Do You Visit with God?

This is the way many Christians try to live their lives. They visit God at church once or twice a week. If they are particularly faithful, they also visit Him daily in a short time of Bible study and prayer and perhaps with grace at mealtimes. Some have relegated Him to only visiting on Christmas and Easter as if that takes care of their duty.

But this is not what Christ meant when He said to abide in Him. Visiting with God, no matter how many times you do it, is not enough. It's not how He designed us. We should have an intimate, close relationship so that we live every moment with Him. Scheduling visiting rights is insufficient.

If we focus too strongly on our physical world instead of the spiritual realm and our faith, it will pull us away from God. More than what we do, God wants us, our hearts, and our devotion. He made mankind so that He could have relationships with us and objects for His vast love. He sent His son to die an agonizing death on a cross to restore the relationship our sin ripped apart. He wants to be a part of whatever we do. If we can't include Him, we shouldn't be doing it. Don't just visit with God; live every moment with Him.

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Second-Choice Bride - New Audible 

Link to Second-Choice Bride

The Audible version of Second-Choice Bride is now out. When I started to publish a new five-book series set in New Mexico, I knew this would be a family saga, and the audible book would need so many voices it would be challenging. Therefore, I thought dual male and female narrators might be the best. When a team recommended by another author didn't respond, I contacted Douglas Birk, who had done several audible books for me, and asked if he knew of anyone he could team with. He started making plans to put out audition invitations when he asked me if I had a female narrator I could ask. I did, and Jennifer Groberg, who has done more of my Audible books than anyone, agreed. I had my team.  

Doug thought it would be a good idea to begin on the Audible before the first book, Second-Choice Bride, was actually published. He always does audio files before uploading them to ACX anyway. This way, there shouldn't have been as long a wait-time before the Audible was released. They had about three-fourths of the book finished when the print versions were released on Amazon. Doug handled all the scheduling, organizing, and coordinating. I just approved each chapter or asked for corrections when needed. But it still took ACX over 6 weeks to release the Audible book.

I'm glad this went so well because we have four more books to do after this one. In fact, we are working on Sterling Orphans, the second book in the series, now. I appreciate these two narrators more all the time. Even though Doug lives in Missouri and Jen lives in Utah, they've been able to get together via the internet to record. I'm excited about what I've heard, and I feel my listeners will love it. See my recent blog for more on Second-Choice Bride.  

Link to Second-Choice Bride blog - https://janicecolehopkins.blogspot.com/2021/01/second-choice-bride-second-choice-bride.html

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"Me Do It"

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up (James 4:10).

I can still hear one of my children crying, "Me do it," when they were toddlers and struggling for some independence. Even as adults, we sometimes act the same way with God. We try to do things in our own power, and that's often a recipe for disaster. But in a society that teaches us to take charge and achieve, letting go can be difficult. We like to think we have it all covered.

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).

At a former church, several members talked about being unable to witness to others. Again, they were depending too much on their abilities and not relying enough on God. Christians have the Holy Spirit residing within them, and He has all the power and abilities they need. We just need to surrender and give Him the lead.

Submit yourselves therefore to God (James 4:7a).

In fact, we often put too much emphasis on our wise choices and good works. God cares more about our hearts and to whom we belong. He created us to have a close, intimate relationship with Him. That should be our first priority. When we have that, wise choices and good works will be a natural outgrowth. Let's not try to do things ourselves but let God do them through us.

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 Videos Can Help or Hurt 

Are poor quality videos and podcasts worse than not having them at all? As these media forms get more popular and easier to record and post, I see many unimpressive ones, especially marketing books or telling about authors. They do not make me want to buy. In fact, I would be less likely to purchase the book than if I hadn't seen the video. Last year, I participated in an all-day author event that had many of these.

Some authors seem to think that the object is to get themselves and their books out there. They don't consider the quality of what they present. I've seen some videos where the presenter looked so ridiculous or did such a poor job that I was embarrassed for them. Often they come across with such cheerful enthusiasm they seem fake and overdramatic -- not a good recommendation for their work. 

In contrast, I have an author friend whose husband is adept at producing quality media material, including videos. Her excellent clips are always appealing, and I'm sure they pull readers in, make new fans, and increase her sales. If you want to make a video, critique some of the ones out there and decide what you should and shouldn't do.

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Being Relevant  

For I am the Lord, I change not (Malachi 3:6a).

Relevant or relevance became buzzwords in religious circles several years ago. However, in an effort to make the church relevant to today's world, some churches have done exactly the opposite. They have watered down the Word of God to make it appealing to larger numbers, and in the process, have delivered a message without substance or power. As a church slips farther and farther away from the life-transforming, life-enhancing truths in the Bible, it has less and less to offer potential members.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

The result is a steady decline in all denominations. As older members die and fewer young members come in to take their places, the statistics continue to drop. Even young people who were brought up in the church often don't see it as important anymore. The Church is becoming so lukewarm it has little to offer. It's becoming irrelevant.

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void  (Isaiah 55:11a).

The churches that thrive long-term are the ones who proclaim the Word of God and His truths. Sadly, these churches are getting fewer all the time. When the emphasis is on entertainment, people pick and choose when they wish to attend. When a church aligns with the world's social agendas, there's no reason to attend. The world already clearly proclaims those. We should stick with the Word of God. We are promised that it shall not return unto Him void, and it has always been, is, and will always be relevant. We should cling tenaciously to Christ and let Him lead us.

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Matching the Book and Cover

It bothers most readers when the cover for a book doesn't match the descriptions in it. Indie authors have a wonderful opportunity to remedy this. Have the cover designed before the book is finished and write or revise the content to match the cover. This is the best way to make sure they match.

It is easier doing it this way than the other way around because good images for the cover are often hard to find, especially with historical novels. I've even done a little of this with my traditional publisher. When the graphic designer had the cover ready while I was doing some revisions, I changed the description of Faith in Through the Wilderness to match the proposed cover.

There are only four of the thirty books I've published so far where I wasn't able to do this, but I had a great graphic designer who actually read the manuscripts and found images to enhance and go with the story. And in one of them (Uprooted by War), I actually found the image to help her when she was having difficulty finding a handsome Civil War soldier.

I love book covers, as most authors and readers do. However, I am happier when the cover does match the contents. What about you?

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 Following God

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower (Psalms 18:2).

Did you ever wonder why God often chose common, even uneducated men, to perform His most important tasks? Elijah is a good example. He grew up in the remote hill country to the east of the Jordan River. It was a wild, rugged environment where only the strong survived. But Elijah loved the Lord and wanted to be obedient.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Those are two of the most important traits to being a successful person of God. People who are well-educated, have special talents and skills, or have been in leadership roles may rely on themselves and their abilities too much. God is looking for those who will look to Him for all their decisions and needs and willing to obey.  

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an unexpected end (Jeremiah 29:11).

You need not doubt God's provision. If he calls you to a task, he will provide what you need. You just need to be willing to be used by Him. When I flew across the globe in 2001 to serve as a missionary in the Philippines for six months, I had some initial misgivings, but God blessed. He was always faithful to provide as problems crumbled along the way, and I felt His close presence, even during 9-11. 

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Romans 8:37).

So never feel you aren't capable to do whatever God calls you to do. Feeling inept just means you'll need to rely on God even more, and that's what He wants. God often chooses people who know they don't have the ability because they are more likely to depend on Him. Always say "yes" to God.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17).

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A Good Writer Is Versatile   

A good writer shouldn't be limited to one genre or one form of writing. I have always believed good writers can write anything they're interested in writing. The basic skill set and the process is the same. That's why most authors got top grades on papers in school. However, readers often want to lock an author into one niche and no other. Because of this, some authors assume pen names when they write in another genre. I recently met an author who writes both historical and contemporary Christian fiction. She has an entirely different name for her contemporary novels.

The first five books I published were historical fiction, and they were followed by four with contemporary settings. The historicals have sold much better. There's really no comparison, and this has held true throughout the thirty books I've now published -- twenty of which have been historical, eight contemporary, and two non-fiction. I didn't use a pen name, and I'm now wondering if I should have, but I keep hoping the fans that love my historical novels will give the others a chance or that I will gain fans who prefer contemporary ones. It is frustrating to be pushed into a narrow slot, but I find myself wondering if I should revamp contemporary plots

into a historical setting. So far, I've written what I feel called to write, and I don't see that changing. Although I want my books to be loved, sell, and be successful, I don't write just for the market. I write what something deep inside me tells me to write. 

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