Bits & Pieces of Me

Monthly Archives: December 2011

Biblical Submission – A Guest Post by Zeke

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When Zeke’s publicist approached me about a guest post and interview, I was hesitant for a moment – submission is a struggle for me. I know it’s in part because it’s been “mis-preached” to me, and I was nervous about another person cramming the wife/woman submission thing down my throat. (Just so you know: the church Jon and I go to doesn’t cram anything down anyone’s throat although our pastors preach the truth without apology.)

That’s not what Zeke gave me in this guest post or in the interview that will be posted here on December 27th.

Welcome to my blog, Zeke! I look forward to reading this book.

Biblical Submission

The idea of submission is both challenging and vulnerable. Whether it be as a child or teenager, the very moment we begin to develop opinions of our own, the struggle to submit begins. Why? Well, to borrow a saying from friends at Burger King, we want to “have it our way”. This struggle takes place between parents and children, husbands and wives, bosses and employees, and must unfortunately it occurs among Christians between us and our Lord.

Submission makes us feel vulnerable. We feel like we are letting down our guard and letting another person control aspects of our life that belongs to us. Therefore, we either refuse to consent or we obey begrudgingly. As we dissect this truth concerning submission, it is critical that we keep in mind that the core of the issue is clearly a spiritual battle. The enemy and our flesh know how powerful the Christian life can be when we operate under Biblical submission. In other words, when you and I properly submit to our authority, the enemy is frightened because we are aligning our lives in proper order to see the power of Christ magnified through us.

Yes, first and foremost, our commitment is submission to the commands, leading, and voice of the Father. This is clearly taught in the Scripture; for example: Romans 13:1-7 discusses subjecting ourselves to authority yet ultimately it revolves around subjecting yourself to God. Whether it is parents or governmental officials, God establishes all authority on this earth, and when we obey His command to submit to them, we submit to Him.

Properly aligning the authority in our lives leads to a level of Biblical submission that will look strange to this world. It is just not popular in our society. This world equates submission with weakness. This could not be further from the truth!

I have spent years of my life trying to control my direction. It created a life filled with frustration. Until I relinquished to the voice of God, I did not get to experience the fullness of Christ in my life. In order to properly submit to Jesus Christ, I had to drop all my securities and desires and fall back into His arms. Everyone around me thought I was going crazy and making very un-wise decisions. Little did they know that one step of obedience was going to radically alter my family’s life.

This brief testimony leads me to the final area I want to address in relation to Biblical submission, which happens to be the theme of my first book. Submission to the leading to our Lord is the most critical move we can ever make. Personally, I did not have an issue with submitting to earthly authorities as directed in God’s Word. My struggle was being willing to trust and release fully to His voice. If we would be willing, you and I can learn the most valuable lesson in life from perhaps the dumbest animal on the planet.

Read John chapter 10. Despite their complete inability to provide for themselves, sheep have grasped a principle that we desperately need: they follow only to the voice of their shepherd. In addition to following his voice, they quickly flee any strange or threatening voices. If Christians today would operate in this fashion, a level of submission would manifest in our lives that would change this world!

Zeke Lam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 To order Zeke’s book click HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

Thinking About Him

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I think I might be the only woman I know who doesn’t bake this time of year (or any time of the year!). I do decorate a little and buy a few gifts. I cook for both the big meals – baking just holds no interest for me. 

It’s not that I don’t like Christmas – I love it. My favorite part of the festivities is being with family – walking in the kitchen door at Jon’s Mom’s house on Christmas Eve and this year, having my family walk through my front door on Christmas Day. I get to be with some of the people I dearly love, eat yummy food, and hear some of the kids I love talk and laugh.

But, as good as all that is, it’s not enough. I want MORE.

Not more celebrating, or presents, or food, or even time with my loved ones. More of Him. He’s on my mind so often. Not in a giddy way or and although faith is involved, not in a religious sort of way.

What am I thinking? Well, a lot about the Baby who came on Christmas, then died on the cross, so we can have Easter. The Jesus fully committed to the Father’s cause: to save those who would choose to believe in Him.

With Him, this coming stuff seems to be a top priority. He came to save. He came back from the dead. He comes to dwell in the hearts that believe. He IS going to come again as the conqueroring King.

When I think about Him, I ponder His amazing grace still astonished  by His gift of salvation. I also wonder where I’ll be when He returns. Will I meet Him in the air? What will it look like when graves open up? What will it sound like when He says your name and mine? Where is He storing our tears? You know that book with all the names written down, who wrote them and if God did the writing, what does that look like? Where is the Ark of the Covenant – does He already have it? What are the names of all the stars? What does a storehouse full of wind or snow look like?

Someday, the only One with all the answers will tell me what I need to know. Until then, I’ll ponder and wonder and think about Him.

And, because I’m far from good let alone perfect, I’ll stumble, fail, sin, whine, and complain. Because He is who He is, He’ll let me, and then mercifully, He’ll forgive, comfort, teach, and remind me that His love is steadfast.When it comes to Jesus, there’s so much to think about.

So what do you think about when you think of Him?
 
 
 

 

What Do I Like to Write About?

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This is a question authors get hear all the time. Today my guest blogger, Naty Matos, shares her answer. Welcome Naty!

This is a very interesting question. I write both fiction and non-fiction. For the non-fiction side, I like to write about the reality of life. I think as human beings we spend too much time worried about the wrong things and wasting life that could be used in what really matters. Guilty as charged, I used to be a repeated offender and still every now and again I have relapses. A society filled with addictions, and compulsions tells me that we take each other too serious or not serious enough.

 

I like to show the lighter side of life. I remember the pastor at a church I used to attend who said that if the joy of life was taken out of you by your dirty floors, start looking at the ceiling. I’m sure that he didn’t mean that we should live in filth, but at the end of the day spending twenty extra minutes with your family it’s more important than vacuuming the floor right this minute.  And, that it’s easier to turn on some music and sing like a lunatic in traffic instead of having a stroke trying to yell at the car next to yours. I promise you the traffic will not move any faster, and you will do better without a stroke.

God created us for a purpose, and I don’t think we do enough to pursue that purpose, not understanding that when we tap into it, life feels so right. We believe we’re unequipped to do anything for others. I know; I have felt that way, and then I have to realize that I don’t equip myself, He does it for me. There’s so much that we can do, and we don’t realize it, something as simple as a smile to that knucklehead co-worker that is always grunting, trust me, give it time and prayer. He or she will change. Besides it must be very miserable to have an ulcer from being angry all the time. These are some of the things I highlight on my book Growth Lessons, including how the Word of God supports these principles.

On the fiction side of my writing, I like to write about life tragedies. With that I’m not saying that tragedy is fun or needs to be glorified, but it’s a reality of our lives. In the midst of the pain brought by our misfortunes many stay stuck and miss the opportunities that each life experience brings. Getting past the pain is not easy, but very possible. There’s not a single human being who cannot overcome something, but they need the right tools and the desire to do so.

Having had a share of difficulties in my life and seeing how God was there every step of the way, I can’t do anything but share that there’s hope and light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how bad it looks now. My fictional stories are filled with raw emotions, some graphic situations that are very real in our society: sexual abuse, domestic violence, divorce, losses, addictions, but with the hope that there is always a way out to a better life. Am I an eternal optimist? Not in the any sense of the word. But I’ve had the opportunity to see with my own eyes lives being transformed by the touch of the Lord, and it would be so selfish of me to hold that in and not share it.

For example, my next book, “The Door Home” which will be released in the spring of 2012, is the story of a woman looking for love in all the wrong places and suffering the consequences from her decisions. After overcoming several life obstacles with the help of her best friend, she finally finds the true love of her life, but she can’t be with him just yet.  She needs to figure out a personal dilemma to be able to be with her lover forever. The door home is the journey, she endures to open that door that will take her home to her beloved.

I share with people from all walks of life whose pain has kept them from receiving the love of God, and it grieves my heart. Through my writing, I think I can show that even in those dark places, there’s a ray of sunshine that was designed specifically for them. I certainly don’t have all the answers; I can only share what has worked for me and I can also show them the way to the one who does have all the answers.

Join Naty Matos and 9 of her author friends at Women’s Literary Cafe’s Christian Book Launch, December 13-15. Ten authors will discount their eBooks to just 99 cents. Buy 3 get 1 FREE!

http://www.womensliterarycafe.com/content/december-2011-book-launches

About Naty Matos

Naty Matos was born in the city ofNew York, from Puerto Rican descendant parents. She grew up in the beautifulIslandofPuerto Ricoand now lives in the city ofAtlanta.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Psychology with a Minor in Mass Media Communications and a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling.

Naty writes Christian fiction and non-fiction. She’s the author of the live changing devotional Growth Lessons. She maintains a blog on Christian Living Topics at www.therisingmuse.com

Growth Lessons on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Growth-Lessons-ebook/dp/B005WZ1BGK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321557564&sr=8-1

Naty Matos on Twitter @natycmatos

Naty Matos on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Naty-Matos/172298772847562

 

To order Naty’s book via amazon, click on the cover.

Christmas Belles of Georgia – A Review

Product Details(Click the cover to order via amazon)

I’ve been having fun reading romances this holiday season. I started with Blue Christmas by Diane Moody, then read the Christmas Belles of Georgia, and am in the middle of A Log Cabin Christmas.

The Christmas Belles of Georgia is a delightful contemporary novel about four sisters who meet for the first time at a plantation house on Christmas. . Each sister is written by a different author, and I enjoyed the very distinct voices of each character. We often say of siblings, “They couldn’t be more a like or more unique.” That’s true of Holly, Starr, Noel, and Carol.

Separated at birth, they are invited into each other’s life by their grandmother.
As with any good romance, there are also four young men in the story. I especially liked the way the authors wove integrity into the story. They didn’t shout it; they showed it.

The faith part of the story is shared without feeling like an add-on. Although I’m not a grandmother, this is the character I most connected with. As she learns about their beliefs, their grandmother celebrates God’s answer to her prayers. I found her faithfulness encouraging.

You can still order The Christmas Belles of Georgia in time for Christmas HERE.

More later,
Joy
Joy DeKok, Author, Speaker, Coach, & Social Media Manager
 

 

 

Pro-life Novel

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Want to learn more about why I wrote a pro-life novel?  Here’s a link to an interview where I told PR specialist  Penny Sansevieri. 

http://www.fascinatingauthors.com/?s=Joy+DeKok

 

 Part of the publisher’s press release:

Controversial novel brilliantly examines the volatile issues of abortion and infertility.

Rain Dance delves into the often silent battles and surprising hypocrisies found in the lives of women facing these two personal crisis.

Publisher and editorial director Joan Shoup contracted Rain Dance because it fits the editorial guidelines and the commitment of Sheaf House to publish novels written with excellence, that are unafraid to dive deep into the heart of sometimes “untouchable” topics, and offer a powerful redemptive message for readers.

“Rain Dance is the perfect fit for Sheaf House,” Shoup says. “The author has written a beautiful story her test readers and reviewers love. She didn’t shy away from the difficult and refused to end the novel with ‘happily ever after.’”

Author Joy DeKok comments, “I’m dedicated to writing with integrity – my faith demands it and the story, which is both plot and character driven, required it. I didn’t choose this topic. It chose me one day while I was cleaning the house. I told God I thought it was a great idea and I hoped He’d find an author for it. Although I argued with Him for almost a year, I realized, He already had His author. Me.”

Endorser Sue Liljenberg, International Director, of Healing Hearts Ministries says, “This book is a must read for all women. Although it is a fictional story the author has brilliantly captured the many issues that women struggle with and offers hope that can only be found in Jesus. She also shows how looking beyond our own circumstances can bring blessings into our lives and the lives of others. I’ve ministered to broken women for over twenty years and I’m thankful for resources like Rain Dance that will reach women who are hurting and give them hope.”

The Life of a Cowboy

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I am delighted to welcome my friend, Staci Stallings, back. If you’re looking for a new book to read, I invite you to consider Staci’s new release, Cowboy.

The Life of a Cowboy

by Staci Stallings

One of the most interesting things I’ve witnessed as an author is that not only does each story have an internal story–what it’s about, who the characters are, what happens, but each story also has its own “life story.”  The story of how it came to be and its journey in this world after it’s written.

Some stories are written and for whatever reason never leave my computer.  Others have a life outside in the “real world.”  Sometimes they get written about on blogs or reviewed.  Sometimes they are brought to booksignings or produced as blog books or sold as ebooks.

They are all different books and they each, kind of like children, have their own lives that are not within my ability to control or sometimes even determine.

One of the stories that has traveled with me lo these many roads is called, “Cowboy.”  This story was the fifth full-length novel I finished. I wrote The End on the last page in 1998.  What I didn’t know then was that was just the beginning for this book.

The story is simple enough:  heartbroken singer-songwriter superstar meets struggling waitress who doesn’t know who he is but only wants to help.

To be honest, I love this story.  I really do.  The message is so great–be kind, help each other out, and everybody needs a helping hand no matter how “successful” they might seem to be on the outside.

Weird things began happening with this book almost from its inception.  In early 2000, I had printed a full copy of it and put it into a notebook. One night, although we hardly ever do such a thing, my husband took me to a local concert by a very well-known country music star.  As I sat in the audience that night, it suddenly occurred to me that this was Ashton Raines, the hero of my book!

The white cowboy hat.  The wranglers.  The crowd.  The venue.  It all fit.  I couldn’t shake the feeling that God was literally trying to tell me something.  That night after we got home, at about two in the morning, I woke up and started thinking about how weird it was that I had now seen “Ashton Raines” in concert.  I started thinking about the book and decided to get up and read a little of the story.  As I read, I literally got goosebumps at how close the two concerts had been.

Then I heard it… raindrops.  That means nothing to you but I about freaked out. I looked at the clock and it was exactly the time in the book that Ashton had driven through the rain that night after his concert! Weird, right?

A few years later I got the opportunity to make that drive through those mountains that he made and the weirdest thing was how close it was to the drive I had pictured in my head.  There was only one slight difference and I got to fix it in the book before it went into print.

What I didn’t count on after it was released was how deeply this story would touch others or how far it would go.  I put it out in print in 2004.  It was my third in-print novel and the first by my new company, Spirit Light Publishing. The first comment I remember having about it was that I had grown so much as a writer from my first one published (weird because the first one was actually the sixth I had written–after I wrote Cowboy! But it had been edited to death on the way to readers’ bookshelves so…).

Then the stories of this book started coming in… I remember the mom who came up and said she was blown away by how I knew what to write in that book.  In a hurry at the time, I didn’t grasp what she was telling me until later.  She had lost her own husband to cancer–the very thing Ashton deals so poignantly with in the book.

In late 2006 I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to write the screenplay for Cowboy and enter it into the Kairos Prize Script Contest.  The day I mailed it off, we were going to the post office and I noticed a bus traveling just behind me on the Interstate.  That was strange because the closer it got, the more I knew… it was a tour bus!  The same kind Ashton rode around in during the book.  It had to be a sign, right?

Cowboy finished among the top 34 semifinalists out of over 500 scripts, and I thought maybe that was it for this book.  But I’m learning what we think of as the end is always just the beginning with God.  In 2011, I was given the opportunity to launch into eBooks, and upon the advice of someone who had already traveled that road, I chose what I considered to be the book that most represented me as an author.  The book that would be the leader for my publishing company and me in this new venue.  The book that would introduce my writing to audiences I’d never before dreamed about reaching.

That book was “Cowboy.”

So now as Ashton and Beth ride off into the hearts of a whole new “generation” of readers, I wonder where Cowboy will go next because I’m pretty sure this isn’t the end for this book.  In fact, it’s probably just the beginning.

 

 

Connect with Staci on Facebook
“Like” Staci on FB to find out about new books.
Follow on Twitter @StaciStallings
Spirit Light Books Blog

 

 

Thank you, Staci – for all you do for your readers and other writers.

Joy