Catherine Brakefield: Writing with a Passion for America's Christian History

Catherine Brakefield is a published author of two non-fictional history books, and two inspirational historical romances, The Wind of Destiny and Wilted Dandelions. She has free-lanced for numerous newspapers and magazine publications. She has had many short stories published. A few are:  CrossRiver’s The Benefit Package and God’s Promises scheduled for fall 2015 publication. Revell’s The Dog Next Door, and The Horse of my Heart scheduled for early October, 2015.

Catherine lives in Michigan with her husband, Edward, of forty years and her Arabian horses. Her children are grown and married. She and Edward are blessed with three grandchildren.

Cathy, it’s great to have you at my blog today! I am so glad to have gotten to know you through the Great Lakes Chapter of ACFW. I truly appreciate your perseverance. Could you share with us some of the surprises you’ve encountered along the road to publishing? 

First of all, I would like to thank you for inviting me. I feel so very blessed and honored to be here and I pray there is something for everyone in my answers. Not everything I say or write in this blog will be of value to you, but dig out the editable and just throw away the bones and keep the meat, so to speak.

Now back to your question. I think the most surprising part of publishing road is how long it takes to get to the end!  I never knew that so much went into the publishing process.  It took a year from signing the contract and then the process of book covers, endorsements, edits and more edits before the proof is complete. Yet, I must admit, looking back, it seems a blur. I really still cannot believe Wilted Dandelions is out!

Please tell us something about your latest novel, Wilted Dandelions.

Wilted Dandelions begins in April, 1837, during the high peak of America’s Second Great Awakening, when tent revivals sprang up like mushrooms, and preachers would preach sometimes for three days nonstop.

Spinster Rachael Rothburn is stirred by what she feels and believes God wants her to become a missionary in the west. She is determined to share the love she felt when she accepted Jesus as her Savior and after hearing Reverend McCray talk about the Native Americans of the Rocky Mountain region, she sends her letter to the missionary alliance asking to be one of the missionaries going west.

Then she learns that the missionary alliance will only allow married couples. Well, there are no suitors knocking on her door and Rachael’s dreams look impossible to fulfill! When Jonathan Wheaton, another missionary hopeful learns of the restrictions, he is desperate to find a wife. So he offers Rachael a marriage of convenience.

She is forced to agree to a loveless marriage with a man she only just met. She receives Jonathan’s proposal through her father and so Rachael and Jonathan sets off for Oregon to share Jesus with the Native Americans. They battle sickness, raging rivers, hostile Indians and treacherous mountain passes. After Rachael escapes from a Native American, Rachael discovers she’d grown to trust and love Jonathan. But she wasn’t sure exactly how he felt. She comes to realize the deep, deep depth of   God’s love.  That it wasn’t just a coincidence that Jonathan came along when he did. No, an almighty and loving God doesn’t create coincidences—He designs possibilities.

What drew you to set Wilted Dandelions during the second Great Awakening in our country’s history? 

Because the Second Great Awakening was God inspired, you know it started in a little town called Cane Ridge, Kentucky in 1802. Then in 1803, France decides to sell the United States of America all the land they owned west of the Mississippi River. This treaty was known as the Louisiana Purchase and this purchase doubled the size of the United States. Was it just a coincidence that the Second Great Awakening started in America one year before the Louisiana Purchase? I do not believe so; I believe it was Divine Intervention. God was directing this country established “Under God” to becoming the great evangelistic hub for the entire world.

This Great Awakening brought the missionaries willing to sacrifice their wealth and lives to travel through the unknown in order to save the souls of those Native Americans living in darkness. It was here, at one tent revival with the odors of perspiring bodies and moldy canvas, the Bible thumping preacher caused such echoing cries that Spinster Rachael Rothburn found meaning for her quintessential life kneeling in the dirt floor, asking Christ’s forgiveness. You know Rachael was a regular church participant, yet she had never felt the Holy Spirit in her brick and mortar church like she felt the Holy Spirit in that smelly tent.

What or who inspired you to write inspirational fiction?

Gee, that is a good question. Really, I haven’t thought about it. I always liked to read, and I always wanted to write my own novel. But, honestly, I think the whole writing thing grew when I knelt down before the television set one evening after listening to a Billy Graham telecast.  I, like Rachael, had always gone to church. I was a catechism teacher for a couple of years.

Yet, that night, when I knelt before my television set and repeated Billy Graham’s words, I have to admit, something stirred me.  That confession did something inside of me. I know that because I began looking forward to reading the Bible every day. Everything took on a new meaning for me. I even got re-baptized! I loved it. I loved anything that was Christ related. That’s when the idea to write inspirational fiction took hold. 

How does that keep you plodding ahead with your writing each day?

I try to commit my writing and my words as if writing for Jesus. I always start out telling him, especially when I’ve received another rejection letter or e-mail, “Well, Lord, are you sure you want me to write? I really want to know Your will. If you do, please be my guide and don’t let this rejection upset me for long.

If it is Your will that I do write, I don’t want to play god with my characters, I want you to use me as Your instrument. Make my characters real and tell me how, Lord. Show me what you want my readers to learn through my characters. In thy name I pray, that thy will be done. Amen!   

Thank you, Cathy, for joining us at Novel PASTimes. It has been a privilege to interview you. I look forward to reading Wilted Dandelions. Thank you for sharing this beautiful testimony of

your writing. 

Connect with Catherine Brakefield in the following places:

You can e-mail her at catherineulrichbrakefield@yahoo.com

Find out more about Wilted Dandelions at: Facebook.com/CatherineUlrichBrakefield 

Cathy is giving away a copy of her book, Wilted Dandelions here this week. Leave a comment, join this web site or Tweet one of the tweets below, each for a chance to win. Come back next Friday for the announcement.

Tweet this: Heard of the Second Great Awakening? @CUBrakefield Read about it in Wilted Dandelions #ChristianHistory #BookGiveAway

Tweet this: Catherine Brakefield @CUBrakefield prays to write for Christ’s glory #writer #ChristianHistory

Tweet this: Like Christian romance? Catherine Brakefield @CUBrakefield is giving away, Wilted Dandelions. #SweetRomance #BookGiveaway

Three Steps to Connect with God

1) Have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. People get hung up on religion, but knowing God is all about relationship. Jesus came to earth as a man and died in my place (and yours) on the cross, because I am a sinner. Being a sinner means I’ve missed the mark. If you’ve broken one of the 10 commandments, you’ve probably broken all of them, even in just your thoughts. Jesus said what a man thinks, he does in his heart. "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." (Mt. 5:19-20)

Tough to hear, but I’m right there with you. Jesus bridged the gap by becoming the ultimate perfect and holy sacrifice to wash away our sins and rising from the dead, He showed He has ultimate power over life and death. 

Recognize you’re a sinner and ask for God’s forgiveness. Receive His gift of grace, that only Jesus can give—forgiveness and salvation, which He paid for. 

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:7-10)

2) Read the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. The Bible is God’s word given to man. This holy book is God’s side of the conversation and how He communicates with us. Do you need comfort? Read Psalms. Psalms 23 and 103 are good places to start. Do you want to understand the historical and spiritual origins of humankind? How religion/relationship began? Read Genesis. Do you want to better understand who Jesus is and the salvation He brings? Read the Gospel of John. Do you want to learn more about humankind’s destiny? Read Revelation.

Any or all of these books are the proverbial tip of the iceberg. There are 66 books in total, filled with His story, covering the full spectrum of life.

3) Spend time in prayer. Talking to the Lord is our half of the conversation. “Why?” do you ask, if God knows my thoughts, do I need to pray? Parents of young children know what they need and often what they want, but there’s nothing sweeter than hearing these things they wish to confide. The Lord, as well, wants us to come to Him, realizing He is what we need. We are strengthened by our prayers. He inhabits our praises!

Deciding to receiving the Lord into your life, by His grace, is inarguably the most important decision you will ever make—it’s a decision for eternity. He’s always there for you. As in any relationship, we must converse: listen and communicate to maintain our closeness. Will you make a move to connect with God? He’s waiting!

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)

Seeing Through a Lens Darkly, and Someday, Clearly

But I’m too young for cataract surgery! My parents hadn’t had theirs done until they were well into their seventies. I’ve also had glaucoma. I’m not sure why my eyes seem to insist on aging faster than the rest of me. However, when it became evident even a new prescription for my glasses didn’t make it any easier for me to read, the ophthalmologist started coaxing me to think about cataract surgery.

In theory, the likely results sounded great. Since I’m used to mono-vision with my contact lenses, my doctor suggested that I have one intraocular lens placed for close up and one for distance. This sounded all well and good, except for one thing: This would be PERMANENT! And what if I wouldn’t be happy with the results? Besides, who likes pointy things near their eyes while under light sedation? I was wondering just how light the sedation would be and what if it hurt like the laser trabeculoplasty I’d had done for glaucoma in the same eye?

Not many people my age, fifty-mumble years old, have gone through cataract surgery, though I did find a couple of people I knew, some who were older and some who were younger when they had it done. Besides, I kind of liked the idea of keeping the things God made rather than replacing them.

I had prayed that the Lord would close the door if I wasn’t supposed to have the procedure done. A couple of days before my surgery was originally scheduled, I became ill. So I switched my first eye surgery to be done the day my second eye was supposed to be. The Lord knew I wasn’t mentally or emotionally ready.

Come May 6, I was ready, though still a bit nervous, and embarrassed to be having the procedure done at my age. There was no pain during the procedure and I was only slightly aware of people talking and different colored lights from the microscope they used to perform the surgery. Two days later my eye is feeling a little scratchy and is still blurry, but healing a little more each day. I’m not nearly as apprehensive about having the surgery on the other eye in a few weeks.

Image by Frank C. Muller
This is one example of an intraocular lens (IOL).

What has amazed me is although my right eye is still blurry, colors look more vibrant and the light seemed brighter. Of course, that could also be the experience of spring coming to Michigan after emerging from a harshly cold winter. However, I’m looking forward to the crystal clear sight which is coming soon and especially after both eyes are done. This reminds me of I Corinthians 13:12: For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as also I am known. In ancient times, Paul was referring to a mirror. Back then a mirror was often made of polished metal, not as clear at the mirrors of today. However, we could look at the imperfect lenses in our bodies the same way. Usually, with exceptions of those who are born with cataracts or develop them at an early age, the lenses within our eyes become cloudy and can cause blindness as we age.

In the same way, we can’t see heaven, the future or God’s face. For we walk by faith, not by sight as it says in 2 Cor. 5:7, but some day we shall truly see Him face to face. All His promises will come to fruition and we will see the place He prepared for us. As we were finishing a study of Revelation in Community Bible Study this week, verses three through five of Chapter 22 were so precious for me to read:

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever.

Eventually my eye will heal completely and I will read without trouble. Once my left eye is done and healed I’ll be able to drive without glasses or a contact lens. How wonderful having crystal clear vision will be. However, nothing will compare to seeing my Lord Jesus clearly, face to face! All our suffering will make sense, we’ll be given an eternal reward, and have forever to enjoy being with our God. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!

@kathleenrouser Looking forward to seeing His face.

Jesus is the True LIGHT

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

(John 1:1-17, KJV)

As wrapping paper and gift tissue flies as we tear into the presents others have

thoughtfully given, I pray that we will remember the greatest gift of all: Jesus

Christ, God's Son who became flesh for us and took on the sins of humanity

in His death on the cross. No longer veiled in flesh as a human baby, now He

is the resurrected Lord. 

Have you received the gift of salvation, which while Jesus paid dearly for it,

He offers it freely to you? All your troubles won't dissolve, but you can have

confidence that your sins are forgiven and you have hope for a new, eternal life

in Christ! Ask for his forgiveness and give your life to Him!

Lilybits and I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas!

L -- 12/24

Monday Motivation - Shaken?

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

(Psalms 46:1-3, KJV)

 These verses struck me as I read them this morning. Most of the people I know have never experienced a major earthquake or tidal wave, but there are still things in life which can rock us to the core.  One day our loved ones are healthy and the next day they’re in the hospital. Accidents, illness, surgery and death can seem to shake our foundations.

When those we love pull away and stop communicating, sometimes for no apparent reason, we feel bereft. Family members say hurtful things which you never expected. These things fuel emotions such as anger and hurt. I struggle with not letting these things turn to bitterness . . . or dealing with them after the bitterness has crept in. Betrayals, unkind words, these are the things which pierce our hearts.

Sometimes we ask, “why?” We wonder when we feel we’ve tried our best to live the right way that these things happen to us, whether physical or emotional. I do know this one thing: Through the storms and earthquakes of life, Jesus is there for His own. He will be our refuge and our strength when we turn to Him!

Worthy of Praise . . . and Trust!

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness . . . I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor, and your wonderful miracles. (Psalms 145:3,5)

I remember when I was in my 20s and driving down the road after a storm. I was a young mother and feeling rather overwhelmed, so I was a bit down. It was one of those days you could smell the rain and the wet earth meeting together in the cool breeze. A beautiful rainbow appeared, arcing across the gray sky in well-defined, vibrant bands of color.

And I remembered the promise God made to Noah, telling him that the rainbow in the sky was a sign for all mankind that He wouldn’t destroy them again with a flood. I love the book of Genesis and seeing the rainbow made me feel closer to the Lord at that moment. I felt like the Lord knew I needed some encouragement and perhaps put that rainbow there just for me. At the time it seemed like a miracle.

Miracle is actually defined as “an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause,” according to Dictionary.com. The Lord may not have moved a mountain or healed anyone in my presence that day I saw the rainbow, but the cheer it brought my heart felt like a miracle, like the Lord was speaking directly to me.

Little finite me can see the wonder, the beauty, the splendor in creation, knowing that it takes an awesome God, bigger than anything He made, to put a rainbow in the sky or a majestic sunset. He’s omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent! Jesus is the Word who created the heavens and the earth, everything was created through Him and he gave life to everything living! In other words, everything God has done is doing or will do is beyond my comprehension. What is an every day thing for the Lord seems like a miracle to me.

If I look at my problems compared to the vastness and greatness of God, I realize that He can handle them much better than I can. Those thoughts don’t necessarily take away the pain or make things seem easier, but it may help me with the eternal perspective. Later in Psalms 145 it talks of God’s mercy and compassion, His unfailing love, the same love Paul talks about in Romans 8:38-39: And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NLT)

A God of such holiness, greatness, glory, splendor and love has the power to forgive sins, to heal, to perform miracles, even if the miracle is the grace to endure the problem one day at a time, just as He showed me the rainbow when I needed it the most.

Father, thank You for the every day miracles and for loving us unconditionally. Help us to take our problems to You and depend on You for healing grace and mercy. Help us to have an eternal perspective.

May Saturday Spiritual Uplift - Ants in the Pantry!

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (Eph. 6:13-18, NLT)

Something moved. I saw it from the corner of my eye. For a moment I excused it as a shadow, but I had a hunch it was more than that. After I had pulled a couple of napkins from their basket in the pantry I stopped and lifted it—and screamed. Jointed black dots on a hodgepodge of legs scrambled from the disturbance and the light—ants. I soon discovered they were actually foraging the honey, which had dripped onto the shelf in a couple of spots. One of those sticky places I had inadvertently overlooked.

I pulled everything off that shelf and the next. Soon my countertops were covered with bags and boxes from rice to cereal, canned goods, crackers and more. What a mess! I peeled fairly new paper off the shelves. I wiped down anything remotely sticky, tossed out anything that hadn’t been sealed properly and was sweet. I bagged up the remains and waited.

We had squashed as many ants as we could catch, but still, some hid in the crevices. I had scrubbed the shelves clean, and each evening a few less ants returned. After a few days of enduring messy counter tops, I was able to place clean shelf paper and rearrange the cupboards, returning the contents. Every evening I was on ant patrol. Each day I found less of them and eventually I sprinkled cayenne pepper on the shelves to keep them away, which seemed to help.

Me. Against. The ants. Though I have a bigger brain and more brawn, the ants had been a formidable foe, an irritation to overcome in their relentless pursuit of honey. Even the Lord told us in Proverbs 6:6: Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
 Learn from their ways and become wise!

We have a greater foe in the spiritual realm, an invisible foe: A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Eph. 6:10-12, NLT)

Yet God is so much greater than the devil and his army. We have an infinite resource in in the Holy Spirit. He battles on our behalf in ways we can’t even fathom. Invisible ways. Sometimes, when our prayers our answered, the veil is peeled back and we see the victory that Jesus has won. Perhaps someone we’ve been praying for many years comes back to the faith or newly finds it, loved ones are freed from the grip of deceit or addiction, marriages are restored; we ourselves, have our eyes opened anew to truth. Perhaps the Lord gives us supernatural grace to endure something in a way we didn’t think possible. Whatever it may be, we have a glimpse of victories in a holy, invisible realm. How much more haven't we seen of the Lord Jesus, commander-in-chief of His own army, winning on our behalf?

Don’t give up hope or quit the battle. The Lord’s power is so much greater than
the accuser of the brethren, infinitely more so than my power over the ants,
for which I am very thankful.

Lord, please help us to put on Your armor each day, to remember that Your power is beyond all others and to know that You are always with us, fighting our battles. Help us to rest in You. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Fixing Our Gaze

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

 (II Corinthians 4:17-18, NLT)

Does your gaze need fixing? Mine often does.

Sometimes life seems to be all mapped out and I’m comfortable with where things are. When my sons were little, they might have been underfoot quite a bit, especially with home schooling, but I knew where they were. I knew what the lesson plan was for the day and sometimes before four o’clock in the afternoon, what we were actually having for dinner. While there were days not enough seemed to get done, we had a routine of sorts. Yet life was never boring. We had plenty of  “interruptions." My parents needed care and we had to move them a few times. My husband, Jack, fell off the roof and broke many bones, landing in a wheel chair for six months. Later, Jack’s parents needed help. And in between there were the soccer games, art and music lessons, church activities, etc. Dogged by a lack of energy to begin with, I struggled to catch my breath and keep some semblance of order each day.

“Interruptions” can also take place in the lack of activity. As things seemed to be moving along in my career, I recently had a job with the right hours and the right distance from home . . . and then I was laid off. I had also felt plugged into a small spiritual community a couple of years ago, which was a great support to me, but I had to let go of when I returned to school and then again when I was working. Friends and family move away; we lose people we love. Life can change in a month or a moment. Suddenly we’re in the desert, when we least expect it—parched and alone.

Whether I was struggling to have enough energy to care for others, beyond the usual demands or being asked to sit still in the quiet, I am at a crossroads where the Lord asks, “Will you trust me for the answers?” Either I am leaning on Him for strength or wisdom—or both. I can choose to see such interruptions to my plans as mountains to climb in my own strength or I can see them as momentary troubles to help me focus on Christ and His will for my life. I can learn compassion and patience or give myself sleepless nights filled with worry.

The Lord allows for our best-laid plans to not always turn out for a reason. Our faith is
tested to help it grow. How we react and live through our troubles can give God glory when we do things right. We have an eternal hope in the unseen realm. Earthly troubles last for a short time compared to the eternity we will live with God in His glory. I don’t know just exactly what that will entail. Jack used to tell the kids when they were little that he was sure there would be ice cream in heaven. As much as I like ice cream, I have a feeling it’s going to be even better than that.

Lord, please help me to have the right heart attitude and to do a better job of waiting on You for guidance for the days ahead. Amen.

Saturday Spiritual Uplift - If There Were No Resurrection?

And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.  In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. (1 Cor. 15:16-20)

When we were children, we had to take some things on faith. When Mom and Dad left you with a babysitter, but promised to return, we knew they were coming back (unless you had some tragic circumstances in your childhood).  When Mom told me to eat my vegetables, because they were good for me—besides, I wouldn’t get dessert unless I ate them—I choked down my mushy peas. When Dad said he’d hold onto me in the pool and that I would be okay, I had to learn to trust him until I could stand up in the water or swim on my own. We had to take a lot of things by faith when we were children and it was easier then to have childlike faith.

So many people question the greatest miracle of all time—the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Yet there were plenty of eyewitnesses. And Jesus showed others he could raise people back to life before his death by bringing back Lazarus and others. Those that question are more willing to believe that planets formed spontaneously rather than believe they were created with loving order

and that Jesus, the Living Word, who through all things were created, actually made them. Which takes more faith?

The apostle Paul says we are “more to be pitied” than anyone in the world if Jesus hasn’t been raised from the dead.  For if Jesus has no power over death, how can he wash away our sins and forgive us, giving us new spiritual life? Jesus said that those who didn’t see, but still believed would be blessed. We don’t get to physically see the risen Christ in this world. We have to take it on faith and that faith is a gift from God. If you so willingly question God about whether the resurrection is real, why don’t You ask God to give you the faith instead—faith to see and believe the precious accounts of Jesus’ death and resurrection, to trust Him for the forgiveness of sins?

Followers of Christ need not be pitied, for the tomb is empty: He is risen! He is risen indeed! 

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.  (Romans 10:9-10)

Saturday Spiritual Uplift (on Sunday!) - What's Following You?

What’s Following You?

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6)

The book of Psalms is filled with songs of worship, prayers poured out to the Lord which are filled with emotion. Penned by David, Asaph and others, they record the full spectrum of human emotion. When I’m feeling down and having trouble trusting the Lord, I often turn to this book of the Bible. I read, asking the Lord to speak to me. When I come to a verse that may encourage me to be more grateful, calls me to repentance, assures me of His unfailing love, or something else meaningful, I stop to ponder it, often underlining the most important words.

When everything seems wrong with the present, I can take comfort in the future knowing He has promised I will “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” David also  said, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life . . .” There is the observable, but yet sometimes unseen hand of the Lord working on our behalf. While I may sometimes feel discouraged, I don’t know what tragedy He has prevented in my life. And I have family, especially my precious husband, and friends who God provides along the journey of life. How often do I discount His love, goodness and mercy, taking it all for granted?

Amazing isn’t it that His goodness and mercy follows us always? But do we diligently

follow our Shepherd and stay near to Him each day?

Heavenly Father, please open my eyes to your work in my life. Help me to be thankful for your steadfast love, to not take for granted that your goodness and mercy follow me throughout my life. Amen.

I'm back from vacation! On Monday, Writing, Whimsy and Devotion will return to its regularly scheduled posts. Thanks for your patience. 

Hungry Yet? (Saturday Spiritual Uplift)

When David wrote Psalm 23 I wonder what
he had in mind when he wrote You prepare a feast for me 
in the presence of my enemies. Was an army marching toward him while he was out having a picnic? Was he having a great feast after a battle victory? Or is he talking about the sheep—munching the grass safely while the shepherd fended off the wolf? What does this look like in our world? I realize it’s symbolic, but I wondered about believers suffering in poverty and persecution. Is there a feast available to them?

My conclusion was even in trying circumstances, I have a feast available to me in God’s Word and in talking with Him through prayer. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty . . .” And John describes Jesus as the Word in the beginning of his gospel: 

In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Reading the Bible, times of prayer and fellowship with God nourish the spirit, giving us direction, even if He’s asking us to be still, trust and wait on Him. Read the Psalms and He repeatedly whispers of His unfailing love and care for us. In the work of the Holy Spirit we are led to truth and He helps us in our weakness. Jesus left us a gift of peace: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

The eternal part of us is strengthened and we have hope again, so that we continue to live for Christ, body and soul. Romans 8:35 and 37 says: Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? . . . No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 

Jesus is always with His children and makes spiritual food available to us daily. The question is: Am I hungry enough to partake? Or has my heart at times grown cold and self-sufficient?

Heavenly Father, please keep my heart soft to hear the voice of your Holy Spirit and open to see your work. Help me to be hungry for your Word and wisdom, to be closer to You and more like Jesus.