Don't Forget the Most Important Part

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Too often we get caught up in the controversies within Christianity, and we lose sight of what is really important -- that Christ died for our sins and rose again so that we might have eternal life in heaven and an intimate relationship with God. This is the core that unites all Christians, regardless of their affiliations and denominations.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15: 3).

The gospel message of the disciples and the early church was all about the cross, who Jesus was, and what He did for us. Paul and others worked diligently to get the message into a lost and dying world. What are we as individual Christians doing today to that same end? Are we following Christ's Great Commission, or have we become slack in our mission?

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

Easter is the perfect time to draw close to the cross, to feel God's great love for us, and to share it with others. If the majority of Christians would recommit themselves to sharing the gospel with others in the way Christ meant for them to, what a difference we could make in this world and in the lives of those we meet, and what a much more wonderful world it would be.

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 Akta Lakota Museum 

I found the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center in Chamberlain, South Dakota, a little off the beaten path but very interesting. The Sioux Nation has always fascinated me, and I want to write a novel including them sometime. So far, I've only included Cherokee, Comanche, and Chickasaw in my novels. However, in an upcoming book, Beckett's Brides, the land where gold was discovered in South Dakota belonged to the Sioux. Settlers flocked to the gold, towns such as Deadwood were established, and disputes ensued. As typically happened, the government eventually ruled in favor of the settlers.

The museum was established in 1991 and is filled with displays and artifacts that tell the Lakota's story. The exhibits are set up according to the four directions on the medicine wheel. The East or Circle Camp shows the Lakota culture before Euro-American contact. The South represents when the two worlds meet with the arrival of explorers, traders, missionaries, and settlers. West speaks to the interactions with the U.S. government and the establishment of reservations, and the North addresses how the Lakota have adapted and their culture continues to do so.

The exhibits are informative. I wish I had the space to show them all, but here are just a few that I hope speak for themselves, although the photos don't do the displays justice.

 Forgiveness Is Crucial

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye (Colossians 3:13).

To be obedient to God, the Bible tells us that we must forgive. It's a command, not a suggestion. It is God's will that we forgive those who wrong us. Others have set the example for us. Two of them were Christ and Stephen. Remember, even when being unjustly crucified and enduring agony, Jesus said "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Likewise, when he was being stoned to death, Stephen cried out, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 8).

Being quick to forgive slams the door in Satan's face and prevents him from working his havoc among believers. Harboring hard feelings and holding grudges can have devastating effects, not only on the parties involved but also on families, friends, and even churches. The ripple effect can go far beyond what we might imagine.

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you (Luke 6:27).

When we struggle to forgive someone, we should pray for them and try to serve them in some way. Upon salvation, we are filled with God's love. We are meant to share this love with others, including our enemies. As we give it away, we are continuously filled. Helping others changes our hearts and theirs. Such forgiveness can have as much of a positive effect as unforgiveness does a negative one.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; . . . (Psalms 28:7).

And the good news is that you don't have to find the strength and power to forgive on your own. In fact, you likely can't. Rely on God and His Holy Spirit within you. He will lead you every step of the way, and you'll find precious peace and freedom beyond all understanding at the end of the journey. Be overcomers in Christ.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13).

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My New Computer System 

My children and husband got me a new computer system this year for Christmas, which has turned out to be a blessing. Now, I enjoyed my old system with its fast speed, huge storage capacity, and large screen, but it was not portable. Therefore, I needed a laptop for when I traveled and wanted to stick with my writing schedule. However, I had to copy everything I thought I might need onto it before I left home, but inevitably, I would need something I didn't have. I had to do the same thing if I wanted to work from a location in my house other than my office.

My new system takes care of all that. The laptop I now use has a larger screen than my other laptop, it has as much storage as my tower, and I have a large monitor I hook it up to when I want to work from my office. If I want to work from another location, I need only unplug two cords to move it, and I have everything I need. I love the flexibility it has given me. 

Why don't I just use the laptop without the big monitor? I have a vision problem, and I find using the bigger monitor at my office desk more comfortable for everyday work. With writing, promoting, and the business end of it all, I'm on the computer a lot.

And I found this amazing little bracket that holds the laptop in my office when I'm working off my large monitor and using it like a tower. It's so simple that it's ingenious. It has a band inside that tightens up by the weight of the laptop being inserted, and it holds it firm. 

This system has enabled me to get more writing done faster. So, there you go. Have computer will travel. 

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What Kind of Host Are You?

But the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you (Romans 8:11a).

One of the greatest assets we have as Christians is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He's our mentor, comforter, guide, and so much more. Through Him, we have all the supernatural power we need to fulfill God's calls and purposes. Too often, however, we don't take full advantage of this part of the Trinity living within us, usually because we don't understand.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19).

As a Christian, wherever you go the Holy Spirit of God goes with you. Whatever you do, He's there too. Do you take Him to places He wouldn't want to go? Is He there inside you, observing as you do things you know you shouldn't? We need to put God first in our lives and make decisions that are pleasing to Him. And what kind of dwelling have you prepared for Him? Is your body clean and well-maintained, or is it sometimes filled with drugs, alcohol, or smoke and nicotine? Do you take risks with your health?

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in and he in God (1 John 4: 13 & 15).

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Ten-Year Publishing Anniversary

I received copies of my first published book, Cleared for Planting, in March 2014, making this my tenth anniversary. It has been a lot of fun, learning, and making new friends. In that ten years, I've published 69 books and had many new experiences. I feel fulfilled and have no regrets about my second career as an author, and that's exactly how I treat it -- as a second career. My first career was teaching history and English.

Cleared for Planting

I feel that God called me to be a Christian writer, and I write, wanting to glorify Him. Most of my books are historical fiction, but I have a few contemporary ones and even two Christian non-fiction books with another on the way in 2025. It has been an exciting journey, and I try to let God lead me in everything. I can look back at my life and see how He was training me to become an author all along, but of course, I didn't know it at the time.

On the Road to Jericho
From the Top of the Mountain to the Bottom of the Sea

My readers and fans have been most gracious. It still amazes me that people like, even sometimes love, my writing. But I know -- all the glory goes to God!

Janice Cole Hopkins's book page on Amazon

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The Best Friend of All

Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends: for all the things I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you (John 15:14-15).

Jesus Himself calls us friends if we are His, if He holds our hearts. Think about that; let it sink in. Isn't it amazing? We are His friends, and His friends obey Him because they know and trust Him. They know He wants only the best for them and is always right and perfect in every way.

The hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," with the words written by Joseph Scriven in 1855, emphasizes this wonderful fact:

What a friend we have in Jesus, 

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged:

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Can we find a friend so faithful, 

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness --

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are ye weak and heavy laden, 

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our Refuge --

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He'll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Is He your best friend?

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A Journey for Jillian

I've found that novels set on wagon trains west to be very popular, and they can be fun stories to write. A Journey for Jillian, which publishes tomorrow (3-5-24), is my fourth book taking place on a wagon train, and there's another one coming in April. (Zoe is on preorder now.)

In A Journey for Jillian,, Jillian Barker's father and older brothers are harsh drunks, so when the most responsible one of her brothers decides to run away to the West, she talks him into taking her too. However, when they get to St. Louis, he decides to stay there. The wagon master refuses to take an unmarried woman with him, and she doesn't want to remain with her brother, who is working in a saloon, so her only option is to wed. The wagon master assures her that he can find someone who will agree to an annulment when they get to Oregon, but can she risk having a man in charge of her again?

One of my favorite narrators, Jared Walters, has just finished the Audible version of the book, and it will be out as soon as ACX approves it. Jared was tied up with another project when I first contacted him, but his voice fit this story so well that I was willing to wait for him to become available. I prefer for the Audible versions to be ready to release at the same time as the other ones, but I think getting the right narrator for a book is even more important. I'm looking forward to seeing what readers think of Jillian and Vance. I fell in love with both of them, and Vance quickly became one of my favorite heroes. I think you'll agree.

My Wagon Train Books -

Through the Wilderness

Second-Choice Bride

Sauerkraut Cake by Sophie

A Journey for Jillian

Zoe: Prairie Roses Collection

*Update: The Audible version of A Journey for Jillian has published.

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