Eternal Life

Sometimes Christians talk about having eternal life after we accept Christ as our Savior. The truth is that we will all spend eternity somewhere -- either in heaven or hell. The Bible is clear on this. Jesus himself spoke of it in Matthew 25:41, saying, "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." And again, in Matthew 25:45, he says, "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

Paul tells of much the same thing in 2 Thessalonians 1: 8-9. "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." 

None of us like to think about the punishment that awaits many people, but we need to be reminded of it from time to time. We certainly need to be sure we're right with God, but we should go even further. We've been commissioned to bring as many people to the saving knowledge of Christ as we can before it's too late. Let us be earnest and diligent in doing this with loving kindness.

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The Prehistoric Indian Village and Writing about Native Americans

The Prehistoric Indian Village is a less-attended tourist attraction in Mitchell, South Dakota, than The Corn Palace, but I probably enjoyed it more. I have always had a special place in my heart for minorities like Native Americans, and I've taught about them in my American history classes. Because of my background in history, I may not have found a lot of new information in the museum, but I still enjoyed seeing what they had and refreshing my memory.

The museum gives a visual record of the way of life of the earliest Indians in South Dakota. Many such early civilizations had a corn culture, supplemented by hunting, fishing, and gathering.  However, hunting and large game became more important to the first inhabitants of South Dakota, and that meant hunting the bison. Of course, corn, fishing, and gathering were used as supplemental food sources.

One of the things that makes this museum special is that it's a working archaeological site tourists can visit. In a separate building, you can walk the perimeters, look down, and observe the excavation as well as see some of the artifacts they've uncovered on display. The site was actually discovered by a student at Dakota Wesleyan University in 1910, and students from different universities still work the site. If you're ever in Mitchell, South Dakota, I would recommend a visit.

Bull boat - made from a single bison skin, stretched over tree limbs

I have included Native American characters in twelve of my historical novels, and there will be more to come. You can find the list below. Click on the name to be taken to the link. Sometime in the future, I would like to go back to those early days in America and write a novel with mostly or all Indian characters, but my schedule is full for the next two years. As I often tell those who ask where I come up with my ideas, I have more ideas than I'll ever get to write, even though I've published seventy books (counting preorders) in nine years.

Cleared for Planting

Sown in Dark Soil

Uprooted by War

Transplanted by Red Clay

When Winter Is Past

Through the Wilderness

Second-Choice Bride

Sterling Orphans

Poor Relation

Returning Neighbor

Southern Belles

A Few Bumps in the Road

Grandma's Match for Garrett

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The Best

Read John 2:1-11

One of the things my father always stressed to me was to do my best. I can still hear him saying, "It's better not to do something than to do it halfway. Whatever you do, do it right. Do your very best." I've tried to hold to that principle, and the Bible supports it. We all should follow Christ's example.

Jesus' first miracle came when He, His disciples, and His mother attended a wedding feast in Cana, and the host ran out of wine. This would have been a social disaster, so Mary asked her Son to take care of it. He was reluctant to do so but did it anyway. He turned huge pots of water into excellent wine of a much better quality than the host's best wine served at the start of the celebration.

Since Jesus hesitated to do the task, He could have not cared and made a mediocre wine, but that's not who Jesus was, even in His earthly humanity. He gave His best wherever He went and in whatever He did. The Bible tells us that we are to do the same. "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Colossians 3:23). 

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 I Make No Apologizes for Writing Christian Romance

In the publishing/writing world, the romance category is often put at the bottom of the list in regard to significance or importance, not that it's not a big category with many readers. I don't understand this. When we get down to the basics, all of us want to be accepted and loved. We may carry baggage that makes us see things differently, but love is a powerful force. Even the Apostle Paul said, "The greatest of these is love." According to him, love is greater than faith or hope.

God called me to be a Christian writer, and I proudly write for His glory. I can look back at my life and see how He was training me for this, but of course, I didn't recognize it at the time. Not only do my books provide clean, wholesome reading for entertainment, but each one also delivers a message or messages, and I hope they also motivate, inspire, and encourage readers to draw closer to God. All except two of the 70 (and these are Christian non-fiction, which show God's love) I've written so far are romances, but some have only a touch, while others have more.

I have 11 inspirational romances scheduled for 2024, and 10 Christian romances and one Christian non-fiction for 2025. I am happy to be largely a Christian romance author, and the peace and joy I find when I'm writing them let me know I'm doing the right thing. And I say with all sincerity, "To God be the glory!"

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 Powerful Prayers

Read Acts 4:31.

The early church was growing rapidly. Even though they didn't have a permanent place to meet, the Spirit of the Lord was upon them, and it was an exciting time. And then two of their leaders, Peter and John, were arrested and thrown into prison. They were threatened, told they would be severely punished if they spoke of Jesus again, and released. The first thing they did was gather together with the other Christians and pray.

"It was a united prayer meeting as they raised their voices together to God. The early church was marked by its love and care for one another. God the Father does not want his children to squabble. Division in the church has always hindered our prayers and robs the church of spiritual power" (Encounters with God through Prayer, Brad Simon).

"They did not pray to have their enemies removed from office, for new laws to be enacted, nor for their circumstances to change. Instead, they asked God to continue to perform His miraculous work amid their circumstances. They did not pray for personal safety. They only asked that God would strengthen them to speak with boldness despite the opposition, and that God's work of ministry would increase" (Encounters with God through Prayer, Brad Simon).

Do not pray for easy lives! Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your God-given tasks. Then the doing your work shall be no miracle. But you shall be a miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God" (Going Up to Jerusalem, Phillips Brooks).

"The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. ...What the church needs today is not better machinery, not new organizations or more novel methods. She needs men whom the Holy Spirit can use -- men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not anoint plans, but men -- men of prayer" (Power Through Prayer, E.M. Bounds).

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 The Corn Palace

One of the best-publicized museums in South Dakota is the Corn Palace in Mitchell. Whenever my husband and I have talked about going to South Dakota, someone invariably asks if we saw the Corn Palace? We did stop on our way to Deadwood for an author-reader event and to do research for my Western novel, Beckett's Brides, which is set in Deadwood. In fact, around half a million people go to the Corn Palace each year.

Built in 1892, the building was meant to be a place where area residents could gather, especially for a harvest festival in the fall. There they could celebrate, meet with friends, and enjoy some entertainment. New palaces were built over the years with the last one being completed in 1921. The Corn Palace Festival is still held in late August of each year to carry on the tradition. Similar ideas made it into my book, Lily, as her family moves to Iowa, a neighboring agricultural state.

Today, the building is used for purposes other than being a tourist attraction and home for the area's fall festival. Events, such as dances, proms, graduations, banquets, meetings, dramas, and basketball tournaments, are also held there. The edifice has been called "a folk-art wonder," and corn murals done by Dakota Wesleyan students help substantiate the claim.

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Asking

Read Luke 11:5-13.

"We go through our day, seldom speaking to God. Then something unexpected happens in our lives, and in desperation we anxiously run to God, pounding on heaven's door. We feel helpless and alone and our prayers seem hollow. We knock harder and call out louder ...."*

"What a misrepresentation of who God is. We are not the desperate friend outside, frantically trying to get God's attention. We are inside, the dearly loved children. He is our loving Heavenly Father and desires to give us wonderful gifts if only we ask. We don't have to beat down heaven's doors. All we need to do is whisper. He is that close to us, and we are that dear to Him."*

We need to keep our focus on Him and make Him the center of our lives, our anchor through the storm. We need to put Him first in our lives, far above everything else. We need to spend time with Him in the study of His Word, prayer, and meditation. He should be our all in all, our everything.

*Encounters with God through Prayer - Brad Simon

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99-Cent Books

I see a lot of books permanently listed for 99 cents, and I wonder how the authors can afford to do that since they'll only be making about thirty cents per book. This is not only true regarding the first book in a series, but it runs the gambit of genres and types of books published. Many times, it's not only one or two books but the author's entire book list. If they sell 300 books, they've only made less than a hundred dollars. How much is all the time and effort that goes into writing a book and delivering a good story worth?

Indie authors, which most of these are, can also have a lot of publishing costs. Most editors charge from $150 - $850 per project. The covers on just the ebook range from $30 and up with $60-$75 being the norm. Then, if the author wants print or Audible covers, that will be additional expenses. 

I think the talent and determination it takes to write a book makes it worth more than ninety-nine cents per book. If you don't value what you do, perhaps you shouldn't be writing and publishing. I, like most authors, mark a book down to a ninety-nine-cent sales price now and then for a special occasion, but it only stays that way for about a week, and I don't do it often. I just marked The Prodigal Pastor down for Valentine's Day, but it's the first sale I've done in quite a while. Click on the title in the previous sentence to get your copy and happy reading.

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 Troubled Times

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations" (James 1:2).

Most of us have adverse reactions to trouble, problems, and turmoil. They certainly aren't things we embrace or look forward to. But hard times do have benefits. It's through the difficulties that our faith grows and we move closer to God. We don't learn or grow as much when our paths are smooth and everything is going great. If we never had a problem, I imagine we'd be pretty shallow individuals.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

Hudson Taylor reminds us of this when he wrote, "At the timberline where the storms strike with the most fury, the sturdiest trees are found." Those trees aren't easily broken or upended. The storms have made them strong. Our storms in life can make us strong as well if we turn to God and let him be our strength and guide our way. He promises to be with us through anything life can throw at us.

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

In a time when the world's values appear to be getting more and more away from biblical principles, and justice and fairness seem to be things of the past, we need to rely on God more than ever to see us through. We need to embrace Him, keep our focus on Him, and remind ourselves that He's faithful no matter our circumstances. When we find our joy in Him and not look for it in what is happening around us, the troubled times won't affect us as much, and we can grow and flourish in our faith, knowing what is truly important.

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