Running the Good Race

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air. But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: (1 Corinthians 9: 24-27a).

When I taught school, I used to coach my students who volunteered to run in a mini-marathon relay sponsored locally. Five runners would each run a leg and then hand the baton off to the next one, except for the last one, who crossed the finish line. They would return, panting, exhausted, and sometimes, holding their sides, but they would run again the following year. 

Paul talks about running a good race, too. He understood the discipline, the strain, and the perseverance it required. He reminds us that everyone runs the race of life, but only a few receive a prize, so we should run in such a way as to obtain it. Paul wasn't urging competition among believers; he was urging commitment. He wanted Christians to run with purpose, giving it their all for Christ, not half-heartedly or distracted by other things.

Later, near the end of his life, Paul could look back and say with confidence, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). That wasn't the boast of a man who ran perfectly, but of one who ran faithfully. He stumbled, he suffered, he faced opposition, yet he never quit. He kept handing the baton of the gospel to the next generation, and he kept pressing toward the finish line Christ had set before him.

We can learn from Paul's steady determination. The race God gives each of us may look different, but the call to endure is the same. We don't run in our own strength; we run in His. When the path feels long, or our steps grow weary, we remember that Christ runs beside us, strengthening us for every mile. And when we finally cross the finish line, it won't be our skill or speed that matters. It will be our faithfulness. May we run with confidence, keeping our eyes on Jesus, and finish well, knowing that He is with us all the way.

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Traveling with Books

We talk about readers getting to travel the world through books, but the same is true for authors. Writing lets me time-travel, be immersed in different cultures, and watch new landscapes unfold before me. I've always believed that serious authors can write about anything that inspires them. That's why, alongside my many historical novels. I've also written contemporary and even three Christian non-fiction books.

Most of my novels have been set in the United States, but that still gives me a wide canvas, and I've been in at least thirty-five states through my writing so far, and still counting. I also have five set in England, and I'll be starting another one in the next few days. I just finished a story set in the Great Smoky Mountains, and since I grew up with an Appalachian heritage, it felt like coming home. I had such fun with the book and that unique Appalachian dialect I know well. Now I get to step into a small Victorian-era town near Harrogate, England, and into a whole different world. But most of my books have been set in the Old West, and it continues to call to me, with more Western novels already in the works.

Every new setting inspires me as a writer and reminds me of why I love this work so deeply. Whether I'm wandering the rugged West, climbing the ridges of Appalachia, or strolling the cobbled streets of Victorian England, each story becomes its own journey -- one that I'm appreciative to travel and even more grateful to share. Wherever my next books lead, I hope you'll enjoy traveling there with me.

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 Catching on Fire

Early Christians were on fire for Jesus. They went forth with a boldness they'd never experienced before. They knew the importance of their mission, and they would not be extinguished. They hit the streets to deliver the gospel message and tell the good news of Jesus. The Apostle Peter preached, and 3,000 men were saved (Acts 2:41). It also happened earlier to the prophets. Jeremiah became discouraged and wanted to quit preaching, but he wrote that God's Word " was like a fire in his bones and he could not be silent (Jeremiah 20:9).

 The fire of God brings holiness. 1 Peter 1:16 tells us, "Be ye holy, for I am holy, says the Lord." We are called to pursue holiness, letting the fire of God purify us. When Isaiah saw the Lord, he recognized his sinfulness and cried out, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts" (Isaiah 6:5). An angel took a hot coal from the fire on the altar and touched it to his lips to make him clean.

The fire of God brought about many miracles. Ailing, afflicted people were healed because the apostles were empowered to do the same miracles that Jesus had done. But miracles didn't end in biblical times; many have occurred since then. One often-forgotten example happened in the 1920s and 30s. Missionaries and Chinese Christians shared the gospel message and experienced what became known as the Santung Revival. In one year, about 3,000 people were saved. One church went from 50 members to 1000. Six hundred girls and 900 boys from the mission school accepted Jesus. Revival spread.  A missionary's eyes were healed as a result of prayer and the anointing of oil. A woman paralyzed for 28 years was healed. A man who knew he was dying had already purchased a coffin and grave clothes, but after being healed, he sold them and donated the money to the church. When their sponsor back in the United States became skeptical and sent someone to investigate, the report came back urging them to leave the missionaries alone and let the fire of God continue its work. Books are full of other accounts where God worked great miracles through his faithful, fire-filled servants.

What about today? Is it still possible to have the fire of God? A pastor I know well reports on a missionary couple he personally knows who have a growing ministry. In 2025, over 360,000 people accepted Jesus through their work, and more than 1000 new house churches were opened.

So why don't more churches in the United States see this kind of miracle-working power? Is it that we are too skeptical? Do we really believe in the power of God working through his followers today? Do we fail to receive because we fail to believe? Perhaps we need the fire of God to heat us up from lukewarmness and set us ablaze again, sending us out to spread the gospel message and tell others about Jesus. What a difference we could make then!

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Blogging

Some people have a knack for sharing personal information and experiences and making it interesting. I don't. Give me an imaginative story or article to write any day. Therefore, when I first began publishing novels, I decided to forego the usual newsletters and start a blog instead. I knew I would be burdened with having to write regular newsletters.

For me, it was a wise decision. Although the growth of my blog has seemed slow, it's been steady, and it has ended up being phenomenal.  Since I began in 2014, I have had over 1.3 million page views. Last month, I had 220,289, and so far, this month has reached 157,779. I post twice a week. Monday's posts are always about books, writing, or publishing. On Thursdays, I share a Christian message. I invite guest blogs if any fellow Christian authors are interested. You can message me on Facebook.

Ranking in the most read blogs (in order) are: "Running from God" (about Jonah), "The Legend of the Dogwood," "Jesus' Journey to Jerusalem," "The Shepherd's Staff," "Hiding Like Adam and Eve," "Me Do It" (humbling yourself before God), "The Cornerstone," "Being Relevant," and "Grace and Obedience."

The blogs reach all around the world. It varies, but right now my top readership comes from (in order of the most readers first) Brazil, the United States, Iraq, Bangladesh, India, Argentina, Chile, France, Spain, and others. I'm truly amazed and pray that God's message is reaching those who need to hear it. I give Him all the credit, praise, and glory. I could do none of this without Him.

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Rooted

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving (Colossians 2:6-7).

God's creation is amazing. Take the redwood forest, for example. These towering giants can reach heights of  400 feet, and some have stood since long before Christ. Scientists estimate that one tree, known as the President, may be over 3,200 years old. A few are even wide enough to drive a car through.

What surprises many people is that these majestic trees have roots that only reach down about 7-8 feet, remarkably shallow considering their height. How do they stand upright for so long? Their roots are interwined with the roots of neighboring trees, giving them added strength. If they stood alone, they would have been destroyed long ago. And from a single cone, containing about 200 tiny seeds the size of a tomato seed, the next generation begins.

Christians could learn from the redwoods. We, too, must be rooted—firmly planted in God’s Word, grounded in His truth, and deeply connected with Him. We also need one another. When our lives are intertwined in Christian fellowship, we stand stronger against trials, temptations, and the storms that inevitably come. In addition, we should sow seeds of faith, hope, and truth wherever God places us. This is especially important in our own families, where we have the responsibility of passing on the faith to the next generation.

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He Leadeth Me

I am loving writing for the multiple-author series, Hymns to Stir the Heartstrings. There are so many possibilities, and the story ideas just keep coming. It's exciting to be part of something that blends beloved hymns with heartfelt, faith-centered fiction.

Each book title in the series is drawn from a traditional hymn. My first one, He Leadeth Me, just released. In it, widower Joseph McBride has resisted long enough. His little girl needs a mother, and the congregation expected their pastor to have a wife. Reluctantly, he writes to his aunt for help. A few weeks later, Christine Hanna steps off the train—lovelier than he imagined, but beauty alone won’t ease the burden of life in a parsonage. Could she withstand the constant scrutiny, the endless duties, the weight of being a pastor’s wife? As Joseph and Christine navigate faith, family, and the expectations of a small-town church, they discover that tests include facing the unpredictable, whether she can fill the role, and if their hearts can find a home in each other.

I just ordered the cover for my next book in the series, I Am Thine, O Lord. This story follows Alana Foster, a young woman who has spent years performing in her father's medicine show and warming up the crowd so they will buy his elixirs. It will come out in February, and I can't wait to share more about it as we get closer to its release.

He Leadeth Me is now available in print, Kindle, KU, and Audible, and I hope Joseph and Christine's story blesses you as much as it did me to write it. More hymn-inspired tales are on the way, and I'm thrilled to share them, one song, one story, and one heartfelt moment at a time. 

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Held by God

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

When we hold tightly and try to control everything ourselves, disaster often follows. Think of a handheld bell with a handle. Holding it loosely produces a melodious sound that is sweet and pleasing to the ear. The tighter we hold it, the more our arm stiffens, and it produces a clanking, discordant noise.

Life works much the same way. The more we strain to manage the outcomes, fix people, or orchestrate every detail, the more our hearts tense and our peace fractures. But if we loosen our grip, stop insisting on our own way, and trust God with the weight of what we carry, our souls begin to breathe again, and the melody returns.

When we approach life with a loose grip, letting God take the lead, life holds a sweetness that brings joy and spills over into the lives of others. We become a living testimony to the wonder of being surrendered to the Lord and letting His Holy Spirit guide us. What a wonderful way to live!

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him... (Psalm 37:7).

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