Janice Cole Hopkins's Blog, page 12

CommissionedGo ye therefore, and teach all nations, bapti...

Commissioned

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19).  

Most Christians are familiar with the Great Commission. When I served as a missionary in the Philippines, I took notes during a meeting with fellow missionaries of ways God's people could take part in teaching all nations. Obviously, not everyone is called to go to a foreign mission field. However, God does expect us all to carry the gospel message wherever we go.

The following is a list of different ways to fulfill this commandment. The key is to select the ones God leads you to do. More than likely, He won't tell you to do just one, and they may change at different stages of your life.

Be a Sender - Senders often financially support missionaries so they can go. However, if you personally know the missionary, you might take care of a home place, check on relatives for them, or do any number of things to help support them being gone. Be an Encourager -  Missionaries often feel isolated and cut off from their previous life. Cards, letters, emails, and packages mean a lot, especially to those without families with them. I met many missionaries serving as single men and women.Be an Intercessor - Pray for missionaries in general, but also for specific missionaries. No one knows the effectiveness of fervent prayers any more than a missionary. They rely upon them. Prayer warriors are always needed. Be a Welcomer - Be a friend to those who are different and need a friend. Welcome missionaries into your home if you have the opportunity. I will never forget the kindness of people who invited me to stay with them when I was traveling to the mission field or coming home or the number of people who picked me up at airports or took me to rent a car when I needed one.Be a Mobilizer - These are the people who help match people with mission opportunities or recruit people to serve in needed mission positions.Be a Helper - There are so many ways to assist a missionary and give practical assistance where needed. You might even consider being an assistant missionary for a term.Be a Trainer. You may have experience in an area that would be beneficial to a missionary. Perhaps you could volunteer to help train them.Be a Goer - Go where God sends you. Say, "Here I am, Lord. Send me." And remember going isn't just overseas. There are also great mission needs right here in the United States, and where you are. Just be faithful to God and His call upon your life. ______________________

Noah's New BrideNoah's New Bride is my next book to publi...

Noah's New Bride

Noah's New Bride is my next book to publish. in about three weeks. It's part of the multiple-author series, Mountain Men and Mail-Order Brides. In my novel, Noah Elder is a lumberjack in a remote region of Oregon Territory in 1878. 

However, Noah gets lonely in the logging camp, and nowthat he’s a crew boss with a cabin, he could get married, but what woman wouldwant this rough life? Still, he writes to his sister who’s been known to dosome matchmaking. He’s pleased when she finds a young woman for him, but hesoon learns that Meleah Baldwin, through no fault of her own, has problems too.In addition, trouble comes from an unexpected source. Can they work together toovercome the obstacles?

Mark Wisehart, the same narrator who produced Carmen's Wedding Dilemma, is now working on the Audible version of Noah's New Bride. I think he'll be perfect for the voices, and I look forward to hearing the finished audiobook. Noah's New Bride is on preorder now. Check it out and hopefully order it. You won't be charged until it comes out on October 3.

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The Patience of JobCurse that night for letting me be bo...

 The Patience of Job

Curse that night for letting me be born, for exposing me to trouble and grief (Job 3:10).

Most of us have probably heard people mention "the patience of Job." I can remember my mother saying it often. However, did Job really have patience? The question was raised in a recent Bible study. The author made a good case for Job not being very patient as he went through so many trials.

O that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me (Job 6: 2 & 4).

Job cries out in despair and for relief again and again in The Book of Job. It is understandable when we consider all that he's going through, but it hardly demonstrates patience. He goes to the throne of God, angrily insisting on some answers. Again, that's not showing patience. However, through everything, Job does maintain great faith in His Lord. He refuses to curse Him and die like his wife tells him to do. In fact, he says, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him" (Job 13:15).

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job..." (James 5:11a).

However, after enduring so much suffering, it makes sense that Job came out on the other side with great patience. He had learned some important lessons, and patience was one of them. The Apostle James mentions it in the last part of his letter. God often uses our trials to refine us and make us into better people.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1: 2-4).

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School in 1880 TownMost towns of any size would have a sc...

School in 1880 Town

Most towns of any size would have a schoolhouse in 1880. Many began as one-room schools with all the grades in the same building, taught by a single teacher. You can imagine how challenging that would be. As the student population grew, the grades might be divided and two teachers hired. Eventually, some schools would expand to include a teacher at almost every grade level.

Rules for teachers were often strict. Women teachers couldn't teach after they married. They were given guidelines about how they dressed, where they could go, and who they could see. Pay was very low, and housing varied. Some towns offered teacherages, but others housed teachers in parents' homes, a situation that could be good or bad. 

The wooden and iron student desks were arranged in neat rows facing a chalkboard with the teacher's desk at the front. Somewhere in the room would be a stove for heat in the winter. Out back would be one or two outhouses. The teacher and students brought their own lunches.

The situation was rarely ideal, but students still learned. As a former teacher, I don't think I'd want to teach in the 1880s, but I admire those who did. It was one of the few jobs opened to single women in the 1800s. To read one of my novels that deals with the education system in the 1880s, check out Simon's Shame.

*1880 Town is a reconstructed Western town in Midland, South Dakota.

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The Amazing BookHeaven and earth shall pass away, but my ...

The Amazing Book

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away (Matthew 24:35).

It's been the best-selling book of all time for over two thousand years. People have also examined and scrutinized it more than any other book. Yet, even skeptics have come away impressed by its accuracy, and it's made believers out of many. It aligns with the writings of secular historians during the same periods in time. There is no other book like the Bible.

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him (Proverbs 30:5-6).

Because it is God's Word, Jewish scholars worked to preserve these precious manuscripts and ensure their authenticity and reliability. They had special men whose sole responsibility was to preserve, copy, and share these documents with absolute accuracy. Nelson Glueck, a noted Jewish archaeologist, says that no archaeological discovery has ever contradicted anything in the Bible. Indeed, many of them substantiate it. 

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:21).

Uniquely, it includes over 2,500 prophecies, and about 2,000 of them have already come true. The other 500 are about future events which haven't happened yet. Even more astonishing, the overwhelming majority of these fulfilled prophesies were given independently of each other. The odds of this happening are astronomical. 

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The message is clear. We need to use and treasure this remarkable book from God. We should read and study it daily and base our lives upon it. It should be the truth we believe in, the laws we adhere to, and the guidebook of our lives. The more you read it, the more you will come to enjoy it, and you'll find yourself hungering for more. It will transform your life in amazing ways.

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A Match for MiltonI'm happy to announce that my fourth bo...

A Match for Milton

I'm happy to announce that my fourth book in The Matchmakers - Agatha Returns series releases on Monday, a week from today. There will be one more novel to follow to end my five-book series within a series. Although all five are set in Pinyon Falls, Texas, and have continuing characters, each one features a different couple and a definite conclusion, so they can be read as a standalone.Link

In A Match for Milton, Milton Cauley tried marriage, and it didn't work out very well. Now a widower, he has no intention of ever marrying again. He's content enough running his barbershop until a misguided friend orders him a bride from the matchmaker other couples in Pinyon Falls have used. Milton is furious, but as far as he's concerned, the man can just handle the problem himself since he created it.

As with all my books, this one will be available on Kindle, KU, print, and Audible. My dual narrators, Douglas Birk and EJ Lavery, have finished production, and we're just waiting for ACX to approve it. Don't miss this beautiful story of what the right woman can do for a man, even one broken by a bad experience.

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Captaining Your ShipRead Matthew 14:25-33.You may rememb...

 

Captaining Your Ship

Read Matthew 14:25-33.

You may remember the story of Peter walking on water. When Jesus came to join the disciples on the boat, He walked on the Sea of Galilee to get to them. Peter saw him coming and asked to join Him. Jesus told him to come. Peter pushed down his doubts and got out of the boat. At first, he walked on the water toward Jesus because he kept his eyes on his Lord, but when the raging storm drew his attention, he began to sink. Jesus reached out and saved him. However, note that Peter trusted Jesus enough to take the risk and leave the boat.

Too often, we do the same thing. We have good intentions, but we give our circumstances too much attention and take our eyes off Jesus. Sometimes, trusting God requires what looks like letting go of our comfortable, secure positions, and that's hard to do. Still, we have to get out of the boat because faith doesn't grow well in shallow water. It's a matter of trust. Do we take God at His promises and believe His Word? We'll be fine if we keep our eyes on Him and do His will.

At other times, we try to be captains of our own ships, thinking we can handle it, but that's not a good plan if we want to arrive safely at our destinations. Pride can quickly sink a ship. Let God steer you. Let Him be the captain and never plan a mutiny. He'll guide you safely home.

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Why I WriteRecently, I did a guest blog about how and wh...

 Why I Write

Recently, I did a guest blog about how and why I became an author. (See guest blog.) I enjoyed focusing on my real reason for writing and sharing it with others. I write for God's glory, hope that my books will always inspire and motivate, and pray that they deliver messages that God wants and can use.

This past week, I did a week-long online event where I agreed to focus on a Western book that involved a cattleman. I chose one of my books in the Hers to Redeem collection, Boone's Burden. That called to mind a touching review that talks about how the reader ended up evaluating her own Christian walk:  

"It is sad to see someone who is a Christian and yet does not see himself as God sees him . . . forgiven. Sometimes culture and opinions of others stir up self-doubts as well. Boone is one of those people. Though he has sworn never to marry because of past behavior, God has other plans for him. It's a hard journey for Boone to forgive himself and becomes even more challenging when he meets the preacher's daughter in church. Made me think of how I might be part of that culture that judges instead of encouraging others in their walk with God! Changed my heart and mind!"

I've had many other examples of this. One reader was struggling to be the caregiver for her husband whose health was declining rapidly with Alzheimer's. She read one of my Christian romances and told me that it reminded her of what she and her husband once had and why she wanted to do everything she could to help him now. Her testimony brought tears to my eyes and still does sometimes. These people encourage me to keep writing.

I write for God. I pray that He directs everything for His purposes and His glory. I'm humbled that he called me to serve Him in this way and amazed when I look back on my life and see how he trained me and directed my paths to bring me to this point without me understanding it at the time.  Now and always, to Him be the glory!

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Seeking God with All Our HeartsThen shall ye call upon m...

 Seeking God with All Our Hearts

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray to me, and I will harken unto you (Jeremiah 29:12).

". . . God invites His people to call on Him, come to Him in prayer, and assures them that He will listen to them. This verse reveals the loving and attentive nature of our Heavenly Father, who longs for a deep and intimate relationship with His children. It reminds us of the importance of seeking God with all our hearts."

"Seeking God involves more than just offering superficial prayers or going through religious motions. It requires a sincere and genuine pursuit of Him, acknowledging our need for His wisdom, strength, and grace."

"He knows us intimately and longs to connect with us in a personal and meaningful way. Seeking God with all our hearts also involves aligning our desires with his will."

"In our busy and often chaotic lives, it's easy to become distracted and lose sight of what truly matters. But when we prioritize seeking God with all our hearts, we discover the peace, joy, and fulfillment that can only come from Him. We find comfort in His presence, wisdom in His Word, and strength in His unfailing love."

*Taken from 50 Devotionals: What's the Good Word?: Volume II by Christian Piper

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Carmen and the GypsiesI have traveled quite a bit, and I...

 

Carmen and the Gypsies

I have traveled quite a bit, and I've noticed that many of the European countries still have small bands of gypsies, a group that I've always found fascinating. It's always been in the back of my mind to write a novel including them. My chance came when I became a part of the multiple-author collection, The Matchmaker & the Mother-In-Law. However, it wasn't until I chose my book cover from the ones offered that I locked onto the idea. By the time I saw them to select mine, the only one I liked was a Spanish-looking woman. I remembered the gypsies I saw on my trips to Spain, and Carmen's Wedding Dilemma was born.

In the book, although Carmen was born in America, her parents and grandparents had been gypsies in Spain. Once here, they decided it would be better to hide their gypsy heritage. After the Civil War began, they moved to Utah, and her father started a horse ranch. When Carmen becomes a young woman, her parents decide that Mateo should be her matchmaker. After all, who has her best interest at heart more than a girl's father.

Holden Judd's mother is driving him crazy, trying to match him with a woman he has nothing in common with. When he goes to buy horses from Matteo for his livery business, he keeps returning, and it doesn't take long for him to fall in love with Carmen. However, his mother is determined to break them up, even if she has to be secretive about it. Carmen's Wedding Dilemma published today (August 5th) and is available for Kindle, KU, print, and Audible. Check it out - link to Carmen's Wedding Dilemma.

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