Impossible…

A thought came to me when I should have been sleeping last night. This is why I have a lighted pen so as not to disturb my poor hubby who actually was sleeping. Sometimes thoughts do not know how to tell time, and if I kid myself into thinking I will remember such things in the morning, I am well, kidding myself. So I dug my lighted pen out of the nightstand drawer trying not to make too much noise and searched the stack beside me for a piece of scrap paper  – note to self – move a notebook onto your nightstand to avoid future rustling of used papers…

I found one in my Bible, which is fitting because I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Jesus and relationships and how He wants us to know Him, not just know about Him. How He came to fix what was broken between us and God and endured all manner of abuse to make that happen, and how we get it all wrong when we think Christianity is a religion. Jesus didn’t come to start a new religion. He came to fulfill the Law (which only God could do) so we could fellowship with His Father and with Him as it was always meant to be.

And I was thinking about the Law and its staggering list of rules. Truth be told, even the 10 Commandments are impossible to keep because if we somehow do manage to obey the first nine, the “Do not covet” one will catch us every time. Our hearts will always betray us.

In Deuteronomy 20-23 we find a long list of dos and don’ts the people were supposed to follow. When Moses finished handing out these instructions to the people, this was their response:

“Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do.” (Deuteronomy 24:3 ESV)

This backdrop spurred the following thoughts last night:

Men (and women) in their pride will always think they can accomplish the impossible. This is never more evident than in the practice of religion when it comes to attaining their eternal salvation. They think they can keep the doctrines, creeds, commands, as their laws require – yet none of them will ever fully do so. They cannot, for they are fallible, weak, human.

They would have been better off to fall on their faces and beg forgiveness rather than to suggest they could begin to do what only God can accomplish.

I wonder what would have happened if the people of Israel had done just that – if they had listened to the Law of God and realized how sinful they were and how utterly holy He is and how impossible the demands of the covenant really were. Had they truly thought about it when they spoke and promised obedience, or did they just react to the moment? What would have happened if they had fallen on their faces in repentance and cried out for mercy, knowing they would never be good enough or strong enough to keep such laws? If nothing else, their covetous hearts should have told them something.

But in their pride, in their own strength, they thought they could do the impossible. And I was thinking, we are not so very different.

Selah~

Dreamin’ of vacations…

I posted a question on Twitter and Facebook today about favorite vacation spots. I appreciated all of the suggestions. One said Nice, France and Nantucket – both ideas I would not have thought of but will have to check into! Most said a cruise, which sounds great except for the threat of motion sickness. One said Puerto Rico, while still another named several beaches depending on price.

Did I mention I need a vacation?

All of the above sound wonderful! And I wish I could make reservations and go tomorrow. But for now I will keep seeking recommendations and check into them. I still have California dreamin’ on my mind as well…but need to check out places to visit while we visit our kids. One cannot sit in an apartment all day.

While I’m busy dreamin’, I went out for a little bit of sunshine enjoyment today. I had to go to Sam’s Club, so I figured I could finally see if they had a copy of Michal or Abigail. I’m told others have seen copies in other Sam’s Clubs. But alas, either my local one had sold out (my hubby chooses to think positively here) or they aren’t carrying it. I did see novels by several author friends, so that was cool.

Randy's roses2I meant to post this picture earlier – these are the roses Randy gave me for my Valentine’s birthday. Roses never live long, but they sure are gorgeous while they last.

The cats go a little stir crazy when I open the blinds in the morning and they see the sunshine. They start chasing each other around the house and fight like …well…cats. Tiger and I both get stuffy these days. I wonder if he’s allergic to humans…

I decided to give fake nails a try again, this time with a color rather than see-through French nails, which ends up having the glue show. I need to find shorter nails because I end up spending too much time filing them to a length I can manage. It’s hard to type even now with these things, but for $3 I can’t complain too much.

Another distraction I find helpful when wishing for vacations is hobbies. Reading, of course, is one of my favorites. I tiptoed into the world of secular historical romance the other day but came away disappointed. The story placed way too much emphasis on the sensual rather than working harder to create well-rounded characters. Motivations were contrived and even the sensual was unrealistic, not to mention over-the-top. I think it’s helpful to know what others are reading but I wasn’t impressed with this book.

Another hobby I’ve developed is an addiction to Sudoku. Well, maybe not an addiction, but I’ve discovered I can play it on my phone, so it’s a nice distraction when waiting in line at a grocery story or on long car rides, etc…

Facebook brought me in touch with an old high school friend – which is so fun! We haven’t seen each other in years, but are hoping to meet sometime next month. She stood up in my wedding almost 33 years ago! (I was young!) Can you tell I’m fighting the aging thing? But then, aren’t we all?

Hubby just turned on Andy Griffith – I remember homeschool lunch breaks when we used to watch it every day. Time marches on…

Selah~

March 2010 Christian Fiction Releases!

We’ve got 26 new releases this month! Some of them released last month but missed the list, but still – LOTS of good-looking books to read. I’ve read Beguiled already and loved it! The rest…I’ll leave the choices to you, but some of these are going on my wish list!

1.  A Distant Melody, Wings of Glory, Book One by Sarah Sundin An historical from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Allie is promised to a man she doesn’t love, but a B-17 pilot captures her heart–will she honor her family’s wishes or take a chance on love?

2. A Woman Called Sage by Diann Mills An historical from Zondervan. A woman bounty hunter fights bitterness and revenge to find the killers of her husband.

3. Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett Women’s fiction from Tyndale. A moving story about women helping women and lives changed across continents, inspired by a non-profit organization of the same name.

4. Beguiled by Deanne Gist and Mark Bertrand. A suspense/mystery/thriller from Bethany House. A dog-walker and a journalist pursue a thief (and each other) in atmospheric Charleston.

5. Cowboy Protector by Margaret Daley A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Love Inspired Suspense. When Hannah Williams comes to help Austin Taylor with his injured daughter, she draws him into an intrigue that threatens their relationship–and their lives.

6. Dead Reckoning by Ronie Kendig Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Abingdon. Trapped by a terrorist plot in Mumbai!.

7. Disarming Andi by Elizabeth Goddard A Contemporary Romance from Heartsong Presents. Contractor Andi Nielsen has another chance to discover what ís hidden inside the missile base she was hired to remodel. Is she prepared to detonate her feelings for the new owner?

8. Fatal Burn, Big Sky Secrets Book 2 by Roxanne Rustand A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Love Inspired Suspense. In Montana’s wide open spaces, danger and love are waiting….

9. Forget Me Not, Crossroads Crisis Center series Book 1 by Vicki Hinze A Contemporary Romance from Waterbrook-Multnomah. Someone’s robbed her of her identity and goes to great lengths to convince her she’s someone else; someone who wants her dead.

10. Gold in the Fire/Light in the Storm by Margaret Daley A Romance from Love Inspired. Stories of love and loyalty

11. Groom in Training by Gail Gaymer Martin A Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired. Friends, Four-legged Friends and Love.

12. Kansas Courtship, After The Storm, No. 3 by Victoria Bylin An Historical Romance from Love Inspired. Dr. Nora Mitchell came to heal the town of High Plains. She stayed to heal Zeb Garrison’s heart.

13. Katie’s Redemption, The Brides of Amish Country by Patricia Davids A Romance from Love Inspired. A young woman returns to her Amish roots but can she find her way back to her faith.

14. Katy’s New World, Katy Lambright Series by Kim Vogel Sawyer General Fiction from Zondervan. An Old Order Mennonite girl holds to her convictions while attending public high school.

15. Liberty’s Promise by Amber Stockton An Historical Romance from Heartsong Presents. Feel the heartbeat of a chaotic new country through the lives of three Pennsylvania women who seek to know to whom they can entrust their hearts.

16. Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon by Miralee Ferrell A Romance from Summerside Press. A schoolteacher must choose between a man from her past and one who could be her future, while risking her reputation to rescue two runaway orphaned children.

17. Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa by Melanie Dobson A Romance from Summerside Press. A widowed father and his young daughter find healing and hope in the communal Amana Colonies.

18. Morning’s Refrain, Book 2 in Song of Alaska series by Tracie Peterson An Historical from Bethany House. Adventure and Romance in 1800’s Sitka, Alaska.

19. Once in a Blue Moon by Leanna Ellis Women’s Fiction from B&H Publishing. Faith is the first step to soaring.

20. Romance by the Book by Myra Johnson A Contemporary Romance from Heartsong Presents. A shy young woman’s crush on her favorite romance author leads her to the man who will finally claim her heart.

21. Scattered Petals by Amanda Cabot An Historical from Revell. Tragedy broke her spirit — will love mend her heart?

22. The Captain’s Lady by Louise M. Gouge An Historical from Steeple Hill. Torn between love and duty, American Patriot James Templeton must deny his heart to help win his country’s freedom.

23. The Easter Edition by Robin Shope A romance from White Rose. Bridal shop owner Carol Horn feels she will never find a love of her own until a new pastor comes to town, turning up by accident at her mother’s funeral.

24. The Family Way by Michelle Levigne A romance from Desert Breeze Publishing. Pregnancy brings their shaky marriage to the breaking point, and Lisa and Todd must rediscover their love, their faith, and what true marriage means.

25. The Mockingbird’s Call by Diane Ashbyand Aaron McCarver. A Romance from Barbour. Amelia Montgomery, torn between her family’s traditions and her own convictions against slavery, must also choose between her duty and her heart as she works for the Underground Railroad.

26. The Promise of Morning, Book 2, At Home in Beldon Grove series by Ann Shorey An Historical from Revell. When loss drives them apart, can their faith bring them back together?

ABIGAIL is an ECPA Bestseller!

BPG_Abigail_3-31_smallAbigail is #18 on the March 2010 ECPA Bestseller’s List! Thank you SO much to my readers and reviewers and influencers who have made this possible. Your support is MOST appreciated! I am grateful and honored to have my work make this list!

In other thoughts…the sun has been shining most of the day. Amazing what a difference the sun makes. I think maybe God puts it there to remind us how much we need Him, not just His creation. I love what Revelation chapter 21:23 says of the New Jerusalem: “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” (No clouds! And more importantly for the peace of Jerusalem there will be no need because no one will be fighting over that city as they do present-day Jerusalem!) Just a side thought there~

I finished a proposal for a new series that I’m working on – which I hope will sell sometime in the future. First, I need feedback from my critique partners. Then we’ll see if it’s good enough or if I need to look at it again. In the meantime, I’m headed back to work on Sarai. I left her in Egypt on her way to meet Pharaoh. Lots of interesting things to ponder in these upcoming scenes!

I finished reading Bruxy Cavey’s The End of Religion – Encountering the Subversive Spirituality of Jesus. Don’t let the title scare you–the book is really good. He writes in an easy-to-read style and doesn’t always use commonly known Christian lingo. He addresses some of the familiar doctrinal terms in the appendixes. EndofReligion_smallBut his purpose is to show the reader that Jesus did not come to start a new religion (and unfortunately even Christianity has fallen into the religion trap over the years) but to forge a relationship between us and God. He is the way to God and there is no other. But in our 21st century western thinking, we don’t realize just how surprising and subversive and shocking His message was to his 1st century hearers. I’m rereading the Gospels with a new look at what Jesus’ listeners might have heard when He spoke. The Pharisees and teachers of the Law hated Him because his words undermined the religion they clung to so desperately. (And they killed Him for it.) They were counting on their good works, their keeping of the Law of Moses (and all their added traditions) to save them. They weren’t counting on a Messiah who said that “no one comes to the Father except through me” or who called them a “brood of vipers” for thinking rituals were more important than relationships.

One of the most disturbing passages in the Bible, aimed at religious people who do so many things to gain acceptance with God, is Matthew 7:21-23 where Jesus says, ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

Jesus came so we could know God, know Him. He came to restore what was broken in Eden when Adam and Eve sinned and were cast from the garden, no longer able to walk with God and talk with Him in the cool of the day. God has always wanted a relationship with men and women. Always. It’s what He planned at Creation and what He will renew when He returns. Revelation tells us: “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” Revelation 21:22

We can follow all sorts of rules, practice a zillion rituals, and become the most religious zealot of our time, but those things won’t bring us one step closer to knowing Jesus. He fulfilled the Law because we couldn’t, and He died so we don’t have to. All for want of restoring our relationship with Him.

The author (Bruxy Cavey) made me think outside of the religious box and renewed my love for the honesty and forthright message of Jesus. I want to read it again–and I don’t say that often. Highly recommended!

Selah~

Spotlight on Sarah Sundin

Sundin #47 ©2008 Linda Johnson Photography web(2)Sarah Sundin lives in northern California with her husband and three children, a skittish cat named Janie, and a yellow lab named Daisy who is determined to destroy her writing career by distracting her and eating her manuscripts. However, Daisy is a fantastic source of humorous Twitter and Facebook posts, so Sarah says they’ll keep her.

Sounds like our Shadow and Tiger – furry distractions.

When Sarah is not ferrying kids to soccer and karate, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist and teaches Sunday school and women’s Bible studies.

Sarah’s first book, A Distant Melody, Book One in the Wings of Glory series, releases this month (March 2010) with Revell (my favorite publisher!) Read the rest of this entry »

Painted Roses and feeling blessed…

I’ve got to admit, I’ve got a great family! I know I did nothing to deserve them, but I sure do appreciate them. We’ve been playing at the empty nest this past week while Ryan spent his winter break in California with his brothers. I was wishing we could have gone with him, but it turned out it was better that we stayed home. Randy got a weird dizziness for a few days this week – apparently a virus that several people at work also had – and my mom was pretty sick with bronchitis. So traveling would not have worked for us. But being home without kids was so strange. Too quiet. And something I’m not ready to get used to. I suppose good can be found in a house with less people to pick up after, but I would rather do that than have to find ways to fill the void of missing them. And with the older two, I would enjoy the empty nest better if they didn’t live so far away…

roseBut I digress…I got an email from Chris this week with a picture he drew for me. He said that he couldn’t afford to give me flowers for my birthday, so he painted me some. (Is there any greater gift than one given from the heart – and totally unexpected too!) He gave me permission to show you. (Moms have to brag on their kids sometimes, right?)

Chris has grown a lot in his drawing ability and frankly, he downright amazes me! You can see what I mean by visiting his portfolio on his website Akro Designs. In case I haven’t mentioned before (though I’m pretty sure I have) Chris designed this website too. I am mighty pleased with it!

I’ve been working on a new proposal idea this week while I’ve watched the gray skies and snow falling outside my window. I would complain because we really don’t see the sun often enough in Michigan, but then I watched the news and saw how hard hit the people in New York have been with snow and so long without power! Not to mention the people in Chili who just had an 8.8 earthquake and the tsunami threat to the Pacific Coast (California where my boys are included.) I don’t think the tsunami threat is as bad away from the coast – I hope not. But my dreams of living with a view of the beach…maybe I should rethink that a bit… In any case, those who do live there must be worried–praying for all those involved in these difficult, scary-weather times.

As I write this, Ryan is in an airplane headed back to Detroit, and I am listening to music on his computer. “It Is Well With My Soul” is playing right now – such a great reminder of what is truly important.

All in all, I am feeling rather blessed today – blessed to be loved, not just by my family but by my God. I know I don’t deserve His love, but when I stop to think about just how much He truly does love me – He knows my name (”Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Emphasis mine) – how can I feel any less than blessed? He loves me! What a glorious thought!

I pray you are blessed today as well~

Selah~

Love without condition…

I wonder if anyone has ever known truly unconditional love on a purely human level. I rather doubt it because humans are flawed beings, and we put conditions on other people all the time. Parents and grandparents may tell a child, “I will love you if you are good,” or perhaps “I won’t love you if you don’t do this” as a way to get them to behave the way they want them to. (Of course, we are often way more subtle that this, but the message is still conveyed the same.) A teacher may praise or withhold praise, also to control behavior. Men may withhold love from their wives if they do not get the respect they desire, and women may withhold love from husbands if their man doesn’t cherish them the way they want to be cherished.

In truth, we have no trouble loving ourselves – it’s our neighbor who can be so hard to love. Love is too often “me” centered – as in “how does this person make me feel?” I love the line in the movie Pride & Prejudice where Mr. Collins is trying to propose to Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) and he tells her that one of the reasons he wants to marry her is because he is sure it will “add greatly to his happiness.” Never mind what it will do to hers!

But I wonder, since we grow up with such flawed views of love – and even the most loving parents aren’t always unconditional in their loving – how hard is it for us to grasp a God who loves us exactly that way?

Romans 5:6-8 says, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Do you see the example of both conditional and unconditional love in these verses? The apostle Paul is saying that sometimes, in the right conditions, if there was someone who was good or righteous enough, or loved enough, someone might dare to die for them. I can see a parent easily giving his life for a beloved child, and there are many noble examples in history of people sacrificing their lives to save someone else. So in certain conditions, people do practice a kind of love that appears unconditional–but we do it conditionally based on the value or virtue of the object of our love. (I hope I’m making sense!)

God, on the other hand, demonstrated His love by dying for people who didn’t deserve it, who were not good and righteous, who did not and could not do anything to make the conditions right in order to gain His love. He chose to love us anyway. Without condition.

The Amplified Bible says it well:

“We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind. But God–so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).” Ephesians 2:3b-5

Conditions of God’s justice (laid out in the Old Testament Law) remain as they always were, and they are impossible to meet. But Christ met them for us. The only condition left to us to fully embrace such unyielding, amazing love is to accept what Jesus did on our behalf, to trust Him with our very selves and to live the life of love He has for us. A love that is given freely, without merit, without condition.

Selah~