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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Too Busy

Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom (Proverbs: 23:4).

Most people live extremely busy lives. We often try to do it all - meet family obligations, be successful at work, maintain close relationships, and participate in all the things we enjoy. But too many people leave out the most important part -- God. As my husband often says, "If we're too busy for God, we're too busy."

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass (Psalm 37:5).

I'm a Christian writer. I feel this is what God has called me to do at this point in my life. I hadn't published many books before I realized I was going to have to eliminate some things. There just wasn't enough time in a day to do it all. The first things that went were television and the crafts I enjoyed. I decided I needed to write more than I needed those. The things I will never cut are my study/devotional/ prayer time with God or my church attendance. The busier I get, the more I need those.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).

God gives us all the same amount of hours in a day. It's how we schedule and use them that makes the difference. The key to happiness and real success is found in putting God first. When we make Him our top priority, everything else will fall into place. Don't ever get too busy for God.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (1John 2:17).

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Reviews Are Crucial

Most readers and some authors don't realize how vital reviews can be. The most obvious reason is that reviews help potential readers decide whether or not they want to buy a book. Reviewers should be honest but not vicious. Take into account opinions that might be specific to you and not most people and note them as such if you list them at all. Good reviews will pull readers to a book.

However, Amazon also looks at the number of reviews a book gets and acts accordingly. With 20 reviews, a book is considered to have good traction with readers. With 50 or more reviews, Amazon makes that book more visible to customers. Do you begin to see how important reviews (both positive and the number of them) can be? They can make or break a book.

Like me, all except the top name authors struggle with getting reviews. Out of the 30 books I've published so far, 11 have more than 20 reviews. Five have more than 50, and those 5 are my top sellers because they have more exposure. My overall sales are much, much better than this, so most of my readers never leave a review. If they would, my sales would be even better.

In our fast-paced lives, readers feel as if they don't have enough time to read as much as they'd like, much less leave reviews. But your review doesn't need to be lengthy. It can be a sentence or two and take no more than 3 minutes. Leaving a review for a book you enjoy is the best way to show your appreciation for that book. That and buying another book from them is the best way to show your appreciation to authors.

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 Living Forever

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son (1 John 5:11).

Man has long looked for a way to live forever. Legend has it that Juan Ponce de Leon searched for the Fountain of Youth in Florida way back in 1513. Researchers keep trying to keep us healthy longer and prolong life. Cloning has the potential of copying ourselves to live another lifetime. Medicines to slow down aging, cosmetics to cover it up, and plastic surgery continue to be big businesses.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).

However, the truth is that we don't have to go to extreme measures to live forever. We will all do that. The question becomes not if but where. Will we live in the joy, peace, and glory of God's presence in heaven where nothing bad will ever happen, or will we live it in the absolute torment of hell? We get to choose.

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous unto eternal life (Matthew 25:46).

Some people try to ignore the question, but that won't prevent them from choosing. If they don't choose Christ as their Lord and Savior and let that change the way they live, they choose hell by default. We will all live forever, but it's our choice where.

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