Serious Wednesdays: A Crash Course in the Bible by Larry Vaughn

I'm happy to introduce a new writer friend today for Serious Wednesdays: Larry Vaughn. Please read on about his journey toward healing. I think you'll appreciate it!!

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My name is Larry Vaughn and I'm a Vietnam veteran. I thought I was one of the lucky ones who got away scot-free. But apparently, nobody who goes to war ever gets away scot-free. I had a good job,  a wonderful wife, and three lovely daughters. But I was in a bad mood most of the time. And then, one day I reached the point where I could no longer control my emotions.

My Doctors told me I had Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder. They took me off work and I never went back to my job as a Letter Carrier. I applied for a medical retirement. But the Postal Service took a year to process it. And during that time, we had no income. This was rock-bottom for me. I was broke. I was too sick to work  And I didn't know if I would ever be able to work again.

So I cried out to God in desperation and asked him to help me. And I started spending hours each day reading the Bible. I didn't know what I was doing at that time. But I was fellowshipping with God in his word. While I was getting to know the Lord, he was teaching me things that I needed to know. One of those things was how to cope with PTSD.

I've spent the last twenty years mining the Bible for life-lessons. And every time I saw a Bible verse that jumped out at me, I copied it down and I added it to my collection. I'm very excited about the things that I've learned from the Bible. I  want to share it with everyone. And that's why I wrote A Crash Course in the Bible.

A Crash Course in the Bible is a summary of the Bible's most important teachings. And it contains essential Bible verses that everyone needs to know. If you study these Bible verses carefully and take them to heart, they will comfort you and give you peace. They will help you make it through difficult times and they will change your life forever.

A Crash Course in the Bible is available as an ebook and a paperback on Amazon and as an audiobook on Audible. If you have the audiobook version of it on your phone, then you can listen to the word of God whenever you want. You can even listen to it when you're in bed at night. And you'll be like the man who's described in  Psalm One:

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord; 

and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, 

that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; 

his leaf shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." 

(Psalm 1:2-3)

Buy the book here:

You can get a free audiobook of A Crash Course in the Bible when you sign up for a free trial of Audible at this link:  https://amzn.to/2QqK3T7  And you can cancel your membership at any time and keep all of your audiobooks.

Amazon:  Amazon Print

Amazon:  Amazon Kindle

Readers, check out this book!! It's short, but a valuable resource for those who want to dig a little deeper into God's word.  

God Calls by Randy Kirk: one tremendous book!

Randy is participating in the John 3:16 Book Launch this month. 

http://www.john316marketingnetwork.com/christian-book-launches/

I'm not much of a nonfiction book reader, but when I do, the book needs to capture my attention immediately. This book did. I heartily recommend this book! Impacted me.

My Review of Randy's book:
Are you hungering for a closer walk with God? Do you realize that
you need something more than what you have in your spiritual life? Then God Called by Randy Kirk is the book for you to read.

From the first chapter this book caught my attention. Filled with nuggets of wisdom and the instructions and encouragement to step out in faith for a fuller walk with God, this book carefully points out what it takes to go a little further in your daily life: to become a true disciple of Christ. Easy? Not at all. But for a very real sense of satisfaction in knowing you’re doing what you’re suppose to do at the right time in your life, becoming a disciple of Christ will give you a peace and fulfillment from a choice and decision that you must make. Excuses abound plentifully, no matter what age you are, to prevent one from praying the prayer of discipleship, and yet it all depends on your desire and willingness: are you willing to become humble and forsake all to follow Christ?

Kirk’s scriptures drive home his points and his knowledge in the topic is outstanding. His examples and quotes and expounding pinpoints the problems individuals have, the cost many will have, and the solutions to a life of happiness.

I heartily recommend this book for all serious Christians!



Endorsement:
When asked to read a copy of this book, I readily agreed, but was duly surprised at the impact the contents had on my own thinking and life. Being in an active ministry with my husband, I know what sacrifice and hard work means, and thought I knew what giving all to Christ meant. Yet I was convicted by the words that proved to me: to be a true disciple of Christ, one must be perfectly willing to do God’s will, to accept humbleness as part of their life and to choose to live this way with no strings attached. God’s will is my will.

I sincerely encourage all Christians to read and act on Kirk’s book. Well, done, Mr. Kirk. You’ve given readers a powerful book.




Check out his website here:
http://bit.ly/GodCalled1

And be sure to check out the rafflecopter link here:
http://bit.ly/Rafflecopter_Link


Blessings!

He Who Has an Ear by Laura Davis

I'm thrilled to welcome Laura Davis on my blog today. She and four other authors are participating in this John 3:16 book launch (see books in banner). Be sure to stop back in next Tuesday to read her interview! Also don't forget to sign up at the rafflecopter link below!

Now some information about her book: 
Who the Seven Churches of Revelation are Today
By Laura Davis

1. Who Are the Seven Angels?

Who or what are the seven churches of Revelation? Are they still in the world today? Were the seven churches in Asia Minor real churches or do they represent a type of church (i.e.: Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, etc.)? Are the warnings relevant to this generation? Are they for each of us as individuals? As we look carefully through the letters of Revelation, we will discover the answer to all these questions and more.

But before we can get to any of the letters, we must determine who the angels were that the letters were written to. It has been suggested that the angels represented the head or bishop of each church. Others suggest the angels were actual celestial beings that stood guard over these churches. First, let’s look at the word in both Hebrew and Greek.

Angel in Hebrew is Malack and means messenger. Angel in Greek is angelos and also means messenger. So, what kind of messages do angels bring?
1. They bring good news (Luke 2:8-14; Luke 1:26-38).
2. They also bring bad news (Genesis 19:15).
3. They communicate God’s will to men. (They helped reveal the law to Moses [Acts 7:52-53] and served as the carriers for much of the material in Daniel and Revelation).#
4. They give instructions and act as guides (Matthew 1:20-21; Acts 8:26; Acts 10:1-8).
5. They strengthen and encourage God’s people (Matthew 4:11; Acts 5:19-20; Acts 27:23-25).

The most important thing about angels is that they continually praise God and carry out His commands. They ascend and descend to earth frequently. (John 1:51; Genesis 28:12; Revelation 7:2). We cannot see them, but they are here watching over us for God and, I assume, reporting back to Him on how we are doing (Job 1:6).

Besides being messengers for God, angels have different jobs. For example:
· God has used angels to provide for physical needs such as food for Hagar (Genesis 21:17-20), Elijah (1 Kings 19:6), and Christ after His temptation (Matthew 4:11).#
· They act as protectors (Daniel 3-6; Matthew 2:13).
· They can deliver people from danger. They released the apostles from prison in Acts 5 and did the same for Peter in Acts 12.
· They care for God’s people at the moment of their death (Luke 16:22).
There are also different types of angels:
· Cherubim (Ezekiel 1)*
· Seraphim (Isaiah 6)
· Archangels—We know of two, Michael (Daniel 10:13; Jude 9) and Gabriel (Daniel 9:21; Luke 1:19; 26).

*For the record, there is nothing in the Scriptures to indicate cherubim are cute little babies. In fact, the reaction of most people who saw angels was to fall down in fear, not reach out and say, “Coochie-coo!” The cherubs you see on Valentine’s Day cards and at Christmas are from the minds of their human creators.
Before the edict was given to write to the churches, John saw the following in his vision in Revelation 1:12-16:

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

It’s no wonder that, in the next verse, John “fell at his feet as though dead.” But Jesus touched him and said not to be afraid and then in verses 19-20 He said, “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

To be clear, John wrote about the past, the present, and the future. Then Jesus explained the mystery of the seven stars and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the lampstands are the seven churches.

While the appearance of angels was usually frightening enough to make people fall to the ground, these supernatural beings sometimes took on human form. (In Genesis 18, Abraham welcomed three visitors who appeared as men.)

According to Strong’s Concordance, the word for messenger and angel were used interchangeably. For example, in Malachi 2:7 we read, “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.”

Again, the Hebrew word for angel, Malak, means messenger. It should be no surprise to learn that the word messenger in Hebrew is also Malak. If we read the verse above with that in mind, we get, “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the angel of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.”

Does that mean our pastors are angels? Not in the real sense of an angel, no. However, it does reveal how important God considers those who bring messages from Him, either through His Word or through prophecy. People, therefore, should not be so quick to say, “I have a message from the Lord,” unless they are very sure it is the Lord who is sending it and it lines up with the Bible.

While it is possible that each of the seven angels referred to in Revelation are actual angels disguised as humans, I think it is more plausible that they are the elders of the churches. It would make no sense for John to write letters and send them to real angels. For that matter, why would Jesus have John write everything down when the angels were always before Him in heaven?

In addition, we must also remember that John was writing to real churches during his era. The fact that these letters have been preserved for us is just a bonus. No, it makes more sense that the angels are the messengers in the church who will read the letters aloud to the congregations and thereby, bring forth the message from God.

Now, here is where confusion sets in. After the apostles died, other men who had known them took up the reins to keep the church functioning. Catholic tradition suggests there was a bishop for each church. For example, Ignatius was the bishop of Antioch; Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna; Timothy was the bishop of Ephesus; and so on. However, there is no mention in the Bible that Timothy was appointed as a bishop, not by Paul or anyone else. In fact, there are no scriptural references that say each church should have one man as a bishop. The truth is, the role of a bishop over the church did not start until at least 154 A.D., more than fifty years after the Apostle John died. That’s plenty of time for wrong doctrine to enter the church.

Therefore, the angels referenced in the letters to the seven churches could not be bishops because one bishop for each church did not exist at the time the Apostle John wrote Revelation. And since most churches today don’t have bishops in the formal sense like the Catholic Church, how do these letters relate to us? Who are the bishops of the church today? We’ll discuss that in the next chapter.

To purchase He Who Has an Ear visit HeWhoHasanEar


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Blessings!

How Do You Find God? by Malo Bel

Join me in welcoming Malo! Here's a short fun video about his book:

 

http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fitsamess&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHHZpWZ21iiza-j-EMzIdBc3f_26w

 

 

Four Given by Malo Bel – The Mystery of Godliness

My story started on a beach, a strange place for a journey to begin, but nothing compared to where it would lead me!

Near the end of a relaxing vacation I was walking by myself towards the beach showers. As I walked I was thinking about my life. Something is wrong! My life is all about what I want, what I do, what I feel. Where’s God? I suddenly felt empty, like it was all “me” and no “Jesus”. I was so shallow. So self obsessed. And so I asked him, "Lord, how do I let go of me and take in more of you? Please Lord, help me! I want to let go! I want to be filled with you.”

However, rather than an answer I got a question back - "How do you let go?"

What do you mean ‘How do you let go?’” And so for a while I pondered his question, “How do you let go?”

 

“Of course! It’s obvious,” I replied, “If you have to let go something you have to open your hand."

 

"What does it mean to open your hand?” he asked.

 

“I suppose an open hand is a hand that gives,” I replied. “Must my journey to you begin with giving?”

“Of course!” It suddenly hit me. “Is not giving the defining act of love? ‘God so loved the world that he GAVE his only son...’ And then like a flash God’s holy name leapt into my mind, and I looked and saw and was stunned. There at the very start of His name is the smallest of all Hebrew letters, the letter Yod (י). The very name of God, which defines Him, begins with an open hand, with the ultimate demonstration of love, with giving.

Is it a message to us, a journey we should take? I could feel the overwhelming sense of God's presence wash over me, as I stood there lost in my communion with him. There was a discovery, a journey that God was calling me on.

However as quick as the excitement arose so too did my doubt. Was this really a path God was revealing to me or was it just the vain imaginations of my mind? “Maybe I am just imagining hearing him, imagining his answers. It’s all in my mind. Maybe….” At that exact moment my thoughts were interrupted by a voice.

"Excuse me," she said. I turned around to find one of the girls who had been showering talking to me. "What are you thinking about?"

I was blown away. Why would a complete stranger ask me what I am thinking about? How did she even know I was thinking anything and not just staring at the sea? Startled, I stammered, “Umm, I was thinking about…about a path. A path to God.” And before I knew it I was sharing everything with her, a complete stranger. I was giving voice, my voice to the silent conversation in my heart.

She listened intently, and then smiling said, “Wow. That’s deep, very deep.”

And with that she turned and walked off leaving me with my doubt washed away. For no sooner had doubt crept in that God had spoken, than God made me give voice to what I had heard, with my very own mouth. No sooner had doubt crept in than a complete stranger would say about someone despairing in his shallowness, “That’s deep, very deep.”

And so began my journey,

and my calling to write this story,

and the beginning of many more miracles.

As someone who loves a good mystery, especially a real one, you can imagine how mind blowing it was for me to discover a mystery so important, so divine, so life changing, hidden within the very name of God! This is not some cleverly constructed fiction, something we read, enjoy and put aside. This is a map, a journey, a vital path for every single human being, encoded in the holy letters of God’s name. A journey that begins with a small open hand but that ends in a place called Eternity.

I invite you to join me on my journey to discover the very mystery of Godliness and life eternal in the most startling of ways. A journey that will leave you changed…forever.

Four Given is being showcased by the John 3:16 Marketing Network as part of their September Book Launch Event. Be sure to visit http://bit.ly/Christian_Books for a chance to win a Kindle Fire, a $25 gift card and a $10 Starbucks card, as well as purchase Four Given.

Malo will be giving away 50% of all proceeds from sales during the book launch to a charity that works in Africa to uplift families and communities, especially the disabled and children.

To discover a mystery about Malo Bel, point any QR Code reader on a mobile phone at the QR Code alongside.

 

Contact Details and Websites for Malo Bel

Email: malobel.fourgiven@gmail.com

Website: www.malobel.com

Blog: www.malobel.com/blog

Twitter: www.twitter.com/malo_bel

Google+: http://bit.ly/malobel

YouTube: http://bit.ly/4giventv

Facebook: http://facebook.com/fourgivenbook

Amazon Author Bio: http://bit.ly/malo-bel

 

Links to Purchase Four Given

Amazon ebook - http://bit.ly/inGod (ASIN: B00BU3XV3O)

Amazon paperback - http://bit.ly/4-given

Smashwords – http://bit.ly/get-4given

Lulu – http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/malobel

 

 

Blessings!

Stories of Faith and Courage from Prison by Connie Cameron

I'm thrilled to have Connie here today. Let your heart be blest as you read on. Connie's moving tale about her book and the passion she had while writing it, and now promoting it, will stir your heart.

She's also giving away a copy of her book to a new reader. Comment and leave you email address, and your name could be chosen!


Last week, the latest book from AMG Publishers hit the bookstores. “Stories of Faith and Courage from Prison” is a 365 day devotional about many aspects of incarceration. These moving testimonies of inmates, ex-inmates, loved ones of inmates, wardens, correction’s officers, prison pen pals, prison chaplains, and volunteers, will give a unique insight into prison life and hopefully spark an interest in prison ministry. Connie Cameron co-authored it with Jeff Peck, formerly of Prison Fellowship International.

“A female inmate wrote to me six years ago,” Connie said. “And when I wrote back, the timing of it ended up literally saving the inmate’s life.” She has been passionate about prison ministry ever since. As a board member of the Licking County Jail Ministries for four years now, she regularly goes inside the local jail and into prisons in Ohio ministering to hurting people. Sometimes she goes to prison with another woman from the board, and other times her husband Chuck accompanies her.

Three years ago God laid it on her heart to combine her two passions (inspirational writing and prison ministry) and write a devotional book about prison. That summer she attended a Christian writer’s conference and met the editor of AMG Publishers, a Christian traditional publisher. He was looking for the very book she was proposing about prison-related stories.

“I was elated!” Ms. Cameron exclaimed. After more than fifteen years of writing and longing for this very thing to happen, she received the call from her agent with the exciting news that a contract would be coming from that same publisher.

“It’s been more than a year of full-time work involved, oftentimes 14 hour days to meet the different deadlines, but at last it’s finished!” Ms. Cameron exclaimed. “I’ve had to read the book through many times before it went to press, and each time I was moved at much God cares about ‘the least of these’. It’s humbling, too, to reflect on how we can’t ‘out sin’ the love of God.” At 464 pages, “Stories of Faith and Courage from Prison” will have a first print run of 5,000 copies. Along with the marketing efforts of Connie and Jeff, AMG is also heavily marketing the book at venues all across the nation. An electronic book is being created of the devotional, as well.

The book endorsements include:

1. Pastor Chad Hovind, author of Godonomics and Fast Track Bible;
2. Carol Kent and Allison Bottke, both prolific speakers and authors, and
3. Bill Glass, founder of Bill Glass Champions for Life Ministries, along with many others.
4. Jim Harris of Alabama is a contributor and has also read the entire book. He said, “I never knew all the different perspectives of prison ministry that there are out there. This book was an eye opener, even for someone like me who has been an inmate and is now in full-time prison ministry.”

She added that while most devotional books are geared more toward women, this prisoner book is aimed at both men and women. “I think it helped to have a male and female co-authoring this body of work. Our differences gave this devotional a nice blend,” she commented.

“While the approximately 2 million citizens behind bars will definitely benefit from reading “Stories of Faith and Courage from Prison”, it is also beneficial for the friends and loved ones of the incarcerated, including prison chaplains, those in prison ministry, pastors, employees of correctional facilities, and especially for those of us who struggle with prison ministry—which happens to be a lot of us,” Connie said. “Out of all the ministries there are in this world, I think jail and prison ministry is the one ministry the majority of people are uncomfortable with, including pastors. We are afraid of it. Some sadly view it with contempt, believing that “those people” are getting what they deserve. I think Jesus knew we would have difficulty, that’s why He referenced it so often in scripture. One of the most common passages is found in Matthew 25:31-46 and ends with, 'I was in prison and you came to see me.' "The way we treat ‘the least of these’ is the way we treat Jesus,” the co-author continued. “We also tend to lump all inmates into the extremely dangerous category, and that’s simply not the way it is. Many are our friends, co-workers and neighbors who are incarcerated for minor offences or drug and alcohol issues.”
Connie was interviewed on this blog a while back featuring her book, God’s Gentle Nudges. She also has a weekly inspirational column in five newspapers, and has been published in Chicken Soup books seven times, among dozens of other periodicals. For more information about her or how to order her books, please go to: www.conniecameron.com.






I give thanks ALWAYS for you, my dear readers and friends!
Blessings

　

Meet my friend, John Snyder

How long have you known that you were a writer? Did you receive a clear “call?” Or have you just loved writing all your life?

When I was in the seventh grade I wrote a science fiction story and was told by my teacher that it might be good enough to publish. This was a total shock to me. Until that moment it had never even crossed my mind to write.

My call to write came much later and mostly from my friends and church members who said that I would be irresponsible for not utilizing what they saw was a gift from God that needed to be used for his glory. But it’s clearly the case that when I write, I feel God’s pleasure.

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

Probably religious non-fiction. My style and interests have changed greatly over the years. In the beginning, I wrote mostly academic type stuff (papers, articles, and the like), but in recent years I’ve shifted to down-to-earth books about God, Jesus, and general faith and church related issues, striving for simplicity and clarity to communicate the greatest news on earth.

How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day? Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a novel?

Due to a visual handicap I can write only about two hours per day, first thing in the morning. After that it’s over. On the average it takes me about a hundred days of writing to complete a book.

You recently had a book published. Would you take this time to describe it to us? How and where can readers buy your books?

My newest book is entitled Your 100 Day Prayer: The Transforming Power of Actively Waiting on God. It’s a guided prayer tour for a hundred day period to encourage the reader to keep on faithfully bringing their prayer requests to God. It’s not just for those facing an unusually big problem, life transition, or decision, but also for anyone seeking a discipline of reading Scripture daily and to journal their prayer walk. Our family has found that wonderful things happen when we follow Jesus’ admonition to keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking.

The book can be found at Amazon or CBD or Barnes and Noble.

What is the spiritual message in your book?
What I’m hoping to communicate is God’s love, faithfulness, and very best for us—his trustworthiness, compassion, and kindness. God is near and very accessible. What I hope everyone gets from it is that God doesn’t dwell in a heaven light-years away from us, but just inches above our heads. He enters into our grief and pain. I want them to be encouraged to wait on him and to see how he brings us through to the other side—to learn how he blesses us not according to our excellent faith or performance, but according to his excellent mercy and generosity. I have tried to put a course on biblical theology in the form of a readable prayer guide.

Do you ever feel like giving up? Most people don’t understand the stress, the work, and the joy of being a writer. How tenuous becoming a writer is. Do you care to share how it feels, what discouraging/encouraging times you’ve gone through?

I’ve not only been tempted to give up, I’ve given up—many times and sometimes for years. It’s just too hard to keep trying when no one seems to like what you have to say. The rejection notices can be joy killers! You have to look at them and laugh and figure out how many you’ll collect before God opens just the right door.

Writing for me was like the Myth of Sisyphus, trying to roll the boulder up the hill only to have it roll back down, over and over again. But the love of writing and the inner “push” to write were the driving force. My only regret is that I did give in and stopped writing. If you truly believe that God has called you to do something, you just have to keep going, keep climbing, even when all you want to do is quit and find the nearest hammock.

Who’s inspired you the most?

I would have to say my wife Shirin. She always kept after me to pick up the writing again when I was fed up with it. She never lost confidence in me even when I thought I was just wasting my time.

Would you explain how you “chose” (or were chosen by) a publisher? Do you just go “inny, minny, miny, moe?” Now, that you’re published, can you sit back and relax from the success you’ve experienced?

Twenty-eight years ago I found a publisher on my own. That was when they were still accepting unsolicited manuscripts. After that, I got so busy pastoring that I didn’t have time to write.

Today, it’s really tough to do that. Now I have a great literary agent, Diana Flegal, who I believe came only by divine providence and is really an incredible gift to our family. She just knows a lot about the who’s and where’s that I could never get.

Rather than relaxing now, I’m even more motivated to keep going and at an even faster pace. Our family really wants God to use us for his work.

Do you mind telling us some of your likes and dislikes? Hobbies, interests? Where would you like to travel if you could?

I love being with my wife Shirin and daughters Sarah and Stephanie, research and learning, watching old and new films, and thinking by the hour. I still haven’t been to my wife’s country India, so that is on our prayer list.

Would you give us your blog or webpage so everyone can check it out? Anything else you’d like to share? Promotional information?

A lot of my writing that’s still unpublished appears on our website Community 321 (named after Ephesians 3:21). For promotional work, I point to Shirin, Sarah, and Stephanie who are all great writers and computer gurus. They know the new rules on how to maximize the web in order to get the information out. Besides being musicians, Sarah and Stephanie are social media consultants.

Thanks for joining me this week, John!
Blessings, readers. Check out John's book if you want a deeper prayer life with God.

A Very Warm Welcome to Lydia Harris!


Lydia is the author of Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting: For Grandparents at Any Stage of the Journey from AMG Publishers, October 2010, a 212 page book. If you'd like a chance to win it, please comment and leave your email address!

How long have you known you were a writer? Did you receive a clear “call?” Or have you just loved writing all your life?

I often said, “Some day I’m going to write a book.” But I was busy raising a daughter and son. Then in December 1996, with an empty nest, I sensed God’s nudge: “Lydia, it’s time to begin writing.” So I began writing for publication in my early fifties.

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

I write nonfiction devotionals, articles, book reviews, stories, and a regular column, “A Cup of Tea with Lydia.” I also write recipes for children and adults. Recently, I’ve had a Bible study published.

Sounds as if you keep very busy. How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day?

Most days I invest time in writing, speaking, or promoting my book. The time spent varies depending on what’s due. I write early in the morning, often starting at 5 a.m. Now with a published book, I speak each month, so some of my time is used preparing to teach or speak and make other connections to promote my book.

Marketing is a fulltime job in itself, but a necessity! Tell us about your new book. What is the spiritual message in it? What can readers expect to get from reading it?

I’m thrilled that Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting came out in October 2010. It’s not only for new grandparents but also for grandparents at any stage of the journey. This Bible study affirms grandparents in their important role and gives them practical tools to become fantastic grandparents and pass on a legacy of faith. The numerous grandparenting stories, quotes, and practical tips and charts make it a fun, practical resource to refer to for years to come. Grandparents who have studied it individually and in church and community groups have said, “I loved it,” “It made me a better grandparent,” and “I gained confidence as a grandmother.”

A book that should be in the hands of every grandparent in America. How and where can readers buy your book?

1. The book can be ordered from bookstores, such as Barnes and Noble or Family Christian Bookstores.
2. It’s also available online through Christianbook.com and Amazon.com.
3. My Web site (http://www.preparingmyheart.net/) also lists numerous places to order it under “store.”

Do you ever feel like giving up? Most people don’t understand the stress, the work, and the joy of being a writer.

When I started writing for publication in 1997, I questioned whether I would get published. But since I began by writing mostly assigned book reviews and articles, I didn’t receive many rejections. I spent twelve years writing hundreds of short pieces for dozens of publications, including Focus on the Family. These short pieces were like sprints that prepared me for a longer run.

In contrast, writing a book was a marathon. Without God’s help, many prayers of others, and my supportive husband, I wouldn’t have completed thirty Bible study lessons in thirty-six weeks. The biggest hurdle was the deadline. I soon learned nine months is a short time to complete a 212-page Bible study and have it tested by grandparents. Also, the word “grandparentng” doesn’t appear in the Bible, so I spent much time doing biblical research and interviewing grandparents. The ongoing pressure to write each day from morning to evening became wearisome at times. But the completed book and encouraging responses from readers make it all worthwhile.

It does, doesn't it? Who has inspired you the most?

In writing the Bible study, my niece, Ann Marie Stewart, has inspired me the most. My study is part of AMG Publishers “Preparing My Heart” series. Ann wrote the first three books in the series on preparing for Advent, Easter, and motherhood. As I wrote the fourth one on grandparenting, Ann mentored me throughout the process and answered questions. But my biggest encourager in writing is my husband, Milt Harris. He’s the president of my FAN club.

When it comes to writing in general, two organizations and their conferences have been invaluable: Northwest Christian Writers’ Association (http://www.nwchristianwriters.org/) and Oregon Christian Writers (http://www.oregonchristianwriters.org/).

Would you explain how you “chose” (or were chosen by) a publisher? Do you just go “eeny, meeny, miny, moe?”

I met Dan Penwell, editor at AMG Publishers, at the Oregon Christian Writers conference and saw him there year after year. Since my niece had written Bible studies for AMG Publishers, I asked Dan if he was interested in a study for grandparents. He was. But it took me years to research the topic and write a proposal. When I finally submitted it to Dan, he was seriously ill and soon retired. He left my proposal on his desk. Before long, his successor contacted me and sent a contract to write the study. God’s hand and timing were evident in it all.

Now that you’re published, can you sit back and relax from the success you’ve experienced?

I’m thankful I could prepare a tool for God’s use. But sitting back—no. Just as new babies need care and nurturing to grow and develop, authors need to invest in their new books to make them visible and help sales grow. I spend time networking, speaking, and doing many things to promote my book.

Besides book promotion, I continue to write short pieces, such as recipes and my tea column. I’m also working on other book projects. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” I want to complete what God has prepared in advance for me to do. And that doesn’t seem to include sitting back.

Do you mind telling us some of your likes and dislikes? Hobbies, interests?

I love to serve tea and go out for tea. For our fortieth wedding anniversary, my husband suggested we go for tea for-tea (forty) times in the next year. It took us 2 1/2 years, but we reached our goal of forty tea outings. I enjoy spending time with Milt, my husband of 44 years.

Of course, our five grandchildren, ages one to twelve, light up our lives. One was born while I wrote this book. It’s our privilege to spend time with them and intentionally pass on our faith. Later in August, we’ll have the four older ones here for a sleepover and celebrate their spiritual birthdays together. My study includes dozens of creative ideas like this one, which combine fun and faith.

Reading, writing, cooking, and music bring joy. Worship and building relationships with family and friends is also a high priority.

You have many of the same loves that I do. Finally, would you give us your blog or Web page so everyone can check it out? Anything else you’d like to share? Promotional information?

You can learn more about my book at www.PreparingMyHeart.net. Under “free,” you’ll find a complete table of contents and sample pages of the study. Grandparent’s Day is September 11, and this book would make a great gift for grandparents. The book can be used alone, with a spouse, or in church and community groups. It’s a wonderful tool to spur each other on to pray for grandkids, invest in their lives, and pass on a godly legacy. Grandparents can learn and grow in their roles as they study it alone or together.

Although this was the hardest writing assignment I’ve ever done, I felt privileged to complete this God-sized project. Now it’s a joy to see God use it to impact future generations. To God be the glory!



Thank you so much, Lydia, for visiting this week! I think your book sounds fantastic!
Readers, if you are a grandparent, becoming one, or just would like to give away this book, please leave your comment and email address.

Blessings!