Hold on.

A lovely friend recently gifted me with a copy of the newly-released She Reads Truth Bible. I’ve never read the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) before, but today, while looking up my favorite verse (requested for an interview–I wanted to make sure I was quoting it correctly) a subtle difference in wording grabbed my heart in a way that reminded me of my very real need to “hold on” and to be HELD—a theme in my novel Intermission, some of you may recall.

The verse is this:

“Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.” ~Isaiah 41:10 (CSB — emphasis mine)

Because I memorized this verse from the NIV a long time ago (Vacation Bible School, sometime around 3rd grade, I think) my eyes slid right over that subtle change, missing it the first (and second!) time through. In the NIV, the last part of the verse reads, “I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” — which is also wonderfully visual and comforting. The NIV version allows me to picture myself as completely supported, above the fray. Sheltered, hidden, and utterly protected.

But that is not the exact same picture the CSB speaks into my heart.

I didn’t catch it until I read the verse for the third time. But then?

Wham. Thunk. OH.

Oh, my. There you are.

Emmanuel, God with us.

With me.

I am in the midst of a season in which I have no choice but to walk blindly along paths I did not expect and to face beasts I don’t know how to fight—and some I cannot fight, but must befriend (or at the very least, find a way by which we can coexist along the rocky path.) Some days, the only thing I can see clearly is the swirling mire below, or the dark, open jaws of uncertainty, whose bared claws reach, reach, reach for my ankles, just waiting for me to slip and fall.

I’m not being held above the fray or apart from it. “Above the fray” is not an option. Escape, hiding . . . those words are not a part of my story right now.

BUT (I am such a fan of that word when used in God-context!) I am being held on to by a Divine Grip . . . and there is something undeniably, desperately sweet about knowing God is holding on to me with his righteous right hand as I stutter and trip and falter through this unwanted, unavoidable season.

“…I will hold on to you”

This truth is so sweet. I don’t mean sweet in a cute, “awww” kind of way. This is a deeper sweetness, an ambrosial, utterly satisfying strength on which I can depend. The taste of that sweetness, the knowledge of that grip, gives me the courage to squeeze his hand a little tighter today as I walk forward and through, unsure of my destination, but certain I am not alone.

I hope that wherever you are on your path, whatever beasts you’re facing for the first time—or the thousandth time—some of that sweetness finds you today.

Be held. Grip tightly.
Hold on.

S.

Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible and CSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Guest Post! Character Interview by Ralene Burke, author of ‘Bellanok: The Reluctant Savior’

Today I am pleased to welcome talented fantasy author (and social media maven!) Ralene Burke, who is here with a fun “interview” with one of my favorite characters from her novel, Bellanok: The Reluctant Savior, which is a delightful and unique offering among Christian fantasy novels.

Here’s a little bit about the book to wet your reader-whistle:

 bellanokanovelA haven for myths and legends . . . until evil discovers a way in.

With evil darkening the mountains to the north, the fairy queen, Fauna, must journey from the island realm of Bellanok to the modern world to find the man the Creator appointed to save their kingdom. A man she has been dreaming of her whole life. Brian is a down-on-his-luck pastor on the verge of giving up on God. He’s tired and frustrated–a failure. No sooner does he make a decision that jeopardizes his career than an unusual blonde woman shows up and tries to convince him he is some kind of savior. Fauna must open Brian’s eyes to a different reality, and Brian needs to embrace the haven’s secrets. If neither of them succeeds, Bellanok will succumb to evil and the world will lose all trace of innocence.

Interview with a Dragon

Guest Post by Ralene Burke

 

Interviewer: Well, folks, it’s been confirmed. We have our first official visitors from Bellanok. And joining us today is Roman, a dragon and Guardian of the queen of Bellanok. Thank you for being here.

Roman: (grunts)

Interviewer: Uh—right. Let’s get to the questions. Sources say that you are a dragon, but you look rather human to me. Do you switch between being a dragon and a human often? How?

Roman: Magic. I only switch when necessary.

Interviewer: What’s it like being a human?

Roman: It’s like wearing a suit that is 3 sizes too small.

Interviewer: Tight fit then.

Roman: (blank stare)

Interviewer: Tell us what it’s like working for the Queen of Bellanok?

Roman: Fauna is a capable and insightful leader. If it weren’t for those pesky dreams about a certain human …

Interviewer: Dreams?

Roman: Nevermind.

Interviewer: Obviously this is your first time in the good ol’ US of A. What do you think so far?

Roman: I’d rather not say. (leans forward) What’s the deal with the smells? Every street has different, conflicting scents. They are not even enticing! Except steak. Steak is good.

Interviewer: (looking a little disturbed) Well, I guess each person has their own preferences. No one thing can please everyone.

Roman: (rolls his eyes) Humans.

Interviewer: Getting to the more serious side. I understand your home is in danger.

Roman: It is.

Interviewer: Is that why you fled? Are you trying to keep the queen safe?

Roman: Fled? As is run away like a coward? (stands) I am no coward. If it weren’t for our mission, I would never have left Bellanok. I am a warrior.

Interviewer: (cowering a little himself) Pardon me, I just assumed.

Roman: That is the problem with you humans. You don’t think. You just react. (stalks around the set)

Interviewer: I apologize. Please, sit down. Let’s move on to another question.

Roman: I will sit when I want to sit. You, human, do not get to order me around like a common animal.

Interviewer: Well, I—

Roman: I should have never agreed to this. We are just wasting time. Time that is better spent seeking out the savior.

Interviewer: Savior?

Roman: (narrows his eyes at the interviewer) You are not privy to such information. Be gone with you.

Interviewer: (looking a little angry) But this is my show.

Roman: Indeed. (walks off set)

Interviewer: Well, that was Roman—the dragon—with a fiery temper to match.

(red fog drifts across the set and then begins to clear)

Interviewer: Wait. What is going on? No!

(fire blazes across the set)

Interviewer: I said I was sorry!

Ralene: Well, sorry, folks. Sometimes Roman can be a bit tough to control. Maybe we’ll try to get more out of him another time. In the meantime, check out Bellanok: The Reluctant Savior on Amazon! Available for Kindle or in paperback.

Roman: I’m not difficult. It’s you humans.

Ralene: Right. Whatever you say. Next time, I’ll make you wear a dress.

Roman: (growls)

Ralene: Don’t you growl at me. It’s not my fault you agreed to this interview. Yeah, don’t look at me like that. Sticks and stone may break my bones, but imaginary characters will never hurt me. (sticks out tongue) I mean—uh—you can check out the rest of the blog tour and enter for a chance to win one of the paperbacks on my website! Thank you for having us on your blog, Serena!

 

 

Find Bellanok on Amazon!

 

Photo by E.A. Hendryx

Photo by E.A. Hendryx

About the Author:

Whether she’s wielding a fantasy writer’s pen, a freelance editor’s sword, or a social media wand, Ralene Burke always has her head in some dreamer’s world. And her goal is to help everyone SHINE BEYOND! She has worked for a variety of groups, including Realm Makers, The Christian PEN, Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, and as an editor for several freelance clients. Her first novel, Bellanok, is available on Amazon!

When her head’s not in the publishing world, she is wife to a veteran and homeschooling mama to their three kids. Her Pinterest board would have you believe she is a master chef, excellent seamstress, and all around crafty diva. If she only had the time . . .

You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, or at her website.

 

Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt Stop #22

cfsh2016-1

Welcome to the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to start at Stop #1, and collect the clues through all 31 stops, in order, so you can enter to win one of our top 3 grand prizes!

  • The hunt BEGINS with Stop #1 at Lisa Bergren’s site.

  • Hunt through our loop using Chrome or Firefox as your browser (not Explorer).

  • There is NO RUSH to complete the hunt—you have all weekend (until Sunday, 11/6)! So take your time, reading the unique posts along the way; our hope is that you discover new authors/new books.

  • Submit your entry for the grand prizes by collecting the clue on each author’s scavenger hunt post and submitting your answer in the Rafflecopter form at Stop #31. Many authors are offering additional prizes along the way!

fall2016scavengerfulllist-1

It is my privilege to host talented historical fiction author Laura Frantz as my guest for Stop #22 of the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt this year. I first became acquainted with Laura’s beautiful style of writing when I reviewed her captivating novel, Love’s Reckoning for USA Today‘s Happy Ever After blog. Her next book, A Moonbow Night, is scheduled to release in January 2017.

Laura is here today to tell us about the inspiration for her book’s title… and to offer a little excerpt from the book. But first, here is the book description, from publisher Revell:

From the beloved author of The Frontiersman’s Daughter and Courting Morrow Little comes a new Kentucky novel…

a-moonbow-night-by-laura-frantzOn the vast, uncharted Kentucky frontier of the 1770s, Temperance Tucker has learned to be fleet of foot, accurate with her rifle, and silent about the past. But her family secrets complicate her growing attraction to a handsome Virginia land surveyor with a harsh history of his own. Will the hurts and hardships of the past prevent them from a fulfilling future?

With her signature sweeping style and ability to bring the distant past to vivid life, Laura Frantz beckons readers to join her in a land of Indian ambushes, conflicting loyalties, and a tentative love that meanders like a cool mountain stream.

What in the world is a MOONBOW?

Guest Post

by Laura Frantz

 

Photo by Laura Frantz

Photo by Laura Frantz

Ever since I was a little girl growing up in Kentucky, I’ve always been enchanted with the phenomenon of the moonbow, when mist and moonlight combine to create the night’s version of a rainbow. Known to occur in only two places in the world, Cumberland Falls in the Daniel Boone National Forest is one of them. I never dreamed I’d someday include it in the story, A Moonbow Night.

Perhaps my hero and heroine explain it best in this excerpt below…

 

“A moonbow?”

She faced him again, drawn by his earnest query. “It’s a wonderment, I’ll give you that, if the signs are right.”

“The signs?”

“A full moon . . . ample mist . . . patience.”

He studied the sky. “Patience I have. The moon looks fair enough. I don’t know about the mist.”

She smiled without wanting to. He’d removed his hat and angled it over his heart. Whether deliberately or without guile she didn’t know. The effect was the same. For a few lightheaded seconds she forgot her shift. Her tumbled hair. Her resistance.

“You could tarry awhile,” he said.

Well, our hero does tarry and our heroine joins him in a wilderness adventure rife with real historical characters and real historical events from 1777 Kentucke. I so hope you enjoy A Moonbow Night!

 

Author Laura Frantz photo copyright Kristin N. Johnson Photography

Author Laura Frantz
photo copyright Kristin N. Johnson Photography

Laura Frantz is an award-winning author of eight historical fiction novels. She is passionate about history and writes her manuscripts in longhand first. She lives in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky. Visit her at www.LauraFrantz.net, https://www.facebook.com/LauraFrantzAuthor and https://www.pinterest.com/laurafrantz/

 

Here’s the Stop #22 Skinny:

You can order Laura’s book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and CBD.

Clue to write down: Also, we

Link to Stop #23, the Next Stop on the Loop: Laura Frantz’s own site!

Before you go, check out this bonus giveaway from yours truly, Serena Chase!

One reader who enters via the Rafflecopter below will  receive: A travel mug, gourmet cinnamon tea (something the hero of my novel, Intermission, would adore!) and a signed paperback copy of Intermission,  as soon as it is available (it releases November 15th!) The winner will be announced November 7th 2016. Good luck! (Rafflecopter link/form below)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Unquenchable Love

The “Memory Lane” column of my hometown newspaper has 4 headings: 10 Years Ago, 20 Years Ago, 50 years ago, and 100 years ago. (It’s a small town and a small paper!) I was surprised, today, when my eye caught on my grandparents’ names on the first line under the 10 Years Ago heading. But as soon as I read the paragraph I was choked up — it was the story of when a fire destroyed the farmhouse in which they’d spent 60 of their 64 years of marriage.

Luckily, they were 2 weeks away from their planned return home from a winter spent living with my mom and dad when the house burned to the ground in the middle of that horrible, cold night. There was no loss of life, but… I still get choked up thinking of all the childhood memories my kids didn’t get to make (like I did), the heirloom photos, and the emotional pain that resulted for my grandparents, my mom, and my aunt over all that was lost that night.

We had Papa & Grandma here to love on for a few more years after the fire and my Grandma was an amazing prayer warrior on my behalf until the day Jesus took her home. But losing their home, with such a violent finality, was devastating, especially to my Swedish immigrant Papa, who worked so hard to make that piece of land, that home, not only a profitable Iowa farm, but a place where any kid, regardless of their relation to him, could feel at home and loved. Really loved.

TO READ THE REST OF THIS POST, PLEASE VISIT Edgy Inspirational Romance.