The Greatest of These

...for God is love (1 John 4:8b)

God doesn't love because of how we act or who we are. He loves us because of who He is. It is His nature to love. Paul put it well when he wrote, "... that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:17b-19).

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Matthew 22: 37-39).

Love is powerful. It is the most important commandment. In fact, if we could get the Great Commandment to love right, we wouldn't have to worry about anything else. We'd have it all covered and live an obedient, Christian life. As John Calvin said, "Whatever a person may be like, we must still love them because we love God."

And now abideth faith, hope, charity [love], these three; but the greatest of these is charity [love] (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Love is a gift from God. He gave us love, and the world has love because of Him. In talking about the great gifts (faith, hope, and love), Paul tells us the greatest of these is love. And Peter said that love covers a multitude of sins (see 1 Peter 4:8). In this Valentine's season and throughout the year, let us have a renewed spirit of love for God and our fellowman. 

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Love and Romance in Novels

When considering novels, many people look down on the word "romance" or "love," and the same often goes for romance authors. Even when "clean" or "Christian" is added in front of the term, people often turn up their noses or scoff, as if the genre is less than other categories. Perhaps erotica has tainted the genre, but it goes beyond that.

I don't get it, though. Love is a basic need. Studies show that babies, who are raised with all their other basic needs met but without any nurturing or love, grow up with all kinds of problems, if they even survive, and many don't. We all want to be accepted and loved.

Even the Bible calls love great (see 1 Corinthians 13:13) and says that love comes from God, and God is love (see 1 John 4:7-8). From Genesis on, marriage is promoted, saying the two shall become one (see Mark 10:8). I refuse to apologize for writing novels with some romance. Only about four of my books actually fit the category in the strictest sense, but they all contain some love or romance to varying degrees. So to celebrate Valentine's Day, have a look. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

My books from the most romantic to the least, and all profits go to a scholarship fund for missionary children -

It All Started at the Masquerade  https://www.amazon.com/All-Started-at-Masquerade-ebook/dp/B078FQ38JK

Deceitful Matters    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DVTZWZW/

Mountain Mishap  https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Mishap-Janice-Cole-Hopkins-ebook/dp/B0756RMKL6

Peace   https://www.amazon.com/Peace-Farmers-Book-Janice-Hopkins-ebook/dp/B06Y1DC43X/

Roslyn's Rescue   https://www.amazon.com/Roslyns-Rescue-Janice-Cole-Hopkins-ebook/dp/B07MDSJKJC

Glenda's Gold   https://www.amazon.com/Glendas-Gold-Time-Told-Tales-Book-ebook/dp/B07NBSCLW6

Cleared for Planting   https://www.amazon.com/Cleared-Planting-Appalachian-Roots-Book-ebook/dp/B00RM5GZPK

Sown in Dark Soil   https://www.amazon.com/Sown-Dark-Soil-Janice-Hopkins-ebook/dp/B014500JQK

When Winter Is Past    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BLOKRSS

With Summer's Songs   https://www.amazon.com/Summers-Songs-Janice-Cole-Hopkins-ebook/dp/B01IC5TF6E

Transplanted to Red Clay   https://www.amazon.com/Transplanted-Clay-Appalachian-Roots-Book-ebook/dp/B01LTEY0PQ

Through the Wilderness   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K25WJ25

Pardon   https://www.amazon.com/Pardon-Farmers-Trilogy-Book-3-ebook/dp/B072MHL2ZH 

Uprooted by War   https://www.amazon.com/Uprooted-War-Appalachian-Roots-Book-ebook/dp/B01F7SPDLU

Promise    https://www.amazon.com/Promise-The-Farmers/dp/B07F6VZP73

On the Road to Jericho (non-fiction)   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1724172379/

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Early Movement to End Slavery 

On February 11, 1790, the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage (also known as the Pennsylvania Abolition Society) petitioned the U.S, Congress to abolish slavery. The group had organized in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1775, and seventeen of the twenty-four founding members belonged to the Society of Friends, often known as Quakers. 

The Revolutionary War took some of the focus from their efforts. However, the society regrouped in 1784 with renewed determination, and they incorporated in 1789. Sometime in the postwar years, Benjamin Franklin became their president, and he presented the petition to Congress asking them to do away with slavery. Although the push for a national law failed at this time, Pennsylvania had abolished slavery within its borders in 1780, becoming the first state to do so.

The Pennsylvania Abolition Society still meets today, and works to combat racism, encourage equality, and improve living conditions. It is the oldest abolition society in the United States and an appropriate topic for this, black history month.

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How Do You Know You're Really Saved?

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9).

She was a young adult and came forward in church to ask to be rebaptized. She said she had come forward the first time because her best friends had, and she didn't think she had really been saved. Over and over again, I've heard people doubt their salvation. Many say they hoped they're saved, but how can we know? It is probably a valid concern. Billy Graham once said that only about two percent of professing Christians had really been saved.

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).

First and most importantly, have you had a heart-change? Inviting Christ into your life will result in a changed life. You will want to live according to God's will and be pleasing to the Lord. You will desire to be like Christ, although you'll fall short over and over again. Your focus will shift from worldly things to godly things. You will grow in the Lord over time. God does not accept half a heart or limited commitment. Lukewarm religion is no religion at all, and lukewarm Christians will be spit out (see Revelation 3:16).

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you, Cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your heats, ye double minded (James 4:8).

Secondly, evidence of salvation are the fruits you produce. Salvation itself has nothing to do with your service. You cannot work your way into heaven. However, once you truly belong to Christ, good works will stem from your changed life and a desire to be obedient, but these deeds will vary greatly depending on God's call. He may call the young mother to serve in her large family for now, instead of doing a lot of community service at this time. It is having a godly, servant's heart and being obedient that matters. If you are still unsure, pray about it. God will show you the answer if you study His Word and pray. You should know beyond a doubt.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 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.

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Mountain Mishap on Audible


Mountain Mishap is by far my best-selling ebook, and it continues to amaze me in how well it does. It's broken all kinds of records for me and has reached #43 on Amazon's best-seller list. Now, I'm happy to announce that it's also available as an audio-book on Amazon Audible.

Jennifer Groberg narrates the book. I love her clear, expressive voice, and she does a Southern dialect very well. Jennifer lives in Provo, Utah, and has her own professional, home studio. That's one of the reasons she's able to produce a book much faster than anyone else I've worked with. She has over 60 audio-books to her credit, and she will also be producing On the Road to Jericho, my Christian, non-fiction book.

Charleston Orphan House

For Mountain Mishap, I returned to my roots, and it is set in the Appalachian Mountains. Anna Allen grew up in the Charleston Orphan House, but at eighteen, she must now leave. Her best option is to wed, and when a man from the Appalachian Mountains comes looking for a wife, she hesitantly agrees to marry him. However life with Elbert Ramsey and his father turns out to be miles from her dreams.

In 1851, Levi West decides to go stay with his brother in the Appalachian Mountains. His parents had died, leaving the farm in debt, and a brazen woman caused a rift between him and his best friend. Although his sister-in-law’s younger sister acts almost as bad, Levi finds he loves the rugged mountains. When a hunting accident endangers his life, help comes from an unexpected source. Dare he hope for a family of his own, or will another woman just disappoint him again?

Be sure to check Mountain Mishap out in whatever format you prefer. If the statistics are any indication, you won't be disappointed.

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Soup's On 

February 4th is National Homemade Soup Day, and I'm ready to celebrate. I love a good, bowl of hot soup on a cold, wintry day or in air conditioning. In a recent cold snap, my husband even asked for a meal of soup. He's not the big soup fan that I am, often saying he'd prefer a heavier meal. Soup is also usually a safe choice in an unknown restaurant when I'm traveling. I'll never forget the delicious bowl of minestrone I had for lunch in a quaint village inn in Ireland
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Soups and stews were also common in earlier times. These dishes were more manageable than most other menu choices, when cooking in a fireplace  allowed the homemaker to complete other tasks while the meal cooked. I use them often in writing my historical novels, whether they're set in the South, the Appalachian Mountains, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, England, or some other location. 

Interestingly, soups are thought to date back to at least 20,000 BC. They came about as soon as man had waterproof containers, which were likely clay pots at first. Since that beginning, however, soups have become more varied and diverse. At first, they used the locally available ingredients. Today, there are so many varieties of soup it would be difficult to list them all. Nearly every culture has favorites. So, for National Homemade Soup Day today, why don't you pull out your favorite soup recipe and celebrate? Here is one to get you started:

Black Bean Soup

3 cans black beans
1/2 c. beef broth
1/2 c. water
1 sm. can crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
1 small onion
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped finely 
1/2 tsp. garlic
(optional - 1 sm. pkg frozen corn for variety)

Saute onion and pepper. Add corn if desired and cook until all three are tender. Combine ingredients. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer just long enough to allow flavors to mix. Other ingredients can be added, as well or instead, so experiment. Rice also works well in black bean soup. Enjoy!

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Remarkable Faith

So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 19:17).

Habakkuk is a good study in faith. As the prophet dealt with the tremendous problems of his day, his faith grew. Our faith always grows much more in the hard times than it does when things are going smoothly. Faith is a lifestyle of devoted, expectant living.
Studying God's Word and praying pulls us closer to Him, and all of it grows our faith. As Warren Wiersbe writes in Be Amazed, "We are not only saved by faith, but we are instructed to live by faith."

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5).

If you read the book of Habakkuk, you'll see many parallels to today. The people were making poor choices and ignoring God. They were turning elsewhere to get answers and help. Much of the time, they arrogantly trusted themselves to furnish what they wanted and desired. Temporary pleasures began to take president over any faith they'd been taught. They were puffed up with pride and self-sufficiency and thought their nation was invincible, but they were headed for trouble and downfall.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

Faith is a remarkable thing and should keep growing throughout our lifetime. It continues to hope no matter how bleak things seem by focusing on God who never changes. Faith puts God as a priority so far ahead of anything else, all other things pale in significance. Faith gives us a purpose that circumstances will not change. As Wiersbe says, "To live by faith means to believe in God's Word and obey it no matter how we see, or what the consequences may be."

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