Sharing Good Books

My goal as a writer is to encourage my readers, so I like to share resources I have found that also encourage them.

Today, I want to give a shout-out to Eva Burkholder, whose book, In Every Moment: Recounting God's Goodness in Overseas Life released in May of this year. 

Eva's book is both a memoir and a devotional relating her experiences as a missionary overseas. If you are thinking about going into missions, or love and support someone who is walking down that path, this book is for you.

One of the stories Eva told in her book was about moving into their apartment close to a mosque in their new country. They were so tired and so she, her husband, and their baby had just got settled in bed for the night when an overwhelming noise woke them all up and their baby started screaming. It was the Muslim's call to prayer over a loudspeaker that seemed to blare into every corner of their apartment. The call to prayer happened five times a day lasting for about 15 minutes at a time, Incredibly, after a while, they did get used to the daily interruption.

I highly recommend reading Eva's book. You will definitely gain specific ways to pray for the missionaries you support.

Also, I want to highlight the Hope-Book authors of the collaborative book, Brave Faith: Trusting God Through Life's Transitions, that launches today. These authors share their hard stories with us letting us know God will show up when we keep trusting in the midst of difficulties.

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As I said in my earlier post, "What are you reading?", writers are readers. Even though I'm busy working to improve my book, I do take time to read, learn and grow.

This is Day 14 of taking my reader along a journey with me as I birth my book. I hope you consider checking in daily to see my progress.

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I write for believers, but if you are not a believer and would like to know more, visit A Ticket Home. to find the way Home.

Sharing at Let's Have Coffee

We need reminding

Do you sometimes forget the good things God has done for you lately? If so, you are not alone.

In my bible study class, we are doing a deep dive in the Gospel of Mark. Something I noticed was how quickly the disciples forgot about Jesus supplying needs. 

In Mark 6:30-44, Jesus feeds the 5,000 (plus women and children) with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Then  in Mark 8:1-9, he feeds another huge crowd, This time, 4,000 men (plus women and children) are fed from 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish.

The time period between these two events is thought to be as little as a couple weeks up to two months apart.

I find it incredible that the disciples seemingly forgot about the feeding of 5,000 in less than 8 weeks time, When Jesus said  He had compassion for the crowd because they'd been with Him so long without eating, the disciples response was:

“How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?” (Mark 8:4)

Duh! You are with Jesus who spoke creation into existence as well as multiplying bread and fish the last time the audience was a humongous crowd.   

Maybe we shouldn't be too hard on the disciples, because I have forgotten plenty of times how God has shown up in the past for me. Haven't you?

Truth is, we need to be reminded often of the goodness of God.

As writers, we must continually get the message of hope out to the world in whatever ways we can because our readers need reminding of God's goodness.

• If you are overwhelmed, there is peace through Christ.
• If you have a prodigal, remember the Great Shepherd will search for that one lost sheep.
• If you are tired of falling in the same pit over and over, the Rescuer, Jesus, will get you out if you ask.

My book is being written to remind you there is no one too far gone for redemption. As long as there is life, there is hope.

This is Day 13 of taking my reader along a journey with me as I birth my book. I hope you consider checking in daily to see my progress.

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I write for believers, but if you are not a believer and would like to know more, visit A Ticket Home. to find the way Home.

Sharing at InstaEncouragements Link-Up

All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy

What are you reading?

Writers are readers. It's a fact.

I've always been a voracious reader even when I was a child. It was my coping mechanism. When life got too much, I would disappear into a good story.

One of the reasons I want to become an author is to write stories that give people hope. Maybe they will pick up something I have written when events have disrupted the flow of their lives.

I want words of truth woven into a good story to be a way the reader can be encouraged when the book is finished and it's time to step back into the real world.

Do you have some favorite authors?

Recently, I read Carrie Watts' book, Crisis of Faith. It was written for young adults but I think everyone can get a message of hope out of it.

Another recent treasure I found is the phenomenally popular, Theo of Golden, by first-time author, Allen Levi. It was a page-turner that was definitely hard for me to put down. I think one of the things I loved most about the book was the individual stories of every person Theo took the time to discover. 

It makes me wonder ... what are the stories of everyone I come across ... and how can I find out?

Do you reach for a good story when something disrupts the way you want things to be?

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This is Day 12 of taking my reader along a journey with me as I birth my book. I hope you consider checking in daily to see my progress.

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I'm also linking this post with the writers at the Five Minute Friday community. Their prompt this week is "disrupt" and I think a good story is the way to fight against disruption when it comes - as it always will.

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I write for believers, but if you are not a believer and would like to know more, visit A Ticket Home. to find the way Home.

Sharing at Sweet Tea & Friends, Five Minute Friday

All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy

Gentle Humor

Do you like stories with gentle humor? I do! I always think using humor gets the point across in the best possible way.

In my work as a fiction author, I'm endeavoring to make my characters relatable. Two of my characters, the mother, Sharon, and the daughter, Morgan, have a long history of verbal abuse. Now that they are both believers in Christ, they are learning to communicate in love. Here is a scene where I tried to incorporate a little everyday humor as Morgan counsels Sharon on confidence:

As we pulled up to the curb in front of the diner, Mom said, "What does a confident demeanor look like?"

"It's all in the mind," I explained. "Just think, "I'm Morgan, a confident and powerful woman. I will be polite; but I am busy; so I don't have time for idle chat." Once you have that mindset in plce, your demeanor will look exactly like that."

"Okay, but I think I will say, 'I am Sharon' instead of Morgan," Mom said with a grin.

Rolling my eyes, I got out of the car, muttering under my breath, "Everyone's a comedian."

"I heard that," Mom said sweetly as she joined me on the sidewalk.

We assumed the position, linked arms, and strolled confidently into Herb's Diner.

Do you feel the world sees you as a confident person? 

As for me, if I know what I'm doing, I feel I look confident; but if I don't, I revert to my natural state of shyness!

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This is Day 11 of taking my reader along a journey with me as I birth my book. I hope you consider checking in daily to see my progress.

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I write for believers, but if you are not a believer and would like to know more, visit A Ticket Home. to find the way Home.

Sharing at Sweet Tea & Friends

All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy

It's contagious!

Do you ever find yourself smiling back because someone smiled at you first?

Today, after a busy morning, I stopped at the drive-thru at a local BBQ place. When I gave my order through the speaker, the voice on the other side just sounded so perky.

When I got to the window to pay and pick up my food, I could tell by the voice that this was the person who had taken my order. She was wearing a huge grin and said, "Hey, I love your shirt."

"Why, thank you!" I found myself grinning right back at her. 

Smiles are contagious. (Also, I always love any compliments on my clothes!)

Seriously, it is hard to be a grump when someone is smiling right at you.

In my novel, the mother, Sharon, has spent a lot of time being a grump because she is bitter.

But she had a true friend, Jamie, who was gentle and loving. Morgan, Sharon's daughter, explains for us what would happen when Jamie came over: 

"The bright spot in the week was when mom's friend, Jamie, would come over and play pinochle with mom on Saturday nights. There'd be pizza, Pepsi and laughter going on. I wouldn't understand the jokes, but just to hear laughter made me giggle, too."

"It was a strange experience to see mom change into a smiling laughing human being. If only she'd act that way when it was just the two of us."

See, even a grump melts when there is laughter. It's contagious!

(Don't worry ... Sharon does get her joy back, eventually.)

Who can you encourage today with a smile or some giggles?

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This is Day 10 of taking my reader along a journey with me as I birth my book. I hope you consider checking in daily (except on Sundays!) to see my progress.

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I write for believers, but if you are not a believer and would like to know more, visit A Ticket Home. to find the way Home.

Sharing at Let's Have Coffee

All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy

Praising the Beauty Maker

Do you love noticing the beauty God has created?

In my fiction work-in-progress, much is made of Grandma Rose's rose garden. Conversations are held here as my characters either sit in the swing hanging from the big maple tree, or perhaps they sit on Rose's inviting bench found at a flea market and heaped with pillows in the shade of Bobby's beautiful blue eyes. There's always citronella candles glowing, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves, and glasses of sweet tea to sip as they share their day. 

Beauty is one way God speaks to us. If He cares so much to create a world of beauty for us to live in, to spark wonder in our lives, doesn't that tell you of His goodness? 

In fact, He made us with five senses in order to fully experience beauty. Sight to delight in all the color; touch to feel the texture of grasses and velvety flowers; taste to experience the tang of citrus, the juicyness of watermelons, the crunch of apples; ears to hear the rustle of leaves and the loving tones of loved ones; and noses to smell the delightful fragrances of roses or bread baking. Who but a good God could come up with such a rich way for us to live in the world?

What do you think is the most beautiful thing God made?

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This is Day 9 of taking my reader along a journey with me as I birth my book. I hope you consider checking in daily to see my progress.

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I write for believers, but if you are not a believer and would like to know more, visit A Ticket Home. to find the way Home.

Sharing at Let's Have Coffee

All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy

Sunset

 

When Morgan, one of the main characters in my novel, was 27 years old, her mother, Sharon, took her on a picnic to the lake for the very first time. 

They were having a wonderful time when suddenly Morgan  thought about her childhood and how sad it was her mother never took her anywhere. She questioned Sharon about her reasons for becoming a recluse.

Soon an argument happened, and both Sharon and Morgan took off in opposite directions to cool down.

After stomping off angrily into a little clearing containing a bench, she plopped down. The atmosphere was so calming with birds cheeping and a breeze rustling the leaves of the bushes and trees. She found herself listening to the Holy Spirit as He dropped thoughts into her brain for her to consider. By the time He was done speaking to her, she had been gone an hour in real-time, but she had also walked awhile in her mother's shoes.

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I based this scene on one of my favorite places to go when I want to hear God's voice, Arrowhead Lake. Being outdoors in the middle of God's creation seems to be conducive for hearing God and thinking thoughts that never occur to you at home!

The picture above was taken just as dusk was beginning to arrive. Because I live over an hour away, and my husband and I try to avoid driving in the dark, this is as close to sunset as I have ever seen it.

The next picture shows how sunset looks at home. Sometimes God shows out and swirls orange and purple up there, too!

The point is, God's creativity in nature helps convince you He has answers for all the areas of life. Anyone who can dream up all this beauty and the way the world works is way smarter than me. I want to listen to Him and see what He has to say.

Do you hear God better outdoors?

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This is Day 8 of taking my reader along a journey with me as I birth my book. I hope you consider checking in daily to see my progress.

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I write for believers, but if you are not a believer and would like to know more, visit A Ticket Home. to find the way Home.

Sharing at Let's Have Coffee

All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy