Janet Sketchley's Blog: Tenacity, page 74
October 28, 2015
Our Desires, Or God’s?
You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.
1 Peter 4:2, NLT*
Peter’s talking to new Christians, who have made a radical lifestyle change and “no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things” with their former friends (1 Peter 4:4).
They’ve left the old life behind and are learning to live for – and with – God, and they’re suffering for it.
That’s the context, but those of us who’ve been Christians longer, or...
October 26, 2015
Idea to Book
Ever wondered how a few scattered ideas turn into a novel? It’s a question I hear every so often, and I suspect the answer is different for every writer. Perhaps even for each book.
Without Proof is my third novel, and I’m still learning what works best for me, in terms of discovering the story. Seeds of this one showed up a long time ago, in a little coil-bound red notepad that I can’t find today. They percolated while I worked on other things, and when it was time to start writing, it looke...
October 23, 2015
Without Proof: Meet Aunt Bay
My editorial assistant (and son), Matthew Sketchley, joins us again today for a conversation with Beatrice Rockland (Aunt Bay)fromWithout Proof. Matthew blogs atProbably Nothing Interesting.
Matthew Sketchley
Matthew: We’ve got Beatrice Rockland here, from Without Proof. Beatrice, would you mind telling us a little about yourself?
Aunt Bay: To get us off to a better start, my name is pronounced BAY-a-triss, not the conventional BE-a-triss. If that’s too much of a challenge, you may call me M...
October 21, 2015
It Matters How We Live
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9, NLT*
“You are not like that…” Not like what? They’re not like the people who are still stumbling “because they do not obey God’s word” (1 Peter 2:8b).
Peter’s been reminding his readers that they’ve been saved from an empty way of life and tha...
October 19, 2015
Guest Post: Connecting in a Dusty, Used Book Store, by Jennifer Slattery
My husband and I are newly empty nesters, and that’s been an adjustment. Actually, considering he, our daughter, and I are all introverts who largely stay to ourselves, I’ve been surprised at what an adjustment this new phase has been. There’s just something about having those you love around, right? Whether they say a word or not? Needless to say, our daughter’s recent absence has been felt.
Man, do I miss her! But I try not to push...
October 16, 2015
Without Proof: Meet Michael Stratton
Matthew SketchleyMatthew: We’ve got Michael Stratton here today, he’s one of the main characters in Without Proof. How are you doing, Michael?
Michael: I’m a bit frustrated today, actually. One of my friends is a journalist, and he just reopened an accident I’d like to leave in the past… and suggested to my assist...
October 14, 2015
Choosing to Love
You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
1 Peter 1:22, NLT*
Sincere love. Deep, whole-hearted love. This isn’t surface-friendly love. Nor it is always warm and fuzzy.
This is love as a choice. An act of the will, a decision of the mind. If the heart is slow to catch up, it can’t be allowed to affect the acting out of the love.
Let’s be honest. The whole rea...
October 12, 2015
Review: Murder at the Courthouse, by A.H. Gabhart
Murder at the Courthouse, by A.H. Gabhart (Revell, 2015)
Michael Keane took the deputy sheriff position in small-town Hidden Springs to get away from the ugliness of big-city crime. He wants to help people, not get hardened like his former partner.
When a stranger is found dead on the courthouse steps, Michael will only solve the mystery if he can see the truth about his fellow citizens – and about himself.
Murder at the Courthouse is a gently-paced cozy mystery with quirky characters and a h...
October 9, 2015
Without Proof: Meet Amy Silver
I’m trying something different today: instead of introducing Amy Silver myself, I’ve asked my editorial assistant (and son), Matthew Sketchley, to do the honours.
Matthew Sketchley
Matthew writes… I’ll call it dark fantasy, but I’m not sure that’s quite right. Some is dark speculative. He’s just started a blog called Probably Nothing Interesting, which often makes me laugh but which is definitely not for everyone.
Matthew: Alrighty then. We’ve got Amy Silver here today. Amy’s the protagonist...
October 7, 2015
Keeping Our Focus
So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.
1 Peter 1:14, NLT*
Peter reminds his readers that they’ve been chosen, made holy, and cleansed by God (v. 1, 2). They’ve been given new life (v. 3), great expectation (v. 3), and a future inheritance (v. 4).
This is what matters, the true perspective “even though you have to endure many trials for a little while” (v. 6). These people love an...
