See How To Share the Wonderful Story Here (+ Excerpt)

In each book I write, I hope reader’s glimpse a bigger story–a wonderful story–one we should absolutely share.

That is especially true of a simple Christmas novella I released in November 2015 entitled PIECES ON EARTH.

Why that particular book out of all the books I’ve written?

Because it shelters a bigger story within the story. A story so big and epic and wonderful–so capable of impacting lives well beyond the limits of this earthly lifetime–that every human needs to hear it and give it strong consideration.

How To  Share the Wonderful Story in 10 Steps

Of course the wonderful story I’m referring to is the story of redemption.

In PIECES ON EARTH, a young mother is trying to overcome two problems. The outer story and the first of the two problems deals with Liv trying to find God’s peace in the midst of life’s broken pieces. Her husband is deployed to Afghanistan right before Christmas, shattering her dream of their first Christmas together in years. In addition his deployment robs her of the opportunity to share some very good news with her husband.

Liv’s second problem in the book was how to share the bigger picture of the Bible with her young daughter rather than several smaller disconnected stories.

It is this second story that I want to address in this post, with these facets of the wonderful story Liv tells her daughter Chesney over several weeks.

Adam & Eve & the Perfect Garden – God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the garden with everything they would need to thrive already in place.
Deceived by Satan and Broken – Adam and Eve were deceived by the serpent and disobeyed God, resulting in their relationship with God being broken into pieces. But God made a promise to them that He would one day send a Fixer to mend those broken pieces.
World Grows More Evil and Destroyed by Flood – Cain, the oldest son of Adam and Eve, killed his younger brother. More broken pieces. The world continued to grow more and more evil, so God determined to save a godly remnant through Noah and his family from a flood that destroyed the rest of mankind. The rainbow was God’s promise of peace to never again destroy the world by flood.
Men Continue To Wait for the Promised Fixer – Though Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Judah were all God-fearing men, they were also broken like those before them. But they continued to wait for God’s promise of a Fixer.
The Passover Lamb & Moses Delivers the People – Moses was a broken man, too, but God chose him to deliver His chosen people from slavery in Egypt. The night before Pharaoh finally let the people go, they celebrated the first Passover by killing a lamb, which served as a prophecy for what would happen when the Fixer finally came.
The Young Nation of Israel’s Cycle of Sin and Demand for a King – As the young nation of Israel moved into the Promised Land they wanted a king like the nations around them. Though God warned them what it would be like, they still wanted a king. But in choosing an earthly king, they in effect, rejected God as their King. Over and over again, the people would sink into sin, be led into captivity, cry out to God, and then be delivered.
Prophets Sent By God With More Promises of the Fixer – God sent prophets to the people to warn them against sin and to continue to tell them about the coming Fixer. But the people still didn’t listen.
God Sends His Son Jesus Who Died For Our Broken Pieces – God finally sends the Fixer, but not in the way people expected. Rather than being a King, He came as a baby born to poor parents in a stable. Then He grew up to die for all of them just like the lamb in the story of Moses and God’s chosen people.
Jesus is Resurrected & Promises His Spirit and Peace – But then something miraculous happened. Jesus was resurrected from the dead and appeared to His followers. Before He ascended into heaven, Jesus promised His followers that He’d send His Spirit to be with them forever. He also promised them peace in place of their pieces.
Jesus Is Coming Back to Take Us Home, Fixing Us From the Inside-Out – One day Jesus will return to take us home with Him. Until that time, all those who believe in Him are in the process of being fixed from the inside-out, becoming more and more like Jesus.

Can you see how telling the story this way reveals God’s plan of redemption? It’s easy enough for a child to understand, yet potent enough to soften the most calloused of human hearts.

Excerpt from PIECES ON EARTH

Once back at the house, Liv looked on as her daughter scaled the kitchen island bar stool and scooted around until she sat facing Liv in the kitchen.

Liv spread peanut butter on one half of the bread slice and grape jelly on the other half. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about the Bible stories Daddy’s been telling you at bedtime. Do you like the new Bible story book Grandma Hope sent?” Liv smiled as she thought of her mother. Though generally quiet and retiring, as well as diminutive in stature, the woman’s faith was larger than life. And when it came to her grandchildren knowing about God, she left no stone unturned. Her mom had rightfully earned the title of faith warrior for their families, determined that all of her grandkids would be with her in heaven some day. Liv folded the bread and slid the sandwich plate across the counter toward her daughter, waiting for an answer.

Chesney picked up the sandwich and took a big bite, nodding her head at the same time. “Yeah.”

“What are the stories about?”

Speaking around bites of sandwich, her daughter answered. “Well, there was one about King Daniel.”

“You mean King David.”

Her daughter’s face went blank, and she stopped chewing momentarily. “I thought David was the one in the fiery furnace.”

“No, that would be Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.”

“Oh, those three guys.”

Liv couldn’t help the smile that flitted to her lips.

“So those three guys were in the fiery furnace and the lion’s den?” Chesney had her head cocked to one side, her dark red wavy hair dangling down.

Now Liv laughed outright. “No, Daniel was in the lion’s den.”

Chesney licked a blob of peanut butter and grape jelly from her fingers. “They all get tangled up in my head.” She finished off the sandwich and chewed, once more talking around the food. “Can I go play in the backyard?”

“Yes, you may.”

As she watched her daughter scuttle to the sliding glass doors and out into the sunny yard, Liv considered her daughter’s words. Yes, it was good that Chesney understood the individual meaning from each story, but her daughter was missing the bigger picture. Liv skewed her lips to one side. Somehow she had to find a way–not to relay a bunch of unrelated stories–but to tie them all together for her young daughter, so she got a good grasp on the overall message of the good news of God. After all, knowing her mother, Grandma Hope would probably give each of her grandkids a pop quiz at Christmas.

Watch the 45-second book trailer for PIECES ON EARTH.Later that night, after bath time, Liv approached Jeff, who sat at the dining room table reading the newspaper. She’d been especially carefully not to be too exuberant, or her detail-oriented husband would know in a heartbeat that something was up. “Jeff, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll switch things up with Chesney’s bedtime story.”

He looked up at her, a slight furrow between his dark eyebrows. “Was I not doing it right?”

Liv laughed. “You were doing it just fine, but I want to try an approach that will hopefully help her see the big picture of the Bible. You on board with that, sailor?”

A grin popped on her husband’s face at the naval terminology. “Sure. Want me in there with you?”

“Always.” She sent a teasing wink and headed down the hallway to their daughter’s room, her ever-helpful hubby on her heels.

A few seconds later, they all lounged on Chesney’s bed, leaned up against the frame, with their daughter cradled between them. Liv reached for the Bible she’d placed on the nightstand. “Time for a bedtime story.”

Chesney looked up at her like she’d lost her mind. “That’s a big story.”

Jeff laughed out loud. “The biggest story of all time.” He tickled Chesney under her chin until she giggled and ducked away from him.

Liv’s heart immediately fluttered. He’d always been a great dad, in spite of his frequent tours of duty. God, thank You for this new baby for all of us, but especially for Jeff. Liv tried to speak in a normal voice. “And it’s a story we’re a part of.” She smiled down at Chesney.

The statement had the intended effect. “We’re in the story?” Chesney’s eyebrows crinkled in a comical way.

“Yes. But the part I’m going to tell you tonight is about God and the very first man and woman.”

Chesney’s face brightened. “I know this story. Daddy told it to me not too long ago. God made the world and everything that was in it, then put Adam and Even in the garden of Even.”

“You mean the garden of Eden?” Liv over-pronounced the “d” so Chesney would get it right.

“Oh, okay. That place.”

Jeff leaned down near their daughter’s face. “But do you know how God made the world?”

Chesney lifted wiggling fingers high in the air, her face overly dramatic. “Alacajamkazoo. And poof, there it was.”

Liv giggled. “Well, not quite. All God had to do was say what He wanted and it happened. He said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”

Their daughter’s eyes were wide with wonder. “That’s amazing. Is that how he created Adam and Eve, too?”

Jeff joined in. “No. The Bible says God stooped down and made Adam by shaping him out of the dirt.”

The expression that landed on Chesney’s face clearly revealed that she found that idea totally preposterous. “Like a mud pie?”

“No, silly.” Liv opened her Bible to Genesis and read the passage directly from the Bible.

“And what about Eve? Did God make her out of dirt, too?”

“When God saw that Adam was lonely, he put Adam to sleep, took out one of his ribs, and created the woman.” Jeff spoke the words reverently, then looked up at Liv with a gleam in his eyes. “Adam was very happy about having a helper.”

Liv’s stomach did a quick somersault. The good news she hid inside threatened to spill out on the spot. She caught a quick breath and captured her daughter’s attention. “But what is really cool is that God made the garden first, and He included everything that Adam and Eve would need to live and be happy. He made it perfect just for them.”

“So they could live happily ever after just like us.” With those words, Chesney wiggled down under the covers and smiled up at her parents. “Good night, Adam and Eve.”

All of them shared a laugh. and after good night kisses, both Liv and Jeff laughed all the way out of the room.

Her eyes a-twinkle, Liv handed the Bible to Jeff as he closed the door behind them. “Here you go, Adam. Put that away for me, will you?”

$0.99 Sale and Upcoming Online Book Club

Happy to let you know that PIECES ON EARTH is currently on sale for just $0.99, and will be on sale at that price through February 24, 2016. Here’s the book blurb for you:

As a young mother and wife of a naval aviator in sunny Pensacola, Florida, Liv Tulley eagerly anticipates the first Christmas in several years with her husband, daughter, and extended family. Then her husband is unexpectedly deployed for an undetermined amount of time, smashing her white Christmas dreams. She’s also shouldering a secret and battling anxiety. Can she find God’s peace in the midst of life’s pieces?

And here are a few Amazon review snippets:

“A beautiful, heartwarming story for Christmas and any time of the year.”

“I think I have found a new favorite Author for 2016, and not just any Author, but a Christian Author!! I was blown away as I read this marvelous story of life, love, and the word of GOD!!”

 “Just one more in a long line for Cathy Bryant. I love her stories. You laugh, you cry, you get mad and you love!!! Cathy brings her characters to life.”

“I want everyone to read this book. Being a novella makes it an easy book to work into this busy season. If you like a meaty book, well written, personal, inspirational, and informative, this is it. I want to share with all young mothers as a guide for teaching their young children about the bible. This is a love story with all its challenges, a friendship story with true to life struggles and God’s story. Anxious to see what is next from Cathy Bryant, a very accomplished writer. As always, I was drawn in from page one.”

“Cathy Bryant’s Pieces on Earth is a well-developed story which is certain to touch hearts at Christmas and throughout the year. Sharing the message of the hope found in Jesus without being sappy or preachy is one of Cathy’s very real talents. As the characters develop through the story, I was particularly impressed with the honesty of the emotions portrayed, the clever clarification of the distinction between pieces and peace and the consistent weaving together of modern life and the lessons learned from the biggest story. I highly recommend this lovely novella – it would make a great gift and is also a great way to introduce others to the Peacemaker any time of the year.  

PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |

I’m also delighted to share the news of a three-week online book club to discuss PIECES ON EARTH and the wonderful story within the story. It will take place beginning Thursday, February 25, 2016, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. MST (that’s 5:30 p.m. PST, 7:30 p.m. CST, and 8:30 p.m. EST) on my Facebook author page:

https://www.facebook.com/Cathy.Bryant.Author
Hope you can join us! Below is the Facebook event page if you’d like to reserve your spot, but everyone is welcome whether you sign up at the event page or not. There is a $10 Amazon Gift Card giveaway for the person who invites the most people in attendance the first night of the online book club.
Click the photo to be taken to the Facebook event page.