Becky Wade's Blog, page 160

That Time I Named a Character Ethan Hawke (and a giveaway!)

I’m so happy to welcome my friend, Jill Lynn, back to Inspired by Life…and Fiction. Her newest release is about to hit shelves, and to mark this special occasion, she’s offering a giveaway!

Stories often change from when I plot and imagine them (and send them in to my publisher as an idea) until they become typed words on a white page. And I have to admit, I agonize a bit over my character’s names. Sometimes I ask for name suggestions on my Facebook page. I might even use a name in my draft and then switch it around until I find the right one. But once I find the perfect fit, I can’t imagine changing it.

As I was writing book three in my Colorado Grooms series, my character’s brother was initially supposed to have passed away when they were younger. But as the story evolved, I changed those details so that he had suffered a freak accident and below-the-knee amputation instead. Which meant he was alive and well…and could be the hero of book four. I wrote the story of these two brothers—Jace and Ethan—in book three. I did edits. And then I handed in the final draft to my editor. I wouldn’t see the book again, and by this point, I was very much ready to hand it off.

I often take a break if I can between books, but in this particular situation, I began book four shortly after handing in book three. I opened up the blank page and typed my first sentence about the main character named…Ethan Hawke. (Yes, spelled exactly like the actor’s last name.)

My mouth fell open. How had this happened? Jace Hawke is the hero of book three, and his brother Ethan was supposed to be the hero of book four. But I’d never written Ethan’s first and last name together until I started the new book.

I immediately emailed my editor, hoping the book wasn’t past the point where we could make a change to his name. She, too, was shocked she hadn’t caught that his name was Ethan Hawke during edits.

In case you’re sitting on pins and needles, we did catch it in time. And so, the book currently on store shelves is Evan’s story…not Ethan’s.

Celebrating Flight Risk! (& Giveaway

Tuesday Flight Risk launched into the world. Launch weeks are always busy. There’s marketing. Copious amounts of coffee. Nerves all over the place. Walks to control stress. More caffeine. Lots of prayer and holding one’s breath.

What will people think?

Will they love and enjoy the story I spent months and untold hours on?

Did I forget a blog tour stop to visit and leave a comment? Has anyone left a review yet? Are we at the magic number fifty at Amazon yet? Where’s the best price to send people?

What?!? Bookstores are closed? How do I help people support independent bookstores when the stores aren’t open? Anywhere?

Is there a place I can send people to listen to the audiobook? Yes. Where can I send them to read the first five chapters? Here. Do I have things loosely organized for the scavenger hunt style giveaway/celebration tour? Have I answered my friends comments on how to frame it? Do I have enough headlines? Do I have the basic text and image that I can adapt for everyone who’s hosting a stop? How am I going to collect votes? Will people play along? ARGH!!!!!

These were just a few of the questions and concerns going through my mind Sunday and Monday leading up to release on Tuesday.

It hasn’t helped that the course I teach at Purdue moved online for the balance of the semester. Or that I’m in the middle of macroedits for the next book (Lethal Intent — Caroline gets her book!!!!).

So today, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being faithful readers of Christian fiction. Thank you for loving books. Thank you for supporting local bookstores. Thank you for posting reviews on the books you read. Thank you for letting authors know that their words matters.

Thank you.

And in case you want to play along, click on the image above to join the Hunt. And at the very end, you can join a different giveaway. I’m just so grateful for you and the way you help me write.

And if you want to know just how crazy it was to live with me the last week, Tune into Facebook Friday night, April 10, at 6:00 EST as Eric joins me for a Facebook Live.

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In Jesus’ Footsteps

Hi friends, 

I feel blessed to be with you today. With the pandemic and crisis surrounding us, I’m glad you took the time to visit with me today. I took time away from watching the news and from fear, perhaps, or weariness. I have to admit, I’ve been filled with fear a lot and fear is exhausting. I’ve been sleeping way more than normal and while I do have several autoimmune disorders and they cause fatigue, what I’ve been experiencing for weeks now is different. It’s what I envision when people say, ‘tired to my bone.’  Tired to my soul sums it up better for me. I’ve been praying and clinging to hope, but hope born out of fear is not hope. Hope is the gift of grace. The gift Jesus died to give us this week two thousand years ago. 

I’ve found tremendous comfort in walking the steps Jesus took this week, following each day of Holy Week or the Passion Week in the Bible. What’s interesting is today is referred to as ‘Silent Wednesday.’ No doubt much was happening, but the day isn’t recorded for us in Scripture as far as I can find. Still, I can’t help but wonder how the Lord spent this day. Was it, perhaps, a day of stillness and quiet communion with His Father. Did He teach His disciples one more truth before His time on earth was about to end? Words to fill them with courage and hope, words of grace? As it’s not in Scripture none of us can say, but as I approach each day this week I’ve been reading the coordinating Scripture and then finding a sermon on those verses on Truth for Life with Alistair Begg. 

I’ve been listening to Truth for Life sermons daily since I homeschooled my girls. Every day we would get up and would have “Breakfast with Begg.” We’d eat our breakfast while listening to Begg preach. We’d have our Bibles open and take notes. We all learned so much, I continue the practice to this day. Today I am practicing stillness with God. The Gospels record Jesus going off to pray, to have time alone with His Father. I’m taking time today to sit at the foot of the Cross and to praise the Lord for saving a sinner like me. 

Reader Question:

How are you following Jesus’ footprints this week? Do you have any Holy Week traditions? How will you be celebrating Easter? 

I know Easter will be quite different this year. We won’t be able to attend church or worship together in the same building. We may be far from loved ones or close but it’s safer to stay away while we’re under “Shelter In Place” precautions. But the beautiful thing is that Jesus is still Lord, He still died for our sins, by grace and repentance we are His forever and nothing—not even Covid19 catches God off guard. He is in control and we can find shelter and refuge in His hands. 

May God bless you this week as you celebrate the atoning sacrifice of His Son. 

In Christ, 

Dani 

Tangible Encouragements

“Take heart, daughter.” “Take courage.” “Don’t be afraid.”

Jesus spoke these words to lost, searching, and hurting souls when he was here on earth, and he’s still speaking them to us today. And aren’t we grateful? Especially in these uncertain times.

But while these may be uncertain times for us, they’re not for him. Because, even now, he stands in the moment when you drew your first breath on this earth, and he stands in the moment when you (and I) will draw our last. He’s the Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end. The first and the last.

I’m so grateful for tangible encouragements of this eternal truth—and want to share four of these encouragements with you today!

FIRST, a giveaway—
Imagine walking the dusty roads of Galilee with Jesus of Nazareth—braving jostling crowds just to touch the edge of His cloak and hear Him say, “Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you.”
 
Those words, once meant to comfort a hurting woman’s soul thousands of years ago, were also meant for you and me. In Jesus & Women, Kristi McLelland brings this real woman’s story (and others) to vibrant life.

Jesus & Women by Kristi McLelland
a video series
The Leader’s Kit for this biblical study (a $100 value)

Enter to win

I went to Israel last year with Kristi and 37 other women, and it was a life-changing journey. So much of what Kristi taught us is encapsulated in this study. And friends, you need to hear these messages! Especially today.

Jesus & Women video series is also available for immediate download through LifeWay so you can start watching today!

SECOND, a free TV series—

If you’re a regular here at Inspired by Life & Fiction, then you’ve likely heard me share about this second tangible encouragement—The Chosen TV series.

Do you recall the healing of the paralytic in the Bible? When the lame man’s friends lowered him through the roof in order to gain Jesus’ attention and in hopes of seeing their friend healed?

Watch this quick scene from one of the episodes in The Chosen:

So. Good!

STARTING WATCHING the free entire first season of The Chosen today! It’s for all ages, old and young. You’ll be encouraged beyond imagining, I promise!

THIRD, a free Bible study—

Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) has been a staple in my life for the past decade. I cannot imagine not being involved in this weekly in-depth study of God’s Word.

I don’t know about you, but I need the encouragement of accountability when it comes to being deeply immersed in God’s Word on a regular basis. And BSF provides that and so much more!

We’ve been studying the history of the early church this year and it’s phenomenal! If there’s not a group meeting near you (or if your schedule doesn’t allow for you to attend a weekly meeting), there are online groups now!

Check out BSF today and be drawn deeper into the living Word of God.

FOURTH, a free app—

One of my favorite Bible teachers is Brad Gray. His knowledge of Jewish culture and the biblical relevance of that culture as it relates to a Christian’s walk with Jesus is truly a gift.

Check out Brad Gray’s Walking the Text:

I watch and listen to Walking the Text while I’m getting ready in the morning, cleaning, exercising. It’s a great way to get a powerful infusion of the living Word of God!

These are four tangible encouragements that I’m leaning into these days. What about you?

Praying for you, friends, and eager to hear how you’re doing!

Tammy

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Remember the Wonders

As another week of quarantine begins, I’ve noticed a new worry
taking root in my heart. Finances. With the stock market on a
roller-coaster ride, I’m growing concerned about what my husband and I
will live on in the future if our retirement fund vanishes. Our senior
friends and family members face the same worry. Many of my friends make
their living through conferences and retreats and concerts—all of which
have been cancelled, leaving them without an income. My son and many
others have been laid off from work without pay.

But I think I’ve discovered an antidote to my financial fears, and
for the many other fears that have arisen during these strange times:
Remembering.

I remember a time, years ago, when our finances were extremely tight
after my husband went into full-time ministry. I was trying to outfit
our three children for school one fall and the list of school supplies
ate up a huge chunk of our budget, leaving little room for clothes. The
kids would need warm boots for the Canadian winters, which meant we
could afford only one pair of shoes apiece—and they would have to be gym
shoes. Our son Ben, then six years old, spotted a pair of shiny, black
dress shoes like his dad wore to church, and he begged me to buy them
instead of the gym shoes. He wanted to dress up for church, too. I had
to say no.

“Then I’ll pray and ask God for them,” he replied.

Uh oh. His simple faith astounded me. And worried me. How could I
support and encourage his fledgling prayer life yet still teach him that
prayer isn’t a magic wand you can wave to get whatever you want? I had
no idea. But meanwhile, I started scrambling for a way to “play God” and
buy those shoes for him. Maybe I could find some extra cash somewhere
or ask Grandma for a loan. Because truthfully, I didn’t quite believe
that God would answer Ben’s prayer.

The very next day—while I was still scheming—my neighbor came over
with a bag of clothes that her son Martin had outgrown. He was a year
older than Ben, and I was grateful for the hand-me-downs. “Now, I don’t
know if you’ll want these or not,” she said. “Martin was in a wedding
last year and he only wore them once.” She pulled a pair of shiny, black
dress shoes from the bag.

They were Ben’s size.

“Yes,” I murmured, barely able to breathe.

“Well, good. Then here’s another pair Ben can grow into.” She lifted a
second pair from the bag. “Martin was in another wedding recently and I
know he’ll never wear these again, either.”

I’m quite sure I heard God laughing.

Ben treasured both pairs of those shoes, and I know that his faith
grew from the experience—as did mine. I had known in theory that God
feeds the sparrows and clothes the lilies, but I learned that He also
hears a six-year-old boy’s very specific prayers and is well able to
answer them. To abundantly answer them! And now, remembering this
lesson, I know that I can trust God with my prayers for the future.

Jesus said “So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What
shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…Your Heavenly Father knows
that you need them.” In fact, He even knows your shoe size.

In these trying times, let’s all “Remember the wonders He has done…” (Psalm 105:5) and trust Him to hear our prayers.

Inspired by Scripture

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Battling Fear by Counting Blessings

I live in Michigan. And although Michigan is currently the state with the third highest number of coronavirus cases, my small community of Midland in the center of the state has only fifteen cases (as of the Friday of posting this).

While we are relatively safe and sheltering at home, like
everyone else we have to go out for groceries and necessities from time to time.
One of my daughters is a physical therapy assistant and so comes into contact
with people who must still have physical therapy. My husband is a mental health
therapist and also still has a few in-person appointments with clients in
crisis (although the majority of his sessions are now via telehealth).

All that to say, my family is living with the reality that we aren’t immune from catching covid19. In truth, most of probably worry to some degree or another about being exposed to and coming down with the virus. There’s an undeniable sense of anxiety and fear permeating our lives right now.

While some of the fear can be healthy and prompt us to
follow guidelines more carefully, some fear can become debilitating resulting
in migraines, panic attacks, insomnia, and more. I personally suffer with
problems of insomnia and migraines during stressful times. As I’ve gotten
older, those particular problems have intensified.

But, thankfully, as I’ve gotten older, God’s presence in my
life has also intensified. One way he’s been at work in me over the past couple
of years has been through my developing the practice of giving thanks in all
circumstances. The habit started after reading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts. I decided to keep a
personal journal of 1000 gifts. I’m currently on my third 1000 gifts journal
and going strong.

This simple practice has changed my life, particularly my perspective during the hardest of times. It’s when I’m at my lowest, when fear sneaks in, when I can’t sleep, when the headaches throb that my give-thanks-in-all-circumstances habit holds me in good stead. Rather than dwelling on the negative, I’ve trained myself to look for the blessings.

During these scary days when the coronavirus has flipped our world upside down, I’m on the lookout for blessings—the beauty among the ashes. I’m writing them down in my journal. And I’m also trying to keep a photo record (and posting some of my pictures on Instagram). This week, these are a few of the blessings I shared:

#StayHome #Blessing1 Thankful for having my college daughters home and getting to eat their excellent cooking! #covid19



#StayHome #Blessing2 Thankful we could still celebrate my mom’s birthday. While not able to shop, we were able to order a few presents. Instead of blowing out candles we snuffed them. #covid19




#StayHome #Blessing3 Thankful for online church and getting to worship together as a family! #covid19

What are YOUR blessings during these scary days of battling the coronavirus?

Peace in Transition

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not overly fond of change. Routine is comfortable. Unpredictability is unsettling. Once I cross the divide into new territory and set up shop, I adjust and establish new routines. But while I’m on that narrow bridge between the old and the new, I’m hanging on for dear life and being ultra-vigilant for loose boards, fraying rope, and anything else that could send me plummeting to the rocks below.

As you know, change is everywhere these days. Everything is in transition. Work. Family. School. Church. The way we eat. The way we shop. Even the way we communicate with each other. I’m having to get very creative in remaking familiar routines so they fit into this new existence.

For example, after our university gym closed due to government restrictions, I moved my noon exercise outside to a trail that winds around the perimeter of ACU. So I still take a lunch break to exercise, only instead of walking on a treadmill and watching a show on my phone, I’m now walking outside and enjoying nature. (Thankful to God that spring has arrived and the weather is temperate.)

Change, while uncomfortable and sometimes terrifying, can also be beautiful. My favorite thing about walking the Lunsford Trail is reading the scripture embedded in the path. Some verses are etched in stones on the path itself. Others are found in limestone pillars positioned to the right or the left. This photo shows one of my favorite collections. One scripture reminds me to commit my ways to the Lord. Another in the circle at my feet reminds me that it is the Lord who enables me to accomplish the tasks set before me, not my own strength. But it is the pillar to the left that holds the verse that has become my theme for getting through Covid-19.

Three such simple lines, yet they are the exact prescription I need to get through this crazy, uncertain time.

Be joyful in hope. Don’t allow discouragement and fear steal your joy. Hold onto hope and the promise that our God will never leave us nor forsake us. And share that joy with others. People are afraid and grouchy at being cooped up and stressed about losing their jobs. Spread joy and hope to the people around you, inoculating them against the true disease Satan is trying to spread.

Patient in affliction. Stress and patience don’t coexist easily. Tempers flare quickly in times of affliction. Things that used to be little and easy to ignore grow into giant eyesores. Dig deep for patience. And if you have to lock yourself away with chocolate and a good book for an hour in order to find it, well, that’s just what must be done.

Faithful in prayer. This, of course, is the key to it all. The more connected we are to the Father, the easier it is to endure our trials with joy. And the good news is . . . nothing has changed in the way we communicate with our Lord. He is still as available to us today as He was yesterday. And He’ll be there for us tomorrow as well. Thank heaven that in a word so full of uncertainty, we serve a God who does not change.

What verses have you found most helpful in dealing with the pandemic?

Are there certain pieces of your previous routine that you’ve been able to salvage and continue on in spite of everything that has changed?

If not now, when?

We’ve all said it at one time or another: I’d love to _______, if I could just find the time.

photo credit: Jon Tyson via Unsplash

With suddenly cleared calendars, most of us have a bit more time to do with as we like. (Maybe not a ton if you have kids at home but still some—you aren’t going to practices or school events or any other number of activities!) But I noticed something recently. I found I was squandering the very thing I’d always spoken of with such longing—extra time.

For this present moment, we are at home. For this present moment, we have choices. When sheltering in place becomes a memory, I don’t want to look back and lament the way I spent the unexpected freedom of schedule. Instead, I want to be satisfied that I did, indeed, find the time to do something I always said I wanted to do.

For me, this has meant a couple of things. First, a lot more reading! I’m actually making a dent in my To Be Read pile. Which is awesome! Couple that with reading some research books in preparation for writing and I’m feeling good. Fewer reading hours than I would prefer has often been my lament. But these days, if I’m not getting a few hours of reading in each day I only have myself to blame.

Wouldn’t this be fun to be able to do for Easter?

Another thing I’ve been wanting to do is up my crochet game. I’m pretty adept at blankets, washcloths and scarves, but I’ve wanted to be able to figure out some of the more complicated projects and simply haven’t had extra time to both learn and practice. But lately I have been doing just that. I can watch a YouTube video, practice, and tear it all out and start again if I need to. Partly this is happening because we’re watching more movies in the evenings, and I like to do something with my hands while I watch. But much of this is simply that in my pre-coronavirus day-to-day life, crochet got very little of my attention on a weekly basis. I was more focused on feeling like I’d finished something—had something to show for my effort—than I was learning to move to the next level.

What’s that something for you–those things you’ve always wanted to do when you found time? Here it is, so why don’t you check out YouTube and use this time at home to learn how. A mom I know learned to French braid her daughter’s hair. The son of one of my friends learned how to smoke meat, then made dinner for the family. There are so many options out there and so many ways to learn online.

Make homemade bread?

Maybe you’ve always wanted to write a book—then take a class online or just sit down and write. Maybe there is a book you’ve always said you’d read “when there was time”—get a copy and read it. Try a new recipe. Dive into a challenging puzzle.

Have you wanted to create some new habits or routines? What a perfect opportunity, because you know your days will all essentially look the same for a while. And when you get back to a more normal schedule, your new habit or routine will have taken root and it will be harder to leave it behind. Have you wanted more time to read or study God’s Word or to pray? Guess what? You’ve got it now!

Are there people you seldom talk to because you or they are usually at work during the day and the nights and weekends are too busy with other things? Connect via email, text, phone or video chat. Are there activities you always wished you had time to do with your children? Use the time in your schedule when they would normally be doing extra-curricular activities.

The only thing stopping us from doing one of those things we said we would when we had time is ourselves. We can choose so many different ways to waste this boon of time. But it only takes a shift of sight, a shift of thinking, to remember that there are many more ways to fill our time with things that feed our hearts, minds and hands.

“I’d love to_________, if I could just find the time.”

If not now, when?

Share something you’ve always wanted to have time for that you are now doing in these days of sheltering in place.

Inspired by Scripture

This Sunday feature is brought to you by ClashEntertainment.com. You may sign up to receive a beautiful photo with scripture in your inbox each morning or view the verse each day online.