived with Jesus Christ is the best life possible for now and for eternity.

CLCR Cover In my current release, Cowboy Lawman’s Christmas Reunion, Justice Gareau tries to live his Christian faith before his former fiancee, despite the heartache she caused him.

Sheriff Justice Gareau can make outlaws quake in their boots…yet coming face-to-face with Evangeline Benoit once again takes away all his composure. She broke their engagement, and his heart, to marry a wealthy older man. Despite his reluctance, Justice can’t avoid the widowed single mother of two when they’re collaborating on a Christmas village for the town’s children.

The loving boy Evangeline once knew has become an unyielding lawman. Forced to flee New Orleans over false allegations, Evie doubts Justice will take her side when the past follows her to Colorado. Especially when he and her troublesome son butt heads. But perhaps the spirit of Christmas will soften his heart and give them a second chance at love.

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Burned Lawns by Julie Arduini

Posted on October 4, 2017 by juliearduini

Of all the weather events happening across the country, I know higher than usual temps and a sudden stop to rain isn’t a big deal. However, across northeast Ohio, autumn weather has looked more like summer. In September, there were 11 days that were above average, and I think three were in the 90’s. None of those days had rain.

Where I live, it’s known for the cloud cover. I heard during WWII the area was used for military maneuvers because our weather mimics where planes were headed. To have sun is not only a welcome sight, but a rare one.

To bring the scenario even closer, we live in a development where many residents have companies come in to do their lawn. These are doctors, lawyers, business owners and retirees who are not able to mow and handle landscaping, so they hire it out. We have a son that does a remarkable job, so we rely on him.

I noticed this week one thing about every yard in the development.

All the lawns are burned. In front yards where the sun hits, there is no green grass. It’s a brown, and straw-like. It’s in our yard, it’s in the doctor’s yard. Dead grass covers the retiree’s front lawn just as it does the teacher’s. There’s no escape.

That got me thinking. The sun took a toll, and it didn’t matter the title of the homeowner, their job, or how much they make a year. The wealthiest appearing homeowner has burned grass as much as any other home. There was no sparing or distinction.

blue-682775_960_720 When I talk to people or write about Jesus, I make sure everyone understands the sentiment is the same. It doesn’t matter how big the check is we write to charity or how many senior citizens we helped cross the street. It doesn’t matter if you go to church and it is the Main Street Baptist or Main Street Pentecostal. There is one criteria for heaven’s entry.

Do you know Jesus?

When I teach kids or teens, I remind them it isn’t a “know” like they know Ariana Grande or the latest YouTube star. They are aware of those people, but truly do not have a relationship with them. I teach the teens that they need to invite Jesus into their life as a friend. Friends interact. Friends want to know more about each other. Friends are relational.

I’m a visual person and one scene I picture time and time again is a heavenly banquet with Jesus as the guest of honor. I imagine who might sit next to me. Thing is, the Holy Spirit reminded me I will be surprised. It isn’t always the “pretty” people who will be dining with their Savior. The example that often comes to mind is Ted Bundy.

Before his execution, Ted had an interview with Dr. Dobson from Focus on the Family. He shared that his evil acts started with a porn addiction and escalated. He also professed a personal faith in Christ. Now, I’m sure inmates pull that card a lot with no authenticity. But I remember reading that Dr. Dobson found his “walk matched the talk.” If true, Ted could be my banquet neighbor.

The same serial killer has a ticket to heaven as I do for lying and whatever other sins I’ve confessed. Just like the grass after a rain in our development, God’s grace doesn’t just hit one yard. Everyone who calls on His name receives God’s forgiveness and relationship through His Son. And like the blistering sun killing our grass, we all have to answer for that relationship or lack of.

Heavy topic, and I’m certainly not a master in evangelism, but I hope you hear my heart for you today. You know the bad news out there, and I don’t need to tell you things are escalating. I’m not promised tomorrow, and neither are you. If you aren’t sure what your eternal destination were to be if this was your last day, I beg you to ask Jesus into your daily life.

Would you like to know more? Click HERE, or, feel free to contact any of us here at Christians Read. You can find me throughout social media @JulieArduini, or at juliearduini@juliearduini.com

Posted in Julie Arduini, Uncategorized | Tagged burned grass, evangelism, God's grace, Julie Arduini, last days, observation, peace with God, salvation, weather | 2 Comments

Being an author can be scary

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Author Mary Alford

Criminal with Knife

How many people can say they kill people for a living and get away with it? Well, if you’re a suspense writer, you can. The ability to make up dangerous situations and then throw your main characters headfirst into the action, is both fun and a little scary.

I tell my husband all the time that I hope no one ever takes a serious look at my computer history. They’d see such things as what is the name of a fast acting poison? What’s the best long range weapon for a sniper? What type explosives can bring down a building? Research for writing suspense can take you to some strange places.

Journalism.

And yes, all those things are scary to think about, but there are other parts of writing that are equally frightening. Like sitting down to a blank screen and writing…something. There’s nothing more exciting or daunting than typing those first few words of a book, or trudging through the middle of a story when you’re really not sure where things are going, then finally limping battered and bruised across the finish line to be able to write, “the end”.

Then, just when you think your heart couldn’t possibly take any more excitement, it’s time for the edits. That in itself can be scary because most times your editor is asking you to stretch yourself as a writer in order to make your story the best it can possibly be.

With the edits finished, you can relax, right? Wrong. The book is ready to be released, but what if no one likes it? Just because you wrote it, agonized over every single word in it, doesn’t mean the reader will have the same reaction you did.

So you see, writing can be scary, but let me just say, I wouldn’t trade a second of the terror, the rollercoaster ride of emotion, or the nail biting moments of doubts, for anything else. Because it is a true blessing to be able to say I am an author, scary or not.

framed for murder cover 1

FALSELY ACCUSED

Framed for helping her partner smuggle guns—and then murdering him—CIA agent Liz Ramirez must find the evidence that will prove her innocence…before she’s caught or killed. So when her squad’s leader attempts to bring her in for questioning, she knows her future depends on convincing Aaron Foster to go rogue and help her. On the run from the rest of her team and the gun dealers who are convinced she knows the location of their missing weapons, Liz risks losing the proof that would clear her name. But will eluding her pursuers—and trying not to fall for the handsome commander—prove to be fatal?

Framed For Murder- available now at Amazon.

All the best…

Mary Alford

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The Las Vegas Massacre

Posted on October 2, 2017 by Vicki Hinze

Last night, 59 people died and over 515 were injured in a terrorist attack in Las Vegas. Hospitals are overwhelmed, first responders are overwhelmed and people there and distant observers are overwhelmed.

Bodies are still being removed, and some are already engaging in political comments. Calls for gun control. Speculation that this attack was against country music so likely Trump supporters, and the poster hoped only “Trumpatards” were shot. Even people who wanted to be leaders like Hillary Clinton, chimed in not with condolences but with talk of imagining the result if the shooter had used a silencer. She meant a suppressor, but everyone knew what she meant. That’s not the point.

My reaction was that the first poster, about the ones shot, who incidentally is a teacher, has lost her humanity. My reaction to Mrs. Clinton’s post was that just once I wish she wouldn’t engage politically but as a human being.

There’ll be a time and place for political discussions. This isn’t it. Loved ones are trying to get in touch with family and friends to see if they’re safe. Others at a distance are phoning 800 numbers talking to coroners, praying their family members aren’t in the morgue. Phoning hospitals, hoping to find to that any injuries to their family and friends are minor and they’ll recover.

This is the time to come together as Americans and support these victims, their families and friends, and the survivors, many of whom crawled and ran for their lives. The shock is deep. The pain fresh. The wounds inside raw.

No one is foolish enough to think random shooting into a crowd of thousands was aimed at people of this or that political persuasion. Bullets don’t think. When shot, they kill, wound, maim whatever and whomever they hit. We’ll find out why this happened later, after the investigations are done. We’ll examine events and act accordingly.

But for today, keep political nonsense out of it. No matter how well-intentioned, it is an unwelcome intruder. Today, we are focused on shattered lives and shattered hearts. We’re focused on comforting and consoling, on compassion. On prayer for those lost and for those who remain.

And if you can’t do that, if you must discuss politics today, then be prepared for a ferocious backlash. Because our collective outrage is strong, our fuses short, and our patience shot.

Today, there is only the emotional tidal wave that surges and swamps us when a vile and violent wrong has been committed against anyone. Today, we are acutely aware of the worst and the best in us. We’ve witnessed merciless acts against our people. Merciful acts in the heroes, professional and everyday people, rising to respond to the needs of others before them. And all we have witnessed is the one thing that unites us and supercedes all else. It is in control today.

That one thing is, our humanity.

May God bless, comfort and console, granting us and our nation the wisdom and strength required to heal.

Vicki Hinze

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Posted in Vicki Hinze | Tagged Christians Read, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Massacre, terrorist attack, Vicki Hinze | 3 Comments

Commitment – Too Little or Too Much? By Marilyn Turk

Posted on September 30, 2017 by pathwaysoftheheart

Commitment – Definition: 1) Something that takes up time or energy, especially an obligation 2) loyalty, devotion or dedication to a cause, person or relationship 3) a promise, pledge or vow.

I have this thing about commitment. I’ve always believed that if you make a commitment, you are obligated to keep it. Whether it’s a promise to a person or a job, I feel it should be kept.

I’m not sure when I became so convicted about this word, but maybe it was when I worked for Kraft Foods and learned the founder, J.L. Kraft’s motto was “What we say do, we do do.” As a loyal employee, I devoted myself to that motto and being a person of my word.

The concept of commitment was further emphasized when my son played soccer. If players on his team failed to show up for a game, the rest of the players had to play twice as hard without any rest, which was not only unfair, but hurt the entire team’s chances.

And don’t get me started on lack of commitment in marriage and family relationships. Some people avoid the “big C word” like the plague.

One practice my former employer warned us about was overcommitting and under-delivering. In other words, don’t make promises to customers you can’t keep, no matter how good your intentions are.

Sometimes in life we accidentally overcommit for various reasons. We want to please others, we want to prove we can do something, or we’re afraid to say “no.” Overachievers are usually over-committers too. They think they can do anything and everything – the Superman identity. I know about this because I am one. And because I am, I have accomplished many things.

However, the same over-commitment can lead to burn-out, fatigue or stress. The same tendency can occur in the writing world. Sometimes I’ve taken on too many projects. A writer’s job is no longer just writing. A writer is expected to participate in various forms of social media – Facebook, Twitter, blogging, and email, to name a few.

All this takes time, and if a writer has family obligations, the time allotment is even more difficult to find. Trying to do everything can take time away from the main thing, the first priority, which is to write. Some authors have found a way to handle these commitments efficiently, but for others like me, just the prospect of doing all those things makes me feel stressed. And if I’ve committed to do something and I can’t deliver, then I feel like a failure.

It takes trial and error to find one’s limits, but the reality is that we all have limits. Once we find them, we can say “no” to those things that take time away from the main thing, writing, and not risk under-delivering to anyone.

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Posted in Marilyn Turk, Uncategorized | Tagged commitment, marketing, overcommitingm time management, writing | Leave a comment

Our Schools Are Changing by Margaret Daley

Posted on September 28, 2017 by margaretdaley50

Our Schools Are Changing

By Margaret Daley

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In my The Men of Texas Rangers Series I have dealt with several issues facing our teenagers today from prescription drug abuse to bullying. I taught secondary level school for twenty-seven years and over those years I’ve seen a lot of changes occur.

Today our children are facing so much more than my generation in the 1960s. There was one year while I was teaching when a string of students committed suicide. It rocked the school and many had a hard time dealing with the emotions from a friend taking his own life.

On top of that bullying seems to be on the rise as well as teens planning and going through with killing fellow classmates and teachers at school. I never once thought when I went to school as a kid that someone could pull a gun out and start shooting. As a child, we would prepare for a tornado and fire emergency. Now schools also prepare for an intruder on campus and what to do in that kind of situation. We had several intruders on campus over the last years I was teaching. Scary.

When I was a teenager, alcohol was what some would abuse. Now it is drugs—illegal like cocaine and prescription—as well as alcohol and anything else that will give them a high. When I was doing research on prescription drug abuse, the law enforcement officer who was helping me described what a pill party is (it may be called something different in your part of the country). I couldn’t believe some people, often teens, would put different prescription drugs into a large bowl and take some randomly with no regard to what they were ingesting.

Our kids are growing up so fast, exposed to a lot of graphic violence and sex. The schools are demanding more and more academically from our children. All students must perform at a certain level whether they are ready or not. Algebra is being taught much earlier. What we learned in first and second grade is being taught in kindergarten. Then add the pressure they must pass state mandated tests in order to pass on to the next level, and the students today are carrying a lot on their shoulders.

Our children are the future. What are you seeing where you live? What do you think we should do to make the situation better?

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Difficult Decisions

Posted on September 27, 2017 by Maureen Lang

My family and I have just come out of one of those difficult decision seasons. As many of you know, my oldest son has a condition called Fragile X Syndrome. It’s a spectrum disorder, meaning it can result in anywhere from mild to severe cognitive limitations. Unfortunately, my son’s limitations are severe if you believe the paperwork that has followed him throughout his life. Tests and evaluations, assessments and IEPs. On paper, my son’s development is in the severe to profound range, developmentally not much more than a toddler.

But in person? He’s gentle and easy going. True, he doesn’t interact much—okay, virtually not at all—but he does understand more than what any test can reveal. I always describe him as the purest form of self-centeredness without a trace of malice. Please don’t confuse his self-centeredness with selfishness. The latter can demand a certain amount of gain whether it’s necessary or not. My son’s world revolves around his needs. While it’s true he doesn’t notice the needs of others, the upside is he wouldn’t dream of taking something from someone out of jealousy or selfishness. He might, however, take the pizza off of your plate if his own pizza is gone. Not to deprive you but to satisfy his need.

Those needs are basic. Food, simple entertainment, comfortable environment. As long as these needs are fed, he doesn’t really care who is meeting them.

I always used to say I would have my son with me until I die. He’s my son, my responsibility. But a long time ago another Fragile X mom asked me if I wanted my son to lose everything all at once—his caregiver (me), his home, his lifestyle, etc. Wouldn’t it be easier on both of you, she asked, if you had a part in the decision of where he’ll live after you’re gone?

I’ve never claimed to be the sharpest pencil in the box, but I can recognize good advice when I hear it. While my son was in school they offered tours of various day programs and residential facilities for disabled adults, and I visited many over the years both with tours and on my own. Some seemed better funded or better managed than others, some wouldn’t take anyone as severely handicapped as my son; some were for medically fragile individuals, others for specific faith communities. Some were too large, others too small.

I did, however, find two places that seemed possibilities. One close to home and another about forty-five minutes away. The thought of my son living elsewhere, however, still made me more than a little uneasy. I’m really good at worrying, even though my ultimate trust is with God. But I know how hard this fallen world can be on a person, and I wanted to protect my son as long as possible.

But after talking to other parents and other people who work in the residential industry, I came to realize the older my son gets, the harder it will be for him to adjust. We were already in a period of change after school ended last year. Every summer he attended the same recreational day camp, then a week away at another camp, a few weeks home and free before school started up again. I thought it might be best, if we were serious about a residential facility, to make the change in the fall when he would have gone to school.

Ultimately we decided on the facility closest to home, but I have to admit it was still a decision I lost sleep over. This is my son, and no one will take care of him the way I do. This is true, but not very practical to continue long term. As I age, it’s not getting any easier to see to his needs; I knew I needed help. So as I continued praying about the decision, I asked God for some word of encouragement, some sort of simple sign that I’d chosen the right place, the right time, the right decision overall.

So when the Work and Activities director associated with this particular residential facility said something to me, it brought the peace I was looking for. She said: I know there is one question running through your mind right now, and I want you to change two little words. When you ask yourself, “Am I doing the right thing?” I want you to say, “I am doing the right thing.”

Sometimes the hardest decisions are made easier by an encouraging word.

It’s been a few weeks since he moved, and my son seems to be adjusting well. I can tell he’s been accepted by both the other residents and the staff. We bring him home on Wednesdays and weekends, and to be honest that’s to help me as much as to help him with the transition. So far, this newly empty nest has felt a little unreal. Free time isn’t something I’m used to, and I’m not yet sure how to fill it. By writing, I hope, that’s how God has directed my time before. But things will need to settle into a new routine before that happens, because as usual when real life takes an emotional toll, as this has, fiction writing takes a back seat.

If you’re in the midst of or will soon be facing a difficult decision, I’m sure you’ll be prompted to pray often. I know I was, at various times of the day or night. But don’t be afraid to ask God specifically for a word of encouragement, of direction. Your word may even come from an unexpected source—I’ll bet Balaam was pretty surprised when his donkey started talking. The point is, God doesn’t want His will to be a secret. He just wants us to ask.

Posted in Maureen Lang | Tagged difficult decisions, handicapped child, residential facilities | 4 Comments

It Takes All Kinds by Hannah Alexander

Posted on September 26, 2017 by alexanderhodde

It was the 60s. It was Southern California. It was an experimental age in which they placed challenged children with gifted children together into a classroom with Mrs. Mankin. She had been a Disney artist before the first Disneyland was ever established, which meant she was creative.

Mrs. Mankin earned the love and trust of her class with her excellent teaching style, helping us act out scenes in history instead of simply reading about them. I never knew how she managed to corral so many children with such varied abilities and backgrounds. I was just one of her students.

I was not raised in a prejudiced home. My friends and neighbors were Jewish, Brazilian, Navajo, Alabamians, Hispanic, German, African American. I had a cousin who was mentally challenged and I loved her. Being in Mrs. Mankin’s class was never uncomfortable for me–okay, at least not most of the time.

During that school year, the children in my class learned how to see each other through different eyes, and it changed everything. They got to know Joe, who was Hispanic, and Heidi, who was fresh from Germany, or Dewey, who was negro (yes, that’s what African American’s called themselves then.) Dewey’s family had left Los Angeles to avoid the race wars. We all learned to be patient with Billy and Cody, who had different stages of Down’s Syndrome. Billy was in love with me and he followed me everywhere–even into the girls bathroom. My best friend, David, had to help distract him at recess.

And then there was David’s situation. His parents were told one day that he was retarded. Yes, that was the term used at the time. He didn’t take it well and neither did I. Yes, he was different from the other children–or rather, he would have been different if he’d been anywhere but Mrs. Mankin’s class. He didn’t learn the same way other children our age were expected to learn and so they decided he was “retarded.” The term of the day. I knew better. Later, after his family moved with him to another town, it was discovered that he had an IQ of 150. He simply had dyslexia. He recently retired as a department director at one of the top technical universities in the world.

Sometimes it takes a lot of creativity to learn to live in sync with personalities all across the spectrum, interact with different nationalities, appreciate the input from people who have higher or lower IQs than our own. The thing is, when I’m writing a book, if I use the same kind of character in every role or viewpoint, I’m going to lose readers. The differences in characters are what make the novel exciting, just as the differences in humankind make our world an interesting place to live.

It isn’t always comfortable but learning to interact with people from all walks of life can be greatly rewarding. Never forget that God made each of us. He created man in His image. Do yourself the favor Mrs. Mankin did for us: learn to embrace all the different facets that reflect the image of God.

Posted in Hannah Alexander | Tagged be creative, Embrace the differences | Leave a comment

The Big Storm by Tara Randel

Posted on September 25, 2017 by tararandel

Unless you’ve been completely cut off from current events lately, you know Florida weathered a pretty massive hurricane this month. To all my fellow Floridians, you know exactly what I’m going to talk about today.

Even though Irma hit us on a weekend, the lead-up and clean-up have taken a few weeks out of our lives. About a week before the hurricane was forecast to make landfall, Florida went into a state of emergency. Translation: no water, no gas, no plywood. Unless you were fortunate enough to get out before the shopping frenzy, it was pretty tough finding the essentials.

Then the panic set in.

The hurricane came upon us, which was scary, but thanks to so many believers praying, once the storm made landfall, the intensity lessened. Still, lots of folks in south Florida had damage, but when you think about what could have been…well, if you didn’t believe prayer works before that weekend, I hope you do now.

I live in the Tampa Bay area. We were told Irma would be a Cat 3 and the storm surge would flood the area. Praise God, that didn’t happen. We still had high winds that caused damage, along with heavy rain, but the worst never came to pass. Power went out for a good portion of the state, but at least we had a generator so the five days without electricity wasn’t horrible.

Thankfully, we only lost one tree. It got hung up on the power line, which explained the power outage, But again, as I’ve heard folks say over and over for the last two weeks, it could have been worse.

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The week after the storm saw people outside taking care of wind damage. Right now, if you drive through any neighborhood, you’ll see piles of broken tree branches and debris lining the street. I live in a very woodsy area. Many people cut down perfectly healthy trees because the storm had uprooted them.

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So, two weeks later, things are relatively back to normal. Now that the stress has subsided, I’ve had time to reflect on the events and here are some thoughts I’ve come up with.

People are awesome.

Even before the storm when the stores were crowded and tension was high, people were talkative and friendly, despite the fear. I’ve never had as many conversations in the grocery store as I did that week.

People are kind-hearted.

After the storm, we saw neighbors helping others cut down trees and clean up damage. While everyone was much more calm in the aftermath, the conversations in the stores still continued. “How did you do?” “Everyone okay?” “Do you need any help?”

People are helpful.

In just my church alone, people were helping others clean up and then attending to folks who don’t even go to church. It was kingdom ministry at its finest. While there are always stories of thefts and scams after a major weather event like this, I saw the vast majority of people looking out for others, those they knew and those they didn’t, who now became good friends.

People are generous.

Once the storm passed, there were plenty of people who still needed bottled water. I had bought extra, so we gave the cases away to those who had to boil water or still didn’t have power. Many others gave food and even monetary donations to help those who had been impacted by the storm. The giving spirit showed no bounds this month.

I read this story that, as a reader and writer, touched my heart.

A teacher at a local middle school came back to her classroom once the school had cleaned up after being used as an evacuation center. She teaches reading to kids who have difficulty or little interest in books. The white bookshelf in her room, filled with books the students loved, many of them signed by the authors, were gone. Completely gone. To say she was upset and disappointed is an understatement, but like she told her students, “I guess the people who took the books needed them more than we did.”

Once word got out, YA authors offered to send copies of their books. The local library made donations and is placing orders for replacement books. People sent the teacher money or gift cards to rebuild her library. As much as it initially seemed a tragedy, the teacher will likely double or triple the volume of books than before the storm.

Did I mention people are awesome?

The stories go on and on. If you watch the news, you’ve probably heard some of them. My hope is that this wonderful side of human nature carries on long after Irma is a memory. We need to show the world that God’s people love and care about this world we live in. I’ll continue to pray for areas still affected by storms, like Houston and now, Puerto Rico. It’s the very least we can do for those in need.

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Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of fifteen novels. Family values, a bit of mystery and, of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her next Harlequin Heartwarming romance, HIS ONE AND ONLY BRIDE, available January 2018 and her next Christmas Town novella in the holiday collection, HEARTWARMING HOLIDAY WISHES, available October 2017. Visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at Tara Randel Books

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Posted in Tara Randel | Tagged contemporary romance, generosity, hurricane, love, Tara Randel | Leave a comment

Sunday with Guest Author Laura V. Hilton

Posted on September 24, 2017 by Author Mary Alford

Please join me in welcoming guest author Laura V. Hilton to our blog today. Laura us going to tell us a little about how she started writing Christian Fiction.

Laura picture

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a writer. I was a reader from before I started school and it was my dream to someday write my own. I remember one time when I was about seven or eight writing a list of possible titles for my books, and my aunt found it. She asked my mom if it was books I wanted to read, and Mom said, “no, books Laura wants to write. She does that.”

I grew up reading my mom’s collection of Grace Livingstone Hill books, Christy, and a few other older Christian fiction books, but there wasn’t much out there. I discovered romance books as a teen and read them (though I had to smuggle them in once my dad discovered what was included!) and I wanted to write a book that I could devour I could taste it. Then one day I was listening to Christian radio and a speaker said something about how romance books are women’s porn. Oh. Oops. And about that time Janette Oke entered the scene. And the doors to Christian fiction were thrown wide open. I haven’t touched a secular romance since.

I was a Christian from a young age, but it wasn’t until I was diagnosed with breast cancer that I fully surrendered to God. I told Him that I was His and what I write is His. At that point the publisher houses doors opened. And my first book was sold on proposal. It wasn’t written. I prayed my way through it – and every book after that – because I don’t plot or plan out a book. I just write. And the way it comes together from beginning to end is all God.

I learned a lot since then, from reading my favorite authors to edits from the editor to critiques from critique partners. I like to think my writing grew as a result. My fifteenth book has released from Whitaker House. I have one with Barbour, one with Abingdon Press, and two with Celebrate Lit. I self-published four so far. I hope that God plans to use me for a long time to come, because there are a lot of stories still untold.

laura Christmas Admirer

The Christmas Admirer

Benaiah Troyer has loved Susanna King for as long as he can remember, but other than a lone summer filled with romantic buggy rides, marrying her remains an elusive dream. When his parents died in an accident a year ago, he broke up with her—for her own good. After all, they left him as the sole caregiver for his three younger sisters and his grandparents. What woman wants to step into a ready-made family like his? Still, he leaves her monthly gifts from “A Secret Admirer,” hoping she’ll know that someone loves her, even though he isn’t free to step forward.

Susanna has never gotten over losing Benaiah, and hopes he’s her secret admirer, but now the clock is ticking. Susanna’s father is remarrying in January and his wife-to-be doesn’t want to leave her Amish community and family in Iowa. So when Susanna’s daed sells his glass-blowing business to his right-hand man, Benaiah, she’s left with three options: 1) Go with Daed to his new home with a new frau and step-kinner, 2) Flush out her mysterious secret admirer, or 3) Resign herself to life as an old maid. She doesn’t want to follow Daed where his new frau is leading him. And number three isn’t happening. Marrying Benaiah is her greatest desire—but he broke her heart, and now he treats her like a pesky younger sister. Can she make him see her as a woman, one who could stand by his side as he cares for his family?

As Christmas approaches, Susanna and her friends start making gingerbread houses for select members of the community. Susanna plans for hers to go to Benaiah’s family. But while her gingerbread may find a home—will her heart?

About Laura:

Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with almost twenty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs, and writes devotionals for blog posts for Seriously Write and Putting on the New.

Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. One son is in the U.S. Coast Guard. She is a pastor’s wife, and homeschools her two youngest children.

When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading, and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, her favorite holiday is Christmas

http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q

visit my blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/

twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

Purchase my books:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q

CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=laura+hilton&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/laura-hilton?store=allproducts&keyword=laura+hilton

Deeper Shopping http://www.deepershopping.com/index.php?query=laura+hilton&x=0&y=0&module=productsearch&_logmode=Y&querymodule=SPX

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The Gift of Wings

Posted on September 23, 2017 by writinginoverdrive

by Jim Denney

In September 1962, my third-grade class filed into the school library in search of adventure. I found mine right away—a book displayed on the “new arrivals” shelf. It had a blue cover with three children silhouetted against radiating concentric circles.

I grabbed the book and printed my name in the very first line on the pocket card, which meant that I was the first student at John C. Fremont Elementary School to check out A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. It was L’Engle’s first published novel, and it would go on to win many awards, including the prestigious Newbery Medal.

WrinkleInTime

That book had a huge impact on me. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that A Wrinkle in Time helped set the course of my life. I’m a writer today in large part because that novel captured my imagination when I was a boy. I have re-read it many times as an adult.

Every time I read it, I get caught up in the adventure of good versus evil, of children on a quest to save their father, who was lost in time and space. I am always fascinated by those mysterious angelic beings named Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who, and Mrs Which—and the deadly entity known only as IT.

Re-reading the novel as an adult, I’ve been impressed to see how L’Engle seamlessly wove together concepts from quantum physics and the Christian faith. A Wrinkle in Time contains allusions to Isaiah, Psalms, and the New Testament. Mrs Who quotes from 1 Corinthians: “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

The inspiring notion that God is pleased to use foolish, weak creatures like ourselves as His instruments to topple the mighty and powerful also runs through the fantasy of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. And this theme is central to my own Timebenders science-fantasy series for young readers.

My own childhood experience tells me that children internalize lessons from inspiring fiction. Kids identify with their storybook heroes. While immersed in the tale, they become the heroes, experiencing the story (and learning its lessons) at a deep emotional and spiritual level. They learn to stretch their faith, test their courage, and deepen their love and empathy for others.

The poet Emily Dickinson understood the impact children’s literature has on the soul of a child. In her poem “1593,” she called this effect a “bequest of wings” that enables young spirits to soar:

He ate and drank the precious Words—
His Spirit grew robust—
He knew no more than that he was poor,
Nor that his frame was Dust—
He danced along the dingy Days
And this Bequest of Wings
Was but a Book— What Liberty
A loosened Spirit brings!

[Emily Dickinson, “1593,” in Helen Vendler, editor, Dickinson: Selected Poems and Commentaries (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2010), 498.]

Whenever you read to a child, you bequeath the gift of wings. When you give a child a book to read, you enable your child to soar.

___________________________________

Note: Battle Before Time, the first book in my newly revised and updated Timebenders series for young readers, will be released soon. When links are available for the paperback and ebook editions, I will post them here. Thanks! —J.D.

Posted in Jim Denney, Uncategorized | Tagged A Wrinkle in Time, children, children's books, Emily Dickinson, fantasy, fiction, KidLit, Madelein L'Engle, reading, Science Fiction, Timebenders | 1 Comment

In the Mood for Something Different? by Lyn Cote

Posted on September 22, 2017 by Lyn Cote

Are you in the mood for a bit of Christmas? Or will you be?

Lyn Cote here-I’m so happy to be joining the other amazing authors here at Christian Reads! And I’m excited about a new project. I am participating in a boxed set with 14 Christmas novellas, a mix of wholesome sweet romances and some inspirational by 14 authors.

Right now it’s at the introductory price of 99 cents. The set, Sweet Christmas Kisses 4, contains quite a mix of authors. Here are a few:

Beate Boeker, a German author who loves to set romances in Italy
Roxanne Rustand who writes about Montana and handsome veterinarians
Jean C Gordon who writes about love and motocros
And ten more authors!

If you’re interested, here are the buy links:

Kindle: http://a.co/9TxNMzz
Nook: http://bit.ly/2g8xyO8
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2xgU0sG
Google: http://bit.ly/2viH7g4

Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/ book/id1285643154

In this boxed set, my novella is “Loving Winter.”

Here’s the scoop: At her cousin’s wedding, Winter Woodard, owner of her family’s nursery, isn’t expecting to meet her match in local football coach, Clay Dixon, (she isn’t into sports!) but he stands by her through a holiday season fraught with unexpected setbacks.

This novella is connected to my Northern Intrigue series, set in Steadfast, Wisconsin-a town whose people

and mysteries you may never forget~

BTW, the first book in the series, Winter’s Secret, is free.
So why not give a boxed set a try? What a deal–99 cents for 14 sweet or inspirational romance novellas!

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED ONE OF THESE BOXED SETS? DID YOU ENJOY IT? SHOULD I PARTICIPATE IN ONE NEXT YEAR? I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME FEEDBACK. THANKS!–Lyn Cote

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Posted in Lyn Cote, Uncategorized | Tagged Christians Read, Christmas, Christmas book sales, Lyn Cote | Leave a comment

Dealing with Fear by Louise M. Gouge

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Louise M. Gouge

Screen capture from the public domain film “Carnival of Souls.” https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:COS_09.JPG

Louise M. Gouge Deals with Fear…

Not the nervous feelings I would get while waiting for a job interview or the shakiness I used to feel before singing a solo in church. Not even the raw fear of flying that has turned me into a non-flier.

I’m talking about a fear that I didn’t even realize I was experiencing.

It crept quietly into my mind and heart as I watched Hurricane Irma approach my Central Florida home right after Hurricane Harvey had destroyed major parts of Texas, including the homes and possessions of people I actually know. Having been through three hurricanes in a matter of weeks back in 2004, I knew what could come in the way of destruction. This time I was determined not to be afraid. I prayed that I would set a good example for my grandchildren. I quoted my favorite Bible verses – “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee” and “Thou wilt keep him (or her) in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.” I even posted them on Facebook to proclaim my faith that God had everything in His hands.

But as the hurricane drew closer, with the very powerful edge of the eye due to hit our home—at night of course, my mind seemed to go into high alert against my will. While my dear hubby (aka Mr. Cool) was sawing logs, I couldn’t sleep. My pulse pounded, and I’m pretty sure my blood pressure was nearing the stratosphere.

Rats!

I finally had to confess to the truth. I was afraid. Just what I’d vowed, and tried so hard, not to be.

But what was I afraid of? Death? Destruction? Probably. But mainly it was the unknown that frightened me. Would we have tornadoes? Flooding? Snakes in the water? The problem with being a writer is that I’ve always let my imagination go where it would for the sake of story ideas. But this was real life. Scary real life. If I was so afraid, where was my so-called faith?

Like the cancer my husband didn’t know he had last spring, I needed to have my fear diagnosed and let the Great Physician remove it so healing could begin. As I did this, I realized that being afraid was okay. We’d done all we could both physically and spiritually to prepare for the hurricane. I chose to trust the Lord, but I was still quaking in my boots.

And so, today I come to you with my first blog post for CHRISTIANS READ with an honest confession. Taking a page from Julie Arduini’s post from yesterday, I can see that pretending to be fine or, in my case, not frightened by the storm’s uncertainty, is not being real. If nothing else, this experience will make me a better writer. After all, our characters should reflect real life. But I hope it will also help me to ’fess up to me deepest feelings, whatever the situation. I think that will set an even better example for my grandchildren. And it will bring me closer to the Lord.

FYI, we made it through with a minimum of damage, and our hearts go out to those who have truly suffered these storms. As I write this, I’m praying God will help those who are experiencing Hurricane Maria.

Florida author Louise M. Gouge writes historical romance fiction, receiving the prestigious IRCA in 2005 and placing as a finalist in 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2017. When she isn’t writing, she and David, her husband of fifty-plus years, enjoy visiting historical sites and museums. Please visit her Web site at https://louisemgougeauthor.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLouiseMGouge/, Twitter: @Louisemgouge