When You Do It Right and It Turns Out Wrong

Please meet a new friend and prolific author, Rebecca Price Janney. I'm featuring her latest novel on Hope Splashes today, because the story is full of hope in the  midst of troubles. Here's a short synopsis:

What was going on? Erin made key decisions about her future after much prayer and counsel. God even broke through with a rousing forward, march!

            Likewise, Peter jumped into a crisis on the brink of retiring from years of public service. He couldn’t see himself resting before his own hearth when his country needed him.

Why, then, is Erin struggling so hard in her new job? And why is Peter being maliciously slandered and slighted, wounded in battle, and a POW?

            Erin Miles and Peter Kichline are the two main characters in my latest novel, Easton at the Crossroads. They live over 250 years apart in Easton, Pennsylvania, and their lives bear striking parallels. (Peter is Erin’s, recently-discovered, six times great-grandfather.)

In the first book in my Easton Series, they’ve both just lost their spouses. In the second, they’re trying to discern the right path. In the third novel they’re reaping what they’ve sown, but why are there so many thorns? Weren’t there supposed to be roses?

We can relate. When we do what’s right, isn’t life supposed to reciprocate? Shouldn’t we receive a cosmic pat on the back?

Here’s something we don’t necessarily like to hear—God’s highest purpose for us isn’t to make us happy or our lives perfect. He wants us to be holy, like Himself, to fit into His plans for the fulfillment of His kingdom. If we follow all the rules, we won’t necessarily become wealthy, have a nice home, well-behaved children, doting spouses, and rarely need a doctor.

            God doesn’t owe us a smooth ride, even when we do everything we know to be right. Paul followed God’s plan and ended up beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and martyred. Corrie Ten Boom rescued Jews from the Nazis in World War II, and got sent to a concentration camp. Jesus was crucified.

            “In this world you will have tribulation.” Even when you do what is right. God’s purposes aren’t always accomplished on paved roads. Sometimes they happen in the midst of teeth-rattling potholes.

As Erin and Peter learn in Easton at theCrossroads, God can be trusted on bumpy rides without satellite coverage. He uses the stuff of earth, weeds, heartache, the annoying and mean-spirited, to achieve His glorious purposes. 

        Rebecca Price Janney is the author of 21 books including Easton at the Crossroads, the third installment in her Easton Series. She’s also written Harriet Tubman, Great Women in American History, Who Goes There? and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. She speaks at schools, churches, synagogues, libraries, historical societies, civic organizations, and the Daughters of the American Revolution, as well as on radio and TV.

          A native of Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, she’s a graduate of Lafayette College and Princeton Theological Seminary, and received her doctorate from Biblical Seminary. Rebecca invites you to know her heart-warming characters and a town you’ll want to visit again and again. She lives in suburban Philadelphia with her husband, teenage son, and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. 

If you're thinking "Rebecca sounds like a fascinating person," I agree! And if you'd like to connect with her, find her here: ww.rebeccapricejanney.com

To order her new book, go here: Easton at The Crossroads

 

In My Name: A Life-Changing Book

In My Name: Inviting God’s Holy Presence in Daily Situations by Marja Verschoor-Meijers is a must-read for anyone who wants to discover how, as New Testament Christians, the Old Testament Law relates to us. This volume, the seventh in a series about the Ten Commandments in the 21^st Century, focuses on honoring God’s name.  

            “Wait a minute,” you may be thinking. “I thought Jesus did away with the Law when he fulfilled it.”

            Through Scripture the author explains that although Jesus accomplished the purpose for which the Law was given, he did not abolish or delete it. There are ways we can apply the Law in our time, while still following Jesus as born-again believers.   

            I found myself not only thinking of God and his name in new, intimate ways. But the teachings of In My Name  changed the way I pray! Here are a few of my favorite excerpts:

            Page 41: “We need to know His holy name because He is not a faraway impersonal God, He wants to be known!”

           

Page 53: “When Jesus came to earth . . . He carried the presence of God within. . . Jesus is God and He carries the same personal name as revealed early in biblical history. We can read in John 8:58 ‘I am telling you the truth,’ Jesus replied. ‘Before Abraham was born, “I Am.”’ God was present to save, heal, and deliver wherever Jesus went during His earthly travels.”

            Page 67: “When God is present faith replaces fear, joy replaces sadness, healthy replaces sickness, provision replaces lack, and forgiveness replaces guilt. When God is present emptiness gets filled and loneliness gets accompanied.”

            Page 85: “When His name gets proper honor, He will show up. His kingdom will manifest among us and His will be done. When God’s will gets done, He is here! He is present, a piece of His kingdom on earth. Hallelujah!”

The author of In My Name

            Hallelujah indeed, Marja! What can be more exciting than God’s presence in our lives, changing us into His image and helping us accomplish His will? Thank you for writing this life-changing book.

            If you’d like to experience a more vibrant relationship with God by more of  His presence in your life, you can find In My Name by clicking on this title. Then watch the miracles begin as you invite God's presence into your daily life. 

           If you'd like to learn more about Marja, her writings, and her ministry, please visit her website: https://www.marjameijers.com/

Perilous Waters Will Keep You on The Edge of Your Loveseat!

Are you a romance reader? How about suspense? Sandra Orchard, one of my favorite writers, combines the two elements in her newest novel, Perilous Waters.

True to her classy style of suspenseful romance writing, Sandra Orchard has penned another winner. Perilous Waters kept me on the edge of my loveseat as I followed twin sisters Jennifer and Cassandra in and out of danger and love on an Alaskan cruise.

With enough plot twists to keep me guessing and enough romance to keep me smiling, I sailed through this lovely, nail-biting story in record time.

 

And since I’ve always longed to go on a cruise, the lush descriptions aboard the ship and ports of call motivated me to start saving towards a cruise for our next anniversary—without the danger that Jen and Cassandra encountered, please!

If you relish a cozy mystery with large helpings of love on the side, or you enjoy a romance filled with intrigue, Perilous Waters will float your boat.  

To order Perilous Waters, click on any of the titles in this blog post.

What book are you currently reading? What genre do you read the most often?

Surprised by How Much I Enjoyed a Pirate Story!

Although pirate stories are not my usual fare in reading, this masterfully written, humorous adventure hooked my heart and wouldn’t let go. Anyone thirsty for a swig of danger, fantasy, and intrigue will revel in The Curse of Captain LaFoote.

I recommend it primarily for those with a strong stomach, but the lessons of loyalty, courage, and faithfulness balance the gory scenes, and Eddie Jones' droll sense of humor adds sparkle and fun to every chapter.

If you need an escape from a boring or stressful life, dive into The Curse of Captiain LaFoote. He won't disappoint you.

Eddie Jones, author of Captain LaFoote

Awards
* 2012 winner of the Moonbeam Children's Book Award in the Pre-Teen Fiction/Fantasy category
* 2011 winner of the Selah award in Young Adult fiction

Book Summary
If you drowned and the sea spit you out, thrusting you back into an age of pirates, buried treasure and beauty beyond belief... would you stay?

RICKY BRADSHAW has never sailed the Caribbean Sea, searched for buried treasure or battled pirates on the deck of a Spanish Galleon. He's never fallen through the floor of Davy Jones' locker, befriended a witch doctor or watched an old fisherman morph into a porpoise. All Ricky knows is his lonely life with his widowed mom in a tiny apartment overlooking a marina on the Chesapeake Bay.

But all that changes on a snowy Christmas Eve when Ricky's apartment building burns down and he falls into the chilly waters while trying to save BARNACLE, a mangy mutt with shrimp breath. Suddenly Ricky finds himself confronted by his neighbor, a young woman in a pink bathrobe who jumped to her death in order to escape the flames. She offers him a choice: go with her to a wonderful afterlife where snowflakes taste like candy or return to the dreary old world he knows. Ricky picks the past and awakes on a raft in the middle of the sea where there is surprising beauty on every island, danger around every corner and great honor and glory ahead of him... if only Ricky can summon the courage to survive the curse of Captain LaFoote. 

Do you enjoy pirate stories? Have you ever read a book you thought you wouldn't like, then surprised yourself when you fell in love with it?

A Heart-Stirring read: Red Ink by Kathi Macias, with Giveaway

Warning: If you read only feel-good romance novels to escape your humdrum life, Red Ink by award-winning author Kathi Macias will shock you. If you pray for your family, friends, and neighbors, but have never considered interceding for the persecuted church in other lands, Red Ink will force your spiritual eyes open. And if you wish to stay ignorant to the evils around you so you don’t have to take action to change them, Red Ink will anger you.


But if you care for more than your own comfort and entertainment, Macias’ newest volume in the Extreme Devotion series will move your heart and call you to you to your knees.

From the back cover: “Based loosely on the life of Christian magazine editor Li Ying currently serving a ten-year prison sentence in China, the story of Yang Shan-Li tells the desperate tale of her incarceration and separation from her family, as she continues to minister to other prisoners, and even to her guards.”

This heart-stirring novel also addresses the issues of human trafficking¸ standing for Jesus in the face of brutality, loving those who are impervious to the Gospel, and following the Holy Spirit’s call to pray at the cost of our own comfort. In spite of the challenging topics, Macias writes tastefully, weaving her usual grace wit throughout the pages, and resolving the painful conflicts with satisfying endings.

Although I would not have chosen to read a book of this type, I’m not sorry I did. Macias’ perspective-changing story made me aware of what others suffer for the cause of Jesus Christ, and the terrible price they pay to keep the Gospel alive. It convicted me to admit how complacent I’ve been in my walk with the Lord, and how I’ve taken my freedom to worship and witness for granted. It urged me to pray for the persecuted church, as well as innocent victims of horrible crimes in our own nation.

Kathi Macias is not only an excellent writer, but also a courageous lady. I applaud her for writing the Red Ink¸ and pray that all who read it will be as deeply challenged and changed as I was.

If you enjoy a challenge, please leave a comment and your email address on this post for a chance to win a copy of Red Ink. You do not need to be a follower of my blog to enter, but if you are, please note in the comments for an extra entry. I wlll draw the winner on Saturday, Oct. 30th after 12:00 noon, and post on Sunday, October 31st.
 
If you can't wait for the contest and want to buy a copy of Red Ink, go to Amazon or Kathi's website to purchase.

Thin Places by Mary DeMuth

Thin Places: Those moments where Heaven and earth meet. The curtain of our mundane lives pulls back for a momentary glimpse of God’s overwhelming grace. All of us experience them, but Mary Demuth describes them in the way only she can.

Written in Mary’s typical “grab your heart and refuse to let go” style, Thin Places uncovers the kind of secrets all of us wish we had the courage to share. Opening the pages of her painful childhood, she allows the reader to glimpse her wounded soul, and gaze upon the Lord who brings healing.

DeMuth weaves her words and God’s truth in and around the terrors we all suffer: abuse, envy, fear, abandonment, insecurity. But she never leaves us in our pain. Her final offering reveals joy, fulfillment, friendship, and security.

On my quest to know Mary better, I found myself falling in love with the Father all over again. Reading her memoir became a thin place for me, where I experienced God’s sweet embrace.

I recommend this soul-stirring book to DeMuth fans and Jesus followers alike. Look for it in a prize giveaway on this blog soon. But if you simply can't wait to begin the Thin Places experience, go here to order.

Rhapsody in Red

If you like edge-of-seat murder mysteries, music, witticisms, and a salting of romance you will love “Rhapsody in Red” by Donn Taylor, who graciously sent me a signed copy when I commented on his interview on my agency's blog, From the Heart.

From the back cover: “Preston Barclay is a self-made recluse (and he likes it that way). Teaching college history allows him time to grieve the loss of his pianist wife and find relief from the musical hallucinations that have been playing in his head since her death. But when he and a headstrong colleague, Mara Thorn, discover the body of another instructor on campus, Press’s monotonous solitude is destroyed.

“When the preliminary evidence singles out Press and Mara, they must take some chances (including trusting each other) to build their own defense—by bending the rules just a little bit.
“They choose to form an unlikely alliance to stay ahead of the police, the college’s wary and incompetent administration, and whoever is trying to get away with murder. Otherwise, they both might end up unemployed, behind bars, or worse…”

In spite of little time for leisure reading, I made time for hearty helpings of this superbly-crafted plate full of mystery, with flavorful side dishes of humor and romance.

If you’d like to purchase Rhapsody in Red, go here . Although I usually share my wealth, this is one book I refuse to give away!

What great book are you currently reading?