Overcoming Fear - Solace from the Psalms - Martin Wiles

For thousands of years, people have found comfort in the Psalms. No matter what emotion you are experiencing or fight you're facing, the psalms have something important to say. For the next little while, Love Lines from God will feature, "Solace from the Psalms." We hope you enjoy. And please share them with a friend. 

The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 NLT

“Mr. Wiles?”

“Yes.”

“Please come with me?”

The question and request made me nervous. I was minding the waiting room while my wife had a MRI on her back. I couldn’t imagine why I’d be summoned. She was claustrophobic, but this was an open MRI.

An open MRI is really a misnomer. The only thing open is the entrance and exit, and this wasn’t enough for my wife. She cried, and they comforted, but she needed more to overcome her fear. She needed me beside her. When I was, her fears subsided.

Before and after becoming king of Israel, David encountered many circumstances that could have evoked fear, but his confidence came from believing God was with him.

I’ve felt my share of fear like anyone else. Fear I would be misunderstood or rejected. Fear I would contract a fatal disease or life-altering medical ailment. Uncertainty about tomorrow. And the greatest fear—death.

When fear weighs me down, I remind myself this spirit doesn’t originate with God. He gives me the good sense to avoid dangerous situations, but He never intends for me to be so encumbered by fear that I can’t live a healthy and abundant life. Satan authors these life-altering emotions.

I conquer fear by remembering God is my light, salvation, and fortress against people, thoughts, and circumstances that portend to destroy me or my effectiveness. Nothing or no one can stand against me when God is on my side.

So drown your fears in the promises of God’s Word, take them to the closet of prayer, and then move forward with faith and fortitude. God will hold your hand, whisper comforting words, and stroke your head with His all-powerful hand.

Join the conversation: How do you deal with fear?

Tweetable: Is fear disabling you? 

Prayer: Father above, when we’re overcome by fears—real and imagined—comfort us with the calming presence of Your Spirit.

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Discover Your Child - Solace from the Psalms - Martin Wiles

For thousands of years, people have found comfort in the Psalms. No matter what emotion you are experiencing or fight you're facing, the psalms have something important to say. For the next little while, Love Lines from God will feature, "Solace from the Psalms." We hope you enjoy. And please share them with a friend. 

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. Psalm 139:14 NLT

I’ve never thought mine was that amazing, but facts prove otherwise.

Consider the following startling facts about the human body: our stomachs contain acids strong enough to dissolve zinc, our lungs contain 300,000 million tiny blood vessels, our bones are as strong as granite when it comes to supporting weight, each of our kidneys houses one million individual filters that filter 2.2 pints of blood a minute, and our eye’s focusing muscles move about 100,000 times per day.

What’s more amazing is that a divine Creator put all this together. As a parent, this makes me look differently at my children and grandchildren—and others. They’re not just a bag of bones and sometimes aggravation but unique creations with distinctive gifts and personalities.

Training my children in the way they should go required spending enough time with them to recognize God’s gifts in them. When I determined this, I then encouraged them to pursue hobbies and professions that allowed them to use those talents. I also had to recognize that doing that might mean they wouldn’t follow in my or their mother’s footsteps.

Children also have distinctive personalities. One of mine has Type B and the other is extremely Type A. What concerns one doesn’t bother the other, but that’s okay. Variety is God’s plan when it comes to personalities, and I’ve discovered that personality usually fits the talents.

But my parental duty goes beyond simply encouraging my children to pursue their dreams. Parenting also involves guiding them to align their gifts and dreams with God’s plan. Only then have I trained up a child in the way he should go (Prov. 3:5-6).

What more can you do to guide your child along God’s path?

Join the conversation. What's one way you've helped your child discover God's plan?

Tweetable: Have you discovered your child?

Prayer: Give us wisdom, merciful Father, to guide the little ones You’ve entrusted to our care.

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Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

When God Says No - Solace from the Psalms - Martin Wiles

For thousands of years, people have found comfort in the Psalms. No matter what emotion you are experiencing or fight you're facing, the psalms have something important to say. For the next little while, Love Lines from God will feature, "Solace from the Psalms." We hope you enjoy. And please share them with a friend. 

For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Psalm 34:7 NLT

“I have tickets for the KISS concert. Want to go?” my friend asked.

As a hippie child, my answer was a resounding “Yes!” Of course, I wanted to go. Who wouldn’t want to hear Ace Frehley play lead guitar or Gene Simmons fork out his oversized tongue? Their makeup and stage antics amazed millions. At least to a lover of rock-n-roll—which my father wasn’t.

My dad’s answer to the question was a reverberating, “No!” No room for discussion…no chance he’d change his mind. He didn’t like my music and thought most of it was “straight from the pits of hell.” And some might have been. (I did wonder a little about Alice Cooper’s “Goes to Hell” album.)

Little did I appreciate or understand it then, but God was using my parents as guardian angels. And He provides some—physical and spiritual—for all His children. What I interpreted as bad—my father not letting me attend a concert--was really for my good. He was concerned about the negative messages entering my head, which for a teenager wasn’t high on my list of important matters.

If an earthly parent can see ahead and make wise decisions because of their foreknowledge and experience, how much more can my Heavenly Father—who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient—guard my steps.

Sometimes, I wonder about the things God allows into my life and about the things He keeps me from. But I’ve learned to trust His judgment. I’m His child, and He loves me unconditionally. When God tells me I can’t go, I willingly—well sometimes reluctantly—stay put.

Are you listening to the guard God places around you?

Join the conversation. Tell us one thing God kept you from.

Tweetable: Is God telling you "No?"

Prayer: Thank You Father for keeping us from those things that could harm us spiritually, physically, and emotionally.

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Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Author Interview with Adam Blumer

Today, Love Lines from God welcomes author, Adam Blumer. 

Adam, tell us when you decided to become a writer. In other words, what made you actually sit down and write something?

When I was a child, I began writing wildly imaginative pirate and fantasy stories. I rarely finished them, and I never had a plan. My first handwritten story was a fantastical tale about Captain Kidd’s spyglass. In high school, I also wrote and finished an unpublished novel called Down with the Ship. It’s such an Agatha Christie copycat that I laugh whenever I peruse it, but emulation is how a lot of authors get to be where they are today. I loved writing and couldn’t stop.

Every writer is eventually asked this question, but where do your ideas come from? 

Life. TV. News. Movies. Other books. Being an author demands being a sensitive observer of the usual but especially the unusual. Ideas are everywhere, but I must stay on my toes to see them and get them down on paper before they are gone forever. I love to watch people and study how they react and talk. I’m always intrigued by an unusual hobby, mannerism, or habit. I’m especially interested in how each person’s past helps define who he or she is today. Sometimes while reading news articles, I find an unusual story and file it away for later. Life is stranger than fiction. Each time I watch true crime shows, I get story ideas for future suspense novels.

Why do you write what you do?

Authors write what they like to read. When I was a kid, I devoured Hardy Boys books—yes, even my sister’s collection of Nancy Drew. I read Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Terry Brooks, Ray Bradbury, and Madeleine L’Engle. Eventually, I gravitated to suspense fiction by authors like Frank Peretti, Terri Blackstock, and Mary Higgins Clark. I grew weary of whodunits and preferred suspense novels. I like novels that grab me around the throat, keep the pages turning, and never let go until the final period. Suspense novels filled with plenty of action and conflict captivate me like no other books I read, though I also have a fondness for good literature, fantasy, history, biography, true crime, and science fiction.

What is the hardest thing about the creative process of writing? 

I rarely have difficulty coming up with story ideas and even an engaging premise, but getting from the beginning to the ending is a circuitous path that can sometimes come to dead ends. The hardest part of novel writing, in my opinion, is choosing the right path that comes out at the right ending. There are so many moving pieces and critical decisions along the way that the writer can become paralyzed, overcome by too many choices.

If you’re a Christian, what are the challenges you believe Christian writers face now and in the future? 

The Christian publishing world has changed so much over the last decade. So many Christian authors are now writing clean stories but avoiding overt Christian content to broaden readership and sales. Whether to write overt Christian content is a question each author has to wrestle through. I, for one, believe in writing a story with overt faith elements. Christian authors are also burdened with more marketing of their own books now than ever before. This effort takes time away from writing and can slow the process; therefore, balancing writing and marketing (and keeping a book project moving) can be a challenge. 

If you would, please tell us what was the hardest thing about writing your last book? How long does it typically take you to finish your books?

The ending was tough to write. While I’m typically an organized plotter, I took off the training wheels on this one and let the story glide where it and the characters wanted to go. The journey became both fun but scary. I had the premise and some plot developments in place, but how the story concluded took more work than I expected.

I typically take at least a couple of years for the actual writing of the book. That doesn’t count the time needed to shop the novel around through my agent and then wait on a publisher before and after the contract; the publishing wheel turns much slower than most readers realize. I wish I could write quicker than that, but that’s the reality for me, since this isn’t my full-time gig.

Name your three biggest frustrations about the writing business.

• The amount of time each book requires from start to finish. Included in this is the long wait time from publishers.
• The continually changing rules in writing and publishing. Just when you think you know what publishers are looking for, your agent tells you something else.
• Book marketing. One cannot guarantee sales. I wish a book release was like the movie Field of Dreams. “Build it, and they will come.” If only it were that easy. There is almost an equal amount of work in just promoting the book.

On the flip side, what excites you the most about the creative process?

I get most excited about the creative process when a plot development I never saw coming unexpectedly presents itself, taking the story in a new but stronger direction. This epiphany has happened to me several times.

What are you reading now, and who are a few of your favorite authors and why?

I’m currently reading and enjoying The Third Target by Joel C. Rosenberg. I especially enjoy a good thriller, whether Christian or secular. Some of my favorite authors are Steven James, Terri Blackstock, Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, and Brandilyn Collins. I like how they weave suspenseful story threads together and craft their scenes in ways that keep the plot moving forward. Their books are great examples of what works. I learn so much simply by reading their novels.

As thanks to his readers, Adam is sponsoring a giveaway. Please follow the link to enter for your chance to win: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8d1eaa8d6.

Adam, can you give us the buy link for your book?

The buy link at Amazon is https://www.amazon.com/dp/1645261867. 

What are your social media links so people can follow you?

Website: http://www.adamblumerbooks.com 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdamBlumerNovelist 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adamblumer 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2315682.Adam_Blumer 
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/adamblumer 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamblumer 

Adam Blumer fixes other people’s books to pay the bills. He writes his own to explore creepy lighthouses and crime scenes. He is the author of three Christian suspense novels: Fatal Illusions (Meaningful Suspense Press), its sequel, The Tenth Plague (Kirkdale Press), and Kill Order (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas).

A print journalism major in college, he works full-time from home as a book editor after serving in editorial roles for more than twenty years. He lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with his wife, Kim, and his daughters, Laura and Julia. When he’s not working on his next thriller, he’s hiking in the woods, playing Minecraft with his daughters, or learning new chords on his guitar. He is committed to writing clean suspense that is free of profanity, vulgarity, and sexual content. He is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), the Christian Editor Network, and The Christian PEN. He works with literary agent Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency.

The Hundred-Dollar Book - Solace from the Psalms - Martin Wiles

For thousands of years, people have found comfort in the Psalms. No matter what emotion you are experiencing or fight you're facing, the psalms have something important to say. For the next little while, Love Lines from God will feature, "Solace from the Psalms." We hope you enjoy. And please share them with a friend.  

I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. Psalm 37:25 NLT

I couldn’t believe it when he handed me a one-hundred-dollar bill for a ten-dollar book.

I had just finished speaking and promoting my latest book. People lined up at the table, wanting to purchase a copy—and even wanting me to place my signature in the front cover. One by one they handed my wife their money and me their book.

As the line dwindled, I noticed one man waiting patiently with a bill neatly folded and tucked in his hand. As he approached, I signed his book and handed it over. He smiled, handed me the money, and quickly strolled away. I unfolded the bill, noticing a one and a zero. No change needed. But as I continued to unfold, another zero appeared. I immediately assumed he had confused the two bills.

As I contemplated chasing him down, the worship leader filled me in. “He hands out money all the time,” she said. But to calm my fears, she checked with him anyway. Sure enough, he wanted to pay one hundred dollars for a ten-dollar book.

What he didn’t know—but God did—was that my wife and I were behind on our power bill. My wife had prayed for God to supply our need that night. He did.

I’ve learned when I give to God first (Malachi 3:10), He’ll supply every need I have. After I’ve learned this, He’ll prompt me to pass along His blessings (Proverbs 14:21). And when these two actions are in order, it will enable me to keep my perspective on possessions in perspective (Proverbs 16:8).

Have you paid one hundred dollars for a ten-dollar book lately?

Join the conversation. Tell us about a time when you've given, and couldn't afford to.

Tweetable: Are you trusting God for your needs? 

Prayer: Thank You Merciful God for promising to supply our every need. Prompt us to pass along Your blessings to others in our path.

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.