Janice Cole Hopkins's Blog, page 28

Like DynamiteHave you gone through struggles that left y...

 Like Dynamite

Have you gone through struggles that left you reeling or hard times that left you shattered? Most of us have. It's hard to see any good when you're in the middle of trouble, but these are the times we need to trust God the most. He has promised to never leave us and to bring good even from the worst of times if we love Him and are called according to His purpose. I don't believe God brings bad things into our lives, but He does use them. 

"We want everything to be easy, for God to swoop down and fix our problems. God does care about our difficulties, but through them, He is doing something important we may not understand. Through the trials, He is producing a deeper faith that, like a stick of dynamite, will blast through anything we go through. Although times of testing don't feel good, don't let the moment of testing destroy your faith. Instead, allow the test to strengthen you and build your character (Getting to Know God's Voice - Patty Mason).

May your faith be like a stick of dynamite that will blast through any situation the world or Satan can throw at you. 

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Personal Connections to Mason's MemoriesAlthough nothing ...

Personal Connections to Mason's Memories

Although nothing in my upcoming novel, Mason's Memories, is the least bit autobiographical, there are a few connections with my family and background. I rarely use names from my family in my books, but for this one I did. Greene is my mother's maiden name and also the surname I gave Mason because it fits, and it's a common name in Western North Carolina.

Dorotha Dix Mason came from Yadkinville, a     town about 25 miles east of where I   grew up. When Mason comes home from the Civil War, however,   neighbors mistake his flashbacks, and what we'd today diagnose as   PTSD, as being mentally unstable.   They wanted to have him committed to Dorthea Dix, the mental institution in Raleigh. Mental hospitals, even the best ones, were not where anyone wanted to be in those early days, so Mason sells out and moves to Colorado where he becomes a recluse.

When the designer sent me the cover for the book, the man portrayed there looked like someone from the Greene family in Watauga and Wilkes counties, or, in other words, my mother's family. In fact, my grandfather had some of those same features. How's that for coincidence? But it just reinforced my idea of using Greene for his last name.

This story, in fact, this whole series, is special to me. The series fits many of the plots I had already been thinking about, and I had an extra strong connection with Mason and Carrie as I wrote it. I anticipate the readers also having that connection as they read it. Mason's Memories will be released on February 21, and it's available for preorder now.

Link to Mason's Memories

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Love Is ...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy ...

Love Is ...

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 neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:37-40).

Every person has an innate, natural desire to be loved. From the time we are born, we're looking to be loved, whether we recognize and admit it or not. Our parents normally meet this need in the beginning. As we grow into childhood, other family members and special friends are also added to our group of loved ones. Later, we start dating, because we feel the need for a different kind of love than we've experienced so far, and we marry when we think we've found the mate we can love and who will love us for the rest of our lives.

But no matter how many people we find to love us on earth, our needs will never be completely satisfied with them. Lost friendships, divorces, and broken families all attest to this. Even if our relationships are solid, something is still missing. We were built with a love hole in our hearts that only God can fill, and we will never find complete contentment until we let Him fill it. He has the missing piece.

Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is to love. If we follow The Greatest Commandment in the way Jesus meant it, we will keep all of God's other commandments. Sadly, too many church members have trivialized this. With their selfishness and petty concerns, they show little love to each other. However, the love we show one another is the best testimony for Christ that we can give. It is the gift of the gospel message tied up with the ribbon of grace. It overcomes barriers of differences and forms a community of acceptance among believers. God is love, and He'll pour so much out on us that it will overflow into others if we'll let Him. Love should be what makes the world go 'round.

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A Match for Marshall and MoreI'm very excited to have my...

 A Match for Marshall and More

I'm very excited to have my first book published in The Matchmaker: Agatha Returns series. A Match for Marshall published last week, and by all indications, the series is going to be a huge success.  In the book, Marshall Walker has built a successful ranch from years of hard work, but he hasn't had time for courting. When his brother dies, leaving him custody of two nieces, he decides now is the time to take a wife, so he contacts a noted matchmaker.  Callie Jones grew up on a small farm and knows the toil it takes to eke out a living. When her parents ask her to leave home to allow more food and clothing for her nine siblings, she decides to become a mail-order bride, but she's determined to marry a man who lives in town. She wants nothing more to do with ranches or farms. But the matchmaker makes a mistake.
Link to Marshall

I'll have seven books in this long-running series. Besides A Match for Marshall, there will be:
A Match for Cord  (5-01-23)
A Match for Silas  (2-01-24)
A Match for Merle  (7-01-24)
A Match for Milton  (9-02-24)
A Match for Reece  (11-01-24)
                                                       A Match for Matt (12-02-24)

All my books are set in the fictitious town of Pinyon Falls, Texas, so the characters will continue to appear throughout my books in the series. Readers tell me they love this because they like seeing the earlier characters again.
A Match for Marshall is available on Kindle, KU, print, and Audible. For the audible, I have the dual team of Douglas Birk and EJ Lavery, and they've agreed to do my other books in the series since there's a continuation of characters. I find a male and a female narrator works best when there're this many characters. I hope readers and listeners are as eager to see this new series unfold as I am._______________________________

Hearing God's VoiceThe key to hearing God's voice clearly...

Hearing God's Voice

The key to hearing God's voice clearly is to have a personal, growing relationship with Him. Then when you hear Him, you should respond in obedience. Invite Him into every part of your life and have Him with you wherever you go and in whatever you do. Feeling His loving presence is one of the great treasures of the faith.

Two of the most likely times to hear from God are when you read and study His Word and when you pray. However, you need to set aside quiet time where you can better hear His often still, small voice. Of course, God can speak to you at any time and through any source. Be open to hearing from Him. Remember, He wants to fellowship with you. It's one of the reasons he created you.

Our spiritual ear will never be sensitive to his voice if we have a personal agenda to which we are already committed.  God leads and speaks to the humble who have surrendered their plans to do his will. With an "open heaven" and a surrendered will, we will be able to clearly hear God's voice in our hearts.   -- Jim Cymbala

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Another BenefitI've already written and posted blogs abo...

 Another Benefit

I've already written and posted blogs about my heavy publishing schedule this year.  (See) I have committed to publishing fifteen books in 2023, all of which are multiple-author projects. This will be the most books I've ever published in one year, and it's unlikely that I'll ever try to do this many again.

However, I'm already seeing a benefit to publishing books close together that I hadn't considered. My monthly royalties from Amazon have doubled. It makes sense, but I wasn't thinking about that when the schedule developed. I took advantage of some opportunities that came my way and fit writing ideas that I already had. I didn't do it thinking of monetary gain, but since all my profits go to a scholarship fund for missionary children, this will have an added benefit. I'll be able to fund more scholarships.

MaryLu Tyndall once told me the more I published, the more my royalties would grow -- that in today's book market, I shouldn't expect to make much on just one or even a few books. This experience certainly proves her statement to be true. I'm looking forward to seeing this year unfold, and I'm excited about the possibilities.

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God SpeaksThere are some who think that God spoke to His...

 God Speaks

There are some who think that God spoke to His people in biblical times but not today. However, the Bible shows that this isn't true. God can speak to us in many different ways. Since we accepted Christ as our Savior, we have the Holy Spirit living within us, and God doesn't need to speak audibly as much as he once did, but he still speaks.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork (Psalms 19:1).

God Speaks to Us Through His Creation - Nature and creation speak to us of God. We can see traces of Him in the beauty He created on the earth. The intricacies of the universe point to our great and mighty Creator.

Be careful for nothing;, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

God Speaks to Us When We Pray -  In fact, our quiet time in prayer with God is one of the main times He speaks to us. This is just one of the reasons daily prayer times are so important.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable . . . (2 Timothy 3:16a).

God Speaks to Us Through His Word - This is another major way God speaks to His people today and why reading the Bible is so important. You won't get to know God well any other way. The people in the Bible didn't have all the books of the Bible that we have today. He speaks to us in these verses and reveals His will.

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established (Proverbs 16:3)

God Speaks to Us in Our Thoughts - Today God often speaks to our thoughts. The closer we stay to Him, the more clearly we can hear His voice.  We must be conscious not to let the noise of the world drown Him out.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and you daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams (Acts 2: 17).

God Speaks Through Dreams and Visions - Yes, this is sometimes true, even today. He doesn't always speak this way, but I know some honest people of integrity where this has happened, and I believe them. Don't close your mind to the possibility, but be open to any way God chooses to speak to you.

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A New Valentine's Series Now that Christmas is over and ...

 A New Valentine's Series 

Now that Christmas is over and New Year's Day has passed, it's time to look to Valentine's Day. It's a holiday that's special to romance readers, and this year, there's a new series of seven books set to publish just in time for the holiday. The sweet, clean books in A Small Town Valentine's Day Romance are all on preorder for only 99 cents right now, so don't miss out.

A Small Town Valentine's Day Romance link

My contribution to the series, The Prodigal Pastor, published today, January 23rd. In it, Brooke Bennett is ecstatic when she learns she's expecting a baby. She and her husband had been trying for years. Knowing that David would be as thrilled as she was, she prepared him a special celebratory supper, dressed up, and waited for him to come home, so she could give him the news. But he never came. After trying to track him down to no avail and shedding rivers of tears, she finally goes to bed to find a note on her pillow. He had left her! But that's not the end of the story. It doesn't take David long to realize what a huge mistake he's made, and he vows to repent, turn his life around, and get his wife back. However, he also knows what an uphill battle that's going to be.

The Prodigal Pastor link

The Audible version of The Prodigal Pastor is also ready. I had so much fun seeing this book come to life under the voice of a talented narrator. Jared Walters has also narrated Taking Stock and Candace: Runaway Brides of the West for me. He's a voice actor, and I love how he interprets my books. Listeners must agree because he has great reviews. I hope to use him in at least two more of my books this year. He reads The Prodigal Pastor with all the emotion the book deserves.

I have always loved Valentine's Day, so I am beyond pleased to have a book to offer for the holiday. Of course, a book like this is appropriate reading for any time of the year. Order it now. I don't think you will be disappointed, and it's only 99 cents until all the books are published. Then the price will go up to $2.99.

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"Go"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and ...

"Go"

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel . . . (Mark 16:15).

Jesus' example teaches us to go out into communities where the people are. That's what he did. He did not teach us to build a building and expect people to come to us. That's not the best way to evangelize. People are more likely to come to know Jesus when Christians demonstrate care for them and when relationships are built. 

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" Hebrews 10:25).

That's not to say that churches aren't important. They are. But they're more effective at things like growing believers, strengthening faith, teaching God's Word and will, providing fellowship, and worshiping God. That's because it's hard to get non-believers to walk through the church doors to hear the gospel message. But when we go out into the world and live the gospel message, we can have a great impact. Then, we can accompany our new friends to church.

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).

Jesus commanded his followers to go several times. He didn't say to build and they will come, to wait and be patient for something to happen, or to become as educated as possible so you can teach and preach well. He said to go. How well are we Christians following that command? How well are you?

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A Struggle and a SuccessWhen I began to write Candace: R...

 A Struggle and a Success

When I began to write Candace: Runaway Brides of the West, I already had the plot firmly established, knew my main characters well, and had decided where the story was going. What I hadn't anticipated is how difficult it was going to be to write. You see, unusual circumstances would cause Jude and Candace to be stuck in a remote cabin in the Rocky Mountains during a harsh, dangerous winter.
Link to Candace

The problem came with the details of the story. Since they were so limited and couldn't be outside much, what could these two characters do that wouldn't become boring to readers?  The tension between them would help make the story interesting, but I still had to decide what scenes to write. Perhaps the fact that I worked hard to overcome the problems actually helped the book because Candace has gotten great reviews, and one reviewer even said this is my best book yet.

I have no idea how well I do on a book and depend on my readers to tell me. I'm too close to them to have any perspective. I review other people's books all the time, but I can't do that for mine since I don't know how to rate them. However, I wasn't surprised when my listeners rated Jared Walters's narration high in the Audible version. He's one of the best narrators I've encountered at correctly interpreting a book with his voice. And he has a smooth voice that's easy to listen to and pulls listeners into the story to keep them there. All in all, what began as a struggle with Candace became a success.
Link to Candace audible

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