Book of Books - Martin Wiles

For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. Hebrews 4:12 NLT

No book exists forever … except one.

Collecting old books is a hobby I treasure. I have amassed hundreds of books dating from the 1800’s. One I happened upon was dated 1821. For its age, the book remained in excellent condition. The inside page noted a Charleston, South Carolina, library had housed it. I quickly grabbed it, took it to the register, and gave them two dollars. But despite its condition, one day, it too will deteriorate.

Only one book will last forever, and the writer of Hebrews tells why. The Bible is living--not bound by covers that will fade, crumble, separate from pages, and finally dissolve or be tossed away. No material that books are made from is indestructible—the Bible included. But God’s Word won’t disappear because the covers and pages deteriorate.

God's Word Is a Person

The Word of God is more than covers and paper. It is a person. John wrote, “In the beginning, the Word already existed” (John 1:1). God gave his Word to writers, but it existed before then and will continue to exist even if all Bibles are destroyed.

God's Spirit Preserves His Word

God’s life-giving Spirit preserves his Word, and he is more powerful than any force imaginable. The Word is sharper than the sharpest knife, slicing deep into our innermost beings to expose our true selves so that we might compare our current state with what God wants. When God reveals the gap, we can petition him for guidance to bridge the chasm.

God's Word Is Meant to Be Handled

I shelve my old books. Some I wrap in cellophane. Rarely do I read any of them. Turning the pages would only hasten their demise. Not so with God’s Word. God wants us to handle, digest, and experience it.

Let God’s eternal Word shape your actions and attitudes.

Father, enable your Word to become alive in my life.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Blue Kangaroo - Cathy Hill

For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 NIV

I found the book hidden under a stack of others. 

Of the hundreds of books I have read to my daughter, this little book was one of our favorites. When nap time came, I reassured her she would love it.

A tiny little girl had a dear friend named “Blue Kangaroo.” Blue Kangaroo went everywhere with the little girl, and her affection for her little friend was quite evident. Through a series of visitors and a birthday party, the little girl received a handful of other small and large stuffed toys. Each one took a place in her heart and her bed until Blue Kangaroo was far off to the side.

Night after night, Blue Kangaroo expressed his worries and sadness until finally, his little mind wrote, “There’s just no room for me anymore.” And he rolled off the side of the bed.

Magically, Blue Kangaroo found his way to her brother’s bed. In a desperate search the next morning, the little girl found the kangaroo and exchanged all her new toys for the kangaroo.

My Ava loved the Blue Kangaroo, and she adored his heroic return. I admit I did too.

We want a happy ending, we want to know everything will be okay, and we want things and people and precious parts of our hearts to stay in the order they were meant to be.

Only they do not. At times, the Spirit of God can seem like our breath. But then life gets in the way. The newness of self-sufficiency comes first, followed by control and pride. We seem not to need anything or anyone. We have it all, until the unthinkable happens.

And then we wonder where our first love went. We wonder if what we held will still hold us. If God is listening when we whisper agony in the middle of the night.

Our view has dimmed as if looking through a foggy window. He is there—we somehow know He is there—but He is unrecognizable because we have pushed Him to a corner.

Pull God in. Don’t trade the glory He holds for the good of what you hold.

Tweetable: Do you need to pull God closer?

Cathy is a writer, teacher, and entrepreneur. She met her husband Brian while studying in Paris, France. They make their home in Geneva, IL, with their four children and their daughter-in-love. She loves writing about the wonder and whimsy of life and her love for Jesus. Her first book is Destination: Fierce, Moving from Fear to Fierce. Learn more about Cathy at www.cathyjoyhill.com.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! 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.

A Clean Record - Martin Wiles

Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?  But you offer forgiveness. Psalm 130:3-4a NLT

As a schoolteacher, keeping records comprises a large part of my responsibility.

Our school requires students to participate in the Accelerated Reader program. Books read and tests taken translate into points that translate into a test grade. During the nine weeks, I regularly check their scores to see how many points they have earned and then enter it into the records as a test grade.

And papers. Students know having me as a teacher means they will need mounds of notebook paper. As one student—whose older sibling I had taught—said, “I have plenty of paper. My brother told me I would need it.” On this paper, they take quizzes and tests and write sentences, diagrams, paragraphs, essays, and short stories. When a student asks, “Is this going to be graded,” I respond, “Everything you do for me gets a grade.” Records.

But there are also behavior records. Students who fail to complete their homework or repeatedly talk during class receive lunch detentions. Too many of these—or other more severe infractions—gets them a discipline slip, which goes on their permanent record.

When applying for college—or even some jobs or other positions—having a clean school record means a lot. According to the psalmist, having a clean spiritual record rates high as well. Believing God didn’t keep a record of his sins must have meant he believed in the coming Messiah who would pay for his sins. He had enough sense to know animal sacrifices didn’t work.

Forgiveness is a wonderful thing—to give and to experience. Doing so enhances relationships and makes for peaceful and joyful living. God does this based on what Christ did on Calvary’s cross. On that rough piece of wood, He died for the sins of humanity. When we accept His sacrifice and invite Him into our lives, the record of our sins is wiped clean. Otherwise, God keeps the record and holds us accountable.

Through forgiveness, God releases us from condemnation. We can live with a clean conscience each day, knowing our forgiveness is complete and our eternity is secure. Fear and anxiety leave, and peace and joy move in.

Because God has done this for us, we should extend the same to others. Releasing them frees us to enjoy life at its best.

Is your record clean?

Tweetable: Is your record clean? 

Prayer: Father, we thank You for cleaning our records by forgiving our sins. May we be as forgiving toward others as You are toward us.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! 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 Lori Hatcher

Love Lines from God welcomes author, Lori Hatcher, to our website today. 

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

I grew up on the rocky shores of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. As a teenager, I’d sit along the shore and write long poems of unrequited love. Those remain unpublished. I served as the editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper, but when I considered a career in writing, my guidance counselor wisely said, “It’s hard to make a living as a writer.” I chose to go into dentistry instead. I’ve been a dental hygienist for thirty-five years now. What I didn’t know at the time was that the Lord was providing a day job so I could later pursue my love of writing.

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

After my first book released, a patient said, “Oh no! You’re not going to quit being my dental hygienist, are you?”

“Absolutely not,” I said, “where else would I get my material?”

Seriously, an occasional dental patient does show up in one of my devotions, but most of my inspiration comes from my daily Bible reading. For years, I’ve read through the Bible every year, and my last two book concepts and material have come from that practice.

Why do you write what you do?

I am a busy woman: pastor’s wife, healthcare professional, daughter, mother, grandmother, friend, and church member. I love God, but I struggle to find time for Bible reading and prayer. My goal is to write five-minute devotions to help other busy women connect with God in the craziness of their day.

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

Guarding my writing time. I’m easily distracted. Fingerprints on the window. Dirty dishes in the sink. Cute pictures of my grandchildren on Instagram. Just about anything has the power to lure me away from my writing time.

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

The world is becoming less and less tolerant of biblical truth. Believers all over the world are suffering persecution, and it will come to us. We need to decide today that we’ll stand for truth, even when it costs us something. We need to be bold AND winsome as we speak and write, to speak the truth in love, but not shy away from speaking the truth because we fear the backlash.

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 hardest thing about writing Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible was writing the chapter on Jonah. I had submitted the manuscript well before our family vacation to the mountains of North Carolina and was looking forward to relaxing. Both daughters, their husbands, all the grandkids, and even the granddog were there. 

In the middle of a rousing game of Exploding Kittens, I got a notification from my editor. “You promised uncommon devotions, and this chapter is not uncommon.” 

Jonah is such a short book (only four chapters) and so familiar! I made a second attempt and sent it to her. She sent it back. I wrote a third. That one came back too. Finally, after thinking and praying deeply, I managed to write a message that was uncommon, yet true to the biblical narrative. Now it’s one of my favorite devotions in the entire book.

It usually takes me about a year to write a book.

Name your three biggest frustrations about the writing business.

Building a writing career is a terribly slow process. (I like quick.) You cannot do it on your own. (Networking doesn’t come naturally to me.) Talent isn’t enough. You must have self-discipline and diligence, too.

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

I love it when I read something I’ve written and see God’s fingerprints all over it. I know the most beautiful parts are His, not mine. It’s a joy to work in partnership with God and see how He takes my meager offerings and transforms them into something that has the power to inspire readers and help them fall in love with God and His Word.

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

I’m reading within my genre, Lisa Tyrkerst’s devotional, Embraced. I’m reading for fun, Tammie Jo Schulz, Nerves of Steel. And I’m reading for inspiration, Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest.

Could you give our readers your buy links?

Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible (Our Daily Bread Publishing)  https://amzn.to/2S7IAnz

Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women https://amzn.to/31uyvUy

Bio

Lori Hatcher is the author of several devotional books including  Refresh Your Faith – Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible, with Our Daily Bread Publishing, and Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women , the 2016 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year. The editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine, she’s also a blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker. Lori’s goal is to help busy women connect with God in the craziness of everyday life. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Hungry for God. . . Starving for Time . Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

Author Interview with Denise Weimer

Today, Love Lines from God welcomes Denise Weimer.

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

My parents were avid historians who took me to historical sites across the Southeast when I was growing up. My active imagination would wonder who lived in those beautiful old homes and charming towns. Around age eleven, I started scribbling down stories about those people in spiral-bound notebooks. I’d read them aloud to my mother, who encouraged me to keep writing.

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

Most of my story ideas come from the legend, lore, or unique history from around my state: Georgia. I love to find a fascinating topic or event that most people don’t know about and explore it in story form. For instance, most folks are aware of the Amish, Shakers, and Quakers but are not familiar with the Moravians. The story line of my latest release from Smitten Historical Romance, The Witness Tree (The Witness Tree on Amazon), starts with a marriage of convenience in the Moravian town of 1805 Salem, North Carolina, and leads to a dangerous assignment in Cherokee Territory.

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

In the past, because I write from home and don’t have my own office there, and because my husband and daughters have all been on different schedules, the biggest challenge has been finding a solid chunk of uninterrupted quiet time. The creative process, at least for me, requires reflection and concentration. Mentally, you go to another place to find that flow.

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

With a shrinking Christian market and fewer Christian publishers accepting overt presentations of faith in novels, now is the time for authors to learn how to better integrate faith elements into their stories. We should look at it as not all a bad thing, but a challenge we can rise to. Writing for entertainment alone is a worthy pursuit, but if you can share God’s truths organically with those who need to hear them but might have never picked up a “Christian” title, isn’t that why we’re here?

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 amount of time it takes me to write a book varies a good bit. I write both historical and contemporary romance (check out Fall Flip on Amazon, a Hallmark-HGTV-style renovation romance released last month with Candlelight Fiction). Bet you can guess which one is quicker.

For my first published series, The Georgia Gold Series, I researched a full year before I ever started to write, then continued researching during the nearly three years it took me to write all four books. By contrast, the most recent book I wrote which is not published yet was a historical in a setting and time period completely new to me. But by a gift of God, I finished it in a blistering six weeks. And I believe it’s my best work yet. The mixed-blood hero of that story is a child at the mission school in The Witness Tree.

And the hardest thing about The Witness Tree, my last published book? Definitely the challenge of bringing two very different people groups together on the page in an accurate and respectful manner. The Moravians and Cherokees had completely different customs and could barely communicate when they started the school for the children of the chiefs.

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

What author doesn’t love that moment when we’re in the zone and the words are flowing, and we know we’re communicating deep emotion or a truth of God that could impact someone for good?

Represented by Hartline Literary Agency, Denise Weimer holds a journalism degree with a minor in history from Asbury University. She is the Managing Editor of Smitten Historical Romance and Heritage Beacon Historical Fiction (imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, now Iron Stream Media) and the author of The Georgia Gold Series, The Restoration Trilogy, and a number of novellas, including Across Three Autumns of Barbour’s Colonial Backcountry Brides Collection. A wife and mother of two daughters, she always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses. Connect with Denise here:

Monthly Newsletter Sign-up

Website

Facebook

Twitter

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 Esther Jacob

Love Lines from God welcomes author, Esther Jacob, to our website today. 

Esther, when did you decide to become a writer? 

My writing began when I received a prophecy in 2013 that I would minister to women. I then decided to create an online blog in September 2014. 

I used my experiences of rejection from jobs to inspire and motivate me to buy a camera for my YouTube channel, Esther N J., and also to publish my first book, It’s Time to Heal. The struggle with my job situation caused me to write, and since then it has become a strong hobby of mine.  

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

My ideas come from God, my personal experiences, and also my environment. God—meaning His Word, my prayer life, sermons, and gospel music—inspires me to grasp many ideas. My personal experiences are what cause me to become transparent and selfless to remind people that their pain is for a purpose and that they don’t have to worry. If I can get through it, other people can too. What I wasn’t able to achieve at a set time is what gives me ideas on what to write about. When I feel weak and low, I gain ideas on what to talk about. 

Why do you write what you do?

I write what I do because of purpose. That is my keyword right now. I don’t write for people to applaud—but to be inspired, transformed, healed, changed and set free. 

I also write what I do because we are all relatable beings. What I went through or currently am going through will resonate with another person. We all want to feel understood, loved, and cared for These are my strong focus points when it comes to writing. I want readers to understand that when I write they relate to me and can have a tangible and real experience they may not necessarily get from the world. 

We live in a world that is full of so much façade that there isn’t much honesty and selflessness in how we feel. I want to be able to break the cycle of pretending everything is okay. It is okay not to be okay and have everything together. 

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

It can feel quite repetitive, but I stand on consistency and being able to inspire people through my writing. When I write, I want to impart several words in the mind of the reader: focus, strength, power, confidence, and faith. They align together and have a lot to do with being creative, yet it can be challenging if the messages of my books are relatively the same. 

However, I turn it around as a strength because I want it not only to be relatable but also to be heartfelt. If my mind can’t think straight, or is having negative doubts, this is a stumbling block for writing.

What are the challenges you believe Christian writers face now and in the future? 

The key challenges I face in writing is relating to the world, but not being like the world. It is being able to understand the way the world thinks, but not being influenced by their practices. 

A customer once picked up my book and asked, “Is this a Christian-related book?” I replied, “Yes, it is.” I was positive about it and told the customer that there are words written in this book that could relate to their circumstance. Because the customer wasn’t a Christian, they did not buy it. 

I believe there are a time and season for everything under the sun. At the time, the customer thought it wasn’t time to read a Christian book, but I chose to stay true to myself. 

When most people talk to me, they do sense I am a Christian, not just by my words but also through my deeds. It won’t always be easy, especially when trying to promote or target schools, social events, and clubs, but we should be willing to persevere regardless.  

Tell us the hardest thing about writing your last book. How long does it typically take you to finish your books?

The hardest thing about writing my latest book (From Glory to Glory) related to the death of my sister in May 2018. I finished this book in four months. I wanted the book cover to be perfect, so I had to wait a while until it was sorted. 

I can’t say the book was hard to write, but writing it in a way that the reader would be able to understand and relate to was challenging. Death is not a topic which is popular, but it has caused me to wake up and realize that tomorrow is not promised. 

On average, depending on how much research, experience, personal struggle, and inspiration I gain, book writing can typically take between eight and twelve months. 

Name your three biggest frustrations about the writing business.

First, not having a solid team to work and share ideas with. Second, the book can be quite long, especially if ideas don’t run through consistently. Finally, the pressure of trying to keep up with the latest trends and relate them to potential readers.

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

Being able to see real change in the life of the reader excites me and makes me keep writing. Amazon reviews also inspire me because I may not get a chance to meet my readers face to face. The feedback humbles me and reminds me that my purpose is still not yet completed. 

What are you reading at the moment, and who are a few of your favorite authors and why?

I am currently reading Patricia Bright’s new book, Heart & Hustle. My favorite authors include TD Jakes, Devon Franklin, Priscilla Shirer, Michelle Obama, and Robert Kiyosaki. 

Would you mind giving the readers the buy links for your books? 

It’s Time to Heal – https://www.amazon.com/Its-Time-Heal-Journey-Self-Discovery/dp/153293307X, Completion – https://www.amazon.com/Completion-Perspective-Brokenness-Esther-Jacob/dp/1547280433, From Glory to Glory – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Glory-Beauty-Seasons-Strong-Broken/dp/1916060005 

What are your social media links? 

Website: www.authenticworth.com
Blog: www.womansworthconference.wordpress.com
Facebook: Women’s Worth Conference
Email: authenticworth@gmail.com
Instagram: authenticworth
Facebook: Authentic Worth
Personal Facebook: Esther Jacob
Personal Instagram: esthernjacob
Twitter: @esthernjacob
YouTube: Esther N J
LinkedIn: Esther Jacob 

Esther Jacob has a strong passion for young men and women’s mental health. She manages events and workshops, sharing her story to inspire and influence the upcoming generation. In a world where identity is based on societal standards or what one has achieved, she reassures everyone they have a unique gift that shouldn’t be compromised despite their current circumstances. 

Using her life experiences, Esther shares stories of how her faith strengthened during the third year of her university studies. She has had several interviews with different podcasters, including Premier Gospel Radio, Christian Devotion Speak Up! Podcast, The Authors Podcast, Keeping It Real Radio, and Power Xtra Radio. 

Esther has been invited to the Barclays Wealth Management to talk about the vision of Authentic Worth and has spoken at the University (of Kent) at the Kent Africa Summit. She has had two years of property management experience and is knowledgeable in fashion. 

Esther is looking to support new and aspiring authors in writing their first book, providing them a platform to share their story and turn it into purpose. Her hobbies include traveling, writing, singing, and serving the wider community. 

Maintaining the Shape - Martin Wiles

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? 1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT

“Book.” Then he brought me the book I must have read fifty times already.

Like his brother, my second grandson loves for me to read to him. Dr. Seuss is his favorite author and especially the book “The Shape of Me and Other Stuff.” I almost have it memorized. When I read the last page, he whimpers and I know what he wants. Read it again.

The book with the sentence, “I say Hooray for the shape we’re in.” But I’ve not always celebrated my shape. And how many do? All the way through school, I was skinnier than I wanted to be. I longed to gain weight so I would be fawned over by girls, picked for teams, and eligible to play sports. It never happened. Years later, I still don’t like my shape—but for a different reason. I’m out of shape. Whereas I once didn’t have enough weight, now I have too much. And keeping it under control is a constant battle.

I suppose I’m not the only one who struggles with the shape of their shape. How else can you explain the numerous diets offered, healthy eating programs presented, weight loss procedures pitched, and fitness places built? Shaping up is a struggle.

While my physical shape is important, my spiritual shape is more important. My body houses God’s Spirit. And God is particular about the shape of His residence.

God wants my shape to be holy. Holiness, for some, has negative connotations. But it doesn’t have to mean charismatic activity. It simply means my body has been set apart for God’s use and to accomplish His plan. God is different than all others, and as His follower, I am too. Holiness should extend to my thoughts, actions, and words.

God wants my shape to affect my generation. All it takes for one generation to forget godly things is for the previous generation to drop the ball in passing along spiritual teachings. If I don’t shape my generation, the next will suffer.

God also wants my shape to be evangelistic. He doesn’t want the good news of what He’s done for humanity through Jesus Christ to be kept a secret. In many small ways, I can share the love of Christ with others.

Shape up. God wants it, and you’ll feel better when you do.

Tweetable: Do you like your shape?

Prayer: Father, mold us into the shape You desire us to be. 

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, and Twitter. Help us spread God's Word.

Relaxing with a Perfect Book - Martin Wiles

The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. Psalm 19:7 NLT

I’ve only read one perfect book in my lifetime.

Collecting books copyrighted before 1940 is a hobby of mine. So far, I’ve managed to amass several bookshelves full of them. My oldest is a theology book from the early 1800’s and is in excellent condition. Knowing the man who once had this book in his library—as well as seeing the sticker that says it was once housed in a Charleston, South Carolina, library—probably explains its excellent condition. I love the smell of old books, and I’m amazed at how paper can hold up for long periods of time. 

My favorite pastime at night is kicking back in my recliner with a good book. Working two jobs and helping with grandkids has made this more difficult, but I still yearn for those few moments when I can dive into a thought-provoking article or simply get lost in a historical novel.

Printed books, however, don’t last forever. What they are made of will deteriorate over time—even if rebound. One day, my 195-year-old theology book will bite the dust. E-books may hang around until Christ returns, but printed books will wear out.

When the psalmist wrote the above words, the Bible had not been canonized into 66 books. What he had, though, was perfect and revived his soul.

Among my old book collection are a number of Bibles. Some are old and fragile and belonged to family members. Some are missing covers. Others I purchased from various thrift stores. If time continues, one day they will deteriorate completely or someone will discard them. 

But Bibles deteriorating and being thrown away doesn’t destroy God’s words. Books can go out of print and become extinct; God’s Word never will. 

God’s Word was spoken and transmitted orally for many years before it was written down. 

Not being on papyrus didn’t take away from its pertinence or reliability. Should it ever go out of print, it will still remain perfect, reliable, and applicable. I’ve read portions of history books that were presently “wrong” because of historical changes, but God’s Word will forever remain right. 

And anything that is perfect possesses the capacity to revive my soul. 

Read, apply, and transfer God’s Word. Let it revive your soul. 

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving us a lasting perfect Word that can transform our lives and revive our souls. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in Christian books at discount prices? Use coupon MWiles for 20% off. 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, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.