Embracing Mary When You're a Martha ~ Barbara Britton

Embracing Mary When You’re a Martha

(click to enlarge)

a devotional from author Barbara Britton

I’m a task oriented, list maker. I get the work done around my house so fast, sometimes I don’t remember doing it. I also have a nutrition degree, so put me in a kitchen and I can make something edible. When I read Luke 10:38-42, the story of Mary and Martha, I immediately sympathize with the frazzled sister, Martha.  Have you ever grumbled about a sibling that left you to do all the work?

Jesus travels to a village with his disciples and we are told a woman named Martha opened her home to him. Yay, Martha! Hospitality is a gift, and one cherished in a time without motels and McDonald’s. But somehow in all the commotion, Martha forgot who she invited. She let cooking and food preparation dampen her joy and take her attention from her guest, the Son of God.

I feel for Martha slaving away while Mary sits and revels in the wonder of God, but then I must do a mirror moment. Am I letting tasks and life’s happenings take my eyes off Jesus? Am I blocking time on my calendar for devotions and Bible study or am I too busy doing life that I forget the Creator of life?

Having a busy schedule isn’t bad. After all, being hospitable takes time. But as we go about busy lives we need to remember to abide in God’s presence. We can rest at Jesus’ feet anywhere. I pray in the car—out loud. No one thinks I’m crazy. They probably think I have a high-tech car. I listen to Christian music and remain focused on what Jesus has done for me. I lead a Bible study once a week. I’ve thought of giving up my leadership position, but then I ask myself if I would stay active in studying the Bible. Maybe not.

Martha learns her lesson about keeping her thoughts on Jesus (even if she’s washing wooden plates and chopping leeks). In John 11:20, when Jesus arrives in Bethany after Lazarus, Mary and Martha’s brother, has died, who do we see running out to greet Jesus? Martha. Mary stays at home and Martha goes out to meet her Lord, the Son of God. Martha has learned to enjoy Jesus’ presence no matter what she is going through.

Life isn’t always easy, or fun. Sometimes it’s stressful and we can feel alone. Let’s remember to focus on Jesus and spend time with Him. He will change our focus and renew our spirit, and He can multiply our time.

If you’re cooking dinner tonight, or driving car pool today, remember to pray to Jesus and abide in his goodness. Run out to meet our Savior. He will always be there to greet you. Chances are, He already has his arms outstretched.

About Barbara

Barbara M. Britton was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but currently lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. Barb writes romantic adventures for teens and adults in the Christian fiction and Mainstream markets. She is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little known Bible characters to light in her stories. 

Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. She has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate.

“Jerusalem Rising” is Barbara's latest book. Find out more about Barb’s books on her website www.barbarambritton.com

The Story Behind the Story ~ Evelyn Hill ~ The English Lieutenant’s Lady

Please welcome author Evelyn M. Hill as she shares the story behind the writing of The English lieutenant's Lady.

by Evelyn M. Hill

While doing research into Oregon history for my first book, His Forgotten Fiancée, I ran across a reference to British spied being sent to Oregon during the time of the Oregon Border Dispute, when Britain and the United States were thinking of going to war over who had the better claim to the Oregon Territory.

That is what led to my writing The English Lieutenant's Lady. The British didn’t send professional spies on this mission. They picked a pair of ordinary army officers named Lieutenants Vavasour and Warre. One was an engineer and the other had a talent for painting watercolors. The Colonial Office sent them to Oregon from Montreal, with instructions to pass as gentlemen of leisure on a scenic tour. Their mission was to evaluate the territory and its population to determine whether the British should declare war against America to defend their claim to the land.

The two men travelled across the continent to the Pacific coast, where they tried to purchase the aptly named Cape Disappointment. Failing at that, they went up the Columbia River and then the Willamette, evaluating sites for potential forts and even drawing up a plan to occupy the only town of any size in the area, Oregon City.

My story focuses on a character based on one of the actual lieutenants, Vavasour, and a fictional woman from the Oregon Territory. At least, I thought she was fictional. But looking through the records, there is evidence that the lieutenant was involved with someone while on his mission.

Looking through the accounts of items purchased by Vavasour at Fort Vancouver, I found evidence that he purchased not only the standard supplies he would need for his stay in the territory, food and such, he also made some intriguing additional purchases. He purchased a pair of ladies shoes and several yards of gauzy material. On a couple occasions he purchased hair ribbons.

(Editor's note: The list is a little blurry, but if you click on it it will enlarge and you can read some of it a little better.)

All these purchases went on the official record. He was given an allowance to buy what he needed for his mission, and he included these items in the list. Therefore, it is logical to assume he was prepared to justify the act of buying ladies shoes and fripperies as being required for his mission.

Hmmmn... supplies for his mission? Ladies shoes and hair ribbons? Even if I weren't a romance novelist I would be starting to suspect that love was in the air.

Combatting Spring Fever

by Peggy Blann Phifer @pegphifer

Yes, I know there’s only sixteen days left before it’s “officially” spring, but …

Winter still has a firm grip on NW Wisconsin, and there’s another big storm approaching sometime tonight or early tomorrow morning. With predictions of six to nine inches of more snow … and as much as eleven inches in certain ‘locations.’

I’ve had enough! Yeah, I know there’s nothing I can do about it, And complaining about it won’t change anything.

But there’s something I can do about me … and my attitude.

While I haven’t felt much like writing these past two days, my creative self wanted to do something … so I played. What you see here today is the result. New header, a s slight change in background …

In case you don’t remember the former ‘theme’ I’ve copied it below.



So, what say you? Improvement? or not.

If you care to, leave a comment below.

The Making of The Reluctant Groom ~ Kimberly Rose Johnson

The Making of The Reluctant Groom

By Kimberly Rose Johnson

My favorite kind of stories have always been marriage of convenience stories, but I thought since I wrote contemporary romance I’d never get to write one, that is, until this story came to me.

I was laying in bed one night back in 2016, when the idea began to percolate. It was one of the few times I dragged myself from bed and wrote my thoughts down. I took the concept and the framework of my story to my readers group on Facebook. They helped me come up with a way to make a modern day marriage of convenience not only believable, but also acceptable. 

I had other books to write so it took a little time to get this one written, but then the unthinkable happened. Someone else wrote and published my story! Okay, it wasn’t  exactly my story but there were enough similarities that I hesitated to publish mine. In reality the only thing they really had in common was the set of circumstances I used to justify the marriage. Anyway, I set it aside and literally forgot about it until ...one day ... I remembered.

I brought up the project to my readers group once again and explained why I had not yet published the story. They encouraged me to publish it anyway. I finally relented and set the release date.

About the book:

When everything goes wrong, can two friends discover true love? 

When Ray O’Brien’s world is turned upside down, Katie Fairchild wants to help, but the personal cost is high. Neither desires a marriage of convenience, but when Katie blurts the first thing that comes to her mind Ray can’t dismiss her offer of marriage. It would solve all his problems except for one thing—they aren’t in love. 

Can these two friends team up for the greater good and perhaps find love along the way, or are their expectations impossible? 

About Kimberly:

Faith Hope and Love Reader's Choice Finalist, Kimberly Rose Johnson, married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.

Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. 

You can sign up for Kimberly's newsletter via her website at: http://kimberlyrjohnson.com/index.html

Amazon buy link: http://amzn.to/2FoJ00s

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyRoseJohnson

100 Steps to Freedom ~ Tamara Lynn Kraft

100 Steps to Freedom

by Tamera Lynn Kraft

Before the Civil War, Ohio had the largest Underground Railroad of any state in the Union. It is believed that every county in Ohio had a route. Many slaves would escape over the Ohio River and through Ohio on their way to Canada. This was a dangerous undertaking because, even though Ohio was a free state, the Fugitive Slave Law made it so anyone helping escaped slaves could be fined and jailed.

One small town, Ripley, Ohio, is believed to have helped more slaves escape than any town in Ohio. Ripley is located on the banks of the Ohio River across from Mason County, Kentucky.

Image courtesy Pixabay

One man who helped slaves escape was a freed black man named John Parker. Parker was educated by his master in Virginia and eventually bought his freedom. He traveled to Ohio and opened a foundry on Front Street facing the Ohio River. He was the first black man to earn a patent for one of the inventions he used in his foundry. At night, he would search the Ohio River looking for escaped slaves and helping them find their way to an Underground Railroad Station.

Rev. John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister, owned a house on top of a hill in Ripley. He built one hundred steps to the house that could be seen on the other side of the river. At night, he would light a lantern and hang it from the porch to signal slaves that it was safe to cross. It is estimated that over 2,000 slaves escaped through the Rankin House. None of them were ever recaptured.

Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote her famous novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, about the escape of the slave, Eliza, after hearing the story from Rev. Rankin. I also added John Rankin's house in my new novel, Red Sky Over America. The story takes place on the Ohio River where all these exciting events happened.

About Tamera's Book:

Red Sky Over America

Ladies of Oberlin Book 1

By Tamera Lynn Kraft

William and America confront evil, but will it cost them everything?

In 1857, America, the daughter of a slave owner, is an abolitionist and a student at Oberlin College, a school known for its radical ideas. America goes home to Kentucky during school break to confront her father about freeing his slaves.

America's classmate, William, goes to Kentucky to preach abolition to churches that condone slavery. America and William find themselves in the center of the approaching storm sweeping the nation and may not make it home to Ohio or live through the struggle.

Red Sky Over America tackles the most turbulent time in history with thorough research and fascinating characters. Tamera Lynn Kraft has woven a tale about the evils of slavery that should never be forgotten. -- Mary Ellis, author of The Quaker and the Rebel, The Lady and the Officer, and The Last Heiress.

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You can purchase Red Sky Over America at these online sites:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2o9EJa2

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/2C6XIuq

About Tamera:

Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures. She loves to write historical fiction set in the United States because there are so many stories in American history. There are strong elements of faith, romance, suspense and adventure in her stories. She has received 2^nd place in the NOCW contest, 3^rd place TARA writer’s contest, and is a finalist in the Frasier Writing Contest and has other novels and novellas in print. She’s been married for 39 years to the love of her life, Rick, and has two married adult children and three grandchildren. 

Tamera has been a children’s pastor for over 20 years. She is the leader of a ministry called Revival Fire for Kids where she mentors other children’s leaders, teaches workshops, and is a children’s ministry consultant and children’s evangelist and has written children’s church curriculum. She is a recipient of the 2007 National Children’s Leaders Association Shepherd’s Cup for lifetime achievement in children’s ministry.

You can contact Tamera on her website at http://tameralynnkraft.net.

You can contact Tamera online at these sites.

Website: http://tameralynnkraft.net

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cdybpb

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7334438.Tamera_Lynn_Kraft

Word Sharpeners Blog: http://tameralynnkraft.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/tameralynnkraft

Twitter: http://twitter.com/tamerakraft