Some Ancient Biblical History

Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders and they will tell thee (Deuteronomy 32:7).

I enjoy studying biblical history. I guess it's the history buff in me and the fact that my undergraduate major is in history. Recently, I came across some interesting facts I would like to share with you. Some of it I knew, some of it I had forgotten, and some of it, I had never heard before.

I knew the Edomites had descended from Esau, Jacob's twin brother who married two Hittite women, Judith and Basemath. A third wife, Mahalath, was the daughter of Ishmael (Abraham's son by Hagar). Their descendants became known as Edomites, and they have a history of conflict with Israel.

Nineveh

The Canaanites came from Canaan, the son of Ham and the grandson of Noah. They were also enemies of the Israelites. The Amorites, another contentious group, also descended from Canaan and are a branch of the larger Canaanite group. Rahab, who aided the Hebrew spies in Jericho was a Canaanite. Nimrod, Noah's great-grandson and Ham's grandson through Cush, established the two great cities of Babylon and Nineveh, part of Assyria. 

The Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew. The lineage can be traced back to when Lot and his two daughters escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and hid in a cave. The women, thinking they were the only three people left in the world, got their father drunk and slept with him. The older daughter had a son named Moab, and the Moabites descended from him (see Genesis 19:30-36). The younger daughter had Ammon, and the Ammonites descended from him. 

If you remember, Ruth was a Moabite who left Moab with her mother-in-law, Naomi, to travel back to Bethlehem where she met Boaz. Ruth is in the earthly genealogy of  Jesus and probably Rahab, the Canaanite, also. These accounts are reminders that poor choices can have far-reaching effects. However, God can bring some good out of even them, like with Rahab and Ruth. Can't ancient biblical history be interesting? It's just one more reason to read and study the Bible.

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Westward Home and Hearts

I'm excited about writing for a new multiple-author project this year. Well, the series isn't new because it began in 2022, but it's new to me.  Willa's Woes just published on Friday, and it's the 54th book in the series. I'm scheduled to have four books in this Westward Home and Hearts Mail-Order Brides MAP, three this year, and one in 2026.

Willa's Woes is set in the Dakota Territory in 1880, the winter that deposited record-breaking snow accumulations and low temperatures nationwide, but especially in places like Fargo. Willa has had a string of hardships in her life, and she hopes when she goes to a remote farm in the Dakota Territory as a mail-order bride, things will get better. Will it? Willa's Woes is available now on Amazon in print, Kindle, and Audible.

Here are the books I'll be publishing in the Westward Home and Hearts Mail-Order Brides series:

Jan. 10, 2025 - Willa's Woes

Jul. 08, 2025 - Daphne's Determination

Nov. 10, 2025 - Morrow's Mishaps

Feb. 10, 2026 - Melissa's Match

I hope you'll watch for them.

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 Mind Your Thoughts

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8).

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Several noted philosophers and speakers have said something to the effect of "You are what you think," and there is some truth in that. Our thought process has a lot to do with who we become. Letting your thoughts run astray can lead to dark places. 

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee (Isaiah 26:3).

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5).

Every sin begins with a thought. If you allow those improper thoughts to continue they can lead to sorrow for you and others. The process of getting rid of rogue thoughts and imaginings is a type of spiritual warfare that you must fight with intent.

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established (Proverbs 16:3).

Yet, it's a battle that you don't have to and shouldn't fight alone. Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide, direct, and help them. They have God's Word to recite or read to distract them from unwanted thoughts and prayer to strengthen them. Even doing good works in service to God can keep us busy in a positive way and help. And remember, God can deliver us from anything.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8).

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

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2025 Is Here!

I always have my publishing schedule in place for at least two years ahead. Of course, there might be minor changes to come, but some of the books are locked in. Right now, I have ten books scheduled for 2025.

After writing nothing but MAPs (multiple-author projects) for the past two years, I break that string in 2025. I have six MAP books publishing this year and four of my standalones, one of which is Christian nonfiction. I'm excited about the lineup and already have most of the rough drafts written. I like to stay ahead of the deadlines, and it takes time to get the Audible editions ready. 

Jan. 10 - Willa's Woes (Westward Home & Hearts)
Feb. 12 - Writer's Rescue (Rich Man Takes a Bride)

Mar. 1 - The Miner (Men of the West)

Apr. 4 - Mistaken Bride

May 2 - Satan's Wiles

Jul. 8 - Daphne's Determination (Westward H & H)

Aug. 1 - South to Freedom

Oct. 3 - Heather, Hot Springs Bride (Nat'l Park Brides)

Nov. 10 - Morrow's Mishaps (Westward Home & H)

Dec. 5 - Annie's Uncle  

I'm writing the rough draft of Heather right now. I'll be sharing more information about the individual books throughout the year. It promises to be a good one.

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Faith, Our Foundation

But without faith it is impossible to please him (Hebrews 11:6a).

Faith is a substantial belief put into practice. Once you plant God's truths deep within your heart, you begin living your life differently. Faith is the foundation for the Christian life, and we need a solid one that can't be shaken or weakened.

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4b).

The groundwork for faith is God's Word. It does no good to build a strong foundation on shaky ground because it won't stand firm. Christians who don't take time to read their Bibles daily are doing themselves and their families a disservice. Even a short time in the scriptures will make a big difference in your life.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Romans1:16a).

The gospel is the heart of our faith. We should understand it, cherish it, and share it with others. It is through the atonement of Christ and His sacrifice for us that we are reconciled to God and can approach Him. There is no other way. This is the message we need to be sharing, but we must never come across as holier-than-thou. None of us are worthy, and it's only by God's grace that we can move forward in faith.

And Jesus said unto them . . . for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you (Matthew 17:20).

You need both offensive and defensive faith. In one of his books, Denver Cheddie explains it this way: There is a faith that moves mountains, and there is a faith that gives us the strength to climb the mountains. There is faith to walk on water, then there is faith [to] keep your head above water. There is faith to heal the sick..., then there is faith to remain faithful to God when He chooses not to heal. May our faith be strong and true.

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 MAPs Have Been Good

You may remember me mentioning MAPs, multiple-author projects, where several authors publish in the same themed series. I've been heavily involved in them for the last couple of years. My first one came in December 2021. Walnut Cake for Wylene was followed by five more in 2022: Sauerkraut by Sophie, Forget-Me-Not Cookies by Fern, A Christmas Snow for Sadie, Candace, and Aida. Beginning with Sauerkraut by Sophie, I published nineteen straight MAPs running through Andrea this month. I have three more coming in the first three months of 2025: Willa's Woes, The Writer's Rescue, and The Miner. That will make twenty-three MAPs in all.

But I'm not through yet. After publishing some non-MAP books in 2025, I have three more MAPs scheduled in the last half of the year, making twenty-six. Daphne's Determination, Heather, Hot Springs Bride, and Morrow's Mishaps. I already have eight books scheduled for 2026, but so far, none of them are MAPs because good opportunities haven't presented themselves. However, I'm hoping that might change, and I do have at least two slots open.

MAPs have been good to me. They've been inspiring, helped build my readership, and been good with marketing. I just got an email from an enthusiastic reader who discovered me through a MAP. I've also found collaborating with the other authors helpful. I need to slow down on the number of books I'm publishing each year, but I would still like to include two or three MAPs. Hopefully, this will work out.

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Wise Men

The second chapter of Matthew is the only biblical account of the wise men or magi, who came to visit Jesus. They had seen the strange star in the eastern sky and had come to investigate. The journey must have been a long one. Just who were these men who had come from the East? 

Although the Bible doesn't name the foreign visitors, legend and tradition give their names as Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior. Neither does the Bible tell us how many came, but, because the plural is used, we know there was more than one. We get the idea there were three because they brought three gifts: frankincense, gold, and myrrh. These were gifts commonly given at the birth of a king.

These men were apparently of noble birth, well-educated, wealthy, and probably influential. Because of how they handled Herod, we can assume they were upright men of integrity. They had likely studied the Hebrew Scriptures and knew of the expected Messiah. 

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel... (Numbers 24:17).

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel: whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2).

From Daniel, they may have surmised that the time for the Messiah was near. (See Daniel 9:25-26.) For whatever reason, they decided to go and search for this Messiah, and the guiding star led them. People today would be wise to search for Him, too. The saying is so true. "Wise men still seek Him." If you don't know Him, look for Him today, and, if you do, share Him with someone else.

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