Sacrifice and Service

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

We know that we are going to have some trouble and problems in life. Everyone does. But if we surrender our lives to God, He will bring good, even from the difficulties. They can develop us, make us stronger, and grow our faith. They refine us for better service.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1).

Jesus set the example for His followers to sacrifice for the sake of others. He gave of His time and energy to help those in need. The strange thing about this type of sacrifice is that it brings a special sense of well-being and satisfaction. In the end, we feel as if we've gained more than we've given.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name (Hebrews 13:15).

When we live in praise and thanksgiving to God and service to our fellowmen, we are following in Jesus' footsteps. We'll also find ourselves happy and fulfilled in a special way. God will guide you in the ways he wants you to serve. The key is to be willing and ready. How willing and ready are you?

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Newspapers in Early Western Towns

Another important business in any Western town was the newspaper office. Not only was it an important source for news and community updates, but in a place where entertainment was limited, it served that purpose too. Some Old West newspapers had interesting names, such as The Tombstone Prospector, The Pick and Drill, The Epitaph, and The Territorial Enterprise. In 1880 Town, in Midland, South Dakota, the newspaper was called The Western Star.

Depending on the size of the town and the situation, the newspaper might be published often or at longer intervals. Of course, the cities and larger towns tended to have daily papers, and in the smaller towns, they came out weekly or sometimes less. In the 1800s, most newspapers in the West came out weekly. Sometimes, the editor/owner did most of the work himself, and some had a staff, the number depending on the size and financial resources of the newspaper.

In my novel set in California in 1888, Tessa's Time, Tessa's uncle owns a newspaper, and she writes for him under a pseudonym. However, although she enjoys the newspaper work, she really wants to be a novelist, and she continues to work on her manuscript. She's sent to interview the new violinist who's come to San Francisco for the summer, and she's surprised by how much he impresses her. But can she realistically continue her career plans and be courted, and would he want that? Most men she's met don't approve of their wives working.

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Christian Service

. . . for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great (Luke 9:48c).

The Bible is clear that Christians should be about service -- service to God and service to one another. All of God's people are to become disciples and minister to one another. Of course, we aren't all called to serve in the same way. Some serve in positions where they are easily noticed, while others remain in the background. Both are important servants if they are following God's will for their lives.

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).

Although Jesus was a King, the Son of God, he modeled how to be a servant. The Romans and many people of that day considered being a slave or servant very demeaning. However, Jesus taught the opposite. Those who have been servants on earth, obeying God's call on their lives, will receive the greatest rewards in heaven. And contrary to what the world believes, those with a servant's heart are the happiest people on earth. It really is more blessed to give than to receive, and this is talking about more than just money.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 7:21-23).

Paul was another example of a servant. He gave up an important position with the Pharisees to become a servant of Christ after His experience on the road to Damascus. Rumors had it that he was positioned to become the high priest of the Sanhedrin. By becoming a servant, he sacrificed much and went through great hardships and difficulties to serve others. He went from the luxuries of an important leader in Jerusalem to roughing it as he trekked to remote regions and strange lands on his missionary journeys; yet, he was happier and more content than he'd ever been.

We can serve wherever God plants us. How much of a servant are you?

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The Bank in 1880 Town

Of course, the bank is an important part of any town. In 1880 Town, the reconstructed Western town in Midland, South Dakota, the bank stood as a solid building with the church sitting several yards behind it.  Banks were essential to the businesses in the area as well as to the citizens. Bankers were often considered leaders in their communities.

In the Wild West, banks were also targets for thieves, and bank robberies were always a threat. However, the actual attempts were rarer than Hollywood leads us to believe. Because banks were in busy towns, and the money was well protected at night, thieves often found it easier to rob individual travelers, stagecoaches, and trains.

Although I've yet to write of a main character who's a banker, banks appear often in my Western novels. Here are some examples for you to check out:

Willa's Woes - Willa faces bank foreclosure, so she becomes a mail-order bride.

Solomon's Secret - After Solomon is robbed and left penniless, he eventually takes a part-time job at a bank.

Inman's Impersonation - Unknown to Inman, his brother is involved with bank robbers who tell the law that he's part of their gang. When he runs, he sets off a string of events that he'd never imagined.

Simon's Shame - Simon's harsh, judgmental father owned a bank.

Forget-Me-Not Cookies by Fern - Fern's father also owns a bank. She hates it when her parents send her to an academy miles away, but it turns out for the best.

Taking Stock - Set during the stock market crash and bank foreclosures at the beginning of the Great Depression, banks play an important part in the story.

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Christian Character

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2).

Our Christian character is an important aspect of who we are in Christ. In a Yale lecture, Phillips Brooks said that "the great purpose of life" is "the shaping of character by truth." Someone once said, "Reputation is what people think we are; character is what God and the angels know we are." Warren Wiersbe explains, "People with character have integrity; what they say and do comes from a heart fully dedicated to God. Integrity means inner wholeness; we're not trying to fool others (hypocrisy) or fool ourselves (duplicity)."

He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments and live (Proverbs 4:4).

In the Bible, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Daniel, Mary, Jeremiah, and Paul, among others, had character. Character means making God your top priority and seeking to please Him above all else. For a Christian, Scripture and prayer play an integral part in this. Attending a Bible-believing church and having fellowship with other Christians also helps. The foundation of a godly life is character, and it's anchored by the daily decisions we make.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7).

Wiersbe tells us that "the deterioration of character is an 'inside job.' We drift from God and fall into sin, and then we try to avoid responsibility by blaming others or pleading extenuating circumstances; . . . The erosion of character usually begins with neglect: we stop reading the Word, or worshiping with God's people, or taking time to meditate and pray. . . . The process is deadly: first the drifting, then the secret sinning, then the hidden eroding of character . . . ."

Let's make sure we build our Christian character and never fall into intentional sin.

*Parts taken from 10 Power Principles for Christian Service, Warren Wiersbe.

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 The Post Office in a Western Town

The post office played an important role in any town, but especially in the West, where people felt cut off from much of the country and more isolated. The post office allowed them to keep in touch with family that might be far away and conduct business they wouldn't have been able to otherwise. Before the telegraph, the post office was about the only means of remote communication, and although it might be slow, the mail usually eventually got there.

The post office stood in a prominent place in 1880 Town in Midland, South Dakota. In many Western towns, the post office was located in a store, but others had separate buildings, as seen here. These buildings tended to be small structures, but since the mail was handed out regularly, they didn't need a large building.

Post offices often had a bulletin board as well. This was another way to distribute information. They might contain wanted posters, upcoming events, community information, or other news.

In any Western novel about mail-order brides, the post office served an important role, and I have quite a few mail-order brides novels. Below is a list that you might want to check out.

Mistaken Bride
The Writer's Rescue

Willa's Woes

Beckett's Brides

A Match for Marshall

A Match for Cord

A Match for Silas

A Match for Merle

A Match for Milton

A Match for Reece

Aida

Candace

A Christmas Snow for Sadie

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 Light or Darkness

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:5).

Have you noticed how the dark can encourage negative thoughts? The what-ifs, uncertainties, and doubts often come to us in bed at night. Yet, things often appear much brighter in the morning light, both literally and figuratively. Darkness flourishes on making us feel frightened and alone. The first words God spoke in the Bible are "Let there be light." It is a fact that light dispels darkness. 

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8).

Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. It is the same in our spiritual lives. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). Satan wants to fill our lives with his darkness, but he can't do it when we have Jesus -- when we belong to Him. So, let us cling to our Lord and not let darkness have a chance in our lives.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Jesus ushered in a new age. Now, believers no longer have to carry the burden of the law, but we can live free and at peace under grace. This makes it much harder for darkness to inch back in. We get to trade our sinfulness for His righteousness. His sacrifice on the cross covers us when we allow Him to be the Lord of our lives. Let's choose to live in the Light.

Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth (1 John 2:8-11).

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