Devotion: Be Strong in the Lord!

Finally, my brothers,

Be strong in the Lord

and in his might.

Ephesians 6:10

Sometimes we're too stubborn or blind to see what's right in front of our eyes.

But recently I've reached out to God for help,

that I might strengthen my faith.

I'm grown mentally and spiritually, I think,

throughout this summer,

and hopefully, learned a few things along with 

sharing love and compassion to others.

I learned to trust, 

and because of that,

I was able to trust my hubby

in helping me conquer a major fear of mine:

Swimming!

I'm still far from a professional,

but I overcame something

that I'd carried forever.
Fear of swimming.

I learned to swim! 

I practiced forgiveness.

Hurt really badly this past year by someone I thought

should appreciate all I'd done for them,

I carried that hurt inside me,

feeling justified in doing so.

In so doing, I hurt myself

because to be happy,

to have peace,

a person has to forgive.

Forgiving was a process God showed me 

and helped me achieve.

I'm praying a hard prayer.

I was sitting in church one day

and felt like God directed my thoughts

to the ways I was praying.

Sure, it was easy to pray for those

who I loved dearly.

It was easy to pray for the softer hearts.

But what about that one I thought would never

serve God? Who, I thought, was a "hard" person?

Why didn't I pray for him/her?

My eyes were opened.

God is the God of possibilities,

and what I deemed as impossible

was nothing to God!

And, so, I allowed my prayers to include the impossible:

I began praying for that one.

Have I seen results?

Not yet.

But I'm not giving up either.

I will cast my faith on the waters of prayer,

and allow God to work.

I learned that the results are not my responsibility.

I'm required to do what I can.

God will produce the results.

***

How far would YOU go to avenge a daughter’s cruel death? Cara is considered rebellious and inappropriate to befriend. Dayne is the apple of Elder Simmons’ eye—until he takes a stand against their teachings. Can his prayers and love reach Cara and show her the way to redemption? Will Cara realize God’s love and forgiveness before she goes too far?

The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman is a novel of hope shining through the darkness with strong elements of suspense and romance. A Selah Award finalist and a semifinalist in the Genesis contest, this novel has close to 150 raving reviews!

Amzn Author Pg: http://amzn.to/1nFS0og 

About Carole:

Besides being an active participant in many writing groups, Carole is an award-winning author and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance, and whimsy into her books and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1
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Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

Loving is Forgiving

The Real Meaning of Christmas...

is the giving of love every day.

Has anyone ever hurt you so badly, you felt crushed inside? 

I have.

Earlier this year, someone I love dearly, hurt me so much that I felt my heart was being crushed in sorrow, the false insistence inside me clamored loudly that it was a burden so heavy I'd never get over it. 

But God... He came to my rescue with his perfect wisdom:  Hold steady and believe. I have this.

My spirit reached out for those words of love and steadiness from my Savior. I clung to those even when the doubts and fear tried to overwhelm me. When I felt I was sinking in the waves of despair that things would never be right again. 

One month passed, then two. I wasn't at all sure things would ever get better. But God's words to me still rang in my mind:  Hold steady and believe. I have this. 

Then one day a text came. No asking for forgiveness. No admittance of the wrong.

But my heart bounded. They may not have admitted the wrong they'd committed. They may not

have spoken a request for forgiveness, but my love for this person abounded. I read behind the scenes and knew what was going one.

God's love through me was forgiving...

This month--December--the month we celebrate Christ's entrance into the world means even more to me today because of the hardships I've gone through. Because of those hurting times, my trust has grown, my faith in God has strengthened, my love for Him has increased. He has taught me forgiveness even when I didn't want to.

For God so loved the world (the many people who would reject him) 

that he gave his only begotten son (Could you? Could I do that? Deep thought!) 

that whosoever (anyone! everyone!) 

believeth in Him (not riches, not other people, not a position or wealth or knowledge, but God!) should not perish, but have everlasting (forever and forever!) 

life (abundant!) 

John 3:16. 

And as the brief lines of the Christmas tune above convey:

The real meaning of Christmas...

is love, 

for when we love, we forgive! 

Question: Have you ever forgiven even when no apology has been forthcoming? 

A love-filled Merry Christmas is wished for you, my friends! 

About Carole:

Besides being an active participant in many writing groups, Carole is an award-winning author and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance, and whimsy into her books and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Word Sharpeners: https://wordsharpeners.wordpress.com/

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

Costly Forgiveness with Stacey Weeks

Real life is messy. Scripture teaches us that following the Lord Jesus Christ will be difficult. In fact, trouble is more likely to increase as we walk in opposition to the world. Following Jesus is not easy. We are commanded to do things that are impossible in our flesh, but they become possible as we depend on the Holy Spirit’s power and live in submission to God.  

As I worked on The Builder’s Reluctant Bride, I spoke with many people about forgiveness and our struggle with it. Various people posed similar comments and questions. Such as: If forgiveness was free, why was it so hard? Can you forgive someone who is not sorry? I wanted my characters to struggle with these questions too. But in order to resolve the story, I needed to research the answer.

Timothy Keller wrote in The Prodigal God: Recovering the heart of the Christian faith, “Mercy and forgiveness must be free and unmerited to the wrongdoer. If the wrongdoer has to do something to merit it, than it isn’t mercy, but forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the forgiveness.”

Yes, forgiveness is free to the one receiving it, but forgiveness is never free for the one offering it. Our free forgiveness cost his life. He loved us too much to withhold forgiveness. He died for us while we continued to sin. Someone always pays for forgiveness. I wanted my readers to consider that truth. In The Builder’s Reluctant Bride Jenna must do the hard work of cultivating a heart that forgives those who don’t know, appreciate, or understand how their actions have affected her, and she struggles with it.

Stacey is the author of inspirational romance The Builder's Reluctant Bride (Pelican Book Group 2016 named Best Christian Romance by The Word Guild in 2017), inspirational romantic suspense In Too Deep (Pelican Book Group 2017), and non-fiction book Glorious Surrender (2016 Women's Journey of Faith winner). Stacey lives in Ontario Canada with her family. She is a regular contributor to Women-Together Leadership blog; she enjoys speaking at women's conferences and teaching the Word of God.

  

He Wants a Second Chance. She Says There’s No Going Back. Ten years ago, a public disgrace sent Jenna Jenkins running from her hometown. Now, the success of her professional future hinges on joining her hometown church restoration project. Her partner and team leader on the job is William Scott—expert renovator, volunteer fireman, and the ex-flame who ruined her life. William is in crisis, facing the tightening screws of personal and professional failure. When the interior designer on the church renovation project turns out to be Jenna, William sees it as a chance to make amends. But Jenna wants nothing to do with him. How much will William sacrifice to redeem his mistakes and prove his love? Can Jenna protect her heart this time or will William break her for good?

Watch the book trailer!

https://vimeo.com/168368032

The Builder's Reluctant Bride is available for purchase at Pelican Book Group, Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Barnes&Noble

Download and read the first two chapters FREE here!

https://staceyweeks.com/books/fiction/  

Can you direct us to where readers can find you?

Website: www.staceyweeks.com - I post weekly devotionals and regular home renovation projects and crafts under the blog tab. You’ll find links and information on all of my books.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/writerSWeeks - This is where I post questions to readers and collect feedback for projects. It’s also where you’ll find the most up to date information.

Newsletter:   http://eepurl.com/cZgDb9  The newsletter is emailed once every spring, summer, fall, and winter and is full of information, deals, and opportunities available only to subscribers.

Twitter: @WriterSWeeks